1940 Millie Sutherland Letter to the Folks

I was out at another antique shop on the weekend and they were letters and old photos more strewn as props and decor. This was the only letter I could find with an actual letter in the envelope still

 

Sent by

R.M. Sutherland postmarked May 23, 1940

Addressed 1025 Powell St, San Francisco, Ca .

I always love to look on Googlemaps for original structures, and then it just fills in more of the story of imagining the very person sitting inside this place writing a letter or living life. It appears this building is still standing, so take a look and just imagine 1940 in this building

https://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&channel=rcs&ie=UTF-8&layer=c&z=17&iwloc=A&sll=37.794294,-122.409821&cbp=13,251.2,0,0,0&cbll=37.794332,-122.409680&q=1025+powell+st+san+francisco&ei=-Hq4UqO4L5fCoASo3IDgCQ&ved=0CCsQxB0wAA

Hand Typed letter Sent to

Mrs. and Mr Walter Sutherland

2414 Prescott St

Seattle, Wa

They are titled as “Folksies” in the letter.

From looking up census records. The family is

Walter Alexander Sutherland – Father

Mai Bartan Sutherland – Mother

3 daughters in the home in the 1930 census

Helen C. Sutherland (mentioned in the letter and her husband George)

Mildred R. Sutherland (This would be Millie from the letter)

Dorothy Mai Sutherland

The letter reads

“Dearest Folksies….

Mom..I got your frantic letters about Honolulu..and it looks like theres nothing for you to worry about for awhile… as the deal we were trying to whip up for me to go half fare isnt panning out very fast. Anyway… Im probably not going to go at all now.. and if I do it wont be for several months. In the mean time…Im going to try to come home for a week or two.

I have a Mother’s Day present, believe it or not… and in true Millie fashion havent mailed it yet… so its going out with this letter.

Bill just got back from Honolulu.. and says things look very war like over there. We were going to go over… or rather I was going to go over to meet him there but he doesnt want to stay now as its practically a war base at this point.

I hope you wont think Im crazy for not telling you this before… but it was a little hard to do because I havent told anyone…especially around Sears as it might affect my job,,, theyre getting quite stuffy about married people working. I married Bill before he went to Honolulu..and although I know you didnt like the idea so very much..I waited all this time to see if it would be the sensible thing to do. We knew each other for over a year..and I knew he was the only boy I could ever be happy with..everything carefully considered. I know you would agree with me if you knew him. I think he is up to all the standards we hold for ourselves. The only thing I feel badly about is not telling you at the time…but it is so hard to write these things and I was hoping I might be able to come home and tell you myself….

I am still working at Sears… and I definitely dont want Burr and the people there to know Im married…as I find its very hard for married women to get jobs any place these days. So for that reason…it might be good if you wouldnt tell Helen and George. Then they can come to Frisco..I can explain to them the situation and they wont say anything…but until then, I dont think Ill let them know. Dorry doesnt know either, but Ill write her right away.

Bill is going to stay here now…and I think things will work out perfectly, at least until Roosevelt decides to send all our beautiful boys to war.

Write me right away, all my love, Millie

On the back of the Envelope is this stamp “The Yanks are Not Coming! ”

1938 Ella M. Richardson Estate Paper

 

Found this typed up 1938 Estate letter several years ago at an antique sale in Phoenix sitting on a table with various letters and papers.

Reads as follows…..

“In the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Chelan County

In the matter of the estate of Ella M. Richardson, deceased

No. 3262

Order awarding all assets to surviving spouse and disch Administrator and bond.

This matter came on regularly for hearing this 16th day of February, 1938, upon the petition of Calvin Richardson, surviving spouse and administrator of the estate of Ella M. Richardson, deceased, and it appearing that there are three minors of asaid deceased interested in the property of said estate, Mr. J.C. Bolinger, a member of the bar of Chelan County, Washington, being present and consenting to act, was appointed to guardian ad litem for this hearing for Wilma Richardson, 19 yrs old, a daughter, Calvin Wayne Richardson, 17 yrs old, and Glen Richardson, 10 yrs of age. Said petitioner appeared in person and by his attorney, Chas. R Sargent, and it appearing from the records and files herein that due and legal notice of this hearing has been given as required by law, the Court proceeded to the hearing of said petition. One witness was sworn and testified under oath, and documentary evidence was offered and received, and all and singular the law and the facts being hear seen, heard, considered and understood.

 

It is Hereby Ordered, Adjudged, and Decreed, That Ella M. Richardson died intestate on or about Feb 2, 1936, leaving property described in the inventory and appraisment of file herein, of a total appraised value of $2028.91, including the dwelling house and land that goes with it, that the said petitioner has paid the expenses and cost of last illness and burial of deceased, and the costs of administration, that no homestead has ever been claimed or declared, and all of the assets of said estate, to wit, Household goods, 1 cow and calf, 1 team of horses, 1 set double harness, 1 1926 Dodge Coach, 1 1927 Model T, Ford Truck, 3 pigs, Miscellaneous small tools and implements, and $33.91 cash on deposit at First National Bank. Wasatchee, Washington, be and the same are hereby awarded and set aside to the said petitioner, Calvin Richardson, surviving spouse of said deceased, in lieu of homestead and also Tax #5, Sec. 10 and Lots 4 and 5, Sec. 11, all in Twp, 26 N. R. 21, E,W,M, be so awarded, and It is Hereby Further Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed, that inasmuch as there is no more property to be administered, the said Administrator Calvin Richardson, and his bond as said administrator, be and he and said bond are hereby released and discharged from all further liability in the matter.

Done in open court this 16th day of Feb, 1938

R.E. Beatty – Court Commissioner

Filed Feb 16, 1938