January 17 1960

Dear Dick and Dad:-
I’m a little late in letting you know
we received our fruit OK, it came
last Tuesday and is so good, what
kind of oranges were they? You
can send some of those any time
you want to. I got a kick out of
the three kumquots from our tree.
Somehow I thought they tasted better
than the others, or was it my imagination.
All the fruit arrived in excellent condition
except the kumquots, so as much as I
love them I don’t suppose you should try
to send any more as about
a fourth of them had spoiled.

We had a busy week last week
only one night that didn’t involved
either one or the other of us in Lodge
work or both of us at the same time.

[page 2]
That night we went up to see
Burch the first we had seen of him
since New Years day when we had
him down here. He seems to be doing
a little better about the drinking but
we’re afraid his memory is to far
gone. He just doesn’t remember
anything and has lost all track of
time, he dosen’t know weather its June
or December. He received his first
check on January 5th and we are
trying to help him straight out his affairs
but there just isn’t enough money to
go around all his obligations. Hes
let his affairs get into such a mess
that I don’t have much hope of ever
getting it all straightened out. We are
not going to give him any money
but will see to it that he has food
and clothing or anything else that
is necessary and will try to
visit him as least once a week.

[page 3]
I’m tryingto stave off a cold as of now
Ive got a sore throat and some of
the symptoms of the (BUG) so wish me
luck. Ive taken asprin all day and eat
all the fruit I can hold. We were out
to Ruths folks today and I took a
nap for about three hours out there.

Well we had our first meeting
last Wednesday night and I got by
but believe me there is room for
improvement about the time our year
is over I’ll be about ready to start.

We are suppose to have candidates
at our next meeting Feb 10th so
on that night about 9 PM say a
few extra words for me. We
have our school of instruction next
Sat. night and after that the
inspections start. Ours will be
April 28th say a few more
words on that night to.

[page 4]
Edw. asked if we knew of anybody
that were going to visit you next
month and we told him as far
as we knew there wasn’t anyone,
he said he would call you
before he came down so he
could make arrangement for
you to meet him.

How is the Chevy doing? I see
your old one almost every day
and Jack is real pleased
with it. He had his operation
and is back to work now.
Our work hasn’t been as
heavy this winter as usual
because we have really

[page 5]
had a beautiful winter so far
only one or two minor snows.
Even have the gareage doors open
most of the tome. If we can get
by for the next six weeks I
think will have it made.

We are going to miss going to
Florida this winter but are looking
forward to Canada next
summer. I think well try to
make it early in the season.

Well thats about all from
here for now so write
us a line when you find
the time, and thanks again
for the wonderful fruit
Love
Ruth & H.O.

August 27th 1959
Dear Egghead:-
From the shores of Lake Erie and the banks
of the Scioto:- now how’s that for a
fancy take off? Here I am back at the Salt
Mine. I left Ruth up at the cottage and
will go back myself Sat. afternoon.
today was my first day back to work,
and was it ever hot, the temperature
here and at the lake has been in the
90s for over a week now.
Although it did cool of at
night up at the Harbor. I am
forwarding you a few letters that I
picked up at the Post Office
after I got home yesterday. I
received you letter of the 20th
and also one from the Dept of
Lands and Forest. Thanks for

[page 2]
your trouble. I’m going to write
the dept. and inquire if that lot
could be zoned for commercial
or resort purposes if so what
steps would be necessary. I’m
going to check these items before
I send any money. I suppose
you know all the details about
the purchase as you arranged it
for me so I’ll not go into
those details. Dick Rodenfels just
came back from up there, said
they had a good time camping out
etc..but the fishing wasn’t so good
He was telling me about all
the camping areas that have
been made-since I was
up there. Sounds like

[page 3]
they’re making it too easy for
these campers that like to rough it.
Ruth and I had a good time up at the
lake, caught a lot of fish-blue gills
and perch, have several in the
freezer so we’ll have a mess or
two when you come home. We also
found a new spot to fish for blue
gills out in the lake it just west
of Lakeside along the shore will
have to tell you more about it later
when you come home.

I went out to check on Ruths
mother last night and she recovered
from her attack what every it was
but is still having the pain in the
stomach and back, she’ll probably

[page 4]
go up to Dr. Jenning office for an
examination and xrays next week.
I didn’t get to talk to Unk and Elise
yet but from the sound of your
letter you must of had some trip
to Reception Lake.

As Ruth said I should have
listened to you about that bump on my
cheek bone, you and her both are giving
me the devil, the thing swelled up about
the size of a banty egg and sure
made me look lop sided, but
the doctor wouldn’t lance it for
me while it was infected, he
gave me penacillen shots for the
infection and I have to go back
later to have the source of the trouble
removed. The swelling is all gone
now and I suppose I’ll be going
back to him some time next week.

[page 5]
It not serous as he says its
an enlarged skin (pour?) that became
clogged and couldn’t drain just
filled up and became infected.

We’ve had other troubles also I’ll list a
few. Cost me $57.00 for parts to get
our car fixed. The garbage disposer
almost fell out of the sink (you know
it was leaking) the durn thing rusted
out and I couldn’t get a part for
it in the city of Columbus, had to
order it from California and it
hasn’t come in yet, that’s been
2 weeks ago I ordered the part
and thats going to cost about
$15.00 I got my new teeth and
had to have some of my lowers

[page 6]
ones filled that was $90.00 and
the thing I grip about the most here is
the real estate tax, I just got that
paid for the last half year and
that was $175.85, bought 4 new
tires for the car and so on. You’ll
get a kick out of this one, when I
came home yesterday Ruth had taken
my door key off my key ring and
I didn’t know it until I tried to
unlock the door, so I had to
cut the screen out of the guest
bedroom window and climb
in that way. Boy I’ll bet Ruths
ears were burning about that
time as I was hot to trot.
You know what I mean.

[page 7]
I’m also enclosing a letter
we received from Iva and Roy
Buchanan its self explanatory.
I haven’t seen Burch or talked to
him yet as he wasn’t at work
today and when I checked his time
card he hadnt only been to work
2 day since I started my
vacation on August 13th.
I don’t know what his trouble
is and unless he comes into
the shop I wont have a chance
to check on him until Sat
afternoon after work as I’m
going to be busy tomorrow night
on De Molay work etc.

[page 8]
well its after 11:PM so think
I’ll fix myself a good stiff
drink and go to bed. I’ll
be thinking about you when I
drink it. As you notice
my pen went on the blink
also.
Love to all
Herm