Mail Call: 29 Sep 1935 (Gladys)

From Gladys Potter in Cabool to her daughter Mary in Washington DC.

The clock is now broken, with the only time check being from the neighbor's daughter, Mary Brooks, coming over to visit.  Otherwise, just guess.  Convenient for Dorothy, who is coming in really late (but no-one knows how late, since the clock is dead)  Clock has been broken "for over a month."

"I would like a birthday real often if I wouldn't get old too fast."

"making ketchup...full even to the bottles white polish comes in"

Gladys turned 47 on September 25, 1935.

"Mary" is neighbor Arch Brooks' daughter.

"Dora, Walter and Robert" are Gladys' in-laws from E. St. Louis, the Bremerkamps.
Daugher Elaine is still staying with them, but Dorothy has come home.

Clipping enclosed in letter:  "Out Our Way" 17 Sep 1935 J.R. Williams (fair use claimed)

19 Sept 1935: Letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission

On September 19, 1935 Mary Potter finally had a permanent job at $1620 per annum.

She worked for the SEC in Washington DC, Philadelphia for almost nine years.

On May 2, 1944 when she enlisted in the WAVES, with orders on June 15, 1944.

Mail Call: 14 Sep 1935 (George)

Elaine Potter (21) and Dorothy Potter (19)
in St. Louis, Sept 1935

George Potter in Cabool, MO to his daughter Mary in Washington, DC

The school tuition issue from earlier letters was not resolved in the Potter's favor; Florence ("Flapper") and Dave can go to Cabool High School but Marjorie ("Peg") is stuck in the country school at Sargent.  This is financially a problem, as the drive to/from Sargent is costly in the long run even though the cash was not available to pay Marjorie's tuition up front.

Mary has evidently spent Labor Day with her then-boyfriend Art and his friends in New York  See the 1 September post for some mementoes. "...but how can you lose so much sleep?"

Elaine is in St. Louis; Dorothy evidently visited at some point in September, 1935, which led to attitude once back home...

"Too young"...George is 60 at this point.

Verna Madison:  identified
Katie Brown: Arch Brook's son Roy's wife Mildred's sister.  Really.

"Dora" is George's sister in E. St. Louis with whom Elaine is staying
Dorothy is, I believe, in Springfield doing domestic odd jobs.

1 Sep 1935: Mary's big day in New York City

Mary Potter saved, among other things, these relics of a quick trip to New York CIty over Labor Day, 1935. Most likely, this was the idea of recent boyfriend Art, who had grown up in Huntington, NY.

The Pennsylvania RR bargain fare is to leave DC just after midnight on Friday (by then, Saturday, Sept 1) and return at noon on Monday (Sept 2), as checked off on the flier at the right.  After sitting up all night in the train, that left all day Sunday plus Monday morning in New York City.  Sunday night, perchance, at the Parents?...could have been a shock, as the Mother of Art was from seriously high-class roots in Chicago.

There is also a flyer for Jones Beach, so perhaps that was the agenda for morning before Radio City.

Pencil notes on the back of the excursion flyer:

"Sat Nite: Elks convention returning, Hershey Bar, 5:30 AM New York!"
Mon. Nite: "Crowded train, Juicy People, Rainy Weather, home at 6:00."

I hope "Juicy" meant drunken; the image is unpleasant.



George, in his next letter on 14 Sept 1935, will be worried about his daughter getting over-tired and gently re-inforces the urgent need for cash.

Labor Day Excursion Fare DC-NY-DC! $3.50!

The Grand Organ (still grand in its way), plus
Symphonic Orchestra and Glee Club
(Friml composed "Rose-Marie" and "The Vagabond King" among others)

Radio City show for $0.99!

The Corps de Ballet (still a thing) and Glee Club (reprise)
Finally, Rockettes.

AND, after all that, the movie...Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in "Top Hat"

(I am intrigued by "The WIVEL", a "Glamorous Scandinavian Cabaret,"
unfortunately, it does not seem to have been on the itenerary)