To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
February 16, 1959
Have a Grand Birthday!
Many happy returns too – with love from
Fras and Don
Present will be along shortly – a jardiniere – couldn’t get out until today because of ice and then snow.
Lost power for 1.5 hours Tuesday – just before I started feeding the baby. So I gave him a biscuit and got out the sterno stove. Wonderful!
You’d think, thought, that along with the hot water, heat, refrigerator, stove, laundry, etc. my heart was powered by electricity; it really stopped!
But after the heat had dropped 5 degrees – power!
F.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
March 2, 1959
Dear Folks,
Here we go – to tie up a few details about the coming visit.
D. is ordering tickets today for me to go about 2 on Saturday, March 29 and come back about noon on Friday…I’ll send details of flights and such when I get them.
It is very nice of Mrs. Trudeau to offer to have tea or coffee, but who would come?
Karleen works (or is that by chance a school vacation?), I don’t send Christmas cards to Mary Lou Stevens or Pat Sparling anymore, they don’t know the Mitchells, and those are the only people my age I can remember that I’ve had the smallest contact with in 10 years. Since this is such a disparate group and since I haven’t had anything to do with most of them for so long, I think it would be sort of embarrassing. I would like to see Karleen though – and the others too, I suppose. Will Bebe be home ?
Diaper service would be very nice. We still have it so otherwise I would buy some regular diapers…As for a bath, he’s outgrown his bathtub so I use the kitchen sink….I plan to get a so-called Baby Anchor so why don’t I just get it in K.C. and we can wash him in the tub then.
I plan to send a box of things ahead anyway and I can send that back with those things.
After reading Dr. Spock and such, I plan to put off toilet training until he’s a year and a half – so diapers will do.
I’ll bring all the bottles we’ll need. Have to use them on the trip.
First interruption – Lyle is awake and needs a change. Sure will be nice to have 3 people to answer his beck and call! See you tomorrow at nap time.
Thursday, March 5
Some week! Town meeting every night so far which means not only is free time in evenings gone but also nap time for Lyle is nap time for Fras. But Lyle chose today to take no nap!
And D. called Tuesday afternoon to say he had to go on builder’s trial for the big tanker Wednesday (67 thousand ton displacement – Princess Sophia – the largest built so far in the U.S.) – leaving here at 4:30 am and returning at 9 – to compound the confusion. But all is past now, except that he may or may not be going on the final trials next week up near Rockland, Maine. If so, he will leave early Monday morning, return late Thursday and may have to be off right away for a meeting in N.Y.C. on Friday. And next week is the first one of League meetings on water – 3 per week – for which I am responsible for the discussion – Whew!
But on with the list:
I assume the “baby bed” is a crib and a “pen” is a play pen. Both are needed.
The only other big thing I can think of that we will need is something to feed him in – a high chair or feeding table. Oh yes, and a stroller is a big help for keeping him “put” in various places…Isn’t there someone among your acquaintances who is not using such things at the moment? It’s a pity to think you have to rent these things…I don’t know how to get around the feeding arrangement. He wiggles every waking hour.
I plan to bring a car seat for him to sit in on the plane.
And I’ll bring Desitin for his bottom. We use regular “baby” soap - I guess it is castile. I’ll bring some. Could you get some mineral oil? Just a small amount. I found out going to Connecticut that it is important to travel with.
As for food, he will eat rice cereal, pears, applesauce, peaches, sweet potatoes, squash, meat and vegetable soup (as jars of “junior foods” and “baby foods.”) I always buy Gerbers or Beech-nut – they provide a good variety and he likes them. He drinks about a quart of regular whole milk a day (pasteurized with most of the cream poured off).
Also during the day teething biscuits, a piece of carrot or of apple are appreciated…
The only thing that really bothers me now is where he will sleep. At the Courtsals, he was in the next room and that was invaluable because everytime he woke up, he hollered – realized he was in a strange place and needed reassurance, it seemed. We have taken him to various places where he had to nap in the afternoon…but no manner of crib, pacifier, shades pulled etc. could convince him all was well. He just hollered.
We were awfully squeamish when we moved him from the big room to the little room, but no trouble! He was in the same crib, of course, and we arranged the room so the wall was on the same side of him – left. Well, I just don’t know what would be best…Maybe we should be in the same room, but I would expect we would each disturb the other. As I say, this one I can’t figure out.
One more favor to ask – don’t tempt me, please, with great quantities of goodies. I weigh too much (6 lbs) thanks to excessive enjoyment of goodies after that long, long session of dieting.
I don’t expect to go on a diet in K.C. (some goodies are a must!) but it would be awful if I gained any more – and my will power is useless in this matter.
Time’s up.
Love, Fras
P.S.
Flight reservation on March 28
TWA Flight #17 leaves Boston at 2:45 pm and arrives in K.C. at 9:45 pm
Flight home on April 3
TWA Flight #30 leaves K.C. at 12:45 and arrives in Boston at 8:30 pm
Thanks for the comments from Nancy Jane. I met Mrs. Dunlap at previous Wellesley Club meetings – very pleasant and very active in the club. May even be President now. I haven’t been for nearly 2 years. Frances Gray is encouraging in her comments about recent meetings.
Oh yes, D. knows Mr. Dunlap at Bethlehem. He is Chief Planner in Hull construction for the entire shipyard (not in C.T.D.)
Would you ask Dr. Cochrane for a recommendation for a pediatrician? An interesting old lady
here knows one in Prairie Village named Latham, but this is no real recommendation. He and his wife lived in an apartment she owns in Boston when he was in medical school.
F.
______________________________________________
To Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Quincy, Massachusetts (postcard)
March 20, 1959
L’s schedule:
Up at 7:30, fed by 8, changed, dressed, nap at 10 for about a half hour, fed at 11:30,
Changed, nap at 1:30 or 2 for one or two hours, bath every other day at 4
fed at 4:30, changed and into P.J.s
To bed at 6:30
Love, F.
______________________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
April 11, 1959
Dear Folks,
We arrived in Boston safe and sound and only ½ hour late (rain storm in N.Y.C. just when we were supposed to take off) and D. was there ready – came on the plane to help me bundle up Lyle and carry all the things off. And I found a bottle of champagne in the refrig. at home!
All the way to New York, L. and I had to share one seat. Everything went OK but it was a bit hectic and made L. cranky. But he only cried 3 times and then only for a couple of minutes.
To feed him, I put him in the car seat and I sat on the floor. Then I bundled up all the dirty dishes, spoon, car seat, etc. got all settled to hold him for the bottle and the seat belt sign came on and we went bumping through a storm. What if that had been just 10 minutes earlier!!
Another stroke of good fortune (very good fortune) was our seat-mate from Chicago – a girl getting her Master’s degree in City Planning at M.I.T. That is the sister department to Architecture and their secretary, Dulcie, came to our house for Christmas once. It was
wonderful to talk to her and get the news. Also she is very interesting – had a Fulbright to study in Australia for a year, then spent 5 months in Asia, mostly in India, and a month in Europe. When she finishes in June she will marry an Italian, also in City Planning at Tech, and go to Italy permanently. Her home is N.Y.C.
She also got along very well with the baby and was not at all bothered by my changing him, etc.
Thanks to your helping me to the airport and onto the plane, and D. being there to get off, the shoulder was no problem and hasn’t been since. The boxes all arrived. Thanks for sending the second one.
Thanks for the lunches, too. So great was your bounty – and so limited the circumstances on the plane – that some sandwiches and candy supplemented our lunch here the next day.
Lyle is not at all spoiled, at least no more than he ever was. As a matter of fact, he was less trouble than usual the first few days – so glad to see his daddy and familiar surroundings, and his old toys.
He’s had a bad time of it in one way. He had the opposite elimination problem and for awhile the doctor thought he would adjust OK but finally he had to put him on kaopectate.
Five b.ms a day and liquid – awful. And needless to say his bottom is terribly raw, so he is very uncomfortable sitting up. Very sad and very unpleasant. But temporary, I guess, though now it seems it will never end.
He’s different ever since he got home – scrambles all the time, trying to crawl, says da - da to Don sometimes, plays patty cake (haltingly) and drinks from a cup by himself. This last also has reservations; he can pick up the cup, get it to his mouth and drink out of it (water or milk) but when he’s had enough, he tries the opposite side or just drops it.
This afternoon, D is going with me to get a dress for me. I got desperate (!) because tonight there is a bridge gathering, tomorrow symphony and Monday, Vanessa.
Had the League Go-See Tour for water resources Thursday. Very successful and very interesting.
That’s all for now because Lyle is awake, and Don took Spray to the rabies clinic.
Thanks for a nice visit!
Love,
F.
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Hamilton and Lieuween Chase with Frances and Lyle Courtsal
April 1959, Kansas City, MO |
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Frances Chase Courtsal with Lyle Courtsal
April 1959, Tahoe Lane, Kansas City, MO |
__________________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
July 21, 1959
Dear Folks,
Details now. First, a report on the baby. A couple of Sundays ago while we were eating
dinner, D. looked over at L. and said with surprise, “He just stood up.” And better yet, when
he got tired, he sat down, thus saving me from a terrible couple of weeks rescuing him.
It seems generally that he is late about doing things, but when he does them, he does them
well. Fine with me!
He has ten teeth either in or showing. And he is getting quite good at feeding himself, that is
if you don’t mind food all over the floor, walls, his hair, hands, face, clothes, etc. He doesn’t.
He gets a big kick out of doing it himself and is improving rapidly (thank goodness) and is fearfully independent about it. One day he scooped up a spoonful of cereal, dipped it in the
applesauce and then put the whole wad in his hair. Inadvertently I gasped and he was so
furious at me that he never ate one bite of his breakfast. He always takes his bottle, though himself, in the playpen. He goes to the doctor in August so we’ll find out then how much he
weighs, etc. Oh yes, the cup. He does very well about picking it up himself, only occasionally
drinks out of the wrong side, but generally sets it back down on its side unfortunately.
As a result he only gets water in it so far. I’ll enclose some of our tries to get his picture.
Also will enclose some camping pictures.
We did go – Sunday June 21 through Wednesday the 24th. Then we ran out of diapers and the leak in the tent got to D’s sleeping bag and sneakers so we went home. Actually we’d only expected to stay one more day anyway. We’ll never go again with a one-year-old because it is too much work. He was an angel the whole time and seemed to enjoy it but having to prepare the separate food, arrange naps, change diapers, etc was too much on top of the usual work of camping. Actually we did have a good time. First thing I met a friend from Wellesley ‘52, now a doctor’s wife, and they were very good company. There with three girls, 2 ½ to 5 ½ , bird-watching, butterfly-catching, etc. Our campsite was gorgeous, right by the lovely lake there, quite private, so we shared it with them when they came down to go swimming. We also visited Chatham with a boy (and wife, etc) who works for D., and one day went up to Provincetown, Highland Light, Race Point, etc.
Did you know there has been a proposal, not yet approved by the Dept. of the Interior but under study, to make the outer beach on the Cape a National Seashore? It is very much opposed in our Congressional district, which includes the Cape, because so many people own land there and because people generally fear a low-class element, but I’m very enthusiastic and know many people who are and when the issue gets hot I hope to start up petitions favoring it to send to our Congressman. Two things made us really strong on this, the out-of-state licenses we saw and a book, The House on Nauset Marsh, by Wyman Richardson, the doctor father of a girl I worked with at M.I.T. It was a best-seller briefly about four years ago. You might enjoy it, Dad,
Knowing Chatham. Really fascinating and a true recreation of the spirit of that part of the Cape (beyond Chatham).
If you can manage to get here within the year we should be able to trip down there. It
only takes a couple of hours with the new highway – well, three to get anywhere. Perhaps
we could stay overnight at a motel. L. travels very well and now that his schedule is more flexible we could try it. I’m still concerned about the schedule of visits, though. I hate to see
him changing so much and you not having a chance to see him. And I can’t see how visits are going to work out for the next two or three years. We plan (and of course this is only plan, but that’s all you can ever do) to move into our own house next summer, and then start on the next baby and that means I’ll be good for nothing for a year or so. And if you come next summer you won’t have seen L. for over a year and then it will be our turn to visit you the year just after the next baby is born (I hope) and traveling with one that age plus another, older, is a big order.
(It’s a wonder I came out to K.C. when I did. L. was so good then and enjoyed it all and a month later he was independent beyond belief and now he crawls constantly – OK on home territory but impossible to travel with on a plane, etc) Well, you let us know when your vacation schedule gets worked out and we’ll see what’s what. You’re still welcome to come in December (though before then is unvarying chaos after September 15). Or if you come alone, Mother, to go to the opera in April, or just see L. and visit before, that’s fine too. I guess we’ll figure out the next years as they come though they may not work out as neatly as in the past. Well, as I said, let us know what the chances are when they show up and we’ll see what we can figure out…
Also our week of vacation included the Annual Meeting of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers at Bethlehem in Quincy…
One couple, Nancy and Peter Kimon …have bought a lot in Hingham and will build before winter, so they’ll be nearby.
Also on our vacation came a beach picnic with the church Couples Club. May was quite a month for us. I was asked to be chairman of this area for the Wellesley Club Personal Call Program which I worked on two years ago and which will be done again this fall. D. and I were asked to be Head Couple for the Couples Club next year and I was asked to be first vice-president of the League of Women Voters. It was very, very satisfying to have such votes of confidence but after much agonizing generally, we decided that being head of the buildings and grounds committee for the church and chairman of the water resources committee for the League respectively plus raising a boy and building a house were all we cared to take on in one year, so we regretfully declined – all but the Wellesley chore which is half done already – lining up callers.
One other job also came along then, which is finished now. The League had a Tour of Houses last week and I was asked, and accepted the job, to write up the program describing each house. A lot more work than I expected…Poor sitter fund! But it was fun and interesting and satisfying and something I especially like to do. So it goes!
We’ve seen the Courtsals a couple of times recently. They came here for a weekend just after the trip to K.C. and two weekends ago, we four went down there. When they were up here, we went to see David Courtsal in Wrentham, about an hour and a half away in their direction.
Quite an experience. Massachusetts spends a lot of tax money on rehabilitation of alcoholics, the mentally disturbed, retarded and dependent children and the like and it was interesting actually to see that in this particular place, the children seem to be well cared for by people who care and are trained. It shook us all though a good bit to see the children.
Jr. Courtsal (Donald’s brother and the father of David), also spent the night here on one of his trips this way in April.
D. travels a good bit these days – once or twice a month to New York or Washington. He almost went to Hawaii to sail back to San Francisco but fortunately they found they couldn’t have sent all the people they originally planned to. Lucky for me because I have always wanted to go to San Francisco. Or lucky for the budget.
Was Mrs. Trudeau’s present to Lyle a place mat? I took a long chance and called it that. It’s awfully cute – leather, I think, white with wiggly stitching in red and blue and his name, an elephant, from Harzfelds.
His yellow overalls are the mainstay of his wardrobe. All his other corduroys are lined and much too hot, but he needs overalls to protect his knees when he crawls, which is practically every waking hour. The striped night shirt also is getting much use as a sort of bunting on chilly nights over his light p.j.s.
The embroidered tablecloth from the Courtsals is not a product of her own hand but she is very proud of it. It was done by the aunt of someone who lives in their vicinity and goes to their church…It was on sale at the church fair and just what she wanted, as she said.
Thank you for all your letters and various enclosures. Very smart, I think, of Smith and Wellesley to join forces. The talk about things Oriental sounded very interesting and the whole affair very pleasant. But the handkerchief – D. can certainly use another but isn’t that one of the three we sent Dad last year ??
The weather for about the last six weeks has been perfectly abominable – but I for one have not been all that unhappy about it. We couldn’t have played any more on our vacation than we did – too much work camping. And there has been too much work in the way of house tour, etc. and L. sleeps and eats and has an infinitely better disposition in cool, rainy weather. But now most of the chores are over and also the sun is showing up almost regularly so we can look forward to making the beach a regular part of our life. He likes it – likes the activity and the little children that always come to play with him and likes to play in the sand with his pail and shovel.
In August (for three weeks starting the 8th) our friends down the road, Patty and Jimmy Wales, are off to California for their vacation and have asked D. if he would be so kind as to watch over their boat – a 16 ft Hereshoff sloop – since it is hurricane season, etc. I assure you that no boat in the Harbor will get more attention in those three weeks. Another sailing friend, with no small children at home now, says we can borrow their small life jacket, approved by the Coast Guard for creatures under 50 lb.
And August 8th we are invited to the Kimon’s in-laws place on Buzzards Bay – for the weekend but we will probably will choose only one day, with the baby etc. And next Saturday, we are going out to Nancy and Em Hovey’s for a cook-out and tomorrow we are off to Boston and the new, new theater and Twelfth Night with Shibohen McKenna, Zachary Scott , Geoffrey Holder and other luminaries. And last Saturday we went out to Wellesley to see Streetcar Named Desire – first time I had seen the play and the details left out of the movie are why it didn’t make much sense, we discovered.
Marianne leaves Sunday with the two children to visit Detroit. We plan to have Ross over for supper some evening while she is gone – eight days there.
And one of my committee members is also a member (past president, I discovered) of the Garden Club and asked me to go as her guest to their big annual thing – because the topic was conservation. It was delightful – at the Scituate Country Club – festooned with unbelievably handsome arrangements of flowers, etc. – and very interesting. The speaker lives in Duxbury now, the wife of a Bostonian Life photographer, originally from Indonesia (Dutch) and a professional conservationist before her marriage five years ago, now head of the conservation activities of the Federation of Mass. Garden Clubs.
Well, that’s not all – but all there is time for. Must mention that the League’s parole committee arranged a visit to the maximum security prison at Walpole – unforgettable and most enlightening.
Best wishes for thirty more anniversaries!
Love, Fras
___________________________________________________
The bottom of a letter (the rest has been torn off)
It was probably sent to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
November 6, 1959
Lyle is just too cute to believe now. He plays Where’s Your Nose, climbs up and sits in the big chairs, says cute things – mostly cookie. A couple of Sundays ago D. finally put it across to him about walking – we said he could walk but he wouldn’t walk. D. had him by the elbows somehow and within a half hour he was walking all around the house and he never stopped for the rest of the day. Unfortunately our last bunch of pictures didn’t turn up with anything good.
Happy Holidays.
Much love, Fras
______________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
January 12, 1960
Dear Folks,
Lyle just woke, alas.
Please excuse us for delaying so long in writing. We thought this week the holidays were over and we could catch
up – and they were but more things started to happen. Happy things, tho.
First I went from one end of the South Shore to the other cashing in bonds, getting money out of the savings
account, etc. and then, after much complicated telephoning and arranging, we met with the lawyer and signed the
note after buying the land. Very exciting! And this morning, after more telephoning and arranging of
appointments, baby sitter, etc, we met the builder at the lot and established where the house will stand and what
trees to save, etc. Even more exciting! If the weather warms up for a few days – just to above freezing – the
bulldozing and digging and such can begin before the end of the week. Anything you’d like to know about the
lot or the house? Did I tell you we’ll be living in EGYPT! Like Greenbush, it is a postal zone within Scituate.
And did you know the Healds also will be living in Egypt, less than a mile from us.
Marianne called up around the first of December to say we’ll be neighbors; they had just bought a house.
Actually it is just short of a mansion. Very traditional. They will move when they sell their present house.
They will live on Mann Hill Road and we will live on Mary’s Lane (also part, even more so, of Mann Hill).
Well, back to business (Lyle has a coo-kie; also a ball, a tractor, Teddy Bear, and color pyramid; please stay in bed, Lyle, till I get done, or till your Daddy comes home – from meeting with a carpenter at the parsonage
about more repairs.)(Now Lyle is saying “hi” and “Hi Mama” in the most engaging way) Thank you very much
for all the nice presents – all twelve of them…
Constant Comment is always welcome in our house. We have some ordinary tea and some
exotic jasmine, but that is our favorite. I must have told you about our fine tea pot: have I told you about how
much D. likes tea – Constant Comment, that is. On just such an afternoon as this, he will stop in the course of the
various activities and suggest a pot of tea. As I say, it is very welcome; thank you…
The aprons will be much used. I enjoy very much the touches of hand work you have put on pot grabbers and
such, even more so since they remind me also of the hand work Mama T. used to do. I never have time now for
that kind of thing; only mending. Some knitting too, since it is easy to put down, doesn’t have lots of pins, etc.
that L. can get into and since it doesn’t take much thinking; it is relaxing instead. I knit many warm winter things
for L...The aprons also will be used because my trousseau stock is pretty well depleted.
At the moment, the keyrings really fall in the category of presents to L., though we will appropriate them later.
Very cute. When I first saw the Evergreen steed, I wondered a bit about it but needlessly so. He just loves it and is very careful with it. (Hi Lyle; where’s Lyle? There’s Lyle! – roars of laughter) He handles it so gently
and sets it carefully down on its feet – though once in a while something else catches his eye and it drops. And
for some reason that escapes me, he thinks the lamb is just hilarious. He has some funny looking toys but why
that one particularly tickles him I can’t say; in any case he certainly likes it. Nice that it is washable. And he
likes the little telephone. I am beginning to see this is a stage for small things.
Actually telephones in any form are fine with him. He puts the hand piece around his neck and says “Hi”
endlessly.
I was very glad to see the sleepers…Evidence of their usefulness: They’ve been through the wash twice already
and are branded with tomato juice.
The toy bag came in very handy too…I like the material and design.
The wrappings made a big hit, too, the kitties especially…The snowman and the pine cone bows from last year
also came in for more use and enjoyment.
We tried to call you last Sunday, about 7 your time, but got no answer. Dialled direct which was exciting.
Succeeding evenings we weren’t here or L. was cranky so finally we gave up. Sorry.
Lyle is up and knitting put away and most doors shut; he has already strewn around a few toys, pulled out a few
Kleenexes, dumped out the clothes pins. Ah, yes.
Now that you’ve opened your Christmas packages, let me tell you about the photograph.
Last summer at the Scituate Arts Festival, we admired the work of a local man in the photographic exhibits…
Since he’s also a member of our church we purchased his services.
After he came, I was disappointed to see him set up the usual lights and a place for Lyle to sit and play…But
through his quick action and ability, we got the photo of L. on D’s shoulder.
D. had just started up the top again for L. when he got excited and rolled off the platform.
D. was right there and got a hand under L’s head before it hit the floor, but L. was scared anyway, of course,
so D. picked him up. L. didn’t cry but Mr. Arnold got that special picture – just in a wink.
Please give Mrs. Trudeau our apologies for writing so late. She sent L. a pull toy – very good toy. And maybe
she will tell you the Teddy bear story I put in the note to her.
(Here is the actual note to Mrs. Trudeau:
January 9, 1960
Dear Mrs. Trudeau,
That pull toy was a fine choice for Lyle at this age when walking itself is fascinating for him.
He runs with it and he walks slowly backward to watch it, and thoroughly enjoys it. We know just from our
experience how well designed the Playskool toys are – and well made too – and this I think is one of their best
– the essence of motion and color, and the nice wooden sound.
Thank you very much for sending it to him.
Lyle is such fun these days – able to do lots of things, so busy and so full of surprises. One day
last week, I was running a bath for him and he was getting his bath toys one at a time and throwing them in the
tub. After a bit, he disappeared and I figured something new had distracted him. But instead he’d gone to his
room and gotten his Teddy Bear out of bed.
I intercepted him just in time to save Teddy from a bath!
I hope the 1960’s will be very happy ones for you and all of your family.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Courtsal)
We had a wonderful time over the holidays – Christmas here, which I was thankful for because the excitement
was more than enough for L. We were invited to D’s brother’s but they were having, in addition to their four
children, his parents and her three aunts...we took L. and the two older Heald children to see the Christmas lights.
Christmas Day we went to the Healds about 5 for a chat. New Year’s Eve we spent at the North River Community
Club again with our friends the Kimons; one of the best celebrations I can remember – real fun. The Wales had
us over for D’s birthday (which incidentally is the 30th and not the 27th)...and in November we joined a singing
group (L. just brought me a piece of cork; somehow he got the tile trivet and took all the backing off it) of
members of the North River Community Club and sang some nice old English carols and met some interesting
people and the group was asked to sing at a couple of big parties, which was fun.
We liked your Christmas card this year very much – out of the ordinary and imaginative and yet not striving to be
so, and also appropriate to the season and the message.
It is Monday now, the effort having been abandoned last Saturday afternoon. But things are about as wild so all I
can manage is to finish this up and get it in an envelope.
Much love,
Fras
_________________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts
March 16, 1960
Dear Folks,
This will be hasty and incomplete probably – because Lyle is due to wake up any time now and Nancy Kimon is due in an hour to go see our house and theirs, which they will move into, in Hingham, in two weeks – but I will try to get caught up on some of the news so you won’t have to spend your visit with D. doing that. I hope the bad weather here tonight doesn’t foil my attempt and hold up the letter.
The Courtsals wrote that they had a snow of some teen inches and you did but we won – somewhere around 23 to 27 inches. But so far we’ve only had one major snow so you win on that score – lucky you – ho ho.
Flu has dominated our winter. Around February 11 we all three got it on the same day.
Fortunately I was the only one who got it bad so D. took care of himself and Lyle too. That was Tuesday night and he didn’t go to work till Friday. It was the end of the next week before I was back on a normal schedule. Then we no longer got all caught up but two weeks ago – the day it snowed so much – Lyle and I got it again. D. was home for the snow so he did all the work inside and every spare minute went outside to shovel. He has us all shovelled out by Saturday
and that night got a terrible case of it himself (Lyle and I had light cases the second time). He was so sick and faint I called the dr. – but of course he said nothing much helps, but time.
And that night I got it again. Luck held out – I had a light case– or we would have had to get a practical nurse. That stuff is dynamite!
We can’t really complain about the weather tho because it let up in January just when things started and lasted until they got the roof and sides up. By now the roof is all finished (D. doesn’t know that yet), most of the siding is on, the fireplace is all done, the rough plumbing and wiring are done and the plastering starts tomorrow. The windows are in too. Don will draw you a floor plan.
Occasionally you’ve expressed sorrow that I don’t have as many flowers any more, so I was especially interested to notice that we had flowers during both session of sickness…So pretty and such a nice scent.
Here are some more pictures of Lyle, aged 17 months…
You wrote before Christmas, Dad, saying very firmly that you weren’t coming here for Christmas and that was that. I didn’t really think at that point that you were; the thing I was most concerned about was that the schedule I had proposed wasn’t being followed and we can’t see how we can keep up with the yearly trade come next year (1961) and also it puts so much time between your chances to see Lyle. Have you any proposal? Most important, I hope you realize that unless Mother Nature lets us down, we will not be able to travel to K.C. during the summer of 1961. In any case, you are welcome to come see us in August this summer – provided we move in by July 1, which seems most likely.
We got a huge kick out of your raccoon story. I’m sorry the Nasons will be leaving. They are awfully good neighbors.
The Healds haven’t sold their present house and so haven’t moved even tho they own the other house too. They feel this house will look too uninviting empty and so not get sold so soon.
Have a good time with Don.
Much love,
Fras
___________________________________________________________
Birthday card to Mrs. Hamilton Chase on May 5, 1960 enclosed this program and
newspaper clipping:
Frances C Courtsal as Jennie Parsons
 |
Down in the Valley, a modern operetta
by Kurt Weill and Arnold Sundgarrd |
____________________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 272, Egypt, Massachusetts
May 13, 1960
Dear Folks,
Here is that letter I guaranteed within the week. Tho it has been such a week it is a wonder.
Actually it has been such a four months. We still have our heads above water but when I look back I don’t
understand how. As you know we were stumbling along from Feb. 10 in and out of bed and trying all the
while to keep up with Town Meeting, the League, all the house details, the musical and a two-year-old.
Dr. Howe thought he had me well on April 12 after a long session of penicillin… and I had enough energy
(I thought) to help paint the parsonage, we went out to dinner the night you called, etc.; then for three nights
running we alternated getting up in the night with Lyle who was running a fever with a cold and life didn’t
let up and crash – the 22nd all
My symptoms were back in force. Dr. Howe said I had a case of exhaustion and I had to drop everything – including
Mary Jane’s wedding the next day. I cried right in his office.
But that didn’t make much difference in the truth so we set about trying to figure out how to handle it all.
He said it was OK to do the show under restricted conditions; I felt I really had to because nearly 50 people
had been working on it for three months. So, I went to half the rehearsals from then on, got an understudy
to do the Thursday night performance – also took Lyle to Mrs. Torrey, our neighbor and babysitter whom
Lyle just loves (makes me think of Aunty Clark) every morning the week before the performance and the
week after and napped then and in the afternoon when he napped. So all the housework etc. got done from
four to five-thirty because I went to bed as soon as the work from dinner was done. And D. all the while
was working eight hours a day, three days a week painting the house by himself now. And he took Lyle
with him every morning when he went to the house. That Don is a prize. I’ve been saying it for six years
and my enthusiasm hasn’t diminished yet! This is all on top of his regular help of putting Lyle to bed each
night and making his own lunch while I do the dishes and dressing Lyle in the mornings when he paints.
And lately he has nearly always made our breakfast those mornings and done the dishes the night before
when he didn’t have to make lunch.
Except for the show we’ve done nothing – gave up the opera, a dance, a concert, the last Symphony performance,
but M.J.’s wedding was the biggest disappointment in many a year.
Nancy called that night to report the details of the wedding and the reception – sit-down luncheon with
champagne, dancing and the works – starting at 10 and ending about 4. Something! Apparently that’s
the only way the Irish do it! Last Saturday we crept out to Hugo’s for an enormous roast beef dinner – under
ideal conditions since we haven’t spent any money for so long and since we have both lost lots of weight.
This Sunday, the 15th, I understand we are going out again. But always in bed by 9:30.
Isn’t that a tale of woe! Our daily life, the work on the house, all a mess, and the League, etc. neglected.
But I’m an optimist at heart – to D’s intense disgust sometimes – and things do seem to be looking up. Even
D. agrees to that. Dr. Howe said at the first of May it would take me about a month to recover and that was
pretty hard on the spirits and most specifically on the patience. But improvement is obvious. I’ve got my
appetite back (welcome!) am taking care of Lyle and other such basic everyday duties – and what accomplishments
they seem! And most of all I’m enlightened.
Dr. Howe talked to me long and hard. (He seems very sophisticated and urbane but he’s very sweet too; the
Thursday after the show I was living life as it had to be lived and following his instructions dutifully and to my
surprise he called up. He said he was concerned about me and just wanted to be sure I was coming along all right.
No new symptoms? Wasn’t that nice).
Anyway he talked to me quite awhile about all this and said he considers this sort of thing almost a part of the
physiology of marriage; people who are conscientious, educated, interested in lots of things, get married, are
active in the community, have children – the ordinary thing to do. But he says that most people don’t realize the
energy it takes to raise children and they feel guilty if they do less for the community and this is often the result.
He said he had long since become convinced that it does no good to tell people about this; only experience
convinces them. And I thought of you and Don; all have told me to take it easier! He assured me that there is
nothing constitutionally wrong with me and this will have nothing but favorable aftereffects – if I’ve learned my
lesson. So that’s the story for us from February to May.
The movers are coming the 31st. We’re going to do the packing but that’s all. And a cleaning woman is coming to
put the house in shape (this one). With all that help, we are sure to be all set for company by the end of August.
D. says that is when your vacation starts; Will you be coming here first? Scituate is a great place to be in August,
we think, especially just four blocks from the ocean.
The Healds are all established. Today Marianne called to offer to provide our supper on moving day, which I
thought was awfully nice. We discussed toilet training at great length. They went to the show, to my surprise.
I had regarded it as of intereste primarily to those in it, but the Wales went too. Curiosity I guess. In any case it
went off very well, was a success (nearly sold out Friday and Saturday – small place) and lots of fun. I knew
many of the people from the Christmas singing but got to know them better. And D. knew them too from the
singing, which was nice. The cast party afterwards was very gay – at least for the hour we were there.
I wrote to Aunt Polly last week. I simply forgot about the offer in all the confusion here.
I felt very sorry and told her so.
We both appreciated very much the good lunch you made for D. on the plane…We enjoyed the avocado too…
We had half with grapefruit sections and half with lettuce and a sauce of catsup, lemon juice and a couple drops of
Tabasco. And Lyle was much taken with the finger puppets. I like to see him have toys that stress imagination and
doing.
Around Easter, I got out the bunnies…Did you say it is washable? Now he recognizes bunnies in pictures, and
says “Money”.
You’ve heard of course of Dennis the Menace. We have Lyle the Trial. Into everything tho he knows full well
what he’s not to get into; runs away at every opportunity tho he knows full well he’s not to go under (on his tummy!)
the fence. (Fortunately he always runs away to the neighbors and their toys). But also he’s endlessly fascinating
and amusing and sweet. And so busy noticing and learning and trying to say. We’ll take another batch of pictures
for his birthday to hold you until August.
Before I forget it, Mother, could you buy me a girdle at Harzfeld’s? Before MJ’s wedding, I got a silk sheath and
couldn’t find a girdle anywhere that fit right…The one I’d prefer says on the label: the Shape, Scandale, Tru Balance
but no size. It cost around $6.95 last year. It’s a two-way stretch, in this so-called power net – panty girdle.
The other one I got before I got married and it cost over $10. Its label says Olga Originals, style 665, size L
(Maybe the other one was large too, or extra large). This second one has a sort of lacy effect n the elastic, the main
part of it. If you can turn anything up from this, I’d appreciate it because I sure need a girdle! I’ll send you a check
when I know how much.
Not long ago in those Miss Rhinegold ads the beer was in those fine beer mugs like you sent D.
Did I tell you about the second couple of Grays we got to know in Marshfield? A Bill Gray came to work for D.,
just out of the Navy last June. And lo and behold his wife was a member of Wellesley ‘52 – Nancy Herman Gray (pronounced
Harmon, like clerk and Berkeley Square). And he went to Yale and they are both from Greenwich and his family
lives within shouting distance of the Davenports, whom they like. We’ll never be best friends but we like them.
Your lovely gold package arrived today and the tasty card. I was especially pleased to see them because the Courtsal’s
had written that they would bring my present when they came on the 21st. They’re awfully sweet – but I like better
to have birthday presents on my birthday, and I’m glad we always were careful about that sort of thing.
Something else I’ve always been glad we were careful about is mail – forwarding it promptly and not opening other
people’s mail. You’ve preserved those ideas carefully but I’m astonished at how many parents haven’t – with the
most lamentable results often. The Courtsal’s don’t read our mail, I’m sure.
I’ve enjoyed the clippings you’ve sent now and then. It’s nice to know about the Scout and the Wellesley tour,
Mary Jo Manry, Nancy Jane Martin Barnes. And Murray’s letter was interesting – a strange person! It is nice to
know you are keeping me up on things.
Speaking of the Courtsals reminds me of something else. You said one time the Courtsals are lucky to see their
boys so often. But they say the Chases are lucky to see us for so long at a time. And actually the time figures out
about the same, just in a different arrangement, because we see them for a little over a day only about three or four
times a year.
Marianne reported Aunt Ethel said she had a very good visit – very cultural.
Love,
Fras
This letter enclosed 4 enclosures.
One of them was the schedule of the MET opera when they were performing in
Boston that summer.
Another was “Yul Brynner portraying the King in “Solomon and Sheba”. Fras wrote in the margin, “We went to this performance and it was terrible! Good singing, but such a bore of a plot”.
 |
Ross Heald with 2 others plan the Spring Concert
of the Choral Arts Society, May 1960 |
______________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 272, Egypt, Massachusetts
July 10, 1960
Dear Folks,
When are you coming to see us??? The way things are going here – details later – it doesn’t much matter whether you come the last week in
August or one of the weeks in September. When you let us know the dates, D. will arrange to take a couple days vacation. This time for
sure – I hope – we should get to the Cape. During the summer it is better – much better – to go down during the week rather than try to
drive down on the weekend.
Here’s one for you! Remember the feature article you sent me about Marlys Ann Waters?...what to my wondering eye
should appear – there was mention of the London company and, sure enough, the first female listing was
Marlys Ann Waters. As if that isn’t enough, it opens August 22 for a week. Like to go?
The Nethercots were here a couple weeks ago visiting Marianne and at last we got to meet the legendary Jill. She is just as cute as her
reputation claims – tho no scholar! Aunt Ethel said again she enjoyed her stay in K.C. very much – mentions the beautiful flowering trees
and how beautiful K.C. was in general then, and of course emphasized that culture dominated the schedule of events. When she mentioned
the Nelson Gallery, Jill hit her a good one, saying “You’ll never go to anything like that at home!” and to me “I love it!”
A comment Aunt Ethel made about Lyal Dudley caused me considerable concern: “If things don’t change I fear there may be a tragedy.”
Time after time my mind comes back to that and each time I am frustrated by being so far away and not having seen him in so long.
If there is truth in her comment, and from what little I have seen of the situation, it seems there could very well be, surely it behooves every
one of us to do anything at all we can think of, if only to assure ourselves that we have done everything we could…
It seems to me he’s asking too much of himself…
It seems to me he needs two things…
Does he care enough about church to have a minister around whom he respects and who could help him?...
As for getting someone to relieve him, it seems to me that he has no cause to feel guilty if he finds someone
to give her good care and attention….
Does Lyal get away by himself for a couple of hours when you go?...
Can you think of anything I can do?...
And I’ve thought of inviting him to come here…
It is so awful to think about this and not know when I’m on the right track and when not.
Then I think maybe it isn’t as bad as Aunt Ethel says, but if it isn’t, that’s a hell of a thing to be superficial
about and exaggerate. Alas. What a dilemma.
We may go to New Hampshire the last week in July. No confirmation yet tho.
We had an awful scare about ten days ago. D. got mysterious symptoms and went to Dr. Howe who said it might
not be ulcers but we couldn’t take
any chances. He clapped him on a special diet, gave him all kinds of pills, and for two days we were up in the air.
It all cleared up tho and Dr. Howe
said ulcers never go away that fast. So, D. is suffering from my ailment and has to take it easy for a month.
Since he recognized it so soon, he thinks
it will clear up in that time and not drag on as it did for me. I supposedly am taking it easy all summer, and didn’t
do a very good job of it in June and
have to try harder – and it is hard! – so there will be an awful lot not done when you come. We can function very
well but things are far from complete.
I might be well for you to be specific with the Courtsals just what you have in mind with them. Mom C. said
you said you hoped to see them when you
were here so she said they’d try to come up when you were here. That surprised me because it didn’t sound like
the kind of thing you would suggest –
though it’s OK with us. If you had something else in mind – stopping by on the way? – best you tell them more
specifically. And don’t worry about
being specific with the Courtsals; they are used to being blunt – well, matter-of-fact. Nice at the same time
because they are good-hearted people. Just not subtle.
Here is a map D. created of the routes here. I assume you will drive….Give us a call anywhere you get lost or discouraged and we’ll help you out.
Lyle naps after lunch but if both of us are home, one or more of us can come to your aid.
Love, Fras
 |
Lyle and Frances Courtsal at his 2nd birthday
May 23, 1960 |
 |
Viola and Fred Courtsal, May 23, 1960
Lyle Courtsal's birthday |
______________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas
From Donald P. Courtsal, Box 272, Egypt, Massachusetts
August 17, 1960
Dear Mother and Dad Chase,
This is one of those lunch hour letters, so I’m afraid it will be rather brief. Your vacation schedule sounds
good to us and we are looking forward to seeing you on September 2nd.
We were sorry to hear that you wouldn’t be able to stop off and say “Hello” to my parents, but we are aware
of the time limitations involved.
I was wondering if Dad would be interested in taking a walk through the shipyard? This could be arranged
for either the 3rd or the 5th of September, probably the 5th, as long as I know three or four days in advance.
I’m sorry that I can’t extend this invitation to Mother too, but they don’t allow lady visitors except for launchings, etc.
We took one week’s vacation during the last week of July and rented a cabin on Lake Winnipesauke in New
Hampshire. It was an excellent vacation and we got lots of rest and did a little swimming, etc. Unfortunately,
on the day we headed home, we came down with a bug of some sort and it took two visits to the doctor and
another week to recover. We are fine now though and look back on our vacation with pleasure.
Fras asked me to thank you for the clipping of Mary Jo Marny and the news of Ellen Knowles.
She has sent a card to Ellen. Fras also wanted me to tell you that we may feel the first signs of Fall while you
are here so some warm clothing may be in order.
See you soon.
Love, Don
P.S. Lyle didn’t get sick when we did – D
 |
Donald and Frances Courtsal (with Spray)
September 1960, Scituate, Mass |
 |
Lieuween Chase, Hamilton Chase, Donald and Lyle Courtsal
Sept. 1960, Piggoty Beach, Scituate, Mass. |
 |
Lyle Courtsal, Frances C., Don C. and Lieuween Chase
Sept. 1960, Piggoty Beach, Scituate Mass. |
__________________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 272, Egypt, Massachusetts
October 6, 1961
Dear Folks,
This time it has really been too long!
Even I must admit a letter is overdue and I’m sorry not to have written sooner.
We all enjoyed your letters and cards.
And we are enjoying your many presents – apron, pot-grabbers, green-ribbon sweater (nice to have something to prime the
imagination for next Spring’s wardrobe), Lyle’s squirrel, chickens (the Robertsons also are fascinated with them),
books (a nice basic library to fall back on between trips to the library), Lyle’s cups (he thinks they are very elegant
and grown up, not to mention gay), and the plants, candy and bird call. Many nice things! Thank you.
And we enjoyed so much going out to dinner too. Few things I’d rather do, especially with good company!
Lyle mentioned you regularly in relation to airplanes. Yesterday, he turned on Grandaddy’s flight (in the little room).
We all wish you were here to take him for a walk or read the scrapbook to him, etc.
Fall has taken over our life. The League of Women Voters is in full swing and already I’ve been to a sherry party
given for new and prospective members, to the fall conference in Arlington, to a committee meeting on regional
planning in Massachusetts (especially interesting because of my MIT job) and I was one speaker on a panel for
our League (on water resource legislation).
Finally (gasp) I said No to a similar request from the Marshfield League. The League is a very demanding organization but very stimulating
and rewarding too.
Don has traveled about 9000 miles since you were here – to Baltimore, Washington, twice to NYC (where he is today)
and worst of all, a weekend in California. He took a cruise ship from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Sounds great but
he got on at 5 pm Saturday and off at 8 am Sunday. He worked nearly all night checking the results the men got with
their meters to see if anything else was needed, etc. He took Uncle Mason’s address…maybe next time.
Gardening and sailing and reading go on as always. What is the perennial you brought (ajuga)?
Everything is in. We have another load of gravel down and have started planting the back yard and cleaning out the
holding area beyond the drive.
Aunt Virginia and Uncle Al came down last Saturday afternoon with about 25 iris rhizomes, loads of ivy and some hosta.
We were very unhappy with her condition. She is on crutches, shows much pain in her face and is not at all her cheerful,
positive self.
Fall brought hurricane threats too. All we got was a lot of rain and wind but we brought Zuni (their boat) home anyway.
And one morning I went out with the wrench and screwdriver and dismantled the swing set. I felt very accomplished!
Afterwards, Zuni went back into the water. (She is at Young’s boat yard. We found a boat all stove in the next day at
the town pier and so lost our nerve there). D. took a couple days off for fine fall sailing and for beach combing.
We have so much driftwood now for firewood and decoration. D. said we shouldn’t go looking anymore ‘till we use
what we have. So, I made a wall hanging of nets, etc. for Patty’s office (Patience Wales, editor of SAIL magazine).
Social life also is in full swing. The Wales had a party on the boat the weekend after you left. And we had the Bridge 12
here for punch, dinner and cards. The Branagans came down last weekend from Wellesley and next Sunday we are having
10 people in for punch, from Norwell. And symphony begins this Sunday.
I think it’s grand that all the Adams things are coming out now. The Revolutionary period and early days of the nation
are so much more fascinating, I think, than the Civil War. Now people have something to take their attention off the latter.
Somehow the Civil War was just a housekeeping war, a negative thing. We already had fought for and gained independence
and freedom, and that fight was so much more positive. And a new nation was organized then, not just preserved. I really
am rather ashamed of the Civil War, not to mention what still remains to be done in the way of civil rights. For much the
same reason I find Western U.S. history fascinating. It too is fresh and not a rehash.
I’ve had lots of thoughts on full skirts but shall put them down some other day. With some reservations and modifications
in mind, I think they could move to be very useful, if you’re interested.
You’ll be please to know I didn’t wait so long to write the Knowleses. Aunt Fan owes me a letter, but I’ll write anyway.
What’s new with you this Fall?
Much love,
F.
 |
Fred and Viola Courtsal with grandson Lyle Courtsal
Dec. 26, 1960 |
___________________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 205, Egypt, Massachusetts
September 13, 1962
Dear Folks,
Sorry about your ears and your lawn – but glad you arrived home safe. You certainly left here at the right time. A had-been hurricane settled off-shore and our weather was lousy for a week.
Now, with the new month, it appears to be fall and our schedules are adjusting accordingly – and the wardrobes too. The biggest change came this week when Lyle went to nursery school Tuesday. So far it is an unqualified success. Lyle was willing to go and willing to come home each day, and apparently was cooperative. Seeing some of the others, I was very proud. We’re very pleased with Mrs. Gunn and gladly put up with the inconvenience of driving to have him there (and a car pool seems to be shaping up which will lessen the inconvenience some).
An you’d be amazed how many sensible people let transportation be the deciding factor and send their children to schools where the slightest inquiry reveals details that are much less than satisfactory! I’m pleased, too, that he seems so eager to go; we’d really exhausted the potential of toys and the motley selection of playmates here. And of course, I can live a civilized life for 2 hours a day – a real delight!
I took a picture of him before he left the first day. I want to get some of him with Mrs. Torrey and then the roll will be done. We’ll send you the good ones. Do be sure to send us yours from the visit. I’m so glad you were looking after them.
The Mullikens arrived Tuesday at the Healds. Marianne N. Heald keeps Cindy (their daughter) while Jill and Bill go to Cambridge each day to paint, move furniture up from the basement, etc. until they get settled.
Last week we had the dinner and bridge group here, having settled our 2 substitute couples, and it was fun to get together with such an interesting bunch again.
The week before, we went to M.J’s for dinner, and one couple there (the Ulricks) were friends of Lyell from Peoria and Chicago. My being a midwesterner too, came out shortly, and lo, we learned that Doris was born in Winfield, Kansas! I didn’t have the sense to find out her maiden name, but I’ll ask M.J. soon.
The shirt for Lyle arrived and it fits a need very well. I’d gotten him a pair of corduroys that are very cute but I discovered the color is a very difficult one – a cross between orange and tan. The orange motif on the tan shirt is a fine solution. And of course Lyle thinks the racer is grand. Thanks very much.
And thanks too for taking us out to dinner to polish off the gay wedding day, and for the jigger, peanuts and iced tea spoon. And you know Lyle enjoyed his pennies.
We hope you enjoy the fall.
Love,
Fras
 |
| Hamilton Chase and Lyle Courtsal, Aug 1962 |
 |
| Lieuween Chase and Lyle, Aug 1962 |
 |
Lyle, first day of Nursery School
September 1962 |
_______________________________________________
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase
5528 Tahoe Lane, Shawnee Mission, Kansas
From Frances C. Courtsal, 51 Mary’s Lane, North Scituate, Mass
February 20, 1964
Dear Folks,
It has finally been decided: we shall move to Baltimore by the first of May, where Don will work in design for Bethlehem’s Sparrows Point
shipyard. We want very much to come down to see you before we move. Would March 7 or March 28 weekends be OK? Any preference?
On the way back from Florida we stopped in Baltimore just to get the flavor of it – stood on a street corner watching buses go by for a half hour
to see that not only do Negros sit in the front of the buses but also white people sit in the back…had dinner with a dear friend from Wellesley,
Bobbie Stout, where we perused charts of the Bay and generally confirmed our impressions. The upshot of it all was that it is humanly possible
to live in Baltimore, so we shall go and try. How we hate to leave! But I think the light would go out of Don’s eyes if he had to be a civil
engineer and that is the only way we could stay and have any future at all. This is the last chance for shipbuilding, tho; if the Sparrows Point
yard goes out of business, Don says he goes out of the business. (Actually Baltimore reminds me time and time again of Kansas City –
the milder winters and hotter summers, the rather “central” accent, the symphony. It has a saltier flavor, of course, and more of the south rather
than the west.) Lyle knows we are going and so far is not terribly upset (at age 6). I’m glad he’s not any older.
Florida was even more delightful than we expected. We stayed overnight Friday at a motel in Miami, after renting a car; then Saturday morning
we drove down the main road at Miami Beach to see the sights (undeniably impressive tho not our style) and then we drove straight west through
the Everglades to the Gulf Coast, through Naples and Bonita Springs. On the way we took an alternate route on a dirt road to get even more of
the flavor of the Everglades, to see the birds, flowers and plants. Our dentist has a little place in Bonita Springs (Naples is quite chic and close to
being a city) and wrote a note for us to take to a real estate friend of his, which friend found a quite ideal place for us – just across the road from
the beach, with facilities for cooking. Don requires me to cook only two meals a day on vacation so we tried out various interesting restaurants
and I gained six lbs. (four of which are already gone). The casual, most informal life in Bonita Springs (all brands of snuff and sold in their general
store), the light housekeeping, being away from the boys, all led to a very relaxing and delightful vacation. Also there were interesting things to do
nearby. We went to a caribbean garden - saw innumerable orchids, spanish moss, houseplants like sansevaria and philodendron and various
bromeliads growing outside, saw bouganvillia, hibiscus, and such. We also went to the National Audubon Society’s Corkscrew Swamp (where
Don joined the Society) and stayed there three hours watching birds (added 20 species to our list), alligators, big turtles, more exotic plants, ferns,
cyprus trees – a terrifically interesting and real place. And of course we went shell hunting – being across the road from one of the best beaches for that. There are more than 80 varieties in the
vicinity and in a week we found more than 40 (recognized). We tried out a couple of other beaches too for comparison. Friday my aunt and uncle
took us to Marco Island for shelling and lunch and later a ride in my uncle’s boat, through mangrove swamps where I saw my first porpoises.
The weather was cloudy frequently but not rainy, ranged from 55 degrees at night to 80 degrees four days. My kind of January! Don’s too, fortunately.
He’s already figuring when we’ll go back with the boys.
Charlie’s birthday was a gala affair. Lyle contributed three balloons he’d gotten at Howard Johnson’s and also two hats he had made at school.
One really was supposed to be an Indian tepee – construction paper in the shape of a cone, decorated with a crayon – but he showed us that it fit
C. fine, so hat it was. We had a cake (poor C. is still on his rigid diet and couldn’t have any, though he doesn’t even know other babies can) and
Lyle made a wish for C, didn’t tell us what it was, and blew out the candle. These were all his ideas, too, and we were awfully pleased with
his interest. He also made a card for C.
The following week (last) was not so gay. C., with no warning of temperature, etc, had a burst ear drum and Lyle came home with a fever of
103.4 degrees Tuesday, which went up to 104.2 degrees that night – also an ear infection. Thanks to modern science, they are both hale and hearty.
Whew!
The alligator arrived and I saved it for Valentine’s Day. I told Lyle why you sent it but I think he got a kick out of having it on V. Day. He makes
up the darndest situations with it – even takes it to bed with him. Very much enjoyed! And C. enjoys the blocks too – bounces them far and wide
for Lyle to collect, turns them around and around looking at the different patterns. Did you make them? Very cute. Thank you very much.
Thank you for the V’s too.
My V. from Don was red roses.
We enjoyed the clippings about the concert in St. Joseph very much, especially the salty one which describes the muscles which belie the femininity.
Someone knew what he was hearing. The red velvet must have looked lovely. Don said “She is a handsome woman.”
I don’t share Dad’s dismay over the small fee. A perceptive and complimentary review, a large audience, even the appreciation shown in being asked
to play, all seem more important rewards. Culture being what it is – or art or music or whatever it should be called – in the U.S., it will be a long time,
if ever, before the general public puts much money into concerts. It’s exciting to make a contribution, though, in a concert.
Our Dudley card was also mailed December 26.
Thank you for telling us Aunt Ethel’s compliment. We had a delightful time with them. They were very relaxed and good company. Their house is
quite tasteful in an area which sometimes goes too far.
You mentioned perhaps coming to see us in May. I only wish we were going to be here then. Baltimore summers I gather are quite close to Kansas City
summers, plus humidity. What time would be your second choice?
Much love,
Fras
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| Frances and Don Courtsal, Jan 1964, Naples, FL |
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David and Ethel Nethercott, Jan. 1964, at their home
Naples, FL |
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| Don Courtsal, Jan 1964, Bonita Springs, FL |
