Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - January 14, 1927

Old Mission, Mich

Jan 14th 1927

My Dear Miss Taft:

I have intended to write to you for several days as I have been dreaming of you so often. Last night I dreamed I was talking with you & you seemed so real to me.

Well the weather is colder again & more snow has fallen the snow plows were out this afternoon.

Were your taxes high this year? Ours were more than they were last and will be still higher next year if expenses on highways continue. We need good roads but so much money is wasted. You go along & men leaning on the shovel handle & moving like a lot of snails & getting $.30 an hour for it.

Mr. John Marshall passed away last Fri afternoon Jan 7th. He had been feeling as well as usual but Fri A.M. when he was dresing went into convulsions & only lived a few hours. We will all miss him as he was such a good neighbor & kind to every one around him. I know I will miss him for good many pleasant visits we have had during the summer time. His funeral was Sunday & I helped at their home to get every thing ready. So Joseph was there too & happened to hold quite a lengthy conversation with Marshall Pratt. One of the many things they talked about was your farm of course. He said he hoped Joseph would stay here in order to keep it in a good condition as he hoped to find sale for it in the Spring. Also said that the 53 acres across the road has been sold & 5 or 6 cottages are going up down on the shore in the Spring. In the way he has of letting a person know how imprtant he ishe old Joseph that Miss Taft would have to come down a notch or two on her farms because they wouldn't sell it unless they could make a good slice themselves. So Miss Taft if you are dealing with those fellows just beware of them. And your farm is a good one and if all goes well property here is going to be much higher than it is now. Don't give it away. This is quite close to the shore property & some one may want it pretty badly & pay you well for it. This may not be the thing I should write but Joseph can't go the Pratts & when Marshall did a lot of talking I am going to put you wise. I feel sorry for Mrs. Stutsman as she might have gotten much more for her farm had any of us know about things sooner. But it was a surprise to us all. This doesn't happen to be. Every one is looking foward to a booming Summer. Ah! dear I wish that paper hadn't stopped coming because now I can't find a thing to send you now of any interest to you. There has been more property changing hands her than I know of. Mrs. Boursaw said that she had a lot of trouble this year with taxes for so many new people makes it rather confusing and also mentioned that valuation was much higher on all resort property. I am keeping my ears & eyes open to see & hear all I can. I like to visit with Mrs. Lardie but one has to be so careful what you say as she doesn't always tell things straight & likes to make a little excitement where ever she can. But we all have our faults so I must over look hers & find all of my own which I fear are many & easy to see. But every one says beware so I better not go there much. My she feels pretty cross about the car with Ill. liseance selling cherries never mind I have a whole front yard our own this year so can do as we please & no one can say you may get off ass we don't sell cherries here. I fell & struck my head on the ice on this little hill by the wood shed & I feel pretty sore & lame. The ice was covered with snow & didn't see it. I couldn't get up for a few minutes am lucky I wasn't hurt worse than I was. Can't think of any more just now so will say good night. Maybe before this is mailed seomething more come up.

Well this is Sunday P.M. Have heard Pratt & Cross are having shore frontage surveyed off into lots so they will be ready for sale in the Spring.

Ernest & Ledger struck it lucky this winter. They are doing carpenter work for the new people & are earning $4.00 a day & yet Lillie wants to get back to Lake City the worst kind of a way.

Yes we all think the bays have raised a great deal on account of so much rain & the wells are not giving so much trouble either. Your's has been all right so far this wnter.

It is storming dreadfully hard today & I am nearly out of groceries. We may have to live on potatoes.

Mrs. Ralph Helfrich died yesterday afternoon & leaves six little children without a mother. It sure is tough luck for them. She has been in poor health for several years & has been the hospital a long time with leakage ofthe heart & pnuemonia.

I had to bake bread & churn butter today so I feel real wicked. I never have my work done any more guess I am too fat & slow or maybe very lazy.

Hazel couldn't believe she was so careless as to mail the wrong letters. She has just found the letter that belongs to you. I have to laugh when I read it & see how funng she has mispelled some of the words. My mistakes are many too so guess we are both alike. I don't know what she will do if you sell the farm & don't come back here in the Summer. Just take us along with you.

Lovingly E.K. P.S. If you run in today I will give you a slice of warm bread & a drink of buttermilk with home made butter too.