Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - April 4, 1928

Old Mission, Mich. Apr. 4th 1928

My Dear Miss. Taft:

We had a very heavy snow fall that blocked all traffic since I last wrote you it was Mar. 26th had to snow plow roads. A no. of Old Mission cars was in Traverse over night. Last night we had our first real thunder storm & it was a bad one. It frightened me our whole family stayed down stairs until morning.

The buds on fruit trees haven't started much so far. hope it turns colder tonight.

There hasn't been a wreck over on that corner yet & hope there isn't any either it would be a dreadful thing to happen.

Joseph inquired about fertilizer & he can't get a pound of the Ford kind they haven't enough to fill all their other orders.

Joseph hasn't any hay so far as a truck couldn't get down in here as there is 3 or 4 feet of water over the road at the foot of the hill. Hope it soon drains away. our road down in here is dreadful.

Mr Garland is still our road comissioner Mr. Loulek lost out by 12 votes. We are so sorry he didn't get it.

I never saw such a changed about community as this Spring. A family by the name of Hawkins moved in Archie Helfrich's house on the corner. Ashmore's have two new men. And Henry & his bride are settled in the log cabin. And many other changes made. Every place is filling up with new people. The Nagg's place is sold too. Jos. changed his mind about wanting it 20 acres of rough land is enough for one man to care for. Mr. Scorfield is the one going to take it think the papers were made out today or should have been. It is going to cost him a lot for building as his house is worse than our was. And it cost us enough to get our place even as good as it is. He will make a go of it if he tries hard. but that is the only way.

You want carrots in the same old place as usual and seed the meadow up to the new cherry orchard, And corn where the sweet clover was last year. Do you want center of apple tree rows cultivated where sweet clover was planted? Joseph thinks you want to just cultivate around trees. But all of cherry orchards keept clean same as always. He wanted to be sure about the corn. Just the one field is all we found on plans and plant corn close.

Jos. tried all over to get a pulley for the engine but couldn't find one right size in town. And it will cost $5.50 to have one made at foundry. If you send out they cost much less and are just as good. He wants a 4 inch pulley to fit a [???] 1 3/8 in. shaft but wide enough to hold on a belt. about a six or 5 in space across for belt to stay onto. Will you send out for it or want us to. You know what fits your pocket book best.

With love Essie.

$8.35 on hand

5.55 grain
 .40 gas

_____ $2.40 to your credit.