Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - April 29, 1931

2020.1.225 04291931.pdf

Dublin Core

Title

Carolyn Gay Taft Farm Letter - April 29, 1931

Subject

Old Mission Peninsula (Mich.)
Agriculture
Farmers
Crops and climate

Description

Carolyn Gay Taft (1873-1952), was the owner of a small cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula in the early 1900’s. While she spent her summers on the Peninsula, her primary job as a teacher at the Illinois State School for the Deaf required hired hands to run the farm in her absence. These farmers, and their families, lived on the farm and sent frequent written reports to Ms. Taft. Most letters are written by the farmer’s wives, and provide a record of both agricultural and social history.

Creator

Ralph Kitchen, Joseph Kitchen, Essie Kitchen, Max Gilmore, Hazel Gilmore

Source

Collection donated to Peninsula Community Library by the surviving members of the Taft family.

Publisher

Peninsula Community Library

Date

1931-04-29

Contributor

Mary T Morgan

Rights

This document is protected by copyright law. Contact the Peninsula Community Library for permission to reproduce, display, or transmit this document.

Relation

None

Format

PDF

Language

English

Type

Document

Identifier

LHC 010

Coverage

Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Scripto

Transcription

Old Mission, Michigan. April 29th 1931

My dear Miss Taft:-

I'm not surprised to hear that light sweet cherries are in demand as they are my favorite for sauce or salads. They also make fine pie. At least I think so.

Joseph and I both think you are wise in selling the farm as it only adds to extra care and worry for you altho' I know you enjoy it too as you have a very pretty place here. If any one comes we will do our best to sell it. It is a paying farm and more coming on all the while. Roger would have liked it but don't see how we could pay for it. Please try not to worry it makes me feel bad to think of you feeling miserable and then all these trying days in a school room. Jos. wants me to tell you that he will try harder than ever to keep things up Roger will stay will us as long as we are here.

The bay has gone down low again and the swamp nearly dry so suppose that is the reason for our well going so near dry that Jos couldn't get spray water so have the well man here he is having a time can't get the screen and point out will dynamite it tomorrow A.M. he may have to go a little deeper the cylinder is ruined so a new one will be needed but will use the same pipes. I told him not to make a cent more expense than he had to. Oh how I have wished I could talk to you today. Its so hard to know what to do when you arn't here. But know we must have water in order to spray. The buds are being held back some on accound of cold weather but a few days of sun means spray again and we must be prepared for it. Our own well needs fixing before many months but Jos. hasn't time to bother with it now. I have about a [barell] barrel of cistern water as a supply and no more only down to the woods. We are thankful for that. I sure if you were here you would have this work done the same as we are. Jos kept thinking perhaps spring rains would come and help us out a little but not much of that so far.

We heard that Mrs Mills Ruff and her husband had a car accident on their way home how bad it was I couldn't say will mention next time if I hear.

Must go to bed as I tired tonight with all the extra work.

Your's as ever. Essie K.

P.S. Thursday A.M. we had a hard frost froze 1/2 inch on water tubs on the back porch the ground is white. I'm glad your orchard is high as low land cherries are sure to be hurt if we have much of this. the sun is bright today and suppose it will be warm. A year ago we put pink spray on cherries the 1st day of May I have kept an account of freezes + etc. Must hurry as R wants to mail

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  1. 2020.1.225 04291931.pdf