Thursday, January 31, 2013

August 18, 1942

From: G.F. Gleasure No 31157709
To: Mr. Frank Gleasure, 56 Gardner St. Allston, Mass

Dear Pa,

I've been excepted and am in transit and I don't know where I'll be stationed so I can't tell you anything definite, but as soon as we are settled I'll write and let you know.

George

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

August 6, 1942

From: May Baker, The Cottage, Ballincolling, Co. Cork.
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Gardner St. Allston, Mass.

My dear Frank,

Im sure you will be very surprised to hear from me its such years since I heard from you I often wondered why you never wrote to me I think it was in 1925 I heard from you last George's wife told me you wrote to them some-time ago & asked for my address they said they sent it to you but you never wrote to me.  I suppose you have many changes in your family since I heard from you before, the same as myself.  I have 7 boys in family the youngest is 9 years & the eldest 21 years he is a motor mechanic.  I had a great struggle to bring them up as their father has not being very sensible.  I'm sure all your family are working now for you I would like very much to hear from you all about them Annie is over in the States for a number of years now she did not write to me for last four years she is very slow at writing.  I wonder Frank would you send me a few pounds of tea we get very little of it here as it is rationed out to us.  I know several people who get tea from their friends in America.  And if you could send me some dried fruit raisins currants and sultana's I would be very thankful to you if you could manage those for me, but don't say that is the reason I write you for if you never sent them I should like to hear from you I was going to write to Annie also but I've very little hope of getting an answer from her I wrote her several times for last few years & she never answered.  I hope you will send me an answer to this.  George has done very well for himself he has succeeded and made lots of money, but he has a small family.  he has his own house bought out.  Did you ever take a notion of taking a visit home to ireland of course its out of the question now owing to the war but if it were over you might take a trip.  we'd be delighted to see you  Besure & send an answer to this by return I will be looking out every day for it.  Try to send me the few things I asked for I'd be very thankful Hope yourself & family are all well write a good long letter by return best wishes from sister

Mai Baker.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

July 17, 1938

From: Jimmy Gleasure, Citizens Military Training Camp, Fort McKinley, Maine
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Royal St. Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa, I am having a swell time.  One of the kids in my room in school was up to see me.  he is staying at Pearl Island across the bay.  Fort McKinley is known as the Great Diamond Island.  Tell George to make a key for my suite case because I lost mine throwing javleins.

Tell him to make a copple so one will be sure of fiting.  If he can make it till him to go up harvard ave key shop accross from [Myaskos?] lunch and tell the gang about it he will rember.  Dont forget because  my cloth are in the case.  Tomorrow I have table waitering.  All the kids have some time or anther.  I was down the rifle range yesterday and qualified shoot the rifle I scored 18 out of 25.  Next week we shoot the 30th  I am going out for a marksman medal also tell Martha to send up a picture of Whitehead  I will ahve to close now because I turn in

Your Loving Son
Jimmy

ps  I am broke

the key looks like this long + thin

Monday, January 28, 2013

July 10, 1938

From: Jimmy Gleasure, Citizens Military Training Camp, Fort McKinley, Maine
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Royal St. Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa,

I arrived yesterday we got of at Portland, then got a ride to the wharver.  a ship comes and brought us to the island.  We get up at 5.40 get dressed and make our bed and be out a 6.5.  then we line up for inspection.  Next is breakfast.  After breakfast is exercise then drill to twelve then dinner and more drill. 

The "[enearshion?]" is K.P. auther words is table water for 24 hours You have to wate at the side for breakfast dinner + supper then wash the dishes.  And boy are you pauped then is guard duty 2 hours a night.  Tell Martha, Theresa, George + Madeline to right.  If I don't write for a while that means they ran out of stamps and I will have to what a while untill the ship brings the stamps across the bay.  Well I have to go to bed now

Your Son
Jimmy

COH

Friday, January 25, 2013

July 9, 1938

From: Jimmy Gleasure (Frank's son), Fort McKinley, Portland, Maine
To: Frank Gleasure, 59 Royal Street, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa,

We just got to camp yesterday.  It is not as easy as you think we drill about 4 hours a day or nearly 6 hours.  there is about 800 outhers guys here we get up a 6.40 get dressed and make our bed and get out a 7 oclock well I have to go to bed I will send the address latter

Your son Jimmy

Thursday, January 24, 2013

March 14, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, VT
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I am writing to ask you to send me some stamps and some cigaretts as I cannot get time to go down town and get them because after working all day Im tired and besides I am broke.  The Captain asked us who wanted to re enlist over again and I told him no, so I ought to be home by the first or third of April I don't know what to write about as there is no news except that the senate instead of abolishing the CC Camps entirely are going to have them cut down to one hundred men to each camp, so that means a lot of guys will be without work after the first of the month  Well this is all for now  Don't forget to write and send the stamps.

George.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

March 9, 1935

From: George Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, VT
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear

I received your letter the other day and I could not write on account of not having any money to buy stamps, but I managed to get this stamp from one of the boys.  Well anyway I and sending you the key to my trunk so you can lock it.  The government cheque will be there on or about the 10 or 15 of the month and when it comes let me know how much it is so we won't get chiseled and if it isn't there by the eighteenth or nineteenth of the month write and tell me.  Well this is all for now.  This fountain pen don't write very good.  Don't forget to write.

George.

February 25, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I am writing to let you know that I reached camp all right, the train we went up in had two engines on it and we reached the Bellows Falls Railroad station at eleven thirty.  On the way up a bunch of the wise ones pulled the air brakes when the conductor was not in the car and it stopped the train out in the woods.  Well thats all the news there is for now.  I think I forgot to lock up my trunk so if its open see that Jimmy don't bother it because there is a couple of knives in it.  Don't forget to write.

George

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

February 13, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, VT
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I am writing to let you know that next thursday we don't work in the afternoon so I am going to try and come home for a three day leave.  It costs two dolars & thirty cents for a round trip so if you can spare it send it to me.  My time in this place will be up at the first of april so Ill be home then.  I read in a vermont paper where they want 100,000 CCC boys to go in the Army so Im getting out while the goings good.

Dont forget to write

George

Monday, January 21, 2013

February 7, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I went up to the hospital at Fort Ethan Allan and I could not get any medical discharge so I am going to remain in the camp as I only signed up for three months and i will be released on the last of March or the first of april.  My Ears and every thing are all right.  I want you to send me a couple of bucks if you can so I can use it to get a round trip train ticket to come home for a visit over Washingtons birth day.  It isn't so cold up here now it is getting warmer so I think every thing will turn out OK.

Don't forget to write and let me know whats going on at home.

George

Friday, January 18, 2013

January 28, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston-Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa,

I went to the doctor and the captain to get a medical discharge so I am going to be sent to Fort Eathen Allan for an examination and receive my discharge and I expect to be home pretty soon It was thirty six below zero here this morning and its to cold up here the boys are leaving by the dozens every weak, so don't write any letters to me untill you here from me first.

George

I told them that the rupture bothered me so I'll get a discharge on that.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

January 25, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston-Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa

I received that letter you forwarded to me and Im sending you the key to my trunk and you will find an envelope in it with nine medals, do them up and send them to the Lane Company 44 Washington Street Providence, R.I. and put the enclosed note with them I think my ears are going to be ok now as they are all healed up and Im keeping them well covered.  Thanks for the cigaretts and the dollar.  I think Ill try to hold out for the winter but if it gets too tough Ill find some way to get out of here.  I wrote to Dalton and told him to hold the teeth untill I can get down there to see him my self.  Let me know if you here anything about that railroad job.  Don't forget to write and let me know whats going on at home.  Did the jew fix that ceiling yet?  Im sending a souvinere of this camp. so put it away some place.

George

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

January 18, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure, Company 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa.

I thought Id write and give you some bad news.  I started out to work monday morning and got both my ears frozen solid so now they got me working on a camp detail all in side work and on top of that I got a couple of big [bayles?] and I can't go to town on account of the ears so if you can get me some cigaretts about three or four packages mail them to me.  Will you see if you can get after that railroad police chief see if you can get me a job as a railroad cap because I dont want to stay here all the time its too damn cold here you freeze in no time no matter how much clothes you got on.

Don't forget to write

George

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January 13, 1935

From: George F. Gleasure (Frank's son), CO 119 CCC, Bellows Falls, Vermont
To: Frank Gleasure, 2 Grant Avenue, Allston-Boston, Mass.

Dear Pa;

I received the money order all right but had to go through a lot of red tape to have it cashed so if you send any more money just put it into the letter because if you send an order I have to hike two miles to cash it and its below zero here.  They have me working out in the woods on wood detail 14 miles from camp and we have to ride back and forth in an open truck and its terrible cold when that truck is moving.  The gang up here are a bunch of crooks so I ordered a CCC trunk that is going to cost me $4 and they take it out of my pay at the end of the month

I have a heavy cold ever since I left Camp Devens last week and I can't get rid of it.  If you can get a jack knife for about a quarter send one up to me by mail.  The cheapest one here cost one dollar.

Don't forget to write.

George.

Go up to Daltons office and get my false teeth I didn't have time to get them my self.

Friday, January 11, 2013

April 16, 1929

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry. Irish Free State
To: Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, 6 Roseclair Street, Dorchester, Boston, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Aunt Lizzie,

No doubt you will be surprised at receiving a letter from me, but I write to ask if you can give me any news of my brother Frank, whom I have not heard from for over three years.  His last address is 89 surrey Street, Brighton.  Both my sister and self have wrote to him a few times since then, but have received no reply to our letters.  I wonder if you would look him up and kindly let me know what is the reason of his not answering.

Sometimes I wonder if anything has happened to him.  You know the work in which he is employed is so dangerous.  Then, he asked me to go out to him when his wife died, but I did not feel very strong at the time, perhaps he did not like my refusal, though I am very sorry I did not go.  It was very hard on him to try to keep the home and children together.  I hope he is allright and that you will give me some account of him.  I hope you and Aunt Annie and Uncle Nick are all well.  How I would love to see you all again.  Aunt Bridge is fairly well though she suffers from one of her eyes very much, she was to go up to Cork to have it attended to.

Aunt Johanna Carroll is keeping strong, and comes to town sometimes, she would I'm sure wish to be remembered to you all, if she knew I was writing.  She is the last of the old people now.  Aunt Mary's daughter Hannie, is staying with her.  I wonder you, or Aunt Annie never thought of taking a trip home, excursions are rather reasonable now.  But I suppose when people have a home and family to attend to, its impossible to get away for any sort of long holiday.

My brother is married here for the past five years, they have one little boy, just two years, he is very cute.  They are doing good buisness.  I am the only unmarried one of the family.

Well I hope Dear Aunt you will write to me when you receive this and let me know all.

Your Affectionate Niece

Annie Gleasure.

With love and best wishes to all.

XXXX

Thursday, January 10, 2013

December 16, 1926

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey Street, Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank,

The end of the year has almost come round again, and with it the time to exchange the Christmas greetings.  Time flies so quickly and it seems so short since I last heard from you.  I wrote you in answer to that but I suppose you had been so busy over one thing and another that you had no time to write.  I'm really sorry I didn't go over to you long ago, and even, I always said I would when Father would have no need of me.  But then my health was not good and I thought it just as well to stay here.  People here said America was not a good country and that the work was very hard, is that so?  I had been up to Mai last month I was looking for a house to start buisness but the rent of any decent place would be four or five pound a week and that would not suit as I'd have to board myself also, so I failed in my object.  The city was lovely I like a busy place all bustle, etc.  Round here is always dull and trade is very slack.  Mai has two very nice children, the eldest boy is very smart and quick to learn, he has been going to school a few months, but he is down with the measles at present.  The youngest is very like a photo of you that we have, when taken very young and he is very fond of music.  How are you getting on now with your family I suppose the most of them are going to school.  I know it is rather hard trying to look after your home and then going out to work, but all the same you won't feel them growing up.  Are there any Listowel people round where you live, or do you ever come across any of the Dillons.  All the people here are quite well, old James Connor of Mount Cole is alive still he is nearly ninety years of age, but never comes to town now.  His son John's wife had a little boy two months ago they called it James and the old man is crazy about it.  Well I must close now wishing you all a

Happy Xmas and a Bright New Year
from Your Affectionate sister Annie.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

December 12, 1926

From: May Baker, 12 Dunedin Connaught Ave. Cork.
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey St. Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank.

Once again I am sending you those few lines hoping they will find you and all the children in good health and doing well, for the last couple of months I was going to write to you but as usual kept putting it off but Xmas time always seems to stir a person up for writing everyone seems to remember to write to their own and think of them more at this season than at other times.  How are you doing ever since also the children have you as much trouble in getting a person to mind them as you used.  I forget about the ages of your children is there any of them old enough to house-keep yet for you, but I suppose they must attend school, your youngest is not such a care now as he was, but as the saying is they are always a care.  My eldest boy Joe will be 6 years next March.  he is just after a fit of the Measels, George the other boy who is 2 this Xmas did not get them as yet, nor myself as it seems I did not get them when I was young George got them at home last spring.  I had Annie here on a visit for a couple of week late in November, she has got stronger than when I saw her last she would like to start business for herself here in the city but its hard to find a suitable place for her, she is very discontented as naurally at this time of her life she would like to be doing something for herself.  George and wife are quite well but business in Listowel is very quiet now compared with a few years ago, in fact its quiet everywhere they have no family in Listowel as yet.  I was asking Annie if she heard lately from you & she said you never answered a letter she wrote to you last January, she said she would write to you for Xmas.  How is business & times over there I expect you are never out of work yourself I suppose you never meet any Listowel people there what bout the Buckley girls you used to know do you ever meet them now.  I don't know that I've any more to say this time but I hope you'll write to me for Xmas, as I will be anxious to hear from you and the children  Wishing you all a happy Xmas & Bright New Year

Your loving sister
May.

P.S. Adam out at Tullig & family are all well he has two of his daughters married now.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

January 18, 1926

From: Annie Gleasure, The Square, Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ire.
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey Street Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

Dear Frank,

Well I received your letter about three weeks ago and if I put off writing any longer I'm afraid it would be some time before you would hear from me for I'm not much good for letter writing.  Needless to say we were delighted to hear from you and that you are going along all right, of course it won't be altogether easy until the girls grow up and take charge of the housekeeping, but after another few years you won't feel them growing up.  It was too bad you meeting so much dissapointment in your married life.  I would have liked to have gone over after Father died but the way George was placed and then I wasn't very strong either, my health broke down altogether after-wards but I'm quite strong again now.  I expect it would be like going to a new country if I went now it would be rather strange to me.  Quite a lot of people go from here I don't know how they all get work.  Aunt Bridge's daughter left where she was and went out to Chicago.  I suppose you hardly ever see Uncle Mike or Aunt Annie?  All the people in Tullig are going on well the eldest girl is married in Castlemaine seven miles outside Tralee, they keep a grocery shop and the second eldest boy is here with us in the shop for the past year.  I don't think you would know any one round here now the people have changed so and its awfully quiet here. Well I must come to a close now wishing you every prosperity.  With love from all
Your affectionate sister Annie.

Monday, January 7, 2013

April 20, 1925

From: May Baker, 12 Dunedin, Connaught Ave. Cork.
To: Frank Gleasure, 89 Surrey St. Brighton, Mass. U.S.A.

My dear Frank,

I received your most welcomed letter last week and was delighted at hearing from you once again.  I was very sorry you had such bad news for me in it, you must feel very upset over it, death is a terrible thing in a family and your children all so young, your wife is an awful loss, for really there is no one like a mother to children its a pity some one of us is not out near you to be some help to you with them. I sent your letter home to Annie but I did not hear from her since perhaps she may change her mind and go over to you its very hard to say what she intends to do she says one thing now and then she changes her mind to another thing and you would not like & advise her as she may blame a person after for anything. she would like to start business here in Cork but its very hard to get a suitable place for her and rent is very high in the city which she don't seem to think so.  Are there any of your wifes people over there near you.  I wrote to you about the end of March and sent it to Parsons St I suppose you did not get it, I hope you will write to me regular in the future I often wondered during last two years how you were and why you were not writing.  I'd often think if you had met with an accident so many things strike into a persons head.  About things at home business is slack enough Annie told me in her last letter but George has gone into other things beside the liquor trade he has a van going through the country with stuff and buying eggs and shipping them he also goes in for the salmon fishing business he has ten boats and nets of his own and does very well that is if the season is good for the fish, he also does a little in the cattle dealing business. a person must do something to make ends meet and the drink business is not what it was years ago.  As for myself I am still living here with my people-in law.  trying to make both ends meet at times, there has being so much war in this country that it caused a lot of unemployment and loss of money, people were all idle.  I have two little boys now Joe the eldest aged 4 years and George who was born last Xmas Eve.  George come near losing his wife last year she had a premature birth, the baby having being dead for some time she was pretty bad for awhile.  I suppose you don't meet any of the Dillons now or hear from Miss Reardon.  I often wonder if we will ever see you again.  I don't suppose we would know one another now if we met by the way have you any Photo of yourself and family.  I would like to have one especially of yourself as they had none to spare of you at home will you send me one of yourself if you have it.  I would be glad to have one.  the Photo's I sent you while I was at home were the Photo's of us all when we were young its a pity they went astray.  I don't think I have any more to write about this time but I hope I'll hear from you very soon again.  I hope you'll be good to the kiddies I feel for you all especially the children. as they are all so young without a mother may God comfort and take care of you all with best wishes from
Yours loving sister
May