Author: Martin Hoorn
Title: Letter to Jim Hoorn on 47th anniversary
Date: 02 October 1985
Curator: Christine Fisher
Note:
Dear Jim,
Just got home from our 47th anniversary dinner. So I just thought about the past. Married on October 2, 1938. Wages $6.00 per week. 30 days after we got married I got a job for $28.00 every two week, big money. Rented an apartment for $11.00 every 10 days… too high so we moved. Found another apartment for $12.00 a month. That fit our income. 1941 – Janice was born. 1945 – James was born. Moved out in the country to take care of wife’s dad. Two bedrooms. Four of us slept in one bedroom. Started to build our 1st brick house then moved in to it in 1946. Going to raise raspberrys. Bought 5000 plants. All died. Going to raise chickens. 18 died 1st night. Gave the rest to a broodie hen. She did a good job. Imagine 32 chicks on one hen. Going to raise turkeys. All died but one. She was a pet. Nobody would eat her. Going to raise mink. Didn’t have any young first year. Raised mink for 12 years. Started to build houses.
As I look back, I helped raise 5 good kids. With their help, built 8 houses, 4 duplexes, helped on 7 houses.
1 Yr. Father Vice Pr. PTA
2 Yrs. President Band Boosters
7 Yrs. School Board Member
1 Yr. on consolidation of 5 dist.
36.6 Yrs. in factory (Kelvinator)
Now forty-seven years later, we’re living on a fixed income.
Well, son, it’s getting late. Almost 8:30. Ma’s got her teeth out so I better hook the oxygen and go to bed too.
P.S. Hope you get over being tired. Happy 40. Love ya. Dad