This Cold, Hard Country, Part III

 ...conclusion

August 5, 1962

Fairbanks, Alaska

 

Glad the kids got the silver dollars I sent them. Right now, I’d give a million of them to have you all here right now. Tell Billy and Carla how much I miss them and hope to see them soon.

Glad everybody had a good time at Silver Beach and I know the kids are a lot of bother but from what you have told me they really do try hard to be good. Can’t aske for much more than that, I guess. Sure glad the cut on Carla’s head wasn’t too bad and Billy’s shiner gets O.K. Tell Billy I said he’d better be nice to sister or I’ll get him (fat chance).

Glad to hear you’ve been going out to the folks once in a while. Tell them I haven’t forgotten them but I’ve been trying to help here and there at the boat, my laundry and I’m just too tired and lazy to write to everybody. Got a letter from Dollie, Kenny, Judy, Ruthie and the folks. An going to answer them this week.

Well, I guess I’d better close for now and get some sleep so I can get up in the morning and get his letter mailed with some money for you.

Will write later and tell you more. Goodnight sweetheart and hope to see you soon.

All my love & kisses,

Your loving husband,

Bill

P.S. Think it over and let me know if you want to drive up or not.

P.S. Did you get the other pictures I sent, they’re supposed to be in slides and sent to you. Jerry bought a car and I ride to work with him. He’s sure changed a lot.

Love Always,

Bill

P.S. Start sending my mail to:

Riviera Boatel

Box 1421

Fairbanks, Alaska

I’ll get it quicker seeing as I can’t make it to the P.O. before they close.

Love,

Bill

This Cold, Hard Country, Part II

August 5, 1962

Fairbanks, Alaska

You never did tell me if you wanted to drive up or fly. By the way, Neil came by the station to see me, said he wanted to talk to me about you coming up. He wants to have Irene and Sherry come with you if you decide to drive. He wanted to figure out how much it would cost him. I figured $150 for car expenses alone, he’d pay half. And about $125 to $150 for your expenses and the same for him. Another thing, I know it would be a hard trip on you and the kids but you’d never regret it though, and another thing, you’d see a lot more by taking your time. What do you think? Drive or fly?

How much work does the car need on it? I know it needs a new battery, muffler and a spare wheel. We could get that stuff at Sears on our account, also a top carrier would give a lot more room inside and you could bring more stuff with you. If you want to do it let me know and start getting ready. I’ll do all I can from this end. Sweetheart, I know you can do it and will send you my good luck key chain.

I talked to Hank a little while ago and he said he’d talked to Allan (my boss). Said Allan told him he’d keep me as long as I wanted to work for him. My hours are 8 am to 6 pm or later depending on how busy we are. This winter we’ll get in lots of hours. 

to be continued...

This Cold, Hard Country, Part I

August 5, 1962

Fairbanks, Alaska

My Dearest Lois and kids:

Received both your letters and am sorry it’s taken me so long in answering. I don’t get to go to the P.O. every day., maybe only once or twice a week and that’s why it seems like it takes so long for me to answer.

Don’t worry honey, I haven’t forgotten you or anyone else. How can I when I love and miss you so much, so please don’t think that.

Sweetheart, you said you couldn’t see why I want to sell the trailer. Well, I’ll try to explain. You see, when we decided to let me come up here, I thought it was to live. Anyway, that was my intention and I thought that’s what you wanted too.

The big reason I said maybe we ought to sell the trailer was that maybe we could pay Uncle Fred a big chunk and have enough left over for a down payment on a home up here.

Honey, I know you think I’m a little nuts at times but I’ve got a feeling this is it. Honestly, things are so different up here especially the people, you can’t beat them. Like everybody keeps telling me, this country grows on you bad and after the first winter you don’t even want to go back. 

Sweetheart, I don’t want to come back and go to work for $2.00 per hour when I can make $3.00 doing something I like better and I don’t have to punch no damn time card anymore. I’m positive you’ll like it and learn to love this cold, hard country.

If you could rent the trailer for about $60 a month that would pretty well cover the payments and everything on it. I wouldn’t take any less than that for it though. You know if we had it up here it would bring about $100 to $150 dollars a month.