1946 Maine Trip: Canoes towed down Chesuncook Ben Gunn Mouth-dam to Ches. Village dragging 30 June 1946

Canoes towed down Chesuncook Ben Gunn Mouth-dam to Ches. Village dragging 30 June 1946

 

Family Letters: Letter to Ed Gare Jr to my Uncle Dave about Dave getting out of a German Prisoner of War camp

 

This is a letter from Ed Gare Jr that my cousin shared with me.  It is written to my Uncle Dave, known as Bud and describes the night the family discovered he was alive and freed from a German prisoner of war camp.  There are a number of family members mentioned in it:

• Dave is my Grandfather David Wright
• Caroll is my mother
• Catherine is my aunt
• Charlie is my Uncle
• George is my Uncle
• and the Uncle referenced is my great Uncle Edward. 

Northampton, Mass Apl. 11-45 8 P.M.

Dear Bud:

    This has been a great day around here. Dave brought in the V mail, we had to use a glass to read teh address but we got it. We damn glad the Germans didn't get you they are bastards. Lu is in France + might get yo see you if you write him, I'll send you the address to-night. He is still LT.L.S.G. 05 39 857. Co B. 20th JK Bn. A.P.O. 444. N.Y. Your folks are all well. I saw Carol yesterday  she was looking for news and couldn't find her father so luckily we had it. The card written from Camp A12 on Feb 2nd came first, then the letter written in December was delivered to Catherine in Washington, the army was checking on it to be sure you were you. Then the short letter yesterday saying you were in France And to-days V mail completed the record. 140 days is a long time to-be cooped up as gran-says or whether they feed you. Charlie is in Germany, probably O.K. in his jeep. Your Uncle was sick for a while but is better now, he is O.K in fact. Catherine married a Navy J.g. Lt. a few weeks ago, we went to the wedding. Trushan is on a cruiser the Amsterdam + was home a few weeks ago. Puff is in Camp Thunder Mo. waiting to move, he is a medic now. He was home in January. George is O.K. he talks occasionally but Caroll almost a pal of mine, she was positively beautiful at Catherine's wedding, she wore a pink gown,  lacy + slim, after the wedding I spent an hour talking to Major Smith about you + his son who was + maybe is a prisoner of the Germans. We haven't passed a day without thinking of you, Lu said he sat down + cried when he heard of it in December, so you see that was once when [ILLEGIBLE] Family failed the great S.S.S. There are several cats and about two weeks ago I sat on one. It was the night we heard about you first, the day the card from [ILLEGABLE] I worked late at the store so I stopped in at your home at about 10 P.M. Bud you would have busted. Harry Fiff sent in a bottle of wine + someone set Uncle one so the two bottles were on the table, I sat on a cat. Uncle uncorked the bottle, Caroll put cherries in the wine, I don't know why and we all drank to Bud, a quart if you please, Then Dave + I fought the other war for a while, Uncle went to bed, Caroll went upstairs, I groped my way home + I guess Dave drank the other bottle himself.  Enclosed is a pet picture of mine - The Connecticut Valley from Mt. Nonotuck. It is all here, not green yet but will be, get your one way ticket back here and then we will try to keep Europe in Europe aa+ Asia in Asia and let Northampton enjoy the Valley. We (the Chamber of Commerce) have had 50 pictures  The school, churches, shops + main street made to send to the boys but I hope you will see it yourself soon.  

    So we hope you improve, get back some weight, + strength and we will see you soon.

    3 or 4 of my letters came back, I'll give then to you when you get home.

    Don't bother to write me but use the paper if you need it for Dave, he tells me anyway.

Ed Gare Jr

I spent many evenings at your home this winter, Your Father is a great man, they don't make any better ones.

Here is the scanned copy of the letter.

I've also started to compile a list of some of the family members who have been members of the military and taken part in the wars.  It is not everyone.

• World War II
• My father Robert Ervin Putnam: signed up at the end of the war when he was old enough.
• My Aunt Catherine Sanders Wright, who was a code breaker for the Navy
• My Uncle David "Bud" Joy Wright, who spent some of the war in a German Prisoner of War camp
• My Uncle Charles Merrick Wright, who fought in Italy
• My Uncle George Edward Wright, who was stationed in the D.C. Area
• World War I
• My Grandfather Ervin Earl Putnam, was a X-ray Technician in France.
• My Great Uncle Frank Houlton Putnam, crossed the border and Joined the Canadian Army before the U.S. entered the war.
• My Grandfather David Sanders Wright, who was stationed in England for the war. 
• Civil War
• My 2nd Great Granduncle Charles Championette Putnam, who died at the battle of Middleburg, VA while charging a hill.
• My 6th Cousin, 4 times removed David Perkins Putnam
• My 2nd Great Grandfather Edward B. Smith, who may have been a spy during the war, and died of consumption.
• My 2nd Great Grandfather John McCann, who was a carter and was at the Battle of Gettysburg
• My Great Granduncle Franklin Adelbert Smith, who died in Memphis, TN likely due to wounds from Sturgis's expedition to Guntown, TN. 
• War of 1812
• My 3rd Great Grandfather Simeon Reed, who was a drummer during the war

 I hope to get into the next generation soon which will document the families involvement in the Revolutionary War.

1946 Maine Trip: Chesumcook Village 29 June 1946

Chesumcook Village 29 June 1946

 

1946 Maine Trip: Entrance to Mud Pond Stream 29 June 1946

Entrance to Mud Pond Stream 29 June 1946

 

Photo of Hope Gilson

Hope Gilson

 

1946 Maine Trip: Photo of Leaving Camp at Ellis Bk.

Leaving Camp at Ellis Bk.

 

Photo of Hope Gilson

Hope Gilson

 

1946 Maine Trip: Photo of Eagle Lake, June 28, 1946

 Eagle Lake, June 28, 1946

 

Photo of Henry Gilson and Hope Gilson Wright

Henry Gilson and Hope Gilson Wright

 

Breakfast Menu from the McKinley Hotel, Canton, Ohio around 1907

Hotel McKinley Breakfast Menu

Photo of Dam Tender's Cabin June 28, 1946

Dam Tender's Cabin June 28, 1946

 

Photo of Kay Crandel, Ethel Raymond and Dorish Gilson at Bass Rock

Kay Crandel, Ethel Raymond and Dorish Gilson at Bass Rock

 

Jane Caroline Reed's Copy Book: Remonstrance by Jean Ingelow

 

Jane Caroline Reed

Remonstrance

"Daughters of Eve your mother did not well;

She laid the apple in your father's hand,

And we have read, O wonder what befell--

The man was not deceived, not yet could stand;

He chose to lose, for love of her, his throne

For her could die but could not live alone.

Daughters of Eve he did not fall so low

Nor fall so far, as that sweet woman fell;

For something better than as gods to know,

That husband in that home left off to dwell;

For this, till love be reckoned less then lore,

Shall man be first + best forevermore.

Daughters of Eve, it was for your dear sake

The world's first hero died an uncrowned king;

But God's great pity touched the grand mistake,

And made his married love a sacred thing;

For yet his nobler sons, if aught be true,

Find their lost Eden in their love to you."

    Jean Ingelow

Photo of Camp at mouth of Ellis Brook 27 June 1946

Camp at mouth of Ellis Brook 27 June 1946

 

Photo of Henry and Hope Gilson

Henry and Hope Gilson

 

Jane Caroline Reed Copy Book: An Excerpt from the "Cherubic Pilgrim by Johannes Angelus Silesius

Jane Caroline Reed, Edward Wright, David Sanders Wright and David Joy Wright

An Excerpt from the "Cherubic Pilgrim by Johannes Angelus Silesius

We pray, "On earth, in Heaven, O Lord, be done thy will,"
And yet God has no will, but is forever still.
    Johannes Angelus Silesius

Mark Rand fixing one of the broken poles 26 June 1946

 Mark Rand fixing one of the broken poles 26 June 1946

 

Photo of Hope Gilson

Hope Gilson

 

Jane Caroline Reed's Copy Book: An excerpt from Vivien's Song by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Jane Caroline Reed and David Wright

 An excerpt from Vivien's Song by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

It is the little rift within the lute
That by and by will make the music mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all."
    Vivien's Song

1946 Maine Trip: Mike Putnam doing Dinner Dishes June 24, 1946

 Mike Putnam doing Dinner Dishes June 24, 1946

 

Photo of Hope Gilson, Henry Gilson, Willoa Pierce Gilson and Unknown

 

Hope Gilson, Henry Gilson, Willoa Pierce Gilson and Unknown

Jane Caroline Reed's Copy Book: An excerpt for Gasper Becerra by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

 

Lucy and Jane Reed

An excerpt for Gasper Becerra by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

O thou sculptor, painter, poet!

Take this lesson to thy heart:

That is best which lieth nearest;

From that shape thy work of art.

    H.W.L.

    

1946 Maine Trip: Mike Putnam at Pinkham Notch N.H. June 19, 1946

1946 Maine Trip 2 Mike Putnam at Pinkham Notch N.H. June 19, 1946

 

Photo of Henry Lewis Gilson and Hope Gilson 19 Willard

Henry Lewis Gilson and Hope Gilson 19 Willard

Jane Caroline Reed's Copy Book: an excerpt from the poem Locksley Hall by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Jane Caroline Reed

This is an excerpt from the poem Locksley Hall by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

"Love took up the glass of time, and turn'd it in his glowing hands;

Every moment, lightly shaken, ran itself in golden sands.

Love took up the harp of life, and smote on all the cords with might;

Smote the chord of Self, that, trembling, pass'd in music out of sight.

    Locksley Hall