Ithaca, New York
November 20, 1936
Dear Folks,
I received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you. I also got a letter from Martha on Monday and one from Andy yesterday. It is very nice out today for a change. Most of the week has been quite cold and raw. We had to plow through snowdrifts on our way up to the Dairy Building on Monday morning.
I renovated my room so that I have more room and better light and also fixed my light so that I can turn it off and on from my bed. I have done a lot of studying this past week. I had two prelims and have another one this Wednesday. I didn’t wait table hardly any this week so am running a little short of money but don’t send any as I can borrow some easily if necessary.
In our Animal Husbandry lab, we judge different types of livestock and I have over a ninety average in it so far. I also have over a ninety average in Drill, but my other subjects aren’t so high. However I brought most of them up quite a bit the last week or so. I hope the Turkey Supper turned out o.k. I don’t have any classes after Wednesday noon but Wesly’s father is coming out the next day rather than take a day off. He is going to start out early in the morning and get here about 7 a.m. Thursday. They are coming out in his uncle’s new Plymouth. They will probably start back about 8 a.m. and get to Saugerties about 11:30 so Papa had better meet me at 12 noon at Tivoli. Of course everything may not work out as nice as that but that is what they plan to do.
I had to buy a new English book and that set me back some. I have heard from both Robert Storrs and Jessie Thompson since I have been here, and also Aunt Tillie. I can’t always remember what I said in my last letter so if I repeat a few things don’t mind. I probably will have time to go to church the Sunday that I come back here. I studied until 12 midnight every night this week. The streets have been a sheet of ice all week and the cars have a terrible time getting around. Cascadilla Creek was frozen over yesterday morning.
I haven’t missed or been late to a class since I have been here but I haven’t had much time to spare. They are expecting to open up a new eating place right across the street sponsored by the students in order to get more economical meals. Most of the places raised their prices this year so that one can’t eat decently for much less than a dollar a day. This place that is expecting to open is going to be organized in the form of a club as it would be illegitimate otherwise. It is going to cost $4 to join it, but you will be able to get 21 meals a week for $4.50 so you would save the $4 in less than two weeks. However it may not go through – at least not if the other restaurants can stop it.
Meet me between 12 and 12:30 rather than between 12:30 and 1:00 if convenient for you. Martha sent me some money and I am using that for meals and will pay my board when I come back as Mr. Lender says it will be alright.
Lovingly, Hall
Gilbert Hall Flint was born August 14, 1918 and raised on Flint Hill Farm in Amenia, New York. His formal education began in a one-room schoolhouse in Smithfield. He graduated from Amenia High School in 1936 and from the Cornell University College of Agriculture in 1940. He taught high school agriculture from 1940 to 1944, served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946, taught high school agriculture from 1946 to 1963, and finished his career as a school principal from 1963 to 1975.
Gilbert Hall Flint passed away on December 16, 2009. The letters are published in his memory. To view the letters in chronological order, please click a timeline label from the side bar menu, scroll to the bottom, and read up.
Gilbert Hall Flint passed away on December 16, 2009. The letters are published in his memory. To view the letters in chronological order, please click a timeline label from the side bar menu, scroll to the bottom, and read up.