Ithaca, New York
Saturday afternoon, December 9, 1939
Dear Folks,
I received Aunt Dorothy's and Pop's letter this week and am glad to hear that the well drillers finally arrived. There is nothing much going on here except a lot of exams and reports. I got back a 93 on a Rural Ed prelim which was one point from being the highest in the class, and also an A+ on a report and a 94 on an identification exam in Agronomy.
I have been down in the infirmary for a couple of days with the grippe and I just got back today. One of the other boys in the house is down there with a temperature of 105 degrees as a complication which set in from a football injury.
I've got quite a bit of sewing to do, buttons etc. but I sort of let it drag because I'm not as stuck on sewing as I used to be. I'll probably have a fellow up for a few days after Christmas to help with the wood, as Frank has been sick and probably won't be up.
I don't know when I'll be going home for sure, either the 20th or the 21st. Will Katie be in Poughkeepsie those two days? I'll be getting there in plenty of time to go home with her if she is. I may ride in with a fellow who has a fairly good car if the roads are OK, and if not I'll stay over until the 21st and go by train.
I'll send a card in a week or so to let you know for sure.
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.
Showing posts with label Cornell 1939 (Fall). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cornell 1939 (Fall). Show all posts
Post #46: Coping with colds
Ithaca, New York
Saturday afternoon, December 3, 1939
Dear Folks,
Well, I've been back a week, and it has gone so fast that it just seems like yesterday that I returned. I had a prelim this week in Rural Education and quite a few quizzes.
I hope Katie was able to get out with her car alright by Monday. Did they plow the road out? It is getting ready to snow here again, I think, because it is very damp and cold. A lot of the kids have been skating this weekend on Beebe.
Tonight we are having a little program at the Coop celebrating our third anniversary. Last night we had quite a lengthy membership meeting.
Did Martha come up, or is she going to wait until Christmas? Linda was real playful the morning I was at Keller's. She would pull my hair and Andy's when we let her, and she didn't seem to like to let go.
I hope that everybody's colds are much better now. It seems that everyone around here has a cold of one sort or another, but I have learned how to take care of myself so that I don't get them here anymore.
I hope Pop and Tony are getting up at 5:00 instead of at 4:00 now that they don't have to get the milk down so early. I can't think of anything else now so will write more next week.
Lovingly, Hall
Saturday afternoon, December 3, 1939
Dear Folks,
Well, I've been back a week, and it has gone so fast that it just seems like yesterday that I returned. I had a prelim this week in Rural Education and quite a few quizzes.
I hope Katie was able to get out with her car alright by Monday. Did they plow the road out? It is getting ready to snow here again, I think, because it is very damp and cold. A lot of the kids have been skating this weekend on Beebe.
Tonight we are having a little program at the Coop celebrating our third anniversary. Last night we had quite a lengthy membership meeting.
Did Martha come up, or is she going to wait until Christmas? Linda was real playful the morning I was at Keller's. She would pull my hair and Andy's when we let her, and she didn't seem to like to let go.
I hope that everybody's colds are much better now. It seems that everyone around here has a cold of one sort or another, but I have learned how to take care of myself so that I don't get them here anymore.
I hope Pop and Tony are getting up at 5:00 instead of at 4:00 now that they don't have to get the milk down so early. I can't think of anything else now so will write more next week.
Lovingly, Hall
Post #45: Coming home for Thanksgiving
Ithaca, New York
Saturday night, November 19, 1939
Dear Folks,
Would someone be able to meet me at Buckley's house, right across from the high school in Rhinebeck Wednesday night at nine o'clock? It is a brown house if I remember right, but anyone would know if you ask them. It is just a block or two before you get to the red light coming in from Pine Plains. We plan to leave here at noon Wednesday and will go around by Albany, so I want to allow plenty of time as it's only a '31 Chevy. If you should have to wait, which I hope you won't, I am sure the Buckley's wouldn't mind if you waited there.
I received Katie's and Aunt Dorothy's nice letters the beginning of the week. This morning I made up my lab for next Wednesday. It has been raining and snowing all day.
Last night I went up to the Straight and saw moving pictures in technicolor of the Cornell-Dartmouth game Saturday. Afterwards, I went to a lecture by a Russian woman social worker which was very good. Tonight the Coop is having another dance but I am not going as I am still having foot treatments, and besides I'm kind of tired and am working on a report.
If the weather is bad Wednesday, it may take us longer, but it shouldn't take us over nine hours unless we have car trouble. I don't look forward to these long rides too much, if it's cold, because I remember how I used to freeze last year, but maybe it will be nice.
This is about all I can think of now so will look forward to seeing everyone in about one day from the time you get this letter.
Lovingly, Hall
Saturday night, November 19, 1939
Dear Folks,
Would someone be able to meet me at Buckley's house, right across from the high school in Rhinebeck Wednesday night at nine o'clock? It is a brown house if I remember right, but anyone would know if you ask them. It is just a block or two before you get to the red light coming in from Pine Plains. We plan to leave here at noon Wednesday and will go around by Albany, so I want to allow plenty of time as it's only a '31 Chevy. If you should have to wait, which I hope you won't, I am sure the Buckley's wouldn't mind if you waited there.
I received Katie's and Aunt Dorothy's nice letters the beginning of the week. This morning I made up my lab for next Wednesday. It has been raining and snowing all day.
Last night I went up to the Straight and saw moving pictures in technicolor of the Cornell-Dartmouth game Saturday. Afterwards, I went to a lecture by a Russian woman social worker which was very good. Tonight the Coop is having another dance but I am not going as I am still having foot treatments, and besides I'm kind of tired and am working on a report.
If the weather is bad Wednesday, it may take us longer, but it shouldn't take us over nine hours unless we have car trouble. I don't look forward to these long rides too much, if it's cold, because I remember how I used to freeze last year, but maybe it will be nice.
This is about all I can think of now so will look forward to seeing everyone in about one day from the time you get this letter.
Lovingly, Hall
Post# 44: Ag tours and competitions
Ithaca, New York
Sunday afternoon, November 12, 1939
Dear Folks,
I appreciated receiving Katie's letter and Aunt Dorothy's card very much. I can't tell you as yet just how or when I'm coming home but expect to go the same way as last year. I'll write a card later in the week and let you know for sure.
I got my new glasses the beginning of the week, and they surely are very much better than the others. On Friday and Saturday, I had occasion to take a couple of trips which were educational. On Friday night, our professor in Rural Ed took three of us to Endicott about 50 miles south of here to attend a Future Farmer Rally. The high school there is very large and holds about 2,000 students, about 100 of which are taking vocational agriculture. They had competition contests with about 10 other agriculture departments in that section in basketball, volleyball, ping pong, cow-calling, etc. It was certainly very interesting and I was also able to meet several agriculture teachers and talk with them.
We returned home about 12:30 a.m. and I was up at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday to go on a placement tour up toward Lake Ontario with one of the agriculture teachers whom I am doing my practice teaching under. About 10 or 12 agriculture teachers and 30 young men who are starting in farming went on the tour. We returned in time to hear the last half of the Cornell-Colgate football game which we won 14-12.
The purpose of the tour was to acquaint these young men with the methods and practices employed by men who are getting established in farming in other areas. This too was certainly very worth while. I have a chance to do much more of this type of activity now that I'm not working very much at the Coop.
The weather around here has been real cold and snowy. In fact it's snowing outside right now. I sincerely hope that it is nice next Wednesday when we go home. I'm having some pictures made from the ones I had taken for the Annual. I'll have them before Christmas sometime. This is all I have time for now.
Lovingly, Hall
Sunday afternoon, November 12, 1939
Dear Folks,
I appreciated receiving Katie's letter and Aunt Dorothy's card very much. I can't tell you as yet just how or when I'm coming home but expect to go the same way as last year. I'll write a card later in the week and let you know for sure.
I got my new glasses the beginning of the week, and they surely are very much better than the others. On Friday and Saturday, I had occasion to take a couple of trips which were educational. On Friday night, our professor in Rural Ed took three of us to Endicott about 50 miles south of here to attend a Future Farmer Rally. The high school there is very large and holds about 2,000 students, about 100 of which are taking vocational agriculture. They had competition contests with about 10 other agriculture departments in that section in basketball, volleyball, ping pong, cow-calling, etc. It was certainly very interesting and I was also able to meet several agriculture teachers and talk with them.
We returned home about 12:30 a.m. and I was up at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday to go on a placement tour up toward Lake Ontario with one of the agriculture teachers whom I am doing my practice teaching under. About 10 or 12 agriculture teachers and 30 young men who are starting in farming went on the tour. We returned in time to hear the last half of the Cornell-Colgate football game which we won 14-12.
The purpose of the tour was to acquaint these young men with the methods and practices employed by men who are getting established in farming in other areas. This too was certainly very worth while. I have a chance to do much more of this type of activity now that I'm not working very much at the Coop.
The weather around here has been real cold and snowy. In fact it's snowing outside right now. I sincerely hope that it is nice next Wednesday when we go home. I'm having some pictures made from the ones I had taken for the Annual. I'll have them before Christmas sometime. This is all I have time for now.
Lovingly, Hall
Post #43: Student teaching
Ithaca, New York
Friday night, October 27, 1939
Dear Folks,
I received Pop's interesting letter this week and wanted to write sooner, but I couldn't find time. You see I had to do considerable teaching this week and it meant a lot of preparation. In fact, I quit most of my Coop job this week because I was getting so far behind with my other work, and exams were rolling around.
I just got through correcting papers that my class had for today. There are 17 boys in the class and they are mostly Seniors and full of the devil, so I really had my hands full.
I am glad to hear that Walter is doing fairly well. I also think it's the only thing to do about drilling the well, because the water might not have started up again all winter.
How did the plow work this fall? It ought to have worked pretty well with the hard ground, didn't it? Tomorrow is the all important football game between Ohio State and Cornell out there, but I doubt whether we have much of a chance.
The weather is just like summer out; I'll be glad when it settles down because this is very bad for colds. I had my picture taken this week for the Cornell Annual, which contains all the pictures of the graduating class. I think we get off for our Thanksgiving vacation around the 22nd of November this year. I am looking forward to seeing everyone.
At Trumansburg, the next town up the lake, they only are able to have school in the morning because the water runs out at noon. It's very dry all around here too, and not nearly the rain that we usually get here. It snowed a couple hours one day this week.
I hope Katie's cold is alright now. I am getting sleepy so will close.
Lovingly, Hall
Friday night, October 27, 1939
Dear Folks,
I received Pop's interesting letter this week and wanted to write sooner, but I couldn't find time. You see I had to do considerable teaching this week and it meant a lot of preparation. In fact, I quit most of my Coop job this week because I was getting so far behind with my other work, and exams were rolling around.
I just got through correcting papers that my class had for today. There are 17 boys in the class and they are mostly Seniors and full of the devil, so I really had my hands full.
I am glad to hear that Walter is doing fairly well. I also think it's the only thing to do about drilling the well, because the water might not have started up again all winter.
How did the plow work this fall? It ought to have worked pretty well with the hard ground, didn't it? Tomorrow is the all important football game between Ohio State and Cornell out there, but I doubt whether we have much of a chance.
The weather is just like summer out; I'll be glad when it settles down because this is very bad for colds. I had my picture taken this week for the Cornell Annual, which contains all the pictures of the graduating class. I think we get off for our Thanksgiving vacation around the 22nd of November this year. I am looking forward to seeing everyone.
At Trumansburg, the next town up the lake, they only are able to have school in the morning because the water runs out at noon. It's very dry all around here too, and not nearly the rain that we usually get here. It snowed a couple hours one day this week.
I hope Katie's cold is alright now. I am getting sleepy so will close.
Lovingly, Hall
Post #42: Trouble at the Coop
Ithaca, New York
Sunday afternoon, October 9, 1939
Dear Folks,
Hello, Everybody - I missed getting a letter from you this week, but trust that everything is alright - at least I hope so. How is Kate's foot now, and the other horses and cows? I'm always interested in hearing about everything.
I was going to write sooner, but I was sick last Sunday and got back on my work some. I also have a Saturday class from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. so it cuts down my weekend quite a bit. The reason I wasn't feeling well Sunday was that I ate something that didn't agree with me and was sick to my stomach. This followed up with severe stomach cramps so that I had to have a doctor. He gave me some gas relieving capsules and I finally got to sleep about 2 a.m. Monday morning.
I felt alright in the morning except for being pretty weak, so I gave my rescheduled Farm Practice tests at 8 a..m and 9 a.m. and went to all my classes, took a final, and got in four hours of NYA work besides working at the supper meal. I've been alright ever since, but will watch what I eat more in the future.
Yesterday there were 25,000 fans in to see the annual Syracuse - Cornell game, which we won 19-6, much to the surprise of most people. I met several of my friends who graduated last June.
Friday I went to a teacher's conference for my professor whom I work for, and heard an excellent address by A.K. Getman, who is the Supervisor of Agricultural Education in New York State. Besides being very educational, I got NYA time for going and also credit toward my practice teaching hours. I'm going to be teaching until Thanksgiving and then dropping it, unless the Coop folds up before that.
Business is bad now because we have too few members and too big an overhead - $35,000. There are only five of us on the Board of Directors who are in charge of it, and I've had to put in a lot of time lately trying to figure out a way to keep going, but as I am not majoring in Hotel Administration, I don't intend to sacrifice my studies for it very much longer.
I've got to work tonight so will close. I received a short letter from Catherine and Andy at the World's Fair and will answer them sometime soon. How is Linda Jo?
Lovingly yours, Hall
Sunday afternoon, October 9, 1939
Dear Folks,
Hello, Everybody - I missed getting a letter from you this week, but trust that everything is alright - at least I hope so. How is Kate's foot now, and the other horses and cows? I'm always interested in hearing about everything.
I was going to write sooner, but I was sick last Sunday and got back on my work some. I also have a Saturday class from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. so it cuts down my weekend quite a bit. The reason I wasn't feeling well Sunday was that I ate something that didn't agree with me and was sick to my stomach. This followed up with severe stomach cramps so that I had to have a doctor. He gave me some gas relieving capsules and I finally got to sleep about 2 a.m. Monday morning.
I felt alright in the morning except for being pretty weak, so I gave my rescheduled Farm Practice tests at 8 a..m and 9 a.m. and went to all my classes, took a final, and got in four hours of NYA work besides working at the supper meal. I've been alright ever since, but will watch what I eat more in the future.
Yesterday there were 25,000 fans in to see the annual Syracuse - Cornell game, which we won 19-6, much to the surprise of most people. I met several of my friends who graduated last June.
Friday I went to a teacher's conference for my professor whom I work for, and heard an excellent address by A.K. Getman, who is the Supervisor of Agricultural Education in New York State. Besides being very educational, I got NYA time for going and also credit toward my practice teaching hours. I'm going to be teaching until Thanksgiving and then dropping it, unless the Coop folds up before that.
Business is bad now because we have too few members and too big an overhead - $35,000. There are only five of us on the Board of Directors who are in charge of it, and I've had to put in a lot of time lately trying to figure out a way to keep going, but as I am not majoring in Hotel Administration, I don't intend to sacrifice my studies for it very much longer.
I've got to work tonight so will close. I received a short letter from Catherine and Andy at the World's Fair and will answer them sometime soon. How is Linda Jo?
Lovingly yours, Hall
Post #41: Life insurance and the war scare
Ithaca, New York
Friday night, September 29, 1939
Dear Folks,
I received both Katie's and Pop's letter and Aunt Dorothy's card this week and was glad to hear from everyone. This has been a very busy week for me and has passed away before I hardly realized it. The first few days I spent all the time working for the Coop, as I was put in charge of the registration of members. Besides that I had to register on Tuesday and get my Rural Ed job with my professor fixed. I have the job and worked all day yesterday afternoon on it, running off mimeograph copies and other work in his office.
I also have been working four hours a day at the Coop, since our opening Wednesday night, as a cashier in order to check up on all the people who eat and guests. Starting next week I'll have someone to help me with this work however, and I'll only be working for part of my meals.
School got off to a good start this week, and I'll have plenty of work in my various courses. I have one lab tomorrow (Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ag Engineering. Besides this I am taking courses in Animal Genetics, Animal Diseases, Agronomy, and Rural Education. This latter course will consist of my practice teaching which I'll have to do in the Ithaca High School one or two days every week.
Yes, I bought myself a pair of shoes, suspenders, tooth brush, paste and numerous other incidentals which are necessary and which I realized I haven't got as I begin to get assembled. I also purchased a small radio - 8 inches x 4 inches x 6 inches - a "Westinghouse" which is very helpful and worthwhile. Irving didn't bring his back and I decided I would want one next year anyway, so why not get it a little ahead of time. I think maybe Pop and Katie would like to have one like it or else an "Emerson." This size costs less than $10 new, in either case, and is just as good as a larger one for a couple of years.
I received both boxes OK with my clothes - Thanks a lot - What is Martha's address again? Thanks for the check; I won't need anymore before Thanksgiving as I am taking out a loan from the university to pay my fees and rent with for awhile. I am thinking of increasing my insurance policy and changing it somewhat, but have not fully made up my mind. I have a chance to have the policy start right away without having to pay for it for a couple of years. Most of the students in Rural Education are taking advantage of this. This will mean less that I have to pay every year, and would be very worthwhile to me. If I don't wait very long I won't have to worry about the rates going up on account of the war scare also.
I am going to talk to my advisor (Dr. Olney), whom I work for, about it as he is quite well acquainted with the best size of policy to have, but I would like to have Pop's advice on it before I do anything. New York Mutual Life is the company I am thinking of taking the policy out with.
Lovingly, Hall
Friday night, September 29, 1939
Dear Folks,
I received both Katie's and Pop's letter and Aunt Dorothy's card this week and was glad to hear from everyone. This has been a very busy week for me and has passed away before I hardly realized it. The first few days I spent all the time working for the Coop, as I was put in charge of the registration of members. Besides that I had to register on Tuesday and get my Rural Ed job with my professor fixed. I have the job and worked all day yesterday afternoon on it, running off mimeograph copies and other work in his office.
I also have been working four hours a day at the Coop, since our opening Wednesday night, as a cashier in order to check up on all the people who eat and guests. Starting next week I'll have someone to help me with this work however, and I'll only be working for part of my meals.
School got off to a good start this week, and I'll have plenty of work in my various courses. I have one lab tomorrow (Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ag Engineering. Besides this I am taking courses in Animal Genetics, Animal Diseases, Agronomy, and Rural Education. This latter course will consist of my practice teaching which I'll have to do in the Ithaca High School one or two days every week.
Yes, I bought myself a pair of shoes, suspenders, tooth brush, paste and numerous other incidentals which are necessary and which I realized I haven't got as I begin to get assembled. I also purchased a small radio - 8 inches x 4 inches x 6 inches - a "Westinghouse" which is very helpful and worthwhile. Irving didn't bring his back and I decided I would want one next year anyway, so why not get it a little ahead of time. I think maybe Pop and Katie would like to have one like it or else an "Emerson." This size costs less than $10 new, in either case, and is just as good as a larger one for a couple of years.
I received both boxes OK with my clothes - Thanks a lot - What is Martha's address again? Thanks for the check; I won't need anymore before Thanksgiving as I am taking out a loan from the university to pay my fees and rent with for awhile. I am thinking of increasing my insurance policy and changing it somewhat, but have not fully made up my mind. I have a chance to have the policy start right away without having to pay for it for a couple of years. Most of the students in Rural Education are taking advantage of this. This will mean less that I have to pay every year, and would be very worthwhile to me. If I don't wait very long I won't have to worry about the rates going up on account of the war scare also.
I am going to talk to my advisor (Dr. Olney), whom I work for, about it as he is quite well acquainted with the best size of policy to have, but I would like to have Pop's advice on it before I do anything. New York Mutual Life is the company I am thinking of taking the policy out with.
Lovingly, Hall
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