{"id":11676,"date":"2025-02-11T21:48:45","date_gmt":"2025-02-12T03:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsallinthesynapse.net\/Family_History\/?p=11676"},"modified":"2025-02-11T21:48:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-12T03:48:45","slug":"a-war-years-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsallinthesynapse.net\/Family_History\/a-war-years-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"A War Years Letter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I try to salvage every letter and diary from family as you never know what family history may be in them.  So, when the topic of letters and diaries came up, I went to a container of letters that I had, looked for old paper, and pulled out a few until I found one of interest.  The letter I chose was written January 2, 1942, less than one month after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Inez Linda Pellett holding me when I was a baby. I inherited the corner stand in the background and I still have it today.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Author and Recipient<\/h1>\n

The letter was between two teenage girls.  Nola Marie Ashby (pictured above)<\/em> wrote the letter to my aunt Inez Linda Pellett (Yes, I was named after her)<\/em>.  Nola was the daughter of Inez\u2019s grandmother Sarah Ellen Ashby\u2019s youngest brother Lester \u201cPete\u201d Ashby.  However, Nola was only a year and a half older than Inez.  And, Pete was actually younger than Inez\u2019s mother Dessie May (Thomas) Pellett, who was his niece.<\/p>\n

Inez and Nola knew each other mostly through letters as Inez lived in Fort Scott, Bourbon, Kansas and Nola lived Compton, Los Angeles, California.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Letter<\/h1>\n

Much of the four-page letter was what you would expect between two teenage girls in 1942.  Nola asked questions about school, 4-H, and the weather.  She told about being excited to finally have a bedroom to herself now that her older sister was married.  And, like almost every letter of that era that I have read, multiple reminders to write back.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

War News<\/h2>\n

What was a bit different than most letters between girl cousins is that Nola wrote about the effects of the war on her life.  She wrote: \u201cWhat did you do on New Year\u2019s Eve?  I went to the midnight show.  They didn\u2019t want people on the pike.\u201d  I assume by pike she meant turnpike or a major road.  This is consistent with newspaper reports where they encouraged people to celebrate in small groups in people\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n

Nola continued, \u201cThe Japs sure are getting close to us.  We are right on the coast, surrounded by munition and airplane factories.  I am getting the hot seat.  I think I\u2019ll come back there where it\u2019s safe.  Ha ha.  I have been in bed during every air raid signal we\u2019ve had so far.  Or if I\u2019m not in bed, I get there darn quick(sic).\u201d<\/p>\n

However, she observed that \u201c[a]t first the war changed all our lives(sic) and they would hardly let us on the street, but now everything is going on pretty much as usual.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, within a month, the rules had already relaxed.  However, the rules, air raid practices, and blackout practices would continue throughout the war.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Los
Source: The Los Angeles Times January 2, 1942 via newspapers.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Snow<\/h2>\n

The other very interesting thing that Nola mentioned in her letter was that it had snowed in Los Angeles on New Year\u2019s Day for the first time in many years.  Compton was a bit south and it didn\u2019t seem that they had gotten snow.  However, some areas of the city had.  From my own cousins that live about half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, I know what excitement snow brings in Southern California.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, remember to write! Your letter might someday tell history as it is happening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Featured Image: Nola Ashby<\/p>\n

Prompt: Letters and Diaries<\/p>\n

#52ancestors52weeks<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I try to salvage every letter and diary from family as you never know what family history may be in them.  So, when the topic of letters and diaries came up, I went to a container of letters that I had, looked for old paper, and pulled out a few until I found one of interest.  The letter I chose was written January 2, 1942, less than one month after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. 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