1951 Letters

Return to Scott Hill Farm page.  Return to Stith Valley home page.

Letter from Walter C. Scott to Ruth Fontaine Scott, early March 1951
Letter from Walter C. Scott to Ruth Fontaine Scott, April 5, 1951

Sunday A.M.
Dear Ma:

So glad to get your card and that you are back with us.  Read all about the trip in the paper.

It is raining here this A.M.  Started Friday night, rained all day Sat.  Poured last night -don't look like it will quit soon.  Did not go to spring this A.M. - just dipped up a bucket full when I got to the branch above the garden.  Anyway it is nice and warm and looks like grass is growing. 

However the road is going through from here to mail box.  I have 50 tons of rock promised but can't get it hauled soon.

1st part of winter was cold - frozen almost all time.  Hope we have some more of it so we can get something done.

Got tile put around 1/2 of house but not on side next to wash room.  Had enough wood in for this rainy spell that I wont need to get out and carry any more in before Monday.  Use your wheelbarrow to wheel it clear in to corner by stove 200 lbs at a time.

Don't know if I told you, we are heating the house from the basement, using that wood stove you gave us one time.  Let Mary have coal stove.  We'll need another liner in it before it starts another winter because we really throw the wood at it.

We are trying to start into the dairy business in 2 years.  Bought 5 heifer calves to go with one we have to make six.  As soon as these are weaned, we want 4 more heifers and a bull calf to put on the same 3 cows.  (Want 10 cows & 1 bull)   Have 6 cows now but not good enough for dairy.  The calves are eating 2 gallons of laying mash and dairy feed mixed each day.  Feel like I could make money raising the calves if I were not going to keep them.  Calves cost appr. $25 each at 1 week old - Worth $100 at hear old - appr. $200 at calving around 2 yrs old.  Can vaccinate against Bangs Disease at 4 to 8 mo old by raising  own calves. 

Have 2 lambs and will have a few more soon.  Don't expect to get so many lambs form my young sheep I bought.  Too young when bought but only ones I could get.

Bought a new mail box and having Davis to paint my name on it.  Jess is here playing with Tinker Toys now and in a mighty good boy most of the time.  Ann is asleep now.  Sure is growing.  Jesse got a tricycle for X Mas.  16 inch front wheel.  He rides it real well.  If you want to see how big he is - go see a 16" tricycle - it is a big one!

We are hoping to get a new cook stove soon and sell the trailer.

Also are getting mighty tired bouncing around in the truck.  Hope to trade it off for car.  However this is easier said than done.  They want you to give them truck - buy car!*?

Took my class over to Uncle Allen's farm Friday.  Believe I am keeping old Man's respect as a farmer & teacher.

Hope to see you , J.V. & Francis in Spring.

Love,
Anna, Jesse, Delean, Walter 

J. V. is Jessie Virginia Williams, Walter's sister, married Francis Williams.
Uncle Allen is William Allan Stith, Ruth Fontaine Scott's mother's brother.

April 5, 1951, Letter from Walter C. Scott to Ruth Fontaine Scott
Arrival of Martha Lou

W.C.Scott, Guston, Ky.   post mark Guston KY, APR 7 A.M. 1951
United States Postage 3 CENTS

Ruth F. Scott, 302 Davis Ave, Route #2, Alexandria, Va.

Thursday 4 A.M.

Dear Ma:

So glad to hear from you so soon.  Martha Lou got here at 1:30 Monday April 2 and weighed in at 9 lbs 5 oz.  She immediately started looking around blinks at the light.  She turns her head and looks at you when you talk.  Doctor said you could treat her like a 3 month old baby.  Roy Naybar said I must have been feeding my wife lots of meat!  He helped Fred Wright bring her home. 

Martha Lou cried a little Tuesday  P.M. before she started getting all the milk she wanted.  She is perfectly content now

Eva Carman (colored) is already up with Martha Lou.  Just going to keep her 3 days & get a cheaper one.  Delean was up some yesterday and looks real well.   Today is wash day! so I will start heating water soon.

Bought the prettiest pure bread Gilt that will farrow May 1 for $100.  Sold my old sow that I paid $75 for at stock yards for $66. Monday.

Went to tobacco barn a few minutes ago and have a new lamb this A.M.  One came yesterday!  Not doing near what I would like but guess I will get by.  Only have 29 lambs now and probably won't have over 35 from 40 sheep.  Mr. Ike Hicks had 78 lambs from54 sheep.  I should do that well next year.  If prices stay like they were last year I should get close to $30 each for lambs and $1.00 per lb. for wool.

Am sure keeping short on the finances these days.  Seems like if we can live for another month will be O.K. but I guess its 2 months because next month its interest.   This month its $172 fertilizer.  The baby will have to be paid for on installment plan.

Hope it is dry enough this P.M. to start burning plant bed.  We have one 70 ft one, doing another 100 ft one.  Everybody else is about as late as we are. 

Guess the "Martha Lou" will stick.  The name was strictly mine, no other good suggestions. 

Must close & get to work.

Love,
Martha Lou, Anne, Jesse, Delean, Walter