Letter #17
Nov. 27, 1944 (to dad, in Normandy, France, from Lincoln, NE)
Dear Dad,
Yesterday I had a little relaxation from the routine I have been following for the past few weeks. Mrs. Pomeroy1 wrote to some of her relatives here in Lincoln, telling them that I was here. Since they go to the First Plymouth Congregational Church,2 they contacted me after the service yesterday, invited me and a friend, Charles Bruning,3 a Congregationalist from Salem, North Dakota, to dinner, and another family invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. We had a nice dinner, played ping-pong, had our pictures taken, and records made of our voices to send home. They invited us to come as often as we want to, but both our manners and our limited time will prevent us from going many times.
I'm not having any trouble with English, Math or History, but in Physics and Chemistry, I am bothered by my lack of concentration. Since from about June 1 to November 6, I had no studying to do, I am slightly out of condition in more ways than one. I haven't done much exer- cising since March, when I broke my leg, but now we have an hour of stiff calisthenics and then we may swim, play handball or basketball. The meals are sufficient, the sleep regular, but short. Lights are out at 22:00, but absolute quiet is not maintained usually until later. Also, if one needs to wash socks in the middle of the week, it has to be done after 21:00, and therefore one would probably have to get undressed in the dark. Bedcheck is at 11:15, but that is not hard to make for me.
Nov. 27, 1944 (to dad, in Normandy, France, from Lincoln, NE)
Dear Dad,
Yesterday I had a little relaxation from the routine I have been following for the past few weeks. Mrs. Pomeroy1 wrote to some of her relatives here in Lincoln, telling them that I was here. Since they go to the First Plymouth Congregational Church,2 they contacted me after the service yesterday, invited me and a friend, Charles Bruning,3 a Congregationalist from Salem, North Dakota, to dinner, and another family invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. We had a nice dinner, played ping-pong, had our pictures taken, and records made of our voices to send home. They invited us to come as often as we want to, but both our manners and our limited time will prevent us from going many times.
I'm not having any trouble with English, Math or History, but in Physics and Chemistry, I am bothered by my lack of concentration. Since from about June 1 to November 6, I had no studying to do, I am slightly out of condition in more ways than one. I haven't done much exer- cising since March, when I broke my leg, but now we have an hour of stiff calisthenics and then we may swim, play handball or basketball. The meals are sufficient, the sleep regular, but short. Lights are out at 22:00, but absolute quiet is not maintained usually until later. Also, if one needs to wash socks in the middle of the week, it has to be done after 21:00, and therefore one would probably have to get undressed in the dark. Bedcheck is at 11:15, but that is not hard to make for me.
Notes:
1 I remember the name Pomeroy, but I don't remember whether the connection is with Marshall High,
First Congregational, or possibly Como Church (or just someone in the neighborhood). I have a copy of.
the Marshall High Yearbook for 1945 (the year after Stewart graduated - my seventh grade) and there is
no Pomeroy mentioned there on the faculty, but that is not conclusive as to whether there was a Mrs.
Pomeroy there when Stewart was a student.
2 First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln is one of the largest (if not the largest) Congregational Churches in Nebraska. The building it occupied in 1944 (and still does) was then fairly new. It is impres- sive!
3 My ears pricked up when I saw this name because I knew a Charles Breunig on the faculty at Lawrence, who would be the right age, and who also just happens to be a cousin to Fred Breunig who we know in the Guilford Church. I asked Fred if his cousin was from North Dakota, but he wasn't - he was from Indiana. Then I realized that Breunig is not the same name as Bruning (although Stewart might be spelling his friend's name wrong, but probably not). The town Charles Bruning was from in North Dakota is actually New Salem, about 30 miles west of Bismarck.
Page 2
I shall set down my schedule here in case you might be interested.
2 First Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln is one of the largest (if not the largest) Congregational Churches in Nebraska. The building it occupied in 1944 (and still does) was then fairly new. It is impres- sive!
3 My ears pricked up when I saw this name because I knew a Charles Breunig on the faculty at Lawrence, who would be the right age, and who also just happens to be a cousin to Fred Breunig who we know in the Guilford Church. I asked Fred if his cousin was from North Dakota, but he wasn't - he was from Indiana. Then I realized that Breunig is not the same name as Bruning (although Stewart might be spelling his friend's name wrong, but probably not). The town Charles Bruning was from in North Dakota is actually New Salem, about 30 miles west of Bismarck.
Page 2
I shall set down my schedule here in case you might be interested.
Hour Mon
Tues. Wed Thu. Fri Sat. Sun
0800 Phys Phys Phys Phys Study Phys. 0800-0900 Bfst
0900 Lab. Stdy. Hist Stdy Hist Trig
1000 " " PT " PT PT
1100 Stdy. Chem. " Chem. " "
1200 Lunch ---------------------------------------------- 1230-1330 Lunch
1300 Alg Trig Alg Trig Alg MT = Military Training
1400 Eng. Hist Chem Hist Eng MT
1500 Hist Stdy Lab Stdy Stdy MT
1600 Stdy. Eng " " "
0800 Phys Phys Phys Phys Study Phys. 0800-0900 Bfst
0900 Lab. Stdy. Hist Stdy Hist Trig
1000 " " PT " PT PT
1100 Stdy. Chem. " Chem. " "
1200 Lunch ---------------------------------------------- 1230-1330 Lunch
1300 Alg Trig Alg Trig Alg MT = Military Training
1400 Eng. Hist Chem Hist Eng MT
1500 Hist Stdy Lab Stdy Stdy MT
1600 Stdy. Eng " " "
1715 Retreat --------------------------------------
1720 Supper ---------------------------------------
1900 Study ------------------------------------------
2200 Lights Out --------------------------- 2300 LO
2315 Bed Check ---------------------------
0130 Bed Check
In Military Training, we have learned the ? and loop slings for a rifle, and the correct prone, squatting, sitting and standing positions. Eventually everyone will get to shoot .30 caliber rifles on a range in the basement of one of the campus buildings.
There are about 350 fellows here, including the ASTP premeds. About a year ago there were three thousand stationed on this campus, indicating, perhaps, that the Army's needs are grow- ing very small, since only replacements are needed.
All the rooms in the library are lighted with fluorescent lamps, and I never fail to wake up about six o' clock with the combined noise and brightness. frequently I wake up thinking I am home, and suddenly I realize I shall not be home for two months yet. There is a boy here who was a classmate of mine at M. H. S., and graduated at the same time. He is in the Air Corps Enlisted Reserve, as are most of the fellows in my platoon. He, however, started in September, and gets a furlough at the end of this week.
Raymond Flynn4 and Charles Bruning were at Fort Leavenworth at the same time as I was, to get their uniforms. The rest of our platoon came to Lincoln on Nov. 2, the day before we did, so I know Ray and Chuck a little bit better, and pal around with them more, since they are pretty nice fellows, than I do with the rest. But, however, the rest are also buddies now, because it is very nearly impossible to live so close together all the time and not become close friends. Much discussion is carried on as to the relative merits of the various home states, the food, the mail, the classes, and so forth. It is a rapidly moving life, although at times February 1, my first furlough, looks rather far away. Having to become adjusted to a regular schedule, severe phys- ical workouts, college studies, and army discipline all at once is not too much for any of us, I believe, but it is not the easiest thing to overcome, considering that as seventeen-year-olds, we are not completely mature physically, spiritually and mentally.
Rev. Hyslop of Boston, younger brother of Fred Hyslop,5 preached a sermon at First Church last year and he had a bull session for the Protestant boys here at Love Library recently.
The personnel here consists of seven platoons, two companies, or one battalion. A captain is in command of the post since the colonel formerly presiding was promoted to a position at Omaha.
Notes:
4 Ancestry has records on over 54,000 Raymond Flynns! Nevertheless, in Letter #18, Stewart mentions that Raymond Flynn is from Chelsea, Iowa, and I found a Raymond James Flynn, born in 1895, who is buried in Chelsea, IA - that could well be the father of Stewart's friend (dad was born in 1896- same generation). Chelsea is located in central Iowa not far from Grinnell. Stewart had no way of knowing that a few years later he would be in college in Grinnell.
5 Fred Hyslop was a Congregational minister who was a friend of dad's. I believe they met at Chicago Theological Seminary, where Hyslop was a senior when dad entered in 1930. He served churches in Wisconsin, Colorado and Hawaii. His younger brother, Ralph Hyslop, was on the staff of the Congrega- tional Board of Home Missions in Boston at the time of this letter. He later taught at both Pacific School of Religion and Union Theological Seminary.
Page 3
In Military Training, we have learned the ? and loop slings for a rifle, and the correct prone, squatting, sitting and standing positions. Eventually everyone will get to shoot .30 caliber rifles on a range in the basement of one of the campus buildings.
There are about 350 fellows here, including the ASTP premeds. About a year ago there were three thousand stationed on this campus, indicating, perhaps, that the Army's needs are grow- ing very small, since only replacements are needed.
All the rooms in the library are lighted with fluorescent lamps, and I never fail to wake up about six o' clock with the combined noise and brightness. frequently I wake up thinking I am home, and suddenly I realize I shall not be home for two months yet. There is a boy here who was a classmate of mine at M. H. S., and graduated at the same time. He is in the Air Corps Enlisted Reserve, as are most of the fellows in my platoon. He, however, started in September, and gets a furlough at the end of this week.
Raymond Flynn4 and Charles Bruning were at Fort Leavenworth at the same time as I was, to get their uniforms. The rest of our platoon came to Lincoln on Nov. 2, the day before we did, so I know Ray and Chuck a little bit better, and pal around with them more, since they are pretty nice fellows, than I do with the rest. But, however, the rest are also buddies now, because it is very nearly impossible to live so close together all the time and not become close friends. Much discussion is carried on as to the relative merits of the various home states, the food, the mail, the classes, and so forth. It is a rapidly moving life, although at times February 1, my first furlough, looks rather far away. Having to become adjusted to a regular schedule, severe phys- ical workouts, college studies, and army discipline all at once is not too much for any of us, I believe, but it is not the easiest thing to overcome, considering that as seventeen-year-olds, we are not completely mature physically, spiritually and mentally.
Rev. Hyslop of Boston, younger brother of Fred Hyslop,5 preached a sermon at First Church last year and he had a bull session for the Protestant boys here at Love Library recently.
The personnel here consists of seven platoons, two companies, or one battalion. A captain is in command of the post since the colonel formerly presiding was promoted to a position at Omaha.
Notes:
4 Ancestry has records on over 54,000 Raymond Flynns! Nevertheless, in Letter #18, Stewart mentions that Raymond Flynn is from Chelsea, Iowa, and I found a Raymond James Flynn, born in 1895, who is buried in Chelsea, IA - that could well be the father of Stewart's friend (dad was born in 1896- same generation). Chelsea is located in central Iowa not far from Grinnell. Stewart had no way of knowing that a few years later he would be in college in Grinnell.
5 Fred Hyslop was a Congregational minister who was a friend of dad's. I believe they met at Chicago Theological Seminary, where Hyslop was a senior when dad entered in 1930. He served churches in Wisconsin, Colorado and Hawaii. His younger brother, Ralph Hyslop, was on the staff of the Congrega- tional Board of Home Missions in Boston at the time of this letter. He later taught at both Pacific School of Religion and Union Theological Seminary.
Page 3
The capital building6 is a unique structure, having a wide base and tall tower in the middle, al-
most as much a landmark as the Foshay Tower.7
Study hall is almost over now. I must get my sleep tonight because I am having a four weeks
(test) in Physics tomorrow, and tonight is shower night so I must close.
With love,
Stewart
Notes
With love,
Stewart
Notes
6 The Nebraska State Capital building was completed in 1932 and includes a 400-foot tower, the first
state capital to incorporate a tower into its design.
7 The Foshay Tower was an iconic structure when we lived in Minneapolis. It has an interesting story be- hind it: It's tower is a bit higher than the Nebraska capital tower.
"Inspired by a visit to the Washington Monument, Wilbur B. Foshay returned to Minneapolis with a vision for a grandiose office tower. Amassing his $22 million fortune from the utility business in less than ten years, Foshay dreamed of building a tower that would not only promote his business, but display his enormous suc- cess. In 1927 construction on the 32-story tower with a gradually tapering obelisk pyramidal roof began. The tower, standing on a two-story base, rose 447 feet above the street level, making it the tallest building in Min- neapolis. The structure, made from fabricated steel and reinforced concrete, dominated the skyline for several decades. After construction was complete in 1929, the doors were opened to the public for a three-day cele- bration. For the first time the public was able to see the main lobby arcade with Italian marble walls, terrazzo floors, ornamental bronze wrought iron grillework, and elaborate light fixtures. High-speed elevators, travel- ing 750 feet per minute, carried passengers up to the 31 st floor observation deck. The 27 th and 28 th floors were not open to the public; instead, they housed Foshay’s personal office and living quarters. No expense was spared in his suite – African mahogany wood, Italian marble and engravings of Foshay’s personal crest. Less than two months after the grand opening of the Foshay Tower, the stock market crashed, spiraling the country into the Great Depression. The crash left Foshay broke and charged with 15 counts of fraud. He lost his tower and was sentenced to 15 years in Leavenworth Prison. Released from prison in 1947, he returned to Minnesota until his death in 1957. While many interior design elements were altered and the interior court- yard has been filled in, the Foshay Tower remains an expression of "conspicuous consumption" that swept through the United States during the economic boom of the 1920s. While Foshay himself did not benefit from the construction of the Tower, it has remained a distinctive architectural statement, bringing prestige to the City of Minneapolis"
7 The Foshay Tower was an iconic structure when we lived in Minneapolis. It has an interesting story be- hind it: It's tower is a bit higher than the Nebraska capital tower.
"Inspired by a visit to the Washington Monument, Wilbur B. Foshay returned to Minneapolis with a vision for a grandiose office tower. Amassing his $22 million fortune from the utility business in less than ten years, Foshay dreamed of building a tower that would not only promote his business, but display his enormous suc- cess. In 1927 construction on the 32-story tower with a gradually tapering obelisk pyramidal roof began. The tower, standing on a two-story base, rose 447 feet above the street level, making it the tallest building in Min- neapolis. The structure, made from fabricated steel and reinforced concrete, dominated the skyline for several decades. After construction was complete in 1929, the doors were opened to the public for a three-day cele- bration. For the first time the public was able to see the main lobby arcade with Italian marble walls, terrazzo floors, ornamental bronze wrought iron grillework, and elaborate light fixtures. High-speed elevators, travel- ing 750 feet per minute, carried passengers up to the 31 st floor observation deck. The 27 th and 28 th floors were not open to the public; instead, they housed Foshay’s personal office and living quarters. No expense was spared in his suite – African mahogany wood, Italian marble and engravings of Foshay’s personal crest. Less than two months after the grand opening of the Foshay Tower, the stock market crashed, spiraling the country into the Great Depression. The crash left Foshay broke and charged with 15 counts of fraud. He lost his tower and was sentenced to 15 years in Leavenworth Prison. Released from prison in 1947, he returned to Minnesota until his death in 1957. While many interior design elements were altered and the interior court- yard has been filled in, the Foshay Tower remains an expression of "conspicuous consumption" that swept through the United States during the economic boom of the 1920s. While Foshay himself did not benefit from the construction of the Tower, it has remained a distinctive architectural statement, bringing prestige to the City of Minneapolis"
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| First Congregational Church, Lincoln, NE |
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| State Capitol, Nebraska |
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| Foshay Tower, Minneapolis, MN |
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