Buddy’s best friend and fellow Ham Radio operator was John Huntoon.
They made regular trips to “Cow Pasture Hill” to test radio equipment. Buddy designed a portable receiver and John submitted an article to “Radio” Magazine, to report on the development and testing of this receiver.
5/17/38
W. Lafayette, In.
Marty Dear:
I have been holding this letter until now as I didn’t know what I was going to do. Radio published an article of mine this month, and I should have heard from them by now. But since I haven’t, I am broke. I shall therefore not be up until Sunday the 29th. I hope it not too late to let your employer know so that she may invite her guests. I am sending this special delivery, and you should get it in the morning of the 18th. If I get a check from Radio in the mail tomorrow, I shall call you at noon and see if we can make arrangements for the week-end of the 22nd.
I’m awfully glad to hear what Nena has done. I didn’t suggest it, and you may rest assured that if she didn’t think a lot of you that she would never have seen you twice. But she is awfully good to my friends, especially when they are such fine people.
As concerns the trip, I shall probably hitch-hike up on Saturday afternoon, and may spend the night either with Johny Huntoon or my folks. If I do the later, they won’t know that I am not going home when I leave the house Sunday morning. I shall call you when I get in town if you think it wise and will send me your phone number. I will return on the train. As concerns the feed, let’s not decide until I find out how much I got for the last literary adventure. It should be fairly much as the article was over 3000 words, which is the longest they have yet published for me. This last article, although practically true, is not a technical one, but falls under the head of fiction.
I received a letter from them today telling me that another one of my articles, the last submitted, is being published soon. Then in addition to this, I have a 5100 word job that I batted out this week-end, which I think they will accept. I average about $3 per hour on this work, but I can’t keep it up for many hours per day. That is not including my time in re-typing the manuscript.
About the scrap. I was just pointing out a phenomena which has never occurred between yours truly and anyone but you. I can’t imagine scrapping with you, honey.
Unless I call you tomorrow, about 12:30 cst or 1:30 daylight time, I shall see you on the 29th.
88, Cy
5/24/38
W. Lafayette, In.
Hi Honey:
I hope it rained up there Monday. If you were half as tired as I was, you were practically dead. Of course, I didn’t get but 2 hours sleep Friday night and only 3 on Saturday, so I should have been in pretty bad shape.
The bus got here at dawn, and it was raining. I couldn’t get to sleep on the bus as I was too busy thinking over the events of the day. No regrets on this end of the line at all.
Thanks for one of the swellest days I’ve ever had in my life. You were grand, and I’ll never forget it. It yet seems more like a glorious dream than a reality.
The check from Radio has arrived, but it is so darned small that I won’t be able to pay you back until the first. If you need the money, though, just holler, and I’ll borrow it from one of the fellows here. I only got $10 for the article. Apparently fiction doesn’t pay so well.
The local affair is dying a natural death. I’m certain that there is no danger of a repetition of the Marge affair, although I shall feel better when I don’t see her any more.
No word has been received from the Army, and I’m afraid that that plan of action is out. If I don’t hear from them by the end of the week, I shall go ahead with other plans. Due to the Hayworth angle, I feel that the Los Angeles job is best if I can wing it. Marge hears too much of me through Johny Huntoon now without adding to things by working with Don. Of course, I may have to take anything I can get and be thankful for it.
Somewhere in the haze that is my recollection, I seem to remember hearing Nena ask me to tell you to drop her a line and let her know what the score finally turned out to be. Use your own judgment.
I feel better balanced emotionally than I have for the past two years. If you write to me before you receive this letter, wait until you have received my answer to your letter before answering. I shall answer immediately, and that will straighten us out so that we won’t be both writing at the same time.
88’s Cy
Author’s note:
February 15, 1939: The German Kriegsmarine launches its largest Battleship ever, The Bismark.
On February 20, 1939, approximately 22,000 Nazi sympathizers gathered for the meeting of the German American Bund at Madison Square Garden. The group supported antisemitism, anticommunism and U.S. isolationism.
By February of 1939, Buddy has secured employment as a radio engineer at the RCA in Camden, NJ.
2/21/39
919 Cooper St., Camden, NJ
Martha Darling:
I hope you got Cliff’s telegram and wrote to me. The last 24 hours have been lonely ones.
Am I apparently lucky. I called the Y and they said they had one room which they would save for me. When I got there, they said they didn’t have any but one, which they were saving for a fellow who had called from “Trenton” a few minutes before. I had called from North Philly, and taken a cab over. They misunderstood the name and didn’t suspect anything because I arrived too quickly. After glancing at the place, I decided to leave well enough alone and asked for addresses of private homes near the RCA. He gave me about a half dozen and roughly sketched their locations. He was a very nice person and let me leave my bag at the Y.
I picked one in the middle of the list, found it, didn’t like the outside but rang the doorbell anyhow. After several attempts, I gave up. Just as I was several houses away, an old man came to the door and I went back. His wife was out but would be back in 5 minutes. I waited, against my better judgment.
To cut it short, here I am in the first house. It is neat & clean inside. The room is 3rd floor. In addition to a rug and a ceiling, it has a bed, dresser, desk, 2 chairs, lamp, window, and closet and hold your shirt, sweetheart, only $4 per week with linen and towels furnished! When you see that, you can see why I didn’t look farther. The rest of the rooms listed from $6-$12 per week. I would like a private bath but I don’t feel that it is justified or necessary yet.
The family consists of Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks, about Mother’s age, and her husband, about 10 years older. Her daughter, Margaret Hanah, is a nice specimen about Nena’s age and teaches in the junior high school (math & Engl.). (I wouldn’t stand a chance, so you needn’t worry.) The only other roomer works for the local newspaper. I haven’t yet met him. He has a second floor room. There is another room on this floor which may someday be filled (at $5), but I hope not. At present, it is so quiet the clock sounds like a riveting machine.
After arranging for the room, I went out and called Aiken’s. Doc was out, so I thanked Mrs. Aiken in his place. She says to drop in whenever I can, as they are not far off. Afterwards, I saw “Topper takes a trip” which is good. Mebbe you and Mary can do something about it. Then I ate a good supper for 35 cents! About $1.00 per day will probably do the trick.
With supper to fortify me, I called John. Boy, was he happy. Apparently dizzy spells nil. The first thing he said when I told him the set-up was “Oh, you’re bringing the gal out about next fall, uh?” I think he kinda likes the idea of our being together. Tell his folks that he sounded well and happy.
All indications are for darned short hours at the RCA. I hope so, but I’m not counting on it.
Pardon the pencil, but the pen went dry. If things go alright tomorrow, I shall have the typewriter by next week, and then I will write letters like I did long ago. I shall go out to mail these and buy some ink then come back and take a bath. Mrs. Brooks says ok on milk for breakfast and a 200 watt lamp at 75 cents a month. This is about right. I may have to raise the ante if her bill jumps too high. Being on the third & top floor, I may put in a small rig with which to qso* Johny. We should be able to make the 200 miles or so with low power. But that will come much later. Also you might rescue my logbook from Huntoon. It’s on J.H.’s desk, “LOG W9KWP”, a grey cloth covered loose-leaf ledger. Hold it with books Conklin has.
It’s getting late dear, so nighty night. I’ve been away from you for over a day, but we’re also one day nearer to seeing each other again.
I’ll probably write again tomorrow. Then, unless something comes up, I won’t write until you’ve answered my tomorrow’s letter. Then we will avoid crossing.
With as much love as a pencil & paper can convey.
Cy
*A conversation between two radio amateurs.
2/26/39
Camden, NJ, 4:30 P.M.
Martha Baby:
Yes, I know. I’m not supposed to be writing you today. But this gives me more enjoyment than anything else I do, almost like talking to you, I just can’t resist. I’ll promise not to write you any more letters like the one I wrote yesterday if you’ll promise never to put chain letters in the ones you write to me. In any case, warn me a couple of letters ahead. I’m afraid I was a little disappointed when I opened a nice juicy letter to find only four sentences to me.
Well, now, what have I been doing with myself. You know I don’t work Saturdays. I filed all of my back personal correspondence believe it or not, and with a few exceptions, have a separate folder for each surname, Huntoon etc. Business correspondence will be similarly treated later on. I’m going to miss not having you to read my mail. I rather enjoyed it. While I’m on the subject, I bought a card box and index and cards as per the enclosure. All personal correspondent’s addresses etc. are recorded as indicated and filed behind their respective alphabetical index card. This should help my honey when she handles all of my mail (will you?). I shall try to keep it up to date for you. The business correspondence will be similarly treated as indicated on the other side of the card. Also, I bought an “Eveready” desk calendar, a page of which is enclosed, which looks a little as shown to the right.
We can get renewals every year and it will look nice on our desk. These may seem like unnecessary expenditures, but I couldn’t go on never knowing what day or date it was, and looking through a ream or two of correspondence for an address.
Yesterday, I walked over to Philly and back. After walking around the town for over an hour, I stopped in a drugstore for lunch. Boy, when I sat down, I thought I was in a harem. It looked like the office girls of Philly were having a convention. I liked to think that my girl was someplace having as good a time. Pretty soon they all cleared out, and it looked like the “Amalgamated office Boys of Peoria” or something. When I got home, I popped my honey’s picture up on the other pillow and took a nap. Then I studied, ate supper, and studied until bed time.
Incidentally, just after supper, I called one of these fellows whom Bob Burk’s friend mentioned to me and I am meeting him over in Philly Tuesday. He sounded over the phone like a well-cultured person. I hope so. Will let you know about Wednesday.
I got up at 7:30 this morning, ate, & studied until noon. Then I ate again and went 
to see “Jesse James” –the show, not in person. I got there a little early and they were having trouble with the sound system. Maybe I’m wrong, but the difficulty was obvious just from the noise it made. But I controlled myself and they finally got it fixed. About that time, the lady next to me decided to move over. She forgot I was there, and deposited all two hundred pounds in my lap. Was her face red (and was I surprised). She was most grateful when I volunteered to move over, but a little insulted when I moved over two seats. Then the gal in the picture reminded me of you and a gal sat down in front of me with a hairdo just like yours. But finally there was enough shootin’ so I got unblue again. But it taint the same without your little hand to hold.
You’d better still love me because I’ve never written letters like this before. But if I wasn’t so darned sure that you did love me, I wouldn’t commit myself so plainly. But please be careful of them. If anything screwy goes on, you had better send them to Johny for safe keeping. That would be even better than sending them back to me.
I will have worked one week when payday gets here. The following is self explanatory:
Expenses 1 week. $15
Weeks to Payday approx 1
Approx expenses to payday $15
Cash on hand $38
Balance next payday $23 + $40 paycheck.
Which says I’m ok to next payday.
If We are paid once a month, I’ll have $60 expenses and $60 cash (approx.) which is a close squeeze. But if we’re paid twice a month, I’ll be sitting pretty.
Why did I bring this up? Well simply this. If I get paid twice a month which is probable, I think I shall be able to afford something rash. First, I’ll see John next week-end. Secondly, if I know exactly where and when you will be the following week-end, (11th & 12th) I am going to call you on the phone. By making a schedule by mail, we can avoid “person-to-person” rates. If I call late, after 7:30 I believe, we get a further reduction. And, honey child, if I have the money, two or three dollars is nothing compared to the hell I’ve gone through without your voice and your giggle. I think we can well afford 3 minutes once a month. Perhaps the best bet is for you to be at Huntoons. If you are sure you’ll be there, I will not call person to person and thus no one will be the wiser. You can wait for the call either upstairs in the bed-room or down in John’s room. Lemme know what you think. Of course, it all depends on the pay check. In any case, I will definitely call you within 6 weeks. I know I can’t hold out longer than that.
24 more days honey. Everyone is pulling for us so let’s be careful. It will simplify matters to have me out of town. My baby’s just got to hold together until it’s all over, then we can be ourselves again. Don’t do anything Burns doesn’t think wise and don’t give the old battle-axe a chance to do anything.
Baby girl, I love you so much I could never express it on paper. You will never know how helpless I feel without you. Just the realization that I can’t snuggle down in your arms and talk things over with you leaves me with a most helpless feeling. Perhaps someday I can repay you for your help and guidance.
I suppose it is time to eat and then study some more. I have a lot of that to do this winter. I honestly feel that I could do it better if I had you with me.
I shall feel a lot happier a month from now if am then sure that I have made the grade with the RCA. So far, I seem to be doing ok.
Keep a stiff upper lip, darling, and I’ll be with you as soon as we can.
Love with a vengeance. Your-lil Boy, Cy
P.S. The mill should be here tomorrow, I hope!
P.S. #2 This was going to be a short line!