Harris-Cameron-Lanfear Heritage: Founding Families of Athol, NY

Harris-Cameron-Lanfear Heritage: Founding Families of Athol, NY Photos, papers & stories documenting the lives of the Harris, Cameron and Lanfear families of Athol, NY in 1931.

These are transcribed letters from my great-grandmother (Grace) to my grandmother (Ruth) while away at Green Mountain College.

04/28/2026

"Tidy habits are a great help all through life."

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Envelope: Dec. 4, 1931 Fri. P.M.
At the store.
Dearest One.
Another nice letter today. Lessons all caught up to bed rather late, breakfast eaten and a nice compliment again from Mr. Compton.
I can imagine he will be perfectly willing for you to keep on in that particular way and so are your mamma + Daddy.
My girlie finds this is the only way to succeed and show them all what kind of material she is made of, not one to continue in a mistake after learning where it is + how to remedy. You are doing very nicely in your Bus. Law recitations. Am so glad. And I know you and Mary will come first every time in room inspections. That is a very good and a very important thing to practice. Tidy habits are a great help all through life. I hope it will not take too much time from study periods, but you can adjust matters to fit I guess.
I will do the best I can with your gloves. You should have told me the material next best to Kid. Of course Kid would be real expensive if the other will ans. You won’t need them of course until the night you wear your beautiful red evening gown, so I will have them for you before then. I am so glad my little girlie can possibly have those things even tho it means some sacrifice on Mamma’s part. It gives her pleasure in seeing you have and enjoy them. You better tell me the size of your gloves, that is one thing I could not be sure about for I do not remember what your blacks were. The front roof of the big part of house is painted, but storm today stopped the front porch roof. Will says it would not take harm if left till spring. The current floor in basement is complete + Uncle Dick was to start digging at spring + make the wall there to hold water, but too nasty to work out side. Began with sleet, then some rain mixed now snow also, freezes on fast as comes + very slippery. Lee will finish insulation today then I guess will be through unless he lets him help Dick at the spring in Father’s place, which I should advise Will + Roy clap boarding on back under porch. Hope they won’t put in the P.M. there. Will tells me the latest place for standing the hot water tank is down in basement underneath the kitchen. Then it is out of the way + out of sight. Your Dad thinks it can’t be done + heat the water, but I am going to talk to E. Robinson about it. I expect if it would be a bit more work + a bit more expensive he would say it could not be done. He has the job, you know, and has given his price. Think how nice it would be to have that corner clear to clean around + paper behind. Worlds better. You bad girl, you did not tell me in today letter just what time to listen in for your College singers, so will have to guess at it. I know you said W.G.Y. + Fri. The boys, or one of them said in the P.M. but I believe it to be evening so will listen from the time I go over to get supper until bed time. Then we will pretty surely catch it.
Buchin Cameron was just in and paid 10.00 on bill. Pretty good. Never expected it. Well, I will close now and perhaps do a little ordering from Butler’s + may be other places.
Love to glore to my own darling from
Loving Mamma

03/26/2026

Makin' mamma proud!

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Envelope: Dec. 3, 1931 Thurs. P.M.
at the store.
My Darling Girlie.
Another nice letter today and such good news. You certainly made mamma proud to do so well in your Economics test. Keep right on sweetie and you will come out top of the heap I know. Just do not let well enough alone, try for better. That’s a good girlie get your lessons all caught up each + every night before play. Then there will be no getting behind or trying to catch up. Easier all around. We had a bill of 1.00 from G.M.C. today, Physical Examination for Ruth E. Cameron. I will send you the 1.00 spending money today. It would never do to have you go busted until Christmas. You might have to buy some eats. Perhaps I can send you some things in a few days. Aunt Myrtle has had washing from Aunty Ruth this week and to the Falls one day so is doing ours today. Will send yours soon- as they are ready.
Aunty Ruth does not get on quite as we would wish. Her water is not just right. Dr. is keeping watch of it and I guess will send some to Laboratory at G.F. + have it examined. Gee! if she is even on her feet again it sure will be a worry off our minds. He is not letting her have any solid foods, fruit, milk + butter milk in larger quantities to flush her kidneys. Baby Jean is real fussy both night + day somehow. The medicine Ruth takes may make her. We can’t tell. I was up last night about an hour. she was sitting in chair in bedroom. I believe they have spoiled the baby by giving it too much attention. Pearls head seems to be getting thicker every day. Last night Harry Robinson came down from John’s looking for ride to Wbg. Was here at store when supper call came so came over with Dad. I served hot bean soup from a bowl on the table, then potato + creamed red salmon, bread + butter, tea, raspberry crinkles (without the mice) and peach sauce. He ate a pretty good meal. Then got a ride over with Lee + Myrtle. They went over to Will’s a while in evening + in to see Dr. Goodman about Ruth. The color is going on this side of the house roof this P.M. Looking so much like snow. Thus may be the only day this winter the roof will be free of snow. Don Cameron said today it ought to take one man just one day to throw on that stair. It could be put on with a mop he said. Nothing particular you see, just get on enough to run down into every crack + fill them. The back of the house will thaw up most every-day with the sun. The insulation is nearly all up + down. Roy is on this end clap boarding + you will probably find him there when you come again if he is as long as one the other end. Oh!!! I just been talking to a game protector. One of those extra ones around Wbg + north I guess looking for a house to live in a while to do a little looking around here. I told him we needed some also 2 or them Federal Officers. He heard we were going in the new house quite soon and thought could get the one we are now in. I told him we were planning to go about the middle of Jan. He spoke of the Bowen house. I don’t know if they would rent or not. Probably not. Now, my time has been taken so must close.
Be my Darling girlie, get your lessons, breakfasts, sleeps + keep well. Loads of love, Loving Mamma

03/02/2026

A "dandy letter" and and "old mutt"

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Envelope: Dec. 2, 1931 Wed. P.M.
At the store.
My Darling Girlie.
A dandy letter from my girl today. I got fooled too. When I stamped them looked for yours + thought had not found it but must look in another pile. When sorted there it came to view as a surprise. Forgot about the College Sta. Wed. Mamma is sure glad every thing is coming so nicely for you. I knew you would not let grass grow under your feet until you got in touch with that new dress and I am glad it was just what you wanted and the fit. You were lucky that just the dress you had your eye on was right in every way. You sure are a lucky kido. Guess you have luck for both you and I. I never had any. Today is Desmonds birth day. You could have sent him a card. I have forgotten what time you said the bunch from College sings. I guess it is Fri. night but perhaps you better tell me in your letter if you get this in time. We heard the Blackstone last night. I bet you will be real naughty to the little blue Chrysler boy. Well, I can’t blame you much. He seems to mean well but he acts queerly.
What a nice table you are at. I am so glad. Your worries on that score are over for a while. Mary + Drexel too. All one could wish. Now for the good marks I know my girlie will get after them + make everything come out good. You really are quite a lucky girlie Ruth dear. Now aren’t you? in many ways.
Willard just rolled in with a parcel to insure. He kept gabbing about it till I had to shut him up. Old mutt. Must hustle now. Your dress is very pretty. Glad you made a diagram. I could not imagine at all. Sun nice + warm today, but cold wind. Worlds of bestest love to my own Darling sweetie. Ted was pleased with the rocks. Bye Bye Honey Till tomorrow Loving Mamma.

12/22/2025

A letter from a December long ago.

"Not a bad day or a good one."
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Envelope: Dec. 1, 1931
Tues. P.M.
At the store.
My Dearest Girlie.
Well, Mamma won’t start in telling how she misses you for you already know all about that. Little Chas. nearly kicked me from the bed last night and he had a hot flat at his feet. Colder than yours. He rode in the back seat and it is not as warm. I was piggish and sat in front. Home at just 10 PM. Boys in bed. Got more pop corn to bring to them. I can see you and Mary in your cozy room. I was sorry you did not take your lessons back all finished. So afraid you might not find them last night and perhaps that will rush you today. I was wondering since Mary said Compton asked if you had returned, if he might not have heard some one remark you were going home T-giving for good. He may have thought you had.
Myrtle + Frances have gone to G. - Falls today riding down + back with Keith Robinson. They sure want to go badly. Hope M- looks for a baby basinet for Aunty Ruth’s Jean. I don’t want her to use that old Burch crib. She had a box from Mrs. Drice today. Something pretty no-doubt. Never mind, our blanket out shines all so far eh? Do they serve rolls with soup in Poultney?
Uncle Dick had the trots, and could not come to work this morn. Guess the rest of gang are there. Not a bad day or a good one.
Blows + squalls part + sun shine the rest but quite cold. Want to get time to order your spread. Have made Star Report + written just a bit + put in with puzzles for Mrs. Fryr. She wrote Myrtle feared I had forgotten her. Must skip over + see to fire. Too cold to go way out. Miss my girlie so. Be my goodest little sweetheart and keep well + I know you will be happy.
Much love hugs + kisses from Loving Mamma. Hope your tooth is good and your tonsel too.

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Athol, NY

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