Letter from Thurston to his mother 1934

Thurston had a job with Texas Power & Light Company selling washing machines.  His brother Watt was already working for them and managed to get Thurston hired.

From Hillsboro on a Tuesday he wrote"

Mother Dear….

Well, I broke the ice--and sold a machine--now I have good chance of selling a few more.

Here is five (dollars) …I bought me a hat.

Now I've written about 4 or 5 letters and haven't heard from you at all.  These Bohemians are hard people to trade with.  They act so darn bashful.

If I could surprise this outfit and sell a lot of washers---I believe I could get transferred into a district job.

I love you Lots…'N... Lots….Son

Tr's sister Ernestine Arthur in the 1970;s

Ernestine Atwood Arthur with Daddy at Christmas in the 1970's.  Her husband Hilburn "Hipp" Arthur at right in back.  Daddy told me when he was little she and Alma used to box his ears.

notes from a letter: Mama to Mamie Feb. 19, 1931

After Papa Atwood died in June, 1929, Mama tried to work for a long time.  She sold books door to door and later on Avon, which took her from town to town in south Texas.  Finally the kids all pledged $5 a month to help her with expenses. Thurston, the youngest child, was still living with Mama and trying to finish high school.

"….I had only enough money to pay for water, lights, gas and butter, and paid a dollar and twenty five cents for the little Turkey I got for Xmas dinner. And one dollar to give Thurston for his dues for agriculture at school. Frank was the only one to give me any money for this month up to the fifteenth.

So far this month butter is the only food bill I have paid for January and knowing that the boys don't get too large a salary it makes me uneasy to be getting in debt."

"(Thurston) works at a creamery every Saturday all day.  Gets only $1.00. He bought a shirt for each day's work. He got down to only one shirt to his name, except those that was rags. One of them had split and been sewed up nine times in the back. Next Saturday he wants to get him a belt."

Thurston, Papa Atwood, Edward and Frank in 1928

A telegram for Mama Atwood 1935

I am sure this warmed her heart.  Mama Atwood really missed her boys when they left home.  And Thurston was the last to go.  He was working in east Texas selling appliances with her brother Watt when he sent her this telegram.  

little Patsy in the snow

 It was January 1939.  I am not sure where we were living when these pictures were made, but it was somewhere in south Texas where Daddy was a salesman for Texas Power and Light Company.


 I can see that I had to wear big person's gloves instead of mittens.  Snow was and is so rare in Texas that most people never buy snow gear.

Thurston's Bachelor of Arts Degree

Thurston (my dad) started teaching band at Eastland High School in 1947.  He loved the work.  He started with a school that had not had a band in 5 years.  He went to his old band teacher, Pat Howard, who lived in Comanche.  Pat told him how to get started...what book to use, and he stayed one page ahead of his students that first year. More info later about the Eastland High School Band later.

In 1949 Texas passed the Gilmer-Aiken bill, which required all public school teachers to have a college degree. So Daddy started going to classes at Howard Payne College, in Brownwood, Texas.  He attended classes on nights and Saturdays for a long time. Finally he got his diploma.  He went to the graduation ceremony by himself.  These are snapshots of him that I made on our back porch in Comanche that day.

Snow in Comanche January 1943

On January 2, 1947 Aunt Laura wrote in her letter to Aunt Mamie:

"we are having the most beautiful snow.  It started New Years Eve and the forecast for tonight is more snow.  We (Ed and Laura) are carrying water to the chickens three times a day for three days so far."

We lived nearby Ed and Laura's place that year. Snow was and is so rare in Texas.  It was huge fun.  Here are a couple of pictures from that day. In January 1947 Bill was 4 and a half and I was 8 and a half.  Our birthdays are 4 days apart.