From Mom Stillwell

To: Craig
From: Mom

March 3, 1969

Hi Hon,
Well how is everything over there? We got your letter Friday nite and I broke the ice I went in and got the mail and found a letter. It is the first time since you have been over there that I got the mail and get a letter from you.
Sharon and Jerry came up Thurs nite about 1 in the morning. They stayed here Thurs and Friday nites. They got the beds up Sat so they stayed down there. We went down Sat and helped them some and we went down yesterday and took the one single bed down that was upstairs. Jeff and Kyle didn't get along sleeping together in the big bed. They have got a beautiful place to live in. Purcells had it all done over for them. They had a table and chairs, dresser, dryer, couch, and a lamp given to them so all they have got to buy now is the living room suite.
It came over the news this morning that Normal Cheal and Don Payne were arrested in Syracuse last nite for 3rd degree burglary for breaking into a diner. I just talked to Mim on the phone and she said Norm came into Lee's yesterday and asked his mother for some money and she wouldn't give it to him. I'll send you the clipping out of the paper it will probably be in tonite's paper.
I've been working up to Lees week-end's and Friday nite I worked and Alma hung around until Ralph asked her to eat steak with him. Mim and I said she was kissing his ass for something and sure enough she worked Sat nite and yesterday in my place it burns me up because they have called me to come in at short notices and I have never turned them down. I'd like to tell them to kiss my ass the next time but I can use the money. It isn't Elmora anyhow it is Ralph.
Jerry said that 3 of his bosses down to Kodak told him anytime he wanted a job back he could get it. Kodak gave him 2 weeks vacation pay and a bonus of $400. This he didn't expect. It is enough and more to pay his loan off from Kodak.
I mailed a package to you Friday pm and I saw Ann Saturday and she said Debbie sent you a package Saturday. I saw her Friday nite down to Marian's and I told her I got a letter form you so took right off on the run to the PO and I saw her at nite up to Lees and she said she got a letter. I served her French Fries and she said oh you give more than the other ones and I said don't talk so loud as I put more in then I figured I did.
I'll get Sharon to make some bookies to send over to you she can make them better than I can. I got 2 cans of olives that I couldn't get in the package. The package weighed 3oz. over but Spence said maybe it would go through air mail. Marian Hentze gave me the Kool-Aid and the chocolate mild packages to send to you. She even helped me pack the box and weigh it.
Dad has got to go up and report today he will go to work the 24th of March. Hon I haven't heard anything more about Taylor buying the Tavern. I haven't written to Irene. I've got to so I'll ask her. I told Grace Carr about the money and she said she would see that you got more money. So she'll probably get a card and have people sign it and take up a collection and mail it to you. When are you going to send the films over. Well hon, Dad is over to Chaumont and he'll be back after me so I've got to get dressed. Hope everything is good over there and take good care of my boy. Write soon.
Love,
XX
Mom & Dad

Something From Craig

Note from Danna *Some people have emailed me and asked why I didn't put the letters in order. It's because there are so many, but they are all basically within the same year and few are months apart. Also, to get to the beginning of the story, you have to start at the end of the blog. that's just the way the template works on Blogspot.com unless I were to change the dates and times and perhaps I'll rearrange it when I get all the letters transcribed.

Finally in the mix of the letters, is one that Craig wrote home from Vietnam. Interestingly enough however, he never mailed the letter. He put it in the envelope, secured it shut and it stayed that way for almost 40 years—Until I opened it.

March 15, 1969

Dear Mom and Dad,

It is about time I get a letter out. I’ve been sick for the last week and I didn’t feel much like writing anyone.
You asked me if I was around the fighting here. Well it is a few miles off. It is all around us. Don’t worry about it, OK.
I got 238 more days to go. The time is going fast. It doesn’t seem like I’ve been here 5 months. After this month, I will be half way. O’Boy, this is the first time that I’ve been glad to see the months go by.
I got a money order a week ago that I was going to send, but I will send it out soon. OK.
I’ve gotten a letter from Deb in the past week. And have not written her in about 8 days. Moan she is pissed off. She will get her letter the same time that you get this one. I will mail them all at once.
Well is Sharon happy that she is back in the good part of the state?
I hope Tim R. gets close to the 199 or around Saigon some place. There’s a lot of guys from New York around here, about 20 that I know of in my ammo group.
Well, I got to go now.
Love,
Craig 239 DAYS

Update From Corky Mount

I just got off the phone with Corky Mount (Spencer's wife). She has some new information for me:
--Sharon is mentioned in a lot of the letters and Sharon is Craig's sister.
--Kenn and Grace Carr were close friends of Craig's parents. Kenn was the
undersheriff of Watertown NY, the nearest largest city by Three Mile Bay
--Lee's Restaurant still stands, but has been abandoned for years. It was
a "magical" place back in the 60's and 70's where the towns people gathered
all year round.
--As you already know, Craig did marry one of the girls in the letters. I haven't
revealed which one yet. He also has a daughter and her name is Melanie. I've
just left a message on Melanie's voicemail. After I get them transcribed I'm
going to mail them to her.

Note From Danna and More Letters

*Note From Danna

Today is August 11, 2008. I'm going to call Corky Mount sometime this week to get more of an update on what exactly happened in Three Mile Bay back in the late 1960's. As I read back on the last three pages in this site, I realize that this blog is perhaps more about the friends and family of Craig and history of the people that lived in a sleepy small New York town that was called Three Mile Bay. When I open up the letters, a musty odor accompanies each one. In fact, my whole writing room smells like moth balls. These may be ancient history and "last season" but the hearts of the towns-people are both humorous and interesting.

I'll keep you posted on my conversation this week with Corky.*

June 25, 1969

To Craig

From Debbie

Dear Craig,

At the moment I am at Ceader Pt, sort of waiting around until it's time to go on to work. Last week the store was robbed of $180.00. Nothing has come out of it as yet. A couple of night ago two guys were wrestling down here and one hit his head. He stopped breathing so Bart, (one of the life guards) put the resuscitator on him and called the ambulance. I never did hear how he was. I owe quite a few letters. I didn't realize I was so far behind.

Nothing at all has been going around down at the Bay. It won't be long before school starts again. That'll be hell, this doesn't even seem like summer. The time has gone by so fast. I don't even see anyone around anymore.

August 7th is Marcia's last day of summer school. Dad's birthday is Thursday. I've got two of my days changed, Friday's I have off and Monday's I'll be working from 8:00-3:30. That isn't that much better but better than working every night.

Well we're getting busy again so I'll write again later.

Love,

Deb

Tuesday

August 19, 1969

To: Craig

From: Mom (Mrs. Wilson Southwell)

Hi Hon,

How are things going with you? You must be pretty busy because we haven't heard from you. Have you been sick or hurt, don't be afraid to tell me. Some people have told me maybe the mail is held up somewhere, it has happened before.

Sharon called me this morning, she said she might be over this afternoon but she said she might be over this afternoon but she hasn't come over as of yet. She has got a lot of cucumbers in her garden and she wants my pickle recipes. She came over Sunday and I was working and she called me and asked were I kept my recipes but she didn't find them and they were right where I told her they were but you know Sharon, she hasn't changed about finding anything like that it can be right in front of her and she wouldn't see it.

I washed today and I'm going to mop through if I get the ambition. We didn't do anything yesterday all we did was sleep and watch TV. Last nite we went down to the Tavern at 10 and stayed until 1:30. Diane came in while we were there and I told her when you came home I was going to have a big blow out and she said be sure and let her know because she wanted to come. She said she had written you but she hadn't got an answer from you and I told her she could write often because you probably didn't have time to write. She is going to college in Utica for a year and she said it was better than tending bar. She said Buddy hasn't made up his mind what he was going to do.

Today is pay day, I'm going to call Mim and have her bring my pay down because everytime I go up and get my pay they want me to work on my day off.

Dad and Mike Kieff are suppose to go fishing tomorrow it will be his 1st time this year but I guess he isn't too happy about going. He hasn't cared to go anymore the fish aren't biting good this year. The water is so bad and stinky.

Well Hon I can't think of anything more to write about it is just as dead as usual around here. Bell Klock died last Friday, she had a bad stroke so there'll be another house for sale in Three Mile Bay.

Well Hon take care of my boy and write soon.

Last,

XX

Mom & Dad

October 21st. 1969

To Craig

From Mom (Mrs. Wilson Southwell)

Hi Hon,

Your Mom is kind of goofing on her writing just like her son. HaHa. I only wrote once last week. Friday my day to write and I didn't get up until 2 and Jerry and Sharon came so I didn't get time to write before I went to work.

Dad just called me and he got layed off this morning, they hired a union guy in his place. So his big money didn't last only 2 weeks. He went down to the Cape yesterday and looked at a boat and he said he was going to buy it but now I don't know how he can.

According to the news last nite maybe all the troops will be sent home from over there in November. I hope so and then you will get home.

Well pheasant season opened this morning. I saw the fellow yesterday that gave me the ducks you had last year when you were home and he said he would drop me off three this year and I'll keep them until you get home so you'll have a good duck dinner when you get home.

Henry is looking forward to your getting home. He said I suppose he could have you the first nite you were home and I told him probably not so he is planning on the 2nd nite. He goes to the hospital tomorrow I guess and they will put a walking cast on his foot.

Well Hon I got interrupted yesterday and here it is Tuesday. I m finishing this up to Watertown waiting for Dad to sign up for his unemployment again. I can watch the guys working on the Mercy Hospital. Dad said he could come up here and go to work but he was afraid he couldn't bluff his way through on the job. He also could go to Potadam but I don't want him to go away from home.

Jerry Front has got tendonitis the Dr. injected 3 shots in his shoulder and it was painful as hell. If he isn't any better in 2 weeks he has to go to the hospital and they have to cut his arm and find out just what is wrong. Dad called Sharon last nite and she has a terrible cold.

Well Hon I hope everything is good with you and we hope to see you next month. Sharon seems to think probably you'll pull the same thing on me you did last fall when you come home and I told her that she would like to see Mom pass out on the floor. Take care of my boy and write soon. 2 Weeks yesterday since he have heard from you.

Love,

XX

Mom and Dad

More on Letters from Vietnam

NOTE FROM DANNA:

Today is Saturday, August 9, 2008. I've got some really great news. As you read some of the older posts (there are getting to be pages of them now) you will be able to somewhat catch up on where we were and I'm getting ready to share some exciting news that I've found out this past week. First and foremost, Craig Southwell is very much alive and rumor has it, he is living with Doris DuBois in Cape Vincent's, New York. I can't find a phone number, but I did talk to Corky. Corky is Spencer's wife, she' is her late 70's. She and her husband have owned Three Mile Post Office for decades. I'm supposed to call her up again in a few more days and get some more scoop on all the players in this triangular story of passion, duty and love. Another hint is that Craig DID marry one of the girls in these letters, and I'm not sharing with you just yet, who it was. Happy reading.

Three Letters From Three Mile Bay

November 21, 1069
To: Craig Southwell
From: Mrs. Wilson Southwell
Three Mile Bay, New York 13693

Hi Hon,
We got your letter this morning and was surprised to hear from you again within 1 week. You said that everyone had quit writing well hon my letter was late last week because I thought maybe you were coming home as we hadn’t heard from you.
Well I’m all done with work. I signed up for unemployment last Wed. I can’t go the same day as Dad so we have to make 2 trips to Watertown a week. Dad an Henry Jr and Ralph Newman went Tuesday hunting and they came back Wednesday nite they were going to stay another day but it started snowing so hard that they came home. It snowed awfully hard Wednesday night and the roads were awfully slippery. It was awfully cold last nite down to 10 above. It has snowed today some we only got about 1 inch now.
Henry Sr and Henry Jr both got new cars I wrote to you this summer about Sr getting a new car. Jr. just got his car this fall. Henry Jr is getting over $400 disability.
I called Sharon and told her what you said about writing and she said she guess she had better get a letter out to you. They went to Watertown Monday with us and Lois walked into Dad’s cigarette and burned her under her eye. Dad feels terrible over it but it wasn’t his fault. She is a cute little shit but she is always getting hurt.
Dad is down to Sheldon’s fixing his standard for his oil drums. I thought he would be back here by now. Al and Alice were suppose to come down today and stay until Sunday but Alice called and said Al was sick he had too much to drink yesterday. He isn’t very good anyhow he can’t go back to work until December 22.
No one seems to be getting any deer this year. Loyd Higgins and Ralph Lee went down to the southern tier but they didn’t get anything. It has been a bad year for hunting I guess. I told you in my lat letter that Mim and Loyd had bought the Tavern, George Kovalik is over there he is right up to the front lines according to his father yesterday.

Your pictures look as if you have gained a little weight.
Well Hon, I can’t think of anything more to write about. Take good care of my boy and keep writing.
Love
XX
Mom & Dad


June 6th. 1969
To Craig Southwell
From: Debbie Russell

Dear Craig,
Next period I have a test in Driver Ed. I should study but---. We got our rings this morning, they’re sort of hard to explain except they’re on the round side.
Yesterday we went on our picnic, it was rather rotten all together, weather, food, etc. The whole day. But I guess I can’t complain seeing it was one day off from school which sort of breaks up the week. We have exactly 4 days of school left then tests start. So I get out of school the 13th but I have a test the 17th prom 19th class night 21st. Graduation the 22nd so I guess you can really say finished.
For a study hall teacher every 7th period I have Les Brown and boy do I hate that guy. Everytime I turn around he’s hollering at me for something even if I’m just sitting there.
Don’t forget, it’s your turn to send a picture of you.
Somebody finally bought Stillson’s house. Don’t know who. They’ve got kids and the oldest is in 8th. Grade.
Well, I can’t think of anything more to say.
I love ya
Love Deb




August 15, 1969
To: Craig Southwell
From: Kenn and Grace

Hi Craig,
How are you today, fella? Hope you are fine and dandy.
We went boating last night. It was a beautiful night and we really enjoyed. Stopped at Shangra La and had a few cold beers.
We have been having very hot weather. Today it is between 85 and 90 and very humid.
George Goodfriend is now in Vietnam. Guess I told you that before. I read one of his letters last nite and he sounded as though he expects to be leaving there and going to either Korea or Okinawa. His bride is in Florida with her folks.
Belle Klock was found unconscious at her home last Sunday morning and taken to hospital by the T.M.B. Rescue Squad. Last report that I heard is that she is still unconscious. They figure something happened to her Friday night and she wasn’t found until Sunday morning.
Webb Daniels is leaving for college next week. He’s going to University of Southern California. He will be studying to be a lawyer.
Frances Adams hurt her knee and she is using crutches for a few days.
Dot Brimmer and her girlfriend from Watertown flew to Salt Lake City yesterday to spend a two weeks vacation. Life of Riley, eh?
Les and Diane Comins are now living in their new home that they are building on Point Salabrious.
Guess what! Alan Piche walked into Quick Motors the other day and bought a 1967 Cadillac Convertible. Can you believe it? I mearly fell over.
I heard that Gordon Torrey is going to build a landing strip for his airplanes o the Three Mild Point road right next to the new highway that goes around there.
Every night I watch Don Lance take his plane out. He flies over the Point Peninsula to do his chores and inspect his cattle.
Bubby Radley sold his helicopter.
Guess that’s all the news I can think of for now.
Take real good care now. And drop a line to your folks.
Love,
Grace and Kenn

More From Three Mile Bay

To: Craig Southwell
From Kenn and Grace
Three Mile Bay, New York 13693
March 27, 1969
Dear Craig,
Hope you are feeling better and that all goes well with you today Boy!
It rained hard here for two or three days, but yesterday it snowed and we have about two inches of new soggy snow. But it is quite warm out -- about 42 degrees.
My stepfather is in the hospital in pretty bad condition. He had another stroke and this time his right arm is completely paralyzed and he cannot stand up straight. He may have to go to a nursing home, but we don't know for sure yet.
Francis Adams wants us to come over to her home tonight for supper and then some pinockle.
I heard that Marion Hentze is going to retire on May 1st, but I don't know if it is so or not.
I have been busy lately helping several people get their income taxes figured.
Guess that's all I can think of for now. Things seem to be real quiet around the old town.
Take good care!
Love Grace and Kenn


March 17th, 1969
To Craig
From Debbie

Dear Craig,
When Anne, Cathie and I went snow-mobiling Saturday night she stuck her foot out and hit it on a pole. Now she is on crutches. I guess she sprained it kind of bad.
I didn't know that Anne was going to snap this pciture. The other ones are just of New York, and I didn't turn out very well so this is the only one she'd give me.*
Tomorrow in Driver Ed we are learning to change a tire which should really be cool.
Today it was rather damp but not too cold out.
Yesterday Anne and I spent the day over to the Conroy's house (new people). That place is huge. It's nice too. They own an awful lot of property and Debbie wants to buy one of Duanne Bourcy's houses. Don't know if she'll sell them or not. Don't see why not, she'll be getting married and there'll be no use for them.
Oh, they changed the date to July. That's the month that Terry Bourcy is marrying that Pat girl.
There was something that I was going to tell ya but can't think of it at the moment. Got to eat anyway!
It's 9 o'clock and I finally got the dishes done. Mom and Dad went to Clayton so that explains it.
We got our play books this afternoon so we'll be having tryouts this week sometime. I'll have Anne take some pictures of the play for you.
Just remembered, I've got to write an editorial for tomorrow. Write ya later.
I Love ya and,
miss ya lots
Deb
(note from Danna *No picture was with the letter. I imagine Craig carried it around with him in Vietnam)