Mattie On The Homefront

Our first handwritten letter since September means that Mattie isn't at her trusty typewriter. Not one to waste a moment, she is writing to Ken while having her hair done at he beauty shop. She tells him about the overwhelming stresses of Ladies' Aid, about new snaps she's sent his way, and how much better Ken's letters are than Bud's. We get to discover what used to be in the building that is now The Ax Man, the Curtis Hotel is Recommended, and that the tree in the back yard is even more special than we already knew it to be. Plus - how are they going to get to the cabin this summer? January is the perfect time to wonder. –––– Characters This Week: Hanson's (neighborhood friends) Gennrich's (Minneapolis friends) Wes (eldest son) Florence (daughter-in-law) Applebaum (Wes & Flo's landlord) Bud (step-son) Rudy (step-daughter) Diane (step-granddaughter) –––– Links: Photos of the Curtis Hotel Review of Curtis Hotel, from I Recommend, by Roland L. Hill in 1948 Muggley's Recreation Midway Gardens 1947 sit-in by Bayard Rustin –––– Cover Photo: Steve's HS grad photo in front of the big spruce in the back yard –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: [email protected] Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

Only 36 hours after her previous letter, Mattie has news enough to write again to Ken. And yes, it's about Wes & Flo. Plus, Mattie is listening to a lot of radio, and narrowly avoiding teenagers, but she cannot get out of her new obligation as it looks as though, despite her wishes, the world isn't ending. But the biggest news isn't from Mattie - it's from us - because we found Virginia! The mysterious Virginia, of whom we have only 2 photographs and no last name, now has that last name and a bunch more photos. We followed the clues from the letters, and now we know a whole lot more. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (eldest son) Florence (daughter-in-law) Applebaum (Wes & Flo's landlord) Mrs. Berkey (??) Virginia (Ken's squeeze) Georgine Hanson (neighbor/church friend) Gram (mother) Myrtle Yocum (acquaintance) Susan (??) –––– Cover Photo: Virginia's high school yearbook photo –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: [email protected] Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

In our longest ever letter (but not episode!), we have a bombshell of a revelation about Mattie's son Wes, and his wife Florence. Mattie is way in her feelings, and leaning on her faith to get through. Ken is NOT leaning on Edgar Guest's poems, so he's got plenty of energy left to be Mattie's sounding board about a homesick Bud, and the answer to who is the new president of the Ladies Aid. Content Advisory: this episode contains discussion of domestic violence. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (eldest son) Florence (daughter-in-law) Mrs. Colona (Wes & Florence's neighbor) Giertsen's (best friends) Mrs. Nelson (volunteer friend) Bud (stepson) Mrs. Hance (friend) –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: [email protected] Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

It's a whole new season, and a whole new year! 1943 is starting off with a Western Union telegram from Ken. Plus some poetry, radio specials, and our first of many, many cutouts from the newspaper. A talkative Wes (who knew!??!?) is lonely in California, but Mattie doesn't have that problem, what with all the entertaining she's doing. Also entertaining is Herman Straka, a local boy making good with those funky tunes. Also making good is Mattie with her affection for Virginia. Did we learn more about Virginia while we were away? We did! Plus, this week we get an update on world affairs, and local goings on. This episode is dedicated to Bob Hoyt. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (son) Florence (daughter-in-law) Cousin Ella (cousin) Margaret (cousin-once-removed) Virginia (Ken's girl) Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor kid) Rudy (Matt's youngest) Gennrich's (friends) John and Helen Mickelsen (Matt's brother and sister-in-law) Herman Straka (Ken's school chum) Uncle Art (older brother) Gram (mother) Aunt Ella (older sister) Chuck Giertsen (Ken's bestie) –––– Cover Photo: "Sleighing they go–just like mother and dad. For these Macalester students, Herman Straka (left), and Charlotte Robertson, rationing is no hardship." - St. Paul Pioneer Press, Dec 27, 1942 –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: [email protected] Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.

It's time for a magical Christmas! Family! Parties! Presents! Tom and Jerry's! We are joined today by cousins Stefan and Jenna to hear all about the haul, including Ken's gift from the Army. Mattie is proud of her tree, but frustrated with her daughter-in-law. She manages to snag a double waffle iron, which we know will turn her into Grandma Waffles, and she does some mangling (explanation included). Carl, The Old Man, catches up with Ken in Canada, and Wes arrives in California. Plus, a matrimonial update on the vertebrally injured neighbor, Elizabeth Rickard. –––– Characters This Week: Wes (son) Florence (daughter-in-law) Carl (ex-husband) Gram (mother) Uncle Herb (brother) Gennrich's (friends) Virginia (Ken's fiancée) Rudy (step-daughter) Joe (step-son) Vivian (step-daughter) Bud (step-son) Elizabeth Rickard (neighbor) –––– Website: moth.family Contact us: [email protected] Get notified about new episodes –––– Mattie On The Homefront is produced by Hans Buetow. It is hosted by Hans Buetow and Steve Buetow. The theme music is by Matt Buetow. The graphic design is by Amy Kirkpatrick.