1981 Family Letter -Sep.28

 

Monday --

Sept. 28, 1981

Dearest Family --

We had a wonderful weekend at Fontana -- enjoying the square dancing and all the food.  We stayed at the Inn -- had a lovely room.  It was all a part of the pacake [package?] plan -- everything included -- food, dancing, room.  Needless to say we ate too much.  We did do some hiking -- saw the new shelter provided for hikers on the Appalachian Trail (walked a bit of it) but the biggest surprise to me was to be dancing Friday evening and lo and behold who should be in the audience but Lois and Tom Bruce.  They were on their way to Florida and had just stopped for a couple of days.  They asked about all of you.  Dr. Bruce's hearing isn't too good especially with the loud music but otherwise they seem very much the same.  We had hoped to see them again but just weren't able to get together except very briefly at breakfast the next morning.

We did take a 30 [?] mile boat trip and then hiked up Hazel Glen and had a picnic lunch there with a group of about 25 others.  On the way home yesterday we stopped at Cherokee to see Oconaluftee Indian Village which we had been to before with some of you but they have enlarged it greatly.  Especially enjoyed the herb and vegetable garden with the TALL plants -- tomatoes, gourds, beans, etc. over six feet tall -- even zinnias.

Grandma got back safely from her trip last Sunday but believe I mentioned that in the last letter.  We are all enjoying the new bicycle which Roberta sent home with her.  (Mie Young went down after the mail & to see Grandma just now on it.)

Tonight is OPEN HOUSE at the school and the first PTO meeting so will have to get back there tonight for it.  Always glad when that is over but do meet some of the parents you otherwise wouldn't meet.

Hope your open house went well, Catherine as a farewell for the former librarian and a welcome for you.  You had a busy week if you had to entertain Elk officer's (district) wives.  Not to mention Wendy's birthday.  Anxious to hear more about all that plus her party at the Grizzly Bear.

Enjoyed reading Aunt Mary's letter which included a front page article about Joe in the RAYMES paper and Marianne's letter about her problems with an entanglement with two big dogs and also the adventures with a new hamster they were given.  Funny now but not so at the time.  

Ohio had the largest delegation at Fontana at what they call the annual Rebel Roundup.  There were 800+ people there and 282 from Ohio far and away the largest number and there were sixteen from Clinton County and four from Hillsboro -- got to know the Dr. Lukens (veterinarian) and Selva and Larry Dixon much better.

Sorry that we won't get to see Joe while here but glad he is able to make use of our car while we are in Oregon.  Hope he finds it OK at the airport (Cincinnati).  We have already mailed the keys so will take along an extra set to use on our return and he can lock ours in the glove compartment.

This may be too late to get in the mail but I'm going to try to get it in Monday's mail.

Much love to all of you -- always glad to hear & thanks Serena, for your letter..

[Love to all, etc.]

1980 Family Letter -Nov.5

Wednesday --

November 5, 1980

Dearest Family,

We had a wonderful weekend at Gatlinburg -- the weather was so beautiful and the leaves still full of color.  We stopped at Boone Tavern on the way down for lunch.  Being Halloween they had pumpkin soup, trick or treat salad, hobgoblin sundae and other goodies.  The motel where we all stayed was just about three years old and very posh.  It had four floors and a glass elevator.  The pool was actually on two levels with a slide between and a whirlpool which really helped us to relax after our trip down.  Most of the rest went up to Pigeon Forge to have dinner at the Apple Tree Inn (where we ate years ago) but we weren't at all that hungry.  They had a family style dinner with three meats and too much other food they all said.  They held the Autumn Promenade at the convention center where there must have been close to 50 squares in one room and then the more advanced were in another room.  It was quite an experience.  We found out Saturday night that our group tied with another for fourth largest group there -- 26 people and the largest to come the farthest.

Gatlinburg turned us off as far as so many shops and tourist attractions. We did look around Saturday -- found the library closed but very attractive -- off the tourist tract and asked many before we were told where to find it.  We did see the Bearskin Motel where we had stayed 20 (?) years ago. [A postcard of the Bearskin Motel mailed 8/1/60 can be found on the blog here.]  It is still starred in the Mobil Tour Guide but has certainly had its day.  The pool still in the shape of a bearskin was still filled with water but also leaves and dirt.

We got an early start coming home and went to church in Harrogate, Tennessee at a pretty little Baptist Church where the minister announced his resignation to the congregation that morning and had everyone including us in tears by his emotions and remarks.  We also stopped at Cumberland Gap and saw two movies (10 minutes each) and historical data there.

Mary Virginia seemed to have a good but busy weekend so hadn't missed us too much -- we got home about 8PM before she did.  She and Kelly Walker had gone to the Visitation Day at Wilmington College and had enjoyed it.  In reading last night's paper found she had written a letter to the editor which we hope to include in this.

Mrs. Belle Gordon passed away Sunday and they had calling hours yesterday and the funeral is private this afternoon.  Friday she was looking forward to coming home but they found a blood clot and she died as a result of the surgery.   (She had a slight stroke a week before and was in Clinton Memorial).  All the girls except Nancy are home and Jack was at the funeral home as well as Virginia's sister Betty and her husband who has been in the hospital with a very bad heart.  Anxious to see if Jack moves back as he had said Mrs. Gordon was the reason he had moved out several years ago.  She was just 3½  months less than 97.

Mrs. Walker was to have had the Mothers Club last night but Charlotte Hause had it in her place and Mary Virginia gave the program -- our annual musical.  She did an excellent job and I wished that I had taped it.  Bill Kincaid was her accompanist.  The theme of our programs this year is Love and so she was asked to do love songs and the group was to answer roll call with their favorite love song.  She sang "Love is a Song", "I Wonder", "Indian Love Call", "Some Day My Prince Will Come", "Pagan Love Song", "Longer", and "Goodnight My Someone".  Four of the members came in late because of working at the election polls and Easter Star services at the funeral home so she did an encore of I Wonder with Bill singing with her this time.  She got a lot of compliments.

The news of the outcome of the election was quite a surprise coming so early but can't say that I was at all unhappy about Reagan's election.  Haven't heard yet whether Helen Hiestand won the Highland County recorder's job.  The Republican running against John Glenn for Senator didn't do well at all

Last nite Dad went to a bank dinner and then square dancing to keep Mary Virginia and me up on the things taught at the most recent sessions.  Tonight he has Lions Club and our United Methodist Women is meeting too in place of next week when the church is having a week of evangelistic services.

Catherine we didn't get out of passing out treats as Beggars Night was last Thursday night.  We must have given well over a hundred balloons between six and seven and then turned out our porch light briefly so we could eat supper without interruptions as we tried earlier without any luck at all.  But the majority had come evidently for we never had another one.  We had all sizes and ages, masked and unmasked.  We had given up going to the Halloween Square Dance for didn't want to leave MV home alone and she later decided to go Halloweening in Sabina with some friends who have little brothers and sisters.  But we got to bed early and plenty of rest before our trip.

Roberta we have tried to reach you often on the phone but no one answers so guess we are calling at a bad time.  Had wanted to know Agnes' new address so could complete the Guideposts subscription list but got our fourth reminder from the magazine with list and noticed her address has been changed.  I meant to ask if any of you would want to subscribe for any friends it is a good opportunity to get it at a reasonable price so let us know for next year.  They also have three other editions at the same price -- Big Print, Braille and Talking Book.  Joe Horton never got his so sent it in with the Andover, Massachusetts address (via Raymes pouch) so hope that it goes through.  None of the foreign subscriptions I ordered last year were acknowledged except Joe and he never got the magazine.

Have talked to Kim several more times and the church voted to send him a notarized letter (as requested) but really feel it is too late this school year for Mie Young to come and she isn't going to school there so has wasted at least several months.  Of course they didn't realize what a hassle it would be for her to get out of the country.

On the Gatlinburg trip we enjoyed having the Harners go with us -- is is still hard for us to call Melba Harner rather than Melba Fawley, as she was before Stan's death.  The Harners are "talking" of going to Seattle next year to the Square Dance Convention.  We have sent in our reservations for the ABA mtg in New Orleans the 2nd week of August.  In '82 it will be in San Francisco.

Dad will soon be ready to mail this unless we wait til noon in case we might hear from one of you.  Got your message, Serena, about your not being able to call til you get your teeth and/or root canals paid for -- do make sure that it isn't their idea of how to gain experience in that field  We have heard of more people getting ripped off that way.  Too bad you are not nearer Catherine's dentist employer for a second opinion.

Hope you enjoy your long weekend, John and Carol.  Do you also have next Monday off, Roberta?  MV and I are going to Huron for the Women Anew weekend -- more about that later.

With much love to all of you,
Dad & Mother

1960 HH Postcard from Fontana -Aug.4

Thurs. [Aug.4, 1960]

All are getting along fine -- Hortons are 1 cottage up & children have big time together.  Sorry to hear about Dr. F.  Enjoy especially the square dancers.  Miss our garden.  --Harold

Sulphur works fine.

1960 Jean's postcard to CJUs -July 31

Sunday 7/31/60

Girls swam til 9:00 last nite & C. & Harold were back in at 6:30 AM.  Had good trip down & plan to stay in Gatlinburg tonite.

John spilled glass of lemonade in bed which complicated things but turned out OK.  

Sorry you didn't come with us.  Join us yet over weekend?

1959 Fontana HH postcard to CJU's and clipping -Aug.5

Beautiful Fontana Lake, Fontana Dam, N.C.  Fontana Lake, created by Fontana Dam, is more than 30 miles long and offers the visitor a wide variety of boating and fishing.  It is well stocked for the sportsman who visits this paradise in theGreat Smoky Mountains.  Located 2 miles from Fontana Village Resort.

[Postmarked Aug 5, 1959]
Wed. AM

Here we are -- The Hortons over & all fine.  Rained all day.  Bk [breakfast] at Ripley & lunch near Corbin & supper here at 7 PM.  Lots of curves.  The kids are full of energy.

Harold

1988 Orville Harner Letter -Feb.

Feb. 1988

Dear Harold,

I am taking a few moments to relate to you in appreciation of your kindness, friendship, and various experiences that I have enjoyed in your life and you in mine.  I think of the time you stood at the head of the church doing a reading when Jean asked me if I would like to go to Sorrells to square dance on Sunday afternoon.  When you came to the back of the church, you had your western clothes on and ready to go, covered so no one would know the difference.  That day we ate lunch at Wendys and danced all afternoon.  Then we went to the Manchester Hotel in Middletown for supper, visited Target to check on Wells toys, then back to Sorrells to dance all evening.

The  trip to Fontana with the hot radiator and how we searched for water, to be rescued by a man from Dayton who said that he spent last nite in jail and gave us jugs of water to get to Careyville.  With a tight schedule after repairs, how you could handle the curves to Asheville where you had reservations at the hotel at 11pm, and we made it on time.  I remember the trip to Atlanta toy show where Josephine and I were thrilled with the eastern route 77 through Bluefield to Statesville with the wonderful visit at Cris's and how his wife wanted to fix my dental problem, the visit to Clark fork lift and square dancing; on to Atlanta (Josephine bought 3 dozen critters for gifts.)  Cyclorama of the Civil War at Atlanta.  On to Nashville to visit Sunday school publication, Nissan, Swans. (bottle machines).

The trip to New York will always be remembered, seven days and nites.  Meeting more of your family.  Tavern on the Green.  Racing on foot in Central Park.  United Nations, first U.S. Capitol.  City bus tour and on and on to Atlantic City, checking a rubber blender on our way.  The casino's were a show in itself.  (Josephine lost 80 cents!)  An unforgettable experience and a place to visit rarely. 

The night at Cherry Hill – Square dancing and cherry tomatoes proved to be a nice evening to remember.  I could write on and on about other trips Fontana, Gatlinburg, etc. all have been exciting, productive, happy, a bit of mystery and educational.  Josephine and I are looking forward to August where we again can enjoy whats around the mountain over the hill or on the north side of Niagra Falls.

Your friend,
Orville Harner

PS  How is "Cracker Barrel" stock doing?

2004 Catherine's NC map postcard to Wendy -Jun18

Catherine & Gerry went to Raleigh NC on vacation in March 2004 and thus the North Carolina postcard. Wendy became a homeowner in June 2004, having now owned that house for ten years. They have rented it out since 2007.  Transcription follows.

6/18/04
Hi, Wendy!  Thanks for having us over for dinner on Weds. night.  We're glad to visit you in your own house.  Congrats again on the home ownership!  We're off to Flagstaff for Sat. & Sun. nights – staying at the Days Inn on Rt. 66.  Love, Mom

2004 Catherine's postcard to Wendy -Apr.

2004 North Carolina Map postcard from Catherine to Wendy

Captioned: North Carolina "Tar Heel State, Old North State."

Capital: Raleigh.  Area: 52,712 sq. miles.  Motto: Esse Quam Videri, To Be Rather Than To Seem.  Flower: Dogwood.  Bird: Cardinal.  12th of the Original 13 States.

4/1/04

Hi!  Thanks for the airport transportation service.  We did have a good time but won't add Raleigh to the list of places we would want to revisit – still no place like New Orleans – or home for that matter!  When will we get to see your mosaic?  The butterfly design sounds cool.  Did you find out what the hours are for the butterfly thing at the Botanical Garden?  Let me know what will work for you.  I'll try to check on the Penelope Lively and Alice Hoffman books today.  Love, Mom

2004 Catherine's postcard to Wendy -Apr.13

Caption same as above.

 

4/13/04

Hi, Wendy!  Happy 10 days before the 23rd!  Hope you are feeling better.  Thanks for the Kartchner card.  Glad to hear of your health focus.  I just read in my Simple Abundance book that the best diet is one of "Self-Love" – the one that works best for your personal long term well being.  The newspaper today says eat healthy 80% of the time.  Let's still try to get to the Botanical Gardens and hit some golf balls in the near future.  I love you and I'm very proud to be your mother.  Love, Mom

1983 Cris & Angela's Wedding Announcement - June 25

Happy Anniversary to Cris & Angela!

1983 Cris & Angela's Wedding Announcement - June 25

1982 MUH Postcard - May 6

Orton Plantation postcard mailed MUH postcard mailed 1982

Caption: ORTON PLANTATION  The Orton House, originally a story and a half, built in 1735.  Second story added about 1840 and wings and columns in 1910.  Situated above the Orton Plantation gardens. Located 12 miles north of Southport, North Carolina.  Photo by Bill Norment.

1982 MUH Postcard to Grandma - May 6

5/6-1:00 PM [1982]
Dear Mother:
Just got home fr Circle meeting at church.  Had cutest MAY BASKETS made fr kleenex boxes and artificial flowers.  18 there.  Picked up Mary U., Anne and Dot.  A regular taxi!  Cutest baby mocking bird outside your window..I can see his head sticking up and a lot of action from "parents".  Fun to watch!!  Rains decreasing but so far a STRANGE MONTH OF MAY!  HAPPY MOTHER"S DAY!!!  Had this card addressed since we came back fr trip.

Love, Mary & all

1982 Postcard from Aunt Mary to Grandma - April 18

Postcard written by Mary Uible Horton to her mother, Gladys H. Uible, in April 1982. Transcription follows.

Postcard captioned: GREENFIELD GARDENS - Wilmington, North Carolina.  One of the most beautiful municipal parks in the nation, especially lovely in the spring.  Five mile scenic drive through 185 acres. Free.  Photo by Lew Clemmons

Mary Uible Horton to Gladys Hiestand Uible - North Carolina postcard dated April 18, 1982

Sun. April 18 [1982] Jacksonville, FL - Driving thru 3:30 PM
Dear Mother:
Slow in the cards!!  We left Cris's in the A.M. and drove to Wilmington NC.  We were lucky – we got accommodations at the Motel 6, stayed 3 nites.  We especially enjoyed the gardens!!  Since it was weekend of Azalea Festival there were a lot of extra events going on – some free!! The azaleas and dogwood at their height!  Sat. AM was the parade – over 2 hours long.  I got sunburn on my right arm, we got to area of parade about 8:30 AM began at 9:30.  "Alfonso" [probably Almanzo, who was played by Dean Butler and married Laura in the 1981 seventh season premiere of the TV show] (Little House on the Prairie) was one of the celebrities in the parade.  Good bands and many floats.  Trying to get home tonite!  Love, Mary & Bill.
Arr. Home 8:30 PM

Fontana 1959-1960

"Great memories of [the Hortons] vacationing with the Uibles. A special time." --Cris

Fontana NC - postcard packet picture c1955

August of 1959 and 1960 – and possibly 1958 or 1961 – found the Uibles and Hortons enjoying the wonders of the Smoky Mountains at Fontana Village, North Carolina, where former dam-worker housing and buildings of the 1940s had been converted to a tourist destination.

Fontana vacation - Wilmington News-Journal clipping, August 14, 1959

Mr and Mrs. William Horton and children, Joseph, Marianna [sic], Cris and Robert, of Lake Worth, Fla., and Mr and Mrs. Harold Uible and children, Catherine, Roberta, Serena and John, of New Vienna met at a lovely vacation spot at Fontana, N.C., the first of last week for a ten day outing.  They both returned to New Vienna, the Uibles' home, and the Hortons to visit for a few days with Mrs. Horton's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Uible, before returning to Lake Worth.

Horseback Riding at Fontana Village, 1960. Uibles and Hortons.

In 1959 the Hortons stayed in Robbinsville, a nearby mill town, not far as the crow flies, but by curvy road with carsick children much further than the 20+ miles shown on the map.  Robbinsville had the advantage of cheaper accommodations and fewer crowds.  Not many tourists, nor all of the Hortons, relished staying in a boarding house with the bathroom down the hall, and a mill whistle that blasted every morning at 6am.

The Uibles stayed in Fontana Village in a cottage with a porch but I remember staying at the Boarding House at least one night,  it was an experience as well as a good example of Uncle Bill's conservative nature.

Fontana NC info from postcard packet c1955

Joe, as the oldest of the children, remembers:  "Our father put us up in Robbinsville next to a paper mill. The smell from the factory was awful. In the mornings, the bed and breakfast would have lavish food on the table which we ate plenty of.  However, the drive over to Fontana Village was through the mountains and thereby traversing many curves. Us kids, would get sick - car sick - and thus give up our large breakfasts before we arrived at the village! I do remember the fun of art classes where we would make ceramics. I also have memories of getting really sick at the village (that particular year we stayed on the property of Fontana Village] really bad fever etc. and I spent most of the vacation in bed! We also spent many hours in a car discovering the TVA dams that were in the region."

Serena, at age 4, would have been the oldest of the preschool crowd in 1959 followed by Rob and John who would have been toddlers.

Fontana NC postcard from HH to M/M CJ Uible August 5, 1959

Weds. A.M. [August 5, 1959]

Here we are.  The Hortons over and all fine.  Rained all day.  Bk. [Breakfast] at Ripley and lunch near Corbin and supper here at 7 P.M.  Lots of curves.  The kids are full of energy.  --Harold

Marianne's memories:  "We went to Fontana three years. The Hortons stayed in Robbinsville at a boarding house that served family style meals. On each floor there was a large bathroom at the end of the long hallway. One of the three years we stayed in Fontana next to the Uibles. It was glorious!! Joe, Cris and I would get mighty car sick coming across those hills to Fontana everyday. Either Dad was "Cheap" or he just didn't have the money to put us up in Fontana.  Ha. On a few occasions, I would stay with you overnight which I was glad for considering how sick I got every morning. Anyway, Dad loved this place in Robbinsville. The rest of us including Mom hated the place."  Marianne also remembers making a tin plate in the arts and crafts program.

HH adds that Bill Horton was "conservative."  He also was an early riser, so probably thought the morning whistle blast would help get the rest of the family out of bed so they wouldn't "waste" their vacation time.  When the Uibles rented a pontoon boat, Bill thought that was risky and expensive, so he probably stayed ashore and tried not to worry about his wife and children enjoying themselves boating.

Cris has a good memory, since he would have been 8-10 years old.  "The strongest memory I have of Fontana as a kid, was I never understood why our family had to stay in Robbinsville twenty some miles from Fontana Village while the Uibles got to stay on site at Fontana? We had to travel daily to Fontana on those “curvy” roads which was not enjoyable, because someone in the family was always car sick “throwing up” the morning’s breakfast. I hope Dad got a good deal on the accommodations!! I remember we stayed on a second floor that had only one bath room at the end of a long hall for the whole floor! I don’t remember how we handled that – maybe I tried to block it out of my memory as a kid. The food was great though as I remember. It was served family style – a lot of it. Didn’t know how people could eat so much as a kid."

Cris continues:  "My special memories of Fontana were the horseback rides. I seemed to always get a slow horse though. I remember square dancing and crafts making a belt out of leather strap which I still have and can actually still wear (added a couple of holes for the belt loops though).  Great memories of vacationing with the Uibles. A special time."

Fontana NC postcard from HH to M/M CJ Uible August 1960

Thurs. [August 5, 1960]

All are getting along fine.  Hortons are 1 cottage up and children have big time together.  Sorry to hear about Dr. F.  Enjoy especially the square dancers.  Miss our garden.  Sulphur works fine.  --Harold

Several things to ponder on this card.  First of all the good news that the Hortons got to actually stay in Fontana in 1960 instead of making that sickening trek to and from Robbinsville.  "Dr. F." would be Dr. Fullerton, New Vienna physician at that time.  Possibly the bad news might be about his diagnosis prior to his laryngectomy which was about 1961.  The sulphur?  I have no idea.

And what do I remember about Fontana that no one else has mentioned already?  The library!  Yes there was a small lending library where I remember browsing and being frustrated by the limit they placed on how many books could be checked out.  Were they trying to stunt my education?  No, probably just trying to make sure every vacationing child who wanted a book could borrow one.  I did not take it kindly at the time as there was no crowd of other children lined up to borrow the books they were preventing me from checking out.

Biltmore and The Cove

We have had a great trip and wonderful group here on the trip. The Biltmore is impressive but a little goes a long way. Felt much more at home at The Cove and can see why Mom and Pop like it so well. As an "outside" group, we could only visit the Chatlos Chapel, but it was very impressive. Will be pulling out of here around 8:30 AM in the morning....on the way here we had to stop every 60-75 minutes for 2-3 people (out of 18) who had to go to the bathroom---always the same ones who must have bladder problems, I guess. I do believe it's easier to travel with children! The 40 passenger bus drives like a dream. :)