The War Comes Home to Ainsworth

As we've seen, in July 1917, Clarence Goodrich and his younger brother Harold had both volunteered for the Indiana National Guard, which was drafted into the regular army the following month; by December of that year, both young men were at Camp Shelby in Mississippi (where Harold celebrated his 20th birthday), and by the summer of 1918 both were in France. Their parents still had their eldest and youngest sons, Arthur and Howard, living at home with them.

I don't know what became of the divorce proceedings Caroline Goodrich reportedly began against Charles early in 1918, as I've heard no more about it. Perhaps they made up their differences and saved their marriage.

They received several letters that summer from their boys in France. In the middle of June Harold wrote to say that he expected they would see action very soon. In a letter dated July 15, Harold announced that he had been in battle.

That letter reached the Goodriches around August 13 — the day they received a brief telegram from the government: Harold had been killed in action on July 18. No further explanation.

As usual in such cases, there could be no funeral, no laying their boy to rest, as his remains were somewhere in France. But no doubt the Gazette spoke truly when it said the family had "the deep sympathy of the community."

And with no news of Clarence, for the moment they could only presume — hope — he was still alive.


Sources:
♦ "Ainsworth Boy Killed and Hobart Boy Injured in War." Hobart News 15 Aug. 1918.
♦ "Harold Goodrich Killed in France." Hobart Gazette 16 Aug. 1918.

Wildflowers of Ainsworth: Prickly Lettuce

A few of these grew up by my front door this summer. I mistook them for field sow thistle until I took a good look and noticed that their blossoms are much smaller, and a paler yellow.

These first two pictures, from the beginning of August, show the blossoms and the leaves.

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This last one is from the end of August and catches the blossoms in all their stages, from bud to seed.

A Fresh Shirt Every Sunday Morning

The reverse of the September 15, 1910 postcard in yesterday's entry was a message from W.O. Halsted — who had long ago kept a store in Ainsworth — to his wife, Barbara. She apparently was staying at the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. The salutation is to "Folks," so perhaps their daughter, Hazel, was with her. (Their only son had died in March of that year.)


(Click on image to enlarge)
Image courtesy of the Hobart Historical Society.

Hobart House Image Extravaganza

In honor of Hobart House's closing, let us post some images from its happier days. I don't think I've posted these before, but I may be wrong. This blog is overloading my memory and I find the "Search this Blog" function a bit temperamental.

All these are from the Hobart Historical Society.


This photo is undated, but given the fashions, the absence of automobiles and the condition of the sidewalk and Main Street, I'd guess at sometime in the late 19th century.


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An undated postcard. From the autos in front, I'd say — first decade of the 20th century.




This postcard is postmarked June 6, 1909.




Postmarked June 2, 1910:*




This appears to be a photograph of a postcard, undated, but probably circa 1910.




Postmarked September 15, 1910:




In this image from a postcard postmarked July 17, 1912 it looks as if they've rigged up summer shades to block the sun from the porch. It must have gotten pretty hot in that building on summer afternoons, with the sun beating down on its unshaded back side.




In this undated photo, the Hobart House is all decked out for some festive occasion.



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*This postcard was from Howard Shearer to Elsie Wojahn in Ainsworth, so I have added its verso to their courtship correspondence (it's the second from the top).

Wild Mushrooms of Ainsworth: Spiny Puffball

Small blobs on the ground, covered in little spines (not sharp) that are fused together at their tops in groups. These are rather puny specimens, the largest being about 1" in diameter.

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Says my mushroom guide: "This puffball is one of several possessing long, fused spines; its accurate identification to species requires seeing all stages of development."

The Hobart House Closes

In August of 1918, the Hobart House's long career as a hotel came to an end. Here is the story from the Hobart Gazette of August 9, 1918.


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According to Hobart's Historic Buildings by Elin Christenson, the Hobart House was built in 1870 by Edward Roper, so it operated continuously as a hotel for some 48 years. Its facilities included a restaurant and banquet room, a ballroom on the third floor, and a livery stable out back.

Wild Mushrooms of Ainsworth: Fawn Mushroom

Found this out by the tomato garden. Its cap was about 2" in diameter. Nothing particularly interesting about it.




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