DARWIN D. MARTIN 1928 Correspondence Part 3

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 09: BIOGRAPHY
Darwin D. Martin, Trustee
1928 Correspondence
Part 3: October 1 – December 28, 1928

Electric Power House, door on West side. IMG_6119 [Photo: H. Wykle]

TAGS: Darwin D. Martin 1928 Correspondence, PMSS Board of Trustees, room furnishings from Larkin Company, Delco Light Company, PMSS power house, batteries, Mr. Harshbarger, Katherine Pettit, Kentucky Utilities Company, transmission line, Mr. Samuels, Angela Melville’s fundraising tour, Elizabeth Hench, Delta Sigma Sorority, fire bell, fire extinguishers

DARWIN D. MARTIN 1928 Correspondence Part 3

CONTENTS: October 1 – December 28, 1928

[Note: Letters from PMSS staff in the PMSS Collections are carbon copies, typewritten, unsigned, and meant for the Office files. The original signed documents were sent to the correspondents. The initials at the bottom left of most PMSS letters indicate the writer (along with initials of the secretary). For example, ““KP” refers to Katherine Pettit, and “AM” to Angela Melville. Letters from D.D. Martin are typewritten originals on Larkin Company letterhead or his personal stationary. The following list of contents is in chronological order and not necessarily in the order of the image numbers.]

087 October 1, 1928. To Darwin D. Martin from AM [Angela Melville], responding to the questions in his September 26 letter about curtains, moving picture machines, and the lamps he sent, which she writes, are too “elaborate.” “It is a real problem to get furnishings for down here, as things that look very plain outside, take on a very elaborate hue the minute they cross the mountain.”

088 October 4, 1928. To Melville from Martin, responding to her comments about the curtains, Granny Creech’s bill, moving picture machines, lamps. He suggests that the boys at PMSS make the lamps and he provides the name of a lamp-maker in Delaware.

089-089a N.D. [Handwritten notation in top margin: “October 1928”] Two-page letter to Martin from Melville, who tells of the work that an employee from the Delco Light Company is doing to overhaul PMSS’s plant. New batteries are needed but Mr. Harshbarger and Miss Pettit determined that the $700 cost (cash) is too expensive for an “unsatisfactory plant” which will last only 4-5 years. Harshbarger suggests buying second-hand batteries from Delco for 60 cents each and he would replace dead batteries as needed. Also, Melville points out, Kentucky Utilities Company may have a transmission line over the mountain by spring and asks Melville if it would be better to spend over $1000 for the line instead of paying for a new plant. She has sent a copy of this letter to Mr. Samuels, asking what to do this fall. Many crates of furniture from the Larkin Company just arrived on the supply train and she thanks Martin for making it possible.

090 October 5, 1928. To Melville from Martin, approving of Mr. Harshbarger’s plan to stock up on second-hand batteries for the Delco plant and asking the cost of new cells. He also agrees to invest in a power line. He lists items that Larkin Co. shipped to PMSS: table, mirror, chair, bet, sheets, rockers, and a chaise lounge.

091-091a October 8, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], answering his question why PMSS needs two moving picture machines. Mr. and Mrs. [William] Browning will take the “too elaborate” lamps to the Harlan Festival, where Mr. Ellison, president of the Kiwanis Club will try to sell them. Thirty members of the Kiwanis Club and their wives recently visited PMSS. Melville explains to Martin why his suggestions about the lamps were not feasible. She thanks him again for the furniture; tells him she will be in Chicago in November, then Indianapolis, and possibly Cincinnati [to give fundraising talks for PMSS]. She asks if Martin knows Phillip [sic, Philip] Roettinger, whose daughter and her husband were in a fatal car accident, leaving a 10-year-old boy.

092 October 9, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], answering his question about the cost of new cells for the Delco Plant ($12,50 each); PMSS has 57 of them.

093 October 11, 1928. To Melville from Martin, sending a check for the curtains and stating the cost of the lamps. He urges Melville to visit Miss Caroline Heinz, while in Chicago, who will help her get appointments; and to invite Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Martin of Oak Park to her meetings.

094 October 13, 1928. To Melville from Martin, assuring her that his “remark about the remote destiny of our school” should not be taken seriously. “My own hope is that, ultimately, the state will provide education for every child and that money need not be spent in canvassing for money.”
October 21, 1928. [To Melville from Martin in the same letter]: Martin suggests that Melville discuss with Miss Pettit and Miss [Elizabeth] Hench whether to elect to the advisory board Pine Mountain club representatives – if Pine Mountain has clubs.

095 October 15, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], thanking him for his donation of money for the curtains. She tells him that “Zande House is open house every Sunday afternoon for the workers,” and she serves tea. The “workers’ room” is ready and will be much used during the winter. Melville updates him on her Chicago plans. Mr. Gale, Mr. [Glenn] Argetsinger’s “co-op” arrived to fill in while Argetsinger is gone for six weeks.

096 October 17, 1928. To Martin from KP [Katherine Pettit], thanking him for sending 100 Shur-Stops [fire extinguishers]. The School has followed his suggestion that, for its “cultural effect,” boys and girls will be sitting together in the dining room.

097 October 20, 1928. To Melville from Martin, who hopes his idea of re-seating the children in the dining room will work well. He is sure Mrs. W.E. Martin and her daughters can organize an Oak Park meeting for Melville. He mentions his use of a mail sorter.

099 October 27, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], giving possible explanations for the three envelopes that he asked about. She just returned from a four-day riding trip to the Red Bird School and is now preparing for her trip to Chicago. She noticed “a much more animating dining circle at our table which shows that it is good for boys and girls to be together.”

098 November 3, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], who will consult with Hench, Pettit, and Wells about his “suggestion of inviting someone representing the Pine Mountain Associations to our Board.” PMSS has an association in Plainfield, NJ, and Montclair. She gives him her temporary Chicago address at the home of Mrs. Henry H. Hilton, but has been invited to stay at other places as well. “However, my experience of visiting whilst one is on an intensive speaking trip is that it takes it out of you terribly as you have to talk all the time on and off duty.”

100 November 7, 1928. To Melville from Martin, clarifying his suggestion about representatives “of Pine Mountain associations being invited to our Board.” He states his opinion concerning the 1928 Prohibition Referendum. He is sending Melville a letter from Florence E. Slatery, Grand Philanthropic Secretary, Delta Sigma Sorority in St. Louis MO, hoping Melville and Slatery can arrange a meeting. He is sending a Miss Well’s package of slides and photos to Slatery.

101 November 12, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], thanking him for the clarification and for her “marvelous” bed.

102 November 12, 1928. To Miss Pettit from Martin, thanking her for the card on beech nuts, after discussing with her about his childhood memories of beech nuts. [Notation in Pettit’s handwriting: “Send Mr. Martin some beach nuts Sept. 1920[?] – He wants some in memory of his youth.”]

103 November 27, 1928. To Martin from KP [Pettit], sending him a “list of the placement of the fire extinguishers that you wanted.” She thanks him for the Caney Creek literature and describes the use of the fire bell at the School, which will indicate to the “fire squad” the fire’s location.

104 December 3, 1928. To Martin from [unsigned], asking whether the School will be getting power from the Kentucky Utilities Company. “The Creech men have undertaken another four months’ contract to get out a new boundary of timber that the Inter-Mountain Company has bought.”

106 December 7, 1928. To Martin from KP [Pettit] enclosing a letter from Miss Dingman, executive secretary for the conference for Southern and Mountain Workers. She suggests that Martin attend the conference, and subscribe to their mailings. About the power line, PMSS will have to hire a surveyor from Harlan because students are in class all day and the community men are all working in the lumber camps. Therefore, no-one is available, except that Mr. Browning could do it at Christmas time. She asks that Martin and Mr. Samuels let her know what to do.

105 December 10, 1928. To Pettit from Martin. Telling her “We certainly can get power from the Kentucky Utilities Company” and the information that is needed. He asks if Mr. Harshbarger can “undertake the survey.”

107 December 10, 1928. To Melville from Martin, who is looking forward to a report of her fundraising tour. He provide two names to added to the “Notes” mailing list: Mr. Fenton M. Parke and Mr. Whitney G. Case, both in Buffalo, NY. Martin asks for three copies of each issue in the future.

108 December 11, 1928. To Pettit from Martin about whether he will attend the Conference of Southern Mountain Workers. He is reading Mr. Campbell’s book. He observes that there is no-one from Caney Creek on the Advisory Board or the Executive Committee of the conference. He thinks a survey by Mr. Browning would be a wise move as the Inter-Mountain Company will do their own precise survey, “if we can undertake the work.” He states other ideas about the power line. In a postscript, Martin writes that he just received an announcement from Miss Wells of “Sun Up” benefit performance for PMSS on January 7th in New York.

109 December 12, 1928. To Martin from [unsigned, evidently Melville], expressing her gratitude for the help Mrs. Martin of Oak Park gave her Chicago meeting and describes the program that took place in Mrs. Martin’s home, including ballads and religious songs performed by Miss Heinz and two others. The writer did 23 talks in three weeks on the road, which has benefited PMSS (and herself) in several ways: “…[I]t is a good way to keep one’s memory green in the outer world.”

110 December 13, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], who tells him she is following up on the requests in his December 10th letter to her. Miss Caldwell [PMSS Office secretary] is sending him the requested “Notes.”

111 December 18, 1928. To Martin from [unsigned, evidently Melville], asking him when he would like the Spring board meeting, as Mrs. [Celia Cathcart] Holton would like to know. “[W]e hope very much to have Miss [Dorothy] Bolles and Miss Cunningham, the dancing ladies here…for a month.” When Martin suggests a board meeting date, the writer will tell Pettit and Hench, so they can ask the members if the date is convenient for them.

112 December 22, 1928. To Melville from Martin, stating “I think it of more importance to the school than to any Board member what date the Board shall meet.” Therefore, Melville and Pettit should set the date and ask Miss Hench if it is satisfactory. [Notation in right hand upper corner: “Miss Pettit – Please decide on a date. A.M.”

113 December 26, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], enclosing copies of correspondence between her and Mr. Woodward and Mr. [Charles N.] Manning about insurance.

114 December 28, 1928. To Martin from AM [Melville], reporting that she is sending several possible dates for the board meeting in May to Hench.