DEAR FRIEND Letters 1943

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PMSS Publications (Published by the School)

Dear Friend Letters 1943 – May 20, 1943

CONTENTS: Dear Friend Letters 1943, May 20 – Pages 1 – 2

Dear Friend Letters 1943 consists of one 2-page letter that includes the following subjects:

Letterhead lists director, acting director and treasurer ; refers to copy of letter from one of 121 students in active service ; John Minyard’s letter lists what he’s fighting for and tells the PMSS staff to take care of things until his return ; Webb assures him things are being cared for, such as the farm, babies born on campus, development of the School’s principles ; pledges John that the School will not close ; asks for help to keep the pledge ; signed by William D. Webb, Acting Director ;

GALLERY: Dear Friend Letters 1943

TRANSCRIPTION: Dear Friend Letters 1943

Page 01. [dear_friends_1943_05_001.jpg]

PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL, INC
PINE MOUNTAIN, * KENTUCKY

WILLIAM D. WEBB, Acting Director
Capt. GLYN A. MORRIS, Chaplain, U.S. Army, Director

C.N. MANNING, Treasurer
Lexington, Kentucky

May 20, 1943

Dear Friend:

Here is a letter, typical of many we have received from our 121 Pine Mountain boys and girls, students of the past 10 years, now in active service:

“It seems to me like Pine Mountain gave me the things I’m fighting for….When we’re talking about democracy and peace that’s what it means to me — the Shop and the School House and Laurel House and talking about things to your housemother, and the farm, and most of all the Chapel. I wonder if you still sing ‘For Health and Strength and Daily Food we praise Thy name O Lord.’ I hope you will have a good garden and can plenty and I hope the school won’t close on account of hard times, but if you will take care of things for a while there will be a lot of us to help out when we get back.”

John Minyard,
Australia

Yes, John, we WILL take care of things for a while.

We are taking care of the farm. Fields are ready for a good corn crop, and the silo awaits the August filling. We are planting a bigger garden than ever before. Girls have been helping the boys with rake, spade and hoe, and they expect to “can plenty” this summer.

Page 02. [dear_friends_1943_05_002.jpg]

We are caring for 400 baby chicks in their new chicken house. A gift has made possible a second team of young mules, in case something should happen to the tractor. Proceeds from the circulation of the Christmas calendar have permitted the addition of four fine cows to our Ayreshire herd — bartering time for live stock.

And we are caring for something more precious — lives of human beings. There were seven mountain war-time babies in our hospital ward on a special spring Sunday. Granny Begley walked all the way from Little Laurel in spite of her rheumatism to “view the crap,” as she said.

We are caring for the development of principles — the things you are fighting for, in the lives of boys and girls, who are learning living through activities of field and shop, of class room and playground, of Laurel House, Big Log and the Chapel. Yes, we shall continue to sing at Pine Mountain “‘For Health and Strength and Daily Food we praise Thy name O Lord.”

No, John, “the school will not close.” We have real friends who believe in us and believe in you. Together we “will take care of things for a while” until you get back.

* * * * *

Will you help us keep this pledge to John, and 120 others as they think back to this narrow home valley from all part of the far wide world? Can we do less than accept the charge they have laid upon us? We are depending on you.

Faithfully yours,
[signed] William D. Webb
Acting Director

Return to DEAR FRIEND LETTERS – INDEX