In January of 1918 George Sidwell wrote to his friend Mortimer McKinley (Mac) Austin, stationed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was Mac’s nineteenth birthday. George Sidwell, CAC 7 Co., Fort Amador, Canal Zone January 5, 1918 Dear Old Mack, Well this … Continue reading
McKinley Austin, Chickamauga Park, Ga., to Jennie Austin October 7, 1917 Dear Ma, I am sorry you were worried about me. I might say though that it is best to always believe the best; you’ll hear of the worst. I … Continue reading
September 5, 1917 Dear Father, We had a holiday today as this is the day when the drafted men were called. There was a big parade in Chattanooga. My company was not in it fortunately and I had a day … Continue reading
Bosch Lake House The original Wilhelm Bosch Lake House was on Hartung Road, a bit north and west of the top of Highland Lake. Ed Bosch assumed ownership of Lake House in the early 1920s. Ed built a small house … Continue reading
We had dug a well where we got water for our use. We carried the water to the barn in the winter for the animals because it was too slippery and they would fall on the ice. We had a … Continue reading
The Bosch Family and The Lake House Wilhelm and Mary Maier Bosch had a boarding house called The Lake House on Hartung Road, northwest of Highland Lake. In the early 1890s Wilhelm built the Lake House, a smaller residence, and … Continue reading
Army Stationery Mac and later Raymond usually wrote their letters on stationery from the Y.M.C.A. It seems there was a choice between paper with a Y.M.C.A. or Knights of Columbus letterhead. McKinley Austin to Jenny Austin August 12, 1917 Dear … Continue reading
McKinley Austin, Chattanooga, to Aida Austin, Eldred Dear Aunt, I am here and like it better than at Fort Slocum. We get better food and the officers seem better, though we had a fine sergeant there. It took over 34 … Continue reading
McKinley Austin to His Family July 7, 1917: I have arrived safely. I have been accepted and am at Ft. Slocum. Your son, McKinley Irwin Briggs, Ft. Logan On July 7, 1917, Irwin Briggs enlisted in the army at Ft. … Continue reading
My Tuesdays are meatless My Wednesdays are wheatless I am getting more eatless each day. My house is heatless My bed is sheetless They’ve all been sent to the Y.M.C.A.. The bar rooms are treatless My coffee is sweetless, Each … Continue reading
