Season's Greetings | 1944

1944 Christmas Card | Westhampton

Westhampton, N.Y.

Christmas Day

1944

Dear Dad—

Merry Christmas! Wish we could all be there to wish you all that greeting. Maybe some Christmas we can all be together in the old homestead. What fun that would be. Somehow Christmas just doesn’t seem like Christmas without you and Mother, Honey, Abbie, and dear old Freck and Bill. I look back on those days in Cincinnati, what a job you and Mother must have had selecting the things for your children, trying to satisfy each and everyone of us. Then too we had a lot of Fairy God Fathers and Mothers whose Christmas gifts were usually those of untold splendor. I am using today a toolbox and a beautiful set of augur bits, given to Freck and me by Mrs. Smythe or Miss Becky many years ago. Even Freck’s old lathe that “Santa” brought him works in my shop. Somewhere in Southampton a train engine locomotor waits for future use given by Mrs. Reed. There are other things I don’t remember, but which I still have around.

Today we received a present that has been the trump of the day and the grandest gift imaginable from the swellest person I know. War Bonds for all four of us from My Dad—I can’t begin to thank you . . . I don’t know how, but any way we appreciatie them more than words can express.

Today I am lazy and nearly exhausted—for nearly a month my machines have been busy sawing, drilling, etc., making toys. Then week before last I stayed in on my work full time usually from 9 AM to after midnight. In that time I made a barn, a train, a farm wagon model with team, a doll house, and drilled several cradles, in addition to the one that went to Sophie. Each and every item was sold representing about 50 dollars worth of toys. On top of that I made a gun for Chaddie and a rocking horse for Billy. I finished the latter at 11 last night. It is a cute little horse and cuter still when its young master swings into the saddle and rides away. He can really make it go.

Abbie certainly showered Chaddie with presents, we had a box from her and in it was a machine gun, a helmet, and a periscope. He is tickled pink with the helmet as well as the other equipment.

It looks as though we might have a white Christmas. It snowed last Monday and it snowed quite a bit, although there is still quite a bit on the ground it is going fast.  Today has been above freezing and it’s a heavy fog all day and occasional rain.

THANK YOU FOR MY BOND –BILLY

Fran just plopped his majesty in my lap and I thought he better learn to write early—

Friday morning I played Santa at the school party. Charlie is not at all sure it was Santa in fact he had a darn good notion it was me. When he came home I was working in my shop when I came upstairs he looked me over very closely. I had make up on, but washed it all off. My lips however showed signs of having been actual.  He mentioned the fact that I had paint on my face and he was quite positive that I was Santa. We changed the subject so may be he has forgotten.

There has been ice in the bay for a week or so, at last maybe with this thaw we are having I will break up enough to be able to go out and make a couple of dollars. If N.Y. has a meat shortage, which is threatened by the dealers or something, maybe clams should sell at a good price.

I wish you all could have been here today to help eat our 32# turkey. Next year I will have to raise some so that you can have one for Thanksgiving day and Christmas. Maybe a goose for New Years.

Our box went express last Thursday I hope it arrived in time to greet you today. Yours will be here I guess sometime this week as you said it was sent express on Thursday.

Before I forget.

Charlie’s Birthday Aug. 5, 1936

Billy’s Birthday Nov. 3, 1943

Jean Grace Raynor May 16, 1944

Thanks again the 4 of us for your wonderful gifts.

A Merry Christmas—belated but in time to wish you a very Happy New Year.

Love from us all.

Your son,

Charles

from "Among the Deep Sea Fishers" | July 1940

 

Sir Grenfell, Charles, Jr., Rev. Jesse Halsey

Alumni News

The REV. JESSE HALSEY was host to Sir Wilfred during the latter's visit to Cincinnati in April. Though he did not accept the position, Dr. Halsey was recently offered a Professorship of Practical Theology at the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Chicago.

"The sea tugged at his heart--"

(Gentlemen—I didn’t mean to preach. This was written primarily for my children. I have hoped they would catch some of my enthusiasm that Grenfell gave to me.)

The last time we talked (in Spring of 1940), we both wished that we were young enough to go to the English Channel now. Twenty years ago we went as did our ancestors three hundred years before us. We also reluctantly admitted that our boys are not so eager to go as were we, or their ancestors twelve generations ago. They do not see the treat—to Dover sands and all else besides that we covet dear. We (old fellows) wondered if the stock is running out.

For thirty years he was my hero—and still is. He spoke of life and treated it as “An Adventure.” He could steer his ship by the stars or the sun or by dead reckoning. He used to say that a poor chart was worse than none at all. Many poor charts he revised, and many a storm he has outridden (these things are a parable). He wrecked some boats and bumped the bottom of others, but he built a ship railway to repair his own and those of all others.

The sea tugged at his heart—He’s off on another voyage. That’s what he believed. And I believe it too; he taught me. The first books he ever gave me were on immortality. He used to talk about it—quite naturally, just as he talked of other things. I listened, but I wasn’t entirely interested. But now . . . well, one gets older . . . things gain perspective . . .

Sir Grenfell in Cincinnati | April 1940

Sir Wilfred Grenfell, Charles Jr., and Reverend Jesse Halsey with Grenfell's dog Jack | Cincinnati | April 1940

"Bring him safely through the perils of childhood . . ."

Charles Jr. | October 1, 1939 | Taken about a month after his mother left.

"I wonder how it goes with you and Justine (I often think of her). She trained that little Charles to perfection in the little time she had him (I forget nothing and forgive whatever there is--I can understand her leaving Charles, but not that little kid). He spoke of her to me last summer. He has grown, gets good care, but not the meticulous kindergarten kind that Justine knew about." --Jesse Halsey to Laura Comstock, Nov. 5, 1943

Book of Common Worship 1946

Baptism of Infants

 ". . . Grant him to grow in wisdom as in stature, and in favor with God and man. Abundantly enrich him with thy heavenly grace: bring him safely through the perils of childhood, deliver him from temptations of youth, and lead him to witness a good confession, and to persevere therein to the end."

Letter from Reverend Jesse Halsey to Charles Halsey, Jr. | Dec. 27, 1951

Camp: A Three Bedroom Unheated Home

Upon returning from Labrador, Jesse built a camp at North Sea, which the family no longer used by the time Abbie was born in 1922.

Just before or just after the hurricane of 1938, Bill Bishop and Jesse began the camp at Shinnecock. Prior to that, picnics had been at the Herrick's camp at Whalebone. Bill Bishop built the Tower at Shinnecock with multiple levels so he could see the sea morning, noon, and night.

Jesse built the camp at Shinnecock in the summer of 1946 using huge doors and windows from the renovated church in Cincinnati that had been stored in the barn behind 49 N Main. The windows originally had been in the Sunday school rooms, looking down upon the basketball courts in the gym. Seventh Presbyterian Church was a real community center, housing Boy Scouts, with women sewing clothes for the poor, as well as sports and games for youth. Jesse bought the pieces, had them shipped to Southampton, and used them to build the camp. Charles Sr. and Jr. both helped in erecting the camp.

[Ed note: From an interview conducted with AFHVA, December 2005, Iowa City, IA.]

"She trained that little Charles to perfection"

Presbyterian Theological Seminary
2330 North Halsted Street
Chicago
Department of Pastoral Theology

Nov. 5, 1943

Mrs. Henry S. Comstock
95 Walnut St.
Winsted, Conn.

Dear Laura-
Your letter of Oct. 27, 1940, may have remained unanswered all this time; I came across it last night in going through my desk.

Two years ago we moved here after being 29 years in one Cincinnati church. I teach in this Seminary and supervise the work of the boys on the field; AND have responsibilities in camps in three states (for the war effort). So I am busy; have just spent three weeks in hospital getting patched up and feel fine again. My wife is very well; the younger girl Abbie graduates from Holyoke next month; the older girl is married and has a baby and lives near us.

And Charles, after all his ups and downs, is settled on a farm near my old home. His wife is an old family friend and semi-neighbor and his in-laws the salt of the earth kind who have several farms and lots of hard work, which Charles seems to thrive on. Yesterday, Charles and his wife had their first baby--a boy.

I see them occasionally when I get east and Charles is happy and contented, he didn't like the Laundry machinery but he loves farming.

Justine & Charles, Jr., circa 1938, Winsted, CT

I wonder how it goes with you and Justine (I often think of her). She trained that little Charles to perfection in the little time she had him (I forget nothing and forgive whatever there is--I can understand her leaving Charles, but not that little kid). He spoke of her to me last summer. He has grown, gets good care, but not the meticulous kindergarten kind that Justine knew about. His 'new mother' does well by him and her parents treat him like he was their own. I had him with me the few days I was in Southampton last summer; once I have had him out here for a month. He is happy there, goes to the such-as-it-is district school within walking distance; isn't a super scholar, but is coming along in reading and can write me a letter.

I should appreciate hearing about yourself and Justine.

With sincere regard,
Jesse