Letter from Catherine, 1918

This is a snapshot of a young woman’s life in Baltimore during the nascent stages of the automobile age. The places she mentions are mostly in the immediate Baltimore area. I plucked the letter from a pile of discards and have faithfully transcribed it here. I am eternally grateful to its author, Catherine Hobbs.

To give some historical context, my house (which should be the subject of these writings) was built ten years after this letter was penned.



Baltimore, Md;
May 16, 1918.


My dear, dear Friends;-

You really dont know how glad I was, when I went home and found a letter there from you, it surley was good for sore eyes. Now of course I understand the circumstances that you were in. I was home two weeks ago this Friday night & I heard that your brother was dead, I knew him from seeing him up to your brothers so often the other summer. I thought he was a mighty fine little fellow I liked him so much he seemed to be so gentlemanly. Well I am working at the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company. on Calvert & German Sts. It is awful nice down here. We have to be at work at 8-30 and guit at 5-10 P.M. on Saturdays we get, out at 1-15 P.M. Listen if you can get Harry and Lelia to bring you to Lisbon on Friday night the 31st. of May to the Strawberry Festival, I am coming home Friday evening, I dont know whether I will come home on the Bus of the 6-25 that leaves Campden at that time, as you know we don’t quit work until 5-10 ad and the bus leaves at promply 5 P.M.
I dont like to ask off in time to get the bus as they always let me off the half a day on Saturday and do not dock me. They surley are good to me. So you please try and come as I want to see you awfully bad. If you can please write and let me know
You dont know how much I missed your letters.

I went to the circus & believe me I had a gay time the crowd was something dreadful, when we were ready to come home we couldnt walk thats the truth & it was the funniest man behind me and saying the wittiest things and I got to laughing and couldnt stop and I had about a dozen people laughing at me

Well I am now typing & I love it, I have what you call a clerical position, it is filing and looking up cases and cards on all accidents. I am in the Elevatir inspection Department on the second floor. I will be here Six months the first of next month it doesnt seem as though it has been that long.
And you know I worked seven weeks at the Leaders, when I first came. So you can see how much of a City dick I am. I wish that you could come down, I would love to see your smiling face as it seems it has been so long since we have been with each other.

I went to an entertainment last night, had a big time, it was called Fascinating Fannie Brown, it was fine. The night before went to movies and Saturday night am invited to a Birthday party and expect a swell time, believe me.

The second Sunday in June am going to Camp Meade and the 10th of the same month am invited to another Birthday party. I guess that you heard about my Uncle being so bad, through Mr. Porter it makes me so sad when I go home as he likes me so much and he likes me to sit and hold his hand and goes on awful, It really gats on my nerves, and the last time I was home, he made me cry and when I got ready to go home he asked me when I was going back and I told and he said well before you go come and lets have another cry, and then he started to go on something awful, I went back to say goodbye but he did not know any one that was on Sunday eve. that I came back.

My Cousin is on from New Jersy, he is expecting to be called any time he is in the avation core/ he is the funniest thing you ever seen he would make a monkey laugh.

I want you and Mr. Porter and Lelia to come down and see me some time. When you see Harry ask him if he remembers the Picnic at Mt Airy that tiem that we seen the girl with a blue dress on and I wanted it and he and Charlie Pickett wanted to go and get it for me and I told him not this time, so you can tell him that I have one of my own so I dont want him to ask her for it this summer as I like mine just as well, ha, ha, ha, Aint I a bird with out feathers. I was awfully glad when I got mine as I have been wanting a Taffeta so bad, and they say the Lord will provide so he did, I think is I dont soon stop that you will loose a lot of time on your work. I have hosts of work to do wish you were here to help me.

I am going to the Lyric to hear Daniel Poling talk about the boys in France as he has been over for some time.

Well it is twenty after five and my Cousin will wander what has happened to me.

So will have to say goodbye, hoping to hear from you real soon, remember me to all of my friends will close for a short time excuse mistakes from a true and loving and affectionate friend

Catherine Hobbs

(Then, in postcript): Dont look at mistakes as the girls got me to laughing and I would make one thousand mistakes.

When you are in town stop at 1901 W. Mosher. Will tell you more later.