The Wedding Invitation

Eight days until the wedding!  June and Art concludes on September 1, 2011.

“If the wedding’s to be postponed, it will be alright.  But if the wedding’s on, this is already the last week of June and I just have to get the invitations made out!”

                                                                                    June Anderson

                                                                                    Letter to Art Price, June 20, 1951

June’s eye was on the calendar.  While she was very understanding about the need for the delay in firming up the wedding date, her anxiety was definitely rising.  She knew there were many details that needed to be addressed if the wedding was to go ahead as planned on September 1.  When Art finally committed to the date, June launched into wedding preparations with her parents and Art.

Since June’s mother and father were both from out of state (Virginia and Connecticut, respectively), many of the people receiving invitations would have to plan to travel in order to attend.  The final list of

invitees included local friends, work acquaintances, and

relatives.  Among the friends frequently mentioned in the letters, Shirley Stahl, Bruno Marcincuk, Joe Cerullo, and Frank Hoffman were invited.

According to this scribbled calculation, it appears that 144 people were invited.

(Tomorrow – Responses flood in.)

© 2011 Lee Price

House for Rent

Nine days until the wedding!  June and Art concludes on September 1, 2011.

With Art out of the hospital and quickly recovering, June and Art made a firm commitment to September 1, 1951 as their wedding date.  Final arrangements were made with the Riverhead United Methodist Church.  They planned for an afternoon wedding at the church followed by a reception at June’s parent’s house on Lincoln Street in Riverhead.

Meanwhile in Southampton, the owner of the house next to Art’s parents decided to put the house up for rent.  He asked for just $20 a month, which was very reasonable at the time.  June loved the idea of renting the house at 26 Cooper Street and thought the little five-room home was “adorable.”

Art agreed to rent the property very shortly after getting out of the hospital.  While still on crutches, he painted the whole interior.  It would be all ready for them to move into when they returned from their honeymoon in Quebec and Montreal.

(Tomorrow – The wedding invitations.)

© 2011 Lee Price

The Last Letter

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Friday, June 22, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

Art at Montauk Point,
circa 1951.

I’ll be seeing you long before you get this but I’ll write anyway.  My mother just left a few minutes ago.  The Minister got lost coming up here but he finally arrived, too.

I love you so much, darling.  I’m certainly looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.  I hope my wheelchair is strong enough for both of us.  I can’t wait till my arms are around you again.

You’ll probably get this the day I get home so I guess I’ll make it short.  I’ll just say I love you, you beautiful doll, you.  Good night for now, my darling.

All my love,

Art

(Tuesday – Final countdown.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Coming Home on Monday

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Thursday, June 21, 1951

126 Lincoln Street

Riverhead, NY

Dear Art,

Fashion quick sketch by
June Anderson.

I’m so glad you’ll be able to come home Monday and I hope you’ll be coming over to see me soon after.  It’s too bad that you have to come home by train though.

I love you so much, darling, and miss you more each day.  Do hurry, darling – not just home, but back here to me.  I hope to come in to see you on Saturday, provided I don’t have to work.

Mother has started to clear the living room.  What a job!  Grandma plans to arrive the first of July.  You’ll be over to see me before then, won’t you?  But we won’t be able to stay out so late then, I guess.

I love you so much, darling.  I wish you were here with me tonight – I miss you so much.

All my love,

June

(Tomorrow – Hope my wheelchair is strong enough for two.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Get Well Cards

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Thursday, June 21, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

You’ve heard the news:  I’ll sure be glad to get home Monday.  The sooner I’ve got you in my arms again the better.  I love you, darling.

I’m sure now that we’ll be getting married the first of September.  Gee, that’s only about two months and a week away.  I’ve got to get busy when I get home.

I watched baseball on TV this afternoon and the rest of the time I read or roamed around.  I’ve been getting lots of get well cards.  Did I tell you the grocery store across the street from Rod’s sent me a fruit basket?

I’ll call you tomorrow, darling.  I miss you very much, sweetheart.  Be good now.

All my love,

Art

A get well card from some of Art's friends and neighbors in Southampton,
including George and Shirley Hudson, Helen Hudson, Hazel Halsey,
and June Halsey.

(Tomorrow – Too bad you have to come home by train.)

© 2011 Lee Price

A 1951 Hospital Bill

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Wednesday, June 20, 1951

Presbyterian Hospital

168th Street, 5th Floor

New York, NY

Dear June:

I’m alone in the room now.  My roommate went home this morning.  It’s okay alone here but I hope they get me a new roommate soon.

I didn’t see the doctor today so I guess there’s no report from the lab yet.  Please don’t worry about it.

They sent my bill up today.  The woman at the desk said they’re always doing that.  I sent it back with a note about the insurance company.  I’m glad I’ve got insurance!  The first week was $192 – of course that covers the operation, tests, x-rays,

and everything.

I think I’ll get my crutches and go mail this tonight.  My leg feels as if I could walk on it but they say not to.  So I hobble around.  A wheelchair is handy, too.  It means I always have a seat if I go to watch television.

The nurse just came in with my milk.  Everybody gets a glass of milk in the evening.

I’ll say good night now, darling.  I love you so very much.  See you Sunday.

All my love,

Art

(Tomorrow – Get well cards.)

© 2011 Lee Price

Time Is Tight

With the wedding tentatively scheduled for September 1, 1951, Art decided to address a long-standing health problem in June.  He was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and underwent an operation on June 15 to address the pain in his left knee.

Wednesday, June 20, 1951

126 Lincoln Street

Riverhead, NY

Dear Art,

I’m sorry you haven’t heard any news about your leg yet.  I’m very anxious to find out about it – and for more reasons than one.  Naturally I want to know how it will affect you and if the treatments will be easy.  But darling – we have to get started on our wedding plans!

Fashion illustration (with hat) by
June Anderson.

If the wedding’s to be postponed, it will be alright.  But if the wedding’s on, this is already the last week of June and I just have to get the invitations made out!  I’m getting a little nervous.  Whatever you find out, darling, we’ll have to make decisions then.  And either you call up to tell the minister of a change in plans (we should do it as soon as possible in case anybody else wants to get married then) or I’ll get started on the invitations.  I hope I’m not pushing you again, darling.

At any rate, Art, I fully expect you to be coming home next week.  I hope you’ll be able to.  I love you so much, my darling, and really miss you.  It’s nice getting your letters at noon time and your phone call, but they don’t substitute for you being here beside me.

I got my hat in the mail today.  It’s brown felt and shaped faintly like a bonnet.  I know you don’t understand my interest in fashion but I am so pleased with it!

Are you still watching the television, darling?  I read more than I look at it, but we still have it on every night.  No other news around here – you sweetheart – I still love you.

All my love,

June

(Thursday – The hospital bill.)

© 2011 Lee Price