A LETTER FROM EARLE DOBSON

This post is a continuation on my uncle, Earle Dobson. The following appeared in the “School News” section of the Lewiston Morning Tribune, March 2, 1919:

“Mr. Simmonds [school superintendent and advisor to the Class of 1918] is in receipt of an interesting letter from Earle Dobson, a member of last year’s senior class [1918] who left before the close of the school year to join Uncle Sam’s navy. Earle says in part:

“I have at last completed my course in radio at Cambridge, Mass, and am now taking an additional two month’s course in wireless telephony at New London [CT]. I received a third-class rating as radio wireless operator in the former course and when I finish here expect to be a telephone operator as well.

“I wanted to go over [to the war?] but now, like a lot more of the fellows, I wish to return [home] and take up my work again. A number of the boys have been sent home and that fact makes the rest of us restless.

“The grand old east is wonderful and I like it very much, although I would not care to live here. Boston is quite a place with all of its old historic places and I certainly have enjoyed the time spent here. All of the old places have interested me very much. Lexington and Concord brought to my memory events in history which I had almost forgotten. The old elm tree under which Washington took command of the troops, April 8, 1776, still stands, though part of it is dead.

“While at Cambridge I made several little tours out into the country. Once we went out to Marblehead and I got several pictures of the scenery there, also pictures of the House of Seven Gables and Hawthorne’s birthplace.

“At present we are located on the Thames River here at New London, and each morning the submarines and sub-chasers steam down the river for observation and practice work. Once in a while a coast passenger boat steams in and makes anchor in the river opposite the school, but outside of this, everything is quiet.

“I miss the L.H.S. and it certainly holds fond memories for me. There is no place like the big wide west, Mr. Simmonds, after all. Please extend my regards to Mr. Jenifer, to the rest of the faculty, and to the school as a whole.”

What a great happenstance that Mr. Simmonds chose to share this letter in the school news so that I might discover it 100 years later. It’s wonderful to hear through Earle’s own “voice” of his experiences in the Navy. I think the war was officially over – WWI ended November 11, 1918 -- when Earle wrote the letter. He seems to say that he had wanted to “go over” to the war, but now that it’s over, men are being sent home, and he would like to be one of them so that he can get on with his “work,” probably meaning his education. KW

ALWAYS TAKE YOUR SWEATER

Storm at 8:00 p.m., June 27

Okay – it’s chilly again. It probably won't get to 60 today. I’m reminded of my mother’s admonition, “Always take your sweater; it’s better to have it and not need it.” Perhaps you're guessing that I left my sweater in town. Well, I'll find something to wear to keep warm. Mike is outside in a jacket, and it was a two-blanket night.

We watched distant lightning last night, and at 8:00 p.m. the scene to the north was so beautiful that I went out to take the above photo. I imagined brother Chuck sitting on the porch watching the lightning display, as he loves to do. We had one brief shower at 10:00 p.m., but they say there’s plenty more rain coming and a flood warning for Monday and Tuesday.

“I thought I was through with this routine,” commented Mike as he carried in wood for the fireplace.

Dirt mound behind house

Despite the forecast, we’ve been busy doing the little things that make the summer comfortable, as Ina might say. Mike opened the attic fan, which we won’t use for at least a week. I checked out my solar lights and set them up on the fence. I also watered the raised beds and noticed one pea blossom. And there are more little strawberries.

Mike and Neighbor Pete

In order to level the ground for the new shed, Mike stacked blocks to make an enclosure. Yesterday (Saturday), Neighbor Pete was here on his big old tractor at 7:40 a.m. to fill it with dirt, mostly from a mound on the south side of the grove. Then Mike spent a couple of hours raking and leveling. We’re well ahead of the August delivery date, and that’s the way Mike wants it.

Swathed cherry tree

The other day, Mike and I (mostly Mike) swathed the cherry tree with netting. It was difficult and I hated to do it, but as many birds as we have here, I’m afraid they would beat me to the cherries. I can see, though, that swathing the tree in future years might not be possible. We never swathed the old pie cherry trees and had plenty of cherries for us and the birds. I still regret the loss of those mature cherry trees.

Oh! And before I forget, we found this big bull snake (also called a gopher snake) at the top of the lane yesterday. Mike dubbed it “the fighting bull snake.” I thought it was doing its best to imitate a rattler – coiling and hissing. Eventually it backed off into the tall grass. Farther down the lane, we came across a blue racer, but it raced off as soon as it sensed our presence. KW

 

ARMCHAIR RESEARCH

Earle Dobson & Chas. McCoy

A few years ago, daughter Hallie went with me to the LCSC Library to research family history on microfilm. We were successful in accessing info when I knew dates. I thought it was a couple of hours well spent, but in the back of my mind, I knew I could find more if I could research by name. For that reason, I was interested when the archives of the Lewiston Morning Tribune became available online, opening successful research from the comfort of my armchair – for a price, of course.

At first, I wasn’t willing to pay the price, but recent events changed my mind. I needed to write a biography of my uncle, Earle Dobson, to submit with the pastel that I donated to the Museum of Idaho. I wondered if I could find anything about him in the Trib archives. I thought it was a long shot, but I took a subscription, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Earle & Vance Dobson

I discovered that in 1917, when Earle would have been 21, he was a senior at Lewiston High School. The country kids at Gilbert attended school through 8^th grade at the one-room Dickson schoolhouse, but in order to continue their education, they had to go to town. In Earle’s case, apparently after a delay of some years, he enrolled at Lewiston High School. He probably roomed with relatives.

Earle

But in December of 1917, Earle dropped out of high school and enlisted in the Navy, and the Lewiston Superintendent of Schools, Frank W. Simmonds, wrote in the school news section of the Trib: “The high school regrets the loss of Earl Dobson, one of our seniors, who has joined the navy and is now in San Francisco. Earl was subject to the draft so could not wait for graduation.” I would guess that Earle decided to enlist in the Navy rather than await the possibility of being drafted. It is not clear if he graduated at this time.

Then, at LHS Commencement in May 1918, Earle was mentioned again. “Not only is the class the largest group to graduate in the history of the school,” Mr. Simmonds said, “but the fact that it is privileged to go out in this year of unparalleled opportunity makes the present commencement one of the greatest interest and solemnity. One member of the class, Irl Dobson, is already with the navy and others are to join in the near future.”

 

It seems to me that Mr. Simmonds was quite impressed with Earle (Earl, Irl), and why not? He was 21, an adult making adult decisions, and undoubtedly an engaged student with goals for his future. 

Watch for another post about Earle in the Navy. KW