This is the first in a series about a set of love letters I found at a Nebraska antique mall several years ago. They were discovered in the wall of a very old mansion that was being torn down. They are written to a "Miss Gertie Carpenter" in Omaha Nebraska. There are about 50 love letters in pretty rough condition. Many are asking if Gertie will be available when they come through Omaha, or they ask if they can meet her in Chicago, or Wisconsin. One of her lovers was a well to do owner of a bottled water business in Waukesha Wisconsin.
Gertie must have been very beautiful and wild to have so many beaus. The letters span the years 1879 to 1884. I was able to find Gertie in census records. By 1890 she had married a widower with two children who was many years older than she was. She had one son, and moved to Hollywood after her husband died in between 1910 and 1920. Her son was a purchase agent for a hollywood movie studio according to the US Census Records.
This love letter was posted from Deadwood Dakota to Omaha Nebraska on Aug 14th, 1884. It was sent to Miss Gertie Carpenter in Omaha Nebraska from "Zach". I can find no last name. This is one of several letters from several lovers that "Gertie" kept and hid in a wall of the house she lived in. This is the only letter from Deadwood, and Zach.
Zach's
love letter is hand written on "office of the county clerk", "Lawrence
County, Dakota" , "Deadwood, Dakota" letterhead. The county clerk is
listed as J.S. Tracy, and the commissioners are J.W. Garland, JNO. C.
Ryan, and Samuel Roy.
In Deadwood during 1884, Sol Star was mayor, and Seth Bullock was hunting for "Crazy Steve". Seth found "Crazy Steve" that year in the company of Teddy Roosevelt, who was also hunting "Crazy Steve", and they became lifelong friends.
The letter reads as follows:
Friend Gertie,
Through my brother in Omaha, I hear that you are still in Omaha. I wrote you about two years ago, but heard nothing from you. Thinking perhaps my letter never reached you, I have concluded to send you this little note through my brother. I would like very much to hear something from my old friend Gertie. Have thought of you so often since I came to this country, and many times have I looked at the tintype of you and I which has always served to bring up remembrances of the happy hours we spent in our walks to Redick Grove, or hunting trip here. I am doing well. Please write me, and I will then tell you the history of my doings since I came to the Black Hills. Let me know how to address my letter so that you will be sure to get them. (That is if you care to hear from me.)
Many kind regards to your mother, Yours truly, Zach
Box 310
Deadwood DK
It is wonderful when you can play history detective and find information that fills in gaps about the antiques we love. I will be posting other of "Gerties Letters" in future posts. This letter is for sale at my website www.jenniesjunque-n-it.com.
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