Letters to Mae Part One
Collection: Letters to Mae
Title
Letters to Mae Part One
Subject
Family correspondance
Minnesota
Description
Letters from Corrine Stephenson Overholt to older sister Mae Stephenson from 1927-1940
Creator
Overholt, Corrine Stephenson
Date
1927 - 1940
Contributor
Transcribed and compiled by Catherine Overholt
Language
English
Type
Correspondence
Citation
Overholt, Corrine Stephenson, “Letters to Mae Part One,” SCKLS Digital Library Initiative, accessed June 11, 2026, https://www.digitalsckls.info/item/1.
Text
LETTERS TO MAE
Written by Corrine Stephenson Overholt to her sister Mae Stephenson between 1927 and 1940.
LETTERS TO MAE
These are letters written by our mother, Corrine Stephenson Overholt, to her older sister Mae. The letters begin in 1927 when Mae left their family farm in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota to attend college at the University of Minnesota. The letters continue through 1940. Occasional letters from other family members are included.
BIOGRAPHY
(written by Corrine Overholt between 2003 and 2008)
I was the middle child of a farm family in north central Minnesota. I was bom on the Stephenson farm east of Pelican Rapids on December 28, 1915. I had an older sister, two older brothers, and two younger sisters. One of my older brothers died of polio during the epidemic in 1928, and this was a traumatic experience for our whole family. [The farm was quarantined, and we watched from inside the house as the funeral took place on the front lawn.]
Our farm was 240-300 acres, and my parents, Ida and Sigrid, raised purebred Holstein dairy cattle. We milked over 20 cows and separated the cream to sell to the local creamery. We raised all the feed for the cows, pigs, sheep and poultry as well as our own food.
We children were active in the 4-H club, and some of our dairy heifers were prizewinners at the County Fairs. We were also active in the Farmers Club and the church. In
1
the summer there were club and church picnics and 4-H camp. Our farm was in the lake region, so in the summer we frequently went swimming, especially in the evening after the chores were finished. We also had ball games on Sundays and when we were older we attended Barn Dances on Saturday nights.
I received my grade school education at the rural one-room school, which was known as District #276 and had eight grades. Our farm was nearest the school, so often in bad weather some of the kids came home with us, and often the teacher stayed at our house. We had special school programs for Christmas and the end of the year. I remember the parents building a platform for a stage. My youngest sister got up on the stage and said “I’m in high school”. Our oldest sister, Mae, was then in high school.
I enrolled in the freshman class at Pelican Rapids High School in the fall of 1929. We lived four miles from town and drove, or were driven, to school. There was no bus service. In the winter we rented rooms in town or lived with relatives. Some of my most vivid memories are of participating in the singing groups, the Girls’ Glee Club and the Girls’ Trio. My favorite teacher was Miss Jean Stevens.
Farmers did well in the early twenties. My family built a big bam in 1920 and a modem house in 1924. I was nine years old the year the house was built. At that time there were no electric power lines, so my father built a generator in the basement. We were the first family in our community to have electricity. The rural electricity program arrived in 1933. My father was instrumental in bringing the rural electrification program to our county.
2
The stock market crash of 1929 was the beginning of the Depression. We were never hungry as we raised all of our food. However, that was the time of the “Dust Bowl”.
Those were years of very dry weather so we farmers had additional problems.
My sister Mae graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1932. There were no jobs so she came home to the farm for a year before getting her first job in Pelican Rapids.
I attended the University of Minnesota from 1934-1938. I worked for my room and board as had my sister Mae. Tuition was $20 per quarter. When I graduated in 1938, the Superintendent of South Haven, Michigan hired me at an annual salary of $1100. I [secretly] married my husband Maurice Overholt, a fellow teacher in the same school system, on April 1, 1939. [The school system would not hire more then one member of a family, the reason for keeping our marriage a secret.] We finished out the school year, [announced our marriage and submitted our resignations to the Superintendent], At that time the federal government was developing farm programs, and I was hired to be a Supervisor for the Farm Security Administration in Moorhead Minnesota. So I left South Haven to return to Minnesota, taking Morry’s car. He went to another teaching job in Adrian, Michigan. Later, I was transferred to Michigan. When the war came, I quit my job, Morry was commissioned as a Lt. J.G. in the Navy and entered in September 1942. My first child, Cathy was bom on 11/September/1942, and the rest is history.
1927 (Corrine was 11 years of age and Mae was 19)
Miss Mae Stephenson University Farm c/o J.A. Erickson St. Paul, Minnesota
Sat. September 3, 1927 Dear Mae
6:41 and in a hurry. The day you left we sure did a pile of work. We picked cucumbers, Ma didn’t pick and Ma said if Ina wanted to she [could] come up and help. So we went down and
3
got her out of bed and she helped us pick. Ma mixed bread. We got done at 20 past 9. We came in and did the breakfast dishes, started ironing and straightened up the house. We got thru with the ironing that afternoon. Ina stayed here until 4 o’clock so she certainly made a whole day of it. She didn’t do anything at all just sat up here. We did up our morning work and got corn for dinner. We baked potatoes too. Hannah and Helen came for dinner and in the afternoon picked apples. I had to go down to the forty to buck hay about 6:30. It started to rain like the Sam hill. We lay in under the stack until it was over. We went home and did the milking and had supper. We were just doing the supper dishes and there came the awfullest storm. It lightened and thundered and hailed and rained steady for 1-1/2 hours. We didn’t go to bed before it was over. Pa didn’t come home either.
Yesterday Mamma got up and did the separator and we got breakfast started. I made two pies and did the breakfast dishes while Ma did the separator again. We made jelly and apple butter and sweet pickles all day so you [see] we haven’t been lazy while you were away. Well I guess I better quit because it is 6:55. I guess you’ll simply guess what this is but I’m in a hurry.
We are sending you some kind of a letter to go and register at school. We are all well.
Corrine
Sept. 27. 1927
Dear Mae
Mamma went to Fergus yesterday with Depochers. She hasn’t been feeling sick but Mrs. Depocher wanted her to go along so she went. Adeline stayed home. She made a cake and was making brown cookies. I helped and got supper ready. Mamma got home with some meat for supper.
We went to Sunday school on Sunday and walked part of the way home. Clara said you had to write to her pretty soon. Pa picked us up down by the Hulbahlen woods. He took Angie and Clara home and talked to Mrs. Gilbertson. Knute was home and he is so fat that he has got wrinkles in his forehead. When we got home Depochers were at our place. They wanted us to go home with them. We played there all afternoon.
Mamma is washing clothes today. Adeline is still there helping her.
How do you like your place? I should think it would be nice. What are the names of the children there? How old are they?
I moved into your room last week and Florence sleeps with Ella. I haven’t taken anything out of the table drawer yet. Those two linen handkerchiefs, are they yours or Ma’s? Let me know if they are yours and I will send them to you. And may I use you color crayons? I will put your stuff that is in the drawer up on the shelf, because I want to use it. I wrote this letter at school so I’ll have to finish at home.
From Corrine
Hallow from me Ella, p.s. Rybie has got a bull calf tonight
4
Oct. 31,1927
Dear Mae
I hope you are well. We are all feeling fine. We don’t have much fun in school this year, at least I don’t. No on likes me anymore. So I don’t have any fun. In our minister lesson we start with q. 118 and take to q.128. Mamma’s washing clothes today. Lenora is here too. We got the upstairs and attic cleaned and we weighed one of Ella’s roosters the other day. It weighed 7 lbs. We haven’t taken any pictures yet but we are going to. For a while here Milo and I rode horseback herding the cattle but we don’t now. Sina and Clark were here last Sunday the 23. Pa’ll be coming down there pretty soon but we will let you know when he comes.
Corrine
Oct. 31, 1927
Dear Sister Mae,
I suppose you want to know what in the (H.) is the matter with me that I didn’t write before, o....[symbols]. Short Hand HaHa. I am going home Friday to get ready to come down there and will see you and tell you about things.
I suppose you are getting terrible fast around so many boys down there, like Thrya said she was. I hope you are getting along fine. I am well and I will see you soon. I have to going now and have to quit.
From me, B.S.
Box 332 Crookston, Minn.
November 29, 1927
Dear Sis
I received your letter here the other day, but boy it took you a long time to write it. I just wonder what you got on the string that it took you so long. So you think my letters are going to Dolton, do you? Well, maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.
I would like to have seen you those days you could not talk. I bet you thought it was tough, but I suppose you are all right now after the first few days.
5
I wish you would see Erwin J. and tell him to send me the two dollars rather than [me] write a note to him, or tell him I need the money. Funny I have not heard from him.
I do not know when we will get out of school, either 22, 23, or 24 of Dec. Maybe you will get out earlier. I sure had a lot of work to make up when I got back, but I guess I will make it. Well, guess I will have to quit now, I have some more letters to write, ha, ha.
B.S.
Crookston, Minn.
Undated
Dear Mae
I got your letter yesterday but as you will get plenty I will not write much because they will tell you all the news. But say, Victor is home from Canada. He is here. I bet you can hardly wait till 17 of Dec.
Corrine
p.s. I was just upstairs to ask Victor to write. But he said he wouldn’t because he said you have to write first. So write to him.
1928 (Corrine 12 years of age)
Miss Mae Stephenson 517 9th Ave. S.E,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 26, 1928
Dear Sis,
I suppose you will be surprised to receive a letter from me, seeing I haven’t written before. I had a letter from the folks today. I guess they thought I didn’t write enough.
I have been pretty busy after Xmas as I am basketball doctor now. I have to keep records of all the games and put on bandages and rub the ones that get hurt.
How do you like school after Xmas. I like it pretty good. We had our Senior Class play Monday and Tuesday night. It sure was good. Next Saturday night we are having our class parties and also a basketball game before the parties.
I think I have done pretty good after Xmas and I haven’t been below grade or anything like that.
I started a letter in the typewriter once, but I didn’t get it mailed. We will have one or two days during the farm crop shows. I sure will appreciate it.
I guess I better close now as I haven’t much to write about.
Brother Juel
6
Original Format
Comb bound booklet 8 1/2 x 11 inches
Title
Letters to Mae Part One
Subject
Family correspondance
Minnesota
Description
Letters from Corrine Stephenson Overholt to older sister Mae Stephenson from 1927-1940
Creator
Overholt, Corrine Stephenson
Date
1927 - 1940
Contributor
Transcribed and compiled by Catherine Overholt
Language
English
Type
Correspondence
Citation
Overholt, Corrine Stephenson, “Letters to Mae Part One,” SCKLS Digital Library Initiative, accessed June 11, 2026, https://www.digitalsckls.info/item/1.Text
LETTERS TO MAE
Written by Corrine Stephenson Overholt to her sister Mae Stephenson between 1927 and 1940.
LETTERS TO MAE
These are letters written by our mother, Corrine Stephenson Overholt, to her older sister Mae. The letters begin in 1927 when Mae left their family farm in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota to attend college at the University of Minnesota. The letters continue through 1940. Occasional letters from other family members are included.
BIOGRAPHY
(written by Corrine Overholt between 2003 and 2008)
I was the middle child of a farm family in north central Minnesota. I was bom on the Stephenson farm east of Pelican Rapids on December 28, 1915. I had an older sister, two older brothers, and two younger sisters. One of my older brothers died of polio during the epidemic in 1928, and this was a traumatic experience for our whole family. [The farm was quarantined, and we watched from inside the house as the funeral took place on the front lawn.]
Our farm was 240-300 acres, and my parents, Ida and Sigrid, raised purebred Holstein dairy cattle. We milked over 20 cows and separated the cream to sell to the local creamery. We raised all the feed for the cows, pigs, sheep and poultry as well as our own food.
We children were active in the 4-H club, and some of our dairy heifers were prizewinners at the County Fairs. We were also active in the Farmers Club and the church. In
1
the summer there were club and church picnics and 4-H camp. Our farm was in the lake region, so in the summer we frequently went swimming, especially in the evening after the chores were finished. We also had ball games on Sundays and when we were older we attended Barn Dances on Saturday nights.
I received my grade school education at the rural one-room school, which was known as District #276 and had eight grades. Our farm was nearest the school, so often in bad weather some of the kids came home with us, and often the teacher stayed at our house. We had special school programs for Christmas and the end of the year. I remember the parents building a platform for a stage. My youngest sister got up on the stage and said “I’m in high school”. Our oldest sister, Mae, was then in high school.
I enrolled in the freshman class at Pelican Rapids High School in the fall of 1929. We lived four miles from town and drove, or were driven, to school. There was no bus service. In the winter we rented rooms in town or lived with relatives. Some of my most vivid memories are of participating in the singing groups, the Girls’ Glee Club and the Girls’ Trio. My favorite teacher was Miss Jean Stevens.
Farmers did well in the early twenties. My family built a big bam in 1920 and a modem house in 1924. I was nine years old the year the house was built. At that time there were no electric power lines, so my father built a generator in the basement. We were the first family in our community to have electricity. The rural electricity program arrived in 1933. My father was instrumental in bringing the rural electrification program to our county.
2
The stock market crash of 1929 was the beginning of the Depression. We were never hungry as we raised all of our food. However, that was the time of the “Dust Bowl”.
Those were years of very dry weather so we farmers had additional problems.
My sister Mae graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1932. There were no jobs so she came home to the farm for a year before getting her first job in Pelican Rapids.
I attended the University of Minnesota from 1934-1938. I worked for my room and board as had my sister Mae. Tuition was $20 per quarter. When I graduated in 1938, the Superintendent of South Haven, Michigan hired me at an annual salary of $1100. I [secretly] married my husband Maurice Overholt, a fellow teacher in the same school system, on April 1, 1939. [The school system would not hire more then one member of a family, the reason for keeping our marriage a secret.] We finished out the school year, [announced our marriage and submitted our resignations to the Superintendent], At that time the federal government was developing farm programs, and I was hired to be a Supervisor for the Farm Security Administration in Moorhead Minnesota. So I left South Haven to return to Minnesota, taking Morry’s car. He went to another teaching job in Adrian, Michigan. Later, I was transferred to Michigan. When the war came, I quit my job, Morry was commissioned as a Lt. J.G. in the Navy and entered in September 1942. My first child, Cathy was bom on 11/September/1942, and the rest is history.
1927 (Corrine was 11 years of age and Mae was 19)
Miss Mae Stephenson University Farm c/o J.A. Erickson St. Paul, Minnesota
Sat. September 3, 1927 Dear Mae
6:41 and in a hurry. The day you left we sure did a pile of work. We picked cucumbers, Ma didn’t pick and Ma said if Ina wanted to she [could] come up and help. So we went down and
3
got her out of bed and she helped us pick. Ma mixed bread. We got done at 20 past 9. We came in and did the breakfast dishes, started ironing and straightened up the house. We got thru with the ironing that afternoon. Ina stayed here until 4 o’clock so she certainly made a whole day of it. She didn’t do anything at all just sat up here. We did up our morning work and got corn for dinner. We baked potatoes too. Hannah and Helen came for dinner and in the afternoon picked apples. I had to go down to the forty to buck hay about 6:30. It started to rain like the Sam hill. We lay in under the stack until it was over. We went home and did the milking and had supper. We were just doing the supper dishes and there came the awfullest storm. It lightened and thundered and hailed and rained steady for 1-1/2 hours. We didn’t go to bed before it was over. Pa didn’t come home either.
Yesterday Mamma got up and did the separator and we got breakfast started. I made two pies and did the breakfast dishes while Ma did the separator again. We made jelly and apple butter and sweet pickles all day so you [see] we haven’t been lazy while you were away. Well I guess I better quit because it is 6:55. I guess you’ll simply guess what this is but I’m in a hurry.
We are sending you some kind of a letter to go and register at school. We are all well.
Corrine
Sept. 27. 1927
Dear Mae
Mamma went to Fergus yesterday with Depochers. She hasn’t been feeling sick but Mrs. Depocher wanted her to go along so she went. Adeline stayed home. She made a cake and was making brown cookies. I helped and got supper ready. Mamma got home with some meat for supper.
We went to Sunday school on Sunday and walked part of the way home. Clara said you had to write to her pretty soon. Pa picked us up down by the Hulbahlen woods. He took Angie and Clara home and talked to Mrs. Gilbertson. Knute was home and he is so fat that he has got wrinkles in his forehead. When we got home Depochers were at our place. They wanted us to go home with them. We played there all afternoon.
Mamma is washing clothes today. Adeline is still there helping her.
How do you like your place? I should think it would be nice. What are the names of the children there? How old are they?
I moved into your room last week and Florence sleeps with Ella. I haven’t taken anything out of the table drawer yet. Those two linen handkerchiefs, are they yours or Ma’s? Let me know if they are yours and I will send them to you. And may I use you color crayons? I will put your stuff that is in the drawer up on the shelf, because I want to use it. I wrote this letter at school so I’ll have to finish at home.
From Corrine
Hallow from me Ella, p.s. Rybie has got a bull calf tonight
4
Oct. 31,1927
Dear Mae
I hope you are well. We are all feeling fine. We don’t have much fun in school this year, at least I don’t. No on likes me anymore. So I don’t have any fun. In our minister lesson we start with q. 118 and take to q.128. Mamma’s washing clothes today. Lenora is here too. We got the upstairs and attic cleaned and we weighed one of Ella’s roosters the other day. It weighed 7 lbs. We haven’t taken any pictures yet but we are going to. For a while here Milo and I rode horseback herding the cattle but we don’t now. Sina and Clark were here last Sunday the 23. Pa’ll be coming down there pretty soon but we will let you know when he comes.
Corrine
Oct. 31, 1927
Dear Sister Mae,
I suppose you want to know what in the (H.) is the matter with me that I didn’t write before, o....[symbols]. Short Hand HaHa. I am going home Friday to get ready to come down there and will see you and tell you about things.
I suppose you are getting terrible fast around so many boys down there, like Thrya said she was. I hope you are getting along fine. I am well and I will see you soon. I have to going now and have to quit.
From me, B.S.
Box 332 Crookston, Minn.
November 29, 1927
Dear Sis
I received your letter here the other day, but boy it took you a long time to write it. I just wonder what you got on the string that it took you so long. So you think my letters are going to Dolton, do you? Well, maybe they are, maybe they aren’t.
I would like to have seen you those days you could not talk. I bet you thought it was tough, but I suppose you are all right now after the first few days.
5
I wish you would see Erwin J. and tell him to send me the two dollars rather than [me] write a note to him, or tell him I need the money. Funny I have not heard from him.
I do not know when we will get out of school, either 22, 23, or 24 of Dec. Maybe you will get out earlier. I sure had a lot of work to make up when I got back, but I guess I will make it. Well, guess I will have to quit now, I have some more letters to write, ha, ha.
B.S.
Crookston, Minn.
Undated
Dear Mae
I got your letter yesterday but as you will get plenty I will not write much because they will tell you all the news. But say, Victor is home from Canada. He is here. I bet you can hardly wait till 17 of Dec.
Corrine
p.s. I was just upstairs to ask Victor to write. But he said he wouldn’t because he said you have to write first. So write to him.
1928 (Corrine 12 years of age)
Miss Mae Stephenson 517 9th Ave. S.E,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 26, 1928
Dear Sis,
I suppose you will be surprised to receive a letter from me, seeing I haven’t written before. I had a letter from the folks today. I guess they thought I didn’t write enough.
I have been pretty busy after Xmas as I am basketball doctor now. I have to keep records of all the games and put on bandages and rub the ones that get hurt.
How do you like school after Xmas. I like it pretty good. We had our Senior Class play Monday and Tuesday night. It sure was good. Next Saturday night we are having our class parties and also a basketball game before the parties.
I think I have done pretty good after Xmas and I haven’t been below grade or anything like that.
I started a letter in the typewriter once, but I didn’t get it mailed. We will have one or two days during the farm crop shows. I sure will appreciate it.
I guess I better close now as I haven’t much to write about.
Brother Juel
6
Original Format
Comb bound booklet 8 1/2 x 11 inches