Letter 15, the last letter from Joan aka "Dusty"

As I post this last letter from Joan "Dusty" Marin, I want to make an appeal to anyone in the Waltham area. Help me find Dusty! All that's known about her aside from her name comes from these letters: She lived in Waltham and graduated in 1949 from Waltham High School, which means she was born in about 1931 or so, making her about 80 years old today. Google searches have not produced any results, but given the fact that she likely got married and changed her surname, that's not surprising. But I'd love to find Dusty! So all you Waltham-ites, ask around!

June 9, 1949

Thursday Nite

Hi Sal:

Well, I'd just about given you up for lost when I got your letter. It was good to hear from you again.

I guess I expected to see you more than I did too, but, you know how the saying goes, every man to his own taste. (that goes for sailors too)

Last Thursday was a big day “Graduation.” It was really nice to see. Too bad

II

you couldn't have been here. Yesterday was another big day (yep I'm now 18) quiet, I am not getting old. Here I am the inefficient office secretary (I mean efficient).

Say Sal, we never did get to take our walk did we? It's been kinda cold here the last coupla days. I don't think it will ever warm up enough so I can go swimming. Ya know what? Sometimes I get so disgusted.

III

I got lotsa nice stuffs for graduation. Beautiful pearls, a pendant and bracelet set, money and other things.

Woolworth's is coming along pretty good. They have most of the skeleton put up. They say it won't be done till around November though.

By the way it wasn't Mr. Huff I shook hands with it was The Mayor.

Before I fergi, have fun at the dance. Now, now, don't give me that. You

IV

can dance a little can't you?

Too bad I won't be there to see Louis Prima. I've never seen him. Oh well he don't interest me much anyhoo. Well Sal, guess that's all for now.

As Ever

Joany

alias

Dusty

It's no surprise that this is the last letter from Dusty. The spark just seems to have gone out! It looks like Sal got leave for a bit to visit home, but the flirtatious tone in their letters just didn't translate to real life. And it appears that they don't have a whole lot in common, what with Sal's interest in "hillbilly" music like Louis Prima, which I can tell my readers he held for the rest of his life (with good reason). To the question, "You can dance a little, can't you?" In the 70s, he took Disco dancing lessons with his wife. They practiced in the living room to 45s like "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" and "If you want my body and you think I'm sexy" and let me tell you the practice paid off. But then disco, as we all know, had its demise. Sal later said in his dry tone, "The only dance I ever learned how to do, and it went out of style."

As a side note, the Mayor of Waltham in 1949 was John F. Devane. 

Letter 13, from Joan aka "Dusty"

[5 of 6. Written April 15, 1949]

Friday (before work)

(Hide this pic before anyone sees it)

Hi Sal,

It's Good Friday, and we haven't any school. Got your letter this mornin and thought I'd answer it right away. Gee, I wish I didn't have to go to work. We have no school all next week, but my boss found out so I'll be working all next week too.

It's too bad you can't be home for Easter. Everyone is going to be all dressed up (That is if it's nice) I'm just praying. If it is nice, I'll take some snaps

II

and send one to you so you can see my outfit for yourself, but I'll explain it to you in the meantime. My suit is navy blue, my blouse is white nylon (very very pretty), my shoes are navy blue also (high heels okay?) my hat is white with blue trim and I'll wear white gloves and carry a navy blue pocket book. (disruptive enough?)

You really make me feel bad about not sending you a graduation picture. I'll see what I can do there are still two left and still about seven or eight promised

III

What am I gonna drew?

I saw Joyce in school and told her to write to you.

Did you see the eclipse? It was really beautiful. We watched it for quite a while. When it was completely shadowed it turned the prettiest color.

Woolworth's is still going to be Woolworth's except that it's gonna be a new streamlined Woolworth's with a nice big sody fountain.

Sorry I forgot to kiss you goodnight but after all you said you hardly knew me

IV

so it wouldn't be very proper would it? I just don't go around kissing every boy goodnite you know.

Excuse me while I look for a snapshot. My brother dug up this one (quiet, it's a chance to show off my fur coat) Honestly sugar plum, it's the only one I have that isn't too blurry. It's not a very good pic, but you can use your imagination can't ya. I'll send another as soon as I take one, and you can disregard this one.

“Happy Easter” As Ever

---> belated Dusty.

In the previous post, I couldn't find a photo of Woolworth's and the surrounding stores. Well, here you go.

Woolworth's in 1909:

And in this photo from the 1950s you can see Parke Snow: