Letters from Sadie
Letters Written by Sadie Claire (Marcum) Montgomery from the Norton, Kansas, Tuberculosis Sanatorium (1932–1933)
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Norton, Kansas Feb.3. 1933
My Dear Cordus. Rec'd your letter today was sure glad to get it and to hear you were all O.K. I am feeling very well getting so fat I cant hardly get in my clothes. Those union suits you got for me are so tight I cant hardly squeeze into them they just strike me at the knees. If it rains there it sure beats what it does here. It is awful dry here. they are going to irrigate around here this summer to keep it from being so dusty around these Sanatoriums this summer if It does'nt go to raining. I am sure glad your wheat is pretty. Are you going to sow very many oats and are you going to sow them on the home place? No Garvin never did write me I guess he thinks there is'nt any use as it is all O.K. anyway. I had a card from Mrs. Hull today and she did'nt write her name and I dont know what her old man's name is so I guess if some of you dont tell me what it is I wont ans. it. I get lots of letters & cards from my old friends back there but some way they dont interest me like hearing from home altho' they nearly always mention seeing some of you. I just cant hardly ans. all of them as it takes so many stamps & cards and I am about broke. Louella sent me .30 (cents) worth of Stamps this week. She sure is a pal, sends me stamps every time I get a letter from her. Ree I traded my pretty sweater of today for a pretty Alice blue one, I like it lots better than I did the gay one for me. Traded with one of the girl pals here on the wing. I am glad your neighbors are all getting on better terms. they will bother her to death this summer all of them but Elsie she wont come I dont suppose. Did Mary have a good time up at Mrs. Rubles? I'll bet she did. I guess Sile does think he has lots to do but if I were him I had rather be doing that as nothing. he sure is getting lots of eggs. I think they are going to hatch the eggs pretty cheap this year dont you? a fellow cant afford to fool with them for that do you think so? What is big Old (fat Minnie P?) doing for herself this winter Does she still think as much of Bertie as ever? To bad about Aunt Mary S. dying I'll bet Bert hated that he seemed to think so much of her. Everbody up here seems to think I look lots better than I did when I came. I am some whiter got a little of the Kans. black off. I am so short of breath it keeps me afraid my lungs are not doing much good. and I tire so easily. Here's hoping I am getting better for I sure do miss you all so much dont see how I can stay away from home very long. But they will make a fellow take care of his self here where I wouldn't do it if I was at home and able to do anything. I would be willing to stay here quite a while if I could just get well. I am more patient than I was of which I am very thankful. I try to do everything they advise me to do and that is all I can do. I dont know very much news I write home so often. I am sure glad the boys and Mary are all O.K! wish I could see them all. I guess I will quit for tonight wish you could sit here by me and talk a while tonight as I have lots to tell you, never thot I could miss you and the Kiddies so. By! By with Love and Kisses to you all Sade.
Norton Kans. Feb. 14-1933
My Dear Little Mary. How are you today? Did you get any pretty Valentines today? I thot the one you sent me was awful pretty many thanks. Tell the boys I thot the ones they sent were pretty to. Is your new dresses awful pretty? Mom would like to see them on my little girl. I know she looks sweet in them. You will haft to send Mamma a string of your beads, you have to many hav'nt you? Does Joe & Forrest run out in the snow? I know you don't. Lenville will have a birthday in a day or to, you whip him for me. Tell Ree to make him a cake. Which one of those boys of ours are the best to you? do they ever fight you? you be good and mind Ree and daddy. Mamma loves every one of you and hopes the day wont be to awful long until I can come home.
Love and Kisses to you all
Mam XXXX OOO
Jack, you & Lenville & Joe & Forrest write me a big letter.
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About the Book
Darla Hedrick Quinn served as primary caregiver and advocate for her mother, Mary (Montgomery) Hedrick, for eleven and a half years while her mother was a resident at assisted living facilities in Parsons, Kansas, and San Antonio, Texas. After her mother’s passing in April 2020, Quinn discovered letters written by her grandmother, Sadie (Marcum) Montgomery, to her husband, sister, and five children while she was in residence at the Norton State Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Norton, Kansas.
Written in the depths of the Great Depression from 1932 to 1933, these letters home to family record the faith, fears, hope, and love of a wife and mother while suffering from a debilitating illness that would eventually take her life. The accompanying photographs further demonstrate the life and times of her family.
In Letters from Sadie, Quinn shares this collection of letters and photographs along with a caregivers guide to offer insight for other families, telling what life is like when moving to and residing in an assisted living facility. It chronicles part of one woman’s life story, demonstrating a strong love for family and shows opportunities for advocating for a loved one living in a facility.
About the Author
Darla Hedrick Quinn, (shown here with her mother, Mary (Montgomery) Hedrick, Sadie’s only daughter) earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, and her executive MBA from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. She retired in 2008 as executive director, project management at AT&T after a thirty-one year-career. She is an avid book reader and photographer who has traveled extensively and enjoys hiking and golf. Quinn lives in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, Francis, and their toy schnauzers, Turner and Hooch.