Hi everyone - I've been catching up on paperwork that built up over the 18 months my file was down and I came across this letter, circa approx 1906 about the marriage of Belle Wallace and R Chatfield. I thought (since the list is slow for the holidays anyway) that I'd share it. If nothing else, it's a charming look at one young woman and possibly (especially if you're a Chatfield, Wallace or Orr) you might recognize someone. The families were from Port Austin and Saginaw. Dated Wed, Oct 9 Dear Billy (Wallace) - Well, Billy, I just got home from the Wedding and really I never saw anything so beautiful in all my life. Honestly if I could be as good looking (crossed thru) I mean beautiful as Belle (Wallace) was for just one minute I would be perfectly happy. You can't imagine how she looked. I'll tell you what she looked like just like an angel. She came down the stairs and her eyes were down cast and all in white with her beautiful flowers. Well I can't describe it. And Billy, I kissed (underlined) Mr. Chatfield and caught part of the bride's bouquet. You know it was divided in four parts. Flora, Hazel, Miss Chatfield and I caught them. The bride's table had a vase of lily of the valley and some other flowers in the middle and little baskets around and a lot of other stuff - you would have to see it to appreciate it. They had the best stuff to eat. Marjorie and I served punch and it had claret in it and was awfully good. I lost my bouquet one time but finally found it thru the efforts of Andy Orr. He is awfully cute, don't you think so? I have just the cutest little (boy/box) of (wihe?) to dream on. If I don't dream I will die because you know that whoever you dream about you are going to marry. I will (whno?) be married in a year as I carryout the bouquet. You don't know how excited I am. Ora (Wallace) looked stunning and so dignified and Nell (Wallace) was perfectly beautiful. Little Elizabeth carried in the ring and was the dearest thing. Everybody said it was the prettiest wedding they had ever seen and that Belle was a perfectly beautiful bride. Now isn' that nice? Ora and I are going up to visit them Thanksgiving and I am so excited that I don't know what to do. I am so crazy about Belle that I can't see straight. Aren't you and Grace fixed up yet? Really, Billy, she is a dear and you two are so cute together. You do need somebody to look after you down in that big city. Belle actually ate a lot for supper. I would have been so excited that I couldn't eat a thing but nothing seemed to make her a bit nervous or excited. There is going to be a Leap Year dance on the West Side Friday night but I guess Marg (Marj?) and I are the only ones going from over here. They all said they would and then backed out but we had already asked boys so we have to go. She is going to take Frank. Imagine! I think she likes him quite well tho and I know he is crazy about her. Marjorie and Bay and Dink and I are going to "The Little-est Rebel" at the (Aradenne?) Monday. It is a war pal, very dramatic and sad so I will probably weep. I would be so embarrassed if I should when there were boys around. I guess you will think I am cracked wehn you read this letter but I am so excited and so crazy about your whole faimily that I just have to rave to someone!" sincerely Gagie. Belle Wallace and RP Chatfield roughly 1906