1911 Penny Photos in a Cherished Letter: The Adoption Story of Mary Calhoon

Nora’s 1911 letter to Margaret shares her joy over adopting a four-year-old girl named Mary Elizabeth. The heartwarming message is made even better by the little penny photos still folded up inside the envelope 108 years later.

Nora’s Letter

March 8th, 1911

Owensboro, Kentuckyy

My dear Margaret,

I have been wanting to write you for several days, but it seems that my time is so taken up with other duties, I never have a spare second I can call my own. There has been several changes in our home life since I last saw you.

I think it was about the second week in January, we took a sweet, dear little girl to raise as our own. She was four years old the 20th of February. She is very small and doesn’t look a day over three. She is very good looking and has the sweetest disposition I ever saw in a child in all my life, she is full of love and loves everybody and she appreciates every little kindness and is so grateful for everything we buy for her.

My room looks like a toy shop instead of a bedroom, and I have been kept busy trying to get some clothes made for her. Everybody thinks she is a very lucky child to step into such a good home, and I presume it is a good thing for her. We are so lucky to have a child so lovely in every way and I shall do my very best by her, as that is all I can do.

We have had sadness and sorrow in our family, also, since I wrote you and I meant to send you a paper giving an account of my dear old father’s death, but I forgot it. My father was only ill one week, he died on the 13th of February and was buried on the 14th. He would have been 84 if he had lived until last Saturday (the 4th of March).

I think we should be thankful that he was spared to me so many years, but yet, we aren’t ever ready to give them up and we are never prepared when it comes. My dear, I am so thankful for the dear, sweet little book you sent me, it was so sweet of you to think of me and I thank you ever so much.

Well, how is my dear little girl in your in your charming little household? I hope your children haven’t had the measles, as all the children (and grownups also) have had in Owensboro. I don’t know if our little girl has ever had the measles or not, I hope so.

Her name is Mary Elizabeth, and I am anxious for you to see her and shall enclose some little penny photos of her, but really, they don’t do her justice as she was frightened, and as a result, her pictures were a failure. She moved in one, but it will give you a slight idea as to her personal appearance.

I do hope dear little Pauline’s eyes have greatly improved by this time, and I hope she will get entirely well. I hope your four doesn’t keep you any more rushed than my one does me. If so, I am afraid you have to work at night as I do now.

I never have time to write, only at night, and it is past my bed hour now (10 o’clock), but I don’t dare to leave this to finish in the morning. It is ever best that we don’t put off for tomorrow what we can do today, I have long since found that out. I feel sure you can’t read half of this but shall send it anyway. Please give my best wishes to Mr. Williams.

With much love (and thanks) to you, I am devotedly yours,

Nora C.

Mary Elizabeth Calhoon was born on February 20th, 1907 and adopted by Nora and John Calhoon in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1911. Nora wrote the letter to Margaret Williams of Hartford, Kentucky.

Have you ever discovered a cute story in an old forgotten letter? Let me know in the comments. 🙂