After moving around frequently to various Stone and Webster subsidiaries during the 1920s, Tom and Ruth remained in Beaumont, Texas for all of the 1930s. The largest batch of letters saved were to Ruth from her three daughters when Ruth was in a Fort Worth hospital in 1931. There is also a newsy letter from Tom to Ruth in Baltimore in 1939 about Mary Caroline's high school social activities.
Our baby had some inkling the S.S.'s would elect last night but, of course, they wouldn't come here. I asked her if I shouldn't leave a light on so they could find the house -- "Oh! Daddy." I was just about asleep when the bell rang furiously and about a dozen brushed passed me when I opened the door, and rushed upstairs. Then at 12 the Western Union boy came with a collect message.
This afternoon they gave them the works on Pearl Street. Eggs in her hair -- lipstick all over face. M.C. had begged over $3 with a tin cup -- had swallowed a raw egg -- rolled an egg in the gutter with her nose. What a savage they made of our sweet child. She said last night she wasn't a bit excited -- oh yeah!