Letter: Helen C. Bottsford to Gertrude Seiberling

Letter

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens

Name/Title

Letter: Helen C. Bottsford to Gertrude Seiberling

Entry/Object ID

A 2025.12.b1.f3.7

Description

Letter is written on heavy blue paper. The writer begins the letter by expressing to Gertrude the "vast amount of happiness you give others". The writer talks about Gertrude and the family's luck at owning Cedar Lodge for so many year. She talks about spending time in a Chris Craft and spending a morning with Gertrude. She shares that she is enjoying describing the trip to Dr. Bottsford (her husband?). The writer lists all the camps up in Hessel. She mentions passing the "Wallas and Lihos". She ends the letter by discussing an upcoming trip to New Hampshire.

Subject Person/Organization

Seiberling, Gertrude Penfield, Bottsford, Helen C.

Subject Place

Location

Cedar Lodge

City

Hessel

State/Province

Michigan

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Collection

PERMANENT COLLECTION

Cataloged By

Katrina Neff

Acquisition

Accession

A 2025.12

Source or Donor

Unknown

Acquisition Method

Found

Letter Details

Letter Date

Aug 3, 1939

Primary Language

English

Transcription

Thursday, Aug 3, 1939 My dear Mrs. Seiberling: It occurs to me often, what a vast amount of happiness you give others as you “pass this way”. Again [sic] I am a recipient. You gave us such a beautiful trip in Chris Craft. How lovely the Les Cheneaux country is! What a privilege to have had it for years and years. Unforgettable ones for you and Mr. Seiberling, your children and grandchildren. It was generous of you to share a forenoon with us. Thank you very, very much. I’ve had such fun describing in great detail to Dr. Bottsford. Cedar Lodge, Lakanwood, the Shepard camp, and Birch Island, Ellen’s new cottage and the Chase camp, all so different and each so lovely. It’s really quite a colony. We passed the Wallas, coming up and the Lilios. I doubt if they saw us. It was quite warm coming home. Not at all like the Hessel air. In a couple of weeks we are leaving for a holiday in New Hampshire. Two weeks at Moffitt (Lucien L.) camp on Lake Winnepesaukee. [sic] Only the tho’t [sic] of more woods and water, buoyed my spirits, at leaving Les Cheneaux. My best wishes to you and yours delight ful [sic] summer. Sincerely Helen C Bottsford.

Transcriber

Roberta Searle, Barb Vargo

Language

English

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

December 29, 2025

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

August 11, 2026