In addition to a number of family photos, the box of family treasures that Carolyn (Peters) Stucky shared contains letters various family members sent to Aunt Sara. We have already read several of them (here and here), but there are many others to explore. I plan to take the remaining letters in chronological order, beginning with one from 1909, after this post focuses on two letters from Sara’s uncle J. P. Buller, whom we last encountered in a post titled Family Photos: Hawaii (here).
The letters from J. P. date from 29 October 1922 and 18 April 1926. He had arrived in Hawaii on 24 August 1921, so these letters were from the the first years after after his move. Sara, born 30 September 1899, would have been twenty-three and twenty-six when the two letters were written.
The first letter is brief and chatty, as J. P. asks about life back home. He does not give his exact address, noting only that he is writing from Honolulu, T. H. (Territory of Hawaii). I provide a transcription of the letter below, but for those who wish to read it for themselves, see the high-resolution scan here.
Honolulu, T.H.
Oct. 29, 1922
Dear Sarah:
How is every thing with you now-a-days? Is all corn picking done by this time? Did you do any picking this fall? I wish I had some corn here so I might exercise a little after school all every day. As it is I am taking a four or five mile hike almost every day to keep up my appetite and vigor.
Did you can very much fruit this summer? I surely miss the cherries—I mean cherry picking.
With best wishes, I remain
Your uncle,
J. P. Buller
There is not a great deal we can say about this letter. One senses that, after being away for over a year, J. P. longs to hear about some of the daily rhythms and routines of life on the farm. Of course, J. P. had not worked on the farm, that we know, for over a decade, as he had been teaching in schools in Nebraska, Texas, and Idaho since his graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1911. Still, I imagine that he had kept in close touch with family members who remained on the farm, and he seems nostalgic for that simpler life.
J. P.’s second letter to Sara is longer and far more interesting. Even the envelope is worth a careful look (for a high-resolution version, see here).
The first thing to notice is J. P’s return address: 150 Kealohilani Avenue, Honolulu. Whatever structure he lived in there no longer stands, but we can tell from the address that he was living roughly 750 feet from the beach, Waikiki Beach, to be exact. One wonders how much time he spent on the beach and if this is where he did some of his hiking. Another item of (minor) interest is the postage: two Benjamin Franklin 1¢ stamps were sufficient to send the letter—by boat at this time—the 3,750 miles to the Buller farm north of Lushton.
As interesting as the envelope is, the letter far surpasses it, as you will see in the transcription below. Scans of its pages can be found here, here, and here.
150 Kealohilani Ave.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Apr. 18, 1926.
Dear Sisters Three and couple,
Your pictures received and also the flowers. The flowers are very pretty rivalling the hibiscus we have here for beauty, and excelling them in the fact that they do not fade. They are very lovely.
And the pictures!! The Hawaiian beauties would compare very unfavorably. Those smiles remind me of the friendly greetings I used to receive when I came to visit you. I hope they will never wear off.
How is every thing over there now? Do you have any more snow? This has been an ideal winter, little rain and quite cool as a rule.
The volcano on the Island of Hawaii is now in eruption. A stream of lava 500 ft. to a 1000 ft. wide is slowly moving towards the sea. I have not seen it yet but if it keeps on, I may go over. Aside from the eruption and a fire that destroyed several buildings, there is no excitement.
Thanking you for the flowers and pictures. We remain
With love
J. P. & Elizabeth Buller
The “Sisters Three” are presumably the three daughters of Peter P and Margaretha still living at home: Sara, Maria, and Anna. I have no idea what “couple” (if I am reading it correctly) might mean. The letter mentions both at the beginning and at the end pictures and flowers that Sara (and her sisters?) had sent. The fact that the flowers would not fade leads me to think that they must have been dried flowers, although this is merely a guess. The pictures were presumably of at least the three girls and perhaps other family members.
The fascinating part of the letter is J. P.’s description of a volcanic eruption. He says it is taking place “now” on the big island, Hawaii (J. P. was on Oahu). In fact, what he is referencing is the eruption of the Mauna Loa Volcano that began 10 April 1926. The Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on the planet and has been highly active over the past several centuries, erupting thirty-four times since 1843 (here). The 1926 event that J. P. references was one of a number of noteworthy eruptions (here). In fact, the lava flow from that eruption was even bigger than he indicates. According to one account, the flow was 1,500 feet wide and 30 feet high. By 18 April—the date of J. P.’s letter—the lava flow was “headed straight for the village of Ho‘ōpūloa…. By the next day, the lava flow had destroyed a dozen houses, a church, and the wharf, and had nearly obliterated the bay” (see the Army Air Corps photograph here; see also here). Apart from a historic volcanic eruption, J. P. observed, there was no excitement, a statement as wryly humorous today as it was nearly one hundred years ago.
One final note of great significance: J. P. was not the only signatory to the letter; his new wife, Elizabeth Gordon Buller, joined him in sending the letter. Elizabeth had moved to Hawaii a year after J. P., on 28 June 1922. They apparently met sometime after, since they were married 5 August 1925. Curiously, J. P. does not mention that Elizabeth was five months pregnant (assuming GRANDMA has their son’s date of birth correct). Perhaps he had already shared the news and thus saw no need to repeat it.
There is little more that can be wrung from these letters. I find it remarkable that J. P. took the time to write his niece Sara on more than one occasion. That is a testament to the strength of the family ties that the Bullers back then enjoyed.
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