Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, Jan-June 1945
Item
Title
Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, Jan-June 1945
Subject
Description
At this time, Ralph Hartman was the postmaster, 46 years old. His sons Ralph and Jack were serving in the military in some capacity; Ralph is accepted in the Marine Corp (22 Feb 1945). Donald is in high school and works for Arundel dredging and Brady was 9 years old.
Carbon copies of daily letters from Ralph Hartman Sr., chiefly to adult sons. Also letters to Alice Hartman (of New Brighton, Penn.), Frances Armstrong, Colonel Fred, Madam Martha Renaud, Victor Guerrier, American Legion post, and brother Mitchell Hartman. One letter is to several servicemen (18 Mar 1945). A few letters to businesses and to the USCG concerning extension courses.
The content of the letters gives an excellent portrait of a small Florida town during WWII, detailing social activities, health, and locations of all the family members, events in Stuart, local gossip, and news of local servicemen. Includes a narrative about the invasion of southern France in 1944 (16 Feb 1945) as well as other war news. Several letters address Colonel Fred’s divorce from his wife, “Bill” (20 Feb 1945). Mentions Eden Ahbe [actually Eben Ahbez, composer of "Nature Boy" recorded by Nat King Cole] (29 June 1945)
Significantly mentioned are “Hoppes” or “Miss Hoppy,” Blanche Hoppes (1906-1975), who was appointed superintendent of Martin County Hospital on 8 April 1945 but then quit the position in December 1945 and moved to Miami. Also friends Ted and Vee, Teddy Roosevelt Chambers (1902-1978) and Mary Lavenia "Vee" Lambert Chambers (1908-2007)
Carbon copies of daily letters from Ralph Hartman Sr., chiefly to adult sons. Also letters to Alice Hartman (of New Brighton, Penn.), Frances Armstrong, Colonel Fred, Madam Martha Renaud, Victor Guerrier, American Legion post, and brother Mitchell Hartman. One letter is to several servicemen (18 Mar 1945). A few letters to businesses and to the USCG concerning extension courses.
The content of the letters gives an excellent portrait of a small Florida town during WWII, detailing social activities, health, and locations of all the family members, events in Stuart, local gossip, and news of local servicemen. Includes a narrative about the invasion of southern France in 1944 (16 Feb 1945) as well as other war news. Several letters address Colonel Fred’s divorce from his wife, “Bill” (20 Feb 1945). Mentions Eden Ahbe [actually Eben Ahbez, composer of "Nature Boy" recorded by Nat King Cole] (29 June 1945)
Significantly mentioned are “Hoppes” or “Miss Hoppy,” Blanche Hoppes (1906-1975), who was appointed superintendent of Martin County Hospital on 8 April 1945 but then quit the position in December 1945 and moved to Miami. Also friends Ted and Vee, Teddy Roosevelt Chambers (1902-1978) and Mary Lavenia "Vee" Lambert Chambers (1908-2007)
Creator
Source
Scans gift of Historical Society of Martin County.
Contributor
Rights
Copyright undetermined
Format
257 pages.
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
2025.011
HSMC 2013.43
Coverage
Citation
Ralph W Hartman Sr. (1898-1961) , “Ralph Hartman Sr.'s letters to family, Jan-June 1945,” Martin Digital History, accessed October 5, 2026, https://www.martindigitalhistory.org/items/show/12992.