2005.053.001

Letter

Michigan Military Academy

One letter, dated November 3, 1889, from McKinstry Burt of the Michigan Military Academy to his parents. The letter is handwritten in black ink on both sided of a sheet of slightly yellowed letterhead stationery from the Michigan Military Academy of Orchard Lake, Michigan. The text is transcribed as follows:

"Dear Papa & Mama,
Yours of the 30th inst. [instant] rec'd. all right. I am sorry to hear that Frank's mother is not getting better. Have they started to clean up the street (that is I mean near the curb from that to that walk) yet. A you going to repair the dock and build a steam hoist this winter. I saw by Fridays paper that Hiram had bought the Excelsior furnace near Ishpeming.
I think that is a good price for the Mack road property if you received the cash down or good security. I thought that Plank was going to sell out to a Milwaukee man. It is to [too] bad that somebody cannot make that property a success. I think the best way to do would be to turn it into offices and etc. A few of us went down to Pontiac Thursday night to hear the Detroit Philharmonic Club - it was fine. I saw Edith & Minonie with two fellows who took them there. I do not [know] who they were. I also saw Dr. & Mrs. La Baron and Mrs. Owen. I hope that the Michigan Central will not offer any opposition to the Union Depot Co. I have not been out hunting yet, but I have seen a good many ducks flying about. We have not had very much steam for two or three weeks, because they were moving the boiler into a new building to place it with another one. They will have them both going in two or three days. We have about the warmest room in the barracks because we have a carpet on the floor and burn both of our lamps. It rained all day Friday & Saturday here, and I suppose it did in Detroit. The fellow that got the position as Ordnance Officer wants to change with me. I rank him in my position now, but I am afraid if I took his position I would have to take his rank. I will not change unless I can keep my rank or have a better rank. I am glad to hear that all are well. I have not had a cold in a month, and feel well. From you affectionate son,
McKinstry Burt.

Did Mama understand what I wrote about the duties of a first Lieut. I did not see anything in the paper about the collision the Unadilla had, only about losing an anchor."

Date

1889

Collection

Military

Extent of Description

8.5" x 11"

Search Terms

Michigan Military Academy

People

Burt, McKinstry

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