Transcription of letters written by Alfred Waibel to 
his mother and sisters from Berea, Ohio Orphan Asylum.
There is one letter from Harry (#2, below). I have left
in the misspellings and punctuation errors. Question 
marks mean I was unsure how to interpret the writing. 
                                              - JWJ* 



                                                                        #1
Berea, O. 
Aug. 21, 1903
 
Dear Mamma, Adele and Lill, 
       We received your loving August the 19 in the morning. This week we 
had quite many visators. Among them was Mr. Riechart and Starls grandmother 
and Miss Biltimier. In the moring I read it and then left Miss Biltimier 
read it, and the I gave it to Harry. 
       Harry was very glad when he looked in it and saw th dollars Bill. 
       Give my best regards to Miss Shaw if you see her and her we are all 
well and wish her the same. Goodby and write soon as you can. I will close 
for this time. 
                             From your boy, 
                             Alfred Waibel 





                                                                        #2
Berea Ohio 
August 22, 1901 (ink blurred, prob. 1903)
 
Dear Mama, Della, Lillie: 
       I received your letter of the 21st which I gladly received. We are all
well & hope you are the same. Untile that dollar came I had all but 60 cts 
paid off. Last Friday we got a machine to roll the dough and this morning us
boys cleaned it up, & this afternoon we put it to gether. I was very glad to
hear that you found a cottage. I hope it will look alright soon on the 
outside, and as well as it does on the inside. As I have not much to say I 
guess I will close for this time. Bess reguard to all friends at home. I 
almost forgot to thank you for that money; but I am thankful for it any how. 
       Please write as soon as possible. 

                             Your loving Son & brother, 
                             Harry 





                                                                        #3
Berea Ohio 
Sept. 19, 1903
 
Dear Mamma and the rest. 
       I received your letter quite a while ago. And I guess you think I am 
never going to answer. 
       I am very lonsome hear but I am alright again. Pa came home yesterday 
evening he told us about his voage comming back. 
       Carl Arnold wrote a letter to Mr. Metzger and told him that They ate 
their dinner at Waibels house and said That Harry did not have a place to 
work yet. 
       I am very glad to say that we are all well even the baby and the 
other little boys. 
       Miss Genheimer was hear on a visit for about a half of a day. We had 
a nice time at the fair. I did not come home late this time, I come home a 
ittle while be for he did. 
       Mr. Metzger talked with the man which to charge of the Merrygoround 
and said that we could have two turns for one nickel. He gave all the 
children what did not have any money a nicker to spend but I did not break 
my dollar I spend what you gave me befor you went. 
       A couple nights after Harry went The boys told me that They all wrote
a little and put it in a envelope and gave it to Carl Arnold to give to him,
and tell him from the larger boys which stay up in the nights. 
       At The Fair The had geese their heads were about a foot and a half 
from the ground and many other things. Alfred Wittwer, Herman Cletzer, Carl 
Cletzer, and Willie Kirchberg were their. 
       I guess a will close now for this time. 

                 Yours truly, From you son. 
                 Alfred Waibel. 
                        Answer soon and tell Harry to write with you.
 




                                                                        #4
Berea Ohio 
Sept. 25, '03 

Dear Mamma and the rest, 
       I guess you think it is a bout time I am writeing. 
       I did not answer that long letter so soon because Harry before he 
went he said he would write in three or four days so I waited. 
       Well I will tell you a bout my school work. I am getting a long verry
nice. Miss Anna explains our things (fo) be for we have them. I am verry 
glad that we got new Grammars And a new reader. 
       We are all well and the baby to. Sunday We had a lot of company. 
Friday a lot of company was here and we got cakes and peanuts. 
       Justus Jordans Grandmother died Friday and she said that Pa shoud 
preach the funeral service but Pa did not go because he did not feel well. 
       A few days ago they took the boilers down and now the got new ones 
but they ain't ?but up yet. They sent for a gaswell diger to clean it out 
and the struck oil. 
       They got new boilers and put them up two days ago. 
       I the next letter let Hary write a little and tell how he is getting 
a long. Is Harry going to go to school any longer? I am getting a long 
pretty well. 
       This is the month with our birthdays in. 
       I guess I will close now please excuse me for not answering in time. 
So good by. From your son. 

                              Alfred Waibel 





                                                                        #5
Berea, Ohio 
Oct. 11, 1903
 
Dear Mamma and the rest, 
       I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. During this 
week Oskar ?Slaanp was here. He is a very nice young man and has very nice 
clothes and is very polite and he stayed about four days. 
       Miss Barthel came about a week and a half. One morning Miss Barthel 
told me That when I write I should send your and The rest her best regards. 
       Mr. (W) Weiler moved a few sundays ago and now Mr. Morting is our 
precher. Turn over 
       All the students have come again and they had the first quire this 
Sunday. 
       Our birthdays are coming again you can give me any thing, but I want 
that book "A childs story of the Bible," Please send Robert something to for 
his is on the same day. Miss Anna said the boy and girl who reads the most 
books at the end of this school year she is going to give a prize, but I 
don't think I will get It because some boys are almost through with a book, 
so I do not expect it, well goodby, I guess we will see each other again 
next summer. 

       From your son Alfred Waibel. 
                            Please write soon. 





                                                                        #6
Berea Ohio. 
Nov. 1, 1903 

Dear Mamma and the rest. 
       I received everything, and I am very thankful. I am very glad I got 
that swetter and underclothes. I snow two times a lot already. A week from 
today we went out nutting and had a very nice time on the way we saw Alfred 
Wittmer and Mr. Webster. 
       When we sent a little further an old man said that we could have a 
load of apples. But we did not take a load so that we could get that nuts. 
       Almost about two weeks ago some new children came among them were two
little Swiss children Ernst Tross and Willie one of them are old enough to 
go to school but Ernst is not old enough yet. 
       We are all well now even too the smallest to the largest except one 
that is Elinora. Good By. 

                              From you Brother, 
                          Alfred Waibel 





                                                                        #7
Berea Ohio. 
Nov. 12 1903.
 
Dear Mamma and the rest. 
       I received your letter after I wrote this one. But Ma was busy and 
she went to Cleavland yesterday, and so she did not have any time to sent it
off; so she said I should write some more. Ma said she will send Harry's 
underclothes soon. 
       Just yesterday the little girl which came lately with the two little
tross boys went home be cause one of her legs were stiff. 
       I would like to have a box of writing paper and envelopes. I had some
but they were gone when I came to get them. 
       Miss Tillie and Miss Colier is here with the baby. 
       The little boys are all well now. Ma said that she heard that Lillke 
was sick and laying in bed for a few days. I hope she will get well and all 
the rest of you the same. 
        
                             I remain yours truly 
                             Alfred Waibel. 
       Albert said that Mary would like to have your write to her. 





                                                                        #8
Berea Ohio. 
?Dov. 1, 1903 

Dear Mamma and the rest 
       I received your letter on the 1st of December, a little while before 
breakfast from Ma. 
       I was very glad to hear from you. Thinking that you did not receive 
it but you did. We were all well lattely but Bertha fell sick for a whole 
week and day before yesterday she was well enough to come down and ?work 
again. 
       Ma said I should tell you that she is to busy to write this time. In 
you letter you asked how I was getting along in school. I am getting along 
alwright my grades were 
       Grades 
       Arithmetic        90 
       Grammar           91 
       Geography         92 
       Reading           91 
       Spelling          88 
       Writing           88 
       Dept.             97 
       U.S. History      100 
       German Read.      99 
       " Spell           95 
                     10)941 
                         94 1/10
 
       In your letter you said your first snow fall was on Thanksgiving. We 
had a very light one on the 23rd of Oct. But Thanksgiving morning it was 
about 6 in. deep and we had a nice long sliding pond all the way down the 
side walk on the boys side. 
       Thanks giving morning we went to the Congregational Churh and the 
peple that came raised a collection. Mis Willenbrooch sent Pa a check for 
$25 for a Thanksgiving dinner. In the Evening Mr. Brys came and gave us 
free entertainment. First he played the graphophone and after he showed the 
Magic Lantern it was very nice; and he explained them as he went along. 
       Just lately Rose Laining came back again. Before you asked if we 
were practicing any songs & yes we are practicing two songs for the 
Sundayschool 
       Mr. Hertzler said that next sunday they are going to give out pieces 
for Christmas Eav. in Church. 
       I guess we will have a nice Christmas and I hope you the same. 

                             From your Son 
                               Alfred Waibel 
             Please writ soon 





                                                                        #9
[Written on German Methodist Orphan Asylum Letterhead - JWJ] 

Berea, 0., April 29, 1904 

Dear Mamma, 
       I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know how I am. We 
had a good time Easter. We had our Program in the evening at the church. I 
had to sing in a boys chorus in the evening. Mr. Herzler was sick and could 
not come his little daughter Pheobe died and buried in the afternoon near the
beginning of April. Mr. Herzler came to Sunday school a few Sundays ago. I 
received what you sent me on Eater. It was handled rufly in the mail bag and
was broken when we got it. Afred Sylvester said he liked Easter card 
       Most of the boys have their garden dug up and seeds planted. I have 
but I have very few seeds I would like to have a few seeds so please send me
a few. 
       Not very long ago a lady she is a trained nurse from the San 
Francisco hospital brought to little children one four years old and the 
other two years old. The oldest ones first name is Emanuel and the youngest 
ones name is Theodore. I do not know their last name. Perhaps Ma will tell 
you in her letter. The womens name who brought them is Miss Christianson she 
spoke to us Sunday in Chapel. 
       Just last Sunday about 16 teen of the orphan children were examined 
in catechism. Mr. Marting was going to examine them but he was called away 
to a funeral. So Pa examined them. There were six boys among them the nice 
Fred Ratzel, Harry West, Robert Vetter, Eddies Pappinfuss, John Widmer, & 
Fred Nuckomm. Wear starting now to have tests and in a week or two we will 
bind our work together with colored ribons I don't no what color our class 
will have. 
       Near the end of March a Traveler, explorer and lecturer brought 
moving picture machine to Berea. We got tickets for all except a few little 
ones and went to see it was very nice and in the night showed them and 
lectured again in Japan. 
       It is coming near Commencement time and we are learning songs in 
school. It is very rainy weather up here have you very warm wether yet? On 
Arbor day Mr. Harrington came out a man from the salvation army and planted 
and trimed new trees for us. I guess I will stop so good by.
 
                        From your son 
                                       Alfred Waibel 
                               Please don't forget the seeds