{"id":91573,"date":"2021-06-27T15:23:52","date_gmt":"2021-06-27T19:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.pinemountainsettlement.net\/?page_id=91573"},"modified":"2021-07-10T21:36:27","modified_gmt":"2021-07-11T01:36:27","slug":"darwin-d-martin-1925-correspondence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/staging.pinemountainsettlement.net\/?page_id=91573","title":{"rendered":"DARWIN D. MARTIN 1925 Correspondence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 05: GOVERNANCE – Board of Trustees
Series 09: Biography – Board of Trustees
Darwin D. Martin 1925 Correspondence<\/h5>\n

DARWIN D. MARTIN 1925 Correspondence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"DARWIN
About Aunt Sally (Dixon) Creech, Notes – 1925 October,<\/a> page 1. [PMSS_notes_1925_oct_001.jpg]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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TAGS:<\/strong> Darwin D. Martin, Board of Trustees, 1925, Larkin Company in Buffalo NY, general correspondence, institutional insurance, bond issues, Improved Risk Mutuals, The Road, State Road Commission, Reservoir, house fires, Laurel House, asbestos shingles, Dorthea Dann, industrial training <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Darwin D. Martin<\/a> and Aunt Sal<\/a> were not as far apart as one might imagine. Aunt Sally Dixon Creech was a true pioneer when she came across the mountains of Eastern Kentucky to settle in Harlan County with her husband William Creech<\/a>. She and her husband could see their dreams and knew how they might make them a reality. More importantly, they knew how to filter out those parts of life that did not give meaning to the whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Darwin D. Martin was selling soap on the streets of New York, he also had a dream that he eventually turned into a reality. In many ways, the same spirit that motivated Aunt Sal and Uncle William Creech was found within Darwin D. Martin. All held fast to their dreams when they were joined in the building of Pine Mountain Settlement School. It is not surprising that the School flourished under their watchful eyes. The success of Pine Mountain and its surrounding community was born of their aspirations; and their learned lessons of success through industry and education. Martin knew well how to turn dreams into success, and the industry of people and education became his dream shapers. He knew how to shape dreams into reality and he was not one to horde his tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Had the deep identification with those who strive to better their lives not been present in Darwin D. Martin, in the Creeches, and in Ethel de Long Zande,<\/a> and co-founder Katherine Pettit<\/a>, it is unlikely Pine Mountain would have persisted. Because Martin did persist as an advisor, champion, and benefactor for Pine Mountain Settlement School during some of its most productive years, he built a foundation for all the dreams and the dedication that followed at the School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to his devotion to the health and sustainability of the School, Martin had obvious appreciation for the skills of Ethel de Long Zande. Their mutual admiration and the unspoken urge to make the world a kinder and more equitable place for young children and adults is found throughout the correspondence of these two remarkable leaders. Their mutual ambitions drove their dialogue but beneath that personal drive was a remarkable kindness and sensitivity toward those who have been short-changed. Their kind ambition brought one of the most skilled business managers in the United States to Pine Mountain’s doorstep and kept him engaged with the School for over a decade. And, that same kind ambition and dreams sustained and motivated the early and succeeding leaders of the Pine Mountain Settlement School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CONTENTS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

[Note: Letters from PMSS staff in the PMSS Collections are carbon copies, typewritten, unsigned, and meant for the Office files.The original signed copies were sent to the correspondents. The initials at the bottom left of most PMSS letters indicate the writer (along with initials of the secretary). For example, “EZ” are the initials for Ethel de Long Zande<\/a>. Letters from Darwin D. Martin<\/a> are typewritten on the letterhead for his business, The Larkin Company. The following list of contents is in chronological order and not necessarily in the order of the image numbers.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMAGES 001-009: Darwin D. Martin 1925 Correspondence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

001-002<\/strong> Date is truncated. [Notation: \u201cc. January 1925\u201d], two pages. EZ (Ethel de Long Zande) to Darwin D. Martin, ordering hot water bottles, albums, and writing cases to be paid for by \u201cmoney given us for Christmas.\u201d Zande and Miss [Bessie V.] Gaunt<\/a> [PMSS bookkeeper] are gathering insurance material for Martin. Provides updates about the road: A recent vote against a bond issue has delayed completion. The School is keeping the road in order, as the State will do nothing without funds. There is a quarrel between the State Road Commission and the State Engineer, who has resigned. Describes the ideas for a road to carry the lumber. \u201c…[T]he county built a fairly good road down this side of the mountain so that our neighbors are hauling continually and so that the mail comes in and out by this route by wagon.\u201d Tells about a newly arrived Evert, an 11-year-old boy whose father was jailed for making moonshine, leaving his family destitute.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

003 <\/strong>January 8. EZ (Zande) to Martin, thanking him for sending a dictionary and atlas. Asked about special rates or sales for writing portfolios and other needs; orders a coffee percolator for \u201cthe Zandes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

004<\/strong> January 13. Martin (on letterhead for Larkin Co. Inc.<\/a>, Buffalo, NY) to Mrs. Luigi Zande, telling her that winter coats are on sale; lists the prices (special for PMSS) for portfolios (writing cases), made by the Arms Mfg. Co. of Deerfield, MA, and the coffee pot. Asks several questions about the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

005 <\/strong>March 28. EZ (Zande) to Martin, enclosing data about PMSS insurance. The reservoir has a guaranteed capacity of 135,000 gallons. Enclosures include a map showing location of fire hydrants and a list of houses with insurance, rates, and cost value. Tells Martin of the two PMSS fires: loss of School House<\/a> on January 23, 1919, ($10,000 loss) and fire damage to Big Log<\/a> by overheated stove ($100 damage). Zande informs Martin that his suggestion that workers could underwrite the insurance would not work, since their salaries are too small to afford the risk. The reservoir could use a larger pipe line; the School is currently replacing roofs with asbestos shingles. She hopes for  the best insurance plan possible and thanks Martin for his interest.
006<\/strong> Enclosure in Zande\u2019s letter of March 28, 1925, to Martin, with notations. \u201cPine Mountain School Insurance Schedule,\u201d with data in columns for Building, Cost Value, Insurance, Rate.
007 <\/strong>Duplicate of [006] with different notations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

008<\/strong> April 10. EZ (Zande) to Martin, responding to his question: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…[O]ur insurance is on the basis of a three year rate per hundred, with the exception of the lumber in the mill yard which is on a one year basis. Laurel House is a greater hazard that some others because it has two laundry stoves and two ranges in it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

009 <\/strong>May 4. EZ (Zande) to Martin, explaining that the [Girl’s] Industrial Building<\/a> is not ready for occupancy until next year, so she will not be ordering anything until then. Meanwhile, she orders additional \u201cfibre furniture.\u201d \u201cThey add so much to the comfort and pleasure of our living rooms all over the place\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMAGES 010-019: Darwin D. Martin 1925 Correspondence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

010-011<\/strong> May 6. Two-page letter from Martin to Mrs. Zande, enclosing a statement and offering to pay it \u201cas a contribution.\u201d and pledging an additional $500. Asks for PMSS\u2019s Buffalo mailing list so he can add to it; advising adding Mr. and Mrs. George Tait, Glens Falls, NY, to the list. Informs Zande that \u201cconducting drives for building and endowment funds is a trade\u2026\u201d and gives examples of clients of Tamblin and Brown in NYC. He doesn\u2019t think PMSS is ready for an endowment campaign but \u201cit is well to know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

012<\/strong> May 22. Martin to Mrs. Luigi Zande. He received no reply to his May 6 letter and asked about the various topics he had covered in that letter. Mentions Mr. Barcalo\u2019s interest in donating to PMSS. He quotes from \u201cthe Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.\u201d and relates it to Dorothea Dann\u2019s \u201cthrill\u201d at seeing the eagerness of PMSS pupils to learn. The requested chairs are on their way to Putney and he has assumed payment for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

013-014 <\/strong>May 26. Two-page letter from EZ (Zande) to Martin, [013] <\/strong>explaining she was late in responding due to overseeing the School\u2019s house cleaning. Appreciates Martin\u2019s $500 pledge; Mr. Barcalo\u2019s interest in helping; will wait for Miss Gaunt\u2019s return from vacation to review the Larkin statement; Improved Risk Mutuals is sending someone to visit PMSS. She regrets leaving \u201cour faithful Arnspiger\u201d for a new insurance company. Zande will send a list of needs for the Industrial Building. \u201cWe have used the weaving and sewing rooms this year, but the cooking room and laundry are only just finished.\u201d [014] <\/strong>As for paying for fundraising services, \u201c…I wonder a good deal how a mountain school would fare if the job of raising an endowment was undertaken by professionals.\u201d She asked Martin to provide more information on various firms as it will help in the future. Zande orders new mattresses, provides specifications, and explains why they must be thick and strong. Encloses Buffalo mailing list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

015<\/strong> June 9. EZ (Zande) to Martin, reporting receipt of the ten chairs for Laurel House, Infirmary, and Boys\u2019 House; appreciates his donation of them; Mr. Barcalo gave 8 beds; waiting to receive his book by Angelo Patti. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

016<\/strong> June 10. Handwritten note from A. Van Bezey to Mrs. Zande, providing measurements of \u201cmy sleeping porch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

017<\/strong> June 11. EZ (Zande) to Martin, ordering new curtains for the School\u2019s sleeping porches to replace worn-out ones ordered from Martin\u2019s \u201cawning man\u201d ten years ago; provides measurements and description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

018<\/strong> June 13. EZ (Zande) to Martin, enclosing a letter from the School\u2019s insurance agent in Lexington and asking Martin to reply. Zande had told the agent of her plans to change insurance companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

019<\/strong> June 17. Martin to Mrs. Ethel Zande. He has ordered the Angelo Patri book; has vacation plans other than Colorado. \u201c… Darwin [son] is in New York with Baker Kellogg & Co., NYC, for the summer; asks if she will accept \u201cBarcalocots\u201d with mattresses at $7, which he will pay as his PMSS contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMAGES 020-029: Darwin D. Martin 1925 Correspondence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

020-021<\/strong> June 27. Two-page letter from EZ (Zande) to Martin, thanking him for his letter about Improved Risk Mutuals. Zande accepts his offer of the 8 \u201cBarcalo cots\u201d and mattresses; orders 8 additional mattresses. Zande will be sending a new list of requisitions for the new Industrial Building. Asks about caring for the lantana in winter; describes the bad weather (drought and flood) for gardens in the past year. Clara Siler will be visiting Martin on a visit to Niagara while spending six weeks in Chautauqua; will provide information about the Mountain Girls\u2019 Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

022 <\/strong>July 3. EZ (Zande) to Martin, enclosing an order for items for the Industrial Building and other PMSS places; explains the need for two sets of dishes. Appreciates receiving \u201cWorld\u2019s Work\u201d periodical.
023<\/strong> Zande\u2019s order for items for PMSS consisting of 3 columns: Quantity, Name and [Order] Number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

024-025<\/strong> July 3. Two-page letter from Martin to Mrs. Luigi Zande, responding to her June 27 letter about her cots and mattress orders; advises on care of lantanas. Mentions a recital by Mr. Barozzi (Miss Gardiner\u2019s husband) and the Himmelsbachs of Buffalo. Describes his vacation plans; will meet Clara Siler at Chatauqua. Mentions Darwin\u2019s career plans. Edited and added to the Buffalo mailing list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

026 <\/strong>July 8. EZ (Zande) to Martin. Thanks him for sending a sample of ticking, lantana advice, and the new mailing list; has written Clara Siler about meeting with Martin. Tells about enjoying a meeting with Republican candidates at the House in the Woods, preferring their naivete to the \u201crepression of all such personal motives\u201d of those on the outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

027<\/strong> July 13. (Unsigned, likely Zande) to Martin. Looking forward to receiving the shipments; will write to the Crescent China Company. Has ordered cakes of Dough Boy soap in order to get better shipping rates; also ordered auto freezer for William Browning<\/a> [PMSS Farmer]. Tells a story from the doctor about helping at the birth of twins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

028<\/strong> August 19. EZ (Zande) to Martin, relating Clara Siler\u2019s impression of Martin: \u201c…[S]he had such beautiful things to say about you.\u201d Will be sending the statistics; has received the shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

029<\/strong> September 8. EZ (Zande) to Martin, enclosing \u201csome public school information\u201d; orders \u201cbundles of quilt pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMAGES 030-039: Darwin D. Martin 1925 Correspondence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

030<\/strong> September 12. Martin (on his personal stationary) to Mrs. Ethel Zande, assuring her that he \u201ccan supply the curtain for a shower bath\u201d and asks questions about its specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

031 <\/strong>September 15. Two-page letter from [truncated, likely Zande] to Martin, <\/strong>responding to his letter announcing his retirement. Zande places an order for a pair of scales for Model Home and material for middy jeans. She is interested that Martin is \u201cgoing to try to get the Mutual people to inspect.\u201d Describes the hot dry weather; on-going success of the School; indigo-making. [This letter is either truncated or has a MISSING 2nd PAGE.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

032<\/strong> September 21. Martin to Mrs. Luigi Zande. Gives his thoughts about retiring. The items Zande requested will be shipped; sample of the middy jeans fabric will be coming from Hunter Mfg. Co.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

033<\/strong> October 7. [Unsigned, likely Zande] to Martin, asking about a charge for the quilt pieces. The Improved Mutual Risk agent has visited PMSS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

035<\/strong> October 24. Martin to Ethel Zande, proposing an idea to encourage Henry Ford to build roads in the mountains; encloses a photograph of William and Sal Creech, asking Zande to add a date and return it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

034<\/strong> October 31. EZ (Zande) to Martin. Zande will respond to his letter after returning from Louisville; encloses the photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

036<\/strong> November 3. Martin to Mrs. Ethel Zande, stating that he has sent her order for twill to New York; encloses copies of invoice for sheets for her okay, after which he will pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

037 <\/strong>November 13. Martin to Mrs. Ethel Zande, waiting for her to okay the bill for the bath curtain. Suggests a name for the PMSS mailing list (Mr. C. Sidney Shepard of New Haven, NY) and describes his background. Asked whether the School was \u201cable to make a fire alarm of that locomotive drive-wheel tire\u2026.\u201d Reminds Zande that \u201cLarkin Co. has a chain of grocery stores\u201d and suggests that he could arrange the ordering of PMSS groceries from them wholesale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

038-039 <\/strong>November 17. Two-page letter from EZ (Zande) to Martin. Describes her busy life that included a visiting Berea preacher, new report cards, and a weekend meeting of country teachers. Tells about meeting with Mr. Arnspiger, who will reduce rates after learning about Martin\u2019s proposal. \u201cHe has taken our insurance entirely away from the Kentucky Actuarial Bureau, is making the rates himself, and will submit us quotations\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe did not make a fire alarm out of the locomotive drive wheel, for the church bell now answers to that purpose, having a fire clapper in addition to the regular one. We have put the locomotive wheel rim in the cement platform of the Schoolhouse porch, where it gives interest and variety.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zande will discuss getting groceries through Larkin buyers with Miss [Ruth B.] Gaines<\/a> [PMSS dietitian]. However, \u201c[w]e get good prices from Colter, in Cincinnati\u2026\u201d who are patient about payments and \u201cconsider the interest on our account part of their contribution to the school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[039]<\/strong> About road-building in the mountains, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…[W]e in the mountains know that the road bond issue has been defeated every time by the Bluegrass and level country section of the state, and that there simply is no comparison between the mileage here and in the limestone country.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMAGES 040-044: Darwin D. Martin 1925 Correspondence<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

040 <\/strong>November 17. Martin to Mrs. Ethel Zande, sending a bill for fabric from Taylor, Clapp & Beal for Zande\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

041-042 <\/strong>December 7. Two-page letter from Martin to Mrs. Ethel Zande, sending a list of questions with space for her answers (see notations in margins), including the quality of the Thrift fruit jars, her need for a Belgian dog, prospective donors for the PMSS mailing list, whether she had purchased silver plate from Oneida Community, her opinion of the New Home Chain Stitch Sewing Machine, need for a telescope, and whether she planted Euonymus radicans [evergreen vine] on the north side of the church. He has not yet received the redbud trees from Luigi. He is sending a box to be opened at Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

043<\/strong> December 9. EZ (Zande) to Martin, providing an update concerning \u201clittle Bodie, for whose schooling you sent us a check last year…\u201d and asked if Martin will continue payments. Miss [Elizabeth] Hench<\/a> [PMSS trustee] is visiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

044<\/strong> December 15. Martin to Mrs. Ethel Zande, thanking her for her answers to his \u201cquestionnaire\u201d and for her Larkin order. He describes a watch that will be sent to Zande from New England Watch Co. in Boston. [Handwritten notation at bottom of page: \u201cJulia Himmelsbach, at our home last eve, says she is going back to Pine Mt in 1926!\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See also <\/strong>DARWIN D. MARTIN Board<\/strong><\/a> – Biography
Return to DARWIN D. MARTIN Correspondence Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GALLERY <\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t