Maier Zunder was very proud when the large new elementary school was named Zunder School in 1895. It stayed open until the 1930s and torn down during the overwheliming "urban redevelopment" in the late 1950s. In those days, women of a certain class went on extended visits quite often. Often their comings and goings were noted in the newspapers. How did they find out?
In fact, the book I had about the midwife in Maine in the start of the nineteenth century showed that the culture of visiting among women was very strong. Even though there were no telephones or cars, people kept in touch with each other probably more closely than we do now...by visiting and passing along news. How often do we get isolated in our own houses and apartments?
So Delia, Maier's youngest daughter, age 29 and just married visits her oldest married sister Sophie in Waterbury about 20 miles away. Stayed for 3 weeks. Duly noted in a newspaper clipping pasted underneath the telegram.
Sophie and Delia sent this light-hearted telegram to their father congratulating him on the honor of the school being named after him.
"Sorry we changed our names." they joke. They did have the reputation of having a lot of fun.
From Volume 2 of the Zunder family notebooks.
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