First Page of Guy's scrapbook

This is the very first page of Guy's scrapbook showing early clippings of him in Highschool. Guy made this scrapbook documenting his athletics and traveling baseball and diamond ball career. He was very proud of the book, and later his daughter re-made the book and added notes to the photos and dates. I thought this might be a nice compliment to the letters that passed during this time between Guy and Ange. The scrapbook often only has newspaper articles from the local rags where Guy and the Kentucky Colonels were playing, so that it is difficult to date at times. Alongside the letters though, the scrapbook adds a direct sense of place to the games and relationships of the players and the people.

Newport Ky. April 30,1934

Addressed to:
Mr. Guy Daines
c/o Mr. H. Reed
Box 83
Newport Ky

Postmarked 10:00 AM

Dated in the upper right-hand corner: April 28, 1934


My dear Guy;

I received your letter yesterday. You said that you haven't heard from me for a few days, well, it isn't my fault for I write almost every day. Reedy mustn't send them as soon as he gets them. There must be about five letters on the way.
Your batting average is swell, keep it up don't let any of the other players get mad at you.
You don't sound as tho you care for Florida very much. What's wrong are you getting tired of it all ready. guy I never see "Vince" "Bob" comes down home all the time but I suppose that "Vince's" work keeps him away.
That Hotel at Monticello must have been the last rose of summer if they didn't even have stationary.
Glenn is just the type to pull something dirty on someone. I guess that Stroufe will get even with him some way. I went out on 12th st. to see a game Fri. but is was just a practice game. the big fellows like Ed and Roy Styles, Johnny Vald and Ed Kilmer were playing their( last pages are lost)
(These pages were found)

In an envelope dated, May 4th:

(3)

little brothers, you should have seen it, boy it was pitiful. I went over the river Friday to get the picture that Mom had taken of Charles and Jerry. There was a man there and I had to ask him for the picture. I was trying to use the best English that I had ever learned. Then that big boyo turns around and says "Pardon me for asking the question, but are you a foreigner" when I ask him why he said, " well you certainly talk like on" Was I sore. Plenty. people told me that I talk like a southerner and that's bad enough. For when I was in grade school they made me play all the negro parts but talking like a foreigner and being told that burnt me up. I think I'll take a course in English perhaps that will help me a little.
I just got home from up the 10 [cent] store it's about 11 o'clock. boy and is my feet barking their just sc--ream--ing.
The radio just signed off so I guess that I'll have to sign off too


Love an kisses for you
Ange

PS Let me hear from you. Lots.

Memorial day 2010

Yesterday was Memorial Day, and My husband and I went to the cemetery to place flags and flowers upon your graves. It seems almost impossible to me that the both of you are gone from me now, as I need only to open these letters and your lives had yet begun. Sometimes it is difficult to describe the painfulness of the heart, or the emptiness I feel as I am left only with my memories. I sometimes close my eyes and take a walk through your house as it was, and I try to remember just where each and every item was placed, where you stored the flour, sugar, toothpaste, the color of the carpet. I see you smile as you look out the back window into the yard, the little dog, Holly, gently placed upon the windowsill so she could watch the birds. How many locks were on the back door in the later years, and where Gram hid her stash of M&Ms. I see you both then and sometimes in my dreams, and yet these letters are another sort of a gift to me now, left behind and serving as a sort of road map of discovering you both from another life angle... and it seems so surreal to me as I remember the yearly trips with you and Pop to the cemetery on so many Memorial Days. The ritualistic gathering and cutting of the flowers in our yard and sometimes our neighbors as well, then the careful and equal positioning of the blooms into small bouquets to be placed upon all the family graves and the mental mapping of where and who everyone was, their histories and their stories-- all signposts on the way toward knowing and keeping them here a little while longer with family left behind. These were much more than just the yearly trip to the cemeteries to visit and remember all of the relatives. Those stories and the careful grooming, although I was quite unaware of it myself at the time, were preparing me for the making ready of my future task, the responsibilities of this ritualistic keeping of these memories. The dedicated keeping, the task of remembering, the grateful duty of preserving and thus the rebirth and continual living through those of us left with this task of never forgetting would eventually be mine, and in a very primitive and basic sense we keep alive those that went before us -- all the lives that gave form and meaning to who we have become, where we came from, and why we are who we are today. It is a massive responsibility,this remembering, this task of keeping, of knowing who we are, and in every generation there will be those of us who will move on and gladly leave the memory keeping to others, while their lives take them to new places and these simple and basic tasks will fall on the shoulders of the ones in the family who gather and hold dear such memories. But we will be here still documenting, recording and rediscovering ourselves through the investigation of that which cannot be seen but only felt through our hearts. I will share it with you. So as this Memorial Day leaves us and we all venture toward June and the blooming of flowers and summer vacations, I leave you with the simple task of holding for a few seconds longer those memories that keep those we love so close and allow them to still remain with us as long as we listen and remember with our hearts. To remember and if all you ever do is to say a silent thank you, that is enough.

Miss Anna Botts

Gilbert Hotel
Main Street and Atlantic Ave
One Block from Ocean Pier
Daytona Beach, Fla

April 29, 1934


Hotel Gilbert Letterhead:

Gilbert Hotel System
Operating
GILBERT HOTEL
and
Oriental-American Grill
one Block from ocean Pier
Daytona Beach Florida

Gilbert Hotel
Jacksonville, FLA.

Gilbert Hotel
Savannah GA

Arcade Hotel
Kissimmee, FLA

Gilbert Hotel
Orlando FLA

MODERN and FIREPROOF



Dearest Ange,

Just came into Daytona beach this afternoon. Drove over from Melbourne this morning. We have an off day today but play here tomorrow. We had a game scheduled for here a few weeks ago but it was called off on account of rain. We defeated Melbourne 7-0 last night. Bailey had 19 strike outs. Glenn got two home runs. I got one hit out of four times. Still leading the team in batting though. Monday we play in Winter Haven and then I believe we are going to start our way back up north. This hotel we are staying at is only about a block and a half in view of the Atlantic ocean. Daytona beach is right on the ocean. Are you working yet?
Let me hear all about yourself. I haven't gotten any mail from you for four days. I guess it will all be in Winter Haven when we play there Monday. I hope so. How is everything up home? Do you and Dorothy still go over to the L.B. Wilson on Sundays? Is it warm enough up home to go in swimming yet?
Is Glenn sending any clippings home. I want to know when Ed is going to write me a letter. I read the one he sent to Glenn. Tell him that when he writes me I'll write him one. Haven't been able to go fishing down here yet but sure hope too soon. I don't like to go in swimming down here on account of the salt water. It sure upsets my stomach. Well , Ange will have to close with lots of love & kisses, hoping to hear from you soon I remain as ever, an ever, and ever (love) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Guy Daines Jr.

Tell the bunch hello!
Also your mother, Ed, Aunt, Art, Sarah& husband, Charles & Jerry, Earl and so on _ _

APR 27 1934

April, 25, 1934

Dearest Guy,
I received your letter to-day. I was sure glad to hear from you. I am always glad to hear from you tho you know that don't you?
Guy I realize now that it isn't your fault if the letters are delayed. Forgive me for ever referring to the subject.
Your mother looks fine and I think she feels the same. I don't think that she is worrying a whole lat about you for she knows that your in good company and that you have a place to eat and sleep, but you know that she wants you home with her, most mothers are like that.
That will be a wonderful trip to Japan, and South America. Your getting a chance in a life time and I bet that you don't even realize it.
I guess that half of the town were following you if you were with "Tiny" who wouldn't. I never had any idea that anyone could grow that tall. I thought that he was supposed to get married in Florida, isn't he?
Guy, haven't you had any snapshots taken of yourself. If you have, send me one will you. Agnes got a picture from "Murph" in her second letter and you haven't even mentioned one yet.
Say, you don't really think that I go down to the river do you? I was only kidding you.
I'm listening to Burns and Allen on the radio as I'm writing this. Gracie sure can say some wise cracks.
Your Dad was over to-night. He says that I had Dot Hendrix over to your house a few months ago. I'm positive that I hadn't, but he says I did. Do you remember anytime that Dot was over to your house, maybe you can but I can't.
Was the "bunk" Al wrote any than the "bunk" I write. Everybody said that I should write and tell you hello. Mom sure misses you. I wonder if she misses you as much as I do. I don't think so for I miss you terribly.

Oodles of love & kisses
Always yours
Ange.

Bon Air Hotel, Dakin and Pleasant Street

Miss Anna Botts
521 W. 11th Street
Newport Kentucky

Dearest Ange:
Arrived in Kissimmee, Florida this morning about 6'oclock after driving all night for about 275 mi. We won the night before defeating Monticello Fla- 18-4. I got one for five. Tonight we defeated the Kissimmee All Stars 20- 1. I got three for six. They couldn't see Bailey or Sroufe so Deaver put "Tiny" in for the last two innings. I haven't received any mail from you for three days. It must be delayed some place or maybe it has gotten lost. Is there anything in the papers up home about us leaving. If there is send me a clipping of what it has to say. This water they have in this hotel smells like rotten eggs. In fact, they have the same kind of water all over the city. It is some kind of a mineral water and is supposed to be 99% pure. I wouldn't give you one glass of our water up home for all of this water there is down here. When you drink it you have to hold your breath and then swallow it right down. Has indoor started up home yet? How is Martha and Al getting along. Have they went back together again. We have a short jump to make tomorrow. We play in Melbourne, about 56 mi from here. Up till now we have been traveling at night and sleeping during the day. It sure will feel good to get one good nights sleep. I ate so many oranges down here that I can hardly look at them. If we want any while we are traveling we just stop along the road and pick some. Well, Ange, haven't much more to say so will close with xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Love &kisses
Guy Daines
(P.S.)
Hoping to hear from you soon. Tell everybody at home hello.
Tell Ed to write.
Tell Dad that "Freddy Macguire" former second baseman for Boston umpired our game at Monticello. He is still under contract to Boston. He is down there trying to cure his arm which was broken. Glenn met him and shook hands with him.
Tell all the girls and boys hello.

So long until next time,
xxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

APR 26 1934

April 24, 1934

Dear Guy,
I'm glad that you beat the Poinsetta team. That's the team that beat you 1 to 0 in the 20 inning game isn't it?
Don't worry Guy about "slipping" even if your not getting as many hits as you have been, you'll make up for it later. If every player on the team would get one hit in every game, the team would be doing pretty good, don't you think so?
That's bad about "Haddy" Davidson having to go home. It will be pretty hard on the team now that He's gone won't it?
Tell all those "goobers" that made fun of your sweater that I said "If they have anything to say about it to come and see me."
Ed doesn't agree with you on that statement in that Florida is the Jackass state of the Union.

Lots of love and kisses
Ange