skip to Main Content
1-804-240-8862 russ@russell-lawson .com

At the New Weston Again

The Lawson Letters
1. The Letters Begin
2. Just a Brief Update
3. Caribbean Patrol
4. Chicago Sales Trip – Fall ’48
5. Still in Chicago – Fall of ’48
6. Down South for Tests
7. New York Plan for the New Weston
8. At the New Weston Again
9. Stint in Cinnci
10. Long Stretch at the Lab – Houma, LA

Postmark: February 5, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Hotel New Weston
Friday night

My Darling,
It is now eleven and I’ve been typing steadily since I called you and am sort of pooped as a result so I won’t be going over to 52nd Street (I don’t think) to hear any of the music (bop, that is). On second thought, it is so close that I might run over for a while since I don’t have one blessed thing to do all day tomorrow until tomorrow afternoon, when I’m going over to the McCrea’s.
Hope that you had a good trip to Charlotte and that you found the family well. I am looking forward to being with you all this coming weekend (I can’t make the ribbon on this machine work right…wish I had you here to fix it for me).
All is dull here without you, sweetheart. I started to write the call reports on Saturday and take in a show, but just couldn’t bring myself to go to a show without you.
Tell Mother that I don’t go out without the hat and that I’m going to buy a pair of rubbers tomorrow for the rain that they are expecting.
The man said that he didn’t think that he could use Miss Alice because the method of printing used in the book is not suitable for his purposes and that the paintings were not modern enough to warrant his making new plates for them. He was quite nice and interested in all of us and the Pink House.
Called the man about the possibility of bringing out a new edition of her book and he said that he wasn’t contemplating it this year so I don’t know. I placed an order for 20 of the books.
Must close and go…Think I’ll run up the street for a while. It’s not but two blocks and I want to mail this anyhow. Love you, sweetie…my regards and love to you all.

Louis

Postmark: February 6, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Saturday night
My darling Buddy –
Just a note to tell you I love you and what I’ve been up to:-
Didn’t go to 52nd Street after all last night.
Went to the Metropolitan Art Museum today from 10 til 5 when it opened and closed! Whew! What a lot of time on my feet! Then, went directly to Jim and Ruth’s and took them out to dinner at a cute little place in the Village & went back and talked arts and crafts ’til midnight. Now I’m home (1:00 AM) and am hastening to beddy-bye so I can go to Early Communion at St. Bartholomew’s around the corner.
My love to all of you – see you Friday

Goodnight, darling,
Louis

Postmark: February 7, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Sunday night

Darling –
Just this second walked in from seeing Adele home and am hastening to bed after a rather full day.
Went to St. Bartholomew’s around the corner to communion this morning and then came back and read the newspapers until noon. Had lunch across the street at Howard Johnson’s and then walked up and down 57th Street. Those galleries don’t look any better than the Pink House.
Joined Adele at 4 and we took in the Museum of Modern Art, supper at the Famous Kitchen where you, Jack Keilen, and I had supper and their we went to see “The Red Shoes” which was simply wonderful!
I’ve been wishing for you all day — more than ever when we saw “The Red Shoes.” We’ll put it on our must list for Charleston in 1952 or so.
Not much else except I love you and miss you desperately, sweetheart. I’m off to Jersey tomorrow morning so I’ll be worked plenty this week. Hope the clear (but cold, whew!) weather holds out.
My love to you all, my love
Louis

Postmark: February 8, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Monday might –
Dearest Rosy –
Pleasant was my arrival this PM at the New Weston to find your charming letters waiting for me. After a cold dreary day they were especially welcome. I love you, darling, so very much! So very very much.
Today was spent chasing across a most uninteresting New Jersey to such places as Fairlawn, Englewood, Maywood, and Belleville. This section of the world grew up in a most unfortunate architectural period. Frame houses, dreary places, covered with imitation brick and dark and dirty with the soot of industry. Pray let us never be tempted to come north and leave our lovely Southland.
Tomorrow I visit equally uninteresting countryside peddling lignin. Interest is still high – sales are still low.
I haven’t been able to get back to the America House. Got in at 6:30 and went to work on call reports at 8:30. It’s now midnight and I’m pooped.
Must close and take a bath and then to bed.
My love to you all.
Louis

Brook Bound Inn postcard

Postmark: February 8, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Postcard inscription: The Bound Brook Inn
227 West Union Ave.
Bound Brook, N.J.

Tuesday noon
See what I mean?
All over New Jersey. Very dreary, but good food here.
Love–
Louis

Postmark: February 8, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Tuesday night

Dearest love-of-mine –
New York – everything – is so dreary – so dull – so unexciting without you. Give me a dull evening at the Yacht Club – anything – just as long as you’re there. Remind me not to leave you at home again—-
Your cheery letters from Charlotte are most brightening in this otherwise dull trip. I’m delighted to hear that she’s almost well if she’s directing you — especially around the refrigerator. I’ll check your work when I get there Friday.
It’s past eleven and another evening spent writing call reports. How dull can a job get?
tomorrow I go to Long Island and adjacent spots – no hope of fun until I see you all Friday.
Best close – I’m sorta pooped –
Best love to you all –
Louis

Postmark: February 10, 1949 New York, NY
to: Mrs. Louis R. Lawson, Jr.
1916 Dilworth Road, East
Charlotte, 3, North Carolina

Wednesday night
My darling Rosamond –
Like that “Rosamond” – it’s such a lovely name. Remind me to call you Rosamond all the time, buddy.
Today and tonight were just as dull as the rest of the days without you. We didn’t get to make but two calls today so I finished my call reports around 10 and went over to 52nd Street to hear some jazz. Unfortunately, 52nd Street which use to be the jazz center of the country is now girlie shows except for Jimmy Ryan’s – “enclosed please find” a tie clip from there made of a swizzle stick. Fair jazz, but much more interesting “characters” around the joint. Nut here I am four beers later, lonely, blue and longing for you.
Talked with Mrs.Eastmead at the America House this afternoon and guess what? She wants some samples of your duck glasses. How about that? I’m thrilled. She said she knew the buyers at Lord & Taylor’s and Abercrombie & Fitch & if the A. House can’t use them that she’s sure they can. Isn’t that wonderful? You should have heard me bragging about your glasses. She was particularly impressed by your doing the different species & wants 14 oz and Old Fashioned samples of all you can do. Rosebud, we’ll put this Pink House on the map yet. And she was crazy about our hall mark of a Pink House, too.
Must beddy-bye — This will be my last from NYC. See you Friday night. My love to all —
Louis

Back To Top