Letter to Beulah Gray, 1944

Description:	Beulah Gray was a historian, newspaper owner/editor, and genealogist in Pike County, Indiana. Gray joined the Otwell Star as a reporter in 1920 and was editor from 1929-1945. She purchased the paper in 1930. During World War II she corresponded with men and women overseas, including Elsie Whitehurst Lightburn of Northwich, England. Material from Elsie Whitehurst Lightburn provides extensive accounts of England during the Blitz, the first V-2 bombings, and daily life during World War II. In this letter Elsie writes on Christmas Eve, telling Beulah about the newly arrived American soldiers who spent the evening at the Travellers Rest Inn. They sang carols together and Elsie sang God Bless America for them. She also talks about the sirens going off in the early hours and seeing a plane fly by that appeared to be on fire. She later learns this is the first V-2 bombing. She tells of the horrible noise it makes. Elsie also tells Beulah that writing has helped her work out her fears and admit that she was scared; something she would never do to the people around her. Exhibited as part of Treasures from the Collections - Celebrating 175 Years: 1830-2005. First rotation.
Origin:	1944-12-24
Created By:	Lightburn, Elsie Whitehurst
Publisher:	Digital image 2005 Indiana Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.
Source:	http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/dc014/id/31
Collection:	Treasures from the Indiana Historical Society
Copyright:	This image may be printed or downloaded by individuals, schools or libraries for personal use, study, research or classroom teaching without permission. For other uses contact: visualcollections@indianahistory.org.
Geography:	England--Northwich
Subjects:	Gray, Beulah B. (Beulah Brazelton), 1882-1964 Lightburn, Elsie Whitehurst Christmas Soldiers Bombing, Aerial--England--Northwich Northwich (England)--History World War, 1939-1945--England--Northwich World War, 1939-1945--England--Personal narratives, British World War, 1939-1945--Women World War, 1939-1945--England--Aerial operations, German V-2 rocket

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