About

Welcome to elmaandal.blog. This blog is dedicated to my grandparents, Elma (Bassemier) and Al Weinzapfel, their courtship and their commitment to one another so evident in their letters. I am the oldest child of their daughter, Rosemary. The letters, which are the focus of this blog, span nine months–from February 1931 to October 1931. They corresponded in letters, because my grandfather had to move to Kokomo, Indiana, to install telephones in homes. They were separated by 225 miles and a 4+ hour car ride. My grandparents would marry in October 1931 in Evansville, Indiana and live the rest of their lives on the 40 acres that my 4th great-grandfather, Caspar Bassemier, settled when he immigrated from Germany in 1850. They had four children, who collectively would go on to have 19 children. These letters mark in time where it all began and gives us a glimpse into the early days of their relationship. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.