The Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, Inc.

"Preserving, Exhibiting, Interpreting and Teaching the History of the Manhattan Project"

Back to Directory

Fran to her Mom & Dad; Nov. 6, 1945  Oak Ridge, TN 

Fran to Parents, Mr. & Mrs. F. E. Carroll

       From 118 Lee Drive

                Lenoir City, Tennessee

(written on Manhattan Project stationery with an atomic logo.)

                                                                                          Nov. 6, 1945

 Dear Mother & Dad,

      This is the patch that soldiers connected with the Manhattan project wear- only naturally it’s backwards.  The center figure should be flipped over so that it seems to be somewhat of a question mark.

 The very latest rumour in the barracks is that General Groves has declared army personnel at Oak Ridge surplus material.  If such is true then all the soldiers should be discharged (with proper points) in a few weeks.  Don’t know why we’re in such a hurry, (Sure I do know why- the difference in salary would be worth commenting about) when Bill will be out by Christmas or within 3 mos. Tolerance period thereafter on points anyway. 

 We had an excellent dinner last night- a medium sized bass beautifully cooked by me- caught by Bill a week ago Sunday.  We froze it alive practically & it was just like brand new.  That was a great day.  We caught a whole string of fish.  My One was a shad.  Walking home from looking for nuts, which we didn’t find this last Sunday- too cold for fishing- our village looks like make-believe.  Rows of toy houses with real smoke issuing from the chimneys.  You should see our house now—floors rubbed down with steel wool & waxed, rugs on the floor, curtains and shades for which we traveled to Knoxville Saturday.  And a pile of coal in the back yard-- you cannot imagine how difficult that is to acquire—at $10.00 a ton. 

 I almost think that even if we had a chance to transfer back to New York that we’d rather stay here in our House than go back to an apartment in New York.  It’s so much easier to keep a new place looking good than even the apartment we had.  And the sink is so much nearer my chin!  And you can start looking for summer in February, I understand. 

 We’ll be sorry to see some of our neighbors depart for Illinois & points west.  We have a wonderful time never going anywhere & looking forward to weekends.  They sure are nice and long, blowing soap bubbles—have you seen that stuff?  playing bridge, going back and forth for dinner.

 See you some time.

                               Love, Fran