Cora Peterson’s Autograph Book
By Monica Wooton
With one sister having emigrated from Finland and settled in on 23rd Avenue West in Magnolia, three others booked passage on the Titanic to join her in America. Luckily, they were not able to make that voyage. They later sailed on a ship that made it to New York City safely.
Since the rest of the family had settled in Minnesota, it was the three sisters’ intention to simply visit their sister Jenny in Seattle. Aunt Jenny, childless at the time, was adamant that the daughter of the youngest sister stay in Seattle with her. Arrangements were made and Cora Peterson, at three years of age, stayed behind.
When Aunt Jenny finally did have a child of her own, she was no longer as happy bearing responsibility for Cora. Cora sensed this and managed to become a boarder and helper of a wealthy family on Queen Anne, who knew of her baking talents. As a youngster, no older than ten, Cora made marvelous pies. Even as a preteen she was sought after as a baker. Cora and her Aunt Jenny remained friends and ended up living next door to each other in their later years. Cora was the type of person who made the best of a situation no matter how hard, ensuring she was less of a burden for others. She also tried to make the best of things for herself.
In 1929, Cora designed a brown paper cover for her four-by-six-inch autograph book, covering its dull gray imprinted with “Autographs,” a simple stamped-in border, and a shoestring-like bow. In minute lettering, she printed sayings neatly on the cover in blue ink: “Sez Me,” “HA HA,” “Oh, yeah,” “Let’s Make Whooppee,” “Don’t Mind Me I’m Nobody’s Business,” and “Look Inside for Inspiration.” The initials E. H. were many times written. She wrote her name, the address 2829 23rd Avenue West (her aunt’s), and the date, April 6, 1929, in clear penmanship with the note: “Let’s Get Associated.”
Cora’s nearly 100-year-old autograph book. Courtesy of Bill Padden.
Photo by Monica Wooton.
By October of 1929, the fortunes of many would change. But for Cora, money was scarce to begin with, and the Depression was not the only cause. Regardless of her responsibilities to the family she worked for, Cora tried to enjoy normal teen fun; her autograph book is a testament to that.
Autograph books have been around for centuries. But over time, books with blank pages were created with the sole purpose of capturing signatures from friends. That was the type of autograph book Cora had.
It is filled with simple poems, silly sayings, and some predictions:
The U.S. is your nation Seattle is your station
But, you have to go to Queen Anne Hi to get your education
April 5, 1929
Dear Cora,
Don’t be what you isn’t.
But, be what you is.
For if you be what you isn’t.
You isn’t what you is!
Sincerely, Selma Pakkala
March 7, 1930
Dearest Cora:
Forget the moon,
Forget the stars,
Forget the whistling of cars,
Forget the man’s whose socks you darn.
But, never forget an old school friend.
I went to the show tomorrow,
I sat in the front seat back,
I fell from the floor to the gallery.
I hurt my front side back!
There are a series of:
“Yours till . . .”
. . . Niagara Falls.
. . . the corn belt gets a buckle.
. . . the cows come home.
. . . Barney Google grows horse feathers.
. . . tea leaves.
. . . the shine wears off the cucumber.
. . . the river hangs over the fence to dry.
And my favorites:
Yours till the willow weeps and butter flys. The bed springs and the pillow slips.
Sweet and solid friendship shines through several entries:
Dear Cora,
When evening draws the curtain down
And, pins it with a star,
Remember you have one true friend no matter where you are.
Truly Yours,
Myrtle Anita Wickstrom
It is fine to say good morning,
It’s fine to say hello,
But, it’s better to grasp the hand
Of a loyal friend you know.
Leaves may wither,
Flowers will die,
Friends may forget you,
But, never will I.
Your friend, Elsa Wahlquist
June 11, 1930
Since it has been my joy to find
At every turning of the road
The strong arm of a comrade kind
To help me with my load
And, since I have no gold to give.
And, love alone must make amends
My only prayer is while I live,
God makes me worthy of my friends.
Dorothy M. Phillips
(The fun we had and have)
Dear Cora,
No one has ever added up the value of a smile. We know how much a dollar’s worth and how much is a mile. We know the distance to the sun. The size and weight of earth. But, no one here can tell us how much a smile is worth.
Remember me as I was in high school (Queen Anne)
Giddy (Elizabeth)
Then, teen romance kicks in:
Times are hard,
And, boys are plenty,
But, don’t get married till you are twenty!
Dear Cora,
When Cupid shoots his arrow I hope he “MRS” you.
Your friend,
Anita Pense
April 23, 1929
Dear Cora,
The higher the mountains
The higher the breeze
The younger the couple
The tighter the squeeze.
Your friend.
Vera Hoodcap
I’ll write on the cover and leave room for your lover!
Remember me in school days
Also in vacation,
Remember me on your wedding day.
And, send me an invitation.
When you get married,
And, have twins,
Come over to my house,
To borrow safety pins.
It turns out the mystery is solved in the pages of the autograph book as to whom the initials E. H. belonged:
In the parlor there were three.
Cora, the parlor lamp and he (Everett),
Maybe that is why the lamp went out!
There is a crowd without a doubt.
Cora now,
Cora forever,
Peterson now,
But, not forever.
(Here’s hoping you never change to Mrs. E. Hobbs)
Marge Hopkins
March 4, 1930
Cora,
Friends may come
And, friends may go
But, I will stick with you forever.
Everett
1501 W Dravus
Well, Everett didn’t stick. Marge Hopkins got her way. Cora graduated and married a different man. That began a new chapter in her life as a working mother, walking from 23rd Avenue West to Fort Lawton to work. She never complained and managed as best she could. But times were hard. Left behind with Cora Peterson’s autograph book was this letter:
Whenever I reminisce about my growing up years one of my first memories is of the Magnolia Dairy. I remember, the elder boy was Carlos and Ernie, delivered milk door to door in a little wagon. We were one of the fortunate ones that they delivered to. Whenever a special occasion rose where whipping cream was needed I was sent to the farm down on the “mudflats” to purchase it. It was a happy chore because Mother Gualtiere would always give me a large glass of cold buttermilk to drink while I was waiting. On one occasion Pappa Gualtiere showed me his farm. I raved about that barn to anyone who would listen. It was the cleanest barn I had ever seen. How that barn could be so clean was a mystery to me. I still remember it and these two wonderful people.
Time passed and I grew and so did the dairy. I moved from the flats. Came the depression and I got married. We were expecting our first baby. We bought our first home and of course got our milk from the Magnolia Dairy. My baby was raised on Magnolia Dairy milk. And, so were two others who were to come later. For us there was no other milk. Ernie was our milkman, Dear Ernie. My marriage fell apart and the children and I had some pretty hard times. But, whether I could pay him or not Ernie always left us milk.
Cora eventually remarried to a man who loved her and her children. The children all grew up. Later in life, she moved to Leavenworth, Washington, with her husband. Cora’s Finnish roots were resurrected by the snowy winters. And she found all that she could have ever wanted there.
The simplest, most heartfelt, and most straightforward entry in Cora Peterson’s autograph book of June 15, 1930, had finally came true:
Dear Cora,
May your future be full of happiness and success.
Fanny
Cora’s autograph book was delivered to Monica Wooton, project manager for the spring collection of Book IV, Magnolia: More Memories & Milestones, one afternoon by Jim Padden, Cora’s son. Jim, now well into his late eighties, had seen an advertisement regarding memorabilia for the book, and he wanted to donate it to the Magnolia Historical Society. The book and letter are among the few possessions he has of his mother’s. Through a series of interviews with Jim and his wife, Peggy, Cora’s story was revealed.