“You Must Have Been on Your Good Behavior”

The Letters and DC Domiciles of Leon and Mary Grayson, 1940-41

Our maternal grandfather Leon Harman Grayson (1906-1993), a native of Savannah, Georgia, moved to Washington DC in June 1935. Our grandmother Mary Julia Bell Grayson (1909-2001) joined him that October. The couple preserved more than 100 of their letters and dozens more written to them by extended family. Perhaps 750 photos and negatives have also survived. Through these we are able to share in their adventures and hardships.

1435 Sheridan St. NW

Leon and Mary lived in a series of DC boarding houses until moving to an unfurnished apartment at 6313 16th St. NW in May 1938. In April 1940 Leon and Mary moved within the same city block to a new garden-style apartment – similarly built low-rise walk-ups unified by shared community green space.

1435 Sheridan St. was completed in mid-1939, and the Graysons may have been the first to occupy their 3rd floor unit. The advertisement depicted boasts that its public spaces foster spending leisure time outdoors. Leon and Mary’s photos taken in sunshine and snow with numerous fellow residents endorse that claim.

1940 U.S. Census

Ten separate buildings still stand on this super block bordered by 16th Street, Somerset Place, 14th Street, and Sheridan Street. In the 1940 Washington DC Census it was enumerated between April 22-26 and tallies 162 households and roughly 375 people. Of these, about 45 were born in Washington DC with the remaining 300+ hailing from 33 different states and 10 foreign countries. The population of Washington DC had ballooned from 487,000 in 1930 to 663,000 in 1940, an increase of nearly 50%. A significant number in this sample, including Leon, worked for the U.S. Government. Twelve households lived at 1435 Sheridan St., mostly couples. Two children also lived in the building. Leon was 33 years-old and Mary, who worked as a department store clerk, was 30. They had secretly eloped in December 1933 and remained childless more than 6 years later.

1940 Letters

We have five further 1940 letters from Leon’s widowed father Col. William L. Grayson, a former Grand Worthy President (1915-16) of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He wrote on Wednesday August 7 of his plans to attend the Eagles convention in Chicago the following week. The train “will put me in Washington about 10:47 Sunday morning. If agreeable to you, I could go out to your home, take dinner with you, and rest up a little.” William was to turn 70 later that same month and had been feeling unwell. “My train leaves for Chicago about 5 o’clock, which will give me a nice long visit with you and Mary.” We don’t have any photos of this visit, and wonder if he was able to make the trip.

On October 24 Col. Grayson wrote about his efforts in the upcoming presidential election and, in a probable reference to his health, “I certainly have my hands full, but I think I am better off when I am working than when I have time to think.” He continued, “I note that you are thinking of coming down to Savannah for a few days after the election. I surely hope you can make it. I would love to see my boy.” Again, we don’t know if Leon made the trip. “Spence told me of having seen you in Washington and how well you were looking and said some very complimentary things about you,” Leon was six years younger than his brother Spence, a Georgia state senator and later a federal magistrate. “I know you are buckling down to hard work and I am more confident now than ever that you are really going to make a real man.” William’s encouragement, kindly advice, and humor peppered each letter to his “dear boy” Leon.

A U.S. draft was enacted on Sept. 16 requiring all men ages 21-45 to enroll. Leon’s unmarried 24 year-old brother William M. had been working at a paper mill after struggling at the University of Georgia. On October 2, 1940 Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Col. Grayson may have been alluding to this when in the same Oct. 24 letter he wrote to Leon, “I note that you have registered. I would look into re-establishing your former rank in the National Guard. You could serve your country better as an officer than you could as one in the ranks.”

Leon’s 46 year-old sister Lynne was married to Coast Guard officer Leo Mueller, with whom she had four children. On November 4 Col. Grayson dictated, “I was so glad Leo’s sister dropped over and saw you. She wrote some very nice things about you and Mary so both of you must have been on your good behavior. I had a letter from Billie to-day. His address is ‘Private William M. Grayson, 26th School Squadron, Company “C”. St. Louis, Mo.’ Write Billie right away because he is very remorseful and a letter from you would encourage him.” The colonel also referenced the election on Nov. 5.

On December 12 Col. Grayson thanked Leon for a recent letter and included a copy of a letter from Bill that read, “Dearest Daddy, I am really proud of you now and always. I am leaving for March Field near Riverside, Cal. I am glad that I am going to a warm climate. The First Sergeant told me that I was one of the best drilled men he had out of four hundred men. I am glad Ga. beat Tech after a mediocre season. Give my love to everyone at home and tell them I am thinking of them. All my love to the best Dad in the world. Your own devoted son, Bill.”

And finally, a short letter on December 18, referencing Leon and Mary’s December birthdays and Leon’s 37 year-old sister Dorothye, her Navy officer husband Sam Comly, and their two children who were living with him. “My Dear Boy;- Your dear letter was received and I was glad to hear from you. I am sending a little remembrance to you and to Mary. I regret to tell you we heard from Sam and his ship will be out at Sea during the Christmas holidays. Both Gray and little Sam had a big cry. Dorothye is depressed and disappointed.”

1941 Letters

Mary’s parents Joseph and Julia Bell wrote on January 21. “Dear Mary and Leon, The third term inauguration inspired me to write. I listened to hear one of you talk over one of the many microphones in vain. Did you see many Georgia and Savannah visitors? Savannah had a flu epidemic for the past two weeks, the schools have been closed. [12 year-old brother] Bill‘s school opened yesterday but [17 year-old sister] Betty’s has not. [29 year-old sister] Margaret and [husband} Max [Pruitt] took us to Hinesville and we had a look at the new Anti-Aircraft Center, a camp and training center for some sixteen thousand soldiers. We had a picnic lunch in the wood. It was a regular fine winter Sunday in the sunny south. Leon, keep the Democrats lined up, help England and keep us out of War.” Hinesville is in Liberty County, GA, 35 miles SW of Savannah. Julia’s paternal families were founders of nearby Walthourville. Mary and Leon would soon be on familiar terms with the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Corps.

Family lore asserts that Col. Grayson attended the third inauguration of Franklin Roosevelt referenced in Joseph Bell’s letter. The story goes that William 1) Contracted pneumonia there and 2) Walked out of an inaugural luncheon when the band began to play “Marching Through Georgia.” Perhaps one or both did occur at a previous Roosevelt inaugural, but the colonel’s health likely precluded his attendance at this one.

Col. Grayson dictated a handwritten letter “Special Delivery” (12 cents vs. 3 cents for a typical letter) on February 22 that detailed his numerous ailments in a factual but hopeful manner. He had received a photo of his airman son Bill and admitted to crying, then said “I am doing my best to get well.” On March 3 William wrote, “I’m still in bed and improving slowly. I was doubly glad to hear from you and Lynne… Cary [illegible] said you were coming down to spend the weekend but I didn’t hear from you so I knew you weren’t coming. Had a letter from Bill and he sent some pictures. In one he had about the ugliest girl snuggled up to him I have ever seen. I told him he had better wait until he goes to Japan where he can get one of those “Geisha” girls.” William couldn’t have known his strapping 165-pound son Bill’s first and only visit to Japan would be as a prisoner of war. At his liberation in October 1945 he weighed an emaciated 85 pounds.

Col. Grayson dictated another letter March 5, then one more on March 10. Older sister Lynne had arrived to be with her ailing father. “You don’t know how happy it is for her to be here. I think she understands me better than anyone. Had a letter from Bill. I believe he likes “Army life.” I have been very sick and I certainly want to see My Boy. The weather is very beautiful today and I only wish I were able to get out and enjoy it for a little while. When you know definitely what time you will arrive in Savannah – Don’t fail to advise me. Give my love to Mary with lots of love and a hug and kiss, Always, Your loving and devoted Daddy.” We certainly hope Leon was able to make that trip. William L. Grayson, Leon’s devoted father and most faithful correspondent, died later that same month at age 70.