Letters Home to Widener’s Valley

In episode seven we read the first letter we have from Oscar Widener to his wife, Myrtle Wright, after his arrival in France. Additional context is provided concerning the American Expeditionary Forces.

This episode features Oscar Widener's first letter home from France with information about his trip across the Atlantic Ocean and the letter's recipient, his father, David Campbell Widener. 

We explore Oscar's last letter home to Myrtle before he is shipped off to the battlefields of Europe. The episode includes more information about the Widener family, including Oscar's Revolutionary War veteran Michael Widener.

A detour from Oscar Widener's letters as we listen to music sung by Charles Jackson Brown, Sr., a contemporary resident of Oscar and Myrtle Widener. Recorded in the 1960s, the songs range from old ballads to a church hymnal. Joining Brown are long time Washington County residents, Howard Litton and Katherine Mock.

August 9, 1918 letter from Oscar Widener to his wife, Myrtle Widener. In this, one of his longest letters, Oscar talks more about his camp experience and we try to understand Myrtle's world back home.

Oscar Widener's second letter home to Widener's Valley from Camp Lee, Virginia. Addressed to his wife, Myrtle, and dated August 5, 1918.

Oscar Widener's first letter home to Widener's Valley, addressed to his newlywed wife, Myrtle Wright, on August 2, 1918 from Camp Lee, Virginia.