- Date: Not dated; while Joe was Merced County Supervisor (1949–1952) and before the bids for the new county hospital were let
- Written at: Olympic Hotel, Seattle, Washington
- Stationery: Olympic Hotel, Seattle
- From: Joseph “Joe” Sharmer, signing himself “Da”
- To: Ruby and the children, Planada
- Condition: Complete — 6 pages, with a newspaper clipping taped to the last page
Each page of the original is shown beside its transcription. Click a page to enlarge it.
PAGE 1
My Sweethearts:—
Thanks so much for the cards I love them they were sure cute and I am glad you had a bonfire in the yard. I sent you all a little package by Parcel Post yesterday and I hope you like the things in it. My Pencil broke just now and I have no knife to sharpen it with I have a little stub of one so please excuse writing. It is raining here today so it is nice the convention is all held
PAGE 2
right here in the Hotel so I dont have to go out. I have been to a couple of interesting meetings and the displays are wonderful. every thing new in hospital equipment. Ive had enough and am ready to go home now which cant be any to soon to suit me. Sure are a lot of people here for it from all over the 11 western states. Met people from Denver same hospital Earl was in. Gee folks you ought to see it rain I am setting at the window writing
PAGE 3
on the telephone stand with the curtains pulled back and the window wide open. I wish we could get some of this at home. People are starting to work all carrying parasols Jay would be in his glory if he had one and was here. I have a very nice room small but a good bed and I have been using it to a good advantage got 9 hours sleep last nite but I woke up early this am & sure miss my sweethearts for breakfast — Madam ½ & Madam whole with sugar on it. I am going to make a big [hock?] now & then come
PAGE 4
back & rest my pooper while I write some more. Finish and good results. Now just to rest my pooper — I am going to call you tonight — I want to talk with you all — Ransome called me from Merced — about cutting down the trees for the new hospital site and I told him to get the prisoners from the camp to do it. Guess he is getting ants in his pants as the time is drawing near for the letting of bids. You ought to see it now out side. The sky is clearing & the sun is coming thru and we can see the
over
PAGE 5
Cascades Mts with all the snow on them in the distance sure are pretty but Boy am I glad we didnt drive up here. You would of died a thousand deaths in those Mts from the looks from the train. High, crooked and full of snow. Here is the sun full of light and it is only 730. Have to shave get dressed and go down as I am invited to breakfast by Bruce Wilcox of the Huntington Labatories who make the soap for hospitals but none for homes. Saw Herb [Cochran?] of H J Baker Linen Co & dropped a gentle hint & we will see if it brings results. Also saw the Simmons bed man and they have
PAGE 6
a new bed for hospitals and home & are they swell —
Bruce just called so I have to get dressed and go to breakfast. I love you all so so much and I am going to hurry home.
Love to all
Da
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING TAPED TO THIS PAGE (BEGINNING MISSING)
…and proud… come true.”
Of course, anything here is not intended to d[etract] from the well-deserved credit due the entire Board of Supervisors for providing Merced County with what can rightfully be claimed as one of the finest hospitals in the entire state. However, we do feel that to Supervisor Sharmer should go the lion’s share of credit, for having given so much of his time and personal attention to the thousand and one details that went into the new hospital, its modern equipment, its safety devices and the beautiful, comfortable furnishings that will add much to the cheerfulness and mental attitude of those who will use it.
Thanks, Joe. We’ll never forget your kindness and courtesy in conducting us through your “dream” hospital and showing us the many hidden features that otherwise would have been missed.
In conclusion, may we say that those who failed to visit the hospital on dedication day, missed an opportunity they may never have again.
Notes & context
Shopping for a hospital. Joe went to Seattle by train for a convention of hospital people from “all over the 11 western states,” held at the Olympic Hotel, with exhibits of “every thing new in hospital equipment.” He was there on county business: as Merced County Supervisor he led the building of the new county hospital in Merced (see People). He breakfasts with the soap supplier, drops “a gentle hint” to the linen company and admires the new Simmons hospital bed.
The date. Joe didn’t date the letter. It was written while the new hospital was still being planned: the site was about to be cleared and “the time is drawing near for the letting of bids.” That places it during his term as supervisor, 1949–1952, before construction began. The exact year isn’t known.
Back in Merced. Ransome, who phoned about clearing the trees from the hospital site, isn’t otherwise identified; nor is “the camp” whose prisoners Joe suggested for the job. Nor is “Earl,” whose Denver hospital Joe mentions.
“Madam ½ & Madam whole.” Family nicknames for his breakfast companions at home; who was which isn’t recorded. “Jay would be in his glory” with a parasol: Joe’s younger son, still a small boy.
“Da.” In 1937 he signed his letters to Ruby “Joe.” Here, writing to the whole family, he is simply “Da.”
The clipping. Someone taped to the last page a newspaper piece written after the new hospital’s dedication day. Its writer thanks “Joe” for a tour of “your ‘dream’ hospital” and gives “Supervisor Sharmer” “the lion’s share of credit” for the hospital, its equipment, safety devices and furnishings. The newspaper and date are not on the clipping. In 1954 his obituary remembered him as “one of the leaders in construction of the Merced general hospital” (Services Held for Joseph Sharmer).
The Olympic Hotel is still there, as the Fairmont Olympic in downtown Seattle. From his window that morning Joe could see the snow on the Cascades.
