PEABODY — The nephew of a World War II veteran donated an exchange of letters between his uncle and his uncle’s sweetheart from the 1940s to the Peabody Historical Society and Museum.
Peter Mackie, 85, said that the letters were a back-and-forth between his late uncle, John Mackie, and John’s late wife, Dorothy Nelson, who grew up in West Peabody. They began to write to one another when John was stationed in Ft. Bliss, Texas.
Peter said the letters were originally kept at his grandmother’s house in Danvers, but went on to be relocated to his nieces’ house, which was also in Danvers. There, the documents were recovered, and show a “classic piece of American history during that time period.”
“It was kind of an American tale of people caring for each other,” he said. “The takeaway is for people to get a glimpse of two average people who both came from immigrant parents, yet they were making their way through this world and loving each other.”
John grew up on his family’s well-known vegetable farm located at 30 Newbury St., which borders Route 1. There, the family were considered “prominent members” of the Finnish community.
Though it is unknown how John and Nelson met, Peter said it is likely they met in high school, as Nelson was 18-years-old during the time the letters were exchanged when John went to Ft. Bliss. From there, John went on to serve in North Africa, and returned home in a leg brace, causing him to spend two years at a hospital in Colorado.
According to Peter, John and Nelson got married very quickly, but were only together for four years due to his uncle’s passing in 1950. Nelson went on to remarry years later, but passed away in 1999 in Cumberland Gap, Tenn.
He said that he hopes the letters will highlight the importance of relationships and how communities were impacted during the time of the war.
“It was like a hallmark story — this didn’t have a happy ending per se, but he did come back from the war and they lived a short loving-life together until he died,” he said.
In the letters, lines such as “let’s get married” and “wish you were here with me,” can be read. There are also romantic drawings on greeting cards that Nelson had sent of a cartoon-character couple who can be seen sharing a milkshake, on a stroll in a field, and standing in front of the sun. These greeting cards were a popular way to communicate to loved ones during the war.
At the museum, the military exhibit is called “250 Years of Service: Peabody Veterans,” and has a range of artifacts from the American Revolutionary Period to the War on Terror. The exhibit is available by appointment only and is said to be the most popular on days like Veterans Day and Patriots’ Day.
Nora Bigelow, a curator at the museum, said these letters show that “history can be best understood through the personal connections of those who lived through it.”
“These letters and other artifacts paint a real picture of what it is like for a couple during the great uncertainty of World War II,” she said. “While that time can feel very removed from us today, their story not only tells us about their time, but also sheds light on what military families today must go through.”
To curate the documents, Bigelow said they are entered into the museum software and given a unique number, which allows digital images of letters to be scanned and given a description. Visitors of the museum are then able to read the letters as if they were reading someone’s diary.
Bigelow said that the museum does their best to “celebrate” those from Peabody who served in the military.
“Each section has a few biographies of local soldiers,” she said. “In our Gulf War section, we have two uniforms from the Nee sisters. All four Nee sisters of Peabody were in the military during the Gulf War.”
There will be an open house of the military exhibit at the museum on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Rachel Galatis can be reached at [email protected].
