MORE LETTER: Here’s the second half of the letter from Orderly L.M. Peterson, from the Pennsylvania National Guard training grounds at Camp Miner, Mount Gretna. It was sent July 30, 1925.

He left off talking about having a functional kitchen set up on the range at the training grounds — one of only two successfully accomplished. The Bradford boys were eating good.

“Co. K was one of the two companies with fire in the kitchen. Col. Lawry, Senior Instructor of the Division, complimented Co. K on the excellence of their mess.

“The men were in the pits for two hours, setting targets. The remainder of the time was spent in firing on the 200 yard range in sitting and prone positions.

“The company was on the range until 8 o’clock when they returned for mess. Supper by candlelight.

“Mess Sergeant Lee Dunn is at this moment scouring the company for the best roller-skater. We are to have flapjacks for breakfast tomorrow and Lee means to get them to us hot by fair means or foul. It is rumored that he and Cooks Ellis and Harten have four barrels of batter on hand.

“Governor Pinchot will be at camp for the Division Review which will be held the latter part of camp.”

He ended the letter with a simple message about the entertainment on tap.

“There was a regimental concert tonight.”

We enjoy these fascinating looks back in time that these letters bring. We found some additional information about the old training ground at https://lebtown.com/.

“Guardsmen mustered at the Mount Gretna encampment three times for federal service; in 1898 for the Spanish American War, in 1916 for defense of the American-Mexican border, and in 1917 for World War I.”