This week, just in time for Valentine’s Day, two love letters were discovered inside the old News Virginian building on Main Street hill. There are no dates or exact names mentioned in the love letters. Before the building was used as the offices for the News Virginian, it was a Presbyterian Church from 1878 to 1912. Later it became a Catholic church, a theater, and for a while a gymnasium for Fishburne Military School. The letters, between a boy and a girl, were found in a cubbyhole beneath what would have been one of the sanctuary windows. It is hard to say during what period the letters were put there. The letters were written with fountain pens and contextual clues such as a cellophane wrapper could put the age of the letters back as far as the early 1900’s. For Valentine’s Day we provided the letters below.

Letter One

My Darling,

If you only knew how much more I love you because you came to see me Wednesday, you wouldn’t regret the hours you spent doubting me. I suppose I love you so for it because it proves that you love me a little. Don’t ever doubt me again. As I have told you so many times, there is no need to. I love you every minute I live – not just some times. You have been constantly on my mind, in my every thought, since I last saw you. I wonder what you are doing this very minute while I am here wishing my heart out for you.

I shall never forget you for making me so happy that day. Oh darling, you have brought so much happiness into my life. I felt just as if I were in Paradise down there by the church. Wednesday night I thought how miserable I would have been if you had not come. I miss you so much. I can’t wait until tomorrow to see if you come to see me. I hope you won’t disappoint me.

In all the years I have known you and all the times we have been together, the day you brought me that little poem and brought my book back, and we spent those two golden hours together before you went on your trip and then last Wednesday. I think you were the sweetest I’ve ever seen you. That Friday you acted as if you really loved me, and I thought that I could not live without you. It is good for you to do things that I don’t like sometimes. If you didn’t I would just grieve myself to death because I can’t have you. So don’t be too good to me.

There is one thing that I want you to remember always. Whatever I do and for what ever reason, you can be sure that there is no one else who means anything at all to me. There never has been and there never will be because I am not looking for anyone else. Even if you stop seeing me, there will be no one else. This you can be sure of. You alone are my love.

Letter Two

Darling,

You were so sweet to send me the roses. I shall take a petal from each and put it in that little cellophane envelope and keep it in my book with the violets that we picked on our first picnic. I felt honored that you thought of me. It had been so long since I had heard from you that I thought you had completely forgotten me.

I wonder who is taking my place now darling, if you only knew how many cigarettes I have smoked alone and thought of you. How could I forget two years of my life? I always wonder where you are and whom you are with. Always hoping her love isn’t satisfying. You have such a busy life. I never imagined you alone. That’s why I think its so sweet of you to even think of me.

There is an emptiness in my life without you. An emptiness that no one else could ever fill. Even if I had 40 boy friends, as you use to say, all of them together could not take your place. I feel so close to you. I’ve had so much fun with you and enjoy being with you so much. There is one thing I know for sure. You are a part of me.. all these hours we’ve spent together make you a part of me. Nothing can ever change that.

I haven’t been away from you this long since I’ve known you.

Darling, I appreciate the flower, the cigarette, and even more, those few words.

I remain yours ever faithful with love, heart, body and soul.