Victor Maenhout

Maenhout, Victor A.

1873 - 1946

Photo dated 1939: Letter to Meulebeke

St. Louis Ms. 25 August 1939 To the Mayor of Meulebeke, Dear sir, I am writing you this letter in the name of my father Victor Maenhout. He would like to know about any news of his sisters or brothers and whether they are still alive, in Meulebeke. Can he still write them or in which way can he contact them. He has lost their addresses and hasn?t heard from them in 20 years. Here is the list of their names: Harry Maenhout Gustaff Maenhout Kamiel Maenhout Rosalie Maenhout Leona Maenhout, married to Peter Cloos (or Kloos) Felecie Maenhout, married to a Calawaert They are all older than 66 years and they were the children of Yve Maenhout and Barbara Baert. They all lived in Meulebeke, except for Kamiel, who lived in Antwerp. You would be doing my father a huge favour if you could find out any information about these people. Hoping to receive any news from you or from my brothers or sisters, I greet you with joy. Victor Maenhout, through Mrs. M. Miller Address: Victor Maenhout c/o Mrs. M. Miller 4144 Pillmore St. St. Louis, Ms. USA PS We cannot write in Belgian but we can read it Note by Lenny: I spelled the names just as they were spelt in the letter, even though of course that wasn?t the real way of writing those names. The letter says all these children were Ivo?s and Barbara?s, but two of them were born in an earlier marriage of Ivo and Virgenie. I guess they were eventually considered to be Barbara?s too. However, on a side note, Roger Belaens mother never talked about the two oldest girls that were Virgenie?s daughters. Either she never knew about them or she somehow denied their existence. Roger was very surprised to hear from me that Ivo Maenhout had been married twice and had 2 daughters from a marriage BEFORE Barbara. I?m also not sure about that address they mention. I couldn?t read it very well in the scan I took of Rogers Belaens original. (Lenny De Vos)