Tag Archives: Jacksonville

November 1, 1925

Jax Beach, Sunday Nite.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It has been a bit cold yesterday and today. It started a few days ago, then rained, and now we have some wind and damp weather. Have had on winter suit and sweater, for I do some work on the porch which is screened. When I have dissections to make or vessels to sterilize, I go out there.

November 1, 1925

November 1, 1925

The paper says that there are between three thousand and thirty-five hundred people living at the beach this winter. Before last winter there were usually about three hundred. At night I note that most of the houses are lighted. The stands on the board walk are closed with the exception of about two, but there are three restaurants open. The two meat markets, bakery, drug store, and three or four grocery stores are all open. When the weather is nice the crowds still come down on Sat and Sun. Today it is too cold for bathing, but there are a bunch of cars on the beach and I note that the life saving crew are out there in bathing suits and sweaters. There are a couple of girls in the crew and they are said to be good.

I have worked most all day but not steady. I had some stuff in the traps this morning which needed attention so I brought it in and have taken care of the material. It takes quite a while to dissect, fix, preserve and stain the stuff. It is a long tedious job, but I usually have several lots going at one time. At the same time I have cultures of living material which need attention. These are kept in an improvised incubator, consisting of a wood box heated with an electric light bulb.

Mrs. McDonald is living here yet. The people who looked at her cottage, offered the $3500 which she asked for the place but wanted to pay $1000 down. She would have taken this, but the prospect wanted immediate possession or $30 per month rent. If she had wanted possession in the spring Mrs. Mc would have sold it. Instead she asked one-half cash. The prospect did not return. I guess the place is not sold yet. Mrs. Mc hesitates in selling it for her husband does not have a place for her at West Palm Beach. It is practically impossible to get living quarters down there and stay within his income which is $10 to $11 per day for 8 hrs work. He wrote that he would probably come here for a few days Christmas. He may find a place for her before that time, in which event she will go down. She expects to go to work in Jax or may be St. Augustine before very long. She is very ambitious and can’t find enough to keep her busy. Since she has been at home, I have been eating here. It is much better than restaurant cooking and I don’t lose but a few minutes at meal time. She is a good cook, and unusually neat in keeping house.

I’ll be mighty glad, Dear, when we are in a place of our own and located so that we can fix things to suit ourselves. I have been wondering about how I could show you about when we are here together. If Mrs. Mc goes she will probably take her car with her. I want you to know the layout of Jax and vicinity before we pick what we want. Of course we can’t get definitely located in our own place until we return after June 1st, but we might find what we want before that time and have it ready. We may have to build a place as the question of getting living quarters is getting rather serious. Jax is getting in on the boom in great shape and it looks as though most every place will be filled.

I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I want you. I hope that I can take care of you to the extent that you will not regret your choice.

With a sweet goodnight

Your,
Walter.

October 8, 1925

The Beach.
Thursday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yours of Sat Nite and the real estate letter of Sunday might have just been received. I appreciated the fact that you wrote just what you did, and in a way our opinions are very similar. It was not my intention to buy more real estate until I have sold some that I now have, and I agree with you. It may seem that I am letting my enthusiasm overcome my good judgement, but I have considered and investigated before talking and in no case have I acted on the spur of the moment.

October 8, 1925

October 8, 1925

The Florida boom has been affecting Jacksonville only about one year, but it is the largest and most substantial city in the state and there is every reason to believe that it will be permanent growth. New industries are coming. Its location as the distributing point for the state and as an export city give it a distinct advantage. When I consider that its population was the same as Dallas in 1913, I can visualize a normal growth which would equal that of Dallas in the same length of time. But it is developing more rapidly, and without going into a lengthy discussion of it, I will let you judge for yourself when you come down. In the meantime you can rest assured that my next activity in real estate will be to sell.

If we make a reasonable profit on what we now have it will go a long ways toward the home we are going to have. That is what I am thinking about, Dear, and I know that is what you have on your mind too. It is my intention to get it clear and then keep it clear so that anything else will not affect our home.

It is getting late and I am a bit tired. Have been very busy today. Am even working while writing this letter. I “fixed” some tissue this afternoon and it has to be handled at frequent intervals until it is brought to a percentage of alcohol sufficient to preserve it.

With a real sweet goodnight and with a heart filled with love for you, I am,

Your,
Walter.

September 10, 1925 (Walter)

Thursday Night 9/10.

My Dear Little Girl,

At last I am down here alone, as Dr. White left tonight, and there is one dear little girl whom I wish for above everything else. I’d be mightily happy if you were here right now.

September 10, 1925 (Walter)

September 10, 1925 (Walter)

Dr. White’s train did not leave until 6PM which was after my train returned to the beach. He enjoyed it here and said that he would like to stay right here and keep on this problem. He really hated to leave. This was not due to my hospitality in particular, but the problem is so interesting and the climate and conditions for the work were so good that I believe that this accounts for his enjoyment. He invited me to use his lab in Washington at any time and assured me that there would always be room up there if I wanted to do some work there. Before leaving, we went back to the real estate office and he invested in three more tracts of land, making five in all. He is thoroughly sold, and will go back to Washington as a Florida booster. This gives him 50 acres and I really believe that within a year, one tract can be sold for enough to pay for the other four. $75 per acre is not much for acreage high and dry, so near a fast growing city. In Dallas, Mr. Munger of the Continental Gin Co. paid $163,000 for his 163 acres of land which at that time was miles from any development in the city. This was about 1912. The land was not adapted for any use as it was rough and cut into by small ravines. He developed this, with building restrictions for nice two story homes only, and in this one development he made a small fortune. The same thing has been accomplished in most every city showing growth, and I really believe that our acreage and also Dr. White’s will be suitable for use in such an addition here. It would not be unreasonable to suspect that this property may be wanted for a similar development and which would bring $1000 per acre or more. The Miami people here paid much more than this for some of their tracts. At $75 per acre, with the knowledge that this could not be bought after the 20th of this month for less than $100 per acre, it is a mighty safe and conservative investment. Here’s where Mr. & Mrs. Dove will cash in something, and Dear it will come in mighty handy for us.

I had a personal letter from Mr. Bishopp tonight. He will write another letter tomorrow. He did not mention the possibility of all winter work down here, but it is quite likely that he will favor it. He did not mention Mr. Brundrette, and it is his vacancy which makes me believe that we will have additional funds which would permit me to do field work here all winter. The economy program of the President makes it difficult to secure additional appropriations, and our request was turned down with others. This was not the Florida work request, but one which was requested from Texas. It so happens that the same problem affects this state seriously and I am going to make a few good contacts with the idea of having it added to the bill in Congress. We believe that it can be added and we hope that the requests will be strong enough to get it in over the Budget Committee. If we get that increase, there will be enough to do quite a bit of work in Florida, without an appropriation I had intended to work for. In other words, I am going to combine my efforts with those already given from Texas to show that their problem is not local but is important and affects the whole South. The problem has to be an urgent one in order to get more money. Don’t let this worry you, Dear, for whether we get it or not I’ll be on the pay roll from the regular appropriation just the same as I am now.

Had a note from my landlady tonight. I hadn’t seen her for a few days and suspected that she had gone. She is in West Palm Beach and will be here Sunday, but will not spend the winter here. She wants to rent me the cottage for the winter and says that the price will be as reasonable as any at the beach. I have very little doubt but what you would like it here until Spring (June). It looks better on the inside than it does from the street, and is modern except for gas to cook with. The bath is a shower like all of them down here, as everyone uses the surf and then rinses when they return. I can’t engage this or any other place until I know for sure where we will be.

This is getting to be a long chat and I must go to sleep, Dear. I love you and “you bet” I’d like to tell you in the most “impressive” way. You are just as sweet as you can be.

Your
Walter.

September 8, 1925

Tuesday Night 9/8.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Your good letter of Thurs. & Friday was here when I returned from Jax tonight, and I enjoyed every second of it. I was very much interested in what you said about the homesteading idea. I was pretty sure that you felt that way about it and I am glad that you told me just how you felt. I have felt the same way for many years, but it suggested something which I thought might work all alright here. I have given up the idea, so please don’t recall the unpleasant mental pictures you have of the West.

September 8, 1925

September 8, 1925

Dr. White and I spent all forenoon looking at close in acreage near Jax, and it looked too good to turn down. Each of us made a purchase and “our” tract adjoins his. He bought two lots of 10 acres each & I bought one of 10 acres for an investment. Both his and ours are high and dry, located 8 miles due West of Jax Post office on the Atlantic Coast Line RR. At the present time they are about 3 miles (the way a crow flies) from the city limits and about 5 miles in driving. At $75 per acre, with the boom just beginning at Jax, these tracts were too good to pass up. I feel confident that we could double our money on them in less than a year, probably before Christmas. Jax was 125,000 population last year, is about 160,000 now and it is claimed that by 1930 it will be 500,000. At any rate it is growing, and we bought the closest acreage which is high & dry. Please don’t think I am a pig for property, Dear, as it is only because I don’t like to pass up an opportunity like that.

This property jumps to $100 per acre on the 20th of this month, and when the Northern people get down here it is a question how fast it will increase. This tract is one of our “eggs,” Dear, and I hope it will hatch out something for us. I know that it will.

I love you, Sweetheart, and with a sweet “goodnight,” I am,

Your
Walter.

June 12, 1925

Jacksonville, Florida,
June 12, 1925.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have re-read your two letters a number of times and I’ll probably read them lots more. You don’t know how much I appreciate them. They sound just like you, Dear, and they make me feel that the one whom I love so much is one who honestly loves me. At exactly this time last week we were in your car under the big tree south of town. I hated to leave you and could not help but think of coming away without you, and that was the reason why I couldn’t talk any. You remarked that it was like the first night this summer when I saw you, when there was very little conversation. The first night was one that was quite different, but I knew that I loved you and hadn’t figured out how I could get the idea across. I was not sure that you would let me tell you.

June 12, 1925

June 12, 1925

But that has been fixed up and I am mighty happy in the thought that another year you will be down here with me. You are going to like Florida, Honey Bunch, and I hope to know exactly where we are coming to live etc.

I took Dr. White to the beach last night and he thinks it is just right. However, we are going to live here at this hotel for a couple of weeks before we go down there. It is more convenient to the clinic and we will want a few days here before we go to the beach, in order to follow up the clinic cases. Last night we had been here just two days. Dr. White says that we seemed to get into the work enough to cause him to feel that we had been on the job for some time. We have been on the go most of the time, and until the wee hours we have discussed the problem. He and I have two beds in a large corner room and the problem is discussed pretty fully. I am very fortunate to have him here with me as there seems to be no limit to his knowledge, when I can get the information out of him.

Dr. White had a course at Johns Hopkins just before he came to Texas and he has posted himself pretty well on points having a bearing on our problem. He is a mighty fine man and, Dear, when we are permanently located down here I hope it will be possible to have him down here for some work with me. He won’t leave Washington for a period of time, but I hope he can be with us for a few weeks each year. He would not come as a guest, but to help in the work.

This morning the Catholic clock struck six as usual, which is five o’clock at your time, but we did not get up until about 10 o’clock. We talked creeping eruption until we dressed and shaved and this required an hour and one-half.

Dr. White was very complimentary to your photos and from my talking of you, he thinks that you are just right everyway.

This morning after breakfast Dr. K.S. and Elizabeth (11 yrs. old) came down and took us for a drive. We saw his new home under construction and then met Mrs. K.S. They certainly have a beautiful location for the new home and it is a most beautiful structure. He paid $18,500 for the lot, and a similar lot on which there is no building under construction had an offer of $30,000 a few days ago. There is a real estate boom on here too, but not as much as in the southern part of the state.

I haven’t seen Mrs. Gallagher or her children as yet as we have been too busy, but while Dr. White is reading the paper I am going over and calling on them. I am anxious to see them.

We are invited to dinner with Dr. & Mrs. K.S. tomorrow evening.

For this week and next you might address me at Seneca Hotel, as I would get it a little quicker and I want your letters as soon as I can get them. The quickest way is slow enough.

We had 38 cases of skin affections, 18 of which were C.E. during this first day and half. Before the clinic is over we will probably have two hundred cases.

Remember that I think of you many many times each day Dear, and that I love you with all my heart. I want to hear from you as often as you care to write and I am going to write as often as I can.

With a real sweet goodbye,

Your
Walter

July 10, 1925 (Walter)

Jax Fla. Friday night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was about this time last week when I mentioned that the clinic would be under way at this time. While it actually started at 9 this A.M. for the public, it started with me at 8:15 last night and at the time I arrived. Dr. K.S. met me and it was almost like one Frenchman meeting another (they fall on the necks of one another). He had everything all fixed and details arranged. We waited at the station until 8:30 when Dr. White arrived. Then we talked the thing over until about 11 o’clock, when K.S. went home, then Dr. White and I talked until we went asleep. We have double beds in the same room at the Seneca Hotel.

July 10, 1925 (Walter)

July 10, 1925 (Walter)

At eight o’clock this A.M. we had breakfast at the coffee shop with K.S. and I received your letter at the same time. We were at the State Health Building about 8:45 and there were two patients waiting when we got there. Two nurses and a girl were on the job right away. We had 22 patients during the day, but only 11 were “larva migrans” or “creeping eruption.” A few of them were also patients last summer and they remembered me by name. It was interesting that the cases developed at the homes under the same condition as they did last year, and it is the bunch of “repeat infection” cases that I want to study in detail with Dr. White when the clinic is over. We were busy all day and Dr. White “enjoyed every minute of it.” He saw his first cases today and he appreciates what the problem really is. It is now 10:30 and we have talked it when we were not working. He is in bed now.

Dr. White and I were guests at the Civitan Club for lunch with Dr. Arius. Dr. Arius is a laboratory man in charge for the state Health Board. The Civitan Club is very similar to the Rotary and the meeting was quite a “peppy one.” Tonight we had dinner at the place where Dr. K.S. and I usually ate last summer. He ordered the same thing and it tasted equally as well.

It started raining a few days ago and we had a pretty good shower today. Will have one most every day for a few weeks.

Jacksonville looks natural in every way and I feel very much at home here. There are lots of tourists here, even now, and the hotels are quite crowded. Dr. K.S. had made reservations for us.

Tomorrow noon we close until Monday and I hope to take Dr. White to some of the places where creeping eruption originated last summer and to verify some of the many things I have been telling him. He is certainly interested. Sunday we expect to locate a place on the beach where we can have living and laboratory quarters. Dr. White feels that what we accomplished in the work last year, stands out in a class by itself and above any research in our Bureau. It received very favorable comment from the Johns Hopkins people who are doing most of the work along this line. I don’t mean to “toot my own horn” but I wanted to tell you. I hope I can keep Dr. White for a month or six weeks, as there is no end to his knowledge.

Your letter, Dear, was the sweetest I have ever read and it is next best to a talk with you. You are so sweet, to have had one waiting for me when I arrived. It was so different from the ones I received a year ago. I appreciate what you said about saying “goodbye.” I, too, had a lump in my throat and I felt that you should be leaving with me. You don’t know how much it hurt to leave you. But there is a time coming, Dear, and then I can have you with me always. I should ask Mother Lewis and “Daddy” too, but it is about all that I can do to write you tonight.

It was real sweet of Thelma Lee and I am surprised that her feeling was so marked concerning an engagement. She is by no means an average child to have so seriously considered the meaning of the ring. It looks as though I have to walk on the hearts of quite a few in order to get you, and I only hope that all of them will be repaid with a joy which will counteract the good fortune I am to have. I have often heard that to get anyone you love, it is necessary to step on the heart of some one else and I guess my case is no exception.

But your love is something greater and grander than anything in the world to me, and there isn’t an hour but what I think of you, Dear. I wish for you every time I think of you. The thought of having you as “mine forever” is, indeed, the goal I desire more than anything else. I only hope that I can make you happy.

I love you more than I can “express” and here’s hoping nothing will ever “check” it.

With a sweet goodnight and pleasant dreams,

Your
Walter.

July 8, 1925

New Orleans L&N Station
Wednesday 7:30 PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Pardon the pencil but my pen is in my brief case and I can’t put my hands on it just now. It would not be a very nice display in the waiting room if I should search for it and unpack everything. I am fortunate that I have just enough time between trains to write.

The trip has been quite pleasant and not as hot as it was last year. It is lonesome though and I console myself in the fact that you will be with me the next time. I wish you were along now. I guess I have as much hand luggage as if you were with me, two suit cases and a brief case. I checked the small trunk and shipped the other trunk and a box by Express. I expect to leave most of it in Florida and we won’t have to carry it on the next trip.

July 8, 1925

July 8, 1925

Mr. Seaton was mighty fine to me in Dallas.When I arrived he gave me a key to his Ford roadster and I had use of it the whole time I was there. Last night he came to the train with me. He is one of Mr. Galele’s men and for some time was in San Antonio.

Last night and the night before I went to sleep about the usual time, but I didn’t get up until about light this A.M. If I had gotten up early I would have had more time to loaf and I got pretty tired of that with what time I had today. There were two or three pretty girls in the same car and they seemed lonesome too, but I didn’t get acquainted. Thought of you most all day, and I have no desire to meet any other girl. They don’t interest me any more.

Have read a couple of magazines which might interest you and I am posting them with this letter. In the Legion Weekly the “Barsts and Suds” page has a bit of humor.

Mrs. Goodman had promised to take her little boy to the movies last night and they were showing “The Ten Commandments.” He said he wanted to go down to see God play. He is a good little kid and in the event we want to live in our own home while in Dallas, I believe he would not bother you. Mrs. Goodman says that anytime I come to Dallas she will arrange to let me have a room out there. She has an idea I might find a wife.

The low lands of Louisiana looked good today. The lack of rain seemed to be about what they needed. The crops were real good.

I’ll write you again, Dear, as soon as I arrive at Jax which will be about 8:30 tomorrow nite. I hope Dr. K.S. will not come down town then, but it would be the natural thing for him to do. If he does meet me he will talk until quite late. Anyway I’ll write if only a few words. I presume Dr. White will be there when I arrive. I should have been there a day earlier, but I wouldn’t have taken anything for the time I spent with you Sunday. Seems that I love you more every time I see you and each time I wonder if it is possible to love you more. You are so sweet and I love you with all my heart.

Sweet dreams,

Your
Walter

July 7, 1925 (Walter)

July 8, Tues. Night.*

My Dear Sweetheart,

All set, and everything is packed. Leaving at 11 PM and connections are good. Should reach Jax Thursday night 8:45. Couldn’t possibly get away sooner, and had it not been for Mr. Gingell who helped me pack I probably would not have had a breathing spell. He helped as though it were his own stuff and I certainly appreciate it. He was the one who got the bunch together to help me at our house last spring. He is a drug inspector and makes headquarters here. Is a mighty nice chap.

July 7, 1925

July 7, 1925

I have packed just about everything that I claim at the lab, for I have learned that everything here becomes common property. Everyone feels pretty free to use anything here. I’ll store most of the stuff in Florida and we won’t have to move it from here when we go down there. I could do a better job moving it now, than I could when I go with you. Besides, it might be that we would not care to come back via Dallas before going to Fla.

Have a surprise. Had dinner in our house tonight. I went by to leave a plumbing fitting and was invited to eat with them. Met Mr. Goodman. Both are lovely people and the kind I believe you would like. The dinner was not a special one, but it was served in our breakfast room. You don’t know how I enjoyed it, though I had hoped that my first meal there would be with you. You can bet that I thought of you, Dear. Mrs. Goodman says that it is very cool there, despite the fact that it has been hot here. She says that they can open the windows only about two inches at night as the breeze is so strong.

I’ll write from Jax as soon as I arrive. You are apt to hear from me real often. You mean everything to me and I can’t help but love you lots and lots and lots.

Always

Your
Walter.

* The 8th was a Wednesday, so I’m assuming this letter was actually written on the 7th.

March 17, 1925

Hotel Stationery from “The Everett – European Plan”

Jacksonville, Fla. March 17 1925

Dear Ina,

Was pleased to get your letter this morning as I had considerable doubt as to whether or not you would answer. I am looking forward to my return to Dallas and for the time to come for us to go to Uvalde. I want to see you and lots more than you think I do. I don’t imagine I will ever square myself with you, for you have an awful opinion of me at present. However, I am not really so mean as it has seemed.

March 17, 1925

March 17, 1925

The winter has gone so quickly that I don’t realize it. I was so busy that I almost forgot about everything. I arrived here the 13th and Sat. Dr. K.S. and I went about 100 miles south on a fishing trip. Fished all day Sunday and had a real good time. Have had some work to do here and within a few days I expect to go to Dallas. Will be busy preparing a report for the American Med. meeting which is held at Atlantic City during the latter part of May. Dr. K.S. will be there with Dr. White, but I’ll not go to this one. Will get credit for my work just the same, and probably more credit than I am entitled to claim. Will tell you all about it when I see you. If you are not working then, I hope I can see you a great deal.

You mean more to me than you think, and I am anxious to see you.

Sincerely,
Walter.

Box 208
Dallas

October 7, 1924

Jacksonville Fla
Oct 7, 1924.

Dear Ina,

Was delighted to get your letter this morning, though sorry that you had felt blue. Since you had intended writing to me the night before when you were blue, I wonder if I was in any way responsible for your unpleasant state. I certainly hope not.

October 7, 1924

October 7, 1924

It was interesting that your teacher friend came over from next door to tell her troubles. No doubt she feels pretty blue, but since she falls in and out of love so easily, the shock would not be so great as to one like yourself.

Dear, you will remember that I told you of my lady friend in South Dakota and that I felt that neither of us knew whether we loved one another because we were together so much. That I felt that we were more like brother and sister. Since I have known you and have fallen so hard for you, I have written to her very little and then such a letter as one would be apt to write any acquaintance. When I left South Dakota the mother was quite bitter toward me for leaving and assured me that she was going to break up all relations between the daughter and I. She was quite mean and I have had no idea of ever seeing her again. The mother seemed to feel that it was convenient to have a man about, and I came to feel that any man would do as well as myself. Though I did know that the daughter cared for me to some extent, but felt that it was due to constant association and living in the same home with them.

The father and I were very good friends and before he passed away he asked me to look after them. I located there and lived with them for five years. Then, having felt that my promise to him had been fulfilled I thought it best to return to my original vocation.

Recently the mother and daughter have been awfully nice and the mother seems to have had a change of heart toward me. She has written to me and I have also had some good letters from the daughter. The mother lost her sister a short time ago, and the daughter feels that she has only her mother who is getting older all the time. To some extent I still feel obligated toward them to an extent to see that they are getting along all right. I can’t help but feel that it is pity and the constant association with them.

I felt that I should tell you about it for I do not want to keep anything from you. I’d rather you would know and especially before you have found that you loved me. I certainly don’t want you to ever feel bitter toward me for anything, and there is absolutely nothing which I would keep from you, except lodge work. You can understand that it cannot be told, or at least your father will know.

I hope you will believe me, Dear, and will not think hard of me. I want you to know everything even though it may be displeasing to both of us. True happiness is based on a good understanding.

My work has been keeping me going and it will be a while before I go to Washington. There are too many cases coming in just now and I have lots of work going. If Dr. White is going to be in Washington all winter there will be no hurry on my part.

Write me here and I’ll let you know before I go up there. In any event, the letters would be forwarded promptly.

I have some very interesting cases here just now, some who have hundreds of lesions and can barely walk. Am planning on some treatment tests as soon as the chemicals arrive, which should be today.

I hope to have a letter from you soon, Dear, & I trust you will not feel hard toward me. I love you and had to tell you about it, though it might have been better had I kept it to myself for a while longer.

The trade for a ranch is very interesting and it should be easier and more profitable for your father. It sounds good to me, though I know it will be difficult not to be able to use a curling iron. She won’t mind that after she puts up her hair on curlers for a few times. The hot iron isn’t especially good for hair anyway.

WIth love,
Always,
Walter.