Jax Beach, Thurs A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I worked until late last night and was so sleepy that I waited until this morning to write. Had two real good letters from you yesterday and I enjoyed them. I guess one of them came a day early.

October 1, 1925 (Walter)

The weather is certainly fine down here now and I know that you would like it. The wind has gone down leaving a fine little breeze. I do most of my work on the porch here and it is mighty fine. The cottage faces north, but I can see the ocean from the porch. It is two blocks away. The mosquitoes have entirely disappeared so it is good in that respect. I guess it will be this way most all winter and spring though I am told that a few times each winter one can use an overcoat or wrap. The lady who owns this place will soon leave for the winter to be with her husband and then I’ll have the whole place to myself. As he is making good money down the state it is likely that she will now stay down there most of the time. She wants to sell here so that she can stay with him. As it is, she comes up for the summer season and rents for a good price and then works for good wages at the same time. I think she wants about three thousand for the place with everything in the cottage. The cottage itself is not much for looks but is “comfortable,” as you said when you saw the photo. The lot is a good one 75 ft. front and 150 feet deep, is on a corner facing north. Some time it will be worth a good price. The garage is a single one and with a dirt floor. There are no flowers, no trees, the fence is not very good & in all there is a lot to be done but I believe it could be made a good looking place. I believe it would be a good investment. The street west will be a highway to St. Augustine but I don’t know how soon.

It occurred to me that this cottage could be moved to the rear & turned to face the new highway. It could be used for a laboratory. Then we could build to suit ourselves on the front part. This is just an idea. I don’t know how it would strike you. If it were me, I would want to close in the porch and use it as a living room until we did build. I am telling you so you can think it over. I could not buy it right now for I am already buying about as much as is possible. Perhaps the lot at Fulford can be turned at a good profit and then that money could be used as a substantial payment on this. It would not leave a big balance and it could be handled about as easy as I am carrying the Fulford lot at this time.

The acreage near Jax takes $50 per month, but it looks as though I’ll be able to sell one tract for enough to pay for both of them. Then we could hold the other for a good price.

Am telling you this, Dear, so that you can think it over. The lady here doesn’t even know that I am thinking about it. I’d like to take you into a nicer home to start with, but if we can stop some of this real estate money that runs pretty freely at this time, I believe the effort will pay.

I love you Dear and I want you to know that I am constantly thinking of your comfort and happiness.

Your,
Walter.