Author Archives: Alan

October 18, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Afternoon.
Oct 18, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Third time is charm, so you may receive this letter. You may have noticed that you have missed letters for two days, but it was not because I didn’t write – it was because I didn’t mail the ones I wrote. Day before yesterday I wrote, but committed that epistle to the flames. Last night I wrote again, but that one went up in smoke also. I carried it to the post office twice, but couldn’t make up my mind to post it. However, I sincerely hope I can conscientiously send this one.

October 18, 1925 (Ina)

October 18, 1925 (Ina)

Sweetheart, I don’t know how to explain it, but I hope you will understand it just the same and can say that I was entirely wrong, absolutely; that I was perfectly silly for letting such a thing enter my mind, and that I had no grounds whatsoever for doing so. Yes, I do hope that you can conscientiously say every bit of that, and then I’ll be happy once more. The fact of the business is that I have cried myself to sleep several nights lately (and thrown in a few tears during the day), because it seemed to me that as our wedding day drew nearer (forgive me for saying it) you seemed to be losing interest to some extent. Your letters sound different somehow from the ones you wrote a month or two ago – they seem like they are written through a sense of duty or something. Dear, I know you are busy, but surely that couldn’t make you lose interest in – it couldn’t, could it? You do love me just as much as you ever did, don’t you? Please say that all of this is a freak of my imagination, and scold me good – say anything you want to – call me “Mama” or anything – just so I know you love me just the same. Sweetheart, I know you are true to me as far as other girls are concerned, but somehow I couldn’t feel perfectly satisfied about the tiny note of indifference your letters seemed to me to have, until I wrote and asked you.

Forgive me Dear, if I have hurt your feelings, in this letter, because I didn’t mean to do it. I wish you knew how very very much I love you and then maybe you would understand. I love you entirely too much to want to hurt you even the tiniest bit.

Always your loving
Ina.

October 17, 1925

Oct 17th
Saturday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

My note last night was rather short and as there might be a misunderstanding I want you to know that I would not intentionally hurt your feelings for anything in the world. It is a little different in writing to you when I am on the road for I usually have quite a bit on my mind but I think of you often just the same.

October 17, 1925

October 17, 1925

I expect to leave here Monday AM and if I have good luck I’ll drive through in one day. It is about 325 miles and a few detours where they are working on the road. The last 25 miles will be rough too as I take a near cut to the Beach from St. Augustine. This saves about 25 miles but is a little rough. There is a real estate activity at Jupiter where I have been working some, and also a lot here but it does not look as good as Fulford to me. The prices are high enough too. Kelsey City north of here is a mighty good development, but I can’t invest on any more and have not even talked to real estate folks.

I love you, Dear, and I certainly wish that I could be with you now.

Always your
Walter.

October 16, 1925

Oct 16, 1925
Friday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I haven’t much news tonight Dear, but I want to let you know that I am getting along OK. I have changed my plan about going to the West Coast on this trip. It would mean to drive about a hundred miles north and then to the other side and it is too much of a trip for me at this time. The roads across the state are not good and with a car rented from a friend I don’t believe it is worth the effort. I haven’t had any car trouble yet, and I don’t want any. I expect to leave here Monday A.M. but I may not get to the Beach until Tuesday.

October 16, 1925

October 16, 1925

With worlds of love,

Your
Walter.

October 15, 1925

Stationery from the Pine Tree Hotel, “Where Summer Spends the Winter,” West Palm Beach, Florida.

Wednesday Night 9/15*

My Dear Sweetheart,

I spent quite a bit of the morning at Fulford and I am more enthusiastic about our investment there than ever. For one year it is a wonderful development, but of course there are not very many homes at this time. The ones constructed are high class and every improvement made is in line with their building restrictions. The first addition, and the one in which we are interested is the one they are developing as a show place for prospects. Our little 50 ft x 150 ft lot does not look big when you see the plat of ground, but its location is about right. According to the company’s list of prices it is now worth $3150. They tell me that in another year it should & will be worth ten thousand. The Co reserved lots in every block on which they will build or which they will not sell unless the purchaser bonds to build at once. The prices seem ridiculously high when compared to city prices in Dallas, but only people with a bunch of money can afford to live there and these are the ones who are building and buying homes. Some rich man will buy and build on the corner next to our lot and will want our lot so that he can have a hundred feet on the front. He will pay us a good price for it too. I did not list it today, but am of the opinion that the best time will be after Christmas when the tourists come for the winter. I believe that we will realize enough out of it to go a long ways in getting our home. Believe me it will be mighty welcome too. The prices of everything are awfully high on the East Coast between here and Miami and I have no desire to live here. Wages, salaries etc are high too, but of course mine is the same whether I am here or any other place. The real estate people get 15% for re-sales, but we won’t mind that.

October 15, 1925

October 15, 1925

You will probably think that we should sell or list it now, due to the nice profit and I would have the same opinion if I had not gone down there. But the developments in sight are going to make it increase rapidly in the near future. I had to visualize it when it was pine woods and it took nerve to put $1250 for the lot. It would not take as much nerve to pay the $3150 at this time.

They are getting $7500 for lots in another addition north of us, which are one block from an artificial lake. There is nothing up there at this time, but they have given land for the proposed University. Water front property was sold for more. We picked the right place last fall. Here is a rough drawing.

October 15, 1925 - Drawing

October 15, 1925 - Drawing

This isn’t much of a drawing but it will give some idea. Classy buildings now on both sides of Fulford Blvd. west of Flagler Blvd. Just south of ours.

I love you,
Walter.

Wrong date – the postmark and contents show this letter was written 10/15.

Historical notes: Fulford was renamed North Miami Beach in 1931. The neighborhood in the drawing is approximately here on a modern map. Flagler Blvd. became NE 19th Ave., and Fulford Blvd. became NE 172nd St. If you don’t mind spoilers, you can read about the first Florida real estate bubble, which was in its late stages when Walter wrote this letter.

October 14, 1925 (Walter)

Hotel Vereen, Miami, Fla.
Wednesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Excuse this stationery but the hotel is so new that they have not yet obtained their stationery. It is a pretty nice place and incidentally has some pretty fancy prices. Everything is about three prices (sic) here  and I only hope that the Fulford lot is in accordance with everything else. I drove by the addition tonight but it was getting dark and I could not tell much about it from the Dixie Highway. I did note that the entrance had a pretty attractive front and that there were a couple of business places at the entrance. The ground work seems to be in progress for the 500 room hotel. Since I was down here last fall new additions have opened all along the Dixie between W. Palm Beach and Miami, a distance of 72 miles. I stopped at one filling station where there was no development and asked what he was holding his acreage for. Said he had sold 15 acres lying between the railroad & Dixie for $60,000 and that he believed he could have gotten more had he sold it to a speculator. This 15 is to be developed and he figures that he could afford to sell for less, due to the fact that the development would increase the value of the other acreage across the Dixie. He bought it 11 years ago and at a point about half way between W.P. Beach and Miami. It is located about 4 miles of Fort Lauderdale which was the only developed town. It is difficult to conceive of the enormous developments taking place and of the amounts of money changing hands. I am not buying anything this time except a room for the night, meals, gas & oil. I’ll be here one night only and will drive back and do some work near W.P. Beach for a few days. Prices are about the same up there. Within another year I believe Jax will be the same way and here’s hoping that our high and dry acreage up there will net us something. I’ll write you about Fulford tomorrow night.

October 14, 1925 (Walter)

October 14, 1925 (Walter)

Mrs. McDonald came to W.P. Beach with me and is with her husband there. I am driving her car.

With worlds of love, Dear, I am,

Your
Walter.

October 14, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Night.
Oct. 14, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

It was late before I finished work this evening and I’m tired and sleepy tonight so I will continue this note tomorrow and post it tomorrow afternoon. Mr. Burney wants me to work again in the morning but I think I can finish by noon tomorrow.

October 14, 1925 (Ina)

October 14, 1925 (Ina)

I love you, Sweetheart, just as much when I’m tired as I do when I’m rested.

Love,
Ina.

Thursday afternoon.
After washing dishes.

Hello-o!

I didn’t work long this morning, and had the honor of coming home in the rain. The little Ford and I did some fantastic dancing on the slippery road, but I finally succeeded in guiding it safely home. It was quite a task at times when I was not a successful mind reader. How did I know when it was going to suddenly jerk around to the left or right like a person turning clear around to see who is coming? I didn’t get ditched though, all for which I am duly grateful.

My work down at the office would have been very pleasant had it not been for the District Judge. Of course a Judge is necessary, but, by the time Court adjourned this term I feel sure that you couldn’t get a single soul to testify that this particular Judge would ever be necessary anywhere. Honey, he is as cross as a bear all the time. Honestly, I didn’t dare even suspect that such a disposition existed on earth. He is rather old, and is a widower (I don’t know whether it’s grass or sod, but if his wife is dead, I know she’s glad – poor woman!) I wouldn’t be a lawyer, or a witness or a juror or a little puppy or anything in his court for anything on earth if I could help it because his tone of voice can make you fear for your life. I’m ‘most scared to death of him. He orders the lawyers to “sit DOWN!!-!!**!!!” Bang!!! Just like that. And if they don’t, he threatens to send them to jail or do anything else he wants to with them. During the spring term of court this year, as the Judge was leaving the courthouse, a young lawyer whom he had abused (verbally) considerably in the courtroom, greeted him at the front door with his fist and knocked him down. The town (the people who knew him not) said it was an outrage, a young man taking advantage of an old gentleman like that etc. etc., and I shared in the general opinion most heartily, but now – I almost respect the young man for doing it. Of course it looks cowardly, ungentlemanly etc., but this man has the rare quality of working up the rage of a person who is sure absolutely that he possesses no temper whatsoever. I couldn’t help but sort of tremble when he was around and he was a little cross to me once, but he shocked me this morning when he started to leave by heartily shaking my hand, complimenting me very highly on my work, (and he called me “Little Girl” twice!!, telling Mr. Burney that he just must have me to help him next spring during court, and, wishing me a happy and prosperous year, he threatened to give me a box of candy but failed to do so in his rush to catch his train. I’m glad he didn’t give me the candy though, because he needs it and lots more to sweeten his disposition.

Now! Your descriptions of Dr. White are mild compared with that, aren’t they?

Sweetheart, I have been thinking all along that it would be nice to have the wedding about Thanksgiving as Claudelle would be here anyway and would also at that time be here a few days with Mama after we left. Of course I don’t want it to appear that I am “rushing” you in the least because I know as well as you know that that would be a most unladylike thing to do. I realize that we can’t set a date yet as you don’t know where you will be or when or anything but perhaps you will know before long. At the time that is convenient for you to be married, I will be married at that same time too. Sweetheart, if, sometime while you’re “resting” you’ll make out a list of the friends and relatives to whom you want invitations sent you can send the list to me so that I will know how many invitations to order when we set the date. Since it is to be a church wedding, I expect my list to be rather long as I want to invite all my friends, and I want you to feel free to make yours as long as you like. As for where I would like to spend Christmas, I’d like to spend it wherever you do. I want to hang up my stocking right by the side of yours so Santa Claus will be sure to find it. Any of the three places you mentioned would be fine I think, if you were there.

Dear, I love you an awful lot, and I’d be mighty glad if I could see you right now.

Always, your
Ina.

October 12, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Night.
Oct. 12, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

No letter today, but perhaps it will come tomorrow. I am sure you are busy getting ready for your trip.

October 12, 1925 (Ina)

October 12, 1925 (Ina)

Mr. Burney wants me to work for him tomorrow. The work is usually interesting and he is an ideal employer. He is eighty-one years old, is getting rather feeble, his right hand is partially paralyzed (of course these are not the things that make him ideal employer), and he is very slow in getting around. He is a good friend of our family, and was formerly our neighbor. No one could be any more patient or any better than he is. When I am not busy, he feeds me on red stick candy and tells me Civil War stories.

I haven’t any startling news to write you, Dear, but I want to keep fresh in your memory the fact that I love you, love you and then love you lots more.

Always your
Ina.

October 12, 1925 (Walter)

Monday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I was quite busy yesterday and last night, and before I realized it the time had slipped by. I expect to get everything in shape today so that I can leave tomorrow A.M.

October 12, 1925 (Walter)

October 12, 1925 (Walter)

Will go to St. Augustine for a little stop but it will not take long there, probably an hour or two.

This is only a note, Dear, but I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you.

I’ll write as often as I can while on this trip and I hope I’ll have some letters waiting for me at Caxambas.

I love you in the same way and more than I can tell you.

Your
Walter

October 11, 1925

Sunday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was late before I realized it last night, and the result is that I waited until this morning to write to my little girl. I have just had breakfast and I feel better.

For the past 24 hours or more it has been pretty cold here. The coast storm from the New England states struck here early yesterday morning, but it was more of a cold wave than a storm.

October 11, 1925

October 11, 1925

At 4 o’clock in the morning I woke up cold and while pulling down the windows, closing the doors, and getting some blankets, I noticed that most of the houses in the neighborhood were also lighted. It was cold all day yesterday, too cold to work on the porch and use a microscope. I moved inside and most of the day I was busy getting material together for the trip and also some ready for shipment to Washington. You see I had a lot of extra stuff here on account of Dr. White, so I am returning a shipment of books, one microscope and some other things. He is still working on the nematode material and is spending most of his time at Johns Hopkins with them. The fact that it is a new one and occurs where CE does, makes it very interesting to him. But it isn’t the one we are looking for, and my interest wanes when I convince myself of that much.

It is possible that I am not working on the right one either, but I know that I am much closer than we were this summer.

I realize, Dear, that it will be necessary to give you some time for arrangements of the wedding. We will not present a report at the Southern Med Meeting at Dallas, and as I should be in Jax during the state fair, it would be well to figure that we should have it after the fair. It runs one week and during the middle of November. The latter part of November or anytime in December would be OK so far as I can tell. Where would you like to spend Christmas? Would you like to be at your home, with my folks or in Dallas?

Must get busy now, Sweetheart, for I have lots to do. I plan on leaving here Tuesday morning for my trip down the state.

With all my love, Dear, I am

Your own
Walter.

October 9, 1925

Friday Night.

My Dear Little Girl,

Have worked hard all day toward closing up work and getting things together for the trip. It looks as though it will be Monday before I get started. It will take that long. As there will be no one here in the house I am getting things so that they can be stored. Also some material I’ll send to Washington and get that out of the say. Today I used all of my animals and there will be none to leave with the neighbors for attention.

October 9, 1925

October 9, 1925

You are a good shot to have killed the snake by shooting it through the head. They have rattle snakes down here so I am told, but I have never seen one. It might be a good idea to keep in practice with your shooting. If you had the revolver in the pocket of your car Sweetheart, and also had it loaded, it might be handy when you need it the next time. Really, no kidding, you should have it there for protection when you are driving. I often read and hear of cases in which a negro jumps on the running board. I wouldn’t have you frightened that way for anything in the world, and I’d feel better if I knew that you had some protection in case such a thing should happen to you.*

With a real sweet goodnight and with all my love, your,

Walter.

* Yes, these letters were written in the early 20th century, and I’m not editing them. Walter’s and Ina’s opinions are their own, and were a product of the times and places they lived in.