Tag Archives: South Florida

November 18, 1925

Stationery from The Everett Hotel

Jacksonville, Fla., Nov. 18 1925

My Dear Sweetheart,

I arrived here about two hours ago or less and our train was about four hours late. All trains run late down here except the beach train which went out on time this morning and left me to wait until this PM. But I had a few things to do, including the writing of this letter which is by far the most important. Had to go to the bank about the first thing. I didn’t buy anything down the state either, except meals and lodging.

November 18, 1925

November 18, 1925

I am certainly well pleased at the outlook of securing an appropriation for the work down there and I am going to keep behind it until we get something. It is an important problem and I expect to be able to present an effective report on it. Have given Mr. B. the details in a letter and also my “modus operandi” for getting the funds. My mission in attending the state fair here is to help out on another project which affects poultry, but I am more interested in the sand fly situation at Marco Island. It will be my problem while the poultry problem will be one for Mr. Parman and the folks at Dallas. I’ll have to help some too, but I won’t have a personal interest that I’ll have for my own problem. I don’t like these partnership problems for the Dept. and there is only one partnership that I am interested in. Yours and mine. I am mighty anxious for that one too, Dear, though you do have your little doubt sometimes. When you know me as a hubby you will understand how it occurred to you in that way. I am going to try to prevent you from having any reason to ever regret it, and I am going to try to give you the comforts of life and as many pleasures as possible. If I am not good, you tell me.

While the fair is in session and much interest will be shown in poultry here I am offering one of the 10 acre tracts for $2000. At this figure I would consider selling both of them, as it would net us a nice profit. I am not so anxious to sell both until you have seen one of them. We may want to build on it. I’d like to turn one of them for enough to pay for both. Then we would not have much invested.

If the sand fly money is obtained OK, it would be a good idea to have you go to Marco with me for a little trip after Xmas. During that time the govt will probably offer its land for sale down there and we may want our home there. I don’t like the idea of taking you where those things will bite you, but if everyone else depends on me to help them, maybe you would do the same thing.

With all my love, Dear, and looking forward to a bunch of letters from you when I get to the Beach this PM, I am,

Yours only & always,
Walter.

November 16, 1925

Stationery from the Kenmore Hotel, Fort Myers, FL

Nov. 16, 1925

My Dear Sweetheart,

It is a shame that I have not written to you while I was on this trip, Dear, and I guess you are thinking daggers at me. I left the Beach on short notice, and had intended to wait until after the fair but found that I had things in pretty good shape and figured that I had time to make it. I worked every minute that I could while on Marco Island and I am well pleased at results. Not that I learned so much about the problem, but I made some helpful contacts which mean so much in the work. It is the most beautiful spot I have seen and were it not for the sand flies, it would be ideal.

November 16, 1925

November 16, 1925

They are very enthusiastic about the work on this problem and it certainly looks promising from a standpoint of work and living. At the present time Caxambas is a great deal like Regan Wells, no conveniences, but Marco is better and looks inviting. It is yet small, too, but capitalists have bought a large portion of this section and it will develop wonderfully. At the present time the railroad is under construction. The island has deep water. The people whom I came in contact with are very fine and I believe you would like them. They plan a special appropriation for the work and will go after the amount I request. Mr. Williams says he thought it well to try for fifty thousand with the idea that we stand a good chance for $25,000. This of course would be for work at other places too. It would mean to have some one else on the problem with me, possibly about three stations. One in South Carolina, one at Marco Island & possibly one at Jax. Definite plans will depend on the amount appropriated, but I am confident that there will be enough to work Marco Island in nice shape. It is a real problem too and results will show. That looks good to me.

I am to meet a representative of W.G. Collier here tonight to discuss the situation & needs. He is a multi-millionaire who has invested extensively in this section. He has not attempted any developments yet, but plans a gigantic resort of an exclusive nature. He is buying all the property he can before the development begins. This is the real time to get started on my work and I am greatly encouraged at the outlook.

I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I’ll be glad when I can talk everything with you instead of writing it.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter

P.S. I am leaving for Jax tomorrow.

November 11, 1925

En Route to Fort Myers.
Armistice Night

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday I found that I had things in pretty fair shape to make the trip to Caxambas so I packed last night and left early this AM. Had breakfast at 6:30 left the beach at 7 AM and should have left Jax at 9, but did not get away until 10:45. The train has lost more time since then so we are now running about 4 hrs late. I should have arrived at Fort Myers at 7:30 P.M. and it will now take until about midnight. The stage leaves Fort Myers about 8 tomorrow morning and then should get to Caxambas about noon. I do not expect to be there very long, only a few days, and if you write me to the Beach I will be mighty glad to get them when I get back. This writing is awful but it is about the best I can do on a moving train. The writing looks as though I might be drunk, but such is not the case.

November 11, 1925

November 11, 1925

All one can hear is real estate. Everyone talks it and the only way to keep from talking it is to keep from visiting with anyone. The mens’ smoking room has a bunch now, and while no particular section is being discussed, the state as a whole is talked about. Some of this part is very pretty and I am looking forward to seeing Fort Myers tomorrow A.M. It is said to be very picturesque etc. It is hardly fair to judge by what one sees from a train.

I’ll write you from Caxambas tomorrow night, Dear, and I hope that it will reach you in less time than was required for my letter from West Palm Beach.

I love you, lots and lots and lots. With a sweet goodnight.

Your own
Walter

October 18, 1925 (Walter)

West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct 18, 1925
Sunday PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It seems like a mighty long time since I have had one of those letters which always makes things look brighter. I am getting hungry for one. If possible I will drive through to the Beach tomorrow, but if it is late when I get to Augustine I’ll spend the night there.

October 18, 1925 (Walter)

October 18, 1925 (Walter)

I took Mr. & Mrs. McDonald out for a ride in her car this morning. We went to the beach here and then south to Del Ray. Returned by Boynton where they showed me an investment which they made in a lot about a year ago. It is a 50 x 125 corner costing $2000. Developments are coming to some extent & it is listed at $3500 now. I like our lot better due to the fact that it is in a higher class development. Theirs is a business corner and may be a filling station location, as near as I can figure. This would make it a mighty good investment. Would probably bring them $15000, but it may be three years or even five years from now. I believe that our lot will be worth 5000 to 6000 after Christmas. That’s when the winter tourists usually come, though this year they have been here all the time. Lots of people are camping, living in tents, garages & almost any place they can find. They make $11 per day of 8 hours as carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Bricklayers and plasterers make more. All get double pay for overtime and many work long hours. They pay more than this at Miami. Workmen on houses go to work in Chryslers, Lincolns, and other good cars while the builder is often the one to walk. The people who made good investments down here five years ago have reaped enormous profits. Lots of money to be made yet, but the competition is keener and deals are not handled so much without substantial payments. The fellow looking for short time options can’t use the “shoe string methods’ as much as during the past few years.

I am going to have dinner with Mr. & Mrs. McDonald at six o’clock and I’ll probably visit with them at the park. They have a concert there tonight. Mrs. Mc said something about going back with me tomorrow morning. She will let me know tonight. They can’t find living quarters within reasonable price and I guess she will stay at the Beach until he gets a place for her.

I love you, Dear, and I certainly would like to be with you now.

Your,
Walter.

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 7, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach, Wed Nite,

My Dear Sweetheart,

I went to town this morning for a little while. My landlady, Mrs. McDonald, started to work up there today and as she is going to rent me her car to make the trip down the state, I drove to Jax and brought the car back. She is very accomodating, considering the fact that she never lets anyone have her auto.

October 7, 1925 (Walter)

October 7, 1925 (Walter)

It will give me a better chance to do some work down the state and will probably be about as reasonable as if I took the train. I would have to rent a car if I did go by train, and the short trips count up. I have not yet made up my routing, nor have I started to get together what I will need. My work always gives me plenty to do and it is going to be mighty difficult to break away from it long enough to make the trip.

I have no news for you, Dear, except that I love you the same whole hearted way and that I wish for you real often.

With a hug and a sweet goodnight,

Your,
Walter.

In a separate envelope posted the same day, Walter sent this full-page newspaper ad.

Jacksonville Heights Ad, 1925

Jacksonville Heights Ad, 1925

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

Tuesday A.M. Oct 6th.

My Dear Sweetheart,

This morning I received two letters from you and also last night another one came. It made me feel that I had been mean for I did not write to you yesterday. Went to Jax early in the morning and was up there all day. It was getting late when I came back. This A.M. I had a note from Dr. KS that the County Med Society met tonight and that he was on the program. I am going up this afternoon and attend the meeting with him. Will then spend the night at his home with them and will return tomorrow A.M. Dear, I have a lot of work to do and when the letters are short or when I miss a day I hope you will know that I love you just the same. Since I started this I phoned Dr. K.S. that I have no new dope to give out at this time and that I’d like to skip this meeting. He will show the slides used at New Orleans last fall and also at Atlantic City this Spring. His talk will be what was given at those meetings. I am sure that he will mention my work in a creditable manner, as he always gives me a lot of credit and some that I do not deserve.

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

I am trying to get away for the southern part of the state this week. It takes a lot to get my work in shape as I cannot leave it with anyone. My landlady here is going to work in Jax and I may be able to rent her auto for the trip. It would be fine if I could, and I am in hopes that I can get it. Can accomplish more if I drive, and I want to study conditions outside as much as possible. Your letters addressed here will be forwarded to me. When you write Sunday, it might be well to address them to Caxambas, Fla, General Delivery, and to mark the envelope Hold. I’ll be at Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Fulford, Miami too, but I won’t spend so much time at those places and will not have any mail sent to them.

It was sweet of Thelma Lee to write to me. I’ll write to her before long. I am pretty busy and I wish you would tell her.

You are just as sweet as you can be Dear and I love you with all my heart.

Your
Walter.