Biscayne Boulevard and Bayfront Park, Miami, Florida

Bay Front Park completed in 1928 at ta cost of $2,500,000.  It is a haven of dense tropical foliage and blooming plants with many varieties of palms.  Almost the entire area, 62 acres, is reclaimed land.  It has a band shell where, throughout the year, concerts draw large crowds.  Beautiful Biscayne Boulevard starts at this point.

Miami Beach, Fla., March 8, 1937

3/6/37

Hello girls,

Having a swell time.  Wish you all could be here with us.  Its very hot here today.

Love, Helen

Misses Tillie, Anna and Evelyn

300 W. Madison St.

Baltimore, Md.

Helen’s having such a swell time that she forgot to get this card to the post office for two whole days!

SInce there are no surnames on this very old postcard, it's hard to find the identity of the sender or the recipients, who if they were children in 1936, could possibly still be living today.  The property at 300 W. Madison St. is across from the Maryland General Hospital, and could possibly be one of the two older buildings, but Baltimore County online records do not go back that far.  Plus, if the buildings were apartments, rather than single family structures, there would be no rental records accessible from my laptop.    

However, Bayfront Park is still around, and its Klipsch Amphitheater (which is the second replacement for the original structure) has hosted concerts by Manu Chau, Gloria Estefan, and the annual Miami JazzFest in November.  The entire park was renamed in the 1980's for Mildred and Claude Pepper, the long tenured Democratic congressman from south Florida.  

Sunset Scene in Florida

Punta Gorda, Fla, August 8, 1937

Am have a fine time go fishing every day it is very warm here and it makes me feel like a young fellow

Love to you all

From your ever loving brother W.E.

Mr. H. L. Post

Main St.

Farmingdale, N.Y.


Punta Gorda is close to Cleveland, which the Post brothers seem to enjoy.  The town of about 17,000 people was founded in the late 19th century on the south side of Charlotte Harbor.  Most of the town was severely damaged during Hurricane Charlie in 2004, but the city and historic district have undertaken a revitalization campaign.

Still no word on Gladys Post.  Hopefully soon we will know more about the traveling lumber brothers of Long Island.

Roney Plaza Hotel, as Viewed From Collins Park, Miami Beach, Florida

Roney Plaza Hotel as Viewed from Collins Park, Miami Beach, Florida

Miami’s hotels are unsurpassed by any throughout the entire world.  The Roney Plaza, surely one of the most palatial ever built is one of Florida’s proud boasts.  Its setting of tropical palm and flowers glowing with color invite to rest and play in the warm winter sun.

Postmarked Miami, Fla. November 15, 1937

623 NE 83 St. Miami, Fla

Dear Folks

Will hear we are in the sun shine and flowers it has been a lovely week not to warm and we hve been as buisy as bees are pretty well straitened out now wish you could be hear

Love from Hon Sue

Mr. & Mrs Harry Post

393 South Main St.

Farmingdale, L.I. N.Y.


Roney Plaza was demolished in 1962 to make way for what the Miami New Times called a monstrosity of a building.  The address given in Miami is home to a sunglasses distributor.  And the lumber business owned by the Post family in Farmingdale is now an expansion parking lot for the funeral home next door.

However, in addition to yesterday's find of Gladys Post, a possible descendant/contempory, it looks like Harry Post was an amateur roller skater back in 1955!

Greetings from Florida (with a Pelican limerick!)

A Gorgeous Bird is the Pelican,

Whose Beak can Hold More than his Belican,

He can put in his Beak, Food enough for a Week,

But I’ll be d----d if I can see how the Helican.

Mr. and Mrs. Pelican

There are those who like the Northland,

            With its cold and all its sleet,

Winter winds blowing through you

            As you hurry down the street.

Here we stroll among the roses,

            In the sun that shines so warm,

Eating fruit and smelling flowers,

            With our coats upon our arm.

West Palm Beach, Fla March 7, 1930

Dear Harry:-

While Fern is doing fine, it will be at least another month before she can be moved, wish you were here.  I am writing this sitting on the pier with almost 500 Broad bill within 10 feet of me. 

Jim

H. L. Post

Farmingdale, N.Y.


Farmingdale is a small village on Oyster Bay of about 8,000 people.  It was carved out of the Bethpage purchase made by Thomas Powell in 1685 from the local Marsapeque, Matinecoc, and Sacatogue tribes.  The Post family was a prominent family in all of Long Island, most of whom descended from a Captain John Post in the late 1600's.  An H.L. Post is mentioned in the 1913 Journal of the New York State College of Forestry as owning a "wood-using" business in Farmingdale.  The business at 393 Main Street was owned by a Gladys K. Post at least until 1985, which is the last record available from the Nassau County Property Assessors Office.  


An email on an alumni website for Far Rockaway High School exists for Gladys, so I will send her a link to this post and update later.

Tarpon in MId-Air, a Thrill to All Fisherman

Cleveland, Fla March 29, 1937

Dear Bro.  3/28/37

This is the life fishing every day and have good luck but it soon will be over.  Expect to leave around the 13^th April as it is getting very warm here.  How is the weather up there I hope nice.  Love to all

W. E. Post

Bathers Under the Palms on Miami Beach, Fla.

A Daily Beach Scene- in January or July

Postmarked Miami, Fla.

October 20, 1936

Dear Lottie glades Harry

Don’t this make you feel like taking a dip.  I guess not up thair but it does down hear.  I am pretty buisey getting things straightened up.  We had a fine trip although it rained most all the time on the road.  Love From Hon Sue?

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Post

393 South Main St.

Farmingdale, L.I. N.Y.


Two changes to the Post Family-  first, we notice that Harry now has a wife, or at least one worth addressing.  Second, we have an address.  Unfortunately, the house was demolished years ago to provide a parking lot for the McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home.  Perhaps they performed the services for the owner of the house they would eventually consume.

A Natural Hedge of Flowers, Flame Vine and Hibiscus, Florida

In Florida bright flowers are found,The Flame-Vine and Hibiscus abound;While orange groves of fadeless green,With fruit of gold make gay the scene.

Hollywood, FL, February 21, 1934

Dear Alice,

We are leaving the fifth of March and going through Tampa and will stop in to see you from there.

Art S.

Mrs. A. B. Green

505 E. Amelia Ave.

Orlando, Fla.

Gay doggerel aside, there is nothing natural about a hedge of flame vine.  Introduced to Florida in the 1920’s, this Brazilian plant has been spread by hummingbirds and bees all over south and central Florida.  Sure, it’s pretty, but ask a tree getting smothered by this plant how pretty it is.

Wait, trees don’t talk.  

The original house at 505 E. Amelia Avenue has been replaced with a newer, presumably larger house built in 1991.  The new structure was bought and sold by Orlando real estate mogul Phil Rampy for a handsome profit in 2000.  The Orange County Property Appraiser doesn't list any other owners before Mr. Rampy, so perhaps he has a recollection of the original structure and perhaps the inhabitants.

The Singing Tower, Florida

Tampa, Fla, April 12, 1937

Tampa, Fla.

April 11, 1937

My sister & I are thru work down here now and sorry because we liked our job so well.

It was the most exclusive county club in Fla.  We are starting North Tues. by way of Connecticut to visit awhile.  Our mother came down by train to go back with her.  Hope you are both well.

Love, Peggy

Mr. and Mrs. Russell White

1327 Edgemont St.

Indianapolis, Indiana


Did you know the International Carillon Festival is happening right now at Bok Tower Gardens?  You can purchase tickets at the link, but I am in no way a paid sponsor for the historic landmark, nor am I going to receive any complimentary admission for posting this link.  At least not yet, anyway.  However, in accordance with the festival, welcome to the second in this week's hastily arranged series on Bok Tower Gardens.

If Peggy and her sister were working in an exclusive country club in Tampa, there are two possibilities. The Palma Ceia Country Club was founded in 1916 and is still so exclusive that even its website is members only.  The Temple Terrace Golf Club was founded in 1922, so either club could have laid off the two ladies in the midst of the Great Depression.  it's natural they travelled to one of Florida's oldest and peaceful historic landmarks to convalesce before gaining the strength to travel to Connecticut.  (Again, I am not a paid sponsor.)

There is no Edgemont St. in Indianapolis, but there is an Edgemont Ave., with an old house at the address on the card.  There is an obituary for a J. Russell White, who was a prominent attorney in Indianapolis.  Marion County's property records are difficult to obtain from more than a decade ago, so there is no record of a recent sale of the house.  

A Corner in Mr. Bok's Study in the Singing Tower

"From the Mountain Pines of Maine to the Sunny Sands of Florida"This was Mr. Bok’s private study in the Singing Tower.  The beautiful wrought iron stairway leads to the upper floors.  Except for the room for Mr. Brees, the Carillonneur, this is the only finished and liveable room in the tower.  An automatic elevator leads from it to the upper floor.

St. Petersburg, January 24, 1934

Jan 24/34

The full envelope read this A.M.

Dear Lois and poor Lydia

It’s good to be here in the sunshine.  Going to Lakeland the 25^th for the day.  These go so fast.  I feel rested & contented.  Will write soon-My love is loud, Maude?  Sadie? Looks fine.  Mrs. L. and Florence are delighted to be here.

AAV

Art Department

Syracuse Public Library

Mrs.  Maude Kissel

733 Maryland Ave.

Syracuse, N.Y.

Looks like someone really tried to censor this postcard’s text years before the invention of the Sharpie.  I don’t know what having this postcard in an art department says for the state of Syracuse’s Public Library System, but hopefully they’ve moved past owning creepy portraits of hidden Florida landmarks.

Mr. Bok’s study is actually no longer hidden- you can get a private tour for a relatively small donation to the Bok Foundation!  Maybe you can stop by and check it out when you attend the International Carillon Festival this weekend!  (Again, I am not a paid sponsor.)

According to zillow.com, the 8 bedroom house at 733 Maryland Ave was built in 1900.  It was sold in 1996, and was most likely already converted into apartments as it is today.  There are a number of Kissels in Syracuse, NY, but no historical mentions of Maude, Lois or Lydia.

The Singing Tower, Mountain Lake Sanctuary, Lake Wales, Florida

This beautiful singing Tower, on the highest elevation in Florida, in beautifully landscaped grounds known as the Sanctuary, was a gift to the people by the late Edward W. Bok.The Singing Tower Carillion has 71 bells with 53 notes, or four and one-half octaves.  The total weight of the bells is 123,264 pounds.  The tenor bell alone weighs 11 tons, and the smallest 12 pounds.  It is the finest and largest carillion ever cast.  Height of tower 205 feet, diameter at base 51 feet.

Miami, Fla. March 6, 1931

Visiting Florida

Ames Austin in

Miami & enjoying

Every minute.

Came by boat &

Bought my car.

Limes? And Fruits? From

Tillon? Here Lois

Is entertaining.

Gertrude C.

Mildred Copeland

17 Sefton Drive

Edgewood, R.I.

Now we know what the bells weigh.  The same bells you could be hearing if you attend the International Carillon Festival this weekend at Bok Tower Gardens?  (Again, I am not a paid sponsor.)

Gertrude fancies herself an imagist poet to her friend Mildred.  No historical records for Midred come up in a search, but the house comes up in Google Maps.  Edgewood is actually a neighborhood in Cranston, RI, which Seth MacFarlane states as being the inspiration for Family Guy's fictional setting of Quahog.

The Hotel Winecoff, Atlanta, GA

January 28, 1933

Sat. A.M. Here we are at the bus station getting breakfast.  Leave here at 9 o’ clock our time 8 their time.  Was so cold here last night and this A.M.  Notion to go back to Toledo.  Colder here than it was at home when I left.  Have to get my underwear lined I guess.  Ha!  Ha! 

Love Maude

Miss Virginia Rusher

2008 Calumet Ave.

Toledo, OH

The Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta, GA was built in 1913, and is the site of the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history.  13 years after Maude sent this postcard to Miss Rusher,  119 people died leading to better building codes.  One of the survivors, Daisy McCumber was photographed jumping 11 stories by Arnold Hardy, who went to become the first amateur photographer to win the Pulitzer prize for photography.   Mr. Hardy passed away in 2007, but his photograph is still noted for it's haunting depiction of that eventful night.  Today, the building has been restored into the Ellis Hotel, after about 20 years of vacancy.

As to the identity of the recipient, there are quite a number of Virginia Rusher’s in various geneaological sites that have partial information that could indicate a probable match for the unmarried recipient of this card.   One puts Virginia Rusher's birth at 1899, making her 34, and another places her as being born in 1915, making her 17 when she received this postcard from Atlanta.  As far as the identity of "Maude" is concerned, I stumbled across a 2004 obituary from the Salisbury (Ohio) Post for a Anna Owen Troutman, daughter of a Maude Rusher Owen.   It lists a Nora Lee Barbee in the contact for memorials, so perhaps Ms. Barbee will Google herself and provide some more insight into the Rusher family.


The house at 2008 Calumet Drive was built in 1924, and is still standing.   Lucas County's property records are difficult to access, but perhaps this home is still owned by descendants of the Rusher family.