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.

Entrance to Women’s Building, University of Illinois

October 23, 1924

Dear Florence,

Rreceived your letter to-day.  Will answer later.

Lieber Papa, Diesen Brief schneibe ich Dir aus champaign.  Heute bin ich deinen.  Brief bekommen.  Dankeschon Hoffentlich geht es sie familie gut.  Grusse sie, bitte, von mir.  Mit herzlichenn grusse.  Deine Gorther, Elma

P.S. I’m copying this from a letter in the German grammar book.)

Ms. Florence Gerlich

Hollywood, Illinois

Hollywood, Illinois is  a small community in Cook County, Illinois.  The owner of the property sold lots to attendees of the Columbian Exposition of 1893, and developed it into  a subdivision.   To transform into the community it is today, took a bit of community organizing as quoted by the Hollywood Citizen Organization:

Way back in 1915, a group of public spirited citizens residing the weed-infected, countrified, dirt road community of Hollywood, IL decided that an improvement association should be formed.  They desired representation in the Village of Brookfield board meetings, also greatly needed improvements.  Thus the Hollywood Citizens Associations was born."
-- by Edith Hyler from the History of Hollywood, IL

The University of Illinois was founded in 1867.  And both Elma and Florence Gerlich attended.  One supposes that her sister's correspondence encouraged Florence to attend.  Ancestry.com lists a Florence Gerlich from Cook County, Illinois being born in 1909, making her 15 years old when she received this postcard.  Both Florence and Elma are listed in Board of Trustee records from the University of Illinois that seem age-appropriate.  This Florence Gerlich died in 1975, and the only son listed died in Los Angeles in 1993.

Just for fun, I ran the German portion of this card through Google Translate:

Dear Dad, This letter I Schneiber champaign from you. Today I am your. Letter received. Hopefully it's already thank you family well. Grusse they ask of me. With heart lichenn salutation. Your Gorth, Elma

Entrance to Gulfstream Park Race Course, between Hollywood and Miami, Fla.

Entrance to Gulfstream Park Race Course, between Hollywood and Miami, Fla.

Miami, FL February 3, 1949

Dear Steven,

If everything goes well, you and grammie will be down here next year.  Mommie misses you.

Love Mommie

Master Steven Westberry

North Jay, Maine

This postcard is most poignant and powerful- a mother, separated from her son and mother, working hard in south Florida to bring them both down to join her efforts to make a new life for them.  

Gulfstream Park has been a venue for horse racing since 1939.  The track is home to the $1million Florida Derby, and has expanded recently to include gaming.  On a political note, the park is a major player in Florida , having contributed over $500,000 to Florida's politicians in the 2010 cycle alone, to further expand their casino.  They've also undergone some impressive renovations and additions to the historic property, and have included shopping, bars and restaurants- it's worth the trip, even if you aren't into gambling or racing!

The little town of Jay, Maine was founded in 1795 along the banks of the Androscoggin river, and named for John Jay, the first U.S. Supreme Court Justice.  Like most small towns in New England, there is an historical society, as well as a museum chronicling Jay's history as a paper manufacturing center.  

As to the identities of the sender and recipient, the first page on a Google search yielded this post on a genealogy forum from 10 years ago.  I'll post it in its entirety so you can share the same anticipation as I did:

hi! my name is steven charles westberry. my dad came from maine.he is somehow not in touch with any westberry's from there. my grandmothers name is jacquelyn. i am not even sure what my real grandfathers name was. i guess there was a divorce or something that my dad and grandmother never want to talk about but i stumbled onto this site and am wondering about you guys. if anyone has any information
i would be very greatful if you would drop me a line.   well if anybody is reading this i have two children. a boy (5) and girl (3).I would like to tell them about the westberry family but dont have any info.

please help,

thank you,
steven charles westberry jr

I immediately contacted Mr. Westberry, Jr. about this card, so excited that I did so before posting this.  He has responded, and I'll be back with an update on the story for all of you.

UPDATE:  Mr. Westberry, Jr. has informed me that his father was 4 years old when he received this card, and is still alive.   I'm sending him his father's card, so I'll be back with another update!