Central Avenue from the Air. Looking West from Yacht Club and Basin, St. Petersburg, Fla

January 29, 1957

Dear Son and family,

Your 20 below figures gave us the chills.  Too bad we can’t all be down here in the 80 every day.  I am having therapy treatments now from a sweet little woman.  She expects to cure me.  Very good looking but married. 

Best wishes,

Dad

Albert W. Smith

Dixfield, Maine

Box 52

St. Petersburg has long been the summer destination for many tourists and retirees looking to escape the harsh winters of the Northern United States.  Founded in 1876 and named after St. Petersburg, Russia, the population nearly doubled from 1950 to 1960, during which time Mr. Albert Smith's Dad went to seek “therapy treatments from a sweet little woman.”

Dixfield, Maine is a small community that touts the fact that it is the only place in the world named “Dixfield.”  The town was founded in 1789, and originally called Holmantown after the founder, Colonel Jonathan Holman, and renamed Dixfield in 1803, after an empty promise from a Dr. Elijah Dix to build a library.  The library didn't materialize until 1935, but left a deep commitment to local history by the residents, who formed an historical society and museum.

There is a marriage record for an Albert W. Smith to Ada Berry or Murch in Dixville, Maine in 1924, 28 years before this postcard was sent.  There's a marriage record for Alan Todd Smith to Jeanette Elizabeth Turner in 1994 that could be a direct descendant.  Perhaps Alan Smith or the Dixfield Historical Society can shed some light on Albert's Dad's treatments or the "sweet little woman" who was very "good looking but married."  Did Dad wish to find romance in Florida after being divorced or widowed?  Was he playing matchmaker to his already married son?  And what kind of therapy treatments were available in St. Petersburg that beckoned him down from chilly Maine?

One of Florida’s Beautiful Parks

March 2, 1954 Clearwater, Florida

Lovely hot Sunday.  Wish you were here to get the sun.  Saw black swans too, in a park like this.  Expect a friend for overnight next week- haven’t seen her for 20 years!!  She has bought a house at Ormond Beach on the East Coast of Fla.  Hope you are fine.  Will write letter soon. 

Love,

Vera

Mrs. James Wright

West Paris, Maine


Clearwater, FL was settled just before the U.S. Civil War, and incorporated as a city in 1915.  The freshwater springs that dotted the bluff overlooking the gulf inspired the name.  It has been a popular tourist destination and winter residence, as well as a training and hosting center for troops fighting in World War II.  In the 1970's, the Church of Scientology purchased the Ft. Harrison Hotel for $3 million, and established Flag Land Base, much to the concern of city residents.

West Paris, Maine began most of its history as part of Paris, Maine along the Little Androscoggin River in the western part of the state.  The area was settled in the late 18th century, but it wasn't until 1957 when it was formally incorporated into its own entity.  The fact that this postcard is addressed to West Paris shows that it must have been a de facto change before then.

The spouse of Mr. James Wright must have enjoyed a prominent and powerful local family.  According to the Paris Reigster, 1906 (courtesy of archive.org), a James S. Wright was "elected Clerk of Courts," opening a law practice in South Paris in 1883, becoming County Attorney for several years. Another source, "History of Paris, Maine from settlement to 1880" states, "He has been among the most respected and valuable ot our citizens who have come here on account of election to office." Mainegeneaology.net lists many Wrights who married in different towns in Western Maine, but since the surname is fairly common and the bride's name is unknown, it is hard to discern if any are direct descendants, or the recipient of this postcard. There are 2 Wrights currently living in West Paris, Maine, a Marcia Wright and Alice Wright, both of whom could be possible daughters of Mrs. James Wright. Perhaps they would know of their mother's longtime friend Vera, and the other friend who bought a house across the coast in Ormond Beach.

Shawmut Congregational Church, Tremont and West Brookline Sts., Boston, Mass.

April 29, 1909

Everything in (Revere?) is booming

What in the world is the matter that you don’t write.  I wrote you telling you of my youngest br. Death Mar. 10^th and you haven’t ans.  I am very well and busy.  The (Marks?) have moved in Dr. Morris’ house so we have lost our neighbor.  Try to get time to write. 

(H. Gary?)

Mrs. Henry H. Haines

Madison, Maine

Haines the Druggist


Boston's Shawmut Church is a very historic building in the South End of Boston.   There's a New York Times article about the church's divisions in 1892, an address on Abraham Lincoln, delivered by civil rights leader Moorfield Storey in 1909, and a Flickr page set up by the Boston Public Library with early 20th century photographs.  The church was severely damaged by fire in 1978, and was converted into residences in 1990.  Some units are for sale today!

Madison, Maine is a small town in Somerset County with a population of about 4,000, incorporated in 1804.  In 1900, the population was 2,700 and had a thriving business center.  Maine genealogy records show a Henry Haines that died at age 92 in 1972, but there is no mention of his drug store, or any "Haines" currently doing business in Madison.  Taylor's Drug Store boasts that it has been family owned for over 100 years, so perhaps they changed their name or provided some stiff competition for the neglectful Mr. Haines.

The scolding tone of H. Gary? is a departure from the usual text seen on postcards.  It is a tale of loss, displayed for any postal worker to read, as well as a plaintive cry for communication.  Was H. Gary a dear friend of Mr. Haines?  Or perhaps a former lover?  If the latter is true, than the sender was out of luck, if ancestry.com's marriage record of Henry Haines is the recipient.

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!

Downtown Orlando, Fla. From Lake Eola Park

November 12, 1949

Dear Flo-I’m taking your place as Maine-ear? Down in sunny Florida.  Came down with Mrs. Clark by train.  Do appreciate seeing at least a few of the things that you used to write about.  I’d love to raid someone’s orange orchard!  Seeing oranges just laying on the ground make my mouth water.  Mrs. C is good enough so I can leave and tour a little by myself. 

Thinking of you,

Ruby Whitney

Mrs. Robert Coe

Harrison, Maine


The Florida sun has intoxicated Ms. Ruby Whitney so much that she is casting aside any sense of property ownership, and descending into an anarchist rage!  No arrest records or news stories from Orlando suggest she carried out her citrus-fueled crime spree, so one can assume that Mrs. C. put a stop to that.


This postcard is looking across Lake Eola Park, and you can make out some of the buildings on this list, such as the Angebilt Hotel and First Orange Bank and Trust.  Harrison, ME is a resort town of about 2,000 people just east of the White Mountain National Forest and the New Hampshire border.  


There's a handful of Ruby Whitney's in historical data from Maine, but thanks to our good friends at Maine Genealogy,  we can be fairly certain that Mrs. Robert Coe was a Florence Spaulding.  The couple was married on December 14, 1945, nearly four years before this postcard was sent.  There is another age-appropriate mention of Florence Spaulding in an archived article from the Lewiston Daily Sun including her in the contestants for the Brown Prize Speaking.