Band Concert in Bayfront Park, Miami, Florida

Bayfront Park, famed as a showplace of tropical landscaping, is on the shore of Bay Biscayne, along the southern terminus of Biscayne Boulevard.  From conveniently placed benches under palm trees, one may gaze across Biscayne Bay, while enjoying daily free band concerts.

Miami, Fla. February 14, 1941

Dear Olga:-

I am down here for a while to get away from the cold.  It is just lovely now.

Anna Rorke?

Mrs. Olga Minor

174 Wentworth Ave.

Edgewood, R. I.

Yet another postcard from Bayfront Park, which I detailed in yesterday's post.  Here's a great essay if you wish to know more about the park.

I've also detailed Edgewood, Rhode Island in an earlier post.  The suburb of Cranston is home to many beautiful old houses, and Mrs. Minor's house at 174 Wentworth is no exception.  Zillow lists the property, built in 1920, sold in 2006, but the Providence County Property Appraisers website lists no records.  Nor are there any records for an Olga Minor is the SSDI.  Strange.  

Over a Garden Wall, Miami Beach, Fla.

Plant City, Fla, Friday, February 9, 1940

In car in Zolfo Springs, Fla waiting. 

Glad to know the teeth problem is over.

Citrus fruit hurt badly in this section.

Ate lunch in Ft. Myers.

Be in St. Pete Saturday morning.  

All well.  Love to all.

Edgar and Elziabeth

Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Davis

Kings Highway

Swedesboro, New Jersey

This postcard looks like a Walter Carlos Williams poem, and could probably be read in a coffee shop.  I’ll let everyone know how “The First Annual Postcard Poetry Slam” goes as soon as I find the proper venue.

Travelers Palm in Florida

Miami, Fla June 18, 1952

Dear Mom & Pop,

This place is beautiful.  The folks have been driving us around to see it.  We had our 1^st ocean bath today, it was wonderful.  We feel like flying now, with these beautiful birds down here.  Lots of love to Ruth and 

George.  All

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Snyder

216 Virginia Ave.

Audubon, New Jersey


Did you know the Traveller's Palm is not really a true palm tree?  The species, Ravenala madagascariensis, is related to the Bird Of Paradise plants.  This popular ornamental is not even a native Florida plant, but originates in Madagascar, as its scientific name would imply.  It is also the name of a friendly guest lodge in Kuala Lampur.  


The Snyder's house, built in 1929 according to Trulia, is still standing in Audubon, New Jersey.  According to New Jersey property records, the house was sold in 2009, but since online records only go back to 1990, there is no record of the Snyders' sale.  There are quite a few George and William Snyders in Audubon, which is surprising for a town of about 10,000 people.  


The town was incorporated in 1905, and named after John James Audubon, so it's only fitting that George remarked that they were flying like birds.

The Sunken Garden, Gralynn, Miami, Fla.

Miami December 16, 1917

Miami, Fla 12/16/17

Sunday Morning and a fine one here.  I expect it is cold in P.G.  How are you all I am very well and feel fine give my regards to all

J E H

Rev.  J. W. Lynch

Penns Grove, NJ


Alas, the Sunken Gardens of Gralynn are no more.  Originally built as a residence for the Conley family, Salem Graham bought the property, remodeling it and naming it using the first three letters of his name with the last four of his wife's maiden name.  Turned into a hotel in the early 20th century, the building was demolished in 1969 and replaced with a strip mall.


Penns Grove, NJ was a fashionable resort town around the turn of the nineteenth century, and only incorporated through an act of the New Jersey State Legislature in 1894, even though Swedish immigrants had settled in the area in the 1600's.  Penns Grove has been home to both John Forsythe and Bruce Willis, the latter attending Penns Gorve High School.  The town boasts of many churches, many of them old enough to have employed the recipients of this postcard.

Strangely enough, the Reverend J. W. Lynch is hard to pinpoint in Penns Grove.  I will update this post with any reply from the Historical Society as to any survivors of Rev. and Mrs. Lynch.

Parliament House Motor Inn

Parliament House Motor Inn

410 N. Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Florida 32805

Phone (305) 241-6771

June 30, 1972

Hi Edna,

Was here for 2 days took a tour to Disney.  We enjoyed it very much.  Leaving for St. Augustine tomorrow.

Regards,

Marianne and Joe

Mrs. Edna Stertz?

30 Hampton Gardens

Middlesex, N. J.

Orlando residents, especially members of the Orlando LGBT community know of this mecca to all things fun and hedonistic.  It's uncertain if guests at 1972's Parliament House (just to warn you this link is very LOUD in a fun way), would stand outside their rooms on the balcony as an open invitation to come inside, but let's read the description from 40 years ago:

"120 luxurious rooms, swimming pool, excellent Restaurant and Lounge, meeting facilities for 300, 8 blocks from Downtown, ample parking space.  American Express, Diner’s Club, Bank Americard, Master Charge cards accepted.

Dancing and Entertainment"

Yep.  Things haven't changed.  I mean, look at those two boys on the paddle boats.

Okay, so the phone number has changed.  The Parliament House now has 130 rooms and the meeting facilities put a different spin on the term "meeting."   But there's still dancing and entertainment that is enjoyable, no matter your orientation.  Just don't drink anything handed to you poolside by a man in a red coat.  Trust me.

The most interesting thing about this postcard is the date, since it was just three years later that Don Granatstein and Susan Unger purchased the hotel that became the "gayest place on earth."

Middlesex, New Jersey is a borough of about 13,000 people, incorporated in 1913.  Edna's surname is a little illegible, so it makes it hard to search for her.  It's very probable that she could still be living today, or has living children.  The Middlesex County Clerk's office is not living up to its motto "The Best County in the Land!", as its land record search will not load.  Maybe it has something to do with all that radioactive waste in the landfill.

I'd like to think that somewhere, just minutes from me, Marianne, Joe and Edna are just arriving in Orlando, anticipating a warm welcome for the Red Ball, where they will dance the night away with their new "family."