A focus on family history
Monday, 20 September 1937
Pennsylvania
123 miles today
10.30 Left Spruce Hotel this morning. Cold drive through the mountains. Stayed the night at Wyoming, Mrs Ross camp. Nice old soul, gave me a pot of jam and cream, was very good to us. It was the coldest night I have ever felt. We did not have sufficient bed clothes and I had the windows open all night. We were almost frozen. 1 ¼ dollars for the 3.
2,250 ft up.
261 South 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Sunday, 19 September 1937
91 miles from New York
Left Empire Hotel N.York at 8. Through the Holland Tunnel, under the Hudson R. Came along and struck some heavy rain. Scenery poor coming along, until just before we got into Philadelphia. Drove through lovely avenue of trees for miles & miles, very fine. And nice homes, nothing palatial. Arrived at [Parker] Spruce Hotel [apparently now a dump – see a documentary about the hotel], about 1. Had lunch, then walked around the town, took bus out to Frankford, very nice suburb. Got back had tea at the automat, came back early & bed.
Philadelphia, PA
44 West 63rd Street New York, NY 10023
261 South 13th Street Philadelphia, PA 19107
Saturday, 18 September 1937
Had an early lunch and sat in the Park watching the children skating, and the horse riding, and games. Very fine park, right on the 5th avenue. Some grand palatial flats, and very high rents – did not get tired.
Thursday, 16 September 1937
Caught boat for Coney Island 25 c each. Passed statue of Liberty: took 1 ½ hours by boat, a very large place of amusement. Side shows of every description, wonderful lighting effects. After spending some hours went back by train, very tired.
Wednesday, 15 September 1937
Fine day. We walked around town, had lunch, then took coach to see N.Y., 3 ½ hours. Cost 10 / – 2 ½ $. Went to Grant’s Tomb on Riverside Drive, Rockefeller’s monies? (indecipherable) Church [Riverside Church, built by Rockefeller], fine building, also on the Drive. Passed all the notable buildings, Chrysler, and Empire building (stories 102 high) being the tallest. Then did the lower town, and the commercial, Wall St, etc, some marvelous buildings, Statue of Liberty, miles along the water front, and China Town, Jass House [James House Mansion], and Mission House, that was once an opium den. 300,000 coons [sic] here in N.Y. and 200,000 in Harlem City, Bowery, plenty of night clubs & Radio City.
New York, NY 10011
New York, NY
New York, NY
140 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036
New York, NY 10004
New York, NY
350 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10118
New York, NY 10174
490 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10027
Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10027
Tuesday, 14 September 1937
Fine. Floss and I went to town while Jack went to get a license. Went up the Empire State Building, 102 floors. Lift goes 80 floors, 6 flrs to terrace, a lecture there, another lift 16 flr 1200 high, some building. Bought some of Max Factor’s lipstick & powder. 3 / each.
Wrote letters
Monday, 13 September 1937
A very wet day, pouring so went to 2 pictures shows. Colbert in I met him in Paris and it was still very wet so went to Jean Harlow in Saratoga. Enjoyed both of them. Both shows cost 10 c each. Had hamburgers in the show. Later Floss went to the shops to get some food, and got lost for 2 hours, at last she got back when we had tea. Went to bed early, very wet and miserable.
Sunday, 12 September 1937
Started off on our 250 mile trip to N. York, left the camp about 8.30, lovely driving, pulled up for lunch on the wayside. Had a good drive, arriving on the Riverside Drive, and the Hudson River on the other side, cars like ants, about 8 abreast could not move, could never imagine such thick traffic, and we struck it about 6 – New York is an eye opener, the buildings are terrific, after trying several hotels, came to the Empire on Broadway. 2 dollars a night, so we have booked in for a week, leaving next Sunday morning, the foreign legion arrives that day.
New York, NY
44 West 63rd Street New York, NY 10023
Saturday, 11 September 1937
Left Ford Hotel for Plattsburgh. Passing the border, had our luggage all hauled out of the bus to pass the customs. Had to open all mine. Held the bus up for some time. Got to Plattsburgh. Jack [Spriggins] left us to buy a car, and in 2 hours, we were well on our way to New York, packed in a Essex Sedan for £15 – $75. Had a lovely trip, good country, roads fine. Did over 100 miles, so pulled up at an auto camp, stayed the night. 1 dollar each. 35 cents for use of kitchen. 2 bedrooms, nice furnished and very clean. Had a good tea and went to bed early. Car went well.
QC, Canada