Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 10 Nov: Embarking aboard the S.S. Monterey

Wednesday, 10 November 1937

Dr & Mrs Montries, Bella, Reg, Flora drove me down to the boat, 25 miles from Beverly Hills, in a Pierce Arrow car – Reg bought bottle of whisky to give me a good send off. Boat [S.S. Monterey] to leave at 10. Good crowd aboard, Pat O’Brien & wife, movie star.  Met Mabel & Fred [Thearle, friends from London], has she bought some lovely clothes. Had fox cape on, looking the goods. Several of the Moldavia passengers on board also. Stayed talking to Mabel until 11.30.

SS Monterey of the Matson Line
SS Monterey of the Matson Line

SS Monterey of the Matson Line

[Picture of the S.S. Monterey in Sydney Harbour]

Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 26 Oct: Eureka to San Francisco, CA – miles

Frisco

Tuesday, 26 October 1937

Had a lovely drive through the Redwood Forest, very fine, largest and tallest trees in the world. Got as far as Santa Rosa – con rod broke in the car – arrived in Frisco about 8, in a very heavy fog. Crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, cost us 2/ – Drove through the city, all very gay the lights, trouble in finding a Camp – got one in Mission Rd. for 2.75 a night for the three – after tea, went to the phone, rang Belle Allen [Allan]. Got an awful shock when I told her who I was. Promised to meet her tomorrow at 11.

[Isabella McRitche (nee Allan) was the wife of Thirza’s uncle, Arthur John McRitchie who was born in Sydney, NSW, Australia in December 1869, only 10 years older than Thirza. He married Isabella Allan (b. June 1874) in 1896 in Sydney and they had two daughters born in Sydney, Florabelle in 1897 and Jane in 1900. The family migrated to San Francsico, California in Dec 1906 where a son, William (Bill) James was born in 1907. Arthur was a carpenter and it is suspected that he had moved to the San Francisco area to help in the rebuilding of the city following the devastating 1906 earthquake. Florabelle had married Reg Goldwater and Jane (Jean) was married to a Peter ? at the time of Thirza’s visit.]

San Francisco, CA 94112

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA 94129

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