Boston, Bangor, Karlsbad, and the Great White Fleet
Katheryn McMahon Newton album, cards 46-49
Three of the four cards included in today’s post went to Anna McMahon, or another Miss McMahon, on State Street. They’re an interesting array of images, nevertheless for two the reverse offers the possibility to tease out more connections between the Miss McMahons and their correspondents.
First up: Boston. This card, as with others sent from the northeastern U.S., came from J.T.R. Alas, I still have no clue what those initials stand for. It is of a Boston image, and was sent from Boston (Back Bay Station, specifically) on 12 July 1907.
Then there’s these two cards from different parts of Europe–Bangor in Wales and Karlsbad in Germany. For these I’m including the images and the reverses.
You see the similarity? Odds are, Billy sent both cards. (No, still no clue as to his last name.) If you check back to the posts containing cards 27 and 33, those also bear addresses and/or inscriptions arguably from the same Billy. Those cards, however, were addressed to “Kitty” McMahon at the Atlas School Supply Company. Given the shared surname and the fact that Katheryn wound up with some of Anna’s postcards, odds were that they were related. Yet the separate addresses (and the danger of presuming too much based on a potentially common last name) allowed for some doubt.
Now, these cards combine to indicate a shared correspondence, and increase the odds that Katheryn and Anna are some kind of relations. It would also be interesting to compare the correspondence Billy sent them–if only he (?) were a . . . more interesting correspondent. Ah well, one can’t have everything.
And now on to a card from Fred who, as usual, offers a variety of details and sentiments.
In this case, I neglected to rotate the image of the reverse, so you’re getting an opportunity to read the inscription where the postmark stamped over. Let’s just say I’m very pleased that Fred has such legible handwriting (I’ve many examples from people who don’t–and if the blog goes on long enough you’ll see them sooner or later.)
Fred squeezes two messages onto this card, a brief one on the front and a longer on the back. For the front, he advises her that “The officers of the fleet were entertained here Decorations day + had a full uniform dress ball in the eve The decorations are still up + they are beautiful.” Mind, he’s not referring to just any fleet but the Great White Fleet, a group of Navy ships that circumnavigated the globe on the orders of President Theodore Roosevelt (he of “speak softly and carry a big stick”). Decorations Day is now known as Memorial Day, so the ball was held in May and the decorations still in place at least a week later.
Then there’s his longer message, much also focused on the sea.
Dearie: You dont know how I wish you were with me this P.M. We had a fine trip on yes the “Minneapolis” coming over sea was smooth but there is always a nice swell that is most enjoyable Trip took us 2 hours + a quarter we are all going to have a fine table-de-Hote dinner + will leave at 7.15 for Seattle. I am a fine sailor now dont know what it is to be s-s. Oh if you knew how I miss you on all these little Sunday trips. What is the most surprising thing is the sights you can see the [unclear] you can have for so little. Tacoma is 48 miles from S[eattle]. The Steam Ship Companys are always fighting each other
Fred Newton to Katheryn McMahon, 7 June 1908
Here Fred’s offering details about traveling around the Puget Sound. The implication is that going to Tacoma can be a day trip for him–a Sunday day trip–sail down in a little over two hours and then return that evening after a nice dinner at a hotel. Who he went with isn’t clear, possibly some of the other men with whom he shares lodging. He’s taking advantage of a buyer’s market–since, if we trust him, there are a number of steam ship companies offering competitive rates.
Once I’ve processed all of the cards, it will be interesting to see where this falls in his various jaunts, for work and pleasure.
“Boston, Bangor, Karlsbad, and the Great White Fleet,” copyright 2021, A.R. Henle.
