July 18, 1911 Grandma travels by Steamer

Moonlight view of D&C Co's Steamer "City of Cleveland", Lake Erie, originally uploaded by morgazgc.

July 18, 1911, originally uploaded by morgazgc.

 Tues. morning.  I know you all wonder why you did not receive word Tues. but I wrote a postal on train, but we were nearly 2 hrs. late arriving in Detroit so we had to go direct to our steamer.  We are getting along fine.  Cecil is doing his best trying to take care of M. [Mary presumably], H. [Helen?] & myself.  We girls got up at 4:30 this morning.  We had a hard time getting to breakfast for there was so many a head of us.  It will be about 3 hours before we arrive in Buffalo.  (1600 on board.)  (Gladys)

Grandma is off on another adventure -- five more cards to come from this trip!

Information is available about the "City of Cleveland" steamer which because of a fire while under construction in 1907, did not go into service until 1908.  Designed to carry 4,500 passengers (so it could have been even more crowded) with sleeping accomodations for 1,500, the City of Cleveland was over 400 feet long and was the first boat on the lakes to have a grand salon three decks high.  Another website reports that the steamer was in a collision with a Norwegian freighter in Lake Huron in 1950, in which four passengers were lost, did not sail again and was scrapped at Buffalo NY in 1956.  One large bronze ship's bell labeled City of Cleveland was sold at aunction in 2005 for $9,100 and is currently on display at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle in Detroit.  [Dad, have you been there?]

Mama and Santa

September 2, 1910 Grandma takes Traction

Post Office, Cincinnati, O., originally uploaded by morgazgc.

September 2, 1910, originally uploaded by morgazgc.

Fri.  Am having a lovely time.  We are now in Harrison.  Going into City tomorrow morning.  Do not worry for we are getting along fine.  Do not expect ... to you see me come home home Sun. night for only bought a round trip ticket from Hillsboro over traction so I suppose we will come home on traction.  If L. & I come alone we will come up on 8:10 but if Cecil comes with us we may not come until 10:10.  Went to Conf. yesterday at W. Hill.  Has not yet rained a drop.  G.H.   I may know then when I will come home.  If I write tomorrow you will receive it Sun. morning. 

So the questions here about Grandma would be:  Why is she in Harrison?  Who is "L"?  What does Cecil have to do with this trip since he may or may not be accompanying them home?  Was the Conference in West Hillsboro or some W. Hill part of Cincinnati?  There was Sunday mail service?  This was mailed on Friday, 9/2/1910 and would have been the beginning of Labor Day Weekend, which became a national holiday in 1894.


Traction?  Now that's an interesting subject!  Turns out "Traction" is another name for Electric Railroad (now in Phoenix, called Light Rail) and there was a C&C - Cincinnati & Columbus line, which opened in 1906 between Hillsboro and Norwood, at the edge of Cincinnati.  Line was never extended further north than Hillsboro, was badly damaged in a 1913 flood, and was abandoned in 1920.  An interesting article on Cincinnati Traction History has more information about this line, as well as the CM&B (Cincinnati, Milford & Blanchester) line.  The article includes pictures (taken in 2008) showing the ROW (Right of Way) of the C&C and says the end of the line, was at the Highland County Courthouse in Hillsboro, looking northwest at the corner of Main and High Streets. The C&C looped around the courthouse.  Here's picture #110 of 111 of the C&C Route along W. Main Street in Hillsboro, looking west. N. Elm Street is at the second stop light, the B&O yards are at the bottom of the hill.

June 14, 1910 Helen to Grandma

Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, O., originally uploaded by morgazgc.

June 14, 1910, originally uploaded by morgazgc.

Dear Gladys, -- Didn't you [have] a grand time but I know you did. I took a good look at Westboro as I went through. Auntie and I went down town this morning and went in several of the stores and there were so many things I wanted but if I had bought everything I wouldn't have gotten home. Please write 5341 Woodbridge Ave. Helen

This is a card from Grandma's friend to her, possibly commenting on Westboro because of Cecil. Helen later travels with Grandma on her second trip to Niagara Falls, but that is mentioned in a postcard yet to come. Both Grandma and Helen use this sideways writing style, which may have been common to their age (or just to them) as all of the non-family postcards I have from this era do not write sideways on the card.

KC

Somebody has a birthday coming up!!

Recognize anyone?