Canal record

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DECEMBER 1950






































Officers of the Panama Canal Society of Florida, for 1950 are shown above and are, left to right:
Seated, John F. Warner, Bradenton, founder of the organization; Mrs. Lucille S. Judd, St. Petersburg,
secretary-treasurer; Charles H. Beetham, Tampa, life chaplain; standing, Earle BrowrnGulfport, successor
to Warner as editor of the organization's quarterly news bulletin; John K. Baxter, Cocoa, columnist; Fred
C. Whaler, St. Petersburg, vice president; Abraham L. Brill, St. Petersburg, corresponding secretary; and
Walter L. Hersh, St. Petersburg, president.









THE PANAMA CANAL SOCIETY OF FLORIDA
To preserve American Ideals and andl Zone Friendships
P. Q. BOX 249-STAT. or. PETERSUR 2. PLORIOA

WALTER L. MIdRSH F. A. ANDERSQN
PRS-4mQ H. H. HUD9QN
FRoEini. .,j "n' DAN KE ,,WRI

MRS. LuCILc e. JUDD G. T. TARPLN9f R

A ORRAISA ON L ECRTaRI MRS. ETTA H. CONKERTON

EARLE BROWN MR. J. W.
NEWR SJIT M MRS J. F. EV:R5TF
JOHN K. BAXT PANi
GOLUMNIM
CHAR.LE H. EIsT-AM December 15, 1950
bl.N
Dear friends:
RmREEurTATVrnv
. C.DIXON Remember toe old CANAL BECORD you received every

J.E..ASON week during construction days telling how work on the
DAVTONA BBCH
H. R. HOFFNRR
o .;a Big Ditgh was progressing, quoting latest commissary
0. R. HUNRSR
OAU prices, and movqaents of ocean vessels along with so-
qUY JOHANNEi
*AEDI.O"O city notes?
CLAUDE A. OTT

PAT LOV Never since its birth ha4 your Society's quarter-

WARREN ,OVa ly had a name and the christening is overdue for this
A T9.PETRMuII

*1'.A' lusty child born iLthe spring of 1947 as successor te
J. H. NIERET
Jmn...v.t the a wsletter formerly seat out at frequent intervals
. PARMN* IS
cL.w,,,, for many years by Mr. John F. Warner of bradenton, Fla.,
C. J. POST
T. *AusuN@ql
the Founder of your Society.

r. F. WARNIB So to celebrate the changeover to offset printing


.A ,P..ma,. effective with tis issue and with the kind permission
R. S. HOUflN
p. c. oGQMA of Canal authorities your newsletter has beennamed the
c. a. MITCHEL,
C. H. IEg2uAM
w. n. ,xL-. "CANA4 RECORD."
R W. SAW
J. W. W lION&
M. C. cAI Here's hoping that you will like tbe "RECORD" in
J. P. RVERvm

its new dress and that itwill continue for many years
ANNUAL DUES:
$3.00 PER YEAR
to bring to you the news of the Canal and its workers

stLU $tie Isthmus or scattered over the united States

and nearby countries.

On this occasion the officers of your Society tlke

pleasure in extending to a.l of you their best wishes

for a VERY MERRY ;iRISTiALAS sad a HAPPY :;NE YEAR.



Fraternally yours,


WALTER L. /EBSS
Presidght









-News From Everywhere -


Correspondent Claude Ott of Mi-
ami advises that chapter held a
summer meeting at the R.O. Shueys'
fishing camp on Key Largo. Visit-
ors included the Charles Persons
of San Gabriel, Calif., and the
Anthony Fernandez on vacation from
the Zone. The Miami gang's next
meeting was scheduled for Coronado
Park, Miami on December 10th, too
late to report on in this issue.
The James Macfarlanes of Hava-
na, Cuba returned in September
from their round-the-world trip
lasting four months. Mac says,
"the high spot was passing through
the Canal. We were taken off ship
at Cristobal, met at landing stage
by Fritz Williams who showed us
every courtesy and drove us to Gus
Medinger's home in Gamboa. Later
Gus took us through the cut in his
launch and drove .s around the new
town of Diablo Heights then on
to Balboa lunch at Tivoli Hotel
and visited some old friends in
Panama. Rejoined ship at Balboa."
Librarian Mrs. Mary Brewerton
of Sanford, Fla., wrote early in
October that daughter, Mathilde
is living in Alexandria, Va. while
husband, Cammander Blesh is sta-
tioned at the Pentagon in Washing-
ton. Son, Henry and wife were
planning a vacation in Puerto Rico
in November with a stopover at San-
ford. Sada Page and Louise Hanna
are expected there about November
1st for the winter.Mrs. Brewerton
plans to spend the Xmas holidays
up north with her children.
Ezra Haldeman of Houston,Texas
says he and Mrs. Halderman spent
the summer in Wisconsin and drop-
ped in on the Henry Griesers at
Ann Arbor, Mich., on the way back.
They have been helping the Lee
Wrights get settled in their new
home in Houston and entertained
Mrs. Daniels and son, Bob, late
in September. They were on their
way back to the Zone.
The G. Lee Wrights took time
out from unpacking to tell us "as
you know there are a number of for-
mer Canal employees living in Hous-
ton and on several occasions have
had the pleasure of visiting them.
Among these have been Ted and Mamie
Sundquist, Milton Smith and family,
the Charlie Palmer family, Joe Orr
and his Mrs. who recently bought a
place in South Houston close by the


Sundquists, and Nathan Levy and
wife." The Wrights and Haldermans
plan to be with us next reunion.
The September report from Mon-
rovia staffer, Gus Hoecker arrived
a day too late for inclusion in
our last issue but the news is
still of interest; Lt. Comdr. W.W.
Jones, son of the W. A. Jones for-
merly of Balboa has returned to
Annapolis for a three year post-
graduate course in atomic energy
engineering. He was one of twenty
officers chosen from the entire
Navy for this honor; about thirty
Monrovians celebrated July 4th with
a potluck picnic at the home of
the W.A. Naylors formerly of Gatun;
another picnic was held July llth
at Bixby Park in Long Beach in hon-
or of Mrs. Leah Dugan with 35 in
attendance; Henry Needham, quite
ill a few months ago, is up and
around, and getting quite well;
Capt. Maurenus Peterson also on
the sicklist recently is recover-
ing rapidly since returning to nis
home; Mrs. Norma Stillwell Martin
and three sons have returned from
Japan and are with her parents in
Monrovia. Hoecker says Capt. Mar-
tin's return has been deferred
"due to a slight disturbance in
Korea." (An understatement if we
ever heard one); the H.M. Lockwoods
and daughter Jean have returned
from an extensive tour of the eas-
tern and central part of the coun-
try; Mrs. Dorothy Hoecker Welty
and infant daughter, Frances of
San Francisco were summer visitors
with her parents, the A.G. Hoeck-
ers of Monrovia. recent additions
to this growing colony are the
Harry Adams family of Cristobal
who have purchased a home in Arca-
dia. The Meade Boltons who bought
in Altedena, and the John M. Kings
who now reside in Monrovia; most
recent visitors were the Sidney
Randolphs.
The mailbag is crammed full as
usual with letters from Maine to
the state of Washington and Flori-
da to Southern California. It is
pleasant to think that so many
hundreds of us who were friends
and neighbors for the better part
of our working lives can still
keep in touch with each other four
times each year by this medium.
The Tom Jordans write from Bid-
deford, Maine that the weather has








been so mild they have delayed
their departure for Florida. The
Jordans and Dick Taylors spent sev-
en months at their camp this sum-
mer and the Taylors were still
there on November 15th. You had
better begin packing, folks, that
good weather can't last much long-
er.
The Charlie Camerons who have
recently celebrated their 41st
wedding anniversary are spending
the winter in Bradenton, Fla. and
we hope to see them at the next
Society meeting.
Beatrice Morgan writes from
Brooklyn, N. Y. that she is busy
nursing and sees little of her
scattered family. Sister, Laura,
Mrs. F. D. Sinclair, lives in La
Jolla, Calif., and has three chil-
dren, sister Jean, Mrs. H.W. Mate,
is in Oak, Ridge, Ten., and Fern,
Mrs. J. Gordon Wise is in Larch-
mont. N. Y. Brother Bill is in
Rose Hill School, Chester Heights,
Penna. The Morgan family lived
in Pedro Miguel for many years.
The Society is pleased to wel-
come the L. W. (Duke) lewises into
the fold and hopes they find a
nice home up there in the hills
around Hendersonville, N. C. Re-
member folks its only an overnight
trip to St. Pete to the Reunion
in February.
Miss Minnie J. James, for many
years head Saleswoman in Cristobal
and Balboa Commissaries writes
fromNew Philadelphia, Ohio that
she use to be a member of the
Chicago Society. Niece, Roberta
Burmaster is now the wife of Dr.
W. W. Walker, Memphis, Tenn., and
has two sons, both married and
both planning to be doctors. Miss
James has been in Ohio for twenty-
two years where she has raised
four nephews who were orphaned at
an early age. Why not join up
with us, Miss James, and keep in
touch with all your old friends?
E. K. Brown of Tacoma, Wash.
says he worked at Cristobal Coal-
ing Plant from 1916 to 1922 and
recently, after six years with the
Air Force at McChord Field, Wash-
ington, was retired on disability
in March, 1947. The Browns plan
a trailer trip to California and
Arizona this winter and hope to
reacn Florida eventually. Plan
on being here for the Reunion,
folks.
Mrs. Gertrude Carr, we mention-
ed in our last issue, being elig-
ible for an Oldtimers pension she
had never claimed, has been locat-
ed and writes from Santa Barbara
that she left the Zone forty years


ago after going tnere as a bride.
She lives with one of her sons and
the other is in St. Louis, Mo.
In an interesting letter from
Corpus Christi, Texas, Dr. C. A.
-iearne, formerly of Cristobal,
tells more about John J. ioran
whose passing is mentioned in the
obituary column. The doctor says
Moran was very modest and never
mentioned his great service to nu-
manity, that he married one of the
daughters of a Cuban doctor in
Panama and joined his brother-in-
law Jose mistelli in the jewelry
business after leaving Canal ser-
vice. 'e wouldn't be surprised
if he was the mioran of ioran and
Ford, wellknown jewelers of Panama
City for many years. ,earne says,
"His modesty and self-effacement
should be an example to all of us."
This nero's remains belong in Ar-
lington Cemetary.
Lothrop and Amy Loring nave
sold their home in Brunswick, mne.
and have purchased another built
on land Mir. Loring's father once
owned in Yarmouth, eie. Mrs. Lor-
ing says houses seldom come up for
sale in that area and they were
lucky to capture it. They are
thrilled and contented, but tired
from moving.
Mrs. Oakley Vineyard of this
town who is one of our most active
colonists has an article "Why
Flower Arrangement" in the Novem-
ber issue of the magazine "Green
Thumb Gardener."
Walter C. Cope, retired lock
operator from Pedro Miguel has
purchased a home in Orlando, Fla.
and plans to take possession next
spring.
B. R. Betz, Sr. advises from
Topeka, Kansas that son, Bert is
working in Kansas City and daugh-
ter, Theresa Taylor lives in King-
sley, Kansas where her husband is
manager of a lumber company. They
have two children.
The Tommy Sawyers of Henderson-
ville, N.C. were hosts to the Can-
al colony in that vicinity on Hal-
loween when they gave a kids cos-
tume party. 'ie bet the cider had
a kick in it.
One of the most exclusive organ-
izations in this city is the Three
Quarter Century Softball Club. It
has two teams waich fight it out
three times weekly during tne win-
ter season. Ae are proud to re-
port that Canal Oldtimer Roy vic-
Kenna after a long wait has final-
ly made the team. Of course we
can't expect much from Roy the
first year but the club president
is 94 so there is plenty of time








fl -Roy. There will be lots of
Oldtimers watching the Kids and
Kubs do their stuff this winter.
Thanks to F. J. Swanson for the
20th Annual Edition of the Kilgore,
Texas News Herald which contained
a picture of twenty-four oil wells
on about half a city block.
The Elmer Haws have moved into
their new home at 10640 Rustic
Road, Seattle, Wash. They had Dr.
and Mrs. W. H. Grant and son, Bill
and family, and the F. B. (Barney)
Coyles as summer visitors.
From rrs. Jeannie C. Perry
comes word that her father, con-
struction Oldtimer Edward Burdge,
retired fifteen years ago, is in
good health and living with the
Perrys in Ellensburg, Wash. where
they have a mink ranch. Mrs. Per-
ry's brother, Billy Burdge, is mar-
ried and living in Cincinnati.
James W. Landers and wife, El-
len recently celebrated their sil-
ver wedding anniversary with a six
weeks trip to Hawaii along with
five other couples including the
Billy Hughes formerly of Pedro
Miguel. Son, Leonard, now with
the American President S. S. Line
arranged a party on the S. S. Pres-
ident Polk when she stopped at San
Francisco this summer on her way
around the world with the James W.
McFarlanes aboard. Among those
present in addition to the guests
of honor were the Billy Stones of
San Francisco, the William E.
Hughesof Pasadena, and the Landers.
Son, Leonard and wife are now set-
tled in a fine new home built in
San Mateo, Calif.
J. G. De Cora of Los Angeles
sends greetings to J. F. Warner,
Oscar R. Hunter and all his other
friends, says he works with a bro-
ker named Chester M. Alexander who
used to know Bob Glaw well.
William P. Smith of Phoenix,
Ariz. says he was employed at the
New Gatun Pumping Plant and other
places from 1910 to 1922 and once
quit to operate a moving picture
show in New Gatun. He has been
living in Phoenix since 1929.
At last we have a letter from
Irene Woods, daughter of Oldtime
Conductor Daddy Woods who never
let anyone ride for free if he
could help it. Irene will be re-
membered as the girl who held open
house seven nights a week in the
Woods cottage behind the Tivoli,
presiding in a wheelchair. She
was a wizard at hearts or whatever
they called canasta in those days
and we bet she is yet. Irene says
she is keeping "Old Maids Home" in
Richmond, California and hasa young


couple living with her. She start-
ed with them from Minnesota last
summer to get her a rich farmer
with a Cadillac but had to part
company at Salt Lake City due to
car sickness and returned to Cal-
ifornia by train after seeingsome
of the sights of Salt Lake. She
sees quite a few Zonians from time
to time and would love to hear
from all the folks she used toknow
on the Zone. You can reach her
at 733 Barrett Ave., Richmond,
Calif. Goodbye now, Irene. Please
write more often.
Mrs. E. C. Bartlett, new mem-
ber from Vancouver, Wash., says
husband Emin was a steamshovel man
who left the Zone in 1914 after
seven years service. Mrs. B., the
former Minnie Whiston was a tele-
phone operator at Corozal for two
years.
Mrs. Ella Piper of New Dorp,
Staten Island,N.Y. says she had a
wonderful time visiting the Zone
recently, but the place is not
like it used to be. Says the new
houses are beautiful, but the old
ones seem more homey. We hope to
see her down here in February.
Thomas M.Walsh of Newark, N. J.
underwent an operation in August
and expects to enter a hospital
again soon. We hope. he will drop a
line and let us know how he makes
out.
Clark and Bess Julien who left
the Isthmus in 1917 are now at 407
West Hudson Ave., Dayton 6, Ohio,
and would like to see old friends
traveling their way. They visited
Florida this summer and saw the
Beethams in Tampa, Mrs. Mary Hunt-
er in Orlando, and the Dennises in
De Land.
Genial Tom Shirley, retired
from snatching tickets on the PRR,
reports Matt Robinson and wife ar-
rived in October from California
for the winter, and former Cristo-
bal Pilot Gus Kolle and his misses
live in Russelville, Ark. about 75
miles from Hot Springs. How about
being our regular Hot Springs cor-
respondent, Tom?
The R. B. Potters of this city
were injured and their car virtual-
ly wrecked in an accident a few
miles North of the Cape Charles
Ferry to Norfolk, Va. on Atlantic
Coast Route 13. They were on their
way back to Florida in September
following a tour of the eastern
states and Canada, and as they
were passing a lumber truck the
driver, without warning, suddenly
made a left turn and the Potter
car was driven under the center of
the truck midway between the front








and rear wheels. Mr.Potter escap-
ed with minor injuries, but his
wife sustained a broken leg and
other injuries and was taken to
John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore
where it was necessary to wire the
break. The Potters have since re-
turned home and we are glad to re-
port that Mrs. Potter is now able
to get about on crutches.
De Land,Florida news from the
Curtis J. Firestines: Dr. and Mrs.
J. L. Byrd of Cristobal were recent
visitors with the Firestines while
on vacation which included stops at
Decatur, Ga., where they visited
with son, Jesse,Jr. who is attend-
ing college there and Craig Field,
Selma, Ala. where daughter, Carol
Hirsh, husband and two grandchil-
dren reside. The Byrds sent greet-
ings to all their friends and re-
gret that bad weather at the time
prevented driving to St. Pete.....
Mrs. Byrd, prominent Atlantic Side
artist, held a one woman exhibi-
tion of her paintings at the Hotel
Washington late in June...Mrs.Asta
Diers, formerly of Colon, is liv-
ing in De Land while son, Frank is
working for his Master's degree at
Stetson University.......Courtney
Lindsay who spent some time at the
Veteran's Hospital at Lake City,
Fla. Last summer is home again but
not fully recovered..The Ed Lights
and Vern Calloways were recent
visitors.....New residents in De
Land from the Zone are the E. P.
Bugbys and George J. Hoffmans whose
address would be welcomed by the
Society.
The many friends of John Chris-
tianson of Tampa will be sorry to
learn that he has been sick since
July but is improving and is now
able to get around on crutches.
Winter visitors to Florida in-
clude: Mrs. Marie G. Coffey, Peter
Greening who is with the S. J.
Shreves, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Warner-
in Bradenton with daughter, Dr.
Majorie Warner, Mr. and Mrs. Ed
Light who have an apartment near
their friends the S. J. Shreves,
the P. G. Mac Gregors who are at
the Wever Hotel, Mrs. Wilimina
Franson who is with her mother in
Tampa, Capt. Dan and Mrs.'Eggles-
ton who have been up north with
their daughters and families all
summer, and William H. Payne.
Among St. Pete visitors during
the summer were: the Albert Kor-
sans of Milwaukee, Wis. Mrs.Kor-
san is the former Lucille Jordan,
long a Zone resident, Capt. and
Mrs. George Boomer, Walter Cope of
Pedro iiiguel, Doris Hutchinson of
Balboa who was with her parents,


the Charles L. Persons of Califor-
nia who were on an extensive motor
trip (we hope their next visit will
be a permanent one), Mr. and Mrs.
Newell Shaw of Pedro Miguel, the
B.C. Hallocks of Willimatio, Conn.,
Mr. and Mrs.Justus Klemmer of Bal-
boa who were with Mr. Klemmers'
.parents, Dr. and Mrs. C. C. Clay
of Cristobal, Mrs. Reva Starke of
Cristobal who visited her sister
and brother-in-law, the C. F. Con-
kertons, A. V. Rose, Albert and
Sally McKeown from the Zone, John
S. Palmer and wife of Cristobal
who were with Mr. Palmer's parents
in Gulfport.
About people you know: Dr. T.
L. Casserly, retired former Mindi
Dairy manager who has resided in
Corozal since, has pulled up
stakes and he and Mrs. Casserly
plan to settle somewhere in the
States. Come on down to Florida,
Doc, there is still plenty of
room here.......The Bob Wilcoxes,
prominent Atlantic side residents
for many years have arrived at
the Hotel Washington in Colon from
their home in Miami Beach for their
annual visit.....Mrs. Elsie Green-
wood of Wellston, Ohio, is spend-
ing the winter with her daughter
and son-in-law, Lova and Leonard
Burgess in Hot Springs, Ark.......
...Capt. and Mrs.G. W. Penseyres,
formerly of Gatun are now living
at 409 East Fourth Ave., Braden-
ton, Fla......Clinton (Pop) Reese,
long with the fire department in
Cristobal, has sold his home in
Cresco, Pa., he and Mrs.Reese plan
to build a place in St. Pete......
...Mrs. Michael Conley has re-
turned home after a six months
visit with son, Leo and family
in Ft. Worth, Texas......Another
recent Texas visitor was Mrs. E.F.
Hewitt of this city who visited
her daughter, Helen, now Mrs. Ed
Alexander....Mr. and Mrs. S. Harry
Sullivan, formerly of Cristobal,
have purchased a home at 820 39th
Ave., North, this city........Sam
Paulus, Atlantic side employee
for many years, is in the hospital
and lonesome for news from his old
friends. They can write him at
the Bendel Clinic, Room 318, 70
Wright, Monroe, La........William
Darling, who usually arrives here
early in November, had his heart
kick up on him and is in the Beter.
an's Hospital, Kingsbridge Road,
Bronx, N.Y., but hopes to get down
here soon.....Vice-Consul and Mrs.
George R. Bingham formerly sta-
tioned at Port Said, Egypt are vis-
iting Mrs. Bingham's parents, the
George C. Thurgoods of St. Pete,









enroute to Mexico City, Mr. Bing-
ham's next post.
From Roger Erdman comes news c
the Washington Society's Dinner,
held on November llth at the Broad-
more Hotel in honor of the memory
of the late John Joseph Bridges who
passed away last June. Employed on
the Canal from 1907 to 1916, Mr.
Bridges performed most important
service toward the enactment of the
socalled Bridges Bill covering an-
nuity legislation in behalf of the
Builders of the Canal. Tributes
were paid by Mr.W.D.Johnson, Vice-
President of the National Legisla-
tive Representative, Order ofRail-
road Conductors, the principal
speaker, and by surviving Oldtim-
ers of the Construction Era.
Cards of thanks have been rece-
ived from: Mrs. Frank IH. Anderson
of Indianapolis, Ind. for sympathy
extended at the death of Mr.Ander-
son; Miss Adelaid Mackereth of the
Detroit Hotel, this city,for flow-
ers during her recent illness;
from Vi and Jimmie Bergis for flow-
ers when both were confined to hos-
pitals from which,we are happy to
report, they have emerged full of
pep and with a new lease on life.
A card of thanks has been re-
ceived from Mrs. R. Heber Sterns
and family for flowers sent by the
Society to the funeral of the late
Mr. Sterns.
News has been received that
Mrs. Meade Bolton, now living in
California received a compound
fracture of the left ankle in an
automobile accident recently, and
was hospitalized under the care of
a specialist.
Prospective Florida residents
are the Howard H. Dworaks of the
Pacific side who have purchased a
home in Gulfport where we under-
stand they plan to reside afterre-
tirement.
"Bouquette" Pop Wright, 88
years young, is still going strong
in San Antonio, Texas where he
lives with his daughter and her
husband, the Frank L. Coreys.
Mrs. Fred D. Doeler, the form-
er Bobbie W`haler of Balboa, has
resigned her position with the
Canal and is now with her parents,
the Fred Whalers here in St. Pete.
Mr. Dowler has accepted a position
with the Arabian-American Oil Co.,
and is enroute to Bahrein on the
Persian Gulf where Mrs. Dowler
plans to join him later after com-
pletion of a course in accounting
and shorthand here.
The Arthur Beards of Oakdale,
Calif., along with the Harvey Mc


Conaughys motored down to Monrovia
in October to visit friends. They
report the Jack Dyers are now in
the San Francisco Bay region where
they may settle to be near daught-
er, Shirley who lives in Modesto.
The Beards had as recent visitors
Claude and Vera Howell who live in
Walnut Creek where Mrs. Howell op-
erates a beauty salon.
The J. W. Hears say that most
of their children have been there
for visits recently including Cap-
tain Jack and bride, former Gorgas
Hospital nurse, Ethel Krziza. The
Hearns are Just twenty miles from
Meridian, Miss., and hope friends
traveling that way will stop for a
visit. Their address is in the
latest yearbook.

SOCIETY NEWS

Secretary Treasurer Lucille
Judd reports there are still 59
members who have not yet completed
payment of their dues for 1950 even
though two notices have been sent
them. While it is believed that
most of these failures to pay are
due to oversight it is necessary to
inform all concerned that unless
payment is received soon their
names will not appear in the 1951
Yearbook which goes to press on
January 15th. Please look at your
Society membership cards NOW and if
they do not cover 1950 mail $3.00
at once along with your dues for
1951 which are due in January.


A HORD ABOUT THE "RECORD" IN ITS
NEW DRESS: With this issue we be-
gin the printing of your "Record"
by offset which will enable us to
include photographs and drawings
from time to time, will be much
less trouble to prepare for mail-
ing, which is getting to be quite
a chore for the volunteer workers
here, and will we hope be less ex-
pensive also. For those who may
not be familiar with it, offset
printing is done by photographing
the material to be printed. The
copper negatives are then put on
rollers in the printing machines
and the printing is done directly
from them. We hope you will like
it and we will welcome your sug-
gestions for improvement. We will
also be glad to receive any photo-
graphs or other material you may
consider suitable but cannot prom-
ise to print as space will not al-
ways permit it. When mailing mat-
erial please explain it fully for
publication and state if you wish
to have it returned.









^F-iZ -Bulletin Board ----

The following Canal retirements, divisions, and years of service,
have been reported since our last issue:


Mrs. Lillian M. Abrams,
Gorges Hospital, 16 yrs.
Edward C. Bigelow,
Finance Dept., 35 yrs.
Teddie I. Bozeman,
Municipal, 24 yrs.
Fred W. Bradley,
Pacific Locks, 37 yrs.
Claude D. Campbell,
Gamboa Pump Plant, 26 yrs.
James J. Cullen,
Fire Dept., 34 yrs.
William E. Dobson,
Mechanical, 31 yrs.
Peter G. Flynn,
Ferry Service, 29 yrs.
John D. Gallivan,
Oil Handling Plant, 39 yrs.
James W. Grayson,
Gamboa Pump Plant, 27 yrs.
Mrs. Lubelle H. Hayes,
Local Rate Records, 12 yrs.
Elmer P. Hogle,
Marine, 10 yrs.
William M. Michaux,
Mechanical, 26 yrs.
Henry V. Pilot,
Electrical, 30 yrs.
James E. Tennion,
Locks, 24 yrs.
Edward C. Townsend,
iAechanical, 16 yrs.
Ovide J. Basque,
Municipal, 10 yrs.
Adam J. Dorn,
Pacific Locks, 34 yrs.
Leon S. Fishbough,
Terminals, 32 yrs.
Archie M. Gibson,
Commissary, 39 yrs.
William B. Jones,
Customs, 24 yrs.


For Youn

Dick Mallett and Jerry Ashton,
two of the outstanding swimmers
on the Canal Zone for the past de-
cade, are now attending Ohio State
University where, we expect, they
will soon be breaking some swim-
ming records....Julien P. Hackett
and family of Margarita who left
the Isthmus on vacation on Sept.
29th were involved in a traffic
accident about seventy miles from
St.Louis, Mo., and were taken to
Barnes Hospital in that city. Hac-
kett was reported to have several
broken ribs while Mrs. Hackett had
one leg crushed,the other leg cut,
and she also sustained facial in-


Captain Kieth Tracy,
Marine, 22 yrs.
Walter B. Tragsdorf,
Terminals, 31 yrs.
Earnest Williams,
P. R. R., 17 yrs.
Sergeant John T. Wohlfarth,
Police, 30 yrs.
Frank H. Wolf,
Coaling Plant, 41 yrs.
Clarence Elie,
Library, 38 yrs.
William F. Heuring,
Building, 8 yrs.
Fred C. Hicks,
Mechanical, 12 yrs.
David C. Huff,
P. R. R., 24 yrs.
Lt. Enio Lindstrom,
Police, 29 yrs.
Mrs. Myrtle E. McCall,
Finance Dept., 29 yrs.
William M. Montgomery,
Post Office, 11 yrs.
John E. Pearre,
Mechanical, 26 yrs.
Grace S. Schack,
Finance Dept., 17 yrs.
L. W. Lewis,
Supply & Service, 35 yrs.
Luther L. Long,
Marine, 37 yrs.
Theodore A. Long,
Building, 28 yrs.
Bryan A. Maher,
Atlantic Locks, 29 yrs.
Ralph H. Pearson,
Municipal, 29 yrs.
George Russon,
Police, 34 yrs.


ger Readers

juries. Their three year old son,
Fred suffered only slight injuries.
...Police Captain B. A. Darden was
in Gorges Hospital recently with
kidney obstruction but was report-
ed to be resting comfortably.....
...The Fred Helmrichs (she is the
former Flora Belle Moon) were
September visitors of Mrs. Helm-
richs' mother at Gamboa enroute
from Venezuela to Costa Rica where
they will reside..The Jimmy Brad-
leys' son, Louie, who graduated
from St. Pete Junior College last
June is now enrolled at the Uni-
versity of Florida at Gainsviile
where he is on the swim team.











R


OF SCEQAL. IWltRe


NINETEENTH ANNIVERSARY REUNION
This will be the last "Record" prior to our next annual reunion, and
in order to reach as many Canal Folks as possible it is being mailed not
only to members of the Society but also to all of whom we have addresses.
Everybody present agreed that the 1950 two day reunion was much more
satisfactory and enjoyable than previous one day affairs, that we are mak-
ing similar plans for 1951.
The Soreno Hotel in St.Petersburg has again been selected as our head-
quarters for all activities, and the dates will be the two days following
Washington's Birthday, that is, February 23 and 24, 1951.
The program for the first day (Friday) will be registration in the
forenoon, with a business meeting in the afternoon beginning at 2:00
o'clock. The second day (Saturday) will be given over to a grand informal
social period, the group picture, and the reunion luncheon.
We are pleased to report that there will be no increase in price for
your reunion luncheon. The price is $3.10 a plate including tip and state
tax. Other reunion expenses will be paid from Society funds.
We Zonians always have a pleasant and enjoyable time at all our gath-
erings and this again will be one of those affairs YOU JUST CANNOT AFFORD
TO MISS. It will make you YOUNGER AND HAPPIER just to be present, to meet
the old crowd, to talk over old times, and to renew old friendships. With-
out added cost you will have the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and ci-
trous fruit all of which will be a benefit to your health and youth. Last
year those in attendance came from 21 states outside of Florida, as well
as from the District of Columbia and the Canal Zone.
To avoid disappointment it is desired to point out that hotels, tour-
ist cabins and private homes are unwilling to make short period transient
reservations unless payment is made in advance. However there are plenty
of motels in and about St.Petersburg and it is believed the traveler can
do better in person at the time of his arrival, than can our committee in'
the making of advance reservations. Last year those traveling by automo-
bile had no trouble in finding adequate and satisfactory facilities.
For those coming by public bus there is an efficient room-locating
service maintained by the Chamber of Commerce in the Greyhound Bus Term-
inal in St.Petersburg up to 9:00 PM daily. This service checks room va-
cancies daily and is a great convenience to bus travelers in locating
rooms before leaving the terminal.
As pointed out above the making of room reservations can be done by
your committee ONLY WHEN ADVANCE DEPOSITS ARE MADE. The Society can not
undertake the financing of reservations so those asking for them should
remit for this purpose on the basis of $12.00 a day for the period of the-
ir intended stay. When the committee can do better the balance will of
course be retained to the sender's credit. Under this procedure the com-
mittee will arrange the reservations and have the hotel confirm them by
mail a few days before rooms are to be occupied. When not available in
hotels, rooms in private honies will be reserved. We have always found
such home facilities to be clean, desirable and reasonable in comparative
price.
MAIL YOUR RESERVATION DATA PROMPTLY. We must have it in hand not lat-
er than February 15, 1951. Make remittances payable to The Panama Canal
Society of Florida. Please do not send us a check on other than St. Pete
banks UNLESS YOU ADD l0 PER CHECK FOR BANKING CHARGES. The fee for a
Postal Note is but 80. ADDRESS YOUR RESERVATION DATA DIRECT TO MRS. J.W.
WILSON, 4255 SECOND AVE., NORTH, ST.PETERSBURG 3, FLA. (Telephone 79-0362).
Since the next number of this "Record" will not be issued until after
the reunion,this is the last and only notice you will receive concerning
it. Act now while you have the urge and before laying'this notice aside.








People Come from Miles Around










THE PANAMA CANAL SOCIETY OF FLORIDA
Nineteenth Anniversary Reunion, Feb. 23-24, 1951

RESERVATION FORM

Fill out and return this form with your remittance payable to the
Panama Canal Society of Florida. Mailing it direct to...Mrs. J.W.
Wilson, 4255 Second Ave., North, St. Petersburg 3, Florida.

Mrs. Wilson, Chairman Reservation Committee.

Please arrange reservations as follows:

Reunion luncheon Tickets for persons, each 53.10.

My party of persons will find our own room accommodations.

My party of persons will need single and/or double
rooms in hotel or private home for days beginning Feb. 1951.
Enclosed is $12.00 a day per room for deposit on these reserva-
tions. There is enclosed remittance of $ representing total
for all the above reservations.
Note: When remitting by check add 10# per check for banking
charges.

Signed:_

My address:

Please list names and addresses of those in your party.


While at the reunion our address will be:








How we retired with s200 a month










CPt~irPiTJ


The big news this issue is the
passage of a law combining the
Panama Railroad and Canal into one
government corporation to be known
as the Panama Canal Company, ef-
fective July 1, 1951. The new com-
pany will be headed by a board of
directors who will have the power
to fix toll rates for the Canal
subject to Presidential approval
and it is understood the Company
will be expected to pay its own
way in future in the same manner
as the Panama Railroad and Steam-
ship Line has in the past.....Gov-
ernor Newcomer has announced that
the Hotel Tivoli, opened in 1907,
will be closed as a commercial es-
tablishment when satisfactory hot-
el accommodations are available in
Panama (the new Hotel El Panama in
Panama City is scheduled to open
about the first of the year). It
is planned to demolish a portion
of the Tivoli and use the remaind-
er as an official guest house.....
Max Bilgray, owner of the famous
Tropic Bar and Restaurant, has of-
fered his place for sale and plans
to retire to his Puerto Pilon es-
tate.......The Canal has acquired
the former Coast Guard Cutter R:ol-
cott and will use the 100 foot ves-
sel for tourist service and other
operations too small for tugs.....
The former Hapag-Lloyd building on
steamship row in Cristobal is be-
ing offered for sale by the Attor-
ney General......The government of
Panama has purchased for $400,000
the land belonging to Asger Kierulf
on which the Rio Hato Air Base was
constructed.....The first Jap ship
to transit the Canal in nine years
went through in October........The
Canal Zone Credit Union has just
moved into its new $36,000 build-
ing on Balboa Road....Pedro Miguel
Clubhouse is slated for destruction
because of age and will not be re-

S The H

Mrs. Alfred W. ;oxon, the for-
mer Esther Greene who grew up on
the Isthmus, has announced the
marriage of her daughter, Nancy
Esther to William b. Burns on Aug.
17th at Rochester, N.Y. where Mrs.
Moxon now resides.
Miss Margaret Ann Argue, dau-
ghter of the H. E. Argues of Cris-
tobal was married to Donald D. Di-
drickson, son of Capt. and Mrs.
Conrad G. Didrickson also of Cris-


placed.... .Work is beginning on 142
nouses and 259 apartments on the
Zone the first step in an
80,000,000, seven year, housing
program....A recent polio epidemic
forced the cancellation ofmatinees
at Zone clubhouses.....As the law
stands, Canal employees are commit-
ted to paying income taxes for 1950
although the bill was not passed un-
til recently. News from the Isth-
mus is that the Treasury Department
has promised to re-examine the re-
troactive feature.....Payroll de-
duction of withholding taxes begins
in January, 1951..Hecent rumor was
that hundreds of employees were
resigning because of dissatisfac-
tion over income taxes and higher
prices but this has been denied
by the Governor....... .Non-citizen
employees of the Canal lost the
25% differential effective October
1st so there are now three class-
es of workers, American citizens,
formerly gold roll employees, non-
citizens, believed to be all Pana-
manian citizens, and local rate
employees, who were formerly call-
ed silver roll...In the future the
15% transportation tax will have to
be paid on all Panama Railroad
Steamship round trip tickets cover-
ing passage from New York even tho-
ugh they are purchased on the Zone
in which case tne 15% will have to
be paid in New York. It is not known
at ttis time if this ruling also ap-
plies to air travel....Zonians are
bemoaning high commissary prices on
staples and the 13 cents per pack
they now have to pay for cigarettes
compared with 8 cents until wars end
(we don't mean the Korean war).....
They also raised such a ruckus over
the Russian crabmeat recently plac-
ed on sale in the commissaries, we
understand the authorities withdrew
it.


happy Life S
tobal recently. The groom is with
the Police Department in Cristobal
where they will reside.
Judge and Mrs.E.I.P. Tatelman,
prominent residents of Cristobal,
announced the marriage of their
only daughter, Muriel Adair, to
James O'Rorke of Red Feather Lakes,
Colorado. Miss Tatelman, who was
born and raised on the Isthmus, re-
ceived her M. A. degree from the
Colorado State College at Greeley








in June, and Mr. O'Rorke is also a
student there. They will reside
at 1843 Tenth St. in Greeley.
Mrs. Arthur W. Goulet, widow of
the former General Manager of the
Commissary Division, has announced
the marriage of her daughter,
Theresa Gabrielle, to Charles Kane
Wright, member of Compania Wright,
contractors of Panama City, at Sa-
cred Heart Chapel, Ancon on Septem-
ber 12th.
Jerome Carrington, son of Mrs.
Elizabeth Carrington of Panama
City, and Judith Felicia Hvas, dau-
ghter of the R. B. Wards of Gatun,
were married at Fort Davis Chapel
on September 8th. They will re-
side in Indianapolis, Ind., Where
Mr. Carrington is the first cellist
with the Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. and Mrs.Emerson R. Fuller
of Washington, D.C. have announced
SENGAGEM
Mrs
Shas ann
her dau
Peter
Pa. Bo
versity
has yet

BIRTHS:
Sergeant and Mrs. G. A. Martin
of Cristobal are the proud parents
of a son, Gerald Bradley, born
October 26th. Mrs. Martin is the
former Margaret Bradley, daughter
of the Jimmie Bradleys of St. Pete
and her husband is Commander of the
Margarita Police Station.
The Andrew MacDonalds of Panana
City announce the birth of their
first child, a son, Andrew, born at
Panama Hospital on August 27th.
Mrs. MacDonald is the former Judy
Mohr, daughter of former Canal Col-
lector and Mrs. A. H. Hohr, now re-
siding in Orlando, Fla., and Mr.
MacDonald is with the Chase Bank
on the Pacific Side.


the marriage of their daughter,
Nancy, to Robert L. Vhitaker of
Manistee Mich. They are residing
in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
The Stanley Barnhorns of Hamil-
ton, Ohio have announced the marri-
age of their daughter, Arline Eliz-
abeth, to Robert McIllvaine, son of
the late Executive Secretary of the
Canal and Mrs. C. A. McIllvaine, at
Sacred Heart Chapel, Ancon on Sep-
tember 25th. Mr. McIllvaine is a
nephew of the President of Panama,
Dr. Arnulfo Arias, and the former
President, Dr. Harmodio Arias.
Charles T. Page, better known
as Tracy, finally renounced bach-
elorhood on July 3rd when he mar-
ried the charming Mrs. Marie Per-
kins of Hartford, Conn., at Clear-
water, Fla. They are residing at
741 18th Ave., North, this city.

ENTS:
. Arthur W. Goulet of Balboa
ounced the engagement of
ghter, Mary Gertrude to
V. Zagone, of Philadelphia,
ith are students at the Uni-
of New Mexico. No date
been set for the wedding.

AAA A A- A A A- A--


Copies of this issue of the
Canal Record are being mailed to
many former Isthmians who are not
yet members of our Society. We
hope they will enjoy it and will
join up with our more than six
hundred members scattered allover
the United States and nearby coun-
tries. The dues are $3.00 annual-
ly and will include four issues of
the Canal Record and the yearbook
to be issued early in 1951. Names
of all new members accepted to
January 15th will be included in
the yearbook so hurry folk and
join the family.


You will find several adver-
tisements in this issue and we re-
gret time didn't permit contacting
all of the former Isthmians now in
business all over the country. We
hope they will consider this an
invitation to place ads in future
issues and we believe they will
find it profitable. Greetings and
other announcements are also solic-
ited. Advertising rates are:


Full Page
Half Page
Quarter Page
Eighth Page


One Issue
15.00oo
8.00
4.50
2.50


Year
(50.00
28.00
16.00
9.00









STHE CURTAIN FALLS M)


Henry C. Iler, recently elect-
ed National President of the Amer-
ican Federation of Government Em-
ployees, died on November 29th at
the Marine Hospital, Baltimore,Md.
Only 45 years old, Mr. Iler had a
brilliant career in various agen-
cies, .and had spent many years in
service to his fellow government
employees. His passing will be a
sad loss to all retired government
workers.
Col. Milo Pratt, Chief Clerk in
the Health Department in the early
days, a victim of heart failure,
was buried at Arlington National
Cemetery on Sept. 12th. He is sur-
vived by his wife, a resident of
Richmond, Va.
G. B. Stickler, aged 80, who
served as Resident Engineer for
the Canal Commission in 1908 and
1909, passed away in Washington,
D. C. Recently.
Mrs. Ethel Dickinson, aged 49,
wife of Edward C. Dickinson of
Diablo Heights, died at Gorgas
Hospital recently after a brief
illness.
Mrs. Grace D. Dwyer, aged 51,
wellknown Atlantic side resident
for many years and retired employ-
ee of the Commissary Division pas-
sed away at Colon Hospital recent-
ly. She is survived by a son,
John W. Dwyer of Cristobal, and
two daughters, Mrs. Evelyn Engelke
and Frances Jeanne Dwyer of Balboa
Heights.
Charles R. Campbell, aged 82,
retired oldtimer, died after a
lengthy illness at Ft.Pierce, Fla.
on Sept. 15th. He leaves a daugh-
ter, Dr. Margaret V.Campbell, pro-
fessor of modern languages at Flo-
rida State University, three sons,
Charles R. Jr., Washington, D. C.,
Merrick I., Forfolk, Va., and Jean
I. of Seattle, Wash.
Fred Perry, aged 62, former
machinist in the M. E. Division at
Pedro Miguel who left Canal ser-
vice in 1948, passed away in Hou-
ston, Texas on August 10th. He is
survived by his widow.
Bernard J. (Barney) Keegan,
aged 70, died recently in Los Ang-
eles, Cal. Mate-diver on the Sal-
vage Tug Favorite for many years
and later dock foreman at Balboa,
Barney was a wellknown and color-
ful figure on the Zone until his
retirement in 1942. Since then he
usually spent the winters as the
house guest of the James Bradleys
of St. Petersburg and the summers
in visiting his children. He was


with his son, Bernard, Jr. when he
passed away. He is survived by an-
other son, Lawrence of Cocoli,C.Z.
and two daughters, Mrs.Dale Thorn-
ton, Leonard, Texas and Mrs. John
P. Doidge, Denver, Col.
John H. King,Sr., Canal employ-
ee from 1913 to 1937, passed away
in Camden, N. J. on July 13th. He
is survived by his wife, the form-
er Nellie Witmer of Balboa, three
sons, John, Frank, and Robert, and
two daughters, Mrs. Rita Hubbard
and Mrs. Kathleen mammoccio.
Mrs. Ella Kerr, aged 76, widow
of the late A.L. Kerr, P.R.R. con-
ductor, and resident of the Zone
since 1908,died of a heart ailment
at Gorgas Hospital on Sept. 15th.
She leaves three daughters, Mrs.
William B. Allen, Balboa, Mrs.
Florence Mallett, Pedro Miguel,
Mrs. Katherine Madison, Corpus
Christi, Texas, and a son, Francis
X. Kerr, Balboa Heights.
Nathaniel Roy Standish, employ-
ed on the Canal in the early days
and retired from the Navy's Public
Works on the Zone in 1947, passed
away at Gorgas Hospital on Septem-
ber 21st after a brief illness. He
is survived by his wife, Elsie, of
Santa Clara, R. de P.
Lt. (JG) William Lee Horter,
who resigned from the Canal's Fi-
nance Bureau on Sept. 4th to go on
active Navy duty, was killed in an
air crash at sea off Kwajalein in
the Marshall Islands on September
19th while enroute to Korea. Well-
known on the Pacific side where he
was prominent in baseball circles
young Horter was the first casual-
ty from the Isthmus in the United
Nations Korean Policing Operation.
George Onken, retired in 1940
from the Mechanical Division at
Balboa, died in Brooklyn, N.Y. re-
cently. An active member of St.
Luke's Cathedral in Ancon where he
sang in the choir, he had many
friends among oldtimers who will
regret his passing.
Robert C. Lumby, wellknown for-
mer resident of Cristobal, died in
San Diego, Calif. recently. He is
survived by his widow.
A. Lyle Prather, aged 62, re-
cently retired General Manager of
the Panama Railroad, died late in
November in Ventnor, N.J. where he
and Mrs. Prather had planned to
spend the winter.
Mrs. Helen Clark who left the
Isthmus in 1948 after twenty years
residence on the Atlantic side,
passed away in November in Whites-







boro, N.Y. She leaves a son, Ver-
non.
James A. Hall, former Canal
employee and a member of this So-
ciety,passed away in July in Wash-
ington, D.C. Retired from service
in the Internal Revenue Bureau,
ir. Hall is survived by a son,
James.
John H.Austin, aged 57, Store-
house Safety Inspector, died at
Gorgas Hospital in November. His
widow survives.
Wualter W. Herrington, aged 73,
who left the Isthmus in 1915 after
ten years service in the office of
the Chief Engineer, passed away at
Annaheim, Calif. on October 25th.
He is survived by his wife and
three daughters two of whom were
born on the Isthmus,a sister, Mrs.
C. s. Cameron, and two brothers,
Forrest and Myron Herrington all
of whom have resided on the Isthmus.
Lee Richardson, aged 57, form-
er Zone policeman,died at Nashvil-
le, Tenn. in October. he leaves
his wife and a son, William C. of
Florence, Tenn.
William F. (Bill) Ashton, pro-
minent oldtimer who resided on the
Atlantic side for many years, died
at Colon Hospital on November 6th.
Beside his wife, he leaves three
daughters and six sons.
John A. Baxendale, aged 67,
former switchboard operator at
Madden Dam who retired in 1945
passed away at Gorges Hospital on
November 6th. He leaves his wife,
a son and daughter.
Robert A. George, age, d 63, re-
tired from the Mechanical Division
in 1949, died at Gorgas Hospital
on October 28th of a heart ailment.
He is survived by his wife.
Charles Harwood, former Dis-
trict Judge for the Canal Zone,
aged 70, died at Harrison, N. Y.
recently.
W. R. McCann, Hopewell,Va. has
notified us of the passing in Nov-
ember of George McCurdy, construc-
tion period foreman, at Hopewell
where he was buried.
James E. (Bud) Lewis, former
manager of the Hotels Washington
and Tivoli, who retired .in 1943,
died in Los Angeles, Calif. on
October ist. Beside his wife he
leaves a daughter, Mrs. Richard
Hamilton of New York City.
George Vicks, aged 64, retired
employee of the Dredging Division,
died at Gorges Hospital on October
7th., His wife was with him when
he died.
Mrs-. Sidney Church, who with
her husband was a longtime resid-


ent of the Atlantic side, died at
Keystone Heights, Fla. on Septemb-
er 6th. She leaves a daughter,
Mrs. Vivian L. Sanders.
Mrs. Mabel G. Phalen, wife of
the wellknown former Pacific side
pilot, Michael F. Phalen, passed
away in October in this city after
a long illness. Surviving are her
husband and daughter, Mrs.Gertrude
Gibson and a granddaughter, Joan of
the Canal Zone.
R. Heber Stems, aged 70,Atlan-
tic side resident for forty years
before his retirement, died Novem-
ber 7th at his home in this city.
Hebe, as he was known to all, was
for many years General Manager of
the Colon Import and Export Com-
pany and one of the earliest mem-
bers of the Strangers Club. His
Genial nature and sense of fair-
play made him one of the most be-
loved residents of the Isthmus and
his passing will be mourned by all
who knew him. Surviving are his
wife, Llsie,a son, R.H.Sterns,Jr.,
a daughter, Mrs. Elsie Schoneck of
Key W;est,Fla., and two grandchil-
dren.
Herbert C. Davis, aged 54, who
before his retirement in 1937 was
a stevedore foreman with the R&FA
at Cristobal, died at his home in
Robbins, N. C. early in November.
He leaves his wife, a son, Robert
M. Davis, and two daughters, Mary
Ruth and Janet Davis.


All Society members and other
Canal annuitants will be saddened
by the news of the death of Mr.
Lewis H. Fisher at his home in
Washington, D. C. in November. Mr.
Fisher was regarded as one of the
best informed men of Federal re-
tirement and had been in constant
contact with retired Canal employ-
ees in this area on retirement
legislation. His valuable on-the-
spot aid will be no more and his
Canal friends in this city mourn
that they will never again have
the pleasure of seeing and talking
to this unselfish citizen who serv-
ed well his country and fellow men.
The Society's deepest sympathy is
extended to his widow and three
children.









PRO PCOt

MOSTLY CON
16 JOHN K UiXTER/


The next item on the agenda is listed as "Cld Friends, Old Clothes
and Old Razor Blades and what to do about them."
Let us first consider the problem of superannuated habiliments. I
do not know, dear Sir (or Madam) what you do with your old clothes, but
sometimes I suspect that you follow my own practice and wear them. I sel-
dom throw away a pair of trousers until I have worn holes in the seat,
which since I am a man of sedentary habits happens not infrequently, and
coats I keep for years and years, intending always to wear them at least
once again. Even when it is obvious that they are hopelessly shabby and
not worth another trip to the cleaners I am reluctant to discard them.
"That old jacket," I say to myself, "may be just the thing I will need if
I am ever invited to hunt water moccasins in the Great Dismal Swamp or if
as my contribution to the war effort I take a job in a glue factory." And
so the rags accumulate. Occasionally I pick them over,as when the ladies
of the Last Baptist Church (of which I am not a member) hold their annual
rummage sale and solicit my contributions. I then usually find that any-
thing I am willing to part with is in such disgraceful condition that I
am ashamed to have it known that I ever owned it. To the end when I am
forced to clean house willy nilly Joe the yardman is the goat. With what
pretense of munificence I can muster I turn over all my useless junk to
him. He thanks me very politely and as soon as my back is turned hastens
to the nearest ashcan. To tell the truth he is a much more fastidious
dresser than I am.
I value old friends no less than old clothes, as who would not, but
I am afraid that there -are many people in the world who might find this
hard to believe. They might say that I do not practice what I preach. I
look at it this way. If a man were born in Dogpatch, lived in Dogpatch all
his days and died in Dogpatch, the friends of his youth might remain the
friends of his middle life and the friends of his old age, unless as one
dull year followed another he grew heartily sick and tired of his neigh-
bors that he ended hating them one and all. But in these days we are all
nomads. Drifting about the planet we make friends in many places, and
good friends too for a while, but when we move on, if we do not actually
forget them, their memory grows dim. Consider your college friends of
the grand old class of nineteen-whatever-it-may-have-been. Think of your
buddies in the trenches. Think of the dozens of merry companions with
whom at one time or another and in one place or another you "gloried and
drank deep." Do you ever see them, do you ever think of them, do you
even know whether they are alive or dead, and finally do you very much
care? the answer is in the negative.
What happens is this. When you first left West Hohokus you truly
missed good old Hank Gumbo with whom you had downed enough Old Rubber
Boot (bottled in bond) to fill the Gatun Locks. You and Hank were resol-
ved to keep in touch with one another and to get together as often as you
possibly could. For a while you wrote to Hank almost every week, then
every few months, then once a year at least, although it was hard to
find anything to write about in which he could possibly be interested. In
the end a card at Christmas seemed enough. Last summer on your way north
you stopped overnight at West Hohokus. It was the first time you had been
there in years. Did you look up Hank? I'll say you did not. You ate a
good dinner, read the evening paper and turned in, planning to get an ear-
ly start the next morning. You may have felt vaguely guilty and ashamed,
but that is what you did. You just didn't want to bother with old Hank.
Don't get me wrong. Old friends are fine and old friendships should
be kept green when it can be done. But for practical purpose and a ration-
al enjoyment of life new friends, if present, are more useful. A man who
has not grown too mean and ornery should try to make a few each year.
We proposed also in this issue to consider the problem of what should
be done with old razor blades. That can be disposed of very shortly. There
is just nothing useful that can be done with old razor blades.












Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year
From

JIMMY BERGIS
Real Estate

Associated With
Robert E. Lea
Realtor

611 First Ave., North, St. Petersburg
Phones: Office 7-1328
Home 41-1195


Aero Philatelistic Pioneering
World Air Posts
Trans-Oceanic and Historical Flights
Zeppelin, Rocket and Complete
Clipper Flights
Mint and Used Airmails
Of The World





WILLIAM H. PETERS
P.O. Box 105, Interlachen, Florida


Henry Bean and Johnny Johnston
are at
BEANIE'S MARKET
541 Ninth St. No., St. Petersburg

Fancy Meats, Vegetables
and Groceries
Phone 78-3343 For Deliveries
We Will Appreciate A Visit Fran You


ROBERT M. GAMBLE
General Agent



JOHN HANCOCK MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE CO.


Commerce Title Building Arcade
12 South Main Street
Memphis, Tenn.


MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE
and
HAPPY NEW YEAR


F. G. SWANSON
Box 1020, Tyler, Texas
Ex Canal Zone 1905-1918


I


I





*terry hristma s
^a~c~y^n/ ^^~




P. O. Box 249 STA. A
ST. PETERSBURG 2
FLORIDA


Sec. 34.66 P.L&R.
U. S. Postage
PAID
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Permit No. 603


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