The above cards were sent by Harold and Mildred to her sister and her father while they were on the honeymoon trip. The photo to the right does not claim to be from the honeymoon, but it seems as though it could easily be from that time. Mildred is all dressed up!
Harold and Mildred Votaw were married on Harold’s 23rd birthday, June 25, 1926. They immediately set off in their Chevy for a trip east, visiting Washington D.C., New York, and upstate New York. They sent a post card home to Mildred’s sister Tirzah and her father Lewis Stout nearly every day, to tell about the trip. These post cards were saved, and have been transcribed here.
June 28th Gainesville, Ohio (Mildred)
Dearest Folks – traveled 195 miles today. We’re camping tonite at the White Raven Tourist Camp – awful nice clean place. Only got as far as Richmond last nite. Slept in the guest parlor in Earlham Hall. I was sick all nite with my cold but its better today. Started from Richmond at 9:30 stopped in 7 hrs – we lost an hour at Columbus. Thot we did pretty well. Having a great time. – The Kids
June 30 (Harold)
Dear Folks – We’re somewhere in the Allegheny Mts of Maryland between Cumberland & Hagerstown. Slept inside last night cause Midge is still nursing that cold. It’s still in her head but a hot bath & doctoring last night helped it a lot. Drove 231 miles of hills & mountains yesterday – not a mile of level road. Grades are worse here than in the Rockies but much shorter – a mile or two up then a mile or two down, mostly in low and 2nd gear. Chevy has given us no trouble yet. Don’t worry about us. We’re having a wonderful time. (Mildred) It’s wonderful scenery – mountains on all sides. We are at a camp at the top of <unreadable>. Love – M & H
July 1 Washington D.C. (Mildred)
Dearest Folks – Arrived here at 4:00 last evening. Saw White House and it’s wonderful. Saw Capitol & Harold says it’s better. I sure hope you can all see these sights someday. We’re starting out now for sightseeing all day. It’s awful hot here. The Chevy’s acting great so far. My cold is better. Cal didn’t greet us. He’s on his summer vacation. Out to Murray Kenworthy’s last evening. Ola got us a little lunch. They live in three rooms. Bye now – Love M & H
[Ed. note: the line “Cal didn’t greet us” is a joke. She’s talking about President Calvin Coolidge.]
Friday July 2nd (Harold)
Dear Tix & Frank – We’re spending a day of complete rest to-day. Got a room & Midge has laid down all day. Her cold is much better – but she came sick early this morning. About the usual thing she says. Feeling pretty good this evening. We slept from 12 to 4 p.m. Going down town for an hour now.
We’ve seen lots of interesting things in Washington. Climb the top of the Capitol Dome yesterday. Had nice picnic lunch with Kenworthys and another family here last evening. Went to Sen. Watson’s (Ind.) office & secured letters of introduction to White House also Pres-yacht the “Mayflower” which we will use tomorrow. Wish you could see some of these places. It’s a glorious trip. My darling little wifey is a brave girl – She’s had a hard time this week but with cold ‘most gone she surely will be feeling good in a couple of days & enjoy the balance of the trip more. We is having a wonderful time & happier than ever before. Don’t worry – I’ll take care of my sweetheart girl.
Love, M & H
July 3 Washington D.C. (Mildred)
Dearest Tiz & Frank – Feel better today. Going sightseeing again. Went last evening to the home where Lincoln died. Across from the old theatre (Ford’s). It’s all still standing. Stand right in the room & on the spot he died. The room still has the same wall paper & floor. Touched his office chair that he wrote his first inaugural address and chose his first cabinet. Sure seeing sights. This is the finest place in Wash. Love M & H
July 3 Washington D.C. (Mildred)
Dearest Dad – Boon in the East Room – going in more today. This is sure some trip. Saw the china used by Lincoln in the White House. Don’t get lonesome – we’ll soon be home. Love M & H
July 6 Just outside Trenton New Jersey (Mildred)
Dearest Folks – Sorry we didn’t write yesterday. We were too busy in Philadelphia seeing the big sights. Heard Coolidge speak – He & Mrs. Cal passed in parade & we were on front line out at Sesquecentennial. Saw wonderful sights but it’s not half completed. We’re in a big rain now. On to New York today. Having a grand time. Wish you could all see these sights. Love M & H
July 7 52 miles from New York (Mildred)
Dearest Folks – We’re traveling awfully slow but oh! the fun we’re having. The Ocean is marvelous. I had forgotten how it did look. We were at the beach all day yesterday and last night. We cooked our lunch at one of the swell bath house porches in millionaire row. It said private but we couldn’t resist. It was right on the ocean. Also the ocean was at full tide. We’re lonesome to see you all. Take good care of each other till we get there to watch over you. Tell Dad we had first flat tire 1030 miles from Plainfield – only tire trouble. Most of Eastern wheat in the shock. Love M & H
July 8 (Harold)
Dear Folks – Drove up to Jersey City yesterday P.M. There’s no campground in this vicinity so we camped in the back yard of a home here. We cleaned up and took the subway under the Hudson to Broadway N.Y. Took 5th Ave. double deck bus and went sight seeing out 5th Ave & Hudson River to about 140th St. Ate supper & came back & walked down white lights of Broadway. Saw great big elec. sign of Phoenix Hosery. Swell! Then came back to Jersey City on subway. M. didn’t get sick. (But she tried to awful hard. Ha.) Going on up Hudson today. Both well & happier than ever. (Mildred) You ought to see Broadway at night! Some class to us. Had a swell time last evening in N.Y. You sure don’t want to miss this trip. Love M & H
July 9 (Mildred)
Dearest Folks – Stayed all night at Poughkeepsie at Will Reagan’s home. They have a wonderful place. Dad we couldn’t have made this trip without that Thermos. We use it all the time. It carries ice for 1 1/2 days. We sure are proud of it. We’re going on to Albany and farther yet today if we can. Love M & H
July 10 (Mildred)
Dearest Folks – Are in Oneida New York now. Camped last night right out of Utica. An awful thunderstorm came & Chevy leaked so we went inside and slept. We sure having a grand time. Don’t know when we’ll get to Niagara. Planning to get there tonight. We feel like we’re getting back to U.S.A. now. Saw 5 Americas today. Love M & H
July 11 (Mildred)
Dearest D & T & F – Went to church at Le Roy N.Y. Good service. The preacher in his sermon bawled us out as setting a good example for all tourists. We’re still running on high speed, Dad – Only 2 flat tires. We have covered 1625 miles so far. Just out of Buffalo now. Heavy traffic today. Love M & H
July 13 Erie Pa. (Mildred)
Dear Folks – Say, you sure don’t write to us very much. Only 2 letters & we thot sure Frank would write the most. It’s raining like sixty here today. We’re only 92 miles from Cleveland. This trip has been an ideal trip. We’ve enjoyed everything so much. Dad – our money still holds good. We can’t remember Olive S. address. Goodbye – lots of love M & H
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