My great-grandmother Mae Moore Johnson and her 3rd husband Alfred Johnson were married in 1925. They used to take the bus to Florida for the winters in the 1950s (not sure exactly how many years they did this). I’m lucky to have the postcards they sent my mother from their trip in the winter of 1959.
First postcard of the trip, postmarked Feb. 25, 1959, Charleston WV
Dear Mary, Had a nice trip not too cold down here Love Grandma + Grandpa
Second postcard, postmarked Feb. 26, 1959, Charlotte, NC
Hi Mary, We have a nice hotel to stay overnight. Have to get up tomorrow a[t] 5 o’clock to get out 6 15 bus to Jacksonville. Love GrandmaThird postcard, postmarked Feb. 27, 1959, Orlando, FL
Hi Mary, We have a nice apt. not far from this nice park. The roses are in full bloom and its really warm 70 degrees right now. Wish you could be with us. Its a very clean city. Love Grandma Grandpa
Third postcard, postmarked Mar. 6, 1959, Orlando, FL
3/6/59 Hi Mary, We went to this tower and cypress gardens and to another park was gone all day. Received Mothers letter. Will write later. Love, Grandma + Grandpa
Fourth postcard, postmarked Mar. 9, 1959, Orlando, FL
3/9/59 Hi Mary, We went to an orchid show Sunday it was beautiful all colors you would want to see hundred of them We enjoyed it very much. Love Grandma + Grandpa
Fifth postcard, postmarked Mar. 16, 1959, Miami, FL
3/16/59 Hi Mary Talk about warm its 81 degrees now going to 85 before night. Theirs always a breeze thats cool. Hope all are well. I will write a letter to Mama later. Love Grandma + Grandpa
Sixth postcard, postmarked Mar. 28, 1959, Miami, FL
3/28/59 Hi Mary This is where we go every Wed. + Friday night to hear good music. We are having some hot weather. We received Easter cards will write letter later. You will be all dress up for Easter hope it don’t rain. Love Grandma
Last postcard, postmarked Apr. 13, 1959, Saint Petersburg, FL
4/12/59 Hi Mary, Its another hot day its 83 degrees out now. We will start home next Friday night Will get home sometime Sunday. Love Grandma + Grandpa
Fountain of Youth, Saint Petersburg, Florida4/12/59 Hi Mary, Its another hot day its 83 degrees out now. We will start home next Friday night Will get home sometime Sunday. Love Grandma + Grandpa
Here is an interesting article titled “Caesar LaMonaca: A Remembrance of the Bayfront Park Band Shell Concerts, 1929-1977” about the bandshell with what looks like the photograph that this postcard is based on.
3/28/1959 Hi Mary, This is where we go every Wed. + Friday night to hear good music. We are having some hot weather. We received Easter cards Will write letter later. You will be all dress up for Easter Hope it don’t rain. Love, Grandma
3/16/59 Hi Mary, Talk about warm its 81 degrees now 2:30 going to 85 before night. Theirs always a breeze that’s cool. Hope all are well. I will write a letter to Mama later. Love Grandma + Grandpa
Front: Airplane view of business section, showing part of Lake Eola Orlando, Fla. “The City Beautiful”3/9/59 Hi Mary, We went to an Orchid Show Sunday. It was beautiful all colors you would want to see hundreds of them. We enjoyed it very much. Love Grandma + Grandpa
March 6, 1959 – The Singing Tower in Lake Wales, Florida3/6/59 Hi Mary We went to this tower and Cypress gardens and to another park was gone all day Received Mothers letter Will write later. Love Grandma + Grandpa
Postmarked 2-27-1959. Shows Sunshine Park in Orlando, Florida.Hi Mary, We have a nice apt. not far from this nice park. The roses are in full bloom and its really warm 70 degrees right now. Wish you could be with us. Its a very clean city. Love Grandma Grandpa
Here is the next in the series of my great-grandma Mae Johnson’s postcards to my mother from 1959.
Postmarked 2-26-1959Hi Mary, We have a nice hotel to stay overnight. Have to get up tomorrow at 5 o’clock to get out 6:15 bus to Jacksonville. Love, Grandma
I have a few postcards that my Great-Grandma Mae Johnson wrote to my mother during the winter of 1959 when Mae and her husband Alfred traveled to Florida for their annual trip. These are truly a treasure to me. I never knew Mae and never heard her voice, but reading these postcards helps me to hear her. I will post one a week for the next several weeks on Treasure Chest Thursday.
The first postcard from West Virginia on their way down to Florida. (Front of card)Dear Mary, Had a nice trip not too cold down here Love Grandma + Grandpa (postmarked 2-25-1959)
Wells & Wilson Family History 