Sunday's Obituary - Fern Bruce Warren Williams, Mt. Vernon, IL

Fern Bruce 1920's

Mt. Vernon Register News 28 Jun 1958

My great-grandmother, Charlotta Ruth Banks Wade Berry's half sister, Fern Bruce.  Fern was the daughter of Sarah Eva Talley and Frank Z. Bruce.  She was born 6 Jul 1900 in Mt. Vernon, IL and died 28 Jun 1958 also in Mt. Vernon.  She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery.

Travel Tuesday - Valentine Sentiment from L & N Train Station, Mt. Vernon, IL - 100 Yrs Ago Today

L & N Train Station, Mt. Vernon, IL ca 1910

Although not a Valentine's Day card, I thought this postcard of the L & N Train Depot in Mt. Vernon, Illinois sent on February 14, 1912 was very fitting for today's post.  The postcard appears to have been sent by John Barlett Jr. to his wife, Mrs. Jno. Bartlett, Jr. at 1028 W. Thorman (?) St. in Springfield, MO.  Evidently, for whatever reason he was staying in Mt. Vernon and sent this very loving message to his wife:

2/14/12:  My own darling, Rec'd your loving letter today and was more than pleased to hear from my lover. As I do not intend to come back up town tonight I bought some postals to mail instead of a letter.  Will write a long letter tomorrow night.  Am sorry indeed to hear that Eugenie is not so well.  As ever your own, John.

There is a numeral 2 circled on the back as well as  a "#2" on the front which possibly indicates this was the second of two postcards mailed.  This postcard for some reason was postmarked Feb 14, 1912 on the back and Feb, 15, 2012 on the front.  It sounds like John loved and missed his wife very much. Very romantic even though it was not a Valentine,  wish I knew what the first postcard said.

Those Places Thursday - 1954 Fort Lauderdale on Andrews Avenue

Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 1940's - 1950's

My Smith relatives (grandparents, great-grandparents, grand aunts and uncles) began moving to Fort Lauderdale, Florida from Mt. Vernon, Illinois in the 1950's.  This postcard depicts Andrews Avenue which was once a popular destination for shoppers and visitors in Fort Lauderdale.   This card which was postmarked 1954 gives a good feeling for the times.

Workday Wednesday - Mildred's Beauty Salon 1941

Ad from the Mt. Vernon (Illinois) Register News (1941) for my grand aunt Mildred Wade Smith's (1917 - 1995) beauty shop.  If you look closely under "Operators" you will see her name as well as my grandmother's Doris Smith, her sister. Doris and Mildred Wade, sisters, were married to two brothers, Diamond (my grandfather) and Claude Smith. They lived in Mt. Vernon for most of their lives until they moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL in the 1950-60's where Aunt Millie opened another salon, the Curl & Swirl.

Millie and Doris - Ft. Lauderdale 1954

Those Places Thursday - Jordan Street - Mt. Vernon, IL

A postcard depicting Jordan Street East from 8th Street in Mt. Vernon, IL circa 1910.

Sunday's Obituary - Cecil Bruce Jackson Stewart - Mt. Vernon, IL

Cecil Bruce Jackson Stewart
Born:  18 Mar 1894 Jefferson Co, IL
Died:  23 Jan 1921 Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co, IL
Mother:  Anna Osborn
Father:  Frank Z. Bruce

She was my great-great grandmother Sarah Eva Talley Bruce's step-daughter.   Such a short sad life, she died at the age of twenty-six of double pneumonia.  When she was only nineteen years old her first husband Will Jackson died in 1913 in an accident in the railroad yards in Chester, IL leaving her with one son Ray who was born the same year.  On 17 Sep 1918 she married Charles Robert Stewart of Mt. Vernon, a widower with four children.  She had one child with Charles Stewart, a son Charles Edwin Stewart born in 1920.  She had one full sister Opal Bruce Ward and four half-sisters, Fern, Wade, Nina and Edna Bruce.  She is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon.

Cecil Bruce abt age 10  ca 1905

Mt Vernon Register News 24 Jan 1921

Those Places Thursday - Porter & Bonds Drugs - Mt. Vernon, IL

Another postcard depicting Porter & Bond Drugs in Mt. Vernon, IL on the corner of South Union and Broadway (tenth & Broadway today, see Tom Puckett's book).  I don't remember this drugstore, but I do recognize this building. The first picture is the postcard I purchased and I'm guessing this picture was taken either in the 1930's or 1940's. I'm  not an expert on old cars so any help nailing down the time I would appreciate.

The second picture is a drawing from the June 24, 1893 issue of the Mt. Vernon Daily Register. According to the corresponding article, "Dr. S. S. Porter, of St. Louis, and Rufus J. Bond, are the proprietors of the drug store at the southwest corner of the square.  This firm carries an immense stock of drugs, paints, oils, glass, wall paper and patent medicines.  The resident manager, Mr. Bond, is one of our solid, substantial citizens and is in for everything that will improve Mt. Vernon."

According to William Henry Perrin*  Rufus J. Bond, was born 11 Nov 1847 in Shiloh Township, a son of Michael Bond, a native of North Carolina who came to this county in 1829.  Rufus was educated in Jefferson County and began clerking in the drug store of Samuel S. Porter at the age of twenty-two.  By 1893 he was a partner with a half-interest in the store.

From the Saturday Herald (Decatur, IL) 25 Feb 1888, Porter & Bond was one of the many buildings in Mt. Vernon that was totally destroyed by the cyclone that hit Mt. Vernon on 20 Feb 1888.

*History of Jefferson County Illinois, 1883, Chicago, Globe Publishing Co.

Travel Tuesday - Visit in Detroit with Wave & Jack Warner

I found this little clip in the Mt. Vernon Register News Column called "As You Were" which goes back in time and prints items from the past.  On 11 July 1952, this item was printed under "25 Years Ago Today" which means this was originally dated 11 July 1927.  The people referred to in this news clip are my great-great-grandmother Sarah Eva Talley (Mrs. Frank Bruce) and her daughter Edna.  They were visiting her daughter Wave Bruce Warner who was married to Detroit Tigers third baseman, Jack Warner.

11 July 1927 Mt. Vernon, IL Register News