Journal  February 23, 1953

Roland started off early this morning to job hunt in St. Pete. I cleaned the house and washed.
Roland came home at noon and we decided to draw a little more out of the bank and push on to Phoenix. Roland will get a job in Phoenix and we will stay near my Uncle Edwin (who lives in Glendale, Arizona) for awhile. 

We went shopping in Clearwater this afternoon. Bought sandals for Les and Sandy, ice cream cones, and had heels put on Lesley’s saddle shoes.

Tonight I called Braintree. They had all been waiting for us to call last night. Everyone is fine. My Uncle Max, his wife Rosemond and son, Steve, started for the west by way of Miami last Saturday. We may see them on the way.

Journal February 24, 1953
Today we drove to Sarasota. It turned out to be a much longer trip than we thought it would be. We went to the circus winter headquarters where we saw the floats for next spring’s show. One was a little school house. Another was a little showboat pulled by two horses – very elaborate – a fine bit of work. One float was in the shape of a birthday cake, another was an outhouse.
We saw the elephants having their toenails fixed; baby elephants, and a horse being trained; plus the rest of the menagerie.

Elephants getting toenails filed

We reached home about 6:30 after stopping to pick up a large bunch of wash at a laundromat. The girl who worked there had thrown a green bag in with our wash. It turned everything green. Tonight I ironed while Roland snoozed.

Journal February 25, 1953
Got an early start (7:25 am). Fed and dressed Sandy in the car. Then dressed Lesley and stopped to eat breakfast on the way. The road was straight and flat. Little sand hills beside the road. Land crabs???

We made very good time until 3:30 pm when our right rear car tire went flat. Roland walked back to a gas station (Shell) with the flat tire. They were a new station and had no tubes in stock. Two hours and $3.98 later we started on our way. We stopped at a gas station in Youngstown, Florida for the night.

We have sent to our Braintree bank for $150 to be rushed to New Orleans. Our money is getting low so I don’t know what we’ll do if we don’t get to New Orleans tomorrow, or if the money isn’t there, or if we have repair bills, or etc.
Note: We forgot to take our TV off the shelf when we left this morning. Thankfully it landed in a box full of hoses and was saved.

Journal February 20, 1953 (Jane)
Off about 9:30 am. Sandy is so fussy with her new tooth. We drove on a long, straight, concrete, roller-coaster road beside a canal filled with ducks and Egrets (or something). Found a post office in the wilderness. Florida seems to be at least 70 % uninhabited swamp. At least uninhabited by people.

In the afternoon we started passing orange groves. We stopped and got a free drink of orange juice each (even Sandy). We bought a bag of oranges ($1). The orange trees were coming into blossom and the air was sweet with the smell of the blossoms.

We made good time today. We found a spot at Lion’s Trailer Park in Winter Haven. Tonight I did washing. Twenty-five cents for 25 minutes in the wringer-washer.

I took Inky for a walk and we watched fireworks in the distance at the fair.

Journal February 21, 1953
Off we went this morning to Cypress Gardens. The show was to start at 10 am. We found an excellent seat by the water – got all set – show about to start – Lesley had to go to the bathroom. I walked her back to the ladies room. I changed a dime so I would have nickel for the door. Finally got into the ladies room and Les announced she didn’t have to go anymore. So, out we came, washed our hands, tipped the girl. Spent 15 cents. 

The water show was good. There were quite a few spills as the water was choppy. After the show we walked around to where MGM studios were making a movie with Esther Williams, Van Johnson and Tony Martin. It was called, “Easy to Love.” Roland and Lesley disappeared (fortunately they found a nice spot so Les could see the show). Sandy and I stood on the outskirts of the crowd trying to get a peek at the movie scene. Later we rode through the gardens on their boats.

Man on top of 2 other water-skiers

We drove home to the trailer for lunch then drove to Clearwater this afternoon. We found a trailer park in Largo that would take children (Largo Park). There was a fair across the street. It was late so we didn’t go but Les was disappointed.

Journal February 22, 1953
Spent the day fixing brakes, cooking and cleaning. Lesley played with the kids at the slide and see saws.

Journal February 18, 1953
Early start again – around 10:30 but we only have about 50 miles to go to Miami. We stopped at Deerfield Beach to see Joe and Priscilla (cousins). On the way there we crossed the waterway. A boat was going through. They had two men, one on each end of a crank – turning the bridge to the side and back.

After crossing the bridge I saw a huge land crab – what a disgusting looking creature, about 5 – 6 inches high, walking with body high, on straight legs. They live in holes in the ground. In some places the land is covered with their holes.

When we reached the home of Joe and Priscilla they came out to see the trailer. Their little daughter, Jeannie, left her favorite teddy bear. We’ll send it back.

We stopped at a farmer’s market and carnival. At Miami we drove down NW 2nd street to find the trailer park. Decided we were so close to the venetian blind place that we would stop. After driving blocks we finally found the street number but it was a Baptist Church. We asked a postman. He said we were on NE 2nd street and to go over two blocks and cross the tracks – so we did. Then we had to drive up NW 2nd about ten blocks. When we finally got there a sign on the door said, “Moved to new location 287 N 67th street (about 35 blocks away. So we started up Biscayne Blvd and got in a terrific traffic jam. The children were crying.

Finally we stopped at Ollie’s Trailer Park on Biscayne Blvd.

Note: Up to this point Lesley had played with the other children in each trailer park so we were not expecting problems in this one. I am mortified that we didn’t react sooner to the threat she was facing. It definitely traumatized her. She was a sweet, gentle little girl who never expected to be bullied.

Journal February 19, 1953
Bad day! There is a broken down playground a short distance behind our trailer. Les went over to play. About 20 minutes later she came home all dirt and sobbing. She said, “a boy hit me all over the place.” We cleaned her up and sent her back. A few minutes later home she came. This time we told her to suggest to the boy that they take turns on the swing together pushing each other. If he still hit her to hit him back as hard as she could. I had to walk back with her until she saw no one was there. About 20 minutes later home she came – a little girl had gouged her cheek with her fingernails. We drove around the rest of the morning looking for a nicer trailer court. We found none. Also food is very expensive here. We decided to see Miami today and push on tomorrow.

We crossed the causeway. Saw Crandon Beach and Miami Beach. Never saw so many lovely and unusual homes as in Miami. Lesley went swimming at Miami beach. Sandy didn’t like her toes touching the sand or water so she lifted them up when I tried to lower her to the sand.

To bed early to leave tomorrow.