Kissimmee, Fla.,
R. D. No.1, Box 115
To: "The Ephrata Review" and Friends at Home: (Apparently The Ephrata Review split the letter into two parts.)

        Thursday, November l0th. We left the free camp 18 miles north of Athens, and continued toward our destination. It is not yet summer here in Georgia, for we had a very heavy frost. The man invited us in to his living room to the fire on the hearth, which felt fine. Mrs. Weaver said she froze her feet while getting breakfast that morning.

         I should have stated earlier in this letter that when we had snow in Pennsylvania on Nov. 1st, it snowed as far south as the North and South Carolina State line. The tourists from the New England States and New York told me that snow in their section was from 6 to 12 inches deep at that time.

        Ever since we left Washington, D. C. all we need to do is to follow the tourists' tracks and machines, which are heavily laden, and are all going to Florida, at "break-neck" speed, by the thousands. We traveled along with the same group of tourists, sometimes for several days. I often said while we were en route, that it looks to me like this bunch of Florida seekers was a set of northern fools. The roads through Georgia were not very good. We passed through Athens and then went on to several small towns, one of which is Farmington.

        At this latter place, we saw a Tourist's machine run over by a train, at a turn in the road. We were following this car, in the next machine. That was an awful sight to behold. There were five people in the machine, and they said they were not hurt. We saw no blood, but their escape from instant death was nothing short of a miracle. Their machine was reduced to splinters. After seeing that we could be of no service to these unfortunate people, we went on to Madison, Monticello, Macon, Perry, and stopped at Hawkinsville for the night.

         Seven miles north of Hawkinsville, another tire gave out, and I sent for another new tire with one of the tourists. Let me say here that you have neighbors all along the way, if you, yourself are neighborly. I saw men from all over the Union gathered together and helping some unfortunate traveler out of his trouble. In a very short time we got the tire, and then went on our way again.

        While waiting for the tire, an old Negro came to talk with us, and this conversation proved very amusing. He told me that he remembers of driving cattle for his master when he was a child, and then a slave. When I asked him how old he is, he said, "Wall, I am fast goin' on 53. Yo' ha'dly 'spect that did ye?" Upon seeing my gasoline bottle, which we carried to supply our lantern and stove, the old negro exclaimed: "Say, if ye want yer bottle filled, I'll give ye night lodgin' in de bargain." So you see, the people along the line took me for anything from a preacher to a moonshiner. "We tell de poo' ol' fella we's no drinkin' man, and pass on."

        Hawkinsville has a free camping grounds for tourists in the center of the town, to the rear of the courthouse . There is a shed for about eight machines. Water, light, toilets, bath, and ladies' rest room were all at our disposal in the court house. We did not indulge in these conveniences more than we positively had to, because of their sanitary condition. Of course, we should not expect too much for nothing. Hawkinsville is a nice place, and the people were very hospitable. We went shopping there, and at this place we bought our first bread and cheese on the trip, as our store in the cupboard needed some replenishing. We slept well, ate our breakfast, and again turned our faces toward the land of summer, for it is not very warm yet.

        November 11th. We had frost on this morning. Our next towns en route were Abbeville, Fitzgerald, Ocilla, Douglass, Waycross, Folkston, and then St. Mary's river, the Georgia-Florida State line. We paid 50 cents to cross the bridge, and were then in Florida. I told the rest of the party that I am a kind of a stranger around here, because I was never here before. Well, we landed in the state at 4:30 P. M., and had 41 miles to Jacksonville.

Florida Wild Pigs

        The roads were very rough and deep and we had many detours all through Georgia, except the last hundred miles. The roads here in Florida are splendid, and on our way to Jacksonville, I opened up my old 1919 model and left him cut loose.

        Seventeen miles north of Jacksonville, we struck a camping ground. Here we could have hired a one-roomed house with some conveniences and two beds for $2.00, but since we could drive into the shed with our machine for 25 cents, we chose the latter proposition, and slept in our own cots.

        November 12th. On this day we passed through Jacksonville. Here we stopped with the auto club and got maps of Florida. Jacksonville is a real city. The police force there is very obliging, and tell tourists how to behave while driving in that city.

        From Jacksonville, we went on to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States, and then on to Daytona. Along the line we saw many sights that were strange to us, too many to mention here. At Daytona Mrs. Weaver and myself saw the ocean for the first time in our lives, and we thought of the magnificence of God, who holdeth the sea in the hollow of His hand. We agreed with the poet, and said, "Roll on, Roll on, thou dark and deep blue ocean, Roll." and then turned our back to the sea and rolled on to De Land for the night .

        It was after dark when we arrived at De Land. The city was crowded with tourists, and we finally found a camp at the west end of the town, run by the town. We paid 35 cents to drive in, and were surprised to find a place filled to overflowing with thousands of people. Some pay $2.00 per week to camp there permanently and then work in the town. Some stay for pleasure and some stay for a night only. We were shown to a place, and were told that we would have a noisy place because of the children, but we said we wouldn't mind that. But just then something had driven over a child or something else was wrong. I jumped from the machine to see what was wrong. I saw three children running away into different directions of the woods, crying like murder, limping and seemingly in awful agony. Mrs. Weaver, who saw the whole transaction, then told me that a certain brute in the form of a human being had brutishly whipped three little girls to such an extent that they must have been cut through. I am an American and will not let a thing like that pass without protest. I went to the office and protested against such proceedings. I was told that they didn't get half enough, whereupon we gave them a few Christian tracts and left.

        As it was beginning to rain, and we had had no supper as yet, and as it was about 7:00 o'clock, we parked the machine along the curb and then spent a quiet night at the Ingelhart Hotel on New York Ave. among the millionaires. It was night and it was raining. I hid my 1919 Ford among the shrubbery in the yard, and put on a big front to the other guests at the place, and they never suspected me to be Johnny Weaver from Ephrata. At least they called me Mr. Weaver. You know I can get away with that stuff if it don't last too long. We slept well, and the next morning went on our way as usual, leaving before the guests were up. We drove along until about 8:00 o'clock when we were stopped on a bad detour in the woods. We were stuck in the sand at this place, and were helped out by other tourists. Finally we got straightened out again and had breakfast. You know a rain while you are traveling knocks you out of your regular routine.

Sanford Draw Bridge

        We moved on to Sanford. Let me say a few nice things about Sanford. Here we saw cultivation for the first time in Florida, that is, outside of fruit-raising. Here they plant and raise all kinds of garden vegetables on tilled land, and it reminded us of a large Lancaster County truck farm. We would have liked to stay here, but we were bound for the west coast.

        All along the way from Daytona we saw that much building was going on, and I supposed one could get a carpenter job there, but we went on to Orlando, Kissimmee, and Loughman. At the latter place John Leaman and wife (formerly of Intercourse, Lancaster County) live. Father Landis knew Mr. Leaman well 30 years ago, and we stopped and paid Mr. and Mrs. Leaman a surprise visit. They welcomed us and entertained us very hospitably. When we left, they gave us about one-half bushel of oranges, fresh from their large grove. Mr. Leaman told us that he bought his property of 40 acres seven years ago. The trees were then four years old, and in bearing condition. He paid $5,000 for the place, and says he made plenty of money every year. He refused $35,000 for the place, and expects to get $100,000 for it. He has a large lake on the place, and that makes it more valuable. Water front is sought after all over Florida. These many lakes were an eye-sore to me at first, but since I know they contain fresh water, and in many instances an abundance of fish, they become more fascinating to me, too.

John Lehman and Grapefruit

        While spending a few hours with the Leaman family, we suddenly tired of continuing our traveling, and decided to get a place and locate.

        While we were traveling between Kissimmee and Loughman, we noticed extensive building operations underway. We stopped at a hotel at Loughman for the night, and then went back to this building site to investigate as to the possibilities. We met the real estate men of the place, and of course we were very courteously shown, explained to, and influenced regarding the possibilities of locating and investing in this project at Interocean City, which is the name given to the new city being built at this point. I am told that two men, Messrs. Allen and White, have bought up 13,000 acres, and that in the near future expect to develop it into a modern city. The price of lots ranges from $1,300 to $35,000. Well, I didn't buy a $35,000 lot, simply because if it would go wrong I didn't want to lose that much money. Ha! Ha!

        On Saturday morning, Nov. 13th, I got a job at Interocean City as a foreman for building No. 3, already under roof, to take charge on Monday morning following.

The Boarding House

        Now we had to find a boarding place, which is a hard matter here. We were told that the company had a boarding house three miles up the road. We went there and got a room, about 15 by l7 feet in size, which is sufficiently large for the three of us. After Mrs. Weaver cleaned it to suit our taste, and we had placed our belongings in it, we gave a sigh of relief, and began to feel at home. We pay $24.00 a week for this room and boarding for the three of us.

        After our first two or three meals and the first night, we didn't feel so much at home after all. A Mrs. Smith runs the hotel, and all the boarders are men from all over the North. Mrs. Weaver is the only lady boarder. There were five women about the place all the time, however, and the men boarders are all perfect gentlemen and very nice in the presence of ladies, but the women were not all ladylike about the place. We decided we couldn't stay there, for the management did not suit us. We were told by some of the boarders that Mrs. Smith and her outfit were leaving almost any time, and then things were to become very much different. Well we stuck until Tuesday, and then the Smith family pulled out. A Mr. Bishop and his wife then took charge. We were all glad. Mrs. Bishop and my wife immediately set to work cleaning the house, beds, bath room, etc., and Mr. Bishop went to town and purchased a large supply of provisions and bedding for the half starved boarders. We can say no more than that we are all perfectly satisfied now.

Mr. & Mrs. Bishop

        As to the chicken that I mentioned in my first letter, I want to say it does not stop at chicken now. We had turkey and all that goes with it for Thanksgiving dinner, all deliciously prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. According to this, this may not be a bad place for a preacher after all.

        As to the weather and the climate, we were not here long enough to say very much, but it still remains rather cool all the time, especially throughout the nights. During the daytime it is rather warm. I generally work in my shirt sleeves and wear only light-weight underwear. In the morning we wear our coats for a while.

        On Nov. 24th and 25th we had a very heavy frost, and it seemed cold, but it got warmer about noon. Altogether, we like the climate well, however we cannot adjust ourselves so readily to the change of things in general. I like my job very well, and I see plenty of opportunity to make plenty of money here, but we did not come here with the intention of staying, and then we are not inclined to obligate ourselves.