The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-02-12

II
at the hall.
Mrs. Cooks letter follows:
To Our Dear Friends, Whom We Of
ten Think OF:
We sincerely wish that we might
be with vou at this pleasant gather
ing. But as we cannot the best we
can do is to send our regrets with q
short description Of our trip to Flor
ida by auto.
The trip to Florida by auto seems
simple thing to think Of, but quite
different in reality. We hardly
knew what we were going to do until
Nov. A when we decided we had better
go south and on Nov. 6 we packed
our camping outfit and little wear
ing apparel and started en- our jour
ney.
We drove to Lansing and took din
ner with the Taylors. From there
to Chelsea and stayed over night,
arriving at Toledo, o., for dinner and
there. This was the day the false
peace report came, and believe us it
was a good place to get out of for
one could not hear or scarcely see.
We left Toledo about 4:30 p. m.
and drove to Bradner where we put
up for the night leaving the next a.
m, we drove over some of the finest
roads we ever saw and through some
of the finest farming country; in fact
the roads were all good after we left
Michigan. We reached Columbus
about p. m. which is very beauti-
| full city with the finest residence we
ever saw. From Columbus to Kir-
kersville, O. for over night. Leaving
there on the morning of the 9th we
drove to GAINESVILLE then to Cam
| bridge for dinner, eating with bunch
| of soldier boys wro were driving 80
! army trucks enroute to Camp Guam
| ticc, Va. From Cambridge to
Bridgeport, which is the Ohio line.
From GAINESVILLE to Bridgeport we
passed through the oil fields and min
| ing districts of Ohio. At Bridgeport
we crossed the Ohio river to Wheel
ing, w. Va, which is just across the
river.
From Wheeling to West Alexan-
dria for overnight, leaving the next
morning we drove to Washington, Ia.
where we could see our first noun
taips and in a short time we were
hitting our first grade which was 8
miles long. Then we took drive
down of about the same distance and
continued to climb up one side and
slide down the other.
We stopped at Grantsville, Md,
which is located in the mountains.
When we were leaving the hotel in
| the morning we received the Victory
report. On this day we continued
70 Climb over the mountains and at
Q a. m. we asked how long before we
would be out of them and we we're
informed that afte- going over FIVE
more ranges we would be in the foot
hills.
Every little town we passed
through was celebrating victory and
at Cumberland, Md, there was a
large demonstration. Just before we
arrived there was a shooting affair.
One man was seriously wounded. All
factories and business places were
closed all along the route. From
here we drove to Hagarstown, then
Middletown, Md, over night, leaving
in the morning for Washington, d. c.,
where we spent the greater part of
TIE day. The streets in Washington
are broad and beautiful. Here we
crossed the Potomac river to Alexan-
dria, Va, and headed for Mt. Vernon
and here is where cur troubles began,
crossing the bridge we picked up a
big spike which nearly ruined one
tire and before we could make re-
pairs the gates of Mt Vernon were
closed to the public consequently we
drove on to Occoquan passing the
Powhick church on tie way, where
Washington had attended services,
stayed at Occquan, Va, over night
and the next a. m. we visited Camp
Quartico. On our way to Freder-
icKsburg we saw the old National
cemetery where there were 1924
irterments, Of these only about $500
are known. Here was the Wash
ington farm where he was raised TO
marhood, also the home Of Mary, mo-
Their of George Washington, where
she Lived and died, 1772 .17S9.
From Fredericksburg to Richmond
where we saw Stonewall Jackson's
monument. Here we drove on some
Ct the finest boulevards we ever saw.
From Richmond to Petersburg, over
night. Here Camp Lee is located 3
miles from there and we thought the
whole camp was turned loose from
amount of noise that kept up all
night. The next a. m. we started for
Waverly where we spent nearly a
week. Leaving there Monday, 18th,
for Virginia Beach which is a large
summer resort on the seashore. On
our way we passed st. Luke's church,
the Oldest church in the u. s. in SER
vice, where many battles were fought
both in the Revolutionary and Civil
wars. Many bullet holes are still in
evidence. This church was erected
in 1882 under the direction of Capt.
Jos. Hridger whose remains were
laid at rest beside Of his wife, Anna.
in the main aisle in front Of the pull
pit. Two Of the east windows were
dedicated to John Smith and John
Rolfe.
At Portsmouth, We fSried the
Elisabeth river TO Norfolk and On
the 20th We returned TO Wavsrly ana
decided 70 staEt for Florida et onco