Travels with Grace: Heading South, 1940
This week we embark on a new journey with the stalwart traveler Grace Hecht. This particular 1940 trip takes us southwards and eventually across the border! To read more of Grace’s travels, click here.
Mon. July 1st left Roanoke at 9:30 had lunch in Bristol and arrived in Knoxville at 5:30 at Hotel Farragut. Very pretty mountain scenery en route.
Tues. July 2nd Left Knoxville at 9:30 very pretty scenery along the way. Had picnic lunch on the way which they prepared at the Farragut Coffee Shop. Nashville is the largest city visited en route to Jackson. Passed Andrew Jackson’s home “The Hermitage” en route. Arrived at Jackson’s Hotel New Southern at 6. We gained an hour as they have central time here. Sat on the sidewalk (everyone does) after dinner.
Wed. July 3. Left Jackson at 9:30 for Little Rock (Hotel McYehee[?]). On way stopped in Memphis a very nice city and ate picnic lunch in the park. Crossed the Mississippi into Arkansas. See lots of rice and cotton fields.
Thurs. July 4th. Left Little Rock at 9:30 for Palestine (Oneill Hotel). Rode thru Hot Springs, Ark. A very busy spa where we saw a number of handsome bathing establishments and fine hotels. Scenery very pretty around here, mts., lakes and rivers. Passed thru Texarkana, Red Water, Marshall etc. arriving in Palestine about 6:30 after driving around 350 miles. The personnel here are very accommodating, even leaving a ramp made to go over the step in the bathroom.
Fri. July 5th. Left Palestine at 9:30 and stopped in Austin on the Capitol grounds for picnic lunch. Very pretty building of pink granite, one of the finest capitols I have seen, surmounted by a statue of Justice, surrounded by a park tree shaded and adorned with many monuments. Arrived in San Antonio about 3:30 and went to the St. Anthony Hotel, a very good hostelry indeed. As my knee has been hurting more and more, I sent for Dr. Borshein recommended by the hotel.
Sat. July 6th. Sat around the hotel today and this evening entered the Santa Rosa hospital at Dr. Borshein’s suggestion so that I could receive some diathermy treatments and immobilize my leg. This is a very nice institution. En route here we saw the palace of the old Spanish governor, an ornate rococo structure. We also saw a very busy shopping section of good-sized stores. Here for the first time on the trip we see large palm trees. Saw the old Alamo with its pretty walled-in garden and a beautiful white marble monument to Freedom.
Thanks for reading “Traveling with Grace,” a series where we’re sharing (and annotating) posts from the travel diaries of Grace Amelia Hecht, native Baltimorean, b. 1897 and d. 1955. As mentioned in my introductory post transcription errors sometimes occur and I’ve made my best guesses where possible, denoted by [brackets]. – Rachel Kassman, marketing manager