Ced’s Coming Of Age Adventure – Arriving In Chicago – (4)

Thursday, July 26

6 PM

Dear Dad,

I am staying here for four days at $.50 per day (I get a room about 4′ x 8′ with a good clean comfortable bed and although an inside room there is an open court and I get pretty good air on the third floor. I also have the use of the public shower and wash. I stayed with Draz’s over until Wednesday afternoon and got a ride into Toledo, from there I walked about a mile and was picked up and carried about 6 miles. I walked another mile and was carried about 12 miles; as I stepped out of this last car I signaled a 1927 Cadillac it actually stopped and picked me up. The driver was alone and proceeded to tell me all about his past, present and future (and could he’s swear!). He left me at Annapolis, Ohio, and then I walked about a block and a car stopped without the use of my right thumb. He was in the 1934 Buick and what a smooth ride! I stepped out of that car and as I did another car stopped without being asked and took me about a mile. I then walked a mile and got another ride for about 2 miles. That I walked about a mile and signaled an Auburn going about 55 and he stopped and picked me up. He told me he had been told not to pick anyone up as he had once gotten “bumped on the noodle” by a hitchhiker. He told me he was going to Chicago and we went along all right for a while and then he said he was tired and so he let me drive about 180 miles while he slept. At one time we stopped and he bought me a hamburger sandwich and a glass of milk, and did it taste good in the nice restaurant he went to! We arrived at his hotel about 2:30 AM and I went directly to the “Y” and got a room on the 18th floor for $.75, an outside room. I slept until 12:30 today and then walked along on the outside of the Fairgrounds but I did not go in as I would not have had a full day there. Tomorrow I will start bright and early (?) And put in a full day at the fair. After looking around a bit I came back to the ”Y” and enjoying my present room, the location of which I have shown approximately on the enclosed card.

There is a large recreation room and writing room etc. and I think living here will be very pleasant and worthwhile. The Draz’s all asked about you and wanted to be remembered to you. Mr. Draz offered to assist me if I got into trouble and they were very nice to me all the time I was there. They have a Nash and a new Ford V-8 and do they like the Ford! They also have a nice old house about hundred and four years old. Well goodbye until the next.

Lots of love,

Ced

Chicago YMCA with Ced’s room marked

Chicago YMCA Postcard
(message on the back)

The message reads:

Dear Elizabeth, Dick and Dave,

This place is only four blocks from the fair grounds and the city of Chicago is practically as large as New York. To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind having you all here, what fun we could have at the fair,

The fair itself takes up about 14 or 15 city blocks and I get tired just walking the length of it. Lots of love, Ced

P.S. I am sending your watch ticket Elizabeth and you better see Mr. Johnson soon.

For the next several weeks, we’ll be exploring the Chicago World’s Fair just as Ced did. He kept scads of memorabilia and I want to share it with you. Most of it also includes his notes and his reactions to what he saw. It is quite a journey into the mind of a 16 year old boy away from home.

Tomorrow I’ll begin posting letters written in the spring of 1940, when Lad is working in Venezuela and Dan and Ced are contemplating a trip to Alaska. As usual, Grandpa will keep us informed about all the local news of Trumbull and the rest of the family.

Judy Guion

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