Voyage to Venezuela (6) – Lad’s Preparations

This is the  beginning of a series of posts concerning Lad’s Voyage to Venezuela, taking a similar route as John Jackson Lewis during the first portion of his journey, about 88 years later. Lad and Dan had been hired by their Uncle Ted Human (husband of Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Helen), sister of Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, Grandpa’s wife who had passed away in 1933 after a long illness.

The following are documents my Dad had to obtain and/or deliver before he even set foot on the ship that would carry him to Venezuela. Dan had gone through this same process in September and October of 1938.

Lad’s Passport Photo

Life in Venezuela

by

Alfred P.  Guion

                    Although I am starting off with every intention of bringing this little article, or whatever, to a close, it may never reach this ultimate and.      However: –

 

On Thursday, December 29, 1938, at the request of Mr. McCarten, Vice President of inter-America, Inc.,  I made a trip into New York from Trumbull, Connecticut, and was given the long awaited ticket that assured me of passage to Venezuela.  The sailing date was Friday, December 30, so I had only the remainder of the afternoon and the following morning until noon to return home, complete my packing, buy the few remaining necessities, say goodbye to as many as possible of my friends and returned to Pier 57 and the grace line’s “Santa Rosa”. 

With this in mind, I made a few purchases in New York while waiting for the train to Mount Vernon, where I had left my car, and arrived in Bridgeport early enough to finish shopping before the stores closed.  Then the rush to get home, supper, finish packing and off again to New Haven to a party that was waiting for me in the form of a fair-well.  It was 1:00 A.M. before I could get away from New Haven and then another stop in Nichols and home for a couple of hours sleep. 

Although the boat was not leaving until 12:00 Noon, I had set 8:00 A.M. as the time for departure knowing that in all probability there would be last-minute thoughts that might possibly detain our start for the last U. S. City I would see for a number of days to say the least. 

Next Saturday, the record of the day of departure.

On Sunday, I will be posting another of My Ancestors, this time, more about my mother, Marian Dunlap Irwin. 

On Monday, I will begin a week of letters written in 1943, a time when four of  five of Grandpa’s sons are working for Uncle Sam and Lad and Marian’s wedding is real close.

Judy Guion

Voyage to Venezuela (5) – Venezuelan Government Red Tape – 1939

This is the  beginning of a series of posts concerning Lad’s Voyage to Venezuela, taking a similar route as John Jackson Lewis during the first portion of his journey, about 88 years later. Lad and Dan had been hired by their Uncle Ted Human (husband of Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Helen), sister of Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, Grandpa’s wife who had passed away in 1933 after a long illness.

The following are documents my Dad had to obtain and/or deliver before he even set foot on the ship that would carry him to Venezuela. Dan had gone through this same process in September and October of 1938.

I decided to put all the documentation together to show the scope of “Red Tape” and also to allow me to post Lad’s written description of his trip on the Santa Rosa to La Guayra and his subsequent overland drive to Caracas. I will begin posting his account next Saturday.

American Consul states that they have Lad’s Passport

 

Documents pertaining to Lad’s Passport

 

Official Document signed by Luis Alberto Brito, TRANSAMERICA, INC.

 

Lad’s Medical Documentation

 

Doctor’s Certification

Tomorrow I’ll post information about Marian’s parents.

On Monday, I’ll begin a week of the recorded memories of the children during their years in Trumbull.

Judy Guion

Voyage to Venezuela (4) – Trip on Grace Line Ship, S.S. Santa Rosa – December, 1938 – January, 1939

This is the  beginning of a series of posts concerning Lad’s Voyage to Venezuela, taking a similar route as John Jackson Lewis during the first portion of his journey, about 88 years later. Lad and Dan had been hired by their Uncle Ted Human (husband of Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Helen), sister of Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, Grandpa’s wife who had passed away in 1933 after a long illness.

The following are documents my Dad had to obtain and/or deliver before he even set foot on the ship that would carry him to Venezuela. Dan had gone through this same process in September and October of 1938.

Here are some documents regarding Lad’s trip on a Grace Line ship, the S. S. Santa Rosa, from New York to Curacao, Venezuela, in 1939.

SUMMARY OF EXPENSE ACCOUNT, TOOLS ORDERED, ETC.

 

 

S.S. Santa Rosa Passenger List – cover

 

SS Santa Rose Passenger Booklet – inside first page

 

GRACE LINE Passenger Statement

 

Various forms and receipts from the S. S. Santa Rosa

 

Curacao coast with message to Grandpa on back

 

MESSAGE: “Dear Gang:- Making our well. Fine weather all the way. On to Curacao tonight. More from there. Laddie”

 

Curacao Harbor

 

Native District of Curacao

Next week I’ll be posting forms that were filled out or filed after Lad reached Curacao, along with a picture of Lad in Curacao in his light weight tropical suit, as suggested.

Tomorrow more information on Marian’s Ancestors.

Next week, a week of letters written in 1944. All five sons are helping the war effort, four are in the Army and our one, Conscientious Objector, is working on a Military base in Alaska. as an airplane mechanic and retriever of downed planes in the Bush.

Judy Guion

 

 

 

 

 

Voyage to Venezuela (3) – Lad’s Agreement With INTERAMERICA, INC. – December, 1938 – January, 1939

This is the  beginning of a series of posts concerning Lad’s Voyage to Venezuela, taking a similar route as John Jackson Lewis during the first portion of his journey, about 88 years later. Lad and Dan had been hired by their Uncle Ted Human (husband of Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Helen), sister of Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, Grandpa’s wife who had passed away in 1933 after a long illness.

The following are documents my Dad had to obtain and/or deliver before he even set foot on the ship that would carry him to Venezuela. Dan had gone through this same process in September and October of 1938.

 

Front page of contract between INTERAMERICA INC. and Alfred P. Guion

 

Back of the contract, signed and dated December 29, 1938

 

Letter of who to contact in case of emergencies

 

A list of items to be provided by the company to their new employee

 

Suggestions on Behavior in Camp and Towns

 

More suggestions on behavior

 

And final instructions on behavior

 

Letter of Introduction to Lad’s Supervisor

 

Next Saturday, paper work regarding the actual trip. Tomorrow, more on the Ancestors of Marian Dunlap (Irwin) Guion.

On Monday, a week of letter from 1943. I will be covering the wedding of Alfred Peabody Guion and Marian Dunlap Irwin, along with other family news.

Judy Hardy 

 

Voyage to Venezuela (2) – More Red Tape – December, 1938 – January, 1939

This is the  beginning of a series of posts concerning Lad’s Voyage to Venezuela, taking a similar route as John Jackson Lewis during the first portion of his journey, about 88 years later. Lad and Dan had been hired by their Uncle Ted Human (husband of Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Helen), sister of Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, Grandpa’s wife who had passed away in 1933 after a long illness.

The following are documents my Dad had to obtain and/or deliver before he even set foot on the ship that would carry him to Venezuela. Dan had gone through this same process in September and October of 1938.

Report from Lad’s doctor that he had examined Lad and there was no evidence of leprosy, trachoma, insanity or epilepsy.

 

A statement from his doctor that he had been vaccinated.

 

The VISA Application Form

 

A letter from Lad’s employer, INTERAMERICA, INC. to the Venezuelan Consulate in New York reporting Lad’s employment and his intention to travel to Venezuela.

 

FBI, Department of Justice, document identifying Alfred Peabody Guion with his picture

 

The back of the FBI, Department of Justice, document identifying Alfred Peabody Guion with his finger prints.

 

A list of regulations to be complied with by aliens entering Venezuela

 

A NOTICE TO BEARERS OF PASSPORTS with Lad’s signature on it.

 

Pages 10 and 11 of the NOTICE TO BEARERS OF PASSPORTS

Section 15a. Special documents required for visas for certain Latin American countries, including Venezuela.  Three documents are listed as being required by Venezuela: (1) Vaccination certificates,, (2) Health certificates and (3) Police certificates (good conduct certificates.

 

Next Saturday we hear more from INTERAMERICA, Inc. including their contract with Lad and employment regulations.

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting some information about Marian (Dunlap) Irwin’s ancestors. Next week I will be continuing the Helen Log Book, with vivid details about Grandpa’s trips with his three older boys on the Helen.

Judy Guion 

 

 

Voyage to Venezuela (1) – Letters of Recommendation – December, 1938 – January, 1939

This is the  beginning of a series of posts concerning Lad’s Voyage to Venezuela, taking a similar route as John Jackson Lewis during the first portion of his journey, about 88 years later. Lad and Dan had been hired by their Uncle Ted Human (husband of Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Helen), sister of Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, Grandpa’s wife who had passed away in 1933 after a long illness.

The following are documents my Dad had to obtain and/or deliver before he even set foot on the ship that would carry him to Venezuela. Dan had gone through this same process in September and October of 1938.

 

  Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad)

I really don’t know the specifics of how it came about that both Lad and Dan went to work for INTERAMERICA, Inc. in Venezuela.  My guess is that Grandpa’s brother-in-law, Ted Human (married to Arla (Peabody) Guion’s sister Helen) a Civil Engineer, was hired and then probably spoke to Grandpa about bringing Lad, the mechanic, and Dan, the surveyor, down to Venezuela ass employees of the company.

Ted Human and Dan traveled by boat to Caracas, Venezuela, at some point in October, 1938.  Lad was given authorization to purchase all the necessary tools he would need and then transport them and himself to Venezuela.

As with any trip to a foreign country, there was quite a bit of paperwork to be completed before Lad set sail in December, 1938.  For the next few weeks I will be posting copies of the necessary documents.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION:

Wolverine Motor Works, Inc. by Albert M. Hagan, Chief Engineer, October 24, 1938

 

 

TRUMBULL COACH LINES, INC. by Daniel M. Wells, owner, December 12, 1938

 

Trumbull Chief of Police by Alfred D. Guion (also First Selectman), December 14, 1938

Tomorrow, I an scheduled to begin a series of Posts about Marian (Dunlap) Irwin’s Ancestors. At this point, I do not have much information so I will postpone this post for a week with the hope of gathering more information.

On Monday, I plan on doing a post to honor Grandpa’s five sons who all served in the Army during World War II.

Judy Guion