The Excellent Adventures of Dan & Maude: Part II
In 1939, Maude and her son, Dan, took a grand adventure across the United States. They traveled by rail from Boston, Massachusetts all the way to the west coast with various stops along the way. Throughout their journey, both Maude and Dan regularly corresponded with “D.H.” (as Maude refers to him)/Dad to share their stories with him. These letters have been miraculously preserved for 82 years. I am excited to be able to share these stories with you, so that the thrill and adventure of interwar period cross-country rail travel will not be forgotten.
Following their ride on the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad through the Tennessee Pass in Colorado, Dan and Maude arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dan and Maude both write D.H. Letters notifying him of their arrival. Both letters are dated and postmarked May 24, 1939, with Dan’s letter postmarked 3PM and the latter at 9PM.
Dan and Maude write on stationary of the New Grand Hotel. The hotel boasts amenities that are “Modern” and “Fireproof,” which are “In the Center of the Most Beautifully Situated City in the World.”
Dan checks in first:
“Dear Dad,
Arrived here this morning.
It has been raining all day so we have not had much of an opportunity to get around.
This is a nice city and the people are very pleasant.
Yours,
Dan”
Maude gives a more in depth update. She explains, “I tried writing on the train but we were going so fast I had all I could do to keep my seat and couldn’t write.” She describes that it was a “grand ride” and difficult for her to “do it justice on paper.” Maude tells D.H. that she spent much of her journey on the observation platform. She was impressed at the scenery and the robustness of the locomotive (“They have quite a job.”)
We also get a glimpse into Dan and Maude’s route before our series began:
“What a relief to find it so cool in St. Lake after the very hot weather in Chicago, St. Louis, and Denver. Of all the places I like this best. The streets and sidewalks are so very wide.” As Dan had previously written, Maude also comments that it rained most of the day they arrived and so she “did most of the sight seeing in the stores.”
After a long day of travel, rain and shopping, Maude closes her letter:
“I am ready to retire and get out early tomorrow morning.
Have tried to send the boys a card from each place as Peter was complaining that I had not sent him anything for a long time.
I will say goodnight and expect my next letter will be written in Frisco.
It’s certainly a grand trip and I am taking in all the sights.
Much love,
Maude”
