1885

The secretary and Mrs. Austin left New Hampshire for their winter home in St. Petersburg, Fla., on October 17 and on the following day flew from Boston to Tampa in little more than seven hours. It was a decided contrast to their first trip in 1923 by auto, which required two weeks to negotiate the 1500 plus miles between New Hampshire and Florida.

Previous to starting on that 1923 journey, inquiry was made as to the condition of the roads and the possibility of getting through safely with a heavy car. The information was favorable and quite accurate. The gravel roads as far as Baltimore were not too bad; from Baltimore to Washington, forty miles of rather rough pavement were encountered, and south of Washington, clay, and then sand, was the rule. The clay when wet provided serious obstacles and the sand was not much better. However, the car, a Packard Twin Six, proved equal to all calls and brought us safely to our journey's end. We have since made the same trip many times in five days, evidence that the condition of the roads has improved over the years.

St. Petersburg is still experiencing a feverish building boom of small houses. It now claims a population of 125,000.

1885 Fund Contributors

4 Gifts (Participation Index 100) Total Gifts: $145.00 JOHN P. BROOKS, Class Agent

Adams, Warren S. Armes, A. Herbert1 Austin, Henry H. Brooks, John P.

MEMORIAL GIFT FROM:

1Son, H. Lyman Armes'12.

Secretary and Treasurer 433-4 th St., N. St. Petersburg 4, Fla.