Miniature Photo's from the Naval Academy, Annapolis MD ca 1931

After Jim Moran IV graduated from Dresden High School he went on to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He did well and would have been successful except he had no ear for French and apparently if you can't pass French you can't stay at the Naval Academy.  Though he flunked French he did go on to become an engineer and had a successful career at Eastman in Kingsport TN.

  

These pictures are part of a souvenir miniature collection that he purchased and sent back home so everyone could see where Jimmie was hanging out.  The photographs are from the Pickering Studio in Annapolis.

Bancroft Hall from Lovers Lane

Seaward Entrance, Bancroft Hall

Armory

Chapel & Colors

Chapel

Dress Parade

Entire Regiment, Dress Parade, June Week

Entrance Bancroft Hall

Glimpse of U.S. Naval Academy

Graduation Exercises, Class 1931

Interior of Bancroft Hall

Interior of Chapel 

Japanese Bell

Liberty Tree St Johns College

Mexican Monument

U.S. Naval Academy from Air

Original Tecumseh Figurehead of U.S.S. Delaware

Polar Expedition Memorial

Resignation of Washington in State House at Annapolis

The purpose of this collection of genuine photographs is purely educational.  In compiling these views, we have endeavored to cover only those points that are of most interest to the visitor.

We hope that in your travels to other cities and historical points, you will continue to purchase these sets; thus, as time goes on, you will have as memoirs a complete collection of photographs of your travels.

If you desire additional sets of this series, or of other cities and points of interest, communicate with the dealer from whom this set was purchased or write--The Process Photo Studios, Troy at 21st Street, Chicago Illinois.  Suggestion: Paste these photographic snap shots and historical facts in your photo album.

The United States Naval Academy Annapolis

Glorious in conception, resplendent in tradition, moulding the character of the future offices of our vigilant fleet, the United States Naval Academy stands as an every pulsating symbol of patriotic splendor.

Situated on historic ground formerly occupied by Fort Severn, on the mile wide Severn river, 25 miles southeast of Baltimore, the Academy is adjacent to Annapolis, the State Capital of Maryland.

The Naval Academy is a complete city in itself, covering 184 acres with 140 buildings, a hospital on a 22 acre ground ant the 855 acre Rifle Range and Dairy Farm at Gambrills, representing a total investment of $28,000,000.  It was founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy, George Bancroft, and has a present enrollment of 2000 midshipman.

A complete naval history of our country, with relics of the past as well as equipment for the future, can be visualized on these grounds.  There is the chapel with the crypt of John Paul Jones, "Father of the American Navy."  The several blocks long Bancroft Hall contains Memorial Hall, dedicated to the Navy's heroic dead.  Here Perry's famous battle flag with the words: "Don't give up the ship," is seen overhead.  A well equipped gymnasium and the athletic trophy room are located in Macdonough Hall.

Outside the Santee Basin lies the "Reina Mercedes," captured at Santiago in the Spanish War and on the waters opposite Luce Hall rests the yacht "America," winner of the international America's Cup.

The library and all flags captured by the navy during the last 150 years are housed in Mahan Hall, and in the basement of Maury Hall is a small Naval Museum with Collections pertaining to days of wood and sail.  An interesting exhibit of models of steam engines, airplanes and their motors is placed in Isherwood Hall.

Infantry drills of the midshipmen take place on Worden Field, and on the Heights across Dorsey creek stands the Naval Hospital.  The Tripolis monument, honoring Decatur and Somer, who liberated American vessels from Mediterranean pirate exactions, is worthy of notice, as is Dahlgren Hall where 10,000 visitors assemble for the graduation exercises, and where the famous Farewell Ball of June Week takes place.

Tampa Bay Hotel, ca 1900

I had been wondering for a couple of years where this very ornate building could be.  Today I have my answer, Tampa Florida.

It was originally built by Henry B. Plant, a railroad magnate, as the Tampa Bay Hotel.  It cost 3 million to build, takes up 6 acres of space for the hotel alone, had 511 rooms and was the first hotel in Florida to have an elevator, electricity and telephones.  The grounds were 150 acres and included amenities such as a golf course, race track, swimming pool and casino.  It was popular with celebrities and was used as the base of operations during the Spanish-American War.

Due to the Depression, the hotel shutdown in 1930.  Three years later the Tampa Bay Junior College moved into the building and later it became the University of Tampa.  Part of the building is leased as the Henry B. Plant Museum.

During the last 12 years of John W. Moran's life he suffered from pernicious anemia.  He and his son Harrell would travel to Florida in the hopes that the warmer climate would help with his illness.  It's likely that they stayed at the Tampa Bay Hotel during one of those trips.

Chatty Letters from Shepherd Milner Fowlkes, 1891 and 1898

The letters include new information!  We didn't know Ida Moran attended the New England Conservatory of Music.  Shepherd was trying to set Harrell up with a mystery woman named Elise. Well, she probably wasn't a mystery to him but she is to us.  The second letter is to Fannie.  Shepherd mentions Sophie and addresses her as "cousin".  I know there is a Gardner connection possibility somewhere but don't know if that is the family connection being referred to here.  Shepherd mentions friends from Wards visiting her.  That would be Ward's Seminary in Nashville which later became Belmont College.  Fannie also attended Wards. It seems there was a mystery man named Mr. Parks who was interested in Fannie and gone so far as to take pictures from Shepherd's album, presumably of Fannie!  

Before proceeding to the letters here's a bit of background regarding Shepherd and her husband William.

Shepherd Milner married William Connell Fowlkes December 17, 1889.  If you'd like to see the wedding invitation and birth announcement for Martin Fowlkes in 1891 you can visit that page here. In addition to their son Martin, they had Benjamin M. Fowlkes and George Gardner Fowlkes.  The curious thing about Martin is that his birth announcement clearly says his name is Martin Irl (corruption of Earl perhaps?) Fowlkes but other records say his middle name was Milner.   According to the death certificate, Shepherd was the daughter of Ben Milner, mother unknown, and was born in 1870. She died at Bolivar in 1952 and is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Dyersburg.  

I haven't been able to find anything about a Ben Milner but I believe there is a good chance that wasn't correct anyway.  She may possibly be the daughter of Terrisha Aurelius Milner and his wife Rebecca Melissa Abington, who had been married previously to James Richard Gardner.  If so that means she was recorded as "Saluda S. (Shepherd maybe?) Milner" in the Census records of 1880 along with her brothers/half brothers Henry, Benjamin, and George.   Rebecca and A.T. Milner are buried at Stovall Cemetery in Obion County.   The entire Milner listing for the cemetery is here and it includes Saluda Stovall Milner and B.J. Milner, parents of A.T. Milner. (Census Records 1850, Weakley County)

Shepherd's husband William was the son of William P. Fowlkes and Sarah E. Connell.  He was born in 1865 and died in 1941 and is also buried at Fairview Cemetery.  There is another blog entry about William's sister Sallie.  She married William Henry Haywood.

page 1 to Harrell

On to the letters....

The first letter is dated February 1898 and is to "Harold", aka Harrell.

My dear Harold:

No doubt you have forgotten such a human exists, and I can only think of you as "Bob Taylor's" barefooted boy", for I visited at your home seven years ago this past Summer, and I can't remember how you look, only that you were barefooted, but Elise tells met that you are a "thing of beauty and a joy forever" now, and that you were not barefooted while she was at Dresden. She spent one day and night with me last week, and we planned many schemes to get you down here.  Presume you will wonder who I am & ask Fanny and she'll tell you.  

page 2 to Harrell

Don't you think you can come down and make us a visit, and Mr. Fowlkes will go bird hunting with you, and if you don't like that there is another attraction you know, and we will have a "house party" for a few days.  Perhaps I would tell you some of these lovely things to Elise and about you.  Tell Fanny I'm going to write her in a few days.  I'm nearly wild to see she and Jim.  I hear Ida is in Boston at the N.E. Conservatory and so glad she went.  We have a young lady from here there at the School of Oratory & I'm going to write her to go to see Ida.

Miss Chiles from Dresden was here today & I just saw her, that was all.  We took dinner at the "Hotel Dismukes" and Mr. Crane and Mr. Dismukes both called to see her (Miss Chiles) this aft.  Tell Fanny I'll never get through telling her that nice things Mr. Crain said about her.  Jim must get a ??

I've written quite a letter.  Hope you consider the matter, and run down to see all your friends.

With much love for all. I'm,

   Sincerely,

     Shepherd Milner Fowlkes

Dyersburg, January the Thirteenth, Ninety eight

The second letter is to Fannie Moran dated February 14 1891.

page 1 to Fannie

Dyersburg

Feb. 14 '91

My dearest Fan

Your letter received yesterday and I will show my great appreciation of it by responding at once.  I've been thinking I'd write, and see what had become of you ever since were to see you in Sept. but failed to so.have heard from you a few times through "Mr. Parks". Certainly I will write him at once for the pictures, which he "stole" out of my Album. he promised to return them, and I'll make him do it.  He is over here quite often, and always comes up to see us, really I have him selected for my "second", should I ever need one.  What on earth is the matter with you?  Know he has given you the "shake".

page 2 to Fannie

Quite a crowd of us are going to Memphis Monday night to hear Jefferson & Florence- wish you could come down and go with us in place of going to Nashville, by the way, can't you make us a visit soon; you can't imagine how much we all would appreciate a visit from you.  Dyersburg is unusually gay now, quite a number of young ladies visiting here, and a "dancing school" and a "protracted meeting" in progress help to make things lively.  

We have two of our School mates with us, and have been here every since Xmas.  One of them, Mamie Heron, of Water Valley Mississippi was my room-mate at Wards, so you know I'm happy she's a lovely girl wish you knew yer.  The other one also attended Wards & is up from Pecan Point Ark.  I expect to be housekeeping in about a month or six weeks, & I shall certainly expect you to visit me this Spring or Summer.  

page 3 to Fannie

We are building now & will have such a pretty home when completed. Connell has fallen very much in love with you, and cousin Sophie too-we fully expected some of you to Conference, but was disappointed.  I had a long letter from Julia last week, she apeaks of coming out in the spring.

Carrie & Sallie (Shepherd's sisters-in-law) join me in lots of love to yourself & Mama.  Write me as often as you can, am always glad to hear from you.  Connell is out here, but I'll send his love any way,

page 4 to Fannie

Lovingly,

Shepherd F.