Nostalgia & History > Brackenridge Park

[With the end of the war my Dad was discharged from the Army on Monday, December 16, 1918. He stayed in Denver on Monday night and left of No. 3 for home on Tuesday. He arrived at Wolcott at 6:30 am on Wednesday and arrived home, Kent, at 9 am.] “Army life ended. Home Sweet Home.” [The next entry in my Dad’s diary was for February 20th, 1919.] “December 18th, 1918 to February 20th, 1919 lost to the world. Vacation for time in the S.A.T.C.” Thursday, February 20th, 1919. “Up at 7:30 am, little jobs about the house. Walked to Wolcott about 3:30 pm. Potato and ice jobs. Writing after supper.”

[On March 26th my Dad went to Gypsum to work in Lundgren’s store. My Dad had gone to high school in Gypsum.] Wednesday, March 26th, 1919. “Packed my suitcase and moved to Gypsum. Arrived on 15. Over to the store at 2 pm. M.L. [Minnie Lundgren] and A.A. [Anna Anderson] stocking shelves. A pleasant evening.” [On Saturday, April 5, 1919 “Off at 5 pm to catch 16 for home.”] Sunday April 6th, 1919 “A little excitement on account of Bill’s coming home from the army. Bonus check in the mail. A genuine chat about Arizona, Texas, army life, etc. 4 pm. Escaped on an engine for Gypsum. [Many of my Dad’s travels between Minturn, Wolcott, Kent, Eagle and Gypsum were probably on an engine, caboose or box car. Perhaps this explains his observation on a passenger train to Minturn, ‘a nice ride on cushions.’] Arrived just in time to dine. A cold Evening. Pool room. 10 pm.”

Among the pictures and photos given to me by Frances [Jimmy’s wife] and later by Blanche there was a picture postcard. The postcard did not have a stamp so it must have been included in a letter. Below I have enclosed a combined picture: on the left is the picture on the postcard, below this is the text of the postcard and to the right is a picture of the Sunken Gardens in Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Texas [copied in the 1990’s from a web site for Brackenridge Park. The postcard I believe is one that Bill sent home when he was in the army and at the time he sent the postcard he was stationed near San Antonio, Texas.

You can see pictures of the Sunken Gardens in Brackenridge Park if you go to the web site, http://www.edwardsaquifer.net . On the web site click on the word photos in the middle of the top of the page. On the new page scroll down to Brackenridge Park and click on the name. On the new page scroll down for two pictures of the Sunken Gardens.

The following web sites also have pictures.
http://hotx.com/sunkengarden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio_Japanese_Tea_Gardens

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