News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 6

6-A Fort Myers (Fla.) News-Prpss, Sept. 6, 19 Twice Upon a Time Hendersons Went Into Ministry, Hunting, Law smmaa Ml, Men's Fashion Edwin remained good friends with Firestone and kept an eye on his Florida interests. When the violent hurricane lashed Miami in 1928 Mrs. Kirby recalls they went over to check on the lavish Firestone estate which is now the site of the Fountainbleau Hotel. Devastation was everywhere and the ocean waters had been so high that fish floated in the soggy ruins of the palatial second story.

When her sons reached manhood, Willie returned to the business world. She worked first for Hiram Bryant, who later became a judge, then accepted employment at Ruth Washburn's pharmacy, eventually becoming bookkeeper, a position she still holds. Mrs. Kirby and her aunt Bessie Tippins (Mrs. William Siniff) share a pleasant home on Glenwood Avenue.

Looking and acting many years younger than their ages of 77 and 88 one wonders if they have found what Ponce de Leon was looking for. Nothing suggests antiquity except the 200-year-old walnut wall clock which belonged to William Siniff's father, a long-ago jeweler in Cleveland, Ohio. "I wouldn't mind going back to a horse and buggy," said Mrs. Kirby with a twinkle in her eye, "but those old sad irons that had to be heated on the stove before and during the ironing never!" Remembering revealed that prior to 1900 good leather shoes were $1.25 a pair, calico was 5 cents a length and fine percale brought a top price of 12 cents a yard. Women made their own and the children's clothing and much of the men's apparel.

Until the event of the first milliner in town they also made the family headgear. Buds from palmetto dried and bleached in the sun were plaited into utilitarian hats for the men and boys; intricate weaving converted the same materials into fashionable chapeaus adorned with cloth flowers for the ladies and little girls. "Few persons are left who recollect those early days," said Mrs. Kirby, "and the old landmarks disappearing are no longer reminders to the newer generations." According to her, one of the noteworthy buildings to go in recent years was the Tippins house on Bay Street where her mother, Mary Frances, was born. Before man-made land it perched on the brink of the wide Caloosahatchee which angled on a southwesterly course hemming the village in at high tide and lapping at the ankles of pedestrians making their cautious way along the rope-railed catwalks.

Believed by many to have been part of the original military encampment it was labeled the "Old Fort House" and, fact or fancy, it was at least one of the first dwellings in the town. As it reached its waning years the city considered preserving it as an historic site, but it was beyond restoration and tilting precariously so it was finally deemed a hazard and torn down. The Bradford parking lot marks the spot where once stood the proud old house. Distinguished from others of the same ilk, it was the parental home of Frank Tippins, for 32 years sheriff of Lee County beginning back when it was the largest county east of the Mississippi. Mary Frances overruled her husband, family and friends at the baptism and had the cuddly baby girl named none other than William Harrison.

When Robert was 2 and William but 3 months, the 27 year old father was killed in a tragic accident prior to setting out on a hunting trip. Mary Frances was determined to stand on her own feet and only asking assistance from her mother to look after the children during the day, went to work at the Hill House as a waitress. For three years while her young friends were enjoying the entertainment of the day long strolls or listening to the gramophone Mary Frances worked diligently learning all the pros and cons of feeding the public then branched out on her own. She rented a store room strategically located between the town pub and the livery stable, equipped it with the simple necessities and a beautiful name The Magnolia and opened for business. Family style dinners were served at the local hostelry but hers was probably the first smorgasbord in the entire area.

A long buffet laden with stew, venison, turkey, lightbreads, relishes, vegetables and a variety of stewed fruits stood against the back wall and customers heaping their plates high carried them either to the bench-like refectories in the center of the room or to cozy smaller tables bright with red-checked cloths. During that era meat was not bought by the pound; fifty cents purchased a fine juicy steak and a quarter's worth of chunk beef made a huge pot of stew or boiled dinner. In keeping with those times, all meals at the Magnolia were 35 and 25 cents. The lower priced menu included the same food as the one costing a dime more, the difference in price was an accommodation to customers who could not afford over a quarter. After five years of operation, the Magnolia was by way of becoming a famous restaurant when Mary Frances accepted the proposal of John Bomar of Atlanta who had gone to work as bookkeeper for Bob Henderson.

Assisted by her sister Elizabeth (Bessie) she continued in business until time for the birth of their first child. Nine more children followed and Mary Frances with 12 children in all had no time outside her home and family. Young William, now called Willie and even Bill, was of great help in caring for the younger children and a solace to her mother when Mary Frances and John separated. Completing 12 years of schooling she went to work for the Pixton and Schultz drug store and pharmacy and became acquainted with Edwin E. Kirby from Akron, O.

Kirby who worked at Harvey Firestone's rubber plant had driven his employer down to Florida in a super-deluxe Lincoln for a visit with Thomas Edison. It was instant romance between the two young people and they were married by the time Firestone was ready to return north. They remained in Akron for two years and a son, Edwin was born there. Willie after a while was overcome with longing for her former home and Edwin, admittedly attracted to the south, agreed they should move to Fort Myers. Back in town, Edwin went to work in the Tamiami Trail office and Willie had another son, William.

By BETTY HAWKINS In 1887 Jasper and Georgia Church Henderson pulled into the frontier community of Fort Myers from Madison County aboard a bulky wagon loaded with household goods and their nine offspring Mollie, Jasper, Church, Geprge, Ebenezer, Frederick Pope, William Harrison, Robert A. and Tillet. After finding shelter for his wife and children Jasper went reconnoitering and discovered Jehu Blount was amenable to a partner in his general store. It was such a successful alliance that young Robert who had been clerking in a local establishment decided to follow suit and open a store of his own. Jasper did not consider it a competitive move for there was enough business to go around and he was pleased that another of his sons was showing initiative.

His only daughter was now married to young Tyre, Jasper and George had become ministers, Edward was interested in law enforcement (later becoming town marshall) and Frederick Pope was an accountant. Tillet was building up a trade painting the new buildings springing up about town, Church was farming and William Harrison was making a good living as woodsman and hunter. Robert had a knack with people and merchandising and his business prospered. His father's store dispensed staples and daily needs but Bob dealt with the natives and woodsmen who brought in hides, aigrette plumes, meat and game. He paid cash for all goods allowing his customers in turn to buy only what they wanted rather than to take it out in trade.

As a result, the men had more money than they wanted to carry and asked him to hold it in safekeeping. Scrupulously honest, young Henderson put the money in individual bags marked with the owner's name and stowed them in his safe. In time word got around town that money was safe at Bob Henderson's and the townspeople began bringing their savings to him. His store soon became known as Henderson's Bank and unofficially it was just that. This early beginning in handling other people's funds laid the groundwork for his later becoming Lee County treasurer and one of the organizers of both the Bank of Fort Myers and the Citizen's Bank.

He married Mamie Wilson, a pioneer daughter, in 1891 and they reared three children, Robert A. Jr. who grew up to be a pominent attorney, Marie and Frank. As his fortunes increased he bought a schooner which plied between Fort Myers and Mobile, Ala. and also went into ranching.

Interested in improving the strain of Florida cattle, he imported thoroughbred sires and built the first dipping vat in the region to eliminate ticks and other infestation. Politics played an important part in his life, too, and he served in the state Legislature introducing the bill which was adopted creating Collier and Hendry counties from the vast spread of Lee County. In the meantime William Harrison had married pretty sixteen-year-old Mary Frances, daughter of George and Caroline Tippins. When two years after marriage a son was born, the young husband, greatly admiring his brother, Robert, and his accomplishments, insisted the baby be named for him. At the birth of another child two years later, lta3oneaiiflofl America's Original Jeans Since 1850 I lllllllllllllimilMMIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIHII) IBS mm- 0jV BRIDGE SEE AMERICAN'S COMPLETE BACK TO SCHOOL SELECTION! DEPARTMENT STORES Style Leaders! SIZES 28-44 USE YOUR CREDITI 57.00 If 1 AT AMERICAN It JsuKzldJamesJacolij i A Torpedoes East Wedding Soloist Dispute NORTH (D) 6 AQ105 V943 A732 Q83 WEST EAST A 72 AJ983 VAK5 VQJ102 K6 J1035 K97654 2 SOUTH A AK64 V876 Q94 A 10 Neither vulnerable West North East South Pass Pass 1 N.T.

2 2 N.T. Pass Pass Pass Opening lead A 6 DEAR ABBY: When my girl and I started making plans for our wedding she said her uncle had a terrific voice and she wanted him to sing at our wedding. I said okay. Well, this uncle was in town last week and I heard him sing. Abby, I don't claim to be a musician, but this guy can't call hogs.

He stands like a prize fighter with his fists all doubled up like he's going to slug somebody. He sings off key, bellows like a bull and when he forgets the words he goes, "Ba ba ba boooo." He is a swell guy, but I sure don't want him singing at our wedding. How can I get my girl to cancel this uncle? DELAWARE DEAR DELAWARE: Tell her (nicely) that you agreed to having her uncle sing before you heard him. And now that you've heard him you think he'd make a better guest than vocalist. Of course if she has already asked him and he accepted, you're sunk.

DEAR ABBY: Four years ago I was so much in love with a 16-year-old girl I thought I couldn't live without her. I tried to talk her into marrying me, but fortunately, she was smarter than I was and told me I would have to wait. She was still in school and I was in the service. We had no money and a lot to learn, and now I realize that if we had married then we'd probably be divorced by now. She told me that she wanted us both to live a little and find out who we were and what we wanted out of life before jumping into marriage.

Since then I have completed college thru the service and she has completed two years of business school. I've been working for two years now and she has been working for a year and a half. Together we have saved $10,000 and we both have our own cars completely paid for. We each live in apartments with our own friends. She wanted to be completely on her own so she couldn't say that first she was under her parents' rule and then under her husband's.

We plan to be married tomorrow. I really don't think I am going to get any sleep tonight, but I just had to tell someone that the 16-year-old girl I once loved is now a 20-year-old woman I love much more. I know this is long but if you print it it might encourage kids who think they have to get married right away to wait. We did. And it was worth it.

BRIDEGROOM Everybody has a problem. What's yours? For a personal reply write to Abby, Box 69700, Los Angeles, Cat. 90069, and enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. A Gttal coot Sorority's Is Drug "Recognizing the Drug Abuser" was the topic of the educational program at Beta Xi chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority Thursday night at the home of Mrs. Ray Dunn on Hanover Street.

"There was a time when drug abuse pretty much meant the horrors of heroin or other hard stuff," said Mrs. Dunn, program chairman. "It centered mostly in big city ghettos and relatively few people had contact with it or its problems. Today the kids down the street or even your children may be experimenting with drugs." "There are some 62,000 known drug addicts in the United States and the problem is mainly one of young people. Lee Memorial Hospital Visiting tiours at the new Lee Memorial Hospital are from 2 until p.m.

and from 7 until 8:30 p.m. Patients In private room may have visitors from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. The new telephone number at the hospital it ED 41161. Admissions reported by Lee Memorial Hospital Friday were Mrs.

Joe M. Garcia, Mrs. Ileff P. Musselwhite, Mrs. Julius Richter, Mrs.

William Bigert, Mrs. Harold K. Salzberg, Mrs. Anna Robinson, Mrs. Betty Enochs, Mrs.

Ruth F. Branson, Mrs. Christine S. Rouby, Mrs. Louise E.

Steuck, Kimberly L. Maxwell, Lohman C. Loughner, John McEwen, Glen Lassiter, Larry Eck, J. Gordon Handy and Joe G. Bates.

Dismissals were Virginia S. Barnard, Dorothy Maynes, Myrtle L. Heck, Holly L. Potter, Patricia A. Miller, Goldie P.

Taggart, Lisa L. Biolchini, Norma F. Grin-stead, Erma Crandall, Jonna L. Beebee, Edna M. Amos, Strawda B.

Walls, Donald F. Riebe, B. Virgil Hall, Donovan D. McCarty, William H. Reynolds, James W.

Hughes, Cliffton A. Rose and F. Louis Piatt. Baby Bath A kitchen service table makes a good bath table for baby. Place the tub on top, and toilet articles and clean clothing on the lower shelf.

Best of all, the table can be moved to any area of the house. Topic Abusers Men addicts outnumber women 10 to 1," she said. Symptoms of the drug abuser were discussed. Persons sniffing glue and solvents tend to have red and watering eyes and nose, and users of sedatives or depressants exhibit symptoms common to alcoholic users, it was brought out. Those using amphetamines show feelings of excitement, well-being, nervousness and talkativeness.

Narcotics such as cocaine, morphine and heroin produce physical dependence and the need for ever-increasing doses. Hallucinogen LSD affects the central nervous system and produces changes in mood and behavior, according to the speaker. Mrs. William Stewart, co-chairman, reported on plans for the eye clinic to be held Sept. 27 from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m. at participating optometrists' offices. Lee County school first graders may come for a thorough eye examination at the clinic, which is sponsored by the Jonquil Council of ESA and the Southwest Florida Optometric Association. Plans to sell baked goods, have a grab bag and a white elephant sale at the charity bazaar Sept. 11 at Miller's parking lot were announced by Mrs.

Dave Minium, ways and means chairman. Guests were Mrs. Raymond Briggs and Mrs. Frank Greco. Pythians Plan Visit Plans were made for the visit of the grand chief at the first meeting of the season of Pythian Sisters Temple 26 Thursday night at the IOOF Hall.

Mrs. Hattie Nelsen, most excellent chief, reported that Mrs. Margaret Allen of Tampa, the grand chief, will make her official visit at the Sept. 18 meeting. A banquet honoring Mrs.

Allen will be held at 6:15 p.m. at the Pancake House, preceding the meeting. The charter was draped for Mrs. Marie Celec, Mrs. Georgia Murphy and Mrs.

Lennie Gott. The ceremony was conducted by Mrs. Catherine Strack, Mrs. Ada Borden, Mrs. Maysie Mullarkey and Mrs.

Emma Crane, pianist. Refreshments were served by Mrs. Nelsen and Mrs. Betty Jackson. Submarine Play Gordon Keel of Vancouver writes, "Here's one I'm quite proud of.

My 10 of clubs won the first trick and, for want of something better to do, I played my six of hearts. "East won the 10 and returned the suit. West took his ace and king. When he shifted to the seven of spades, I realized that the last heart had been blocked out. The 10 of spades was covered by East's jack ami my king.

I played the ace. queen of spades and, when West dropped a club, I knew he had started with 2-3-2-6 distribution. It was also apparent that he needed the king of diamonds for his overcall. "I led the four of diamonds, intending to end-play West for the king, but he foiled me by going up with that card. I countered by letting him hold the trick.

He got out with his last diamond, whereupon I took my queen and led the jack of clubs. He won with the king and was forced to return a club to my ace. This squeezed East in spades and diamonds. He had to throw the jack of spades or a low diamond. The spade discard would establish my six-spot; the diamond discard, dummy's fourth diamond.

"Do you have a name for this play?" Yes, we have. It is known as a submarine squeeze, with the jack of clubs the sub- Births AT LEE MEMORIAL Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Robbins, Star Rt. C.

Box 203, Pine Island North Fort Myers an 8-pound, 15'2-ounce son Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman W. Goddard, 876 Poinsettia North Fort Myers a 6-pound, 1-ounce daughter Friday.

Mr. and Mrs. George D. Douglass, 1624 Orchid Cape Coral a 5-pound, 12'2-ounce son Friday. Mr.

and Mrs. Robin R. Gould, 1830 Maravilla Ave. a 6-pound, 15'2-ounce daughter Friday. Pressed Veil Press a wrinkled hat veil by running it back and forth over a hot light bulb.

marine. The play torpedoes East's spade and diamond stoppers. The hand illustrates another good point, which is that, if you want to open 14-point no-trumps, you had better play your dummies very, very well. PRIME ACREAGE INVESTMENTS Wm. H.

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