June 1917 - Honeymoon Photographs

Well by now Helen and Joe have arrived home after a wonderful honeymoon. Here are some photographs from their trip. Good thing Helen's father, John, sent them a camera. There is also a souvenir that that Helen saved. It was from upper New York state  when they ventured to Niagara Falls. After their honeymoon they stayed at the Stratfield Hotel in Bridgeport until their home in Shelton was finished.

My personal favorite of the honeymooners.

They were both real characters!

Dining with a friend.

The posts from now on will be random as I find letters from Joe to Helen as he continues to travel.
I will also be posting some of the telegrams they received after they were wed.

June 24, 1917 - Dinner Menu from the Grand Union Hotel

Sometime  I wonder about the objects that were saved by family members. Here is a menu from Helen and Joe's honeymoon from the Grand Union Hotel in Saratoga Springs, NY. It was the second stop on their trip after Buffalo. The history of the hotel can be.found by accessing the link above. Sadly the hotel was demolished in 1950.

Nice memory of a time gone by.
 
There will be honeymoon photos soon from the camera that Helen's father John sent them in Buffalo.

Stay tuned.

June 22, 1917 - Postcards from their honeymoon.

It did not take long for Helen and Joe to send a note to her father and her sister Florrie, Short and sweet from the Hotel Statler in Buffalo. It seems the mail was better 100 years ago than it is today!

Thurs eve.
Dearest Father,
We received the coat and camera this evening - thanks.
I look so well you'd be
tickled to see me. Joe
certainly is taking good
care of his wife.
Love from Helen & Joe

Dear Florrie,
Having the most
wonderful time
of our young lives.
The weather, hotel and everything just perfect.
Lots of love,
Helen & Joe

The next post will be June 24

June 19, 1917 - WEDDING BELLS RING IN NEW YORK!

Well here we are at the big day for Joe and Helen. Below are some of the memories of that special day. Surprisingly, no official photographs were taken. I wear this ring with great pride! Originally it was engraved with flowers on the outside of the band but there is no sign of them. Time has worn them off.

 Date engraved in Helen's ring

 J.G.S. to H.R.

Helen's datebook for the week of the wedding.

JOSEPH SHAPIRO

TAKES BRIDE IN

NEW YORK TODAY

Rabbi Stephen S. Wise Officiates at Ceremony of Widest Interest

A wedding of wide interest was  celebrated in New York at high noon today when Miss Helen Rosenstein, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Rosenstein, became the bride of Joseph G. Shapiro, of the firm, Shapiro & Shapiro, attorneys of this city. Rabbi Stephen S. Wise officiated at the ceremony which took place at the home of the bride's parents, No. 545 West 111th street, with the attendance limited to the immediate families and a few intimate friends. Ysaye, the famous violinist was among the guests.

Charles H. Shapiro of this city, was his brother's best man, while Miss Florence Rosenstein was her sister's maid of honor. After a reception, Mr. Shapiro and his bride left for an extended bridal trip through the White Mountains to Canada. Upon their return to this city they will make their home temporarily at the Stratfield, until the new home is completed in Shelton where Mr. Shapiro is the prosecuting attorney. He has practiced law in this city many years, having graduated with honors at Yale. He assisted Homer S. Cummings and the late Stiles Judson in a number of well-known cases, and has represented the Bridgeport Credit Men’s association in legisla­ture. Mr. Shapiro is a member of the Yale club of New York and a member of the Masons, Elks in this city where he has a wide cir­cle of friends.

 

Mr. Shapiro's bride is a graduate of Barnard college, and president of the French club of New York.

Pictures and postcards from the honeymoon to follow.

June 11, 1917 - "What is so rare as a day in June?"

Well this is the last letter that I have from Joe to Helen before the big day. Photos and other paraphernalia to follow. I have just come across the original copper plates from their wedding invitation. See below. It is a bit hard to read so I have included the information on the plate under the photographs.

Mr and Mrs John H Rosenstein

announce the marriage of their daughter

Helen

to

on Tuesday, the nineteenth of June

One thousand, nine hundred and seventeen

at Five forty-five West One Hundred Eleventh Street

in the City of New York

June 11,1917.

My dear:

I have received a letter from Cook’s giving a tentative itinerary for the trip, covering hotels and travel for two weeks. It is simply splendid, and I am keeping it to check it up with Charles, after which I'll send it to you for your approval, though it has already met that, because it carries out all of your ideas to the letter-perhaps the function of the sign-as Ruskin said.

I am about to go to Hartford, and hope to be able to get back at a reasonable hour, to get a little sleep, and then to New Haven in the morning to start a case to the Jury, which I am to defend, in which the defendant is sued for about ten thousand dollars. That will perhaps take the day, and if Wednesday is clear, then I'll get to New York that day; otherwise I'll male it Thursday; but will let you know in the meantime.

I have had a feeling all day to sneak down to the depot and start for New York, but discretion is the better part of and thought this about where I should be today.
Then again, I have felt all along like picking up the receiver and putting in a call for New York Morningside something or other.
Well, girlie, the train will start pretty soon, and it is wiser that I get going towards the depot, without much delay.

I think that this is letter number two to-day, and if the opportunity appears again, maybe number three will appear; but I doubt it.

I hope that-you-are feeling well, and enjoying this miser­able June weather; which reminds me very much of the poet’s quest­ion "What is so rare as a day in June?"
Notice the machine got excited and skipped a space.

Oh yes, I tried a case this afternoon, and received a decision right off the bat in favor of my client. My what a choppy letter, nest ce pas?

Your
Joe

Stay tuned for miscellaneous posts. This is the end of the formal letters that Joe wrote Helen before they got married.

June 5, 1917 - My idea now is to get you an engraved platinum ring.

Well this is the month that Joe and Helen get married. Short on letters but there will be some photographs and telegrams of congratulations. Below is an ad for Hotpoint from 1917. As you will read in the letter that is the kind of electric coffee percolator they received as a gift from one of Joe's clients. There is also what may have been a similar percolator.

Monday
My dear,

We are in the depot in Hartford and it is just about 10:30 leaving for Bridgeport.

Oh, dearie, but I have lots of news.

The train will start in a minute and will jar, jostle and interfere with my writing. First, I was re-appointed City Attorney for the third time by Judge Dillon. He told me, in open court, some very flattering reasons for the reappointment. I'll tell you all about it later.

I had a terrible trip last night, got there at 8 sharp, then had to wait till 9:30, wow! But we had a big crowd, I got under a sympathetic spell, and cut out all my funny stuff, and will you believe it, I actually had some men in tears? I found the audience composed of middle aged and older men and women, and shifted from Biblical talk to personal topics. Speaking for Charles, naturally, I talked of the early childhood and manhood, tracing some pretty sad epochs, and ere I knew it, was all wound up. It went so well, that I'll probably speak to the same thing, if I remember it, in a half a dozen towns.

Another thing! This morning I was called over to the Hawley Hardware Co. one of my real good and old clients, who have a very large hardware business in the State and briefly addressed by the Treasurer, was given the most exquisite coffee percolator I ever saw. It is a copper affair, Hotpoint make, of a special design, with broad ebony handles and brass faucet. It has capacity for 9 large cups, naturally it is connected to electricity. I was dumbfounded. I had a choice of a nickel one, but took this. It's a peach. It has a brown silk cord wire to match a "mission" room. What think you? That mark of appreciation  means more to me than a good deal, for while I knew how highly they regarded me, I never realized that a corporation had a heart as well as soul to show gratitude in this way.

My dear, I haven't heard a thing about the house, but feel pretty good tonight, because, as you know, the old motto, no news is good news.

But I'll know tomorrow morning, when I start to register.

This train is jarring me too much to let me continue. We've just passed Berlin. How I wish the allies had gotten that far, across the sea.

My idea now is to get you an engraved platinum ring, and a diamond bracelet. Make up your mind on about what shape watch you want, and you'll have it.

Also, our home, when we get it, will be your home. That's another little thing in store for you, I'll tell you all about it, also, when I see you.

I'm going to make you the happiest girl alive. That is a noble effort and with your help, will succeed.
Meanwhile dear, I'll keep waiting anxiously for the 19th. I must get to New York and hope to do so Wednesday morning. More tomorrow.

With love & kisses,

I am Your
Joe

The next letter is June 11

May 31, 1917 - Dear, you cannot imagine how impatiently I am awaiting the nineteenth.

Here is the last letter in May 1917. We now enter the month of June and as you can see Joe is ready to move time along.

May 31,1917.
My dearest:

It is nearly six o'clock, and everybody has left the office, and before I start for supper, I thought it a good time to talk to you.

Charles has been away campaigning, in Hartford this afternoon, in Torrington to-night, and in Middletown tomorrow. Naturally I have had quite a few of his matters before me, in addition to my own.

Do you know why I really left last night, in addition to the fact that I had to be up at six this morning to be in Court on time, and I would arrive in Bridgeport after one even when I took the 11:15? It was because I had a slight chill while sitting in the movies without my overcoat, and when I got to your house I was positive I had contracted a cold, and desired more than ever to get to a place where I could take something to bust it all up; for I'd be a fine kind of a groom to be sneezing and coughing on my wedding day, wouldn't I? Well, I tackled my old medicine last night “switzed” like a good fellow, took some more medicine this morning, and now feel as good as ever, although I had the sneezers earlier in the day.

By the way, the cold, if any had started was routed, and is not around here any more.

I had so little time for that train that I had to leave my coat at the Club, and my other coat was at the office, so I had to do some sprinting to get to the office, and climb up stairs, because the lifts were not running that early, and still make the 7:05 train. How much sleep do you imagine I had during the night? That's right you guessed it.

To-night the Board of Registration meets, and we'll probably be at it till wee in the small hours, but I'm feeling, good, so I should worry.

By the way, dear, Charles and several more people have informed me that at a large mass meeting in Ansonia, to be com­posed of our co-religionists of many of the little town in the Naugatuck Valley, to be held this coming Sunday night, I have not only been invited to speak, but that three or four different people have been assigned to make sure that I am there; and since Charles is very insistent upon it, it looks to me as if we wont eat in Eugenie's that night. I will have to leave New York about six arriving in Bridgeport, about seven thirty and connecting for Ansonia arriving there about eight thirty or thereabouts. Don't you think that you spare me just that one Sunday night; you know that I have been away from these parts on Sunday for quite awhile, and when we start away for our trip pretty soon, it will keep me away again for a little while?

I understand that Stella has written you about the week end; she has told me that it would perhaps be better if you deferred coming at any other time, when they could entertain properly; for just now, Charles is in the midst of campaigning and everything here is astir with it. That kind of fits in with your plans, so it works out O.K.

I am going to try to get to N.Y. early Saturday to make an attempt at the license. By golly, my writing Is worse than my long hand. I do not know why it is that I am writing so poorly on the new machines, unless it is the fact that with the girls doing all my work, I am out of practice, and when I do write, I try to keep up my old speed, and further, I have just discovered, it, my nails are manicured too long, and the end protruding over will strike the key just above the one I am aiming at. I will write with a pen or if to be legible, will have to chew down my nails; which shall it be?

Dear, you cannot imagine how impatiently I am awaiting the nineteenth. You are so good and so affectionate, that the days seem different if I do not see you, if only for a minute. Once your letters had some sort of an effect to help remedy it, but it is you that I am waiting so patiently for. And when this reaches you the best month of the year will have begun. What is so rare as a day in June? The nineteenth, thus far, because it is so slow in coming.

With lots of love and kisses to the sweetest lil girl and most affectionate companion that a fellow could ever hope for,
I am

Your little fat man
Joe

The next letter is June 5

May 28, 1917 - The love you liberate in your loving is the only love to have.

Here is the second letter from May 28th and as you see as we approach June 19th Joe is eager to see and be with Helen more and more.

Monday night.
My darling:

Have just finished for the evening, and before re­tiring thought that the most appropriate thing I could do would be to drop you a line.

Can you imagine what I have been thinking of all day, in between my usual work? It was about how loving and tender you have been during my recent visit; and while I never had any idea that the superfine love that you have always displayed could be improved upon, yet I actually notice it going to the nth degree, more particularly during the last few weeks. Somehow you are even more affectionate that it makes me feel that as the wedding bells approach, you are getting into your own, and that when they arrive, you'll continue that way forever and a day. I believe I've told you something like that before, but it is so good, it is worth repeating. To paraphrase Elbert Hubbard's “the love you liberate in your work is the only love you keep”, I would say the love you liberate in your loving is the only love to have.

Of course that you know that this is not the vapid ravings of a nineteen year old love stricken youth but comes direct from the heart that ought to know what it is thinking about, if the heart can think.
My dear, doesn't that sound great? I wish that I had gone to New York; and as you know would have if not for the press­ing matter on hand.

Tomorrow I start the trial of a case that will probably take all day, and I'll finish just in time to start for Shelton. But on the way over I’11 find an opportunity of talking up the matter of arranging for panels for the various rooms that you had an idea you might consider fixing up in that style. I’11 also get a line on tiles etc.so that perhaps when I see you again we can talk over just about what we would like, and then try to realize as closely as possible, our wishes.

Stella suggested that you spend the week-end with her if you have no other appointments. I haven’t the slightest idea of what plans are to be made "for your entertainment; and when asked whether you could come, my answer was that I did not know just what you had on, but I had an impression that you expected to go to Mount Vernon on Sunday to see some old friends, that are not so old at that; but I added that you would answer for yourself.

Maybe it might be better that you spend the following week-end, for if we make the proper arrangements in Shelton, it would be convenient for you to then look over the situation and have the entire matter clearly in mind when laying out your plans. But think it over,and anything that suits you, dear, is good enough for me.

It has been teeming all day; otherwise I might have gone out to see about my oar, to find about just what condition it was in, and whether the fellow who was to design it was born yet. Perhaps tomorrow may offer a few moments for that purpose; for you know that I am on the trail of it.
With lots of love and kisses again I am Your
Joe

The next letter is May 31

May 28, 1917 - The operator said “seventy cents on that N.Y. call.”

I guess they went to that baseball game mentioned in the last letter from May 23rd. This is one of the players pictured below that Joe mentions by name in this letter.

Dave Robertson - New York Giants

Monday afternoon,near six.

My dear:

You really do not expect a long letter, do you, since the fact reveals itself that I have spoken to you only a few minutes before writing?

Yet I know that you want something to arrive in the morning, even if it is only a little scratch, so am delighted to talk this way again to you.

By the way, you recall that home-run of Davey Robertson? The papers say that it was the longest drive ever recorded in baseball history, for it went clean, in a straight line over the right field fence, and also over the right field stands. And also the Giants played errorlessball.

I am almost in your position, having spoken, and given you all the important news, there is only sixty sheets of in­formation left, and no place to start to open to begin the commencement, as Louis Mann used to say.

I would like to go to the City tomorrow night, but owing to that meeting I told you of, it cannot be; however, I am very hopeful about being able to get away early Wednesday morning for the day, and will tell you about it tomorrow. If you have a few minutes, spose you think up some plan for that day.

With lots of love and kisses, to my dear, I am
Your
Joe
The operator said “seventy cents on that N.Y. call.”

The next letter is May 29

May 23, 1917 - A double letter day!

This happens sometimes with Joe. He manages to send out two letters in one day. Looks like he was trying to convince her about a baseball game. Here is a photo I found on line of the Polo Grounds from 1917.

 Letter # 1

May 23,1917.

My dear:

That train last night was the bestest that I ever saw on the New Haven. It not only left on time and arrived on time, but there were plenty of seats, and the car was a perfectly new one with very good lights for reading. I read to Mount Vernon, and then retired till Bridgeport, and had the sleep of my young life. I sort of smiled to myself, when I recalled that four weeks later I would again be traveling on a train, but not on the New Haven, and not reading any papers to Mount Vernon, by any means.

When I landed last night, mother insisted on my eating some pineapple that she had cooked or stewed or something, and she had some cookies just like yours; what do you know about that? Naturally, I would not disappoint her, so had another little repast. I know what you are thinking about. Whose cookies were best? It is hard to say, really. Considering that it was your first attempt, and knowing how mother feels about it, I'11 vote for you. When I told about it last night, mother said something about the fact that you are learning the right way to a man's heart, and when I said the cookies were very good, she smiled, and said some more about the fact that I should always feel that way about all the things that you make for me.

It is nearly noon, and I have just received a phone call from the clerk to the effect that in that case you read about where the wife sued her husband for a divorce because he was cruel to her, remember?, that the divorce was granted to my client-the woman-what do you think von dot?

I shall probably get a wire from your father in the morning in reference to going to Waterbury, and really would like to get back to New York with him in the evening, but that cannot be, because Friday is my big day, and I ought to have this evening for preparation.

Am starting out for lunch with some people.
Lots of love and kisses,
Your
Joe

Letter #2

May 23,1917.
My darling:

I dropped you a line before lunch, not knowing that I would have the opportunity of doing so at this time. The folks all saw Doctor Wise's letter, and are naturally very much pleased with its contents; and now I am sending it to you, since you said you desired to keep it, among others.  
As things look now, I shall leave for New York early Saturday morning, arriving about nine, and after checking up at the Club, will go downtown to attend to several matters, and expect to be through by noon. From then on, I am at your service, for such dis­position as you wish to make.

In as much as the Cubs play the Giants on Saturday, and both teams are as good as there are in the baseball world just at present it would be a treat to take in that game, at least so far as I am concerned, and I know that you like to see a game yourself.

Of course, it will depend on your friends whether they-are of the same frame of mind, but any arrangement you make will be perfectly satisfactory to me, and shall join in heartily in having a good time, even if it resolves itself down to playing five hundred or hearts; but the Polo grounds look pretty good.

According to Dr. Wise's letter we ought to call on him; and when I get there Saturday, and phone you, will you in turn remind me to phone him, so that this matter is properly attended to.
There was something wise you were to remind me of, cards I believe, and you were to get samples of the style and size of the card; and any time you send them to me, or give the proper information so that I can give it to the engraver, I'll be pleased to have them attended to. I presume that you will want three different cards, and do not know just how many of each, so think it over too.

If there is anything else you can think of that you wish, suppose you make a little note of it, and tell me Saturday. No, I cannot bring a house along but almost anything else. By the way I have an appointment with my automobile friend, and will try to fix up that matter this week if possible, believe me. It is getting to be too nice, to waste Sunday afternoons trying to think of where to go, with the fine roads and beautiful country just yearning to have us ride along in a new machine, with you at the wheel, after you learn how to manipulate it, which shouldn't take long.

I thought that we could have it for Saturday, but the chances are against it, being so late in the week, but wouldn't it be nice if we could call on Doctor Wise in a week or so in the car, and then spin around to see some of your friends, making short stops, and so clean that duty up?
I'm going over to that place now, and hope to be able to report that all is well, and the bus on the way.

With, more love, Your
Joe


The next letter is May 28