A Calling Card

The calling card of Mrs. W. Glass Meggs, from when manners dictated the polite thing to do was to leave a card upon calling.

All Miami Is At Work

Miami Herald, Sunday, September 26, 1926

Home Owners and Families Don Overalls and Labor To Repair Damage

By Ruth Barnard
Staff Writer for The Herald

Like a family of ants, whose dwelling can be destroyed at one blow and rebuilt almost as quickly, the family Miami is progressing with its new abode. Every district in the city is recovering from the hurricane with astonishing rapidity. There is no shirking; he who once might have been termed sluggard, is working with every bit of his strength to remake his home and city into a place of security and rest.

In a choice section of the city, on a spot high and attractive, last week there stood a bungalow of block stucco. Today that home is a wreck; only a bit of furniture remains intact. Mrs. J. D. Critchlow, who with Mr. Critchlow, owns the residence, is in Atlantic City. Mr. Critchlow is connected with the Columbia Court Hotel. Yesterday, armed with a screw driver with which to loosen a stove, and with a truck on its way, he arrived at the scene of ruin to place the few remaining pieces of furniture in storage. It had taken the entire morning to find a storing room.

A part of the roof on the residence belonging to Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Meggs at 264 N. E. Seventeenth street was blown away and other damage was done to the home. The last few days have been full of work for the whole family. The daughter, Marjory putting on overalls and climbing to the top, held the roofing for the only carpenter they could obtain. Donald, the oldest son assisted in repairing windows and helped with the roof. Mrs. Meggs officiated at a general and thorough housecleaning and drying out program. Mr. and Mrs. Meggs have been residents of Miami for 20 years.

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Excerpted from The Miami Herald, September 26, 1926.

The Lang Sisters

Clockwise, starting at bottom left: Bernice, Nellie, Kate, and Lettie. This photo was probably taken in the late 1930s or early 1940s at the home of Bernice Lang MacDonald in Folkston, Georgia.

The Meggs Kids at Flagler Street

Left to right: Eleanor, Bill, Marjorie and Charlotte

Notice to Our Customers

Dear Papa

Going through my archive of photos, news clippings, and letters, I came upon this letter from Nellie Lang to her Papa, Felder Lang. It appears to be dated, October 7, 18.6 - I interpret this as 1886, when Nellie was ten years old. I wonder if Nellie won the doll, or if Felder gave each of the children a prize for writing letters!

Mrs. Wm Glass Meggs and son Bill, 1925

W.G. Meggs and Son Dry Goods, abt 1924

W.G. Meggs, First Store in Miami, 1906

Meggs family, 1907, natural bridge at Arch Creek

The Meggs family is pictured with an automobile on the natural limestone arch bridge at Arch Creek in what is now North Miami.

estelle and nellie lang meggs

About 1909, 219 4th St., Miami, FL

nellie meggs in an automobile

nellie meggs in an automobile, a photo by katrinaelsi on Flickr.

This undated photograph of Nellie Meggs was taken in front of the family home in Miami, FL.

Postmark July 8, 1899

*Note* This is the last of the letters I received and transcribed. Nellie and Glass were married on August 10, 1899, in Ocala, Marion County, Florida.

Tuesday am

My Darling Nellie

I am feeling very badly this am & hope visiting to you will bring about a change for the better.

I guess I did to much driving Sunday am & it was very warm too.  But hope I’ll feel better ere the day begins by.

And for us all a treasure his.
Buried deep from human eyes.
In the hereafter angels may.
Roll the stone from the treasure away.

Nellie you are the treasure and I feel that it was an angel’s hand that brought you to these desolate woods to me.

A treasure!! Yes! I value you more than I would Silver & Gold. Something that I’ve always valued more than anything on earth save my dear Parents.

I only wish I could see you today then I know I’d feel better.

I don’t see how I can see you this week as we’ll be very busy the whole week.  Only one order so far in your direction & that goes to Daisy & guess we’ll send that up on boat.  However providence may provide that I see my darling before the week glydes by.

I have thought of you since Sunday & the more I think of you the more I love you.  There isn’t a doubt in but what you are the girl for Glass.

Hope no one has caused you to loose confidence in me this week as you did last by remarking to you things that cause you to imagine I don’t love you.

Just let the people do the talking  & we will do the balance. Can’t we dear!!  I don’t see why you need let what they say tease you for you know you don’t care what they think or what they say about it if you’ll only stop to study it out.

Nellie I could write more but it’s no use to cover 14 pages with the only one meaning that I could get on one line.

I love you best of all –

So I’ll just [leave] it & say good bye write me a good long letter.

Lovingly your boy
W. Glass
4/25

[postscript] Are you coming Saturday!

Postmark July 6, 1899

Orange Springs

July 4

My Darling

Your letter recd today.

No Nelly it isn’t because I am not well that I have been writing short letters.  I have always been a mistery to myself but in this case I think I understand.

I have always been of a disposition to strive to succeed in everything I undertook but have fallen short quite a number of times.  Then I’m disappointed & when I’m disappointed I can but show it.  Such is the case now.  

When I left you I felt sure I’d see you in two weeks.  Now I feel sure it will be two weeks longer.  Of course for this you are not to blame & I am ashamed that I wrote you so often to come knowing when I was writing that you couldn’t come until you were ready.

All last week I was in good spirits thinking I’d see you soon & the short letters were written after all hopes had vanished.  Consequently I could but feel disappointed & my letters in spite of me would show it.  I’ve always been that way & can’t help it.  Failure at any thing makes me wear a long face & worried appearance.

Yes I love you & have put up with all your ever done me & darling had I not known I loved you the diamond today would have been in Mrs. Mcdonalds flower yard.  There isn’t many girls in this old world that ever spoke to me as you did & then have my arms around them in 30 minutes time but this is past.  Why mention it again.

It’s ok about your telling her about my throwing the ring.  I guess she knew something was wrong the afternoon I sent for you.

I could have gone to see you this week if you couldn’t come home had I not made on that sad afternoon a solemn vow to my God never to go to that dear place again unless my business called me there or unless I was specialy invited & I truly believe, that, is one vow I made my [illegible] that I’ll always keep & it hurts me to think of the affair and that I’d act so silly.

You aught to know that there isn’t anything here to interest you in a long letter.  I stay in store from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm from Monday to Saturday night.  You know all this & there is but little left for me know out side my work & don’t think I don’t love you when I send a short letter.

It has rained a little bit though the [illegible] reports a fine time & plenty music & ect.

There’s to be a dance out at Mrs. L. Friday eve and written to Guy to come stay over night with me but don’t know if he will come.

Right here this afternoon a man came in & told me he wanted to buy some cows and he had the cash to pay for them.  The word cash startled me for a moment & then I remembered a man that had owed me (or [illegible] Brother) for a piece of land sold him 3 years ago.  Wanted us to take some cows for $50.00.  So I told him I had the cows & had my horse hitched up & away we went.

I found as soon as I got there that the man didn’t care whether I took the cows or not as he wanted to owe me longer & I couldn’t Jew him so I actually turned to the other fellow & I sold him $50.00 worth of the cows at what I paid for them & all I had to handle or do in the trade was to take the money.  So now I sit here with the cash in my pocket writing to my darling sweet Nellie.  It’s 11:00.

Dear I would tear up first of this letter as I am ashamed of it as its so gloomy & this part now seems so cheerful but I’ll let it go to show to you the different effect failure & success have on me.  Had I failed to sell the cows I know I would have written a gloomy letter sure enough.

Darling did I tell you what Pa said Sunday? – Ha Ha He said you were going to teach school in Ga this summer & asked Kate if that wasn’t what Guy said.  Of cours Miss K didn’t know.

Gee whiz I didn’t say anything but I came near telling him you’d teach at the Old Globe if you taught any where but I didn’t.

Now he’s a dandy isn’t he!!

Now you talk about yarns of all kind we told them Sunday as we had lots of time together & I told lots more than we both know.

He promised to come to see me this week but hasn’t come yet.

I told him Uncle Paxton told me to come home & go to work & he said he knew I was lying that Pax wouldn’t tell me any such.

Now hasn’t this been a glorious 4^th.  You might say I made a good sale.  3 small Fla cows for $48 cash.

That’s better than an excursion to the beach or all kinds of picnics wasn’t it darling.

Well you should be with me tonight.  God only knows how I love you & appreciate you.  I can never act so you’ll think I love you half as well as I do because I am to stupid & let things worry me that doesn’t amount to a thing.

Sometimes I can imagine all kind of things as to what you are doing & why you stay away so long but when I come down to bolts I know there’s no foundation to any such ideas & I cast them aside.

I am glad my [illegible] thinks so much of me but for Heaven sake don’t because the fellow to come away down here to Ole Miss Kate.  I was teasing her because she didn’t acknowledge recpt of fan he mailed her but I am sure from what she said she doesn’t mean to acknowledge.  She is a charm isn’t she.  Do in every [illegible] to her warn her not to let a cracker like Glass get a heart from her as I have from you.  She deserves a good man and not a Fla. crock.

A lady told me today that now was the time to do our quarreling & not after we married as she & her husband quarreled all the time until they were married & then quit it for good.

I told her if we wasn’t doing it all now I pitied the after marry quarrel.

Then I told her I had just heard you were to teach school in Ga this summer & that we were broken up.

Yes dear you should take time as you say to prepare to give your whole life to me as that is what you wrote for I will always want you with me after we marry & you mustn’t leave me for even one day.

Glass must go to Nelly do pray that I may be a good boy until you get here to take care of me for God knows I want to be.  Then I’ll be in your hands & I know I’ll be.

Regards to all.

Lovingly yours always

Glass

Postmark July 1, 1899

Friday Eve

My Darling Nell

Your letter of yesterday just recd today on the road 2 days.

Darling I expected a long letter & this was so short I was disappointed.

I fear I have been writing such long letters that you are tired out with them & write me short ones to balance up.

Well you ask such funny questions sometimes.

Why do you ask me if we realy love each other like we make out we do.  Of course you know I would say yes & [illegible] I do believe it’s true too.

No darling I haven’t bought the gloves neither the license.

You haven’t told me to & you know I’m waiting for you to say so & now you’ll be home in time.

I can go or send anytime for them & now I have the $2 ready for them.

Darling you won’t get this until Monday & it will be old so won’t write very much this time.

Darling come home this week & we can see all the summer here at Orang Springs as we have lots of shore time.

Come Come Home Home this week without fail as I am crazy to see you.  You needn’t invite sister Bernice to stay with us if you don’t want to but I don’t want you to go to Beach a week so do come home to me.

Lovingly yours

Glass

Postmark June 29, 1899

Wednesday aft.

My Darling

Deceived!! Yes I do believe I am deceived in you.

Well dear I am surprised at you.

And truly is it possible that youv always looked for & prayed to find one like myself!!  Well I am sure I am deceived in you for I surely though[t] your aspirations were based on a higher platform & that I had found a girl looking high up in the world for something.  This is how I am deceived & well I am certainly proud that I am deceived for you are all on earth I am looking for.

You often hear me say I feld sure Id never marry & I did!!  Not because I didn’t think it best for me.  Not because I didn’t have a number of friends to tell me it was better & ect & I would at times wish I could find a true good girl & then Id marry if she was willing.

This I had long since given up finding & this is why I would always think I’d never marry.  There are so many girls that are so weak in more than one thing.  Consequently when you put all their weak points together there isn’t anything left only nice girls for company & ect.  When I would think of marrying any one of these girls I would think marrying was a horrible crime & Id be miserable until such an idea would vanish from my mind entirely.  When I met you I could realize that you were more than worthy of my love & that I was not worthy of you for a wife but I made my mind to tell you all & let you decide & praise to my God youv considered the matter & consented to marry me.  Consequently I believe my miserable life will turn out to be a life of pleasure.

When I stop & think of marrying you it seems as though it will be a pleasure rather than look upon it as being a horrible crime.  I never think of anything but to marry & then what are we to do & of course this will be to decide later.  That is one reason I could assure myself at first that I loved you because I meant to marry you from the beginning.  Then not until this day have I found a fault in you.  Now darling as to what I said about believing Fitz was dead.  I was sure you understood it.  You are always guying me about being stingy & I was merely joking thinking youd think I was to stingy to feed the poor fellow.   Yes I can still say Il love every thing Nelly loves.

Realy you have time to write every day but thought I didn’t.  Now darling who failed to keep this up even after we agreed to write every two days.  Ive been writing every day except this one.

Now then you haven’t done this.  So lets write every day.  I mean to write you every day & if I am busy Il only write a short note & let me beg of you to do like wise as surely I get lonely without your letters to read as you know they are all I look for nowadays.

And you like long cheerful letters do you?  Well I must say I have been felling much better since I returned home.  A few days rest (tell Uncle Paxton) did me lots of good & I am more able to keep up with my work.

I feel sure had I tried to have worked another week without rest I would have had to have gone to my bed as I was near broken down the day I left here.

Now Nelly I fear what I have said to you about the people of this place that youl learn to dislike them from the beginning (& so you may if you wish) but I want you to greet them all with a friendly (Smile).  It doesn’t matter to me about the young ladies or the old ones wishing Id come back here.  They all know I love Nelly & they all know I haven’t confidence enough in them to be influenced by them in anything.

Nelly I love to write it: Yes We’ll Marry no matter what they say & praise to my God if he led us in such a way as to cause us to meet as you seem to think.

You must come by all means next week.  I can live this Sunday all alone but the next I must see you.  One more Sunday is all I can stand so try & arrange to be at old Klondy on Sunday week as it’s a better more [illegible] than Folkstone.

I am not hurrying the wedding at all & if youl come & Sister Burnice cant come we could wait a few days until she can come home so we can be together.  Nell if I could only be with you this lovely evening Id be the happiest boy in this old town & you can have your [illegible] sent on by express & honey I’l pay the express to get to see you but wouldnt spend that much for anything else.

Yes if we are ever rich (we) can have a nice horse cow & dog.  Also cat if you wish but darling don’t be disappointed if we are never rich!!  Miss Godson came in today to stay a month with Mrs. Livingston.  She & Miss Clark live near each other & are best of friends.  No other visitors yet.  Mrs C Thomas & a croud I guess from (Pine) Greenwood will be here next Saturday to Picnic under the oaks.

If it was & affair of ours Id send out for Miss Kate & the others but don’t know just who will be here.

Why do I put two 2¢ stamps on some of my letters.  Well I guess youl know time you finish reading this one as I know it will take 4¢.

Do Darling be at home by Sunday week.  You know dear I love you & want to see you.

Love to all

Glass

Didn’t you say you liked long letters!!

Postmark June 26, 1899

Orange Springs

June 23

My Darling Nell,

Your long letter recd today & strange it is that we were thinking of the same thing.  You [remember] that I had written you on last night that our little affair had opened my eyes too.

Yes dear I’ll [illegible] you & from this out we will both lay down our willfulness & learn to be affectionate to each other.

Yes dear those words pierced me to my very heart however I have always been of a nature to forgive & in a short time over come such feelings.  I felt sure when you wouldn’t take the ring we were done with & in 30 minutes after I reached the Hotel I would have followed you to the new world or had another talk with you & so nice in you to come after me which you said you were had I not come.

No I’ll never regret my trip to Folkstone though it cost me the $16.  [illegible] why is it such trip always cost me more than any one else.

I’ll venture any boy in this place could have made the trip on less.  Now suppose I’d gone to some city but we are not on that subject are we?

Nell I realize every day I love you better thinking all the time too it’s impossible for me to love you any better.

Darling I didn’t think of Fritz’s until I was near home.  Darling was you realy meaning for me to bring the poor fellow? I am realy ashamed of myself because I was only teasing you & would have been glad to have brought him for you. But its to late now.

The first thing Sister said to me was Did you have a good time!! Now guess the second. = = =

The second was “ Well have you guessed & what did you guess before you turn over.

Write me what you guessed.

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The second was I have a Pitcher of Ice milk. Do you want it

Of course I said yes & gave it a fair test too because I had not eaten anything except a 5 cent lunch in Pol & couldn’t eat that.

Dear one!! Do go to the Hotel & eat one biscuit for me but for Heaven sake don’t mention it as I thanked the lady 3 times for her kindness of taking such good care of me.

Nellie it’s late & I’ll have to retire as I am a little bit tired.  After this week I won’t have so much to do. I could write a whole book but no use.

I love you & you only.

Lovingly your boy,

Glass

Postmark June 7, 1899

L. L. Meggs, General Store and Real Estate.
Marion County.
Orange Springs, Fla.,
June 7, 189[9]

 My Dear Nelly

 Am truly glad you came up for I wanted to see you & it would have been impossible for me to come as I don’t know when Bro will be here. Don’t know how the Missippi Riv club tour got started though from disposition I guess as I don’t think I’ll ever see [illegible] soon again. Then too be is coming sure to be here on time. You can express my appreciations to our Sister for her thoughtfulness in inviting me up while you are there. I am sure I’ll be glad to come at most any time convenient to you both.

Do write me as soon as I [illegible] & I’ll write every day too. Hope your ring will come today but guess it can’t get here now. I’m truly sorry I neglected it so long as I did.

I sent my long coat this a.m. to have cut.

Lovingly & with best wishes for a good trip.

Love your own
Glas

[postscript] I didn’t think anything more of Mr. L. C. Then too I am sure I could take your word for what you had written him.

[postscript – on envelope] If Bro is here Friday and I can get off I’ll try to go over to Egar and back with you all to show you the way that is if you have room enough & can come this way.

Postmark June 6, 1899

Tuesday am

My Dear Nelly,

I truly hope before this reaches you I will have seen you & then I’l know what day you leave.

I guess I can never write & get a reply to my letter because it takes a week & I’ve always seen you & got the answer.

I guess Mr. Brinson will come Thursday.

He wrote he would.

Sold Nelly yesterday. I did hate it too but guess Bro will get a better one or at least he’ll try.

I wish Bullet was ok then I’d know you could come when you wanted too to see me.
There is a young man & his mother in the Old Globe for a few weeks. Came from Hawthorn.

Came to go in Spring.

Nellie if you have to go to Ga do go & come back & get the trip off my mind as I have always rather looked forward to it with dread. Then too I know you have to go.
Bro is gone this week to. I can’t see you before you leave don’t know what day he’ll come home.

But remember to write to me on first mail if it’s early & ok arrival notice.

Mrs. E two daughters will be here this week (today).

Ha Ha I sold my white vest yesterday now how about it!! Well it was to large for me any way.

Do write to me often because you are all now.

Lovingly
Glass

Postmark June 2, 1899

L.L. Meggs
General Store and Real Estate
Marion County.

Orange Springs, Fla., June 1, 1899

Dear Nelly,

Yours recd. To busy to write much any way you’l be here this week & I’l tell you all.
Nelly Nelly Nelly you must have had the blues when you wrote to me . No matter how many girls come here I mean to see you if I have to go to Ga.

Yes I’l get you a ring & a good one. The other rings I gave were of cheap construction was why I was so free with them. I’l bring ring gage Sunday & will have it time you go to Ga.

I’l get you any thing & you know it.

Excuse haste. Hope you come this week.

G