Title:
The Flaming Sword
Accession#:
1991.10.03
Pubication Date:
1936/07/00
Object ID:
PA—0140
Collection:
Flaming Sword
Additional Notes & Full Text:
Community Currnt Events -- July 1936
By D.J. Richards
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FOR SOME TIME to come, many of us in the Unity will be .inclined to date future events from the time of the flood, which we had in reality in Estero, beginning Sunday evening June 14, when the Estero river overflowed its banks and doing considerable damage. A tropical storm was reported by press and radio with wind velocity about thirty-five miles an hour. This we considered mild, comparing it with. previous storms. But hereafter we shall take cognizance of the heavy rains as well, for the word '"wet" will have a real meaning to us. For instance: Our old store building, now used as a postoffice, barbershop and warehouse, had in it about six feet of water; needless to speak here of the damage done to stock of goods, office and other equipment. The general store, being on higher ground, fared a little better as to depth, but it had more water in it than we ever hope to see again, for it rose to a height of 34 3/4 inches. This building is about sixty-five feet long by fifty feet wide, and without circumlocution, will leave it to the readers imagination to visualize the damage done to goods, showcases, counters neatly arranged with drawers. A Russman refrigerating counter, eighteen feet long, with a new engine and electrical equipment which had been in use less than one year. When we arrived on the scene the concrete floor in the store was covered with. three inches of water. Mr. Strickland, our store manager, with his visiting grandson, Edgar Strickland of Lakeland; Brother George W. Hunt, Mr. F. P. Boland of the Hudson County Court House, Jersey City, N. J., Mr. Al Rasmussen, Chicago, and Dr. Harry Newton Carr, Miami, Fla., one and all were doing yeoman service, elevating what goods they could from floor and lower shelves to higher levels; thereby saving much to the Unity. But the water kept rising and before morning had risen to its maximum height, and our usually attractive store was a sight to behold. Dr. Carr was marooned in Estero for several days, but we managed the following day to get Messers Boland and Rasmussen away by motor boat up the county road a ways, for they had scheduled engagements in many states, traveling in the interest of the forthcoming Elks convention to be held in Los Angeles, Calif., in July, and it was most imperative that they move on. The Tamiami Trail to Fort Myers, a distance of sixteen miles, was completely submerged, but our marooned friends made it safely by car, leaving their own Chevrolet's, behind here in Estero. They are entertainers par excellent, and Mr. Rasmussen plays beautifully on the guitar, besides possessing an excellent tenor voice. Despite the bleak surroundings, conditions were quite serene above the store and our guests made things merry with song and good fellowship. Dr. Carr's, friend and traveling companion, Mr. J. Muller of Miami was marooned four miles to the south of us, but spent Tuesday night at the Unity. This is the first time our beautiful stream has overflowed its banks in the twenty-five years we have lived in Estero, and the second time in the history of the colony's existence of forty-two years. Many of our cottages had three feet and more of water in them. This caused much suffering and inconvenience to aged occupants, who had to be moved to drier quarters. Machinery and motors in different departments were submerged, except those at the publishing house. The one item of greatest loss to us, however, was the sweeping away of some eighty colonies of bees. It is difficult to estimate this loss, for honey is a very important item of diet with members of the Colony, and of which we have had an abundance. The suddenness with which this flood materialized, there was no way of saving the bees, and all our apiarist, Brother Frank Wilson could do, was think about his pets, as he calls them, for he, too, was marooned for the better part of two days in his own domicile. There are many swarms left around what was once an apiary; Brother Frank may yet salvage a few colonies. A few Sundays ago an item appeared in The Fort Myers Press that Max E. Arendt and Miss Genevieve Bisbing of Fort Myers were married. The reader friends of Max will greatly miss, his name in this issue of THE SWORD; we appreciate very much his many years of service and valued contributions to this publication. Much interest was taken in the 2nd primary election, June 23, and so close was the race for commissioner in the Estero-Bomta district, that the Unity vote decided it either way. J. W. Carter won the election. The Unity nursery recently received a nice order for plants from the estate of Chas. Baker of Coconut Grove, Miami, Fla. For the past few weeks our horticulturist, Brother Theodore Naeselius has been very busy preparing to fill same and has been given valuable assistance by Brother William Fischer. Trees of fair dimension have to be balled with earth and burlaped and there was a large truck load of the cajeput, eucalyptus and cocos plumosa; also a varied collection of tropical fruit plants and ornamentals. It speaks volumes for Brother Theodore's devotion, for the excellent collection of rare tropical fruit and ornamental plants that has been added to our nursery in the last few years. Brother Alien Andrews deserves much credit, too, for he is at all times on the lookout for rare specimens of plants.
By D.J. Richards
-------------------------------------------------------
FOR SOME TIME to come, many of us in the Unity will be .inclined to date future events from the time of the flood, which we had in reality in Estero, beginning Sunday evening June 14, when the Estero river overflowed its banks and doing considerable damage. A tropical storm was reported by press and radio with wind velocity about thirty-five miles an hour. This we considered mild, comparing it with. previous storms. But hereafter we shall take cognizance of the heavy rains as well, for the word '"wet" will have a real meaning to us. For instance: Our old store building, now used as a postoffice, barbershop and warehouse, had in it about six feet of water; needless to speak here of the damage done to stock of goods, office and other equipment. The general store, being on higher ground, fared a little better as to depth, but it had more water in it than we ever hope to see again, for it rose to a height of 34 3/4 inches. This building is about sixty-five feet long by fifty feet wide, and without circumlocution, will leave it to the readers imagination to visualize the damage done to goods, showcases, counters neatly arranged with drawers. A Russman refrigerating counter, eighteen feet long, with a new engine and electrical equipment which had been in use less than one year. When we arrived on the scene the concrete floor in the store was covered with. three inches of water. Mr. Strickland, our store manager, with his visiting grandson, Edgar Strickland of Lakeland; Brother George W. Hunt, Mr. F. P. Boland of the Hudson County Court House, Jersey City, N. J., Mr. Al Rasmussen, Chicago, and Dr. Harry Newton Carr, Miami, Fla., one and all were doing yeoman service, elevating what goods they could from floor and lower shelves to higher levels; thereby saving much to the Unity. But the water kept rising and before morning had risen to its maximum height, and our usually attractive store was a sight to behold. Dr. Carr was marooned in Estero for several days, but we managed the following day to get Messers Boland and Rasmussen away by motor boat up the county road a ways, for they had scheduled engagements in many states, traveling in the interest of the forthcoming Elks convention to be held in Los Angeles, Calif., in July, and it was most imperative that they move on. The Tamiami Trail to Fort Myers, a distance of sixteen miles, was completely submerged, but our marooned friends made it safely by car, leaving their own Chevrolet's, behind here in Estero. They are entertainers par excellent, and Mr. Rasmussen plays beautifully on the guitar, besides possessing an excellent tenor voice. Despite the bleak surroundings, conditions were quite serene above the store and our guests made things merry with song and good fellowship. Dr. Carr's, friend and traveling companion, Mr. J. Muller of Miami was marooned four miles to the south of us, but spent Tuesday night at the Unity. This is the first time our beautiful stream has overflowed its banks in the twenty-five years we have lived in Estero, and the second time in the history of the colony's existence of forty-two years. Many of our cottages had three feet and more of water in them. This caused much suffering and inconvenience to aged occupants, who had to be moved to drier quarters. Machinery and motors in different departments were submerged, except those at the publishing house. The one item of greatest loss to us, however, was the sweeping away of some eighty colonies of bees. It is difficult to estimate this loss, for honey is a very important item of diet with members of the Colony, and of which we have had an abundance. The suddenness with which this flood materialized, there was no way of saving the bees, and all our apiarist, Brother Frank Wilson could do, was think about his pets, as he calls them, for he, too, was marooned for the better part of two days in his own domicile. There are many swarms left around what was once an apiary; Brother Frank may yet salvage a few colonies. A few Sundays ago an item appeared in The Fort Myers Press that Max E. Arendt and Miss Genevieve Bisbing of Fort Myers were married. The reader friends of Max will greatly miss, his name in this issue of THE SWORD; we appreciate very much his many years of service and valued contributions to this publication. Much interest was taken in the 2nd primary election, June 23, and so close was the race for commissioner in the Estero-Bomta district, that the Unity vote decided it either way. J. W. Carter won the election. The Unity nursery recently received a nice order for plants from the estate of Chas. Baker of Coconut Grove, Miami, Fla. For the past few weeks our horticulturist, Brother Theodore Naeselius has been very busy preparing to fill same and has been given valuable assistance by Brother William Fischer. Trees of fair dimension have to be balled with earth and burlaped and there was a large truck load of the cajeput, eucalyptus and cocos plumosa; also a varied collection of tropical fruit plants and ornamentals. It speaks volumes for Brother Theodore's devotion, for the excellent collection of rare tropical fruit and ornamental plants that has been added to our nursery in the last few years. Brother Alien Andrews deserves much credit, too, for he is at all times on the lookout for rare specimens of plants.
Notes:
See originals in Archives building. Most issues have been photocopied and are bound. These copies are located on the Public Shelf