Carl Neel's letters

Object/Artifact

St. Mary's County Historical Society, Leonardtown, MD

Name/Title

Carl Neel's letters

Entry/Object ID

2008.012.0003

Description

This is a bright turquoise plastic notebook with a front cover pocket. The book was used for the letters of Carl Neel, musician on the floating theater, to Agnes Clements Tuinman of Leonardtown. The notebook was on the table in the board room during the Floating Theater exhibit in the fall of 2008 so visitors could see and read the letters. Cover sheet: Letters to a Wonderful Leonardtown Lady from a Performer on the James Adams Floating Theatre ********* Treasured Correspondence [1919-1944] from Carl (Pop) Neel, Director, James Adams Floating Theatre Band to Agnes "Aggie Ma" Clements Tuinman [Mrs. Reindert Tuinman] Lovingly Donated to the St. Mary's County Historical Society by Aggie Ma's granddaughter, Stacie McAllister E-mail: from Stacie McAllister Giammarino of Morristown, New Jersey explaining that Agnes Clements lived in the third house on the left as you came up the hill from the wharf 1st letter: Morattico, Va. September 3, 1919 typed in purple Mr. Neel had 8 1/2" x 11" business stationery in a buff color with a legend at the top "Carl Neel's Band with Jas. Adams Floating Theatre" with his photo 4" h x 1 3/4" w near the top left corner of the sheet. He talked about the theater's location on a winding river, how cool the weather had been, extra work the band had done at a local ball game, the difficulties with washing clothes, and Beulah Adams birthday party. 2nd letter: Crittenden, Va. October 13, 1919 typed in purple This letter was on 7 1/4" x 10 1/4" buff stationery with a legend on the top "Carl Neel Bandmaster Jas. Adams' Floating Theatre" with his picture right on the edge of the upper left corner. Next to the picture it said "Second Seasoner." The show had closed its season earlier than usual because of sickness in the Adams' family. He told where all the cast went for the winter and that the show would reopen in early March. Neel would take the barge to winter quarters in Elizabeth City, N.C. He talked about the weather and the surroundings in Virginia. 3rd letter: Albemarle Sound April 4, 1920 Typed in black This letter was on very light buff 8 1/2" x 11" stationery with the legend "Carl Neel's Band with Jas. Adams Floating theatre" and his photo near the upper left corner of the sheet. Neel talked about all the front office work he had been doing and a little about the band. Beulah and Charles Hunter were in Alexander City, Alabama during a hurricane, but survived. 4th letter: South Mills, N.C. April 13, 1920 Typed in black in an odd font This letter was on 10 1/4" x 6 3/8" buff stationery with no decoration. Mr. Neel commented on Aggie's silence and talked about the wonderful business the theater was doing. He spoke again about the Hunters in Alabama in the path of the hurricane. He said the spring painting and decorating was going well and that the barge would be in Virginia in various spots for several weeks. 5th letter: Oxford, Md. January 30, 1921 Typed in black On buff colored stationery 9 1/2" x 6" from the New Oxford Hotel in Washington, D.C. "The only hotel property in Washington owned by the United States Government." Neel was on a short vacation that included a stay in the District. He planned to visit friends in the Al G. Fields Minstrel show. The Hunters spent the winter in Florida. 6th letter Elizabeth City, N.C. February 6, 1929 Typed in red and black On buff colored stationery 10 1/2" x 6 7/8" with the the legend "Elizabeth City, North Carolina" on the top. He talked about the Prohibition revenuers and promised to send a program from the musical "Show Boat." He discussed cast members' winter activities. Mr. Neel was a member of the Elks and retired to an Elks home in Bedford, Va. when the floating theatre closed. 7th letter: Bedford, Va. May 24, 1943 Typed in black Light buff stationery 10 3/4" x 8 3/8" with a sketch of the facility across the top of the sheet and the legend "National Home of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks R.S. Scott, Superintendent" Mr. Neel mentioned having been very sick. He also mentioned a ring he lost and asked about people known to them both. 8th letter: Bedford, Va. August 17, 1944 Typed in black Light buff stationery 10 3/4" x 8 3/8" with a sketch of the facility across the top of the sheet and the legend "National Home of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks R.S. Scott, Superintendent" Apparently Agnes lost a member of her family as a war casualty and Neel expressed sympathy. He talked about the many deaths at his facility, but felt it was to be expected. He would be 86 in December. He hoped to see Roosevelt finish out the war. One sleeve of envelopes as examples. Neel had his picture on the left edge of two envelopes, just as he did on his stationery in the early days. The final envelope was from the Elks facility.

Collection

James Adams Floating Theatre Exhibit

Made/Created

Date made

1919 - 1944

Dimensions

Height

11-3/4 in

Width

10-13/16 in

Depth

1-3/4 in

Person or Organization

Tuinman, Agnes