The Waverly

12 November 1912: Waverly Flats, a three story apartment complex built about 1908, held 12 units. These were mostly single tenants or couples without families. Traveling salesmen were abundant there: Emmet F. Blakemore (#3), Thomas L. Freeland (#2), Joseph M. Gerson (#5), Cyril T. Stevens (#10). Other tenants included: J. Arthur Allen (#4), a solicitor at Cochran’s Insurance Agency; Edith Bentley and Sarah Christine, trained nurses (#6); Charles H. Lane, head stenographer and notary at Producers Oil Company (#9); Julian B. Ross (#12). The Texas Company [LINK] was employer for 2 tenants: Harry G. Symms, credit man (#8); and William A. Powers, an accountant (#11); two tenants worked at the First National Bank Building [LINK]: Frank F. Fleming, a real estate and investment agent (#7); and and George D. Jacob, an auditor at W. H. Norris Lumber Co. (#1).  ​

7 April 2017: The entire downtown block bounded by Lamar, Travis, McKinney and Milam is Travis Place, an office and parking structure of 9 floors built in 1968.

Postmarked: 12 November 1912; Houston, Tex. 
Stamp: 1c Green George Washington #405 
 
To: Mrs W. P. Crites 
2514 Boll St. 
Dallas 
 
Message:  
Arrived O. K.  
Am dickering with some deputies 
Leave here Wed 
W. P. C.  ​

   Walter P. Crites lived in Dallas, TX as he posts this postcard to his wife back home, but he was originally from St. Louis, MO. Southwest of there in nearby in De Soto, Jefferson County, MO he married Roberta Nelson Elkins on 21 November 1907, so their fifth anniversary was only 9 days away. Walter was the state manager for the Fraternal Union of America, a fraternal organization similar to the Masons or the Pythians.  Unlike other fraternal organizations, there were no secret features, but membership included practical benefits such as insurance for health, disability, and death.  
   Walter mentions having to “dicker with deputies” in Houston, but the nature of this interaction is obscure. In 1910 in St. Louis, MO, he had listed his occupation as a lawyer in general practice, so his work with the Fraternal Union may have had legal dimensions. He was the son of John G. Crites and Nancy Elizabeth Carlyen, and Roberta was the daughter of John Wesley Elkins and Alwilda Maryland Galloway. Walter would not stay long in Dallas, nor in the employ of the Fraternal Union. By 1918 he was working as a yard clerk for a railroad in Lawton, OK. His father-in-law, John Wesley Elkins, moved to El Reno, Canadian County, OK by 1920 where he worked as a railroad carpenter. Walter would join him there and by 1930 the extended family lived together at #320 East Wade St. This included John and Alwilda, Walter and Roberta, Gertrude Elkins Clark, Marvin Elkins and 5 lodgers. The families remained in El Reno, John retired as a government watchman, Walter became the general yard master for Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. 
   Alwilda GalLoway Elkins died in 1937 and John Wesley Elkins died in 1940 and they are buried in El Reno Cemetery in El Reno. Walter died in 1960 and Roberta in 1968 and they are laid to rest there as well.