Letter (copy) from W. Huger FitzSimons to Sam, Sept. 3, 1917, on Atlantic Coast Line Railroad letterhead

A typewritten letter (a carbon or file copy, marked “(Copy)” beneath the date) on the printed letterhead of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company / Legal Department / Charleston, S. C. A small block at upper left reads W. Huger Fitz Simons / Division Counsel. The page is heavily creased and the typescript has faded in places, with several typist overstrikes mid-line.

                        (Copy)                        September 3rd, 1917.

Mr. ____ FitzSimons,     Adams Run, S.C.

Dear Sam:—

    Last week Tote told me Aunt Louisa wished to speak to me about the disposition of the furniture at Brocklands and today I walked over to Brocklands and had a short conversation with her which was interrupted by the arrival of the Aleck Kings. However as well as I remember the substance of conversation she said that when she went to Charleston this Winter Brocklands would probably be sold at any rate when she left she would not see the place again and she thought some decision should be reached as to the furniture, books &c in the house, and wished to confer with me about it; that Uncle Theodore at one time though[t] said the Mulberry furniture would have to be sold and said the Hendersonville Library [several words illegible — typist’s overstrike]. [She had not] reached a definite conclusion about it; she did not seem [overstrike: books?] to a library (I think she would be divided and seemed to be of the opinion the furniture should [overstrike: never reached] divided. I infered she desired the sale to be arranged for before she had to go down as she would find trouble in arranging for storage, packing up &c if the place was sold. I understood her to say she had no difficulty about the Mulberry silver in Charleston and that she expected to use some of it herself and that final disposition would be made of it by separating it into lots to be drawn for; she said if you had been here she would have liked also to confer with you. I told her I would write to you so that you could let her know what you thought best to be done. I did not gather from her conversation to whom she intended the Mulberry silver to go and did not ask her. If the furniture at Brocklands is to be sold it should be appraised by some one competent to fix valuation upon the articles some of which I presume are of considerable value, as was done in the case of the Tradd St [house]. I did not clearly understand from her whether she wished to donate the Mulberry books to a library or not. There is of course no immediate haste about the matter and really no necessity at present to sell the furniture except that I believe she wishes a sale made before she goes down. Although I have had much correspondence about Brocklands I have as yet not even had an offer for the property although many inquiries and as long as the place is unsold the furniture could remain in the house. I am sending a copy of this letter to Brother, Sister, Gaillie, and Seaman as I know they will be interested. Perhaps you had better write Aunt Louisa your views or write to me and I will tell her as you prefer,

                                                   Yours aff’ly,

                                                   W. Huger FitzSimons.