Letter from Gerhard Eckman to Albert, Käte and Eva Speier, December 16, 1936

Date
December 16, 1936
Format
Category
Sender(s)
Eckmann, Gerhard
Sent from
Chicago, Illinois
Recipient(s)
Speier, Albert; Speier, Käte; Speier, Eva
  MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL TWENTY-NINTH STREET AND ELLIS AVENUE CHICAGO Meine lieben Speiers:

Zuerst erst mal einen herzlichen Willkommensgruss, hoffentlich seid Ihr alle gut gereist. Nun nehmt mal erst einen recht tiefen Atemzug in dieser freien Luft und macht Euch eine recht schoene Zeit. Gute Ratschlaege fuer Sehenswuerdigkeiten brauche ich Dir ja nicht zu geben, lOnkel. Vergesst Radio City nicht, es machte grossen Eindruck auf mich. Wenn Du einen Wagen zur Verfuegung hast, seht Euch den Riverside Drive (George Washington Bridge,Medical Center)an. Auch die Triboro Bridge ist imposant.

Die Abfahrt des Golden Arrow hat sich indessen geaendert, nach einer telefon. Auskunft faehrt er in New York 3.10 p.m. ab und ist in Chicago, Union Station 7.35.a.m. Ich werde versuchen, Euch am Zug zu erwarten, auf jeden Fall aber an der Sperre des betr. Geleises.

Auf frohes, glueckliches Wiedersehen Euer getr. Gerd
German | English (translation)
MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL TWENTY-NINTH STREET AND ELLIS AVENUE CHICAGO My dear Speiers:

First of all, a warm welcome! I hope you all had a good journey. Now, take a deep breath in this fresh air of freedom and have a good time. I don't need to give you any advice on sightseeing, dear uncle. Don't forget Radio City; it made a great impression on me. If you have a car at your disposal, be sure to see Riverside Drive (George Washington Bridge, Medical Center). The Triborough Bridge is also impressive.

The departure time of the Golden Arrow has been changed; according to what I found out from a phone call, it now departs from New York at 3:10 p.m. and arrives in Chicago, Union Station, at 7:35 a.m. I will try to meet you directly at the train, but if that is not possible, I'll be at the gate to the relevant platform.

Here's to a happy and lucky reunion Your faithful Gerd

Notes

Gerhard Eckmann (1910–1965), Gerd for short, was a son of Käte Blüth Speier's sister Renate Blüth Eckmann. He was a physician and emigrated to the United States in 1936, where he initially lived and worked in Chicago, with stints at the Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Veterans Affairs hospitals in Utah and Illinois. He was married to Sylvia Velma Eckmann (1913–2010). He served in the Korean War. [back]