The McFaddin Ladies’ 1938 European Adventure
Beaumont, TX; Aug. 9, 2024 – As temperatures rose in the long Southeast Texas summers of the early 20th century, the McFaddin family would often find solace from the heat by traveling to cooler climates. Whether seeking out summer fun at their beach homes in Caplen, Texas, or heading north to the Ozark Mountain resort town Winslow, Arkansas, summertime travel was a family tradition.
In the summer of 1938, Mamie McFaddin Ward and her mother Ida Caldwell McFaddin set out on a weekslong European adventure, traveling to England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland and France.
On Aug. 10, the ladies set sail from New York City aboard the legendary Cunard White Star flagship, the Queen Mary. The magnificent luxury liner had embarked on her maiden voyage just two years prior in May 1936 and was considered the grandest ocean liner in the world, carrying celebrities, royalty and important dignitaries. The Queen Mary was decked out with five dining areas and lounges, two cocktail bars and swimming pools, a grand ballroom, a squash court, and small hospital. The ship only carried civilian passengers for three years before being converted into an allied troop ship during WWII, and the McFaddin ladies were fortunate to be among them.
On Aug. 10, Mamie recorded a bit of her experience aboard the Queen Mary in her diary: “…to state room where there were 7 baskets & bunches of flowers – 2 huge bon voyage baskets, Elizabeth Arden box nuts & letters & telegrams – we got quite a send off…had lovely lunch, sat in deck chair…had dinner – Mother & I have a table by port hole alone…walked & sat in Lounge & listened to music & watched the crowd.”
According to their itinerary, Mamie and Ida arrived in Southampton and traveled by train to London. Sightseeing excursions in England included the London Museum, the Tower of London “where the Crown Jewels will be seen,” St. Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Eton College, Oxford and Bath.
The ladies moved on to Ireland and then Scotland, visiting top sights such as Blarney Castle, Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin Zoo, Northern Houses of Parliament, Palace and Abbey of Holyrood House, Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, and many more.
Mamie and Ida traveled back to England and then on to Switzerland where they visited Lucerne and Geneva, enjoying tours at the International Labour Office and League of Nations. While in Geneva, news of the mounting unrest in Europe finally reached them.
On Sep. 10, Mamie wrote, “Geneva…met American girl who came from Germany. Parents cabled her to leave – first we realized of serious conditions over here.”
Upon arrival in Paris on Sep. 14, Mamie recorded being “worried about war conditions” in her diary. After learning their travel agent and the American Consulate were “not very encouraging about conditions,” the ladies decided to skip their planned sightseeing in France and return home, securing passage on the S.S. Champlain. The five-year-old luxury ocean liner described by Mamie as a “nice modern new boat” would be sunk by a mine off La Pallice, France, just two years later, making it one of the earliest passenger ship losses of WWII.
After the weeklong sea voyage, a stay in New York and train rides, the McFaddin ladies finally arrived back home on Oct. 3. A relieved-sounding Mamie wrote, “…glad to get home – House looked so pretty…”
Special items from the trip, including the travel itinerary and the menu from the Queen Mary, are featured in the Summer 2024 Interpretation, “Season of Fun and Sun,” on view during admission-free tours of the historic McFaddin-Ward House now through Nov. 2024.
