1911 Courtship: Feb 24, Dear Ethel

We're still in the first month of Noah and Ethel's courtship and this week it's Noah's turn to write. However, there's a problem... I only have page one of Noah's letter. I've searched every paper and corner of Ethel's box of treasures and can't find a page 2 anywhere. It crossed my mind not to post this letter, but since Noah is on his way from Ontario back home to Saskatchewan since the courtship started, I felt it was important to let you know in his own words how he's doing.

Author of Letter: Noah Clement Draper b1887
Dated:  February 24, 1911
Addressed to: Miss E. Nelson, Bellhaven, Ontario b1890
Mailed from:  Regina, Saskatchewan
Relationship: Courting
Profession: Farmer
Writing  instrument: Fine point pen, Black ink
Written on: 8 1/2" x  11" thin paper bearing the leaderhead of the Alexandra of Regina, Saskatchewan which proclaims:

First Class Accomodation for the Travelling Public
Heated by Steam and Lighted by Electricity
Return Call Electric Bell System

Mentioned in the letter: 
- Uncle Stephen (Stephen Draper in North Gwillimbury?)
- Uncle Frank (George Franklin Terry in North Gwillimbury?)
- Irean/Irene in Toronto ?
- Flora and Herbert in Toronto ?

Regina, Sask. Feb. 24 1911

Miss, E. Nelson,
Belhaven, Ont.
Dear Ethel;-
     Well Ethel it is a week today since I bid
you good bye. & it seems like a month. Got over
to Uncle Stephens in time for tea & was there untill
eight oclock Saturday morning, then I went over
to Uncle Franks and caught the one oclock car* to
Toronto. Was in Toronto untill 8 am. Monday was down
to the Princess* Saturaday night, with Irean had
a good time, Sunday I was over to Floras & Herberts
had a fine time, Then Monday Morning caught
the train for Chicago got in there about 15 to ten &
left at 10:15 for St Paul. got there about 10 a.m. and
was in the city untill 5 p.m. I saw all the sights, Ha. Ha.)
Caught train for Winnipeg & got there at 8.45 a.m. was
down through Eatons & then caught train for Regina
at 10.25. Winnipeg is a fine city and is growing very
fast building permits for 1911 will amount to over
eighteen million dollars what do you think of that
for one years growth.
     Got in Regina at 11.45 Last night & went right
to bed & I can tell you I was glad of the chance
for I can not sleep very well on the train

And that's it...however, this letter mentions 2 things I've marked with an asterisk * that I'd like to comment on:
* the Princess - The Princess Theatre on King Street - known simply as The Princess - hosted many celebrated entertainers in its time.

The Princess Theatre in 1930, The City of Toronto archive photo courtesy of www.skyscraper.com

*the car - the Toronto and York Radial Railway ran a streetcar from Toronto north through Newmarket (15 miles away) and then Keswick, and up to Sutton. Belhaven is north of Keswick.  

Toronto and York Radial Railway at the Keswick Station, ca 1910. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Toronto and York Radial Railway - Sutton to Toronto summer 1916 daily schedule

Genealogy Notes

Noah has taken the southern route through the U.S. to get from Belhaven to Regina:

Why did Noah take the southern route when the Transcontinental Railway across Canada had been opened since 1885? From his letter, Noah sounds like a tourist who's never travelled to Chicago or St. Paul which implies this wasn't his normal route. Was this the shorter route because of the rocky and muskeg Canadian Shield geography which makes up most of Northwestern Ontario? Or was there another reason?
 
We are still researching the names mentioned in this letter. Hopefully, Ethel's response will give more information on them.

However, the next 1911 Courtship letter is dated Feb 27th and is another one from Noah to Ethel. Stay tuned...