Jamestown

The Months Before Departure

The months before the cruise the USS Virginia spent preparing for the cruise with training cruises and planned upkeep on the ship.  Quick trips up and down the coast to drill the crew and test the ship.  Hampton Roads was celebrating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the Atlantic Fleet participated.  USS Virginia was a show boat of the celebration and participated with many of the events.

Right:  Official Card from the Jamestown Exposition showing a Harbor View of the fleet.  The card was mailed by Frank on May 27 with a John Smith commemorative stamp and has the official cancel from the exposition.

Frank writes:  "Arrived Hampton Roads April 15, 07 Left Norfolk for Hampton Roads May 15, 07."  Frank had on stop between Hampton Roads and Jamestown, Cuba.

Right:  Frank Lesher  mailed this card from Cuba with a note Arrived Cuba April 29, Left Cuba April 10th, l907.

Cuban Village

Frank wrote two letters to his father just prior to departing on the cruise, one on December 11th and the other on the 15th.

In his first letter he describes that the ship is being painted to prepare for the possibly when "Teddy" comes down to see us off.  He also gives an accurate count of the crew at 776 sailors, 80 Marines, and 30 officers.

His second letter is mail the night before leaving and expresses his desire to keep a clean record to make his parents proud.  He also discusses the activity at the Chamberlin Hotel the day before which included a parade with review by Admiral Evans and his Wife.  "I got the best view of him that I have every gotten, also saw his wife."

December 11th       Page 1  Page 2

December 15th       Page 1  Page 2

These two cards were issued to celebrate the British warships that attended the Jamestown Exposition.  

On the back of the card to the left, Frank indicates that the Virginia entertained the crew of the Argyll from3 - 12 pm on May 2, 1907 with Dinner and a Minstrel show.

Left:  Frank sent a card from the recent tragedy at the launching of the USS Wisconsin when seven crewmembers were drowned.

Right:  A photo card of Enrique Muller of the USS Colorado mailed by Frank with a schedule note:  Arrived New York Feb. 19, 1907, Departed March 24, 1907