A Campaign Promise Delivered

Traverse City, Mich., Nov. 8, 1896

Mr. Pingree—When you was here to the Opera hall I was there and you said that if you were elected governor than any thing we wanted we could just ask for it, so I want a violin please. Good by.

Gracie Monroe
Age 9 years
415 West Eighth St.

*****

Office of the Mayor
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 13, 1896
Miss Gracie Monroe, Traverse City, Mich.

My dear little friend—In reply to your recent letter permit me to say that I have this day forwarded to you a violin which was formerly used by my son, Hazen S. Pingree Jr. Please accept the same with my compliments and I hope you will become a successful violinist.

Yours respectfully,
H. S. Pingree

******

Traverse City, Mich., Nov. 15, 1896

Mr. Pingree—I got your letter last night before supper and the violin after supper, and I thought it was very nice and I thank you very much. I am going to take lessons pretty soon. My papa said that the letter would be in the waste paper basket and you would not see it, but I said you would. I will send you my picture in this letter.

Good by,
Gracie Monroe

Published in the Grand Traverse Herald, November 17, 1896.

Gracie's Violin

The violin now resides in the permanent collections of the Michigan Historical Museum. Mrs. G. M. (Jay) Mertz, the former Gracie Monroe, donated it to the museum in 1924.

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