Critters, Crackers and Cottages

"…we saw tied in open square a Bear – the leather strap

around his neck an inch wide + looked old. The chain an ordinary dog chain size, save longer some 10 ft long The Bear was constantly walking too and fro. we started up to take a near view but a man called to not go near that he was vicious! I then thought how unsafe the neck strap. he had been caught young but they had not succeeded in taming him he was (a pretty (Black Bear)…" -Excerpt from Travel Diary January 2, 1896, Titusville

"…It is very warm here now generally 95 to 98 on the verandah (the coolest place) every morning, imagine what it is cooking breakfast, not that we stay long in the kitchen, we manage with tinned things a great deal…" -Excerpt from a Letter, Helen F. Warner to her Mother dated June 27, 1885, Orlando