Thelma and Lowell's Diary: March 4, 1943

Her parents come for a visit; Red Cross parades in NOLA; subscribe and get a book!

Although it was the coldest day that winter, Thelma was warmed by the arrival of her parents from Ohio for a long visit. She and Lowell met them up at the New Orleans train station at 8 a.m., brought them by trolley to their apartment to deposit their luggage and eat breakfast, then took them over to Audubon Park. Lowell left for his shift at 3 p.m. and she and her folks went “uptown” for a little dimestore shopping and people watching.

At 7:30 that night, they attended one of the substitute Mardi Gras events, a parade promoting war bond sales and Red Cross donations. To read about it, you’ll need to be a paid subscriber. Join for a year for just $50, become a “Bootie,” and you’ll get as a bonus an inscribed copy of my book Gertie: The Fabulous Life of Gertrude Sanford Legendre, Heiress, Explorer, Socialite, Spy. Gertie was married to one of the handsome sons of a prominent New Orleans family, Sidney Legendre, pictured with her above. Sidney served in the Navy during World War II and Gertie worked for the OSS, America’s first spy agency, under the legendary William J. “Wild Bill” Donovan. Photo courtesy Gertrude Sanford Legendre Archive, College of Charleston Libraries.