Play Time

         I first thought about golf when I saw this topic. But I’ve already written about that. Then the game of bridge came to mind. Perfect!!! Its a real family affair!

My maternal grandmother pictured here in 1927 as one of five ladies sponsoring a large game.

My mom’s parents played bridge A LOT. Particularly Nannie, my maternal grandmother, Florence (Koetzle) Harley. She married Clarence Wilbur ( C. Wilbur) Harley in 1913 in Philadelphia. They were both 24 years old when they married. They moved to Atlantic City NJ in 1919, one year after Dorothy, their daughter (our mom) was born. 

I have no idea if they had played bridge before they moved to Atlantic City. I think it was a hugely popular thing to do in the 1920’s and beyond.  The first newspaper article (Yes, the local papers posted all the bridge games and results too) my grandmother was mentioned in was April of 1922, and let me tell you, it must have been a grand affair. There were well over 300 participants, and it was to raise money for the Ventnor school band. It was held at the Atlantic City Chelsea Yacht Club. All the participants were listed in the article, as well as any prizes they won.

1922 article that mentioned my grandmother playing bridge

Each week it seemed, there was mention of Mrs. C. Wilbur Harley playing or hosting bridge games. Sometimes Wilbur played too. They were quite the social couple back then. Here’s another example from 1922, when Nannie hosted a bridge party to honor her sister Edythe (Mrs. David Dillon) who was visiting them.

Bridge game to honor Nannie's sister Edythe, who was visiting

Then, when our mom Dot was about 17 years old (1935) she joined in too. So it was a real family entertainment.

Mom's name towards the bottom "Miss Dorothy Harley"

And guess what? When Mom and Dad started dating in early 1943 (he was in the Army and stationed at Atlantic City during WWII) he started playing with them too. I don’t know if he had played bridge prior to that, but he sure picked it up fast.

Dorothy and Roscoe (mom and dad) were winners January 1943

Dad (Roscoe) played bridge during WWII, even when he was overseas. In one of his first letters to Dot in January 1945 when he was on a ship heading to France, he wrote this paragraph, which I have transcribed below. It was difficult to read, so if there are things that don’t make sense, it was my error. I am still in awe of the fact that he could play bridge, then later write to Dot about it, and remember all the cards and plays he made.

                        Letter from Roscoe - Jan 10, 1945 on board ship to France

"Say, I had a very interesting bridge hand yesterday - I am South. East opened with 1S - he was dealer. I held AKQ865 H, A S, 6 C, and AQJ75 D. Well, I thought and thought of what I could bid to make my partner bid. If I bid 2 H, it would only indicate an over call, so I finally decided to bid 3 H (It never dawned on me until after the hand was played that I should have bid 2 S - is that correct?) North, my partner, held 2,7 H, 10,9,6 D, 2,9,8 C, 10,9,8,7,5 S. He bid 3 NT. E P I bid 4 NT - N bid 5 C - O bid 5 H, figuring a loser in D, and maybe one in clubs. I started to bid 6 on nerve. Well, I was doubled by East so I redoubled. - West led his only D, I played the 10 for N, and East played his King, which I took with the ace.Then I took trump, made all my diamonds, and only lost one club for 6, doubled & redoubled. Okay? 

    We were all vulnerable at the time, so I wound up with 1050 points. I have had a lot of very interesting hands on board, very unusual, and I feel that I can remember the play of almost every suit by careful playing, and a lot of times an insignificant play……"

To conclude this "Play Time" theme: One of us kids still pursues the game of bridge. That is my brother Jim, who is two years younger than me. He has always enjoyed bridge, and continues to play in his retirement years. He has a bridge partner he plays with weekly in a bridge club, and he travels to at least one tournament every year. I’m so very happy that Jim is carrying on this tradition. He is pretty good at it too!!!