Her Majesty
Stick with me for a minute. This story is amusing and interesting. It's about the Queen of England and the U.S. Postal Service.
Just before the Bi-Centennial I begun buying and renovating 19th Century homes in Galveston. My whole motivation was that it would supplement my small wage as a savings and loan vice president.
Interestingly, very few investors throughout America were doing that back then, so I was judged the expert by news organizations looking for the story.
Since I had spent years in radio and TV, and was a better than average public speaker, it was a piece of cake for broadcast journalist to pick me to interview. Now mind you, I'm fully aware that it was primarily a lazy streak in their bones that caused them to pick me rather than someone else with a lot more knowledge.
Before long, I was also adaptively restoring 19th Century commercial buildings in old down towns, and that was also a new idea.
Well, I went to New York to appear on one of the network morning news programs. A few weeks later, a letter was delivered to me in Galveston. In the upper left-hand corner was written Her Majesty the Queen, and the fancy embossed emblem was below it.
The letter was address to: Mr. William S. Cherry, U.S.A. No town, no street address, no numerical address, just "Mr. William S. Cherry, U.S.A."
It seems Her Majesty and her colleagues were trying to figure out how to use a bunch of railroad stations that had been built in England's major cities when their government was trying to work its way out of economic depression and unemployment. The problem was that when the trains began using them, the citizens complained because it made the areas so noisy, so the trains were rerouted and the buildings vacated.
Could they engage me to give them some ideas as to how they could be adapted for other purposes? her letter asked.
Well, I said, "Sure," she sent representatives to Galveston to speak with me, and I did give them some ideas. Perhaps a year or so later, a big box came to me. Again, from Her Majesty the Queen, and addressed to Mr. William S. Cherry, U.S.A. Inside was a framed letter of thanks from the Queen, along with photos of the first of the train stations they had restored.
It hung on my office wall for years. It's now packed up around here somewhere.
So twice, the post office figured out how to get mail to me without so much as a state, city or street address on the package.
This past week, I bought a photo on ebay from a nice fellow in a small town in Florida. He lives in an apartment project. I had all of his address correct on the envelope, but I had inadvertently left off the apartment unit number.
The letter was returned to me by the U.S. Postal Service for insufficient address.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
Our 45th Year
214 503-8563
What a cool story. How awesome that the Queen sought you out for your expertise! You must do a fantastic job with the restoration. I live in The Woodlands and would love to see some of the homes you have completed. I restored a 100 year old farmhouse in Montgomery, Texas and it was tough!
Thanks for sharing your amusing story with us. One must focus then good things will happen.
Ironic isn't it? Maybe if you were a monarch they would have tried to find the guy harder.
Bill,
Amazing story...such a treasure to pass down to your grandchildren.
Like everything else, the postal service isn't what it used to be.
Jo
Amazing how the Queen's letters did find you...what does this say about perception of who someone thinks we are?
Wow that is something to be proud of. You sound very smart and I am sure you impressed them all.
Terri, I'm far from smart. My life is full of "accidents." This was just one of them.
I think Evelyn sees the whole encounter exactly as I do, and that's why I posted it.
Paula, when you look at Galveston's East End Historical District, you see about 70 or so homes that I was involved in restoring. And when you walk The Strand, my footprints are all over that. In the case of The Strand, I had the good fortune of being George and Cynthia Mitchell's historical property consultant for 20 years.
Bill how cool is this story!!! I enjoyed reading every word. You put a smile on my face wit it today
I had a similar experience. I used to own a small motel in Eureka Springs Ark, My eccentric Aunt Mary Clayton would send me packages simple addressed to Mike Sparks Motel Ark. somehow they found me.
Mike, don't tell me she was the eccentric Mary Clayton -- the photographer, daughter of famed architect Nicholas Clayton -- from Galveston!