Cuba and the United States have recently started opening their respective doors creating an opportunity for improved relations between the two countries. Prior to the time when the doors were closed, Lota Bootle embarked on an adventure with the “Pilots” to attend a gathering of the Pilot Club International at the Hotel Plaza in Havana Cuba. It was June of 1939.
The Bootle name is a familiar name from St. Andrew’s Parish especially for people who grew up here during the 1920s to the 1960s. Most people identify with the family’s barbecue establishments or their guest home. Lota Bootle lived in Columbia, SC prior to moving to Charleston, SC. She and her father, Philip L. Bootle, bought the land, built the house and ran the Bootle Guest Home at the corner of Wesley Drive and Savannah Highway from 1940 to 1977.
When Lota traveled with the Pilot Club she was living in Columbia, SC. However, the list of names on the back of one photo from the trip include women from Atlanta, Georgia; El Paso, Texas; Hot Springs, Arkansas; Greenwood, SC; Beaumont, Texas; Augusta, Georgia; Port Arthur, Texas; Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A quick Google search produced the information that the Pilot Club of Columbia, SC was chartered in January of 1937 and was the first service club for professional women in that city.
In addition to two “Souvenir Fotos by G Romay from the Hotel Plaza”, Lota detailed her visit in 8 typed legal pages. The following are some fun excerpts from this travel journal with some paraphrasing to bridge gaps.
“Leaving St. Augustine (with it’s mosquitoes as big as I wouldn’t say) behind – Carolyn with her charge of Pilots from here, there, and everywhere – started down the road in a Special Chartered Bus – everyone in the highest of spirits and not too sad at leaving the “oldest City”. That was Sunday, June 25, 1939.” Lunch in the Indian River area prior to arriving in Miami at The Everglades – “what a hotel. No kidding, it was quite the last word in every respect.” Cocktails on the garden roof of the hotel, delicious seafood at Manning’s, a visit to the Esquire club, a tour of Miami, lunch at an air-conditioned Howard Johnson, a reception hosted by the Miami Pilots, and a little deep sea fishing were highlights of the Miami stay.
“AND SO – – TO CUBA. We arrived in Havana Wednesday morning, June 28, 1939 at about 8 a.m., and it was a much excited group of girls waiting – especially after seeing the sky line of the buildings on the right hand side and Morro Castle on the left – we knew we had much to see and do in so short a time.” Mr. Valdes, the son of the owner of Hotel Plaza was their guide.
The eight typed pages detail tours of “the lovely old cathedral, “Our Lady of Mercy”; the Columbus Cathedral; the President’s Palace; streets of Havana; old cemeteries; the private home of Mr. Valdes; the Tropical Gardens and Tropical Brewery; farms where Chinese men were laborers; a Jai Alai game; a cock fight; the Morro Castle; the Havana Country Club; the “Night Life of Cuba” including a Spanish Club; the Capitol Building with its official Reception Hall and Sloppy Joe’s. In addition there is a whole page about tobacco, rubber trees, sugar cane, pineapples, palms, orchids, and other local flora.
One monument that they visited has particular relevance in today’s political environment.
“We stopped at the Maine Plaza to view the memorial representing Cuba’s gratitude to America, in memory of the sinking of the battleship ‘Maine’ in the harbor of Havana on February 5,1898. The figures on the monument represent the United States and Cuba united. The inscription is as follows:
‘Joint Resolution: The People of the Island of Cuba are and of right ought to be free and independent. Congress of the United States of America April 19,1938.’”
Do you have some St. Andrew’s Parish  stories? Contact Donna at westashleybook@gmail.com.

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