I posted “Illegal Of The Day Virginia-2” on 11/15/10. There was a problem with the ID. The green $20 CG was stated as being from Virginia. While researching another font CG chip ID, David and I discovered that I was sent the wrong information on this one.

This above chip is not Virginia. I now have the real card for it. It is Club Greyhound, Jeffersonville, Indiana, WJ Gavin, 1938. We had always thought it was Jeffersonville but the ID that came back was Virginia. It will appear in a future “Illegal Of The Day Indiana” post. If you are saving IOTD posts, best to do a save as for this one.

Enough of that:

Virginia:

Here is the real ID on the Virginia CG chip. It is adifferent font.

Ineed this one. Cough it up if you have a trader.

JB Griswold
109 W. 17th St.
Norfolk VA
600 Red $1's
300 Cho $5's
100 $20 Green
Three different colors including a $20.00 dark green.
5/25/33

CG
John Brace Griswold, a Virginia native, died 1945 Dade County, Florida age 65. 109 W. 17th St. was his residential address.

In 1910 Griswold was living in Norfolk and listed his occupation as "solicitor for gambling house."
Not sure what he was doing in 1933; sent a city directory look-up request to the Norfolk library.

In the 20's he and his wife operated a place called Griswold Cottage (maybe CG backwards?).

He also operated a grocery store in the 20's and was involved with a sea food restaurant in the late 30's.

One week later:

Got the copies of the Norfolk city directories. They sent me 1933 and 1934.
John B. Griswold doesn’t show-up in either. His wife and his son John B., Jr. (born 1909) are both listed.

1933

1934

It’s curious that Annie Griswold is listed as a widow of John B. I know for a fact that her husband was not dead. Sometime in the late 1920’s he leaves Norfolk and when he returns, around the time the chips were ordered, he’s got a new wife.

My notes:
Lots more questions than answers but no Club name I feel I can put to it. Being a purist I do not feel comfortable with Griswold Cottage. Years are not close enough for me and the wife says he is dead in 1933-34.

What is a "solicitor for gambling house" 1910, In Norfolk, Virginia?
Why is his wife a widow? Maybe wishful thinking.

Maybe she had a “Hit” out on him.

Illegal’s are big fun and sometimes mysteries forever.
At least I now have it listed in the right file. It finally came home!