New in the collection: Senatorial place cards


I’m stymied. I obtained these place cards from a collector who was breaking up a full set of U.S. senators said to have attended a presidential — perhaps — dinner.

If so, because of the long and nearly simultaneous tenures of Lee Overman (1903-1930) and  Furnifold Simmons (1901-1931), the hosting president could have been Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding, Coolidge or Hoover.

Overman was from Salisbury, Simmons from New Bern — simple enough. But what about “Via Charlotte” and “Via Wilmington”? Railroad connections? Why would that be worth mentioning?

And what might the initial “B” stand for?

Thoughts welcome!