Mrs. Alice Merrick lived in Newark Valley, a town in Tioga County of south-central New York State.
This area, northwest of Binghamton, was settled around 1791 and (after several other place names) was named for the city of Newark, New Jersey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Valley,_New_York
In October of 1914, Alice received a postcard from her nephew – George Davis.
George mailed the postcard from East Syracuse, a village of Onondaga County in central New York.
Today, East Syracuse is a suburb of the city of Syracuse.; it is known for gorgeous parks.
Newark Valley is about 67 miles south of East Syracuse.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Syracuse,_New_York
Although George mailed the postcard on October 10, the face of the postcard shows a winter scene.
Pine boughs laden with snow, frame a medallion drawing of a small village in winter.
Beneath the drawing is a printed greeting, “A Happy Birthday”.
The postcard was “Printed in Germany”, although I have not yet identified the printer’s mark.
On the reverse, George inscribes a birthday message:
“I wish you a very happy birthday tomorrow, and also many others”.
Without knowing anything of the character of George, I am prepared to like him – he has a very readable hand, and he carefully inscribes a date with his message.
The reference to “tomorrow” confirms that Aunt Alice was born on the 11th of October – and it is probable that she received her birthday postcard on that day.
One hopes that Aunt Alice was pleased by the postcard, that she had a satisfying celebration, and that she maintained a cordial relationship with her nephew.
![](https://historyinthemail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Merrick-BDay-reverse-1024x654.jpg)
![](https://historyinthemail.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Merrick-BDay-reverse-2-rotated.jpg)