Mrs. Eliza Hoffacker lived in Millers Station, the name of a small, unincorporated community that grew up around a railroad depot in Carrol County of northern Maryland.
When the Baltimore and Hanover Railroad was constructed through land belonging to Aaron Miller, he built and operated a station – and sold off building lots for a small community.
Miller’s Station was a feature of the small community of “Millers”.
A Post Office for “Millers Station” never existed, but there was a Post Office for “Millers”, Maryland from 1894-1984.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millers,_Maryland
Sometime around 1918, Eliza received a postcard from Frank.
Frank mailed the postcard from Frederick, the historic city on the first National Road in northwest Maryland.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick,_Maryland
The face of the postcard displays a drawing of a city block on which the New City Hotel is located.
The New City Hotel was the successor to several other hostelries in Frederick.
At the time the postcard was mailed, it was considered the finest in the city.
Unfortunately, the building pictured here was demolished in 1921 in order to build a grander hotel.
The data about the hotel gives us clues to determining when the postcard was mailed – the postmark is hopelessly indistinct.
The “white-bordered” postcard style became dominant about 1920, so I have estimated a date of mailing.
The postcard was published by the firm of Louis Kaufmann & Sons of Baltimore.
On the reverse, Frank refers to visitors who called on Eliza recently – “Guess mother and Helen were up and had a good time”.
It seems that Frank intends to visit also as he concludes the message, “See you later”.
Mrs. Hoffacker seems to have enjoyed the postcard as she preserved it in very good condition throughout her life.
One hopes that Frank was able to make a visit and to “have a good time” as his mother and Helen did.
RESEARCH NOTE
Eliza A. Warner was born in Carroll County, Maryland on March 18, 1869.
(She was about 49 years old when she received the postcard.)
Eliza was the daughter of Michael Jacob Warner (1821-1865) and Elizabeth Jane Lawhead Warner (1825-1904).
I have not researched the parents’ marriage history, but Eliza’s memorial notes two full sisters and three half-siblings.
In April of 1885, Eliza married Theodore Hoffacker (1859-1945) in Manchester, Maryland (Carroll County) – Eliza was 16 years old.
Eliza and Theodore had two daughters, Florence (1885-1938) and Minnie (1896-1970).
Census records show that Eliza and Theodore lived in Carroll County throughout the years of their marriage.
Theodore died in 1945, when he was 84 years old, and was buried in the cemetery of Manchester, Maryland.
Eliza lived as a widow for 4 years before her death in 1949 at age 83.
Eliza is buried with her husband in Manchester, Maryland.
(Manchester, Maryland is about two miles from the site of “Millers Station”.)
