Miss Mary Oren was in New Cumberland, a borough bordering the west bank of the Susquehanna River in Cumberland County of central Pennsylvania.
New Cumberland is known today for its historic downtown and for a large annual Apple Festival.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Cumberland,_Pennsylvania
In July of 1914, Mary received a postcard from her brother, Harry.
Harry mailed the postcard from Newport, a borough on the Juniata River in Perry County of central Pennsylvania.
The borough’s name comes from its importance as a shipping center for the Pennsylvania Canal in the mid-19th century and, later, for the two railroad lines that served the borough.
(The Pennsylvania Railroad tracks once ran directly up Third Street in Newport.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport,_Pennsylvania
New Cumberland is about 30 miles southeast of Newport.
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The face of the postcard is a photograph of a freight train passing below a tree-shaded lane on which an adult carrying a basket is walking with a child.
A rustic fence separates the path from the railroad tracks further down the hillside.
Very faintly on the lower left, one can read a title, “On the Road to Newport, PA”.
It appears to be summer, as the leaves of the trees and the foliage of the fields are green.
Published by the Newport News Agency; the postcard photograph was “Printed in Germany”.
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On the reverse, Harry greets his “Dear Sis”.
Like all good correspondents, Harry notes the date and his location.
Harry acknowledges communication from his sister – “Received your card some time ago and was glad to here (sic) from you.”
Now, Harry reports, “I am well and hope this will find you the same.”
About his living situation, Harry tells Mary – “I am still boarding but go up to
Frank’s to sleep sometimes.”
From this, we assume that Harry was working in Newport as a hired man or laborer.
In closing, Harry urges Mary to “Ans. Soon.”
One hopes that Mary was glad to receive the postcard, that Harry continued to manage his living situation, and that the siblings maintained their postcard correspondence for many years.
RESEARCH NOTE
Some time ago, we saw a postcard that had been mailed to Miss Mary Oren in Newport, PA.
“The Mess of Unpaved Streets – Mifflin, PA (1910)”
I cannot determine if this is the same person who received a postcard in this story.
There are generations of Oren families in Cumberland County and in Perry County – and the name “Mary” appears often.
I did find a Mary Oren who had a brother Franklin (which could be “Frank’s place”) – but that Mary had no names resembling “Harry” in her family.
