Miss Kate Hain lived in Swartzville, an unincorporated community and census-designated place in East Cocalico Township of northeast Lancaster County.
This agricultural area, southwest of Adamstown, is now bordered by the Pennsylvania Turnpike and US Route 222.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swartzville,_Pennsylvania
In December of 1913, Kate received a Christmas postcard from Katie.
Katie mailed the postcard from Reading, the thriving center of business, commerce, and transportation in nearby Berks County, PA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Pennsylvania
At the time Kate received the postcard, she could have visited Reading by taking a train or trolley from nearby Adamstown.
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The face of the postcard is a drawing of red poinsettias surrounding a placard containing a printed message in words with ornate capital letters.
“Glad Memories, Joyous Days, A Golden Future”
Beneath the drawing, in gilded letters, is the greeting – “Best Christmas Wishes”
The reference to the past, the present, and the future encompasses the tremendous appeal of Christmas.
The bright artwork was printed in Germany by the International Art Publishing Company of New York and Berlin.
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On the reverse, Katie inscribed a single sentence: “Best wishes to all of you”.
One hopes that Katie and Kate, and all their family and friends, enjoyed a splendid Christmas.
RESEARCH NOTE
On May 8, 1864, Kate W. Hain was born in Lancaster County, PA.
She was the daughter of James Hain (1825 -1895) and Priscilla Wenrich Hain (1830-1903).
James and Priscilla were married sometime around 1850; they had three daughters and four sons – all of whom lived to adulthood.
James was a blacksmith and rifle maker who moved his family from Berks County to the town of Denver in Lancaster County during the Civil War.
His obituary notes that he was a staunch Republican.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30228038/james-hain
An older brother of Kate was christened at Hain’s Reformed Church in Heidelberg Township of Berks County in 1855 – but other siblings had funerals in Lutheran Churches.
https://berks.pagenweb.org/oldberkssite/books/HainsChurch/Hains1.html
One of Kate’s brothers became a noted cigar manufacturer.
In March of 1914, Kate died in East Cocalico Township at age 49.
Kate’s death was only three months after she received this colorful Christmas postcard.
With her parents and several siblings, Kate is buried in the Fairview Cemetery of Denver, PA.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30228039/kate_w-hain
