Sadie Freeman lived in Marion, a center of transportation and industry in an agricultural area of central Ohio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion,_Ohio
In 1909, future US President Warren Harding was editor of the “Marion Star” and the foundations of future steel production, appliance manufacturing and food processing businesses were already apparent in this city of 18,000 people.
We have seen several postcard stories related to Marion: “The Harding Memorial” and “The Merry-Go-Round List” (featuring handsome churches of Marion).
In July of 1909, Sadie received a postcard from Flora.
The postcard was mailed from Plainwell, a small city on the Kalamazoo River in Allegan County of southwest Michigan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plainwell,_Michigan
In 1909, Plainwell was connected by highway and railroad to Kalamazoo in the south and to Grand Rapids in the north.
Marion, Ohio is about 260 miles southeast of Plainwell, Michigan.
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The face of the postcard is a charming drawing of a group of workers about to take the day off.
Two young men, in suits, are surrounded by four young ladies – one in a dress, the others in frilly shirtwaists and long skirts.
Two of the young women are in the process of tearing a page from the wall calendar – literally, “taking the day off”.
It is not clear what kind of business is conducted here – there is a high desk with ledger books, but we also see draped counters which might hold goods for sale.
Near the center of the group is a round stand on which instruments are positioned.
I am unable to identify the instruments or their intended purpose.
The lively scene was “Printed in Germany” using the patented Theochrom process of Theodor Eismann of Leipzig.
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On the reverse, Flora announces her intention: “I will now answer your postcard”.
Flora explains, “We have got a vacation this week and we have not been home a day.”
Yesterday, Flora was “down to Kalamazoo to see Paw” who was “perty (sic) well”.
Flora ends the message by insisting, “Don’t forget to answer”.
Sadie preserved the postcard in very good condition throughout her life.
One hopes that Flora continued to enjoy vacation, that Paw continued to do well, and that Sadie and Flora maintained a postcard correspondence for many years.
