Master Jimmy Heffner was growing up in Fleetwood, a community northeast of Reading in Berks County of southeast Pennsylvania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleetwood,_Pennsylvania
This community was once known, in “Pennsylvania Dutch” as “Schlegelschteddel”.
In 1925, Fleetwood was home to the Fleetwood Metal Body Company – a premier automobile coachbuilder, founded in 1909.
(The remaining original buildings of the company were converted into lovely urban apartments, beginning in 2022.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleetwood_Metal_Body
In June of 1925, Jimmy received a postcard from Grandma.
The postcard was mailed from San Francisco, the picturesque city on the hills above a bay on the coast of northern California.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco
When Grandma visited, San Francisco was booming as a center of trade, culture, and transportation during the “Roaring Twenties”.
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The face of the postcard is a restful scene of a large flock of sheep drinking from a pond or lake within a tree-shaded meadow.
A printed title identifies this “California Sheep Ranch”.
Sheep farming was a significant industry in California; in the late 19th century it was considered a quick way to gain wealth.
Especially in the fertile San Joaquin Valley, sheep were herded seasonally from the lower plains to the foothills of the Sierras.
Today, there are many sheep farms producing specialized wools for niche markets.
The postcard photograph was published by S. H. Kress & Company.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.H._Kress%26_Co.
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On the reverse, Grandma begins her message without a greeting.
She writes, “Grandma saw these sheep…and a lot more.”
Jimmy is instructed to “Be a good boy” for Grandma “will soon be home”.
The remainder of the message concerns the garden.
Jimmy is directed, “Tell Mama to plant some pepper plants” and “have Mr. K put sticks to the tomato plants and peas.”
After signing as “Grandma”, the writer adds at the top, “Love to all of you”.
Jimmy saved the postcard from California in very good condition throughout his life.
One hopes that Grandma returned safely from her trip, that the garden was tended satisfactorily, and that Jimmy received many more postcards in the years to come.
The postcard has a postmark promoting “Citizens Military Training Camps”.
