It has been several years since we first met Lee Anna Truxel (also Leanna Truxell).
In the postcard story from 1916, she was invited to meet John “downtown” on Saturday night.
“Meet Me Downtown on Saturday Night”
Lee Anna lived in Mount Pleasant, a borough of Westmoreland County about 45 miles southwest of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania.
During the early 20th century, Mount Pleasant was a center of glass-making; the area was dotted with coke furnaces.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pleasant,_Pennsylvania
In August of 1918, Lee Anna received a postcard from Charles.
The postcard was mailed from the Fremont Station in San Francisco.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco
There are no clues about Charles’ presence in the Bay area; he does not appear to be a serviceman (the postcard has a two-cent stamp; it was not sent for free as it would be for a soldier or sailor.)
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The face of the postcard is a drawing of a boy holding a bouquet of flowers.
With brown ink and simple lines, the drawing resembles a woodcut.
Our young swain wears a belted coat and a hat, but knickers leave his calves exposed.
A large bow at his neck, and shiny dress shoes, indicate that he has dressed carefully for the floral delivery.
Beneath the scene, a ragged verse expresses the beau’s sentiments:
“I’m coming to call on you / And maybe you don’t know,
The reason is, I guess, / Because I love you so.”
The postcard was published by the J. Raymond Howe Company of Chicago.
A lovely flamingo serves as the company’s logo.
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On the reverse, Charles greets “Dearest Lee Anna” and tells her that he was “real glad” to receive her picture and “postal”.
Charles promises to write a letter “real soon” and sends the message, “With Love”.
Lee Anna preserved the postcard throughout her life.
One hopes that the ardent friendship between the correspondents endured for many years.
