Miss Zelda Houpt lived in Curwensville, a borough on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Clearfield County of central Pennsylvania.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Curwensville was a center of coal-mining, tanning, and the manufacture of fire bricks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curwensville,_Pennsylvania
In 1911, Zelda received a Birthday postcard from Pearl Parrish.
The Research Note (below) identifies Zelda’s birthday as April 4, so we know that the faded postmark identifies a date in early April of 1911.
I cannot distinguish the place from which the postcard was mailed.
A quick search of PA post offices around Clearfield County reveals “Arroyo” in Elk County, about fifty miles north of Curwensville – a possible place for Pearl’s mailing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arroyo,_Pennsylvania
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The face of the postcard is a drawing by the noted postcard artist, John Winsch.
https://vintagehalloweencards.blogspot.com/p/winsch.html
An open book displays two scenes of rural life – a solitary farm in the soft light of dusk or dawn, and a girl and her dog standing on a path winding toward a rustic chalet.
The pages are marked by a blue ribbon on which the words, “Birthday Greetings” are printed.
Beside the book, a verse in brightly-colored letters of ornate design communicates constant good wishes:
“As your birthdays go,
Be they fleet or slow,
They ever bring kind wishes
From me, you know.”
Two small birds are perched on a leafy branch above the verse.
The artist is credited, and the copyright of 1910 documented, at the bottom right.
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On the reverse, Pearl congratulates Zelda – “You’re (a) ten years old girl”.
Pearl claims, “if I was there, I would pull your ears.”
In closing, Pearl asks about “Mama” and asks Zelda to relay the message that Pearl will write soon.
Zelda saved the postcard throughout her life.
One hopes that she had a wonderful birthday celebration, that her ears remained unpulled, and that she received many more postcards.
RESEARCH NOTE
On April 4, 1901, Zelda M. Houpt was born in Curwensville.
She was the only child of John Alexander Houpt (1876-1942) and Effie Viola Strickland (1881-1963),
Sometime around 1923, Zelda married William James Orr (1895-1959).
William had served in World War I and achieved the rank of Corporal.
Between 1925 and 1934, Zelda and William had three sons and one daughter.
All of the children lived into adulthood; the youngest son (Harold) died in 2011 and the youngest child (Margaret) died in 2017.
Zelda and William lived in Curwensville throughout their lives.
Zelda worked for the local newspaper for many years, was active in the Methodist Church, and held offices in the women’s’ auxiliary Lodge of the International Odd Fellows.
In September of 1977, Zelda died in the Clearfield Hospital at the age of 76.
She is interred in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Curwensville beside her husband who died in 1942.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127022202/zelda-orr
At the time of her death, Zelda had ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
