(A Research Note is attached to this postcard story)
Mrs. George H. Strickler lived in Lancaster, the charming and historic city in southeast Pennsylvania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_Pennsylvania
Mrs. Strickler’s home at 644 West Chestnut Street is a very handsome, three-story, brick townhouse erected in 1875.
Today, the rich architectural features of the façade have been maintained, but the house is divided into two apartments.
https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/644-W-Chestnut-St-17603/home/130109627
In November of 1918, Mrs. Strickler received a Thanksgiving postcard from “Geo.”
The postcard was mailed from Lancaster, but there is no greeting to indicate that this was sent by her husband – or, perhaps, a son.
(Minnie Shaub Strickler, Mrs. George Strickler, had no children. The postcard may have been sent by her husband.)
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The face of the postcard shows a woman carrying two large baskets filled with fruits and delicacies.
The woman’s attire seems to be a 20th-century adaptation of Pilgrim attire – the billowing skirt is shorter than that of a pilgrim, the neckline lower, the sleeves are adorned with abundant lace, the sturdy shoes are high heels, and the demure Pilgrim cap is now a stylish chapeau.
A verse communicates the kind intent of the postcard:
“A basket of plenty –
A basket of cheer,
To wish you a happy
Thanksgiving, my dear.”
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On the reverse, Geo. writes, “With best wishes for a pleasant Thanksgiving Day.”
Mrs. Strickler preserved the pretty postcard throughout her life.
One hopes that she and all her family and friends enjoyed a peaceful Thanksgiving in 1918.
RESEARCH NOTE
The supporting documentation for this identification is not as strong as it is for many personal stories.
The family names of “Strickler and “Haverstick” are long-established in Lancaster County, PA, and the name “George” is repeated often in several generations.
In August of 1868, George Haverstick Strickler was born in Marietta, PA.
He was the son of John Strickler (1837-1923) and Anna Mary Elizabeth Gable (1844-1875).
George had an older brother, Charles, and a younger sister, Ella.
A younger brother was born and died in 1875, and it may be that George’s mother died in this childbirth.
On Christmas Eve of 1891, George married Minnie Nora Shaub in Lancaster.
Minnie was born in Lancaster in 1873, the daughter of Amos Wade Shaub (1842-1911) and Mary Ann Grube (1841-1917)
Minnie had one older brother, Harry, who died at age 9.
George and Minnie did not appear to have any children, and lived throughout their marriage in Lancaster’s Ward 5 – where the address of the postcard is located.
I have not yet been able to find obituary or burial information for the Stricklers.
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/LFQ6-RPH
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/KC2R-TRD
