Miss Claudia Richey lived in York, the historic city in south-central Pennsylvania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York,_Pennsylvania
Claudia appears to have been employed by the Standard Shirt Company which operated at 229 Market Street.
From the Google Summary:
“The Standard Shirt Company in York, PA, was a significant local manufacturer, famous for its “Lion” brand shirts and detachable collars, operating from the historic Lion Factory (built 1884) and employing hundreds, primarily women, producing men’s apparel for decades, though the exact founding/closing dates aren’t clear, its legacy is tied to local industrial history and a major factory building…”
It is not clear why Claudia received mail at her place of employment – it is possible that her living situation was changing.
In December of a year near 1922, Claudia received a Christmas postcard from Sarah.
The postcard was mailed from Lancaster, the county seat of Lancaster County – about 27 miles northeast of York and across the Susquehanna River.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_Pennsylvania
Sarah was living at 313 West Orange Street, a building that was replaced in 1925 by the erection of what is now Covenant United Methodist Church.
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The face of the postcard bears a drawing of a snow-dusted window, bordered by green shutters.
The building seems old and in disrepair – the stucco has chipped away from the wall, and the slats of the shutters are damaged.
Nevertheless, there is a cheery wreath hanging in the window – and two birds flit about the window-sill.
Beneath the drawing are a few lines of “Christmas Greetings”:
“Joy and Gladness,
May Christmas bring you,
And the following year,
A full measure of Happiness.”
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On the reverse, Sarah greets, “Claudia dear”.
Sarah reports, “I am sending you a box” and asks, “let me know if you get it all right.”
Claudia is invited to “think of me when you eat it.”
The message closes with, “Wishing you a merry Xmas.”
An additional line was added –“Tell Brook’s (sic) I said Hello”
Claudia saved the postcard throughout her life.
One hopes that she and Sarah, and all close to them, enjoyed a splendid Christmas.
RESEARCH NOTE
In December of 1871, Claudia May Richey was born in York County, PA – presumably in Shrewsbury.
She was the daughter of Chester Case Richey (1845-1905) and Elizabeth Ann Hoffacker (1845-1879)
Chester Richey and Elizabeth Hoffacker were both from Shrewsbury, but I cannot find a marriage document for that place
Claudia was the first child of Chester and Elizabeth; she had a younger sister who died at age 4.
Clauias’s mother, Elizabeth died in 1879 – when Claudia was 8 years old.
Chester had become a noted maker and manufacturer of cigars.
In 1881, Chester married Amelia Jane Anstine in Hametown, PA – and the couple proceeded to have ten children (six girls and four sons) all of whom lived to adulthood.
Thus, Claudia gained ten step-siblings.
Chester’s family moved during this second marriage, they are listed in the town of Jefferson and, after 1905, in the city of York.
In the early 20th century, Claudia is living in York.
Claudia never married; she died at age 80 in York on August 5, 1952.
Claudia and her father, step-mother, and several other family members are buried in the Reformed Cemetery in Glen Rock, PA.
Claudia’s mother and her sister, Bessie, are buried in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Shrewsbury, PA.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166152514/claudia-m-richey
