This postcard image looks very similar to one that was shared two years ago.
On that the postcard, we saw the same theme of one happy couple embracing in a haystack, and one reluctant beau standing aloof – “Kiss and Make Up”.
Miss Helen Kettig lived in Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city – on the Ohio River in the north-central region of the State.
Louisville is one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains – it was originally a portage site around a series of falls on the Ohio River.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisville,_Kentucky
In July of 1911, Helen received a postcard from her friend, “Tot”.
Tot mailed the postcard from New Albany, a city on the shore of the Ohio River opposite Louisville.
New Albany was founded by settlers from New York State who named the place in honor of the capital city of their former home.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Albany,_Indiana
The face of the postcard is an amusing drawing of two couples holding a rendezvous at a haystack.
The two girls, in long skirts, are seated next to each other.
One beau is lying on the hay, his hands clasping the hand of his lover.
The other swain stands awkwardly behind the unattached girl.
His straw hat is still atop his head, and he looks as though he is reluctant to join in the amorous fun.
The printed legend is addressed to him: “Get Next, Like the Other Fellow”.
On the reverse, we learn that Tot and others have made an impromptu trip to the neighboring State of Indiana.
Tot explains, “This was rather a sudden trip…”
The party made the decision to leave on Thursday and arrived on Saturday.
The trip seems to involve camping, as Tot writes, “I suppose you know some of the boys who are camping out here”.
Tot plans to return “next Saturday”.
Helen seems to have enjoyed the romantic scene as she preserved the postcard throughout her life.
One hopes that Helen was not disappointed to miss the camping trip and the opportunity of seeing “the boys”.
Perhaps Tot shared other stories of the camping adventure when the travelers returned.
GENEALOGICAL NOTE
In March of 1895, Helen Boney Kettig was born in Louisville, Kentucky.
She was the daughter of Charles Ernest Kettig (1859-1922) and Caroline Peterson (1864-1921).
Charles and Caroline were married in Louisville in 1888, although they had a son born in 1887.
Helen had two brothers and one sister – all of whom lived into adulthood.
Helen was 16 years old when she received the postcard.
In 1920, Helen married James J. Etheridge, Jr. (1897-1951) in Louisville.
Helen and James had one daughter, and they lived in Louisville (or in Jefferson County) throughout their married life.
James died in 1951 at age 54.
I could not find a census record for Helen after 1930.
Helen lived as a widow for 31 years; she died in Galena, Indiana in 1982 – at age 87.
Helen was buried in the same cemetery in Louisville as her husband, her sister and brother, and her parents were interred.
Her younger brother lived until 1984.
