L. H. Platz worked in Syracuse, the prosperous commercial and transportation center of central New York State.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse,_New_York
In July of 1915, L. H. received a postcard at the office of the Central City Trust Company.
(I believe that this address may be the central office of the “City Bank Trust Company” – a large savings bank with several branches in Syracuse. Untangling the complicated history of banks and trust companies is beyond the scope of this postcard story.)
The postcard was sent by Miles S. Houck, and was mailed from Los Angeles.
In 1915, Los Angeles was a rapidly-growing city of more than a three hundred thousand people.
Petroleum had been discovered within the city limits in the 1890’s and California led the world in oil production during the early 20th century.
The completion of the first Los Angeles aqueduct in 1913 alleviated a water shortage that had limited residential development.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles
The face of the postcard shows a hand-tinted view Hollenbeck Park – a natural preserve on 21 acres surrounding a man-made lake in the Boyle Heights district of the city.
The widow of John Edward Hollenbeck. former President of the First National Bank, endowed the park in 1892.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollenbeck_Park
The postcard photograph was published by the M. Kashower Company of Los Angeles.
On the reverse, Miles writes, “best regards from Los Angeles.”
One hopes that the trip to Los Angeles was enjoyable and profitable, and that L. H. had opportunity to hear more about the growing city.
