I found recently another example of postcard art from the National Audubon Society. There were local Audubon Societies in many places, and there were many
Miss Elizabeth Remster lived in Alloway, a census-designated place within Alloway Township of southwest New Jersey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloway_Township,_New_Jersey (I am not certain of the spelling of
Miss Ruth Rogers lived in Barnesville, a village in Belmont County of southeast Ohio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnesville,_Ohio In September of 1908, Ruth received a postcard from her
Mr. Leland Kagey lived in East Canton, a village in Stark County of east central Ohio. The village, founded in 1807, is east of the
Haddonfield is a picturesque and historic borough of Camden County in southwest New Jersey. The first European settler in the area was Francis Collins, an
In the winter of 1939, Paul and Bev were having a “dandy time” in Florida. They sent a postcard to “the folks” up north. Mr.
If you were in school a very long time ago, you may recall when charts (or maps) showing natural resources included a category of “Naval
Mrs. T. B. Singrey lived in Lancaster, a charming city of south-central Ohio. Older than the state of Ohio, the city on the Hocking River
The State of Florida was sparsely populated (relatively) until the coming of the railroads sparked the growth of citrus plantations and the beginning of a
Vernon Copeland lived in Selma, the city on the Alabama River in central Alabama. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma,_Alabama In July of 1949, Vernon received a postcard from his
In the early 20th century, a rustic resort attracted visitors to an area of remarkable geological features in Waveland, Indiana. Waveland is a town 47
Mr. C. S. Kagey lived in East Canton, a village in Stark County of east central Ohio. The village, founded in 1807, is east of
The Dells is a fascinating feature of the Wisconsin River in south-central Wisconsin. The spectacular rock formations were formed by the breaking of an ice
Miss Mary Cassidy lived in Germantown, first settled as a community of German Mennonites in the early days of the Pennsylvania Colony. Germantown is now
Mrs. H. S. Whitman lived in Marlborough, a city in Middlesex County of northeast Massachusetts. A manufacturing center in the 1930’s, Marlborough is now the
Miss Eleanor B. Smith lived on Elmwood Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. In August of 1928, Eleanor received a postcard from her Aunt Anne. Aunt Anne
Dorothy Myers lived in Chicago, the center of commerce, transportation, and industry for the Midwest. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago In July of 1924, Dorothy received a postcard from
Nathan Turk worked in the Syracuse Savings Bank Building, a landmark in downtown Syracuse, NY. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syracuse_Savings_Bank_Building Syracuse was then (and now) the commercial, education, and
Billie Nydegger was staying in care of Mrs. R. Rubin in Whitehall, Michigan. Whitehall is a city on the White River in west-central Michigan. The
Most of us know eucalyptus as an ingredient in balms, lotions, or potpourri, or as an aromatic addition to flower arrangements or dried plant bouquets.
Miss M. L. Leland lived in Watertown, the city founded by Puritan settlers in 1630. Watertown is now adjacent to the city of Boston. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watertown,_Massachusetts
We have seen several postcard stories related to the towns and resorts on the Long Island Sound of southern Connecticut. Morris Cove is a rounded
The Great Falls on the Passaic River had excited interest in industrial development since the late 18th century, Alexander Hamilton founded an engineering society to
There is a note of desperation in this postcard story, but we have no background to the tale. In January of 1911, Mr. Frank Wayne
Miss Cora E. Hayden lived in West Somerville, now the city of Somerville – northwest of Boston and the home of Tufts University. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerville,_Massachusetts In
Miss Hazel Neiland lived in Verona, a village and a city in Dane county of south-central Wisconsin. Verona is about ten miles southwest of Madison.
In other postcard stories, we have discussed how railroad companies promoted the National Parks and the country’s natural wonders. The featured postcard photograph of Mount
“Comet fever” is a term sometimes used to describe the phenomena of widespread anticipation and apprehension that grew throughout the United Sates in the early
Mrs. F. A. Whitney lived in Cambridge, the beautiful college town across the Charles River from downtown Boston. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge,_Massachusetts In September of 1905, Mrs. Whitney
We may forget that earlier generations were concerned about the degradation of our environment and the loss of wildlife. Under the motto, “Restore, Protect, Conserve”,
Mr. Ralph Boyer lived in Pottstown, the old settlement on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County of southeast Pennsylvania. In the Colonial era, Pottstown had
Sometime before the quarantine began, I picked up a small collection of bird pictures. The illustrations were published by the Audubon Society and sold in
When I was young, I rode my bicycle for miles each day. First, to deliver newspapers, and then to explore the country roads that lay
For the arrival of Spring, a “bird card” from the National Audubon Society. Both the National Audubon Society and regional or state societies published illustrations
Mr. Lewis Spencer lived in Seymour, a town on the Naugatuck River in New Haven County of southwest Connecticut. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour,_Connecticut In July of 1907, Lewis
Ruth V. Hays was traveling through the West and she “fell in love with this country”. After spending four days in Glacier Park, Ruth was
Wilson Potts lived on the very busy 14th Street in Manhattan. (This is still a major thoroughfare across the island.) In November of 1907, Wilson
Mr. Leon Wickersham lived in West Chester, the lovely college town of Chester County in southeast Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Chester,_Pennsylvania In December of 1939, Leon received a
Several nations have land within the Arctic Circle, where the tilt of the earth enables illumination by the sun at midnight for six months of
Anyone who has visited Chattanooga will recall the peaks that overlook the city. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chattanooga,_Tennessee The scene of a stunning victory by Union troops in the
I picked up this postcard because I was unfamiliar with the casual greeting, “Honeyface”. This may have had a private meaning related to an unfortunate
In earlier postcard stories, we looked at examples of the ways US railroad companies promoted the National Parks. Here is another example of how the
John C. Bridgman was traveling through the West; he selected a postcard scene of the Colorado Rockies, wrote a message in Billings, Montana, and mailed
North of the city of Reading, near the Berks County towns of Hamburg and Lenhartsville, is an amazing geological formation. I learned about this place
There were appearances of two comets during the first half of 1910 which fueled a frenzy of interest in the night sky. The “Daylight Comet”
Miss Monira McIntosh lived in Rockland, the beautiful coastal city in southern Maine. In 1910, the railroads were bringing tourists to the area, diversifying the
Miss Louise Carlson lived in Erie, the port city on Lake Erie in northwest Pennsylvania. Louise was living with Mrs. Spiegel, but we aren’t made
This long sliver of wilderness, along the Shenandoah River between ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains, was created as a National Park by Franklin Roosevelt
For this hot Sunday in August, a refreshing view of Mount Eccles in southern Alaska. This peak is the highest in the range of mountains
Earlier postcard stories noted the role of the Fred Harvey restaurants and resorts in publishing postcard photographs of natural wonders. This “linen” postcard, circa 1935,
In 1932, Esther Groff traveled from Pennsylvania to her aunt’s home in Upland, California. On July 12, Esther sent a postcard to her friend, Mrs.
One is accustomed to seeing images of buffalo (or bison) across the Great Plains of the United States; we may forget how widely these large
Blue Bonnets of Texas -circa 1945 I made many business trips to Texas over the past 20 years, visiting Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Angelo
Miss A. B. Thomas lived in an apartment on Park Avenue in Minneapolis. In May of 1939, she received a postcard from her friend, Mamie.
Mr. Bloom Faw lived in Washburn, an agricultural village in north central Illinois. In August of 1930, Bloom received a postcard from Judy. The face
Jane Cushing was on a camping trip to the mountains. While in Torrington, Wyoming, Jane sent a postcard to Mrs. Sherman Scofield in Denver. (Torrington
Shasta Springs was a popular summer resort on the Upper Sacramento River in Northern California. The resort was on the main line of the Southern
South Haven is a port city in southeast Michigan, where the Black River flows into Lake Michigan. A center of transportation of passengers and freight,
Miss L. V. Parker lived in York, Pennsylvania. She had a friend, “B”, who was traveling through the west. In December of 1933, Miss Parker
While we are quarantined at home, the prospect of a railroad journey to a scenic retreat has great appeal. This linen postcard was published by
I.G.F. lived in The Brick House of Brookfield, Connecticut. Brookfield is a town in Fairfield County, in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains that rise
Rising incongruously over the Great Plains, the Black Hills are the remains of prehistoric volcanic activity. Occupied by a succession of indigenous peoples over centuries,
Geneva, Mrs. F.C.Brown, lived in Hays, Kansas. Hays is the largest city in northwest Kansas; it grew up around the railroad. It was a rough
John Henry Sends “Welcome Stream” – December 27, 1912 In 1912, Miss Anna Weidman lived on Spruce Street in Lititz. On December 27, Anna received
Sea Lions have lived in San Francisco Bay for millennia, feeding on the schools of anchovies that thrive there. At the time this postcard was
Several months ago, I posted a beautiful, hand-colored photograph of the Conestoga River that was on a postcard mailed to Bertie Kilbough in Peters Creek,
In January of 1911, Papa was in Portland, Oregon, but he was thinking of his little girl in Ashtabula, Ohio. Ashtabula is a city in
Pennsylvania ranks within the top ten states in the percentage of land devoted to parks or wildlife preservation. Many Pennsylvanians are unaware that game, including
Estimated to be 300 years old, and partially dead, the Holly Tree at Indian Steps has been celebrated for more than a century. Identified as
The large underground cave system near Carlsbad, New Mexico, was discovered by a local teen-aged boy in 1897. President Calvin Coolidge directed the development of
The Tallest Sycamore Tree in Pennsylvania – Berks County circa 1920 Like many nature-lovers, I am moved by the enormity and grace of large trees.
The Swannanoa River – North Carolina (circa 1935) The Swannanoa River arises near Black Mountain, NC and flows westward through a picturesque valley to Asheville,
Laurel Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – circa 1940 The Great Smoky Mountain National Park was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in
The Guadeloupe Range of West Texas and New Mexico – circa 1940 As much of the nation is blanketed by snow and freezing rain, I
At the end of August in 1937, the Pecks were in Brandon, Vermont. They wrote to Joe McAllister in Glendale, Arizona to describe their trip.
Morning in Pennsylvania – 1935 On a bright morning like today, this postcard seemed appropriate. The postcard is interesting both for the pleasant view of
Grandpa Climbs Into the “Room Tree” – circa 1938 There were many natural attractions at Sequoia National Park and vintage postcards captured a few of
In Praise of Forests – circa 1940 Come to the woods, for here is rest.” ― John Muir Pennsylvania (“Penn’s Woods”) was once covered entirely
Travel to Mount Rainier – circa 1924 I love to travel by train and consider it the best way to become familiar with our large
The Prothonotary Warbler – Audubon Society circa 1930 Sometime before the quarantine began, I picked up a small collection of bird pictures. The illustrations were
Tellings stories from the past.