Before highway embankments were covered with “crown vetch” or other fast-growing cover foliage, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania planted a variety of ornamental trees and flowering
Charles Hook was in Columbia, the charming city overlooking the Susquehanna River in south-central Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_Pennsylvania (I am not confident that the surname is “Hook”
The town of Hershey was developed between 1903 and 1905 in Dauphin County of central Pennsylvania. This “company town” was built amid rich pastureland that
What a wonderfully descriptive name for the long flights of stairs at Highland Park in York, PA! The city of York is the county seat
Mr. Charles Irvin Brown lived in Rohrerstown, a pleasant community on the Marietta Pike – about 4 miles west of Lancaster, in south-east Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Hempfield_Township,_Pennsylvania
The city of York in south-central Pennsylvania once boasted a remarkable educational enterprise. The following is an excerpt from the Wiki entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_College_of_Pennsylvania “…the York
This lovely rural scene is identified as York County, Pennsylvania. York County, in south-central Pennsylvania remains a significant agricultural center. I identified this postcard as
Miss Mary Graybill lived in Hanover, a charming borough and center of shoe-manufacturing in south-central Pennsylvania. (Today, the shoe industry is gone but Hanover is
Florence Eisenbise lived in Reading, a manufacturing, commercial, and transportation center of southeastern Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Pennsylvania Florence lived at 1225 Chestnut Street in Reading. The tidy,
Peters Mountain is a peak (1190 feet) of the Appalachian Mountains on the east side of the Susquehanna River in northern Dauphin County, PA. The
Ursinus College was established by the German Reformed Church in 1869, This institution, like many other establishments of the 19th century, represented a theological difference
One can infer much about the wealth of a city by looking at the architectural records of public buildings. In the early twentieth century, the
Pennsylvania ranks within the top ten states in the percentage of land devoted to parks or wildlife preservation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_Game_Lands Many Pennsylvanians are unaware that game,
Miss Julia Criddle lived in Warren, the city on the Mahoning River in northeast Ohio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren,_Ohio The former seat of the Western Reserve, Warren was
Miss Selma Johnson lived in Ridgway, a borough of Elk County in northwest Pennsylvania. In the early twentieth century, Ridgway was an important center of
Annie and Alfred were traveling; they left home at 2:30 AM and arrived in Monongahela City at 12:45. Monongahela City is the second-smallest city in
Some months ago, we looked at a postcard photograph of the Buck Hill Inn- a lovely resort that once attracted thousands of visitors to the
The city of Reading, and Berks County, began planning an airfield in 1934. The airport was completed in 1938 and dedicated in 1939. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_Regional_Airport During
Daniel Boone was born in 1733, one year after the birth of George Washington. (Often confused with Davy Crockett- who lived a more than generation
Sometime around 1920, Harry and Sally were on a trip to western Pennsylvania. In June, they mailed a postcard to Miss Ella Blankenbiller in West
There was a time when the booming city of Reading boasted several great department stores. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Pennsylvania In 1877, Calvin K. Whitner opened a dry goods
In addition to climbing the Reading Pagoda, a visit to the Reading Museum was part of my elementary school education. Even as a child, I
The Free & Accepted Masons are an international fraternal and benevolent society. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry In 1910, the Pennsylvania chapters undertook to secure the welfare of members
Until finding this postcard, I would not have been able to identify the oldest house in Berks County. Erected in 1716, the house was the
The Stevens House was a landmark tavern, hotel, and dining establishment on the first paved roads running through the city of Lancaster, PA. When the
Miss Mary Oren lived in Newport, a town that grew up near a ferry on the Juniata River and became “Newport” when the Pennsylvania Canal
The threat of fires hung heavily on cities throughout the early twentieth century. Investment in fire-fighting equipment and in a force of fire-fighters was a
I love finding postcards with written messages, especially if there is an interesting story therein. (Most postcard collectors prize un-mailed cards in pristine condition, while
On January 4, 1912, Ed sent a postcard from Elizabethtown to Miss Annie Moyer at 633 West Chestnut Street in Lancaster. The postcard bears an
In February of 1929, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fahnestock were wintering in Sebring, Florida. Friends of the Fahnestocks, Elam and Naomi, remained in Ephrata. During
In northwest Lancaster County, a thirsty visitor could (through the mid-twentieth century) take a draft from a cold-water spring. Near the historic Donegal Presbyterian Church
I admit that, in architecture, I am an anti-modernist reactionary. Yes, I acknowledge that “form follows function”, that these ornate buildings cannot accommodate equipment for
There are many celebrated resorts of the early 20th century (and 19th century) that have followed a similar trajectory. A lavish resort is built in
This is not the grand Public Library building, funded by Andrew Carnegie, that was completed in 1913. The website of the Reading Public Library contains
In 1775, John Andrew Shulze was born in the parsonage of the Lutheran Church near Stouchsburg, a Pennsylvania-German community of Berks County (now, Lebanon County)
Tunkhannock is a borough of Wyoming County in northern Pennsylvania, about 88 miles northwest of Allentown and 141 miles northwest of New York City. Once
The area of Mineral Springs, in Reading, has a fascinating history. A textile mill was established there in the very early 19th century, but it
This postcard languished in a box of 25-cent cards until I found it at a postcard exhibition. It is interesting in two ways: the photograph
The extent of the Lancaster stockyards was apparent to anyone who traveled to Lancaster by train from Philadelphia through the 1970’s. As the train slowed
We met Bernice Blue in an earlier postcard story, in which an admirer sent a postcard illustration entitled, “Maiden Meditation”. Bernice lived in White Pigeon,
Manheim is a town in Lancaster County, PA – about eight miles north of Lancaster City. I have driven through the charming town of Manheim
The Susquehanna River forms the western border of Lancaster County, PA. The river-front community of Pequea grew up where the Pequea Creek empties into the
In August of 1924, Alice K. (presumably, Alice Knox) was visiting York, PA. Alice was traveling with Mr. and Mrs. Lidiger (?) and family. The
It is not hard to find early postcard photographs of the boulevard that winds up the side of Mount Penn in Reading, Pennsylvania. This is
In August of 1910, Ruth was in Woodbine where she was very busy- making hay, visiting the Wild West Show, finding elderberries, getting red feather
Several months ago, I shared a postcard with an hand-colored photo of the Brother House at the Ephrata Cloister. In the postcard story, voiced my
I love the Ephrata Cloister – the preserved buildings, the museum, the grounds, and the sacred history of the place. “The Cloister” was established in
In 1772, a dam was first built on the west branch of the Codorus Creek near York, PA Dams were one of the first “infrastructure”
Very early in the history of motion pictures, film stars captured the interest and enthusiastic embrace of the public. “Celebrity culture” around movies assumed a
The city of Reading established a school for boys in 1852. In 1857, girls were admitted to the school. This is almost fifty years before
In 1898, Samuel Grumbacher (and son, Max) opened a one-room millinery store on Market Street in York. The store eventually filled a handsome building on
On-line, one can find other photographs of this imposing building along with other York County structures that exist no longer. Beginning in the Middle Ages,
In 1825, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted a measure to require an Almshouse in every county. The Berks County Almshouse, which grew to become a
The City of Pittsburgh grew up at the confluence of two great rivers, the Allegheny and the Monongahela. Together, these rivers form the Ohio River
On September 11, 1907, a postcard was mailed from York, PA to Lloyd Weinhold of Denver, PA. This postcard, printed in Germany, bears a hand-colored
n 1930, this area was still a prosperous center of mining (anthracite coal). Miss Evans received a postcard from Eva who was in Chambersburg, a
I admire the civic pride and local spirit that is demonstrated in vintage postcards. Almost every town had postcard photographs of new high schools, post
When I was a child, one could still be impressed by the various ships anchored or in repair at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The enormous
In the Fall of 1908, Mr. And Mrs. David Huber paid a visit to David’s cousin in Philadelphia. Upon their return to Lancaster, Mrs. Huber
Despite the unappealing name, the Mosquito Valley is a beautiful, mixed-forest, landscape on the north side of the Appalachian ridges in north central Pennsylvania.Located in
Because there is a “York Furnace” community in York County, I mistakenly assumed that this postcard photograph represented that place. I learned, from York County
Wanamaker’s, the gigantic department store filling an entire city block near City Hall, dominated the commercial landscape of Philadelphia for several generations. I did not
The building of the Colonial Hotel excited great public interest during its construction in the 1890’s. It dominated Centre Square, later Continental Square, and was
Looking at North Broad Street today, it is hard to imagine the grand buildings and private mansions that were erected there in the late nineteenth
One forgets how important iron ore was to the growth and development of eastern Pennsylvania. Although the much larger and deeper deposits of iron ore
York was a center of the air-cooling and air conditioning industry in the early decades of the 20th century. Founded in 1874 as an ice-making
Ground was broken for the Berkshire Hotel in December of 1913. A spell of extreme cold weather delayed construction for two months, but the hotel
The largest swimming pool in Pennsylvania, at 1.5 million gallons of water, opened to the public in 1912. This hand-colored photograph was printed circa 1920.
Vanished Businesses -circa 1910 Reflecting on the temporary closure of business and industry during the pandemic, I happened upon a postcard depicting an important industry
The Terrible Battle of September 11 – Chadd’s Ford, PA At the time of the American Revolution, Philadelphia was the largest and most prosperous city
The Conestoga from Rocky Springs – 1909 Mr. Guy Dunlap was living in Wilkinsburg, Pa when he received a postcard from his friend, M. I.
The Conowingo Dam – circa 1950 The Conowingo Dam is the third of the three great hydro-electric dams on the lower Susquehanna. Constructed between 1925
The New Grandstand at the York Fairgrounds – York, PA (Postmark 1934) Some time ago, I posted memorabilia related to the York Fair, one of
Keller’s Mountain near Lititz I was unaware of a Lancaster County topographical feature by this name until seeing a postcard photograph, circa 1906. The photograph
In October of 1914, Mrs. Matilda Shoff of Red Lion (Route I) received a postcard from her son, Christ. Christ and his family had moved
The Sesquicentennial Arches of York – 1899 In 1899, the city of York celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding. Large memorial arches were erected
Market Square, Manheim, circa 1920 This hand-colored postcard photograph was made about 1920. The postcard, not mailed, was printed by N.A. Trimmer of Lititz and
This hand-colored photograph shows East King Street in Lancaster, PA. Taken from the location of the Courthouse, the view extends westward toward Penn Square. The
Market Street in Elizabethtown – 1907 On January 8, 1907, Ed sent a postcard to Miss Annie L. Landis at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Lancaster.
Summering in Mount Gretna – 1910 I have posted several postcard stories related to the beautiful town of Mount Gretna. This postcard photograph of the
In the mid-19th century, the Mountain Springs Resort was a popular destination for well-to-do visitors seeking a country retreat with salubrious natural springs. Presidents Buchanan,
Night Scene in Harrisburg – circa 1950 Many years ago, I visited Harrisburg regularly; I took graduate courses at the old Armory when Temple University
In March of 1907, John Smeltzer was staying at the Hotel Calvert in Snow Hill, Maryland. (Snow Hill, a community of about 1800 persons in
Nettie Visits Lancaster – 1924 I found this postcard, sent by “Nettie” from Lancaster, delivered to Elva Beck in Lewisburg. The month and date are
Birthplace of Joseph Heister – Fifth Governor of Pennsylvania I confess that, despite my mandatory High School course in Pennsylvania history, I did not recall
Edith Gets to Lancaster – Circa 1920 I am not sure what joke underlies Edith’s trip to Lancaster, but she alludes to one when she
Cousin Emma Vacations in “Splendid” Mount Gretna -July, 1923 I spent many happy days of summer in beautiful Mt. Gretna, and have a deep love
Shoot the Chutes at Pendora Park in Reading – 1912 I regret that I never had the opportunity to “Shoot the Chutes”. The toboggan ride
Highland House on Neversink Mountain – 1907 The city of Reading, PA once had a railroad that wound up Neversink Mountain to the hotels, dance
Chambersburg, a borough and county seat of Franklin County, lies midway between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in southern Pennsylvania. A frontier settlement of Scotch-Irish immigrants, the
Tellings stories from the past.