In June of 1913, Claude Mapes was hospitalized in Elmira, New York.
The Arnot-Ogden Hospital (now the Arnot-Ogden Medical Center, and a part of Arnot Health system) opened in Elmira in 1888.
(The hospital passed through scandal in the 1990’s related to the improper hiring of a physician, but is now one of the Top 25 Hospitals in New York State.)
Jennie lived in Lowman, NY, a hamlet about 7 miles southeast of Elmira, and very close to the border of Pennsylvania.
Jennie sent a postcard greeting to Claude while he was hospitalized.
The postcard, printed in the United States, offers “Congratulations” and bears a drawing of large, colorful pansies.
Jennie greets Claude as, “Dear Friend”; perhaps he was a neighbor.
Jennie congratulates Claude on his improved condition, then adds, “I guess you heard about the new sister we have over here”.
The baby, with hair like Agnes, is named Ruth Lenora.
Jennie closes her note by expressing a hope that Claude will “be home soon”.
One hopes that Claude recovered fully, that he returned home and was able to thank Jennie for her postcard, and that he enjoyed meeting the new baby, Ruth.
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