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 sends a postcard to her friend, Elsie.
Elsie R. Storey lived in Honey Brook, PA, a borough in Chester County that lies on the eastern border of Lancaster County.
Edith selected a postcard bearing a photograph of Science Hall at the Pennsylvania State Normal School in Millersville, now Millersville University.
{The term, “normal school” has an interesting history – “Normal Schools” derive their name from the French phrase, “ecole normale”.
These teacher-training institutions, the first of which was established in France by the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1685, were intended to set a pattern, establish a “norm” after which all other schools would be modeled.”
(Wiki)}
The hand-colored photograph was published by the National Postcard Company of Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
(I have several scenes of Reading, PA by the same company.)
On the reverse, Edith writes, “Well, Elsie, I got to Lancaster at last. Ha! Ha!”
The postcard was not mailed; I presume Edith gave it to her friend.
I believe I have found Edith’s friend.
Elsie R. Storey Long was born in Honey Brook in 1902.
She had several jobs, including that of a weaver at the New Holland Silk Mill.
She married Harrison Long, who died in 1976.
She was a member of Long Memorial United Methodist Church in Neffsville (Lancaster County) and made items for the gift shop at Landis Homes Retirement Community.
Elsie died in 1995 at the age of 93.
