Miss Carrie Baum lived on a rural delivery route outside Hanover, the prosperous town in York County of south-central Pennsylvania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover,_Pennsylvania
Sometime around 1910, Carrie received a postcard from Dollie Sterner.
The postcard was not mailed, suggesting that Dollie lived close by or saw Carrie regularly – and that she hand-delivered the greeting.
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The face of the postcard shows a nurse or housemaid opening the long curtains that separate a bed chamber beyond.
The young woman wears a shirtwaist and long skirt covered by an apron.
On her head, we see a white cap – I do not know if this is recognizable as a nursing emblem at the time.
Beyond the opened drapes, we glimpse the furnishings of a bedroom.
There are no signs of child-birth, but the caption suggests that the scene is a “gender reveal”
“It’s a Girl” appears in lightly-gilded letters.
The postcard is from a series labeled “American Comics” – so the inscription may have been a faux-serious comment about the entrance of the young woman.
Comments made about this postcard on another history site confirm that the postcard was indeed a birth announcement, and that Dollie and Carrie lived only a few houses from one another.
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On the reverse, a brief message is inscribed:
“From your friend, Dollie S. Sterner”.
Carrie preserved the postcard in decent condition throughout her life.
If Dollie is announcing a new baby, one hopes that the girl grew up with love and security in the 20th century.
RESEARCH NOTE
On 27 September, 1899, Carrie Myrtle Baum was born in York County, PA.
She was the youngest child of Israel Leppo Baum (1865-1940) and Rebecca Mary Ann Geeting (1862-1948).
Israel and Rebecca were married in Adams County in November of 1884.
Carrie had three older sisters and one older brother – all of whom lived to adulthood.
In April of 1920, Carrie married Paul Theodore Shorb (1896-1974).
The couple had three sons, all of whom lived into the 21st century.
Carrie was a resident of West Manheim Township (York County) throughout her life.
This area, in southern York County (almost extending to the Mason-Dixon Line), was served by the Hanover Post Office.
After the death of her husband, Carrie lived as a widow for 13 years.
In December of 1987, Carrie died in Hanover at the age of 88.
She and Paul are buried in the Rest Haven Cemetery.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70620671/carrie-m-shorb
Dollie Sterner
(This information was supplied by a descendent of both the Baum and Sterner families.)
Dollie was the daughter of Urias Nathaniel Sterner and Savilla Zumbrum Sterner.
In 1917, Dollie married Norman John Roser.
Dollie died in January of 1980 (she was at least 80years old).
