Mr. and Mrs. Greenawalt lived in Lancaster, the historic city of southeast Pennsylvania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancaster,_Pennsylvania
Their home at 343 West James Street is no longer standing, a parking lot now occupies this space on the pretty block of brick homes.
In February of 1915, the Greenawalts received a postcard from Katie (possibly, Katie and Harry).
It is unclear to me if the message on the postcard is signed by “Katie S. H….” or by “Katie and Harry”.
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The face of the postcard is a photograph of “Madison St., Toledo, O.”
The City of Toledo, on the Maumee River at the western end of Lake Erie in northwest Ohio,, was one of the fastest-growing cities of the early 20th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Ohio
Once a center of “Mound Builder” indigenous culture, Toledo was violently contested by the State of Ohio and the Michigan Territory in the 1830’s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo_War
(Michigan was given the Upper Peninsula as consolation for relinquishing claim to the spit of land that created this western Ohio port on Lake Erie.)
In the photograph, a horse-drawn vehicle proceeds up the street, while an electric trolley is boarding passengers on the cross street.
A large building in the foreground has an iron fire-escape affixed to the exterior, and Madison Street boasts beautiful, ornamental street lamps.
One large sign identifies a hotel.
The sidewalks are full of people, suggesting a prosperous downtown area.
A contemporary website identifies Madison Street as the center of the historic “Old West End” and shows that many of these buildings survive.
https://www.oldwestendtoledo.com/index.php/toledo/downtown-toledo/madison-street
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On the reverse, Katie begins her message without a greeting.
She reports, “We arrived safe at home, awful tired but feeling fine.”
The confusing signature then follows, along with the address of 1054 Norwood Avenue in Toledo.
Katie’s home is a charming single-family bungalow on a tree-lined street.
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1054-Norwood-Ave_Toledo_OH_43607_M44792-04735
The house was erected in 1889 and is currently occupied.
The Greenawalts seem to have appreciated the photograph and the confirmation of the safe return as the postcard was preserved in very good condition.





