(In the Research Notes, the place is identified more specifically as Orwigsburg – a borough in Schuylkill County of east- central Pennsylvania.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orwigsburg,_Pennsylvania
Last Sunday, we looked at an invitation to Rally Day events at the Lutheran Church in Utica, Maryland.
For today, I found this lovely example of postcard art that communicates a similar appeal.
Unfortunately, this postcard lacks a legible postmark, so the location of the church cannot be determined.
The painting on the face was so attractive, however, that I decided to share it.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Swoyer lived in the same city in which resided the Church Secretary or Sunday School Superintendent, Mrs. Shoener.
When Mrs. Shoener mailed the Rally Day invitation, she noted the Swoyers’ address as “City”.
The printed message indicates that the Rally Day program would be held at 2:00 PM on November 9 -at the unnamed Church in an unnamed place.
We can see very well, however, a very lovely scene on the face.
In a very soft, dream-like painting, a rural road leads past trees and meadows toward a distant church.
The trees show some signs of the approaching Autumn, but a quiet serenity permeates the countryside.
The postcard was printed by the Westminster Press in Philadelphia – so the Swoyers may have been members of the Reformed Church or of a Presbyterian congregation.
Mr. and Mrs. Swoyer preserved the postcard in excellent condition throughout their lives.
One hopes that the Swoyers were able to attend the celebration, that they were inspired by the Rally Day, and that Mrs. Shoener was pleased by the response to her pretty invitations.
RESEARCH NOTES
I am confident that I have identified all the parties in the Rally Day invitation.
Edward Daniel Swoyer (1883-1946) was born in Schuylkill County, PA.
He was the son of Daniel Swoyer (1854-1886) and Priscilla Dreher (1855-1931).
In 1876, Edward’s parents had married in St, John’s Reformed Church in Orwigsburg, PA
Edward had three sisters and one brother
Unfortunately, Edward’s father died when Edward was 3 years of age.
In 1909, Edward married Elsie E. Kimmel (1888-1988) in Schuylkill County.
Edward and Elsie had four children, 2 girls and 2 boys, between 1909-1920.
The couple’s first child, a daughter, died in 1916, aged 7 years.
In 1922, the Swoyers would have had three children of Sunday School age.
Although Elsie outlived her husband by 44 years and died in Elizabethtown, PA, Edward and Elsie are buried in Salem Evangelical Cemetery in Orwigsburg.
Laura Long (was born in Schuylkill County in 1883, the daughter of James H. Long (1864-1924) and Katherine R. Dull (1864-1956).
Laura married Harry Blaine Shoener (1884-1973) at some time – I cannot find the marriage record.
This is “Mrs. Shoener” of the Rally Day invitation.
Laura and Harry had one son, born and died in 1918.
The son appears to have died at birth – he is not named in death records.
Laura, Harry, and the infant son are buried in Salem Evangelical Cemetery in Orwigsburg.
