Uncle Hiram Sends a Christmas Cat – Circa 1910
August 10, 2022
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I believe that Jacob K. Bechtel was a boy when his Uncle Hiram gave to him a Christmas postcard. The illustration of a cat surrounded
Postcard Categories
A Christmas Wish from California – Kent City, Michigan (1921)
August 10, 2022
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Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Barrett lived in Kent City, a village in southeast Michigan, about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids. In December of
Sailing on the Jersey Shore – Atlantic City (1912)
August 10, 2022
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Before motor-powered boats crowded the sea lanes near New Jersey, there were sailboats in the marinas that still line the bays and inlets of the
Mary Shaw Leader -Intrepid Reporter of 1863
August 8, 2022
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I had never heard the interesting tale of Mary Shaw Leader. At 23, Miss Leader was a news reporter for the Hanover Spectator, which was
The Monument to McKinley – Reading, PA (1906)
August 8, 2022
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The 1901 assassination of William McKinley at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY shocked the nation. This was a time of optimism in American
Louise Goes to Binghamton – Binghamton, N.Y. (1910)
August 8, 2022
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Miss Annie Evans lived in Scranton, the booming industrial city in northeast Pennsylvania. (We looked recently at another postcard related to Scranton – the “Electric
The Leafy Suburb – Roselle Park, New Jersey (1908)
August 8, 2022
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Although I have lived most of my adult life in cities, I love the tree-lined streets of mature suburbs. Roselle Park is a borough in
Love from Harry, Hal & Emma – circa 1915
July 27, 2022
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Sometime around 1915, a small family shared their photograph by postcard. The picture was taken on the porch of a home, but (probably) was developed
Elva Sends Her Picture to a Friend – Clinton, Iowa (1908)
July 27, 2022
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Elva (age 13) and her sister, Cecile, (age 6) lived in Clinton, Iowa. Clinton is a city on the Mississippi River in east central Iowa.
Four Friends in Winter – circa 1915
July 27, 2022
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In this postcard photograph, the men are seated, the woman stand behind – a traditional pose in photographs of the early twentieth century. These two
Father Drinks from Shasta Spring – Shasta Springs, California (1906)
July 15, 2022
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Shasta Springs was a popular summer resort on the Upper Sacramento River in Northern California. The resort was on the main line of the Southern
“Launching” on the Black River – South Haven, Michigan (1910)
July 15, 2022
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South Haven is a port city in southeast Michigan, where the Black River flows into Lake Michigan. A center of transportation of passengers and freight,
Miss Parker Sees the “Wild & Wooly” West – Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1933)
July 15, 2022
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Miss L. V. Parker lived in York, Pennsylvania. She had a friend, “B”, who was traveling through the west. In December of 1933, Miss Parker
Let’s Hang Together – Vancouver, British Columbia (1923)
July 15, 2022
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The face of this comic postcard features an illustration of six diapered infants pinned to a clothesline with clothespins. Three of the children do not
Myrtle and Franklin “Clean Forgot” – Atlantic City, N.J. (1939)
July 15, 2022
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Miss Laura Miller lived on a rural delivery route outside Lancaster, PA. In early September of 1939, she received a comic postcard from Myrtle and
A Pastoral Scene for Mr. Nyce – Vernfield, PA (1907)
July 14, 2022
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Several months ago, I posted a comic postcard (the “Big Squeeze”) that had been printed by the NYCE Manufacturing Company of Vernfield, PA. (The Nyce
“Hitting the Pipe” – Ludington, Michigan (1907)
July 14, 2022
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We met young Edmund Harnish in an earlier postcard story – he had received a postcard greeting of original art featuring boys playing marbles. That
Nora is Coming Home – Reinholds Station (February, 1910)
July 14, 2022
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George Garner lived in Reinholds, an unincorporated community at the northernmost point of Lancaster County. Railroad lines once connected many rural towns in the area.
Birds in Flight -German American Novelty Company 1906
July 14, 2022
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In an earlier post, I mentioned the German American Novelty Company which commissioned original art for the international market in postcards. This postcard drawing of
The Solar Salt Beds – Syracuse, New York (1908)
July 14, 2022
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One learns interesting facts from the collecting of vintage postcards – in this case, that central New York State was the nation’s leading producer of
Martha works at the Y – Baltimore, Maryland (1925)
July 14, 2022
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In January of 1925, Martha Randall was on her Christmas Break from school. Unexpectedly, Martha had received a postcard from another young woman she had
Fannie Sends Birdland to Her Aunt – Des Moines, Iowa (1907)
July 14, 2022
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Mrs. H. Stryker lived in Chicago, Illinois. In June of 1907, she received a postcard greeting from her niece, Fannie. Jammie mailed the postcard from
Let Us Be Sweethearts – Madison Run, Virginia (1909)
June 28, 2022
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Mr. Morris was in Washington D.C. when he sent a flirty postcard greeting to Miss Lelia Hicks. Miss Lelia lived in the small community (“populated
Reginald is Planning a Picnic – Woodbine, Illinois (1907)
June 28, 2022
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Lizzie Baumgardner lived in Fulda, a small city on Lake Fulda in southwest Minnesota. The town is known as the “Home of the Wood Duck”.
“Your Dainty Snow-White Frock” – Philadelphia, PA (1913)
June 28, 2022
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In August of 1913, Miss Lenora Grambach was celebrating her birthday. She received a postcard greeting from W. Weitzel who sent “best wishes” and a
Miss Stout Receives a Typed Greeting – Newtown, Missouri (1909)
June 28, 2022
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Miss Opal Stout lived in Newtown, a small town in north central Missouri. (In 1910, Newtown had 261 residents; in 2019, the population had fallen
“No Kind of Weather To Be Shut In” – Rome, New York (1912)
June 28, 2022
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Daniel Craig lived in Rome, a city in central New York State. The city is located on a portage path made by the Iroquois people
Don’t Worry About the Future – Manheim, PA (1909)
June 28, 2022
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Bertha Root lived in Manheim, the charming town laid out by Henry William Stiegel in 1762. “Baron Stiegel” founded the Manheim Glassworks which produced the
Roy Sends His Picture to His Sister – Mansfield, Ohio (1910)
June 28, 2022
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Although Roy identifies his address in Dayton, he was in the bustling city of Mansfield, Ohio when he mailed a postcard photograph to his sister.
The English Girl – circa 1910
June 28, 2022
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Grimsby is an English town in Lincolnshire, on the North Sea. Built on the estuary of the Humber River, the site was once occupied by
The English Boy – Putney (London) circa 1910
June 28, 2022
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Leslie was two years and four months old when his mother held him for a studio portrait. The photograph was made at the Ideal Studio
Mrs. Cora McGuigan of York – circa 1910
June 28, 2022
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This beautiful picture of mother and child was created at the photography studio of Simon & Murnane in York. The Studio was located at 227
French Women Going to Church – France (circa 1905)
June 28, 2022
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I admired the wonderful coloration of this postcard when I first saw it. The many shades of blue and purple are exquisitely applied. Despite the
Katherine Sends Her Church to Emma – Kenton, Ohio (1908)
June 28, 2022
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Katherine S. lived in Kenton, a city in west-central Ohio. The site was first settled as Fort McArthur, one of a series of fortifications erected
The Horse & Buggy- Whitesburg, PA (1908)
June 28, 2022
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Mr. Henry Coffman lived in Freeport, a borough of Armstrong County in the mountainous region northeast of Pittsburgh. Freeport lies on the Allegheny River and
The Pecos High Bridge
June 28, 2022
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The Pecos River flows from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico to the Rio Grande River near Del Rio, Texas. Near Del Rio,
A Bright Greeting to Miss Mary White – Mohnton, PA (1911)
June 20, 2022
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Miss Mary White may have celebrated a birthday in February of 1911; she received a beautiful postcard greeting from a friend. Miss White lived in
Mother is in the Hospital – Baltimore, MD (1913)
June 20, 2022
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Mrs. Matilda Hill was a patient of the Maryland University Hospital in Baltimore. We do not know the cause of her hospitalization, but she continued
“Children to bed and asleep…”. Brooklyn, NY (1908)
June 20, 2022
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Mrs. Richardson was in Brewer, Maine – a small city on the Penobscot River on the Maine coast. Brewer is the sister city of Bangor,
Mountain Railroad of Klapperthal Glen
June 20, 2022
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At the end of the 19th century, a number of hotels, resorts, and taverns were erected on Neversink Mountain, one of the peaks overlooking the
Railroad Advertisement and National Parks
June 20, 2022
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In his documentary about our great National Parks (2009), Ken Burns noted that the railroads were great boosters of the efforts to create and maintain
The Western Maryland Railroad at York – 1909
June 20, 2022
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The story of the Western Maryland Railroad illustrates how local railroad companies created an incredible network of rail connections across the United States. (I consider
“Prosperity and Peace” to Philadelphia
June 20, 2022
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Emma (Mrs. F. S. Davis) lived in Winthrop, a city at the entrance to Boston Harbor, just east of the city of Boston. In November
Mother Davis Sends Joy – Winthrop, Massachusetts (1914)
June 20, 2022
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Emma (Mrs. F. S. Davis) lived in Winthrop, a city at the entrance to Boston Harbor, just east of the city of Boston. In November
The Almshouse of York – 1912
June 17, 2022
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On-line, one can find other photographs of this imposing building along with other York County structures that exist no longer. Beginning in the Middle Ages,
The Berks County Almshouse – 1918
June 17, 2022
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In 1825, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted a measure to require an Almshouse in every county. The Berks County Almshouse, which grew to become a
Looking Up the Allegheny River – Pittsburgh (1923
June 17, 2022
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The City of Pittsburgh grew up at the confluence of two great rivers, the Allegheny and the Monongahela. Together, these rivers form the Ohio River
Will Grandma Come for Dinner? 1910
June 13, 2022
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On July 25, 1910, Mabel sent a postcard to her mother, Mrs. Henry Grider, of Columbia, PA. (The borough of Columbia, located on the Susquehanna
Good Luck and Best Wishes – Kleinfeltersville, PA (1910)
June 13, 2022
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Miss Sophie Moore lived in Kleinfeltersville, an unincorporated community, east of Schaefferstown, in Lebanon County. (Kleinfeltersville is the second-longest unhyphenated post office address in the
“Lost in the Mule Tracks” – Gordonville, PA (1907)
June 13, 2022
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Mr. Earl Hershey lived in Gordonville, an unincorporated community in the eastern part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Gordonville lies in a rich agricultural area that
Track & Field Day – Brooklyn, NY (1906)
June 13, 2022
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Miss Lillian Rothberg lived in Brooklyn, New York – the most-populated borough of New York City. In August of 1906, Lillian received a postcard from
“Nothing Chicago Can Do for Me” – St. Louis, Missouri (1921)
June 13, 2022
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Mrs. Carrie Smith lived in St. Louis. Her sister, Vio, was visiting Cousin Leslie in Chicago. In September of 1921, Carrie received a postcard from
Victoria & Elmer Play Pebble Beach – Salinas, California (1937)
June 13, 2022
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In September of 1937, Mrs. Alice Sherrard was living in Spokane, Washington – the lovely city between the Selkirk Mountains and the foothills of the
“Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness” (1908)
June 13, 2022
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This postcard illustration of Commandment IX was copyright by the Rose Company in 1908. Printed in the United States, the postcard was not mailed. Like
Thou Shalt Not Kill -West Hanover, PA (1907)
June 13, 2022
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At a recent meeting of the local Postcard Club, I found this illustration of the Commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Kill”. I have seen other examples
“The Little Church Around the Corner” – Manhattan (1910)
June 13, 2022
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The Church of the Transfiguration was founded as an Anglo-Catholic parish of the Episcopal Church in 1849. Built in a Early English Neo-Gothic Style, the
Hearty Christmas Wishes to Julia, Poughkeepsie, NY (1913)
June 9, 2022
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Miss Julia Knorr lived in Poughkeepsie, the Hudson River city and town halfway between New York City and Albany, New York. Poughkeepsie is an old
The Dye’s Send Kind Thoughts at Christmas – Los Angeles, California (1921)
June 9, 2022
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Robert and Josie O’Hara lived in Los Angeles. In December of 1921, the O’Hara family received a Christmas postcard from “the Dyes”. The postcard was
Peace & Goodwill in Your Heart Today – Plainfield, Illinois (1908)
June 9, 2022
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Mrs. Sarah Eldridge lived in Plainfield, a village on the DuPage River in northeastern Illinois. In the 19th century, the village supplied lumber and other
Martha Is Summering in the Alps – Chamonix, France (1906)
June 6, 2022
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During the recent days of record-breaking heat, one might become envious of the early twentieth-century travelers who sought the summer comfort of alpine regions. In
Ada and the View of Toronto – Mt Nebo, PA (Lancaster County), 1913
June 6, 2022
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Miss Ada Brubaker lived in Mount Nebo, a populated place in southwest Lancaster County. It is not far from the Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna
Huron College – Huron, South Dakota (circa 1900)
June 3, 2022
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Before South Dakota became a state, a group of Presbyterian leaders founded a college in Pierre. In 1883, this was the first college to grant
“You Have Waited Too Long” – Hazlehurst, Mississippi (1908)
June 3, 2022
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Bessie lived in Hazlehurst, a small city south of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. (Hazlehurst was developed as a stop on the Jackson-New Orleans Railroad,
“Grandma Is Not So Good Just Now”. – Emmaus, PA (1911)
June 3, 2022
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Ruth Yocum lived in Temple, which was once a borough in Berks County, PA, but was disincorporated in the 1990’s. The small community is now
The Saltair Pavilion on the Great Salt Lake – circa 1920
June 3, 2022
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There have been successive entertainment palaces constructed on the edge of Utah’s Great Salt Lake. The first and the most splendid was erected in 1893;
“Some More Milk, Please”- Rutherford, New Jersey (1909)
May 25, 2022
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Miss Cornelia DeVries lived in Passaic, a densely-populated city north of Newark, New Jersey. (The first European settlers in Passaic were Dutch traders who founded
“Resting” – Sharon, PA (1911)
May 25, 2022
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Mrs. Nellie Mattox lived in Sharon, a city on the Ohio border, in northwest Pennsylvania. Although coal-mining was the first industry in the area, Sharon
An Inspiring Rally Day – Hoernerstown, PA (1935)
May 25, 2022
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I picked up this postcard at an exhibition because I admired the evocative drawing on the face and because I was unfamiliar with the place
The Congregational Home Mission Society (1901)
May 25, 2022
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The Congregational Home Mission Society was the successor of an inter-denominational Protestant church-building organization initiated in 1826 as the American Home Missionary Society. (The Congregational
Daisy Sends a Church to Emma- Marysville, Ohio (1907)
May 25, 2022
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We met Emma Hankel in an earlier postcard story; Emma collected postcard photographs of churches sent by her many fellow-collectors. Emma lived in Galion, a
Along the Codorus -1907
May 25, 2022
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On September 11, 1907, a postcard was mailed from York, PA to Lloyd Weinhold of Denver, PA. This postcard, printed in Germany, bears a hand-colored
Springtime on the Conocoheague River – Chambersburg, PA (1930)
May 25, 2022
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n 1930, this area was still a prosperous center of mining (anthracite coal). Miss Evans received a postcard from Eva who was in Chambersburg, a
The “Picturesque” Disposal Plant – 1921
May 25, 2022
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I admire the civic pride and local spirit that is demonstrated in vintage postcards. Almost every town had postcard photographs of new high schools, post
“A Happy Easter to Margaret” – 1913
May 25, 2022
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On March 23, 1913, Margaret was given an Easter postcard by Aunt Lizzie. The postcard, made in Germany, features a girl (with feathered bonnet slung
“The Mumps Are Gone” – Newark, Delaware (1909)
May 25, 2022
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Miss Edith McCarns lived in Newark, Delaware – a small city and college town less than a mile from the juncture of Delaware, Maryland, and
“Happy New Year” from Hattie – 1910
May 25, 2022
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On January 1, 1910, Mrs. Charley Klinger received a New Year postcard from Philadelphia. Sent by her friend, Hattie, the postcard reached Mrs. Klinger with
Everlasting Christmas Joy – Kansas City, Missouri (1921)
May 20, 2022
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Mrs. W. L. Starkey lived in Kansas City, Missouri. In December of 1921, Mrs. Starkey received a Christmas postcard from Libbie Dockstader in Harris, Kansas.
Merry Christmas from Lena – 1913
May 20, 2022
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In December of 1913, Miss Alice Guenther lived in Menomonie, a city in western Wisconsin. Alice received a Christmas postcard from Lena Hager, who appears
A Christmas Bluebird from Rose -1921
May 20, 2022
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Mr. Frank Stafford lived in Goshen, a village in southern New York State -about fifty miles northwest of New York city in Orange County. (During
Escape to Sun Valley, Idaho – circa 1940
May 20, 2022
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While we are quarantined at home, the prospect of a railroad journey to a scenic retreat has great appeal. This linen postcard was published by
“Beauties of Spring on the Ancestral Acres” – Brookfield, Connecticut (1912)
May 20, 2022
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I.G.F. lived in The Brick House of Brookfield, Connecticut. Brookfield is a town in Fairfield County, in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains that rise
The New State of Oklahoma – circa 1910
May 20, 2022
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Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in November of 1907. Sometime thereafter, this postcard was printed in celebration of that milestone. Unfortunately, the card lacks
Zillah Reaches California – Los Angeles (1913)
May 20, 2022
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Mrs. Abbie Eshelman lived in Strasburg, the charming town southeast of Lancaster, PA. In July of 1913, Abbie received a postcard from Zillah L. who
Apres le Theatre at the Knickerbocker – New York City (1918)
May 20, 2022
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The Knickerbocker Hotel was built by John Jacob Astor IV at the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway between 1901 and 1906.This area is now
Aunt Stella Writes to Her Nephew – 1911
May 16, 2022
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We met George Glick last year when he was invited by postcard to attend the “Rally Day” at Sunday School. This postcard was mailed a
A Flower from Aberdeen – Gorsuch Mills, MD (1911)
May 16, 2022
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Mrs. John Jefferson lived in Gorsuch Mills, a village in northern Baltimore County, Maryland. The community is due south of Stewartstown (York County), PA. (Gorsuch
The Philadelphia Navy Yard -circa 1920
May 16, 2022
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When I was a child, one could still be impressed by the various ships anchored or in repair at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The enormous
The Hubers Visit Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA (1908)
May 16, 2022
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In the Fall of 1908, Mr. And Mrs. David Huber paid a visit to David’s cousin in Philadelphia. Upon their return to Lancaster, Mrs. Huber
A Drive Through the Mosquito Valley – Williamsport, PA (1908)
May 16, 2022
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Despite the unappealing name, the Mosquito Valley is a beautiful, mixed-forest, landscape on the north side of the Appalachian ridges in north central Pennsylvania.Located in
A Jolly Good Time – Bismarck, North Dakota (1908)
May 16, 2022
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Annie Robidou was a lively young woman. I have a dozen postcards that were sent to her by friends, relatives, and admirers – all the
The Waitress Has An Admirer – New York City (circa 1909)
May 16, 2022
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Miss Addie Hamilton was working at Smith & McNells – the hotel restaurant that pioneered 24-hour, high-volume, dining since the mid-19th century. Smith & McNells
Marriage is a Hard Way – 1906
May 16, 2022
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One can find many postcards from the early 20th century that reflect on marriage and marriage roles.Some of them, intended to be humorous, may be
The Valentines of Emily Wolf
May 16, 2022
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Around 1915 (based on the design of the postcard), Emily Wolf lived at 649 Vine Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Several friends presented valentines to her
Erin Go Bragh – Cornwall, PA (1909)
May 16, 2022
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Mr. Paul Hale lived in Cornwall, now a borough in southeast Lebanon County, adjacent to Lancaster County. In 1909, Cornwall was comprised of several villages,
“A Joyful Easter” to Miss Carrie – Brunnerville, PA (circa 1910)
May 16, 2022
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Miss Carrie Pfoutz lived in Brunnerville, PA, a populated place a few miles northeast of the town of Lititz, in Lancaster County. In the Spring
Miss Schade Receives an Easter Postcard – Toledo, Ohio (1918)
May 16, 2022
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Miss F.L. Schade lived in Toledo, the port city at the western tip of Lake Erie in northwest Ohio.In 1918, Toledo was already an important
“Blessed Be the Lord” – Holtwood, PA (1924)
May 9, 2022
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Mrs. Aldus Martin lived in Holtwood, PA, an unincorporated community along the Susquehanna River in southern Lancaster County. It is now the site of a
Hazel Misses Sunday School – Doylestown, PA (1932)
May 9, 2022
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In March of 1932, Miss Hazel Black lived on Harvey Avenue in Doylestown, PA. (Doylestown is a borough and the county seat of Bucks County.
“Where All the Swells Go” – Scranton, PA (circa 1910)
May 9, 2022
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It is an unfortunate fact that the congregations of many Churches in the early 20th century reflected specific socio-economic or racial subsets of the population.
The Black Hills – South Dakota (1910)
May 9, 2022
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Rising incongruously over the Great Plains, the Black Hills are the remains of prehistoric volcanic activity. Occupied by a succession of indigenous peoples over centuries,
Grand Lake and “Mount Baldy” – Colorado (1938)
May 9, 2022
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Geneva, Mrs. F.C.Brown, lived in Hays, Kansas. Hays is the largest city in northwest Kansas; it grew up around the railroad. It was a rough
Milly wants “All the News” from Wisconsin – Bismarck, North Dakota (1939)
May 9, 2022
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In September of 1939, Milly was living temporarily in Bismarck, North Dakota. She sent a postcard to her friend, Nora, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Milly
A Home for Kit Carson – circa 1936
May 9, 2022
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This linen postcard features one of the homes of Kit Carson, an iconic figure of the Western Frontier in the first half of the 19th
Sam Sends Viola a Picture of New York – 1931
May 9, 2022
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Miss Viola Jones lived at 37 East Philadelphia Street in York, PA.On May 21, 1931, Viola received a postcard from Sam who was in New
The TVA – 1938
May 9, 2022
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In the summer of 1938, Marie attended the NEA convention in New York City and took a long road trip to return to her home,
Spring Comes to the Western Slope – Grand Junction, Colorado (circa 1910)
May 9, 2022
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Grand Junction, 247 miles southwest of Denver, is the largest city in western Colorado.The ancient home of the Ute people, this area was not settled
Traveling the “Dixie Highway” – Melrose, Florida (circa 1922)
May 9, 2022
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Dr. Harry W. Ryman lived in Summit, New Jersey, a prosperous city on a ridge within the Raritan Valley and Rahway Valley of northern New
The Last Day of Camp Meeting – Pitman Grove, New Jersey (1907)
May 2, 2022
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The Last Day of Camp Meeting – Pitman Grove, New Jersey (1907)Although many of the historic “camp meetings” still assemble each summer, the events do
The Methodist Church – Arkansas City, Kansas (1915)
May 2, 2022
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On a Sunday in March of 1915, Mrs. Neill was visiting Arkansas City, Kansas.Arkansas City, in south central Kansas, is built on the site of
The Pastor Celebrates Four Years – Springfield, Ohio (1905)
May 2, 2022
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In October of 1905, the Rev. Marion Baker celebrated the beginning of his fifth year of service at HighStreet Christian Church.The church was located in
The Best for Thanksgiving in York?- Poth’s Beer 1909
May 2, 2022
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In November of 1909, Mr. Daniel Forry was living at 125 South Green Street in York.Daniel received an advertising postcard recommending the wares of two
The Knights of the Maccabees – Detroit, Michigan (circa 1910)
May 2, 2022
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One feature of American life that has changed significantly in the last century is the decline of social,fraternal, and mutual-aid societies.Earlier postcard stories noted the
Don McNeil and the Breakfast Club -circa 1948
May 2, 2022
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Don McNeil was born in Illinois, but grew up in Wisconsin (he was a first cousin to Casper Weinberger, with whom I would not have
Mr. and Mrs. Baker Took the Train – Norwood, Massachusetts (1906)
April 26, 2022
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In recent years of this century, I have ridden on Amtrak through the station at Norwood.Thus, I was excited to find this view of the
The Trolley Center – Westfield, Massachusetts (1910)
April 26, 2022
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Some weeks ago, we looked at the Train Station in Norwood, Massachusetts- from which friendsdeparted after a visit to that town.Westfield is a community, adjacent
Ogden, Utah – circa 1920
April 26, 2022
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A few weeks ago, we read about the “Overland Express” – the famed train from San Francisco to Chicago.One feature of that historic route was
The Snowy Village – Cuervo, Texas (1907)
April 25, 2022
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Spring is soon to arrive, yet snow covers the ground in many parts of the east coast today.This postcard illustration seemed appropriate for the appearance
The Bird and the Apples- Sunbury, PA (circa 1910)
April 25, 2022
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Foster Herman lived in Sunbury, PA, a city on the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania.Foster had a sister, May, who gave him a beautifully-illustrated postcard.The
Queen of the Carnival – Hagerstown, Maryland (circa 1908)
April 25, 2022
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Today is Mardi Gras: “Fat Tuesday”, or Carnival – literally, “farewell to meat”.For centuries in Christendom, this was a day of feasting and celebration as
Corning, New York (1909)
April 25, 2022
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Soon after Christmas in 1909, Miss Ermina Schroeder received a postcard from her friend, Hallie.The postcard photograph of Corning, New York was published by S.H.
Twenty-Third Street – New York City (1907)
April 25, 2022
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Today, Manhattan’s primary shopping district lies in midtown; in 1900, however, shopping destinationswere further downtown, near 23rd street.The area bounded by lower Fifth Avenue, Sixth
“Save a Setting of Eggs” – Union Deposit, PA (1908)
April 25, 2022
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We met members of the Bashore family in earlier postcard stories.Mrs. S.S. Bashore lived in Union Deposit, a community in southeast Dauphin County of centralPennsylvania.The
The Nightly Parade of Rolling Chairs
April 25, 2022
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The Nightly Parade of “Rolling Chairs” – Atlantic City (1912)Thousands of vacationers descended on Atlantic City each summer day in the early years of thetwentieth
“Feed the Brute” – Detroit, Michigan (1908)
April 11, 2022
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This English comic postcard published by G.D. & D. of London, provides humorous advice to a young woman – who may have been married very
A Valentine for Miss Humphreville – 1910
April 11, 2022
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Miss Witwer’s School – Lancaster, PA Miss Humphreville, who lived on West Vine Street, taught singing at Miss Witwer’s School. (We met Miss Margie Humphreville
Clara Sends Love to Stevens, PA – 1910
April 11, 2022
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Clara Smith was in Buffalo, NY where she was “having a good time this winter” with “snow two feet deep”. Clara’s friend, Frances Stover, lived
“Come Back to Erin” – Hummelstown, PA (circa 1910)
April 11, 2022
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Young Ralph Ludrick lived in Hummelstown, a borough (founded by two German brothers named Hummel in 1742) along the Swatara Creek in Dauphin County. This
“Montmartre is Old Paris” – Philadelphia, PA (1928)
April 5, 2022
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In August of 1928, Mrs. Zigenhorn was living in Philadelphia. She received a postcard from “A.K. McC.”, who was in France. The postcard, printed and
Aunt Mattie Is In Naples – Wyncote, PA (1905)
April 5, 2022
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Miss Natalie Tyson lived in Wyncote, a census-designated place bordering the northern boundary of the City of Philadelphia, at the southern tip of Montgomery County.
Munich Before the War
April 5, 2022
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The Trip to Munich – Germany (1932) Sometime last year, we shared an early 20th century photograph of the “Frauenkirche” – the iconic church in
The Inns of Court at Holborn
April 5, 2022
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From York to Reading, A Scene of Old London (1907) I thought it fitting that this old London scene was mailed between the Pennsylvania cities
Cousin Enos is in San Francisco – Strasburg, PA (1906)
April 5, 2022
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In January of 1906, Miss Ella Rohrer was living on a rural delivery route near Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Ella received a postcard from Cousin Enos who
Morris Sends A Postcard to His Mother – Kiamesha Lake, NY (1908)
April 5, 2022
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Mrs. C. Lawrence was in Chautauqua, the town and lake resort in southwestern New York. Because thousands of visitors vacationed in Chautauqua for the cultural,
The Whaling Museum – New Bedford, Massachusetts (1927)
April 5, 2022
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“Old Dartmouth” is the region on the south coast of Massachusetts that prospered, through the mid-nineteenth century, from whaling. New Bedford was the largest town
Something is Happening in Catlettsburg – Catlettsburg, Kentucky (1919)
April 5, 2022
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Catlettsburg is a small city on the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky, where Ohio and West Virginia meet the border of Kentucky. The area was
The City at Night – Macon, Georgia (1908)
April 5, 2022
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Mrs. R.S. Giles lived in New London, a village in north central Ohio. (The name reflects the Connecticut roots of the early settlers, and the
Take the Roadster to Portsmouth
April 5, 2022
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Traveling in the Roadster – Portsmouth, New Hampshire (1911) We met Ermina Schroeder a few weeks ago; she was living in Hamilton Heights (Manhattan) and
Plan Ahead! – Newport News, Virginia (1907)
April 5, 2022
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Mr. Richard Cook had moved or traveled from Richmond, Virginia in July of 1907. A comic postcard that was mailed to him at a Richmond
An Affected Actress – Chicago (1906)
April 5, 2022
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Almost everyone, at some time, meets people for whom affectation and “drama” is a constant companion. Self-conscious actors and actresses may be especially prone to
“The Male is Late” – Perry, Kansas (1907)
April 5, 2022
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Effie Hart lived in Great Falls, a city on the Missouri River in west central Montana. The city now profits from hydro-electric dams that are
Escape Prohibition! – Niagara Falls, Ontario (1930)
April 5, 2022
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Jerome and Florence (with a third person whose name I cannot read – perhaps a child) were visiting Niagara Falls. From the Canadian side of
“All the Year, You’re in My Heart” – Columbia, PA (1921)
March 15, 2022
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Mrs. Philip Bard lived on a rural delivery route near Columbia, the lovely town above the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. In February of 1921
Washington Birthday from Portland -Oregon (1910)
March 15, 2022
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What is the Matter with Edith? Edith Yoder lived at 507 West Walnut Street in Lancaster, PA. (The tidy, two-story brick home, built in 1900,
“A Token of Regard” – Paradise, PA (1906)
March 15, 2022
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Miss Caroline Powell lived in Paradise, an unincorporated community in the “Pennsylvania Dutch” country of eastern Lancaster County, PA. On February 14, 1906, Miss Powell
Mending a Broken Heart – Lancaster, PA (1907)
March 15, 2022
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Miss Esther Martin lived at 360 East Chestnut Street in Lancaster. (At this address is a large, handsome building, built in 1895, that now contains
The Birthday of Elizabeth Gallatin – Annville, PA (1907)
March 15, 2022
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In October of 1907, Elizabeth Gallatin of Annville, PA was celebrating a birthday. Elizabeth received a postcard greeting from Esther F., also of Annville. Annville
The Postcard from Wescosville – Anna Dreibelbis in 1910
March 15, 2022
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John Jacob Dreibelbis immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1732. His descendants, sometimes with variant spellings of the last name, can be found in many
Faithfully Yours in Paradise, Pa – 1908
March 15, 2022
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In October of 1908, Edith Hess of New Holland received a postcard from her cousin in Paradise, Pa. The face of the postcard is illustrated
Mrs. Stanley Receives a Big Bird from Her Sister – Pomeroy, PA (1907)
March 15, 2022
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Mrs. Emmer Stanley lived in Pomeroy, a small community of Chester County in southeast Pennsylvania. In the golden age of railroads, Pomeroy was the terminus
Basket of Flowers for Mrs. Schaum – Lancaster, PA (1909)
March 15, 2022
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Mrs. Schaum lived at 108 South Prince Street, which would have been close to the historic St. Mary’s Church. The house in which Mrs. Schaum
“Little” Harrison Writes to Uncle Joe – circa 1910
March 15, 2022
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Uncle Joe was celebrating a birthday and his nephew, Harrison, sent to him a beautiful postcard. The embossed postcard features large sunflowers atop a rural
Home of President Grant – circa 1925
March 15, 2022
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I have long been a fan of General Grant, resenting the defamation he endured at the hands of “Lost Cause” sympathizers and Confederate apologizers. Now,
Kit Carson – circa 1936
March 15, 2022
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Any collector of vintage postcards is likely to find numerous examples of lovely linen postcards printed by Fred Harvey Restaurants. What Howard Johnson’s restaurants were
The Rebels Burn Chambersburg – 1864
March 15, 2022
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I don’t know how many Pennsylvanians are familiar with the destruction caused by Confederate General, Jubal Early, in the month leading up to the Battle
The Longfellow House in Cambridge, Massachusetts (circa 1935)
March 15, 2022
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The works of Longfellow (1807-1882) are far less familiar and beloved than they were a hundred years ago. Well-educated (he was the first American to
The President’s Home – Oyster Bay, Long Island (1906)
March 15, 2022
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A few weeks ago, we read about the visitor to Bismarck, North Dakota who sent a postcard photograph of the rustic log cabin built by
Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Old Manse – circa 1920
March 15, 2022
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I have many postcards from the early 20th century that celebrate literary heroes. Longfellow, Whittier, Emerson, Louisa Mae Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe – each were
The “Firemens Monument” in York – 1909
March 15, 2022
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Miss Anna Gibble lived in Manheim, Pa (Lancaster County), and conducted postcard correspondence with a friend who lived in York. The friend in York, S.K.S.,
The Trolley Park at York Furnace, Lancaster County
February 22, 2022
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Because there is a “York Furnace” community in York County, I mistakenly assumed that this postcard photograph represented that place. I learned, from York County
The Wanamaker Store of Philadelphia-circa 1910
February 22, 2022
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Wanamaker’s, the gigantic department store filling an entire city block near City Hall, dominated the commercial landscape of Philadelphia for several generations. I did not
The Colonial Hotel in York – 1906
February 22, 2022
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The building of the Colonial Hotel excited great public interest during its construction in the 1890’s. It dominated Centre Square, later Continental Square, and was
The Majestic Hotel on North Broad Street – Philadelphia, circa 1920
February 22, 2022
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Looking at North Broad Street today, it is hard to imagine the grand buildings and private mansions that were erected there in the late nineteenth
“A Kiss Is a Peculiar Proposition…” Norman, Oklahoma (1907)
February 22, 2022
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Miss Etta Pelsey was living in Saint Marys, a small city in north east Kansas. The town grew up around the mission where the US
“Guessing” – Philadelphia, PA (1907)
February 22, 2022
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D. Hillson was a prolific postcard illustrator of the early 20th century; hundreds of his drawings are still available for purchase from purveyors of vintage
The Two Young Women – circa 1920
February 22, 2022
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This postcard photograph lacks any indication of time or place; the identities of the women are also unrecorded. They are dressed similarly, and have some
Naomi Dick – York, PA (circa 1915)
February 22, 2022
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In the early years of the twentieth century, the photography studio of Simon & Murnane was located at 227 West Market Street in York, “At
Ed Hille – Wisconsin or Indiana, circa 1910
February 22, 2022
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This well-preserved postcard photograph lacks a studio identification, suggesting that it was processed in a small, local shop. It is a very good photograph, so
Anna Hess Shaub (circa 1915)
February 22, 2022
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Rifling through a box of postcards at a recent exhibition, I was charmed by the bright, inquisitive face of this peering child. On the reverse,
Aunt Mabel Sends a Weighty Postcard – Shiremanstown, PA (circa 1910)
February 22, 2022
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Miss Clara Eby lived in Shiremanstown, a borough in Cumberland County, across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg, PA. On-line, one can find a fascinating history
“Claire Louise” Was Born on Saturday – August 12, 1922
February 22, 2022
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Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Files (amended, “Filer”) were thrilled by the birth of their 8-pound daughter. The happy parents prepared birth announcements to share
Bouquets for Miss Sackett – Ilion, NY (1908)
February 22, 2022
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Miss Winafred (Winifred?) Sackett lived in Ilion, a village in central New York State. The area, settled by German immigrants around 1725, prospered with the
“Today, You Are 4 Years Old” – January 5, 1922
February 22, 2022
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A postcard greeting from exactly one hundred years ago. Young Henry Rohoem lived in Quarryville, Pennsylvania, a borough southeast of Lancaster. On January 5, 1922,
Aunt Anna’s Birthday – Neoga, Illinois (1914)
February 22, 2022
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Mrs. Anna Abernathy lived in Neoga, Illinois – a small city in central Illinois. Neoga developed as a center of the railroad in the state.
Anna Witmer Gives a Postcard to her Schoolmate – circa 1920
February 22, 2022
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Sometime around 1920, Anna Witmer attended school near Manheim. She gave a postcard, a hand-colored drawing of flowers, to her “schoolmate”, Anna Ober. The postcard
Claude Learns About the New Baby – Elmira, NY (1913)
February 22, 2022
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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
Monument to General Reynolds
February 14, 2022
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The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War, and the largest military engagement that has ever occurred in Pennsylvania. One
The Grave of Johnny Appleseed – Fort Wayne, Indiana (circa 1935)
February 14, 2022
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The American colonies, with an expanding frontier, offered a congenial home to many “characters”, some of whose eccentricities are captured in historical accounts and embroidered
A Monument to the Leg of Benedict Arnold – Saratoga, NY (circa 1935)
February 14, 2022
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Benedict Arnold, whose name is now synonymous with “traitor”, was once a hero in the fight for American Independence. His daring exploits for the Colonial
The Birthplace of James Buchanan – circa 1940
February 14, 2022
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Pennsylvanians have had (until the inauguration of President Biden) only one native son who became a US President. Unfortunately, the administration of Buchanan is one
Conrad Weiser – Reading, Pennsylvania (circa 1910)
February 14, 2022
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Today, the Episcopal Church commemorates Conrad Weiser, colonial peace-maker, city planner, administrator of justice, and Lutheran churchman. Although Conrad Weiser was not part of the