Andrew Jackson became a national hero for his victory over a British army and the heroic defense of the city of New Orleans in the War of 1812.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_New_Orleans
His later success as a leader of brutal campaigns against native tribes made him a regional hero to settlers who were pouring into the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears
He was not universally beloved as the first “frontier” President – Jackson did not reflect the genteel traditions of the American South or the Yankee rectitude of New England.
In the twentieth century, the reputation of Jackson is muddied – the populist initiatives and his wartime brutality still debated and discussed in historical and political literature.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Jackson
The citizens of New Orleans erected an enormous bronze statue to the city’s hero in 1846.
The statue still stands in Jackson Square, opposite the Cathedral to St. Louis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Square_(New_Orleans)
Papa was visiting New Orleans in May of 1927.
Papa sent a postcard to Mr. John Fellenbaum of Mount Joy.
(I am not sure if this is John H. Fellenbaum – ornate cursive initials are often problematic.)
I assume that the addressee is the son of the sender.
On the face of the postcard is a photograph of the dramatic statue of Jackson.
The blurb on the reverse notes the sculptor, Clark Mills, and the dedicatory address made by Henry Clay.
One can read clearly the inscription on the marble base – “The Union Must and Shall Be Preserved”.
The inscription was not original to the statue but was chiseled during the occupation of the city by Union troops under General Butler during the Civil War.
(General Butler was repeatedly troubled by disturbances instigated by local leaders who were staunchly sympathetic to the Confederate cause.)
The postcard photograph was published by the E. O. Kropp Company of Milwaukee.
On the reverse, Papa reports, “This is an old city and you can see many buildings still standing as stood at the Battle of New Orleans.
One hopes that Papa continued to enjoy the sights of the splendid city, that John was pleased to receive the postcard, and that Papa returned home safely from his travels.
NOTE:
Carolyn Sands, genealogist and author of a Fellenbaum genealogy, shared the following:
John Habecker Fellenbaum, 1915-1973.
He was a manager for a large local business, Armstrong Cork Company.
He married Edith Noros and they had several children, including three daughters who survived him.
John was the son of Reuben Theodore Fellenbaum: “Papa” in this postcard story.
Reuben Fellenbaum:) 1876-1957.
Reuben was a bank teller in Mt Joy all his life.
John was the first child of his second wife, Barbara Habecker.
Reuben’s first wife, Annie Habecker, died in 1916.
