Mr. John R. Brown lived in Wilmington, the industrial and cultural center of northern Delaware.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington,_Delaware
In August of 1935, John received a postcard from a friend who was traveling to Columbus, Ohio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus,_Ohio
Unfortunately, I cannot decipher the name of the postcard sender – it may be “Schoell”.
The postcard was mailed from Marion, a city in north-central Ohio – about 50 miles north of Columbus.
Marion prospered as an industrial center at the junction of two railroad lines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion,_Ohio
Before beginning his political career, Warren Harding was the editor of the local newspaper.
On the face, the postcard bears a photograph of the memorial to Warren G. Harding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_G._Harding
Harding, elected President in 1920, died while in office – on a tour of the west during August of 1923.
His death shocked the nation as there had been no indication that he suffered any infirmity and Harding was one of the most popular Presidents who ever held the office.
Harding’s widow, Florence King Harding, died only 14 months later – and her death seemed to increase the sense of tragedy.
Contemporary historians do not evaluate highly the Administration of Harding – his tenure was marked scandals in the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and other government agencies.
The most serious corruption was found in the “Teapot Dome Scandal” involving lucrative permissions to exploit Federal lands (an oil preserve devoted to the Navy) that were bestowed illegally to political cronies of administration officials..
The corruption of “Teapot Dome” came to light only after Harding’s death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teapot_Dome_scandal
Although Harding had had more than one secret affair, his popularity would certainly have been affected if the public knew of his long-term dalliance with a mistress that he sometimes met in the White House.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan_Britton
Nevertheless, an enormous campaign for contributions – including those from thousands of school children – collected sufficient funds for the erection of a grand temple in a neoclassical style.
The bodies of Harding and his wife were interred in this marble edifice. And the temple became a tourist destination for some years afterward.
This postcard photograph was published by the Curt Teich Company of Chicago.
On the reverse, a long blurb discusses the memorial.
The sender writes a hurried line: “On my way to Columbus. Wish I had time to go to Cincinnati”.
It appears that Mr. Brown was pleased by the souvenir of the departed President, as the postcard was preserved in very good condition.
One hopes that the traveler succeeded in his business in Columbia and returned safely to his home.
