Saltair Pavilion

Uncirculated
5 x 7 postcard

History of the Great Saltair

Picking Flowers

Uncirculated

This painting, "Picking Flowers," is attributed to Samuel Miller and was created around 1845. Interestingly, the postcard I have lists the artist as "Anonymous." The painting is in the collection of the Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York.

Mileage from Brooklyn to Los Angeles 3908

Postmarked 28 March 1939
San Gabriel, California

Postcard Caption:

In contrast to former mighty floods that once churned the Colorado River into a muddy brown torrent though Black Canyon, the waters now flow in needed volume through tunnels within the canyon walls, and are discharged under water into the power house tail-race or through by-pass valves downstream from Boulder Dam.

Message:

3-27-39/ Today we are in Los Angeles, Cal. arrived her Mch 18th Left home Mch 3rd and drove across. Stopped several days on way - one night in Boulder City and was all through the dam. This is a beautiful county and some of former Brooklyn friends are settled here permanently. Mileage from Bklyn to Los Angeles 3908. Expect to go to San Francisco - see the fair and big trees and arrive home early in May. Regards to all/ Will and Sue F.

Not heard of Boulder Dam? You probably know it by it's current (and original) name, Hoover Dam. Since Hoover was so closely associated with the Great Depression, his name was inauspicious during the 1930s, and the name was changed to Boulder Dam. A 1947 Congressional resolution restored the original name, Hoover Dam.

While Hoover Dam enabled settlement of the Southwest, its construction and subsequent change in the path of water through the canyon has created negative environmental effects as it changed the ecosystem of the area.

Daming Dams

We Are Not Worrying about the Lake Going Dry

Postmarked 27 March 1913
Canandaigua, New York

Message:

The sweets arrived yesterday and we thank you very much for them. We are already at work on them. They tasted very good and we shall certainly enjoy them very much. Thanks again. We are all about as usual. Kate / Have you any water out there? We are not worrying about the lake's going dry this week.

The Canadaigua Post Office was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Recent photo of the post office is here. The building is no longer operating as a post office, but was purchased by the YMCA.

One Hundred Years Ago: This Is Certainly a Beautiful Day

Postmarked 26 March 2011
Lynn, Massachusetts

Message:

Hello, Darling just came home from mass this is certainly a beautiful day this is where I was at yesterday. my friends and I are going to Salem Mass and take some pictures. I'll write tomorrow. Yours Frank

Look Him over and Draw Your Own Opinion

Postmarked 12 March 1929
Saint Cloud, Florida

Message:

Dear Willard: / This is just a sample of the pork they raise around here. You can look him over and then draw your own opinion. Well the weather is great and we are enjoying ourselves the best we can. Hope this finds you folks all well. / Uncle

Thanks to Beth at The Best Hearts are Crunchy for hosting Postcard Friendship Fridays. 

Many Indian Women Selling Baskets

Postmarked 6 March 1947
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Postcard Caption:

The YUCCA, a plant peculiar to the deserts of the Southwest, is variously called Spanish Bayonet, Lamparas de Dios (Lamps of the Lord) and "Soapweed". It is found in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and California. The roots are used by the Indians as soap, while the leaves are used for basket making. It has been adopted as the state flower of New Mexico.

Message:

We have just stopped here at Albuquerque. Saw daffodils in blossom growing in the gardens. This country is filled with interesting sights and many Indian women selling baskets, pottery, etc. Well arrive in L.A. tomorrow / Love Alice

Spirited Away

Uncirculated

Greetings from Oklahoma

Uncirculated
Published by Curteich (~1939)

Mrs. J Left for Further South

Postmarked 26 January 1951
Daytona Beach, Florida

Message:

Dear Ruth: Rec'd the papers many thanks The Alstroms and Mrs. J. left for further south this a.m. we have been having a very nice time. Also had co. from from Detroit last eve. So we are sure busy. Love Adelia

Drink Wychgel's Thee

Uncircluated

Google Translate wasn't too helpful with this postcard caption. The program identified the language as Dutch and indicated that 150 soorten means 150 species, but gave gibberish after Vraagt Uwen... Even so, the dogs look happy and even talkative as they are waiting for their people to finish drinking...

A Bit O' Blarney

Postmarked 16 March 1910
-- Village, New York

Message:

Many happy returns of the day. / CHAS / Dana / Marion

Am Warm and Happy

Postmarked 15 March 1917
San Antonio, Texas

Postcard Caption:

The St. Anthony is one of San Antonio's largest Hotels and is equipped with all the comfort and conveniences of modern times.

Message:

Dear May: / Am warm and happy. Will be home in Apr. some time How are you? Bikey scribbled all over this card for Buster - Lance. / Wed.

Today, the St. Anthony Hotel, a National Historic Landmark built in 1909, is operated by the Wynham hotel chain.

Round Barn of Arcadia

My aunt gave me a Round Barn of Arcadia ornament for Christmas, so I thought it would be fun to feature it with a modern round barn postcard on the blog. The barn was built in 1889 and used both to house cattle and host local barn dances and other events. When the interstate overtook the old highway systems, Arcadia, on Route 66, declined. The roof collapsed in 1988. A group of volunteers, led by Luke Robison, decided to preserve the site. Now, the barn houses the Arcadia Historical Society and is available for special functions.

Round Barn Site

U.S. Postal Rate Increase Effective April 17, 2011

Postcard stamps go up one cent!

Donkey Carts and Dirty Streets

Postmarked 13 March 1946
Brownsville, Texas

Message:

Wed - Mar. 13 / We went over this bridge into Mexico today, but was glad to get back here. All we saw was little donkey carts and dirty streets, and not a sign we could read. Its been very warm here this afternoon and early evening. Saw "The Bells of St. Mary's" last night. / Alice

While I find the message ethnocentric, though not surprising, I love the view! It looks so quaint. As you can imagine, the scene is much different today.

Here's the Gateway bridge on google maps. If you click "view larger" you should be able to drag the running man to the "A" pin and look at some contemporary photos of the area. I'm also amazed at the wavy shape of the border between Mexico and Texas.


View Larger Map

Will You Kindly Let Me Know When the Blackberries Are Ripe?

Postmarked 7 August 19--

Message:

Mr. Mastin / Dear Sir / Will you kindly let me know when the blackberries are ripe and also how much they will be a bushel, as I would like a bushel. / Yours Truly, Mrs. James Clark / Ludlowville N.Y.

Bouquet

Uncirculated

I Will Soon Start Home

Postmarked 10 March 1911
San Francisco, California

Message:

Dear Dorothy,/ I will take you some shells when I go home. We are in Frisco this week. I will soon start home now. I will start on Uncle John's birthday. / From Grandma

Italian Gardens

Uncirculated
Distributed by J.B. Hoffman
Printed by Curteich, 1933

Drive Your Car Right In

Uncirculated

When the Hotel Sherman closed in 1973, it was the longest continually operating hotel in Illinois. College Inn, located inside the hotel, was a jazz venue where many folks heard the genre for the first time.

Jazz Age Chicago

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Uncirculated

Postcard Caption:

PHILADELPHIA ART MUSEUM. This finest of American art museums stands on an elevation at at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway entering Fairmount Park. It houses some of the most famous collections of art objects in the world. Open 10:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. daily, including Sundays.

A photograph of the museum that I took in the mid-to-late 1990s:



Philadelphia Museum of Art website

Bright Eyes Stamp Series

I was too late to post on Viridian's Stamp Sunday, but I was inspired by her theme: stamps created by children or that children would like. Immediately, I thought of the "Bright Eyes" stamp series from the late 1990s illustrated by Bill Mayer. Which is your favorite? I can't decide! ☺

Then and There the Child Independence Was Born

Uncirculated
Published by Curtiech (1933)

Postcard Caption:

OLD STATE HOUSE, BOSTON Restored in 1908-09. Dates from 1748, although the outer walls belonged to its predecessor, the second Town and Province House, built 1712-14, which was partially destroyed by fire in 1748. The first town hall, located on this identical spot, and completed in 1659, was destroyed in the great fire of 1711.

Official proclamations were read from the balcony of the Old State House, and in 1770 on March 5, British officers fired into a crowd of taunting colonists, filling five men. Six years later, the Declaration of Independence was first read here.

The Old State House today:



Old State House History Museum

Tuck Postcards Database

Allan Braun, James Lewis Lowe, and Richard Moulton have created an online database for Raphael Tuck & Sons postcards. The lovely site is currently available to the public in a beta form.

Tuck was formed in the late 1800s, and their lobbying efforts helped change the regulations on postcards in the United States. They were active until the 1960s.

Here's a St. Patrick's Day card from Raphael Tuck & Sons:

Marjorie Is Having the Time of Her Life

Postmarked 22 February 1941

Message:

Ft. Lauderdale 2/21/41 / Dear Folks: / After travelling seven days we have taken an apartment here as there is no undertow at the beach and Marjorie is having the time of her life. She has no fear of the water and objects when obliged to leave the beach. Am gradually gaining strength and credit part of my quick recovery to the plant, cake, and chicken you sent and many thanks. Sincerely / Frannie Aley

Nine Pigs

Postmarked 27 December 1901