A Vast Panorama of Canyon and Desert

Postmarked 31 July 1939
Glendale, Arizona

Postcard Caption:

COMMANDING A VAST PANORAMA OF CANYON AND DESERT From the Indian Watchtower--a re-creation of the mysterious structures built by the prehistoric inhabitants of the Southwest--the range of vision extends over the Grand Canyon and Painted Desert to the Navajo and Hopi country, for a distance of nearly 100 miles.

Message:

Dear Friend / We enjoyed this beautiful scenery a couple of days last wk. / Mary B.

National Park Service's Indian Watchtower Page 

We Finally Got Here Although We Hadn't Intended to Come Here When We Started

Postmarked 30 July 1936
Mackinaw City, Michigan

Message:

Hello Kids / Here's a card from the straits. We finly got here altho We hadn't intened to come here when we started. I lost your address for awhile but found it under the back seat in the card. / Gertie

Mackinac State Parks 

University of Chicago, School of Law and Divinity

The University of Chicago's School of Divinity remains in Swift Hall. I didn't have classes in the building, but did sometimes go to the cafe in the basement.



The law school, where Barack Obama served as adjunct faculty, is now on the Midway. It adjoined Burton-Judson Hall, where I lived my first year, and we sometimes took the underground tunnel there to watch movies which were shown weekends in the auditorium as part of a series.

Tucker Tower at Lake Murray

Uncirculated
Published by Mid-Continent News Co.

Postcard Caption:

This State Park comprises 20,000 acres of a region known as Ardmore Basin. The lake has a shore line of one hundred miles. It is a favorite haunt for fishermen, canoers, campers, and hikers. The State of Oklahoma and the Federal Government cooperated to build one of the finest playgrounds in the Southwest.

My family spent a lot of time at Lake Murray during my childhood years, although I could only find one photograph with Tucker Tower, and it is just happenstance that a part of the tower appears in the background. I remember once that we took the houseboat right up to the dock at Tucker Tower. We went from the dock to rock stairs... but nothing else comes to mind.

According to MuseumUSA, Tucker Tower, built by the WPA during the Great Depression, was originally the summer retreat of Oklahoma Governor Murray. Now, it is a nature center.

We Are Really Enjoying the Flowers

Postmarked 24 July 1963
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Message:

We are really enjoying the flowers and falls - Love, Ruth and Kenneth

When George (III) saw this postcard, he was really taken with the stick figures. This is a postcard from my in-laws, George (Jr.) and Chris.

I'm Getting Awfully Wise

Postmarked 19 July 1906
Rochester, New York

Postcard Caption:

CORNELL UNIVERSITY: Bird's-Eye View of the Campus.

Message:

Hello, Mae, How's big? Having a grand time. This is a very good view of the campus but is not all of it. Will tell you lots when I see you. I'm getting awfully wise HaHa! Write! "Charlotte"

I took these pictures on the Cornell University campus last summer. Can you tell which buildings they are?

Thanks to Beth at the Best Hearts are Crunchy for hosting Postcard Friendship Fridays! Visit her blog for more great postcard entries.

Civic Auditorium | Ardmore, Oklahoma

Uncirculated
Published by J.R. Pennington (~1960)

According to the Visit Ardmore website:

Heritage Hall, formerly known as Ardmore Civic Auditorium, is an Art Deco structure located in the heart of downtown Ardmore. This landmark underwent renovation several years ago, and has now become a favorite venue for concerts and downtown gatherings.

Here's a picture of the building today:



I really only have two memories of events at this building. In one, I was with either my friends (likely) or family (less so) attending a pancake breakfast. I was also there my senior year in high school to attend the graduation ceremony for Plainview High School. I went to Ardmore High, but I had friends graduating from PHS.

Love Stamps

I am quite taken with the new LOVE stamps from the United States Postal Service. Did you know the first Love stamp was issued in 1973, the year I was born? Take a look at this Love Stamp Series Slideshow from the USA Philatelic's blog Beyond the Perf to see all the Love designs. Which one is your favorite?

This Is a Real Country

Postmarked 18 July 1954
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Will Rogers Shrine

I Agree to Obey the Rules

I am away from my scanner this week, so I am sharing family memorabilia. Here's my mother's 1962-1963 identification card from the Oklahoma City P.T.A. It looks like a prison mug shot!

Post Office Money Maker

I got the "most mail" award at Triangle Camp (circa 1981). Some things never change!

Greetings from Oklahoma

I am visiting my family in Oklahoma. I doubt I will see anything featured on this postcard as "typical" Oklahoma.

Amsterdam Canal Ride

Postmarked 13 July 1969
Amsterdam

This is my aunt Lynnie during a trip to Europe. They are boarding a boat in Amsterdam for a canal trip. The postcard was sent to my grandparents.

Where the West Begins

Uncirculated

What is interesting about this card is that I don't think anyone would say the West begins or ever began in Oklahoma. I think this same image was used for a postcard with the caption, "The West Begins in Kansas."

Of course, I can't resist Oklahoma postcards since I did in fact begin in Oklahoma!

Not So Sure I Won't Report Him

Written, Not mailed

This was written to my Grandma's aunt, Jewell, from her grandmother. I found it among my Grandma's old photos.

Message:

Jewell - I stayed two hours and twenty minutes in Lawton. Got here a little after three and will get out of here at eight (maybe). This is the worse I have ever had in my several years of riding the Busses. The drivers did not even stop [w]here they say. I am not so sure I won't report him. Mama

University of Chicago Campus

Uncirculated
Published by Max Rigot Selling Co., Chicago

Postcard Caption:

CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. The University of Chicago is located on the South Side, 7 miles from the business center, facing the Midway Plaisance, the campus now covering an area of 95 acres. Hutchinson Hall and Tower is a reproduction of the beautiful Christ Church Hall at Oxford, England. It is used as a men's dining hall, the whole building being one room, 150 by 40 feet, and 50 feet high.

I'm glad we didn't have to dress so formally when I went to school at UC!

Thanks to the Best Hearts are Crunchy for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday!

Happy Independence Day!

Uncirculated
Fourth of July Series No. 5
Published by Corp. E. Nash, 1910

I Lit Upon This Steeple Top

Postmarked 3 July 1909
Chicago, Illinois

Postcard Caption:

Montgomery Ward Building, Chicago, Ill.

Postcard Message:

BACK: Spent a couple of hours in top of this tower today. Am having a fine time. / Lovingly, Elizabeth

FRONT: On the second of July / While touring to the sky, / I lit upon this steeple top/ to write a line/ and let... / ... it..../ ......drop.....

The Montgomery Ward Complex by the National Park Service

Ardmore Train Station

Here's one of the images from the Ardmore Souvenir Booklet:



Published by Ardmore Book and News Co.

The refurbished train station looks much like the original Santa Fe Depot, except that it is used for receptions and events instead of trains.

September 2007

Thanks to Beth at the Best Hearts are Crunchy for hosting Postcard Friendship Fridays!