Greetings from Philadelphia, Pa.

Uncirculated
Published by Curteich 1937

I am heading to Philadelphia today for a workshop!

I am not sure what the sites in the letters represent, except for: H = Betsy Ross House, L(1) = Independence Hall, L(2) = William Tell Statue, D = Fairmount Park, P(2) = Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I(2) = City Hall.  Any ideas for the others?

Chicago in 1839

Postmarked 29 Mary 1906
Chicago, Illinois

Postcard Caption:

Site of Marshall Field & Co.'s Store, Chicago in 1839

Postcard Message:

Papa

This is the only vintage glitter postcard I have. I'm amazed it's in as good condition as it is!

Memorial Day Greetings

Happy? Well, Keep Smiling

Postmarked 31 May 1949
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Message:

5.28.49 Hello kid, every one Happy well keep smiling I am feeling OK. there is lots to write about but is sort of hard to write but will get around after while maby. Have been through about all tests I guess didn't do much today. / Ernie F.

Grant Building History

"When it was built in 1928, the Grant Building was the tallest and most prestigious building in the City of Pittsburgh. It is on Grant Street's premier business location, adjacent to the City-County Building and Allegheny County Courthouse.

Renowned architect Henry Hornbostel, created a building in the classic Beaux Arts style to compete with the great high rises of the early twentieth century. Developers spared no expense, cladding the building in Swedish Granite at its base and topping the building with a flamboyant neon tower that spells out P-I-T-T-S-B-U-R-G-H in Morse Code. Like the Empire State Building, the Grant Building with its mast helped aviators to locate their way. Both buildings became iconic symbols of their cities."

Mount Mitchell: Forested and Forever Misty

Postmarked 27 May 1907
Clyde, North Carolina

The Mount Mitchell State Park website boasts:

In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains lies the summit of Mount Mitchell, at an elevation 6,684 feet it is the highest point east of the Mississippi. For those who ascend this mighty peak, what looms in the horizon is a feast for the eyes—breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling ridges and fertile valleys. Forested and forever misty, 1,946-acre Mount Mitchell State Park will provide you with some of the most tranquil moments you'll ever experience.

Mount Mitchell State Park

Cute Cows

I received this postcard from a Swap-Bot partner. Adorable!

Too Busy for the Beach

Postmarked 25 May 195_
Atlantic City, New Jersey

Message:

Hi, Here is where we are staying. Bad weather today but too busy for beach anyway. Lobster dinner last night. See you real soon, any day but Wednesday. Love, Me

The Ambassador no longer exists; at its previous site stands the Tropicana Casino and Resort. (The Interweb claims that the steel beams of The Ambassador were used in constructing the newer venue.

Handmade Postcards Needed

Do you enjoy making postcards? If so, please put your talents to work to help the Stray Cat Alliance. The May/June Pet Postcard Project Challenge benefits The Stray Cat Alliance - if they receive enough postcards, various companies and organizations will donate meals, flea and tick products, and other needed supplies.

All postcards need to follow the requirements of the Pet Postcard Project: they need to feature your own cat or dog or an animal known to you and must be captioned to represent wishes, advice, or confessions to or from the pet.

Completed cards should be sent to:

The Pet Postcard Project
676A Ninth Ave., #321
New York, NY 10036

They still need postcards to make this campaign successful, so please get to work! You can send multiple cards as long as each design is unique. 

Hadn't Had a Drink in Three Weeks

Postmarked 23(?) May 1909
Kansas City, Kansas

Postcard Caption:

Hadn't had a drink in 3 weeks. / G.

Ardmore Union Depot

Uncirculated
Published by Tuck's Post Card

When I received this card, I couldn't believe it was Ardmore - what a bustle of activity! It took me a moment to realize that I.T. was an abbreviation for Indian Territory, the name of the land before Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Another view of Ardmore's train station is in this post.

Sunday Stamps

I received this envelope in the mail yesterday. I was so excited about the plethora of stamps - both modern and vintage - that I hardly cared what was inside. The one, two, three, four, and five cent stamps are all current, self-adhesive stamps issued by the United States Postal Service.

The Rising of the Spirit of Independence Stamp was issued in 1973, one of a four part series. The Frederic Remington stamp was issued in 1961 to celebrate the centennial of his birth. The 1961 James Naismith stamp commemorates the 1861 birth of creator of basketball. The American Woman stamp was issued in 1960.

National Postcard Week 2012

This was my offering for the 2012 National Postcard Week. It's Textor Ball, on campus at Ithaca College. 

I Suppose You Are Anxiously Awaiting

Postmarked 17 May 1960
Chicago, Illinois

Postcard Caption:

Cathedral of the Holy Name The magnificent Cathedral of the Holy Name is the seat of his Eminence Cardinal Stritch and the center of Roman Catholic worship in the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is a massive structure in the Gothic style and was built in 1874. Located at North State and Superior Sts.

Message:

Dear Therese: / I suppose you are anxiously awaiting the development of your pictures. I do so hope they are all good. I did so enjoy meeting you and hope we will meet again. / The "Sick Chick" Bert

The original church of the Holy Name was destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire in 1870. The structure is again in peril; in February 2008, a piece of the ceiling collapsed and extensive renovation was conducted. Just a year later, a fire broke out on the roof. It destroyed most of the renovations. Efforts to extinguish the fire resulted in serious water damage. The church is currently working to raise funds to restore the roof and preserve the church.

Holy Name Cathedral website

Tulip Time: A Marvelous Display and Riot of Color

Postmarked 16 May 1952
Allegan, Michigan

Postcard Caption:

Two mile out on Lakewood Blvd., the Nelis Tulip Farm is the "Tulip Headquarters for the Nation". Acre after acre of vari-colored tulip blossoms greet the eye, a delight to inhabitants and visitors alike. Situated in fertile territory, Holland is fast becoming a great nursery center for America.

Message:

We came to Holland for "Tulip Time,' a marvelous display and riot of color. The flower show and Klomper dancing were most interesting. On our way home now. Doubtful about visiting you this summer. Love, Eva and Elmer

The Tulip Time Festival is still annually held in May in Holland, Michigan.

Yards and Gardens Grow Like Magic

Postmarked 13 May 1943
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina

Postcard Caption:

Masonic Temple, Enfield, North Carolina

Postcard Message:

Sunny Boy! I received the beautiful Mothers day greeting from you and Milbrey. Thank you my dears! Mon a.m. I also had letter from my very dear boy, too. Has been so dry but several good showers lately which makes yards and gardens grow like magic. do you have some pretty flowers in your yard? Mrs. -- --- me gorgeous bouquets Sat and Tues and I'm trying to paint a picture of the copper luster iris. best love and all good wishes to my dear children - Mamomie - May 13, 1943 

Ground broke for Enfield's Masonic Temple in 1924, and the building was dedicated the following year. From its opening to World War II, the building served as a theater. During the war, it was closed, and in the 1950s, reopened as Ray Theatre. From the 1960s to 1980s, the building was used in part for storage while its upstairs continued to house masonic meetings and other business. In 2009, the building was purchased and is now operated by Glass Bead Productions. They plan to renovate the lodge so it can be used for productions, presentations, and other events.

The Lodge at Roanoke Valley website

You Will See Me Soon

Happy Mother's Day!

Postmarked 20 August 1912
Norridgewock, Maine

Postcard Caption:

HOMEWARD BOUND I'm coming home; I'm on the way. express trains seem to slow / this card will travel faster still to you, and tell you so.

Postcard Message:

Dear Mother we are all well I am staying over to Everett you will see me soon. / Addi

Are You Going to Havana?

Took Blue Ridge Parkway

Postmarked 8 May 195-
Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Postcard Caption:

Azalea in Bloom in the Heart of the Mountains

Postcard Message:

Thurs. 8:30 P.M. / Drove 186 miles from Gatlinburg to Blowing Rock own (400 pop, maybe 4000 in summer) N.C. Took Blue Ridge Parkway from Oren Vet Hosp near Asheville to here. Altitude up to 5400 along way This own is at 4350 ft. / Dogwood, Blazing Azalea, blue flag. Trillion apple tress and some - in beautiful bloom / Weather better to-day / May get into Va. tomorrow. Love, K--- / We saw no red azaleas but the beautiful yellow.

Greetings from Canton, Illinois

Postmarked 7 May 1945
Camp Ellis, Illinois

Postcard Caption:

Greetings from Canton, Illinois

Postcard Message:

Helloa Yolanda: / I'm feeling fine and hope your [sic] the same. I'm sorry I did not drop you a card sooner, cause I didn't know your address until now. I want to thank you for everything you did for me and I hope your son is feeling fine. / Your Friend / Pat

Camp Ellis was a training facility that operated between 1942 and 1944, and, according to the InterWeb, it also housed German prisoners-of-war.

Camp Ellis Brochure 

Jumping Pit Bull

The Queen City of Southern Minnesota

Postmarked 4 May 1948
Rochester, Minnesota

Postcard Caption:

FRONT: Clinic and Hotel Kahler, Rochester, Minn - 43

BACK: Rochester, "The Queen City of Southern Minnesota," has ample hotel facilities for the accommodation of the ever increasing numbers of patients visiting the Mayo Clinic. Over 1600 hospital beds are available for the care of patients.

Postcard Message:

5-5-48 / Dear Mrs. Johnson / Just a word of greeting from Rochester. I am going thru the clinic here / Sincerely / Mrs. Orling.

The largest hospital complex in the world, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota which sees 350,000 patients each year, still draws guests to the Kahler Grand Hotel. 

Fire Boat in Action

Modern fireboats are still used by the New York Fire Department today. The current boats can pump 50,000 gallons per minute. In addition to fighting fires, the boats can be used to supply water after a tragedy like 9/11.

Old Laguna Pueblo

Postmarked 2 May 1949
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Postcard Caption:

No. 17- OLD LAGUNA INDIAN PUEBLO, NEW MEXICO / A very picturesque old Indian pueblo on the Old Santa Fe Trail highway, 65 mi. west of Albuquerque, N.M. and 100 mi. east of Gallup. They are a branch from the Acoma tribe, who live on their Mesa near The Enchanted Mesa.

Postcard Message:

Sun 1, 1949 / Albuquerque, N.M. / Dear friends. here for the summer. It is a beautiful country. I will go back to Florida this winter rented my homes in Florida. I though have been in the hospital they send for my son I had a blood pressure of 250 so my son thought I had better spend my summer with him and my winters at Florida. I worry about the estate it is not settled yet. Bye Bye. / Love Charlotte

In college, my then-boyfriend and I took a road trip from Oklahoma, through New Mexico and Colorado, and then back home. One of our first stops was Pecos National Historical Park in New Mexico. Here's one of my pictures from that trip:

The landscape of the Southwest is where I feel most at home. I love the desert. To me, it isn't sparse or depressing. It's where I most want to be.

May Day

May Day, May 1st, is a traditional spring holiday. It also is International Workers' Day, which you can read more about here.