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. 

I Pray for You and Think of You Every Day

Postmarked 3 December 1910
Detroit, Minnesota

Postcard Caption:

Shoreham, In the Channel at Pleasant Point House

Postcard Message:

Dear Ethel. Nora said you were very sick I am very sorry I thought you were will by this time I would very much like to see you but I cant get away now. But I pray for you and think of you every day. Keep up courage Ethel God will be mercyfull on all his children who believe in him I have some pictures I will send you soon. love from / Mabel W.

Silver Lake | Rochester, Minnesota

Postmarked 25 July 1947
Rochester, MN

There is a Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and the recipient was undoubtedly a patient there. I wonder what treatments he was taking - and if he ever got to go hang out by the lake. A picture of the current Rochester skyline is here.

Rochester Parks and Recreation

Private Mailing Cards

This is not one of the prettiest cards in my collection--and it's even damaged--but it is one of only two Private Mailing Cards I have. In the United States, beginning in 1876, the Postal Service printed cards that could be sent through the mail at a rate of one cent. Any cards not printed by the USPS were charged the two cent letter rate.

As the idea of postcards became more popular and as mass printing became economically feasible, Congress authorized Private Mailing cards in 1898. The 1906 World Almanac and Encyclopedia outlines the regulations affecting these cards:

Because the Postal Service was fearful of losing business, they weren't too keen on making it easy for private companies to take away one of their revenue sources. However, in December 1901, the government relaxed the restrictions, allowing the use of the word "postcard" on pieces not provided by the USPS.

Until 1907, only the address could be printed on the back side of the card, whether they be private mailing cards or postcards. Any message had to appear on the front, around or over the image.