I understand the reasons for sending a postcard from a hospital or a school, but who would send a postcard from a cemetery? I would expect the message to read: "
Just buried Uncle Bob. We would have invited you to the funeral, but the weather was hot so we had to get it done quickly."
Nope, people just used them to send regular old greetings, with no reference to the cemetery at all.
Here are two cemeteries in Pennsylvania, one in Lancaster and one in Lewisburg.
I like the separate in and out gates and the strangely-pruned shrubs. Greenwood Cemetery, modeled after Victorian cemeteries, looks like a beautiful place for a leisurely walk. President James Buchanan is buried here.
The one below looks more like a park than a cemetery from this viewpoint. Several famous major-league baseball players are buried her, including Walter Allen "Heavy' Blair, Christopher 'Big Six' Mathewson, and Harry Elwood 'Moose' McCormick.
Here are the backs of the cards in the same order.
Cool postcards about a grave situation.
ReplyDeleteAs as child I was so afraid to even drive by one, but now that I'm a bit wiser you are so right, so many are more like a park....and the best part is a quiet park where if you'd rather not see a baseball game being played...although, I have seen at times families gathered around their loved ones grave having a picnic ....and it was in Mexico, where that happens often.
ReplyDeleteThese are great postcards, I shall have to look out for some as it is interesting to see who was sending them and what they had to say. I think well-maintained cemeteries back then were worthy of postcards and I think the Victorians would walk in cemeteries in their leisure. It makes you wonder when 'wish you were here' became the postcard phrase!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! Post Cards ~ Cemetaries ~ ever fearful to children and now ~ they seem so empty ~ I don't believe anything is there but bones and The Spirit has moved on ~ namaste, Carol
ReplyDeleteVery nice postcards - the eternity and total peace with the best regards for the future.
ReplyDeletei can see they would bring comfort to relatives of those buried there, if intended as a keepsake.Otherwise it seems to feed people’s morbid fascination.
ReplyDeleteVery neat cards! I'm always amused at how messages seldom acknowledge the subject matter on the postcard, regardless of how odd, or outrageous, it may be. "Wish you were here"....funny, Lisa B!
ReplyDeleteI have always liked wandering around very old cemeteries (especially ones in France and Italy). They seem peaceful and many of the head stones are beautifully carved.....
ReplyDeleteForest Lawn Cemetaries have these postcards...the one in the Glendale area used to have a gift shop!!!!!..may still have one,i'm not sure!i think it's nice for loved ones who couldn't come to the funeral ..to see where the person "rests"..weird term i think..of course they are "resting" ..not exactly the place where they would be dancing,sewing,playing tennis,etc!! love your idea for the back of the postcard..just made me laugh!!!
ReplyDeletePlease don't see me as disresectful of the dead..I've just always wondered why people won't use the term..DIED..it's.."eternal rest",passed on,passed over..or my favorite in the healthcare field(i'm a retired RN)..EXPIRED..what, there's a sell by date on my butt?.
These really are lovely postcards..they look like cemeteries where visiting the grave of someone would be comforting.
Cemeteries are real estate too- as a long term investment, people are looking for a place with some 'curb appeal', though I'm not sure how well you do on resale...
ReplyDelete