Hello! Central! Give Me 999

This amusing postcard is from around 1905.  You can tell it's earlier than 1907, because it has an undivided back, which only allows for the address on the backside. If people wanted to write messages on postcards at that time, they had to write on the picture side or not write one at all. So, you might receive a mysterious postcard with no message and be left wondering who sent it and what they intended. In 1907, U.S.  postcards were made with a divided back with space for both the address and a message. That's when the fun really started.

At the time of this postcard, there were just over three million telephones in the United States, all connected by manual telephone exchanges. (Note: Today there are over 100 million cell phone subscribers in the U.S.) Manual exchange meant that every call you made went through an operator; there were no numbers to dial yourself. If the number you were calling was in the same exchange, the operator would simply connect the lines on the switchboard. If it was in another exchange, she would have to connect with the operator at that exchange and ask her to connect the call. Long distance calls were pricey though, so you didn't want to make very many of them or stay on the line too long.  I don't know the significance of the 999 number; it's the emergency number in a lot of countries, but not in the U.S.

Streetcar Sundays - Tokyo, Japan

This postcard from the 1940s shows Ginza Street, Tokyo's main thoroughfare and shopping street.  The building with the curved facade (the Wako Store) is still there and is considered an important symbol of Ginza. It was built by Hattori Kinzo, the founder of a clock company later known as Seiko. In general, though, the street looks very different today. It's full of glitzy high-rise buildings and stores such as Tiffany, Gucci, Prada, Bulgari, Chanel, and Burberry.

Horse-drawn streetcars first started service in Tokyo in 1882. By 1906, tram service had been greatly expanded and was operating on electricity, with an average daily ridership of over 350,000. By 1927, Tokyo was also operating subway service, however streetcars or trams remained the primary mode of transportation in Tokyo until the 1960s, with annual ridership peaking at over 500 million. During the 60s, Tokyo renewed emphasis on expanding the subway system. Finally, in 1967, the tramway on Ginza Street was abolished.

The Toden Arakawa Line, a small segment of the Tokyo tramway system remains. It is only 12.2 km long and operates in the older section of northern and eastern Tokyo.  It allows for much better views than the subway and at a slower speed. So, if you're in Tokyo, you may want to seek it out and take a sentimental journey.

Fitzsimmons General Hospital

Oh, excuse me, I'm quite sure I requested a private room!

Here's an old postcard  from the Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. This is a place where you could come to get over your illness and, at the same time, any personal privacy issues (no extra charge.) At least you won't be lonely.