Streetcar Sunday - Hong Kong, China

I'm hooked on the double-deck trams, so I had to show a card from Hong Kong, where they have a fabulous tram system and beautiful double-deck cars.

This card is probably only thirty years old, but the trams have changed since then. The one shown here is the same one that had been used since the 1930s. Hong Kong has had a tramway system since 1904, when it was set up by the British. The double-deck tram was introduced in 1912, with first-class seating on the open-air upper deck. Although it was great during fair weather, when it rained, the open-air seating didn't seem like such a benefit, so canvas tops were added by 1913. By 1925, the upper deck was fully enclosed.

Although service expanded and improved over the years, it was severely curtailed during the Japanese occupation in the early 1940s. After the occupation, only 15 cars were operational, but that number quickly rose to 63 by 1946. Eventually the first class fare was eliminated. Hong Kong trams have used advertising banners for a long time and continue to do so, generating  additional income for the system.

Hong Kong Tramway now operates six main routes with trams departing every 1.5 minutes during peak hours. You can also hire trams for private tram parties.  For more information, check out Hong Kong Tramways, Limited.

And here, courtesy of Susi, who has been hanging out in Hong Kong while her husband is in the hospital, is a current photo of the Hong Kong tram.

Sepia Saturday -Tijuana, Mexico

At the turn of the last century and into the 1940s, U.S. citizens would go to Mexico on a whim for shopping and entertainment, since Tijuana was just across the border from San Diego. During Prohibition, they could go there to drink. There was also gambling, but that ended in 1935. After that, it became more of a family destination.
This photo was taken in 1938. My mother is riding the burro and her mother is on the left, sitting with Esther and Grace Meyers.

Here's a postcard from about ten years earlier.

Be sure to stop by Sepia Saturday for amusing stories and enchanting photographs.

Verona, Italy with Walker & Weeks

Here are some great old postcards of Verona from the collection of Walker & Weeks architects. They probably took a trip to Italy and collected the cards for inspirational examples. Frank R. Walker (1877-1949) and Harry F. Weeks (1871-1935) established their firm in Cleveland, Ohio in 1911. They were well known for their bank buildings, but they also designed churches, libraries, hospitals, and bridges. I'm thankful that their postcards fell into my hands.

All of the postcards have the same stamp on the back.