Ayer's Sarsaparilla

Ayer's Sarsaparilla  claimed to cure all sorts of ailments and purify the blood. Sarsaparilla was made from a trailing vine called smilax regelii, which was also used to flavor root beer. If you look hard enough, you may still be able to find an old-fashioned root beer flavored with sarsaparilla. You can read all about the history of Ayer's Sarsaparilla at Cliff and Linda Hoyt's website, which includes great photos of old advertisements, bottles, and even a paper doll. These cards are from about 1880.

I looked up Nellie Hicks from Cincinnatus, New York and discovered that she is listed as the 8th great-great granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven. Wait a minute, that sounds familiar. I have lots of cards sent to Cora Huffsmith, who was also the 8th great-great granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven. I'll write a little more about him on an upcoming Huffsmith card.

Everything Smokers and Chewers Want

Why anyone would think this picture would help sell a product is beyond me. It is amusing though. This is an advertising or trade card circa 1880.

Farm Life Around Bremen, IN

This is not your usual brightly-colored exaggeration card. I like that the name of the town is on the card though -and that it was sent to someone in Bremen, Indiana.

 

Here's a close-up of the picture.

And here's the back of the card, sent to Mrs. Ella Bass.

The message reads:

Good Morning. just arose from my bed of slumber. katy  B. slept with me. Chas R. and Ray B. stayed all night. will go home today. The autatorium will have a cement floor. it will be a large building. the carpenters will begin next week. As Ever (illegible signature)

The card is postmarked Syracuse, but I'm pretty sure that was Syracuse, Indiana not Syracuse, New York. Syracuse is located near Oakwood Park, a religious camp and meeting ground,  which is where the auditorium was being built.  The original 1898 tabernacle burned down in May 1914 and was then rebuilt in August 1914.