Bellflower Apples

These aren't just any giant apples; they're giant Bellflower apples.

 

If you happen to be in Portland, Oregon, you can go to see the oldest living grafted apple tree in the state, a Bellflower planted in 1850. It was bought from Luelling and Meek Nursery in Milwaukie, Oregon, the first grafted fruit tree nursery on the West Coast.  The tree is about 36 feet tall and has a 9-foot circumference. It's located at 4700 SW Campbell Court. You can read more about Bellflower apples and their history here.

Here are some more Oregon apples from 1910. Unfortunately, we can't see what varieties they were.

And here are the backs of the cards in the same order.

This one was sent to Master John Ockfen of McKenna, Washington.

Roseburg, Oregon - The Althaus Family

Herman and Eva Althaus moved their family across country from Illinois to settle in Roseburg, Oregon in about 1909. Herman had a plumbing shop.
Here's a photo labeled Louise Althaus, Roseburg Oregon. Every time I look at this picture and the cinched in waist, I feel like I need to take a deep breath.

The next card was sent to Mrs. Herman Althaus (Eva) in 1912. It's one of the most heavily textured cards I've ever encountered, although it's hard to tell on a digital scan.

The last card was also sent to Mrs. Eva Althaus from her niece in Illinois.

Here's the back of the last card, with a message expressing sadness that the family had moved to Oregon. Bertha talks about Herman and Minnie, Eva's son and daughter-in-law:

Belleville, Ills. December 29/09

Dear Aunt I received the pretty card, thank you very much for it. I am looking for a letter right along. I got one of Herman and Minnie's pictures for which I was very very glad, but also felt so sad when I seen them to think that we might never get to see each other any more. I thought sure  I would get a family picture from you before this time. Write soon from Bertha

Here's the back of the second card. These messages make you realize how much more difficult it was to make a cross-country trip in the early 20th century. This one reads:

Dear Sister

I wish you many happy returns of the day and am only sorry that we cannot be together + celebrate

Your Sister Louise S. _____

10-7-12

Last of all, the back of the first card.

Walter, I Need to Warn You...

Young Walter Gemmill received these cards in 1907. Based on what I found on the Family History Library and Census records, Walter was born in 1904. Later Census records show him working in a clerical position and then as a purchasing agent in 1930. Walter was three years old when he received these cards. I would like to have added a note on the cards, a word of caution for Walter. It might have saved him a lot of grief.

It seems that at the age of eighteen Walter started working as an office boy for the Milton C. Johnson Company, a New York corporation that printed and supplied stationery for banks. Over the years he worked his way up the corporate ladder to become president.

At some point in about 1960 the company made an investment of three or four million dollars in new equipment. As a result, the company was a little strapped for cash, and Walter started factoring accounts. In other words, as soon as the company submitted bills to its customers, a factoring company would advance Milton. C. Johnson Co. 85% of that amount, so the company could meet payroll. When the customers paid their bills, the factoring company received the full amount, i.e. a 15% fee. However, in October, 1970 the factoring company notified Walter that they would not meet the day's payroll, nor would they do so in the future. They had no contractual obligation, so there's not much Walter or Milton C. Johnson Co. could do.

Walter himself hadn't received a salary in over a month and was owed back wages. He called the employees in and told them the company was out of business and that there was no money to pay their wages.  A lawsuit followed, which held Walter, as an office of the corporation, liable for putting the employees at risk and violating the Labor Law.  I don't know what became of Walter after that, although he died in 1988. It would appear that he never married or had children. It's sad to think that the company was his life. To read the text of the legal case, click here.

Here are the backs of the cards, missing the note that I would have added.