More from Havana, Cuba

This card showing a peaceful scene on the bay of Havana, was sent to Miss Laoma Berberich in 1920. Miss Berberich was only 7 years old then according to the Census. She later became a nurse and married Joseph Cassidy, a steelworker.

The message to Laoma reads:

Havana Cuba

Mar 17 1920

Just a line and just arrived this am at 6 o'clock did not enjoy the ride as much as expected the gulf was to rough could not lay in bed as the boat rocked so hard I held my own by hard work will write later

Ever Jeff

Here's another view, showing the magnificent Centro Gallego, now the Grand Theater of Havana.

And here's the back of the card, with a description of the club's origins.

Giant Maine Potato

This isn't a generic exaggeration card that could be anywhere USA. The giant spud is sitting on a classic northern Maine Bangor and Aroostook Railway car. The Bangor and Aroostook Railway (BAR) did in fact haul potatoes (in heated boxcars, no less) and at one time owed half of their annual revenue to transporting the tasty tuber.

The card was sent to Henry Fray in Seattle in 1910 from J.M.W. in Limestone, Maine. The message is a little hard to read, but here's what I could get from it (Note: Bsh indicates bushels). I love that it's a card sent by a Maine  potato farmer:

Dear Fray we are all done digging spuds raised 5300. Bsh like the chap on the other side here at the home farm and 4000. Bsh on the farm that Ben is on. I am still making starch will probably be at it three weeks more. Wish I could come and make you a visit there. All well. J.M.W.

Even though the initials J.M.W. would not appear to provide a lot of information, Limestone is a pretty small place and there were only so many potato farmers. I believe that this card was written by J.M. Ward.  In a 1916 publication on agricultural economics, J.M. Ward details the equipment needed for his potato farm.
 


Here's a great photo from Wikipedia, showing a potato caretaker's card. Because potatoes were so important, men were hired to take care of them on the trains and make sure the proper temperature was maintained in the cars. The pass allowed the 'potato caretakers'  free train travel back home.

Havana, Cuba

I've always wanted to visit Cuba, and hope to do so before it changes too drastically.  I imagine it to look similar to this 1949 postcard, though I'm sure there aren's so many commercial signs. The cars may look similar though, since Cuba still has many vintage cars in working condition. The Saratoga Hotel, dating back to 1879, is still open for business and looks like an elegant place to stay.

Here's another card that shows an earlier view, but the postcard itself wasn't sent until 1954. Note that the card was published by the Roberts Tobacco Co. of Havana. I like how the Asturiano Club Building extends into the white border of the postcard.

Here are the backs of the cards in the same order.