Czech It Out

Here is a real-photo card of a woman wearing a traditional Czech costume. The picture dates from sometime between 1930 and 1950.

These next two appear to be from Uherské Hradiště, a center of Moravian Slovakia located in the Czech Republic near the border with Slovakia.

Both of these photos have interesting studio props. There are tassels on the furniture in the first one, but also on the chair in the second photo. The clock plant stand is also an unusual addition. The second photo appears to be a wedding portrait. Both photos have pushpin holes indicating that they were pinned up somewhere to be viewed as treasured memories.

Here are the backs of the cards in the same order. The last two cards have writing on the back. Alas, I don't speak Czech or Slovak, but I think the first one says Sister Marika and Franta's wife and the second one says something about my wife and I. If you can read this, feel free to correct.

Tram Tuesday - Schenectady, NY

Schenectady, New York had a streetcar system from 1886 until 1946. General Electric bought the streetcar company in 1896 and then set up a GE manufacturing plant in Schenectady. They then extended the streetcar loop to the GE plant to transport their 3,000+ employees to and from work.

There was also an electric interurban that brought people into Schenectady from the smaller towns of Gloversville, Johnstown, Amsterdam, and Scotia where they could then get on the New York Central train. Traveling glove salesmen from Gloversville used the trains to make their sales calls.

This view shows State Street and the Lorraine Block, demolished in the 1960s. The little building next to it may have been some kind of entertainment venue; there are two signs advertising Lew Dockstader, a Vaudeville entertainer. There's also a big sign for Stoll Famous Lager.

 The message on the front of the card, sent to Miss Lillian Wyckoff in 1907 reads:

I am having a dandy time. my address is 8 Romeyn Pl Schenectady N.Y. with this about the entertainment.

Your friend Nettie

Here's the back of the card.

Easy Sailing in Gelatt, PA

Once again we have cute Dutch stereotypes relaying greetings on an American card. These seem to have been particularly popular around 1910 in areas with strong Dutch heritage.
Gelatt, Pennsylvania is a 'populated place', not an official town.  I have a feeling it may have been more populated in 1915 when this card was sent. The postmark was from Gelatt, so we know they had a post office.

Mrs. B. Pickering sent this card to Miss Sarah Denney at Burns Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  I have other cards that Sarah Denney received at the hospital, but she appears to have recovered and lived to the age of 80. Sarah was born in 1895 and operated a grocery store in Union Dale, PA (current population 267). She died in 1975 and was buried in the Gelatt cemetery. It appears that she never married.

The message reads:

 from a Friend Mrs B Pickering

 glad your doing nicely.

It looks like Mrs. B Pickering, was Hattie Ball Pickering, first wife of Benjamin Butler Pickering. Hattie died in 1920 at the age of 48, whereupon Benjamin Butler married a woman by the name of Olive Warren. Benjamin and both of his wives are also buried in the Gelatt Cemetery. Here's a view of the cemetery from the road.


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