Looking for Bears

These time saver cards can be pretty amusing.  The first one is from Sayner, Wisconsin, but appears to have been sent from Boulder Junction, Wisconsin.

The card was sent to Mrs. Jennie Weeks in Colfax, Illinois from her niece Ruth. The message reads:

Dear Aunt Jennie

The 30th we went out to look for bears. But we did not see a bear. The 28th we went to a lumber camp for dinner. love Ruth

Here's another time saver card, although this one doesn't have any check marks and was never sent.

Ocean Park, California

Ocean Park (South Santa Monica) was a popular beach resort back at the turn of the century. There was a huge heated indoor saltwater plunge, a dancing pavilion, a casino, auditorium, skating rink, an aquarium, and amusement rides. Despite numerous fires over the years, Ocean Park continued to thrive until the Depression. By the 1950s efforts were underway to create a new amusement park at the location. The new park closed and declared bankruptcy in 1967.

Here's a card showing Pier Avenue in about 1905.

Here's on that shows the dancing pavilion.

And, finally, a beach scene showing a lot of overdressed people. It appears that there is quite a bit of litter on the beach, and something that resembles a barrel down by the water.

Here are the backs of the cards in the same order.
The first one was sent to Mrs Mirrieto Kiser in Chicago in 1908. The message reads:

Los Angeles, Cal

Nov 27 - well dear sweet heart did you think of me today when you ate your dinner I did you I had a nice dinner but not good unless you were at my side + then I would be happy

Your lover

Fred

The second one was sent to Miss Gladys Smith in Regina (?), California in 1913. The message reads:

Dear Gladys -

I was awful glad to get your letter. Did you write it your self? I am going to send you some story book some time. Be good girl and write again

Sister Sue

The last one was sent from Venice, California to Miss Bernice Wiskotschell of Marysville, California in 1908. The message reads:

 Venice - Aug. 16 - 08

Dear Bernice,

Receivd a postal from you today - good to hear that you are having a good time - this is a view of where I am this afternoon. remember me to all.

Goodbye

Daddy

Hotel Plaza - Laredo, Texas

Here's Laredo's famous Hotel Plaza with its Spanish Grill. The hotel doesn't seem to be there anymore.

 The message on the card, sent to Miss Rosalie Newcomb of San Antonio in 1943, reads:

Dear Roesel: This is where we are - bridal suite. It's raining cats outside. Say "hello" to Flo.

Love, Annette

Edinburgh, Scotland

Our recent visit to Edinburgh was initially inspired by the old Valentine prints I posted on this blog some time ago. We were so enchanted with the views that we decided to go and see for ourselves what it looks like today. Edinburgh did not disappoint. We were also fortunate to arrive for a week of warm sunny weather. Edinburgh residents, particularly the students, were obviously elated and in a very festive mood. While we were there, we met up with Susi and Thomas, friends from Germany. Susi took a few pictures from a similar perspective to the old Valentine views.

Both views are from the Balmoral Hotel towards the Scott Monument, named after Sir Walter Scott. Sadly, the incredible plaza and gardens over the train station no longer have the same elegant design. The old view shows an existing tram system, which was decommissioned in 1956. Decades later, it was decided that maybe Edinburgh needed a new tram system. The recent photo shows the new tramline construction on the right, a project that has been underway since 2008 and angered citizens for a number of years with cost over runs and traffic delays.

Here's a view from the Scott monument toward the Balmoral Hotel.

And the approximate view today.

Edinburgh is such a beautiful city, with amazing green space so close to the city center. It's definitely a place I would like to visit again. Here's a link to the previous post on theses Edinburgh views and the tram system. And here's a link to information on history and progress of the tram system.

Here's a street sign in Edinburgh.

York, England

In retrospect, it occurred to me that I should have taken some of my UK postcards along for our recent trip so we could try to capture the same views today. Too late, but in a few cases the views turned out to be fairly similar just by chance.  Here's an old postcard of York, with a view of the Minster from the city wall.  Note the long line of laundry hanging out to dry in the lower right corner.

This photo is taken from a little bit further back, and unfortunately we can no longer see the clothesline, but the general scene is little changed from a hundred years ago.

As tourists, there are some things that are remarkable to us that locals would not even look at twice. Certainly the food is different. We found ourselves fascinated with Cornish pasties, with each shop claiming to have award-winning versions, though specific award names were never mentioned.  I think they probably all deserve awards.

Mushy peas were also new to us, served with fish and chips or with pasties. They don't sound glamorous, but mushy peas are good.

Most American buildings have not been around long enough to see this kind of settling, so we found the sloped floors, cracked walls, and crooked door frames to be pretty interesting. This one is at Betty's Tea Room in York.

I don't think this hair color has made it to Oregon yet, though it would do a lot to brighten up our wet and gloomy winters, as would the pink dresses.

Here's a previous post on York and the its trams.

A Meeting of Blogs

When I first started this blog it was because a friend of mine created a short-term vacation blog to share with friends and family.  I had a collection of postcards I thought people might find interesting, so I decided to give it a try too. Other than that, I had few expectations. I hadn't thought about where it would all lead, much less what I might discover on other blogs.

In fact, I had no idea of the great variety of blogs and the incredible effort that goes into maintaining them.  My favorite blogs have inspired new interests and effectively transported me to places I have never visited. When you follow blogs for a long time, you start to feel a virtual connection not only to the blogs, but also to the authors you've never met. As closely as you follow other blogs, you don't really expect to meet your fellow bloggers though, especially those that live halfway around the world. That all changed when the architect who steals my covers and I started planning a trip to England.  The next thing I knew, we  were meeting up with Alan, famed blogger of News from Nowhere, and his wife in Huddersfield.

If only Alan's blog had mentioned how good his homemade chips are, we might have made the trip sooner. But Alan also had a special surprise for us; he had also planned a meeting with Jennyfreckles of the Saltaire Daily Photo. Off we went to Saltaire, and here's the evidence.

Alan, Christine, and Jennyfreckles 

The lovely and animated Jennyfreckles treated us to a comprehensive walking tour of Saltaire. I was initially sorry that I didn't take more photographs, but there is really no need. Anytime I want to see the best of Saltaire, I can just visit the Saltaire Daily Photo, which Jennyfreckles has now incorporated into her blog Salt and Light.

Alan also took us on a driving tour that included the moors and Haworth, home of the Bronte sisters. It was amazing to see the parsonage where they were raised, but we also had the good fortune of arriving just in time for Haworth's annual 1940s weekend.  It was like stepping back in time.

Although this visit to Huddersfield and Saltaire represented just a few days in three-week trip, it was truly a highlight and a memory we will cherish for a very long time.

Time For More Giant Fruit

Of all the giant fruit I would love to have, I think berries and lemons would be at the top of the list.

Alas, there are no messages on the backs of these cards to tell us just how delicious the fruit was.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

I don't think I've ever seen a message quite like this one. Is it vindictive or is it an insider joke? I couldn't find any information on Adam Faque, M.D., who charges $10.00 for chloroform, but only 30 cents for a politician or $1.50 for a Wall Street Banker. I'm definitely missing some sort of historical or political reference here. Any ideas?

Here's the message on the card:

take this how do you like it. ha ha ha  how do you like it. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha etc.

The card was sent to Jesse Rinkenburg of Martinsburg, New York in 1907. It turns out that Jesse Rinkenburg was born in 1883. He then married Seraphena Rose Beron in 1916--long after this card was sent, so it can't be a joke about any immediate wedding plans. The caption on the card says: Do it now. Take a wife before forty. Take chloroform at sixty. _____ I'm just not sure what it means, and the card is not signed.

In any case, census records show that Jesse worked as a laborer at a box factory. Seraphena worked at the same factory as an accountant, although by 1930 she was employed as a school teacher at the local elementary school. Records don't indicate that they had any children.

The Bees of Edinburgh

You probably think I've been sitting in a lawn chair for the last month, but actually I have been hard at work conducting intensive postcard research (cough, cough). Well, it's almost true. Between stops for fish and chips, beer samplings, scenic outlooks, and visits to blog friends, I did make one side trip to track down the former residence of one of my favorite postcard recipients, Nettie Bee. You may remember some of the previous postcards to the Bee family, such as this one, sent to Edith Bee.

Nettie Bee lived in the Rosemount Buildings in Edinburgh, Scotland, with at least two sisters (Chrissie and Edith). Her mother also lived there, but her father is never mentioned, so I'm not sure if he lived there or not. The apartment would have been very small, with one bedroom, one bathroom, and dining in the kitchen.

Rosemount buildings is a three-story brick building built in Edinburgh's West End. The building, which was constructed for working class families in the 1860s, is now part of the West End Conservation Area.

Here's what it looks like today.

 And here's the inner courtyard.

The door to # 9 is on the second floor (first, if you're from the UK), the blue door with the potted plants in front.

As with a  number of the cards to Nettie and family, this one was sent from a young soldier in World War I. I can't help but wonder if he made it home safely.

On the front of the card of John o'Groats in northern Scotland, he wrote: I would like to take you here for a day.

The message on the back reads:

8th Aug.  21 Shore St. Thurso

Home today for six days Leave, spending most of the time with Jessie and Maggie. Sorry you did not come along with them. Drop a line + let me know how you are getting on. I would like to hear from you before  going away with best love I remain yours faithfully

B. Thompson

Hope you enjoy your holidays

xxxxx

xxxxx

xxxxx

To read more posts about the Bee, family, click here.

Taking A Break

The Daily Postcard is taking a sabbatical for the month of May. Some time away from the computer will do me good, and I promise to return refreshed and with renewed vigor.  I look forward to seeing you back here on June 1st.

Here's the back of the card.

Nellie sent this card to Harry in Redfield, New York in 1909 with a message that reads:

Going to Mexico Thur. with Jones. Just got back from Selkirk. I been out on the river nearly every day. Nellie

We will be home Fri on the ten o'clock train.

If you're wondering how Nellie could be in Scotland and then go to Mexico on Thursday and be home on the train on Friday, it's because she was referring to Selkirk and Mexico, New York. Her entire trip was about 150 miles.

How We Do Things at Baudette

This is how they grow corn in Baudette, Minnesota. Don't believe me? Go there and see for yourself. These exaggeration are always in jest, but in this case, 1912 was a year of record crops in the region.

Here's the back of the card, sent to Mr. John Larson in Twin Valley, Minnesota in 1912.

The message reads:

Dear John,

This is the way the people of Baudette raise corn. How would you like to be here.

from Jacob.

Never mind the giant corn though. Did you know that Baudette is considered the Walleye capital of the world? It is also the home of Willie the Walleye, a giant fish statue on display in  Mill Park. Willie could eat that giant corn in one bite. You can visit Baudette in June and celebrate Willie's Birthday at the official Willie Walleye Day. I love Walleye!

May Day at Bryn Mawr College

May Day is no small event at Bryn Mawr College. It has been a well-loved and much-anticipated annual tradition at the private Pennsylvania women's college since 1900.  The tradition is not limited to maypole dancing either, but includes all manner of events, including strawberries and cream with champagne, singing in the morning, processions, Morris dancing, and a variety of plays.

Here's an old photo and a postcard of the first May Day event at Bryn Mawr in 1900.

Courtesy of Bryn Mawr College Library

Here's Katherine Hepburn dressed up for Bryn Mawr's May Day in 1928.

Courtesy of Bryn Mawr College Library

 And Cornelia Otis Skinner dressed for a May Day play in the early 1920s.

Courtesy of Bryn Mawr College Library

Somewhere, there's a photo of me dancing around the maypole at Bryn Mawr (at a much later date, thank you), but I couldn't find it in time for this post.

I did find an old program of events though, which is too small to read. Suffice it to say that the events extended from 5:45 am until 9 pm.

Here are a few photos from May Day 1982, including President Mary Patterson McPherson on horseback.

If you head on over to Bryn Mawr this weekend, you can partake in the festivities and try to redeem this free dinner card. If you are unable to travel the distance, you can always celebrate May Day at home via Sepia Saturday.

Bird's Eye View from the Penitentiary

I tried to imagine some enterprising prisoner producing postcards from pictures photographed from his cell window, but I don't suppose that was the case.  Maybe it was the prisoner's mother, who took the photo and had postcards printed to make bail for her wayward son. Probably not that either. In any case, the view from the penitentiary isn't one that would inspire me to try to escape if I were a prisoner.

Will Rogers Motel

Who is that man wearing a suit and tie by the pool? It looks like Clark Gable. I'm sure it isn't, but I wonder why he is all dressed up.

This card was sent in 1966 from the Will Rogers Motel in lovely Tulsa, Oklahoma. The message reads:

Sat Eve.

Dear Folks,

Arrived in Tulsa about 3:00. Visited the zoo + then the kids went swimming here. We are living in luxury for $10. There are two high Meth churches here. One has a $120,000 organ in it - the other is one of the 5 most beautiful churches in the U.S. Don't know which we will attend. Hope you are both O.K. 

Love Lois and Chas