2 Men and a Big Fish Vintage Postcard Greetings from Fort Francis Canada

Greetings from Fort Frances, Canada
Vintage Glossy Post Card

The Big Fish That Didn't Get Away


Tall tale or fish story?  In this case, it is the big fish that is so big two men are holding it up for the photo--and this one didn't get away!


Most of the postcards I am interested in are used and have a message written on them, but this one captivated me when I saw it.

The young man, maybe a grandson with a big grin looks a bit like Jimmy from the old Superman TV series.  The older gent in his plaid flannel shirt has a face with classic features and an expression that brings on a smile.  I am certain that both are holding the fish up, but cannot quite see how the man on the right is participating.

This is a glossy photo postcard. A knowledgeable person who knows their cars might be able to identify  the era even with just the little bit of car that can be seen, but I am not one of those people.

The caption tells us tht the photo was snapped at Fort Frances, Canada, located along the Minnesota/Canadian border.  That is Frances with an E, not an I, names after Frances, the wife of Sir George Simpson  (Frances with an E for her, Francis with an I for him).

This undivided back post card, at least the blank, was published in Toronto, Canada, by Rumsey and Co., Ltd.

This vintage collectible postcard has now sold on ETSY.

Pillsbury A Mill 1909 Signed Gibson and THE ITCH Postcard Talk

PostCard Talk

Mary Katherine May

QualityMusicandBooks.com

Minnesota entered the Union in May of 1858, on the heels of the Panic of 1857 and when on the cusp a large growth in population.  Water was everything.  Settlers first came by water, or across water to  stake their claim in what would be called the Land of 10,000 Lakes. 

Water was what drove the two major industries in the Minnesota Territory and New State, logging and milling.  Logging for lumber to build, but also to drive the wheels of the milling industry, until the trees were all gone.

Mr. Pillsbury did his homework.  He traveled and studied how the best flour mills around were built and operated, and then declared he would build the largest mill in the world.  The Pillsbury A Mill went into operation in 1881.  Our postcard here is dated 1909 by the postal cancel.  Unfortunately for us, the photograph takes in such a large area that the buildings, river, and falls are too small to get a good look at the details. 

The photo was taken by Charles P. Gibson of St. Paul, Minnesota.  We can tell because it is 'signed' on the front, lower right.  Mill A is labeled in a text box, and other descriptives are printed at the lower edge center as follows.

St. Anthony Falls, Stone Arch Bridge,

Int'al Stock Food Bld'g, and Pillsbury

"A" Mill, Minneapolis.



Postally what is interesting is the double cancel. On the front at the lower edge and upside down is the postmark at the receiving end: Sparta, Wis., Nov. 29, 1909, 7 AM, along with a flag killer.  On the (divided) back is the mailed cancel: St. Paul, Minn., Nov. 28, 1909, 5 PM., with a seven wavy line killer.

We know that the addressee, T.J. Pittenger (or Pittinger) in Sparta, Wisconsin was the Father of the sender, who may have been named Winnie, or Winnifred.  The signature is small, in the corner, and faded.

Poor Father, he has an itch.  An ongoing itch can be a terrible thing--a person can't sleep, can't sit, can't even think sometimes.  We don't know what was causing it, but it must have been disrupting his life.


Dear Father:
Warren sent you the paper yesterday.  Write and let us know if you rec'd it O.K. and you & ma like it, am sorry you have had the itch, hope you are alrite (alright) now.  With Love, Winn

We are having awful weather Aunt Barbara was dressed so poor that day, (cannot read) her. Warren wondered what old wash woman I was talking to.

Did you catch what is missing?  that day ... When was that day?  Was was going on that day? Why didn't Aunt Barbara come out of the rain?  Why was she dressed in the wrong clothing for the weather conditions?  Did Winn and Warren help their aunt out, or after a conversation did she leave for home still wet? 

Questions! Questions!  We will never know--unless, that is, someone knows and tells us so the story can be posted here!

Are You Glad Cryptic Message Postcard Talk

Postcard Talk by Mary Katherine May

Undivided Back Postcard
Double Stamped
Poughkeepsie N.Y. July 26th, 1906, 3__ A.M.
Mount Vernon N.Y. July 27th, 1906, 7 A.M.

In spite of the minor edge wear and tear, this is a great postcard. The front shows a Hudson River Day Line ship, the address side has  a great Hudson River Day Line logo.  Double stamped posted marks, two flag killers--one looks to be in reverse of the other!

Addressed to a Miss Helen M. Palmer, 145 Cottage Ave., Mount Verson N.Y. 

July 26-1906
Dear Helen:--
Are you glad you are living this morning?
Aunt E.J.D.

The message, however, is completely cryptic, almost begging for someone to write a story.  What does it mean?  What happened to Helen previous day that caused Auntie to send a postcard note to her niece at 3 A.M.???  Was she in an accident?  Was she ill?  Did she meet the man she would marry?  Did our Helen try to harm herself?   Does the ship have significance or was it only a postcard Auntie had available? 

How did this 100+ year old postcard end up in Minnesota?  I did buy this postcard at a stamp show this summer, and I believe that there was one dealer there from New York.  Hmmm.........

Interesting. Very, very interesting.

DPO Pequot Minnesota PostCard Talk Mary Katherine May

Sam's Resort on Lake Edna
Nisswa, Minnesota

PostCard Talk DPO Pequot, Minn.

There is a special place for me in Northern Minnesota which holds some of the best memories I have from the past.  This summer my husband and I were able to relive one of the memories when we stayed at Fritz's Resort in Nisswa, Minnesota, the property purchased from my Grandfather, Sam (Samuel, Simon) Wakaruk.  I think the best memories of the few times at Sam's Resort that I can recall due to my young age are when my brother and I would go down to the resort's dock on Lake Edna and feed dried bread crumbs that came out of a bag in the boathouse to the little sunnies and crappies that Grandpa Sam had trained the fish to expect. 

The resort, run now by Fritz's son and his family, is far different than when Sam maintained his 'fishing resort,' being mostly for campers, and I didn't mind that.  We did, however, stay in one of the original cabins, which mostly I also slept in as a young child.  The hospitality of the resort owners, Richard and Jane Geike, was helpful, kind, and friendly, and I think that even without having emotional ties to the place I would not hesitate to book another reservation.




Boathouse in 1951 at Sam's Resort
Sam Wakaruk walking along the shoreline of Lake Edna.



Same boathouse in 2012 at Fritz's Resort on Lake Edna
Nisswa, Minnesota

Uncle Tony and Uncle Ellis begin putting in the dock
at Sam's Resort on Lake Edna, Nisswa, Minnesota.

Just five miles north on Highway 371 is the town of Pequot Lakes, and the cabin on Sibley Lake where we spent a lot more time over many years, after my widowed mother married again.  There are so many good experiences that I can recall.  And though the old musty cabin is gone, along with its 'honeymoon' suite that had a window looking into the kitchen, a curtain for a door, and an ancient iron bed with mattress that leaned always to the middle, among the other family inside jokes, the memories that helped shape who we are today will live on.

Pequot Lakes is known for its water tower that looks like a bobber.  They still make up a huge kettle of baked beans, cooked buried in the ground for Bean Hole Day, and at least used to put on a great small town Fourth of July with parade, races, tall tales contest, and more.  Today the movie theater, where we would go to watch movies for uner 50 cents after walking the mile into town now houses the Pequot Lakes Historical Society.

Pequot Lakes in its early years was associated with a few other names according to Crow Wing County history: Frogtown, Sibley, and also the single word, Pequot.  The town may have usually been called Pequot Lakes, but in regard to postal history the town was simply, Pequot, until some time in 1940, which is when the 'Pequot' postmark ceased to exist, and was replaced by Pequot Lakes.  The day after the last cancel, Pequot became what is known as a DPO, or Dead Post Office. 

DPOs, as they are called, are an option for a topical postal collection.  You will find DPOs on envelopes and postcards.  I happen to prefer postcards with a clear postmark and message, with the photo being of equal or lesser importance.  For me, envelopes with letters inside, particularly what are called mourning covers, run a close second in interest, and overall I lean toward postals originating in a select group of Midwestern States.

Over the years I have accumulated a few DPOs, and just the other day I noticed in my collection a few Pequot, Minnesota, postmarks, which were in existence form 1896 to 1940.

First Island, Sibley Lake, Pequot, Minn. ca. 1910-1919

Here is First Island on Sibley Lake in what was then known only as Pequot.  And actually at that time the property around the lake where our cabin was located was outside of the town proper.  My recollection from rowing back and forth on the 3 mile long, narrow lake, is that there was one island only, and this island was in the approximate middle of the 3 miles outside of the bay where our cabin, then owned by my stepfather's father, was located.  This island, if it is the one island and by what I see it very well could be, was also known as Goat Island, for the fact that someone would remove their goat or goats to the island for the summer to feed on the vegetation--and without the worry of keeping the goat from wandering away.

Dear Monson--card received glad to hear from you again. 
Am at Pequot in a car started for Bemidji a week ago Saturday
but was called back when I reached Hackensack. 
Think I'll be up this week Thursday.  Love from C. Bergren.

The top speed of the average car in 1915 was around 40  to 45 miles per hour.  If our postcard writer, C. Bergren, was able to go the 80+ miles from Pequot to Bemidji on the two lane roads cleared through the pine forests in Northern Minnesota, that would a little over two hours.  We have no clear idea as to why Bergren returned south to Pequot from Hackensack, and that is a mystery for speculation--not enough gasoline to fuel the car the whole way and not a good place to buy more?  Was someone sick, or was there car trouble?  If there was car trouble, our writer might have gotten the car serviced in Pine River if the dealership there is that long standing, and then stayed in Pequot with a friend or family, not needing to pay for a hotel.  Was the writer a man, since it is more likely for a man to address someone by their last name.  If it was a man, it is not typical to sign off with 'Love' unless Miss Sophia was his sweetheart.

Addressed to Miss Sophia Monson, Bemidji, Minn.,  (Box 432)

It is interesting to note that Miss Sophia Monson has a post office box, since most towns in Northern Minnesota are smaller than what many people call a small town.  The 1910 census shows Bemidji as having a population of approximately 5,000 people, then as now the largest town in the northern portion of the state.

Though the date is not completely present, the year may be 1912 because of the stamped line at the lower edge of the number one.  The month begins with an A, and I am speculating that the date is April 22, not August 22.

Lastly, the photograph over time has maintained good color, yet the lake is either still covered with a coat of ice, which is possible, or the water has been enhanced in some way. A close up of this type was either taken from a boat or with a zoom lens--were there zoom lenses in 1912? 

This article written by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.



1937 Bjork Letter PostCard Talk

PostCard Talk

Presented by Mary Katherine May
of QualityMusicandBooks.com

The second letter I present here before returning to postcards originated in Sweden.  I found it in an old Bible that came to me along with a few other books.  In another instance, in a group of books given to me by a friend, I found a letter from her deceased husband--which, of course, I returned to her.  For this reason, I recommend when asked to either purchase or accept books my recommendation that people leaf through them before showing them to me.

This letter was written in 1937, with all but a few lines the Swedish language.  We might assume reasonably that the recipient was located in the United States of America since here is where the Bible is located, in the state of Minnesota.  Unfortunately, because of my lack of Swedish language knowledge, my translation performed through Google Translate is at the worst extremely rough and at best somewhat close to what is literally present.

There is a sadness here for the separation that appears to have been complete for quite some time.  The author may have been in mourning or been in a depression, but still the writing implies a loneliness and sorrow over the fact that family communication is broken.  The recipient is not a distant relative, but an uncle.  There are separations among family members which occur that are not of our own choosing, and learning how to deal with them can be stressful and long time process.

The last line of the letter, written in broken English, really sums up the tone of the letter. I never will forget your girl and all of your other children.

Sollerön March 15 1937

Dear Uncle and Relatives….!

It is now a long time since we heard anything from me, maybe even a long time since you heard anything from that place where you have grown up and lived until your young sentencing days. I probably would have written for, but it's so hard not to believe that you are forgotten by us here on the island though it nests so watch out, after which I have not written to you in such a long time. Here it is now, as in other basins, new genera come to, and the old shall, mulling, down behind were old church, where we all a bunch of locals will end up. So I receive hereby tell of for you, that your sister, my mother,  now in these days have stopped his lifetime, So I may conclude with these simple rows announce you the sad nyket [news?], even is my father very sick, so we believe that even can die when sooner, the better. They have lived the sum man over 71 years, mother would turn 92 years on March 17,  mother ended their March 11, 1937.  Peace to her memory.

My father in law, parents, and so live still further, my father in law of Daniel Marten Jönsson has filled its 90 years, even my mother in law is on the 85th. But they, however, is healthy and well.

As you can see, you are now the only remaining of your Syrkon, for now, as I hope, these lines meet you in good health and cheerful mood, I do not know someone, address mi to Mrs. Annie Viberg, have not heard anything from them for years, so on you will be hard address, if you wanted to be nice and tell them that their aunt is now dead.

I will send your oll may bast gretings hops you soon wrieth to me.

I will send you all my best greetings.  Hope you will soon write to me.

I neaver forget your girl and your all oader cildrings.

I never [will] forget your girl and all [of] your other children.

Write once [soon?]

P. Bjork
Sollerön [Sweden]



Loved Lizzie Letter Dated December 28th 1856

Loved Lizzie

December 28th, 1856

on PostCard Talk

 

Presented by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com

My thoughts about the letter.

On this posting I leave postcards for a moment to present a letter from 1856 so sweetly written to Loved Lizzie.  I know that this letter didn't come to me for free, though I cannot remember what it cost, and also the ink was faded at time of purchase though a little less so.  I recall that for some reason the letter then (whenever then, was), as it does now, struck me as particularly and softly senitmental.  Lizze is away, though we don't know where, or for what reason, or for how long.

I think, how wonderful the day would become if I received a letter in the post with such an endearing salutation.  If I was tired or sad or unhappy, to begin my morning activities by reading in my letter the bright, cheery greeting from someone I was close to in relationship and loved dearly,would surely make even a dark, cloudy sky seem joyous.

The letter from Lizzie's aunt is conversational and chatty.  A new baby named Louis Emerson just arrived, renovation of a church sanctuary, a good sermon heard, a marriage joke about how much Lizzie is adored.  A weekend guest named Emmah has gone home.   Francis is terribly ill but by the time of the post script a little better, and there is an upcoming party to celebrate the new year tonight at Wm. Whit's.  We can only speculate as to who the three men were that Lizzie lived with, since for certain in 1856 it wasn't just four random boarders living together with only one woman in the group.

It is truly a shame that ink is so faded, and that without input from a person who has intimate knowledge about the family of which Lizzie was a member it will be virtually impossible to specifically identify the who, what, when, where and how details of her life.  And perhaps that is just as well, since the imagination can make those who might have been absolutely ordinary, and not saying that Lizzie was ordinary in any way, light up like a bright, shiny star.

The names and clues:

Lizzie -- letter recipient

Rev. J.P. Lloyd -- there was a pastor by this name at the time of this letter's writing in Ohio.

Louis Emerson -- newborn boy

Emmah -- weekend guest

Frances -- sick with lung fever

Wm. Whit's --home where New Year party was to be held.

W.E.R. letter writer, Lizzie's aunt

Sylvester -- a person who lives with W.E.R.?

The letter came from Denmark --the country?  a city or town in the U.S.A

Denmark Dec 28^th /’56

Loved Lizzie

I now attempt to reply to your very kind letter which was received on Friday last.  Happily I have found the pen and paper on which to fasten my valuable thoughts but am inclined to think that neither pen nor thoughts will be very well executed.  I did truly think of charging you with gross neglect and felt almost like exclaiming in emphatic tones awake thou that sleepest arouse from the lethargy in which thou art indulging and answer or reply to your letter.

I feel quite solemn and sedate for me today, having been to church and heard Rev. J. P. Lloyd deliver a sermon from Nehemiah, relative to the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, an excellent one it was to.  The Presbyterians are refitting their church inside by papering the wall, tareing away the brest-work elevated two of the back seats and placing the brest-work in front, turned the steps fronting the doors, painted the windows green, trimed the stand with velvet, purchased four new lamps, and intend to paint the seats this week.  And so the improvements increase in the land of your nativity. 

Sylvester is home today.   Emmah came home last Friday evening she made me a call Saturday and returned Sabbath day.  As for presenting the teacher with a kiss I must be excused.  But will give you liberty to do so by his granting you permission.  I should truly have thought you a bride ere this, inasmuch as you board with three young gents, if I had been a young man I would have married you long ago.  But I had forgotten to tell the news, don’t you think I am aunt to one of the pretty’est little boys in the county he is two weeks old and his name Louis Emerson.  I should like to have a good social chat with you were it convenient.  But we must part awhile a few short months, th’o short they will be without thy dear society but yet we must endure.  And our love will be the fonder after parting it will grow more intense in your absence and again burn with a tender glow when you dear Lib return.

Thursday morning 1857.

I wish you a happy new year, but Lib tis with a heavy heart I renew my writing.  Francis is very sick a heavy attack of the lung fever Dr says he will probabl(y) be sick some time.  I have no time to write more neighbor in general quite well.  Please except the best wishes of a friend.  Write as soon as you receive in great haste.

W E R

Francis is a little easier than he was yesterday and last night.  New Years party this evening at Wm Whit’s.

This document has been lightly enhanced to make the text more visible.

This document has been lightly enhanced to make the text more visible.



1910 Postcard Logging Rollway Mason County Washington

Log Train at Rollway

Log Train at Rollway Mason County Washington

by Mary Katherine May

of QualityMusicandBooks.com

Here is a great postcard mailed on November 22, 1910, from Dewatto, Washington.  There are two interests going on with this postcard, both subjects which have been perennial favorites among deltiological collectors.  The subject matter is (1) trains, and (2) logging.

Log Train at Rollway, Mason County, Washington

Postmarked Dewatto, Washington, 22 November 1910

     On the post card back, upper left, we are told that this is a Journal Post Card, Shelton, Wash.  It is a comfortable assumption to make that the post card was printed/published by the local Mason County Journal, a weekly publication coming out of Shelton, Washington.  Notice how the American flag is wrapped around the flag pole.  I also notice how few large diameter logs are on each flatbed, and since I know very little about the transport of logs by train, I cannot assume that it was possible to pile them as high as was done on the wagons that would bring the hewn logs out of the woods.

Reading (scroll down the link page) about Mason County, Washington, and the logging industry, I learned that after the Panic of 1893 great effort was taken to put loggers back to work, and that the advent of steam locomotives in this area helped both the logging industry as well as aided in clearing land for agriculture. 

FreeDictionary.com defines what a rollway is: an incline down which logs are rolled for transportation.

In regard to real photo postcards, the image on this post card is not a RPPH.  If you look closely, you will see that the image is comprised tiny dots which a type of printing called halftone.

DEWATTO, WASH.

November 21, 1910. Dear Miss Howard...

     Even more interesting is that the writer of this particular post card gives us a first hand account, although, brief of her message may be,  of what it was like to view logs being floated down river and on the train.  Also of interest is the writer's manner of addressing the recipient, as Dear Miss Howard.  Was this a teacher writing to a student?  or, simply a person observing a formality?

Nov 21 --10

Dewatto

Dear Miss Howard,

received your nice letter and card will write soon.  I wish you could have been here and saw the logs go down the river yesterday.  The river is rageing the logs is most all on the flats above Simoneau's now wishing you a happy Thanksgiving

I remain

Sincerely

D. Cunningham

Artist Painted Post Cards Maud Leach Denver Colorado

Maude Leach, artist
Leach Art Studios, Denver

Maude Leach
(1870-1927)
Margaret Amelia Thornton
(1882-1962)
by Mary Katherine May of  QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Looking at postcards in antique and collectible shops is a time consuming effort if you are interested not only what the photograph or image is on one side, but in the message on the opposite side as well.  Some shops are very obliging and helpful, and others not so much.  We all do what we must in our circumstances, and so the less obliging are left respectfully with all their postcards still in inventory, and those who really do wish to make a sale are left instead, respectfully, with my money.

Blooming Bushes in
Hutchinson, Minnesota

Kathy, my childhood friend, went on a drive with me recently.  At the end of our time we stopped in the small but bustling town of Hutchinson, Minnesota, fondly known to many of its residents as "Hutch." 

Before sitting in the lovely, peaceful park created by the town's girl scouts, Kathy patiently went along as I browed my way through the antiques.  In actuality, I generally browse the books, post cards, and ephemera--or anything paper.

My offering to you today, after this story, is a postcard with a soft, gentle scene of mountains and sky, that I found in Hutchinson.  The postcard is stamped, Leach Art Studios, Denver.  The penciled name in the lower right, Allie, I believe to be the sender of the postcard, which went to a Miss Madge Thornton in St. Paul, Minnesota, leaving Denver, Colorado, on March 22, 1907.

There is no message as you can see, for why would the sender, Allie, ruin this beautiful scenic illustrations of Colorado with a message.  There could have been a message written on the address side of this undivided back post card, because just 21 days prior to its use, on March 1, 1907, writing on the address side was first allowed by the United States Post Office.  I wonder if Allie knew? 

What intrigued me enough to purchase this particular postcard is the art.  I don't know at this point if it is an original watercolor or other form of painting, or perhaps printed from original art?  It isn't signed, but did this artist Leach always sign the paintings?

Maude Leach, artist. Leach Art Studios, Denver

I haven't found out much about Maude Leach the artist.   Maude Leach (1870-1920), sometimes spelled Maud Leach or Maud Leech, did paint and created in the area of Denver, Colorado.  Maude began her life and studied in the East, specifically New York, but would have been living in Colorado in 1907.  She liked to paint mountains and surrounding scenery, maintained a studio, and for a few years was a public school teacher.

Searching the internet and looking at google images under the name of Maude Leach and variations thereof, I discovered that the art on this postcard looks to be exactly like what she painted.  Also, the paper upon which this post card is illustrated is very similar to the watercolor paper I bought for myself at the local Michael's store. 

I noticed that the word Post Card with its ruled border looks like it could have been stamped on, not printed.  Further indication of this possibility is that it is stamped on the back crooked in relation to the paper edge.

I have one more interesting historical point to present before signing off on this post.  Miss Madge [Margaret Amelia] Thornton, born 1882 and a 1904 University of Minnesota graduate, member after graduation of the AAUW (American Association of University Women), in 1907 lived at 369 Von Minden Street, which later was renamed Michigan Street. She was one of twelve children born to Patrick H. Thornton and Margaret Monica Moran, her father being an immigrant from Ireland. Margaret went on to marry Frank Michael Kieron, who together birthed six children of their own.  Allie, our post card sender, may have been her sister, Alice Marie, but we don't know.  Margaret went home to the Lord on April 19, 1962. 

It is the address that is interesting.  It was not discovered until torn down that the the house, known as the Schneider-Bulera House, at 369 Von Minden Street had been built in 1857, one year before Minnesota entered the Union (May 11, 1858), and just fourteen years after Father Lucien Galtier changed the town's name of Pig's Eye Landing to St. Paul, his favorite saint, and was the oldest house still standing in St. Paul. But in the small amount of history that is available on the web about this house, there is no indication of the Thornton family residence.  Interesting.

One last thought, and it is a sad one, because history's moments, though in the past are the source of the roots that make up the character and fiber of our families, towns, cities, states, and nation.  We are who we are because of history, each relational moment being spiritually and/or physically defining what is, and thus our future has its base beginning point in the past.  On that note, I have a touch of sadness in my heart as I quote from the Schneider-Bulera House link:

To quote a city official when the previous oldest house in Saint Paul was torn down by United Hospital several years ago "There will always be another oldest house!" ~Joe Hoover

What About Baudette Minnesota and Herding Goats in Norway Postcard Talk

From Leslie to Hulda Hilden

Orginal Postcard, enhanced.

 

Original Postcard without Enhancement

I began looking at this postcard, thinking I knew at least a few details, only to find that I knew even less of the little that I thought I did know!  After closer examination with 10X magnification under better light, I discovered that the photograph, at least revealed a little more upon which to speculate.

The postmark that I had assumed was for Thief River Falls, Minnesota, it turns out is not.  The word THIEF is there, but there is no river or falls.  A closer look also reveals tht the faint letters on the right outside circle of the postmark can in no way spell out Minnesota; or, as it would have been in the year this card was mailed,  MINN.  Clearly readable, again, is the word, THIEF, AUG 7, and EAST. Beneath that, is possibly M.P.C., and at the top might be the year--1911? 

So much for that.  The stamp is a one cent Franklin. And it is addressed to Miss Hulda Hilden in Beaudette, Minnesota, from Leslie--who may have been her brother.  More specifically, the brief note suggests a good relationship with plenty of camaraderie and joking.  The joke on this postcard would take inside knowledge to decipher the hidden meaning.

Well here is the mail man you were waiting for but I hope I haven't keep you waiting all this time with the same kind of  a costume on the the girl on the card you sent me had.

Leslie

Evidently Hulda had sent him a jokester-type card?  I wonder what the postcard looked like that Hulda had sent to Leslie--is this her brother?

I just heard that your old pal Ole was herding goats in Norway and that he had 2 new hairs.

It seems that Ole at least, maybe without Lena, was the brunt of jokes early in the 20th century!

Well...on with the discovery!

The photograph is hard to decipher for the soil and darkening with age, and also as it is a large area that was included, everything is smaller and less distinct.  Unfortunate in this case is that enlarging the picture makes determining details even more difficult.  My 10X power headgear and a good light did help some, however.  Though very small, a flag is visible atop the building in the background.  With a closer look it can be seen that there is another American flag in front of the building.

There are posts, but there appears to be no fence.  There are three groups of people, yet in none can it be discerned as to what is being looked at.  The closest men, on the left, have hats that look to be part of a military or official uniform.  That they have on neckties is not a defining detail, as in the era of the photo dress was much more formal for nearly all occasions.  At least one of these men is looking to his right.

Next is the group in the middle.  What are these people, both men and women, looking at?  It isn't what the others are viewing to their right or left, because they face the house with their backs turned toward the camera that took the photograph.  This middle cluster is looking toward the building.  They don't seem to be looking up, but across.

At the furthest distance, people group 3, maybe have some people sitting and some standing, or they might be seated on bleachers.  I don't know.  What they are looking at, perhaps a ball game? 

Please Allow me to summarize at this point what I don't know.

1. The postmark year.

2. The location of the sender.

3. The year of the stamp issue.

4. What the three groups of people are looking at.

5. What the Norwegian Ole joke means.

6. If Hulda and Leslie are related.

7. What M.P.C. means.

8. If some of the men in the photograph are wearing part of a uniform.

9. What kind of woman was on the postcard sent by Hulda to Leslie.

Yup.  You guessed it.  I don't know much.  I would appreciate viewer input.  Maybe my knowledge will increase. ...Mary Katherine May

Postcard Talk Is the Forerunner of the Cloverleaf Bridge in Hastings Minnesota

Spiral Bridge ~ Hastings, Minnesota

Postcard Talk
Is the Forerunner of the Cloverleaf Bridge in Hastings Minnesota???

This article written by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

I generally don't add unused postcards to my collection.  On one of last week's searches for Minnesota and surrounding states postcards (a.k.a. the Mid-Midwest), however, this postcard caught my attention.  It wasn't only the intense colors, but also the shape of the bridge.

This bridge is NOT a cloverleaf interchange, though that was the first thought that came to me.  I looked it up. The Spiral Bridge pictured on this postcard was erected in 1894.  The first cloverleaf bridge interchanges came along about twenty years later.  Did someone see a photograph or image of the bridge in Hastings?  Without knowing for certain, speculation is always an option.  Maybe an engineer saw it and thought, "Hey! Why don't I just take this loop, loop four times and...Well, by golly! It's a cloverleaf!

Even without the message there is a lot of history to be learned from this postcard. Most of what I could tell you, however, has been told quite well on other sites.  I have made an executive decision about it, and this time am giving the short synopsis version with links.

Spiral Bridge, Hastings, Minnesota
There are quite a few sites that offer information about this unique bridge--why it was built, the impact it had on Hastings as a point of interest, how long the bridge was used and its current status.

History of the Spiral Bridge
Hastings is a great place for its many historic buildings and sites, including the Spiral Bridge.
A replica of the bridge can be viewed at Little Log House Pioneer Village near Hastings. 
Minneapolis StarTribune article about the new bridge that replaced the Spiral Bridge.

Meloy Park ~ Hastings, Minnesota

Meloy Park
John C. Meloy, born in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, settled in Hastings, Minnesota in 1856, before Minnesota entered the Union (1858).  The river port in Hastings was one of the stopping points before traveling north to Fort Snelling.  In the lower right area of the postcard, there is an arched entry into the park named for Mr. Meloy, whose location is below the Spiral Bridge.

The Beginnings of Hastings, Minnesota History: First Hand Accounts
In my years of study, I have always found that learning about the past is at its most fascinating when reading first hand accounts.

Though the back of this postcard is blank except for a brief comment written with  fountain pen, there is still historic information of interest.  On the left edge of the card, we read that this postcard was Made in Germany. This tells us that it was printed before World War I. Studying the affects war has on all aspects of life is a good lesson learned for both the present and the future.

In the same area is stated that this card was published by J. G. Sieben, Hastings, Minnesota. Who was J. G. Sieben?  What did he do in Hastings?  What role did Mr. Sieben's family play in Minnesota?  These are all good questions with application to learning about how history impacts the future.  As it turns out, J. G. Sieben, who went by the name George, and other members of his family did impact both Hastings and Minnesota history.  For instance, they served their city and state by taking active roles in political and relevant social projects and issues.  J.G. was a druggist, photographer, mayor of hastings three times, husband and father, and active in his church.

Also on the postcard back is a Litho-Chrome logo.  If you do much research with old documents, you will understand how knowing about printing and paper helps in identification depending upon the era or century. 


This postcard was printed using a process called Litho-Chrome (scroll down the page).  MetroPostcard.com, site for the Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City, is an impressive excellent reference and learning site. The page link describes litho-chrome printing (and other printing processes): A German made card printed in blue collotype over red and yellow spatter. It explains the color, too. So I cropped out a part of the postcard image to look for the spatter.  Can you see the spatter?



There isn't much more to see that is obvious except for one last detail, which is the stamp box.  It is an advantage with unused postcards because of being able to see the stamp box with printing.  This one states: Postage United States and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Insular_Affairs, Cuba, Canada, and Mexico ONE CENT. For all other Countries TWO CENTS.

A few hours looking around, asking obvious questions, has been not only entertaining but educational. I have been to Hastings a few times, not too far south of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  It just may be time for another, more in-depth visit!

July 1910 Excursion to Osseo and Robbinsdale Minnesota

City Hall and Park
Osseo, Minnesota
July 1910

Presented by Mary Katherine May (amateur history detective)
of QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Osseo, Minnesota City Hall and Park

There is something so delightful in finding a postcard written over 100 years ago not far from where we live.  A girl or young lady named Esther wrote the postcard, but beyond that she will at this time remain anonymous.

So many interesting points can be found on this one little card! The illustrated side of the postcard show the Osseo, Minnesota, City Hall and Park. In the back ground is what looks like a large residential building, and on the park ground I can see a wood platform.  Since the postcard was written on July 25, perhaps the platform was used for a program in relation to independence day.

Esther gives us bits of news that tempt my imagination.  There was a storm with strong winds and Sadie Ward's tree blew down. Was it Sadie's tree, or was it the Ward family's tree?  Since Esther mentions both Osseo and Robbinsdale, in which town did Sadie live?

July 25, 1910(?)
Robbinsdale Minn.

Dear Ruth
We are having so much fun.  We were to Osseo Sat. with Mr. B-. and we had a ice cream cornet.  Sun. morning we went to Robinsdale to meet some people.  Mr. Benells nieces and his son Hilmar.  We had our pictures taken.
Goodbye. Esther.

P.S. Twelve people came besides us. We had a swell dinner with spring chickens. Write soon.

We may assume that Esther was part of a group of young people with perhaps a teacher as a chaperone on an excursion, maybe from South Minneapolis since the card mailing address is there.  The novelty in Osseo was to have an ice cream cornet, which would be the same or similar to what we call a waffle cone today.  Though ice cream was sometimes served in cones for many yearsin Europe already, it may still have been a novelty in Minnesota at that time since the first big splash of attention the cone, or cornet, received was just a few years previous in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair.

The next morning the group left Osseo for Robbinsdale, which would have been on the way back to Minneapolis. To drive from Osseo to Robbinsdale now takes a15 to 20 minutes traveling between 40 to 50 miles per hour.  I wonder how long it would have taken in 1910.  They were joined by their chaperone, Mr. Benell's son Hilmar in Robbinsdale, where there was a large group who had a "swell" dinner of spring chickens.

The house we live in wasn't built in 1910, but if it were this group on a holiday would have passed our home on their way south to Robbinsdale.  I wonder if they went by horse driven wagon, buggy, or an early motor car?  Or, they may have taken the train--the tracks just a couple blocks from our home still carry trains, and maybe the trip out and back was accomplished in good time, all traveled on the Iron Horse.

I can imagine that Esther was very happy for some time after such a delightful trip, and had a lot of news to tell her friends and family when she returned home.

Should someone familiar with any of the people mentioned on this postcard see this blog post, it would be wonderful to be able to add an image of the  photograph here that was taken on that Sunday in July as mentioned by Esther.  Also, if a viewer could verify the year, which I am reading as 1910, I would appreciate the information.  I can be emailed through this blog site or through our webstore, QualityMusicandBooks.com.

Osseo City Hall, 1910