Watch for splinters

Nothing like being in the great outdoors. Of course, this place looks a lot better upholstered than, say, an outback dunny in Australia.

This vintage postcard was published, probably in the late 1940s, by the Asheville Post Card Company. It comes courtesy of Melissa at We Love Snail Mail, who decided on a vintage postcard after struggling with the definition of “wild” postcards. Truth to tell, I don’t even know that definition myself; I just thought the phrase “wild postcards” was catchy.

The colors on these cards are just as they are presented here, and were probably produced in the early 1950s.

Bayfront Park, Miami, Florida

“Bayfront Park in all its tropical splendor adds to the Miami visitors (sic) comfort and relaxation. Here among the beautiful flowers, shrubs, and palms, concerts entertain visiting guests and inhabitants.”  I got this card oh, probably about ten years ago, in an antique shop in Florida.

This second card came to me from the collection of Kay Anthony:

Florida Southern College on Lake Hollingsworth

“Lakeland, Florida is the metropolis of Polk County. Being 227 above sea level, it is tempered by breezes from the Ocean and the Gulf whch are within easy riding distance. Fishing, bathing and boating can be enjoyed on the 15 fresh water lakes which lie within the city limits. Two eighteen hole golf courses, a public library, air-conditioned first run moving picture houses and a municipal-owned water and electric plant are some of its many advantages.” Moving picture houses, indeed.

Colder than a witch's Grand Tetons

Here’s a little something to cool you off on this hot summer’s Postcard Friendship Friday: “Iceberg Lake, Altitude 11,500 Ft., Trail Ridge Road between Estes Park and Grand Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.”  It was in fact posted from Estes Park, CO on 3 August 1940; I guess somebody else was trying to cool off, too.  But we’ll never know who.

Maybe they thought the view spoke for itself

This is a Curt Teich “C. T. Art-Colortone” linen postcard, number 6A-H288, published in 1936.  Odd that there’s no message, but it does happen from time to time.  I received a postcard myself just last week (Update: correction — two weeks ago — Ed.) with no message; I was very put out about it.

Be sure to check out the other blogs celebrating Postcard Friendship Friday.

U.S. Post Office and Federal Building, Gainesville, GA

This is the first time I’ve posted a view of my own town; I can’t imagine why that’s so except that I have so many cards from everywhere from which to choose!  Then I realize that a card showing a view that I see almost every day will seem as exotic to one of my postcard friends as their postcards seem to me.

This is a linen postcard, probably from the early to mid-1940s, of what was then the United States Post Office and Federal Building in beautiful downtown Gainesville, Georgia.  It’s still the Federal Building today and is also the Federal Courthouse, but the Postal Service moved out some time ago.  Today, there are four post offices in Gainesville; the main post office was built in the 1970s, and there are two more (and newer) branch offices along with a very new and very large carrier annex.

You’ll note that there’s a sign showing that street in front of the building was US Highway 23; today, it’s a narrow, poorly maintained one-way local street that leads to the downtown square, but back then it was one of the main highways to Atlanta.  Oddly enough, just the other day as I was standing near this spot, a very elderly gentleman asked me for directions to 23 and I had to think for a minute — US 23 in this part of Georgia is usually referred to by its other name of Interstate 985.  It turns out that he didn’t want directions to 23 at all, but to US 129, which is one of the main roads through town — but apparently he first came to know it as US 23, and that’s how he remembered it.  (If you don’t live in the US, you should understand that our numbered highway systems are generally superb, but that the numbers shift from time to time depending on when newer, better roads are built, what roads the federal government has the facilities to maintain, and which politicians can funnel those federal maintenance dollars to their own districts.)

Fast forward to 2009

Here’s a modern view I took recently from the same vantage point.  Kind of makes you wish for the good old days, doesn’t it?  Maybe you can find some at the other blogs celebrating Postcard Friendship Friday.

I didn't think people could bend like that

The fish seem wide-eyed and surprised at this young lady’s sudden appearance. “An underwater scene in the crystal depths of world-famous Silver Springs. Here the water is so clear that one can see easily to the bottom bowl and underwater pictures can be made successfully. More than 43 varieties of fish, turtles and shell fish may be seen through glass-bottom boats in this underwater fairyland of nature.”

This is a Colourpicture Publication, distributed by the Asheville Post Card Company. It was apparently manufactured shortly after the very first postcard postage rate increase (with the words “one cent” unceremoniously removed from the stampbox); that was on 1 January 1952.

Update: Thanks to Postcardy for reminding me that this month’s Postcard Scavenger Hunt is fish!  Check out other fish postcards posted by her and by others — sometimes touristy, sometimes funny, always interesting.

Egrets: I've had a few but, then again, too few to mention

“Thousands of egrets decorate this mangrove island in newly opened Everglades National Park, Florida.”  Everglades National Park was officially dedicated by President Truman on 6 December 1947; various proposals, committees, studies, land deals and political shenanigans in furtherance of (or sometimes in opposition to) this goal had been in the works since as early as 1923.

The postcard itself is postmarked 23 January 1953 at Naples, Florida and, much to my consternation, I was at first unable to translate the message.

Just czeching in

Thanks to Al Gore and His Marvelous Internet, however, you’re never out of touch with someone who can easily translate between Czech and English.  It turns out that what Kris once referred to as the “classic American theme” of rubbing your presence in Florida in the face of those dealing with winter is, in fact, a universal one:

“Dear ones: Heartfelt greetings and a reminder of the sun here in hot Florida. Today is January 22 and it’s 90 degrees.  We are doing well and thinking of you in Michigan, where you are freezing. The Belohlaveks.”  This message is even funnier if you read it aloud with an Eastern European accent.

Cargo wessels

“Loading cotton at the Port of Corpus Christi, for ports throughout the world. For many years cotton was the main export commodity; however, in recent years, petroleum, petroleum products, chemicals and agricultural products have become major export commodities. In 1949 the Corpus Christi Waterway ranked 9th in tonnage among U.S. ports.”

This card is a bit of conundrum.  The Curt Teich serial number (4A-H2018) is unequivocal proof that this card was manufactured in 1934.  However, the description makes reference to events of 1949.  Obviously, therefore, this is a reprint and, according to the manufacturer’s procedure, should have received a reprint serial number, but did not.  Somebody was being lazy.

As far as lazy goes, the coloring on this card isn’t up to the usual Curt Teich standards either.  This image started out as a black-and-white photo, and the colorist simply failed to color the ship names on the bows, preferring instead to leave a rectangular non-colorized shape around the names.  The masts of the ships in the foreground, and the entire ship in the background, remain in black-and-white as well.

This is a card from Great-Grandpa Phil’s collection, sent to him and the missus from Corpus Christi on 23 June 1953 from “The Moyers”: “Hi folks. We are having a swell time, but sure is hot in Texas.”  Hot?  In Texas?  In June?  Seriously?

Sure is hot in Texas!

A nice place to visit

The colorist for this Curt Teich card (number 7A-H115, published in 1937 for the C. F. Johnston Company of Seattle) apparently felt that the town of Wrangell deserved to be portrayed as vividly as possible.  And from what I can tell, the Wrangell of today, though a bit larger, is just as vivid.  Wrangell is steeped in Tlinget culture, and is home to incredible nature observatories where one can watch the salmon-fishing bears from behind a photo blind.  They are also home to large concentrations of bald eagles during the spring and fall.

Wrangell’s main industry seems to be tourism; they boast no less than a dozen bed and breakfast inns.  Interestingly, the town is not accessible by road; one must travel by sea or air to get there.

This postcard is a gift from Donna, who claims that her postcards multiply overnight and is therefore trying to downsize.  Many thanks!

Sea Gulls Dip over Breaking Waves, at Cape May, N.J.

I guess we’ll have to take the postcard writer’s word that this is in fact the view off Cape May.  For all we know, one could drive up the road an hour or so and buy an identical card that says “Sea Gulls Dip over Breaking Waves, at Barnegat Bay, N.J.”  Oh, wait — they couldn’t be dipping over Barnegat Bay.  Because then they’d be bay gulls.

Bad puns aside, this beautifully-colored card was produced by Tichnor Bros. Inc., Boston, Mass, probably in the late 1930s.  It’s a gift from Donna, who was happy to let me appreciate it and prevent the postcards from completely taking over her living space.

Liberty Memorial Building, Bismarck, North Dakota

Postcard Friendship Friday once again brings us a card exchanged by postcard friends from long ago.  This card was sent to Kay Anthony on 7 October 1946 from Beason, Illinois, from her postcard pal Mrs. Logan Edwards.  Mrs. Edwards writes:

“This is a card I got in North Dakota as we traveled to the West Coast by train. We were gone right at five weeks and I will never forget the lovely scenery. We went as far north as Vancouver B.C. and as far south as San Diego, Cal. Our relatives out west showed us such as nice time.”

A postcard for Kay Anthony

This is a Curteich “C. T. American Art” postcard, number 103046-N, and it’s a linen postcard, though the card stock is heavier than typical of these types of cards.  The serial number indicates that it’s a reprint of an original run, and records weren’t kept of those types of runs; I can tell, however, that the original run was made in 1925.

The history of the building itself shows that, the more things change, the more things stay the same.  In 1919, the North Dakota Legislature granted an appropriation of $200,000 (adjusted for inflation, that’s about $2.44 million) to construct a building as a memorial to those who fell during the Great War (that is, World War I).  Consequently, some committee sat around for several months trying to decide what sort of design they wanted and, time being money, they decided to hurry up and get the basement poured while they finally got around to telling the architect how it should look.  Construction of the basement alone wound up using most of the appropriation, and so an additional appropriation of $150,000 was requested — in other words, the building went over budget by about 75%.  But why should the government care?  Hey, it wasn’t their money.

We'll head 'em off at the pass

“This view presents (the) original Pass of the North (Paso del Norte). It shows the Rio Grande, Highway U.S. 80, the Canal and Santa Fe R.R. emerging from this famous pass. Across the river are seen mountains in Old Mexico and Mt. Cristo Rey with its “Christ the King” Statue overlooking the valley.”

It used to be possible to take Highway 80 from coast to coast but, with the advent of Interstate Highways, the entire portion of US 80 west of Dallas, Texas has been decommissioned.  It’s still possible to take Highway 80 from Dallas and head east, staying with it all the way to the Atlantic Ocean; you’ll end up at Tybee Island, Georgia.

It’s unusual to see the description on the front of the card instead of the back, but there it is.  This is a Curteich “C. T. Art-Colortone” postcard, number 5B-H345, manufactured in 1945, and in pristine condition thanks to Kay Anthony.

Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch...

“This view taken below Niagara Falls shows the American Falls on the left and Bridal Veil on the right. Under the falls lies the Cave of the Winds, formed by thirty feet of projecting limestone. This so-called cave is 100 feet in height and 60 feet in depth.”

According to the back of the postcard, this is a Colourpicture Publication, Boston 15, Mass.  Since the words “one cent” have been unceremoniously removed from the text “Place one cent stamp here” in the stamp box, we can surmise that the card was published no earlier than 1952.

Combination courthouse / mini-golf course

“Several years were required in completing this splendid building. Located on Washington Square. Contains many fine paintings. The Municipal Courts Building is directly west of City Hall.”  I’m thinking that some artistic license was taken with regards to the coloring of the landscaping.

This week’s entry for Postcard Friendship Friday the 13th is addressed to Miss Evelyn Chester, a neighbor of Kay Anthony.  From Granite City, Illinois on May 26, 1945, “Nellie” writes: “Hi — Hold everything in the road until I come back.”  Wait — you want me to do what now?

Whoa, Nellie!

Don’t forget to check out what the other PFF bloggers have on display this week. Once you’re done, get some free pictures to spice up your blog.

Needs just a little more gold inlay

Oh, my, how opulent.  I’m sure that the fine people of Depression-era Pennsylvania didn’t mind paying for this at all.  Well, on the plus side, since the room was destined to be filled with politicians, we can be sure that this project was “shovel-ready”.

This is a Curteich “C. T. Art-Colortone” linen postcard, number 3A-H911, manufactured in 1933, and is postally unused.  It’s in pristine condition, thanks to the care of Kay Anthony.

Like a giant game of Tetris

This is an unused Curteich “C. T. Art-Colortone” card, number 1B-H723, manufactured in 1941 and coming to us from the collection of Kay Anthony.  The back of the card bears no description. I especially like the radio tower at the top of the building; it was probably the tallest construction in the city at the time.

Located at southeast corner of North Third and Walnut Streets in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the hotel had 14 stories and was constructed in 1918.  The original building on this site, the four-story YWCA, was built in 1914 and was demolished after only four years in favor of the hotel.

Sadly, the hotel itself was demolished in 1978 to make way for Strawberry Square, a million-square-foot office and shopping complex.

Direct your cannon fire at Room 418!

This linen postcard from the Asheville Post Card Company bears no description.  Judging from the art deco fonts on the back, it was probably made in the mid-1930s.   This particular card was among a stack of ten or so cards that were tucked into one of Kay Anthony’s albums; I had missed them but my wife noticed them a few days ago.  Unlike the cards I knew about, these haven’t had a chance to air out and smell a little bit musty, but in general the cards are in pristine condition and have very vibrant colors.  This card seems to be the exception; there’s some color fading as if portions of it had gotten damp at some point.

According to the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, “the Monticello Hotel opened in 1926, and in 1927 boasted of having the ‘largest searchlight in the world’ on its roof, which was claimed to be visible three hundred miles away. The light scanned the heavens over Charlottesville, and was often pointed at distant Monticello at night. Famous guests at the Monticello Hotel included Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, band leaders Tommy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo, writer Gertrude Stein, and movie stars Robert Taylor, Sterling Hayden, and Joan Blondell. The dining room of the Monticello Hotel was locally renowned until it closed in 1989 and was converted into office space. Today the hotel houses condominium apartments.”  I’m glad the building is still there.

Just in case Alex Trebek asks

“For millions of years this ‘Mighty Chimney’ 225 ft. high, has stood unmoved. The panorama from its top is a memory maker — beautiful mountains, Hickory Nut Gorge, towering cliffs, incomparable Lake Lure, and the Piedmont Plain.” This card from the Asheville Post Card Company is a treasure I almost missed, tucked away in one of the albums that had been owned by Kay Anthony.  Based on the art deco fonts on the back, it was probably made not later than the mid-1930s.

I'll bet making a left turn at that intersection was a snap

Here’s a postcard that Kay Anthony received in 1947 as part of a swap.  Mildred Wickham of Cumberland, Ohio, wrote the card on July 10, 1947, but didn’t mail it until four days later.  Mildred writes:

“Dear Pal: Thanks for lovely v. card of last mo. It wasn’t stamped at all in P.O. It’s raining this eve. I took ill last eve stomach spell, sore mouth. It’s due to a lack of vitamon (sic) B. Because my system won’t absorb it properly. I take lots of them. Jesus is precious to me & He never fails, Bless His sweet name.”

Postcard friends from long ago

This is a Curteich “C. T. Art Colortone” postcard, number 6B-H224, manufactured in 1946 and distributed by the Black and Grant Company of Zanesville.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers celebrating Postcard Friendship Friday!

Oh, your pipe wrench is so big.

She’s not bad; she’s just drawn that way. Lloyd Stoltz sent this card off to Kay Anthony on June 6, 1950 (the day before he sent her this card) with the message “See I’m asking you — ha ha. Hesitatingly, LS”.

Was Lloyd trying to cultivate a long-distance romance? What was the question from Kay to which he’s obviously replying? I don’t know where the cards that Kay sent to Lloyd are, but I hope they still exist somewhere.

See, I'm asking you...

The Memorial Church, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

“Stanford Memorial Chapel — located on the Campus of Stanford University, is considered one of the most beautiful churches in America. The extensive use of art mosaics for mural decorations combine to make it a structure more than unique in character, worthy of visiting and well remembered. This church was built as a memorial by Mrs. Stanford to her husband Senator Leland Stanford. Dedicated in January 1903. Only non-sectarian services are held.”

This is an obvious Curt Teich card (number 0B-H123, produced in 1940) but is marked only as being copyrighted by the Stanley A. Piltz Company of San Francisco as part of their “Pictorial Wonderland Art-Tone Series”. There is a little wear on the corners, but otherwise this card is in excellent condition. You should definitely click on the picture, so that you can marvel at the painstaking detail of this card’s colorist.