Have you ever seen such a breathtaking view?

“Bridge Spanning Cuyahoga River on Ohio Turnpike.” I don’t want to be too technical, but it appears that the bridge pictured is spanning the Ohio Turnpike. Unless, of course, they built the turnpike on the riverbed. Hope they don’t get a lot of rain! Actually, what I think is happening in this picture is that, once one reaches the rise in the distance, there be the bridge — making this card woefully mislabeled. Blame our old friends the Tichnor Bros. of Boston 15, Mass., who manufactured this “Lusterchrome” card. (What, it doesn’t look lustrous to you?)

Great Aunt Esther sent this card off to Great-Grandma Lottie on November 17, 1958: “We are on our way to Peninsula on this side of Akron Ohio, to see a man that did work for Bill. He is not able to work anymore.” Come on, Esther; I’m not looking for a full biography or anything, but did you have to leave us hanging like that? Did the man lose a leg or something?

Aunt Esther wasn't big on the details.

First Baptist Church, Providence, RI

I know it will surprise many of my Southern friends to learn that the nation’s oldest Baptist church was built by Yankees. The First Baptist Church of Providence, Rhode Island was founded as an organization by Roger Williams in 1638; this meeting hall was built in 1775 and today still looks much like the image above. Quahog.org has some detailed images as well as the history of the church, along with information for visitors.

Acadian Memorial Park, Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia

A poor quality, divided back postcard from the Photogelatine Engraving Co. Ltd. of Ottawa, probably published around 1930 (although I grant you that it has lasted 80 years fairly unscathed). It was in 1930 that the church in this (at the time) privately-owned park was completed.

To the right you can see the statue of “Evangeline,” the subject of the poem by Longfellow. The poem tells a fictionalized tale of the very real expulsion of Acadians from the Canadian Maritime Provinces — Acadia — between 1755 and 1763 by the British. A great many Acadians wound up in Louisiana, and you have doubtless heard their descendants referred to as “Cajuns”.

The Canadian government acquired the park in 1957, and today it is known as the Grand-Pré National Historical Site.

I purchased this card in Nova Scotia in 2002, in a shop not too far from the park.

Now that's luxury.

“Camptown: Luxurious Campground. Heated swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna, fishing, tennis, archery, pitch and putt golf course, minutes from Disney World and other major attractions!” Hell, why bother with Disney World when you have all these amenities?

Joan and Dick apparently sent this to their friend back home in New York, in February 1987. “Hi. We’ve been in Fla. a month. Weather hasn’t been great but no Snow (thanks for that clarification; we were all wondering — Ed.). We plan on 2 more weeks in Florida then on to Texas and West. We expect to get home in June. Then down to the shore.” Does the fun ever stop?

Fun with Dick and Joan

We'll leave the light on for you.

The first Motel 6 opened off the Santa Barbara beach in 1962 (and is still in operation today). This is Motel 6 #2, also still in operation, and also in Santa Barbara, but uptown. It looks better today that it does in this photo, perhaps due to the white paint job, but I can’t help but notice that they still have the same teal-colored doors on the rooms.

I’m guessing this photo was taken during the late 60’s or early 70’s; that looks to me like a 1968 Pontiac LeMans in the lower right corner. (Please, correct me if I am wrong.)

I have no recollection of where this unused postcard came from; I have never been to California, and while my wife has been there a few times (the first at least 10 years after this card was published), this motel doesn’t fit her recollections either.

Dania Beach Hotel

“…Located in the health-giving southeast coast… Situated along the Boulevard to the Beach in a beautiful three acre Park of Tropical Palms, Shrubbery, Flowers and Fruits… Surf Bathing… Boating… Fishing… Golfing… Shuffle-Board and other Sports for your entertainment and happiness… All outside rooms with private bath or shower… Rates $2.50 up.” Oh, and it was also AAA approved.

This “Genuine Curteich Chicago ‘C.T. Photo-Colorit’ Post Card” is in pristine condition. The production number of 8A-H2121 indicates that it was manufactured in 1938, and the stampbox asks you to “place one cent stamp here.” I spotted this card on eBay in early 2003, and bought it because it’s such a beautiful card, and because the subject was within driving distance of my home at the time. I paid $1.50.

Here’s the Dania Beach Hotel today, still in operation (so far as I know), looking a little worse for wear, and doubtless charging more than $2.50 for a room:

Dania Beach Hotel (Today)