Friday, April 4, 2014

Postcard: The former U.S. Post Office in Williamsport, Pa.


This old postcard features the former U.S. Post Office in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It was postmarked on June 1, 1906, and mailed from Williamsport to Wigton, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. (I can't even find much evidence that "Wigton" exists any more.)

The note on the front states: "Arrived safe Think the City beautiful."

Regarding this building, according to Wikipedia:

"United States Post Office, now known as Williamsport City Hall, is a historic city hall located at Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. It was built between 1888 and 1891, and is a 2½- to 3-story building, with a 2-story addition and 6-story tower. The exterior is faced with rough-faced gray limestone ashlar. It was designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect under the direction of William A. Freret (1833–1911). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972."

Here's a link to what it looks like these days.

One of the interesting things about the postcard is that it has an added feature of a substance that we might call glitter glue (colored bronze) added to some of the lines of the building and also to the streetcar tracks. It's a bit difficult to see, so here's a closer look...

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Old advertising card for Frank J. Murphy in Baltimore


This is a neat advertising card for Frank J. Murphy, which was located at 415, 417 and 419 West Baltimore Street in Baltimore, Maryland. It appears that the store, which dealt in household goods, was in its heyday around 1900. Here is the voluminous message that's printed on the back.

MANY IMITATORS, BUT NO COMPETITORS.
$50 Worth of Goods
$1 CASH, $1 PER WEEK

THE OLD RELIABLE INSTALLMENT HOUSE OF
FRANK J. MURPHY
Still Holds Fast to Its First Principles of
HONEST DEALINGS WITH ALL,
Guaranteeing All Goods as Represented and Giving More
Liberal Terms than any other Establishment.
WE HAVE THREE LARGE FOUR-STORY WAREHOUSES FILLED WITH

HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.
To enumerate the stock in our many departments would occupy too much space.
We will simply state that we have

FURNITURE, CARPETS,
MATTINGS, OILCLOTHS,
REFRIGERATORS,
BABY CARRIAGES
And Housefurnishing Goods of all kinds.
EACH DEPARTMENT BEING SEPARATE AND DISTINCT.
We have a larger stock and a Greater Variety of Styles than will be found in any one establishment in the city, which we offer you ON INSTALLMENT AT CASH PRICES.
GIVE US A CALL.
We do exactly as we advertise. Make and lay all Carpters, Mattings and Oilcloths Free of Charge.
FRANK J. MURPHY,
415, 417 and 419 W. Baltimore Street

Sunday, March 30, 2014

A fun little QSL card experiment


And now for something a little bit different...

This old QSL card for "The Sweeper's" — Bill and Rose Carter of Quincy, Massachusetts — was never used. So I wrote a short note on the back and am putting into the mail, addressed to the "Current Residents" as the street address printed on the card.

Here's what I wrote:
March 30, 2014

From: Chris Otto in York, Pennsylvania

Hello! Just for fun, I thought I'd mail this old ham radio QSL card back to its former home. Not sure if the Carter family still lives there or not. Contact me at chrisottopa@gmail.com and/or see my blog — www.papergreat.com.

Now we can just sit back and see if anything happens!
Are you tingling with excitement??

Three vintage "Rally Day" church postcards

On the heels of last Sunday's "We Missed You at Church" postcards, here's something with a similar theme — postcards promoting Rally Day at church.

As I noted last September, Rally Day typically happens sometime between mid-September and early October, and it marks the start of the church calendar year. Rally Day is a customary time to welcome new members, launch Sunday School, hand out Bibles to children and unveil the church's goals.

These three postcards come from different eras but share that welcoming "come and join us" message.

1. This card is aimed a teenagers with its musical theme and record player. It was printed in the United States but there is no other identifying information.

I wonder if we can use the boy's socks to accurately date the postcard?


2. This colorful postcard was never used. It has spaces on the back to record the date, time and place for Rally Day. Note that the trees in the illustration have an autumn-like look to them.


3. This is the oldest, by far, of the today's three postcards. In fact, it's at least 100 years old, as it was postmarked at 8 p.m. on September 24, 1914, in Putnam, Connecticut. It was addressed to a Miss Doris Card. The card was produced by Goodenough & Woglom Company of New York City. (Goodenough & Woglom also produced the game Bible Lotto.)