Happy New Year with More Century-old Postcards
I hope you all have the best New Year ever. Here a few more of the popular New Year’s postcards from the beginning of the last century. They are from the Library/Archives collections at York County Heritage Trust. Assistant Librarian Victoria Miller has 28 New Year’s cards on exhibit in cases outside the interior library doors at 250 East Market Street, York. Library patrons are always welcome to look at about 100 more New Year’s postcards, as well as hundreds celebrating Christmas and other holidays, during regular library hours.
The colorful birds on a snowy background above were sent to Miss E.E. Fahs, 437 West Market St., York, Pa. It was postmarked La Cross, Wis. 1912. The tiny logo is for the LSC company and is dated 1911. An internet search turns up many colorful postcards created by LSC.
The message reads:
Dear Aunt,
I received the pretty [p]resent you sent and thank you very much for it.
Suppose you are having a good time in Wash., D. C. so write soon
Elmer
This striking embossed 1908 card, in gold with lucky clover leaves, was sent to Miss Annie Stambach, Dover, York County. It was postmarked Gettysburg, Dec 31 5:30 PM. The year is illegible—the postage cancellation often did not print clearly on heavily embossed cards. The reverse tells that is a product of the Illustrated Postal Card Company, New York & Germany and that it was “Made in Germany.”
The message is simply:
From
Aunt Ella
The message on the purple card is more interesting than the card. It was sent from one teacher to another and gives an idea of what young adults were doing for fun at the time. This card was also printed in Germany, as were many of the colorful postcards. It is addressed to Prof. Chas. Kauffman, Hopewell, Bedford Co., PA
The message is:
Mr. Kauffman,
Wish you a very prosperous and Happy New Year.
Am teaching again, I am not working hard though . We go out sleighing almost every night. It is drifting the snow here now. My aunts address is Woodburry.
You certainly must tell me about Miss Knight’s adventures. I suppose you are having vacation now. I did not take any vacation although I would like one, as I think you are tired till Xmas is over.
Bertha Longenecker
The card is postmarked Bakers Summit, PA Dec 30 AM 1909. According to Goggle maps, Hopewell, Woodbury and Bakers Summit are not too far from one another in Bedford County near the Blair County border. A transcription of Bedford County marriages at www.mowerfamily.org shows that teacher Bertha Longenecker, age 27, married Howard Melvin Shaffer in June 1912. There were several Charles Kauffmans in that area as well as in York County.
Click here to read an 1850s York newspaper article about the dangers of sleighing parties.
