Postcards from Grandma, Aug. 21, 1908

On March 1, 1907, Gladys Hiestand was probably looking forward to the spring washing of her hair. Bigger news on that day for post card aficianados was the US Postal Service changed their rules so that postcards with a divided back were finally permitted. According to A Brief History of Postcard Types by Stefano Neis, The address had to be written on the right side of the back of the postcard while the left side was reserved for writing messages. At this time in American history the postcard hobby became a public addiction.

Postcards from this period are most collectible when they do not have writing on their fronts. Ones in prime condition currently go for $300 and up on vintage post card sites, whereas one like Grandma's, not including the historical family value, can be found on ebay for 99 cents. This "Real Photo" printed in England was considered of lesser value than those printed in Germany.

I like this card as it is the oldest card that has a message from Grandma. In case you can't read the message on the card itself, she writes:
Fri. morning [Aug 21, 1908]
Dear Mary: We arrived safe and sound Wed. morning and surprised them all greatly. Mamma got along better than usual. We enjoyed the pears greatly and ate them all but one, but Ellen & Roberta [Aunt Luna's daughters] soon made way with it. Found them all well. Gladys


Questions to be answered:
How long did Aunt Luna live in Mound City? At some point she moved to Columbia.
What did Uncle [first name unknown to me] Mitchell do in Mound City?
How long did it take to get from Hillsboro to Mound City via train in 1908?
When was Aunt Luna born?
When were Ellen and Roberta born?
Did "Mamma" not travel well or was she poorly in general?

Stay tuned for further postcard adventures!

Postcards from Grandma Nov. 2, 1906

Here is the oldest post card in Grandma's collection that she sent to her friend Mary Cowman in 1906, when she evidently went on a trip to Indiana at the age of 14. About 12 years later, Aunt Mary and possibly an unknown "Dorothy" used the card for writing practice.

According to the Indiana Historical Society, Union Station, which opened in 1888, was considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque Revival architecture in the Midwest. By 1900, two hundred passenger trains per day passed through the train shed. In 1983, the train shed was renovated to become the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The hotel includes suites of remodeled Pullman sleeping cars from the 1920s resting on their original tracks. In 1986, some of the station was converted into a shopping center with stores and restaurants, but this enterprise was abandoned in 1997. In 2002, 21st Century Charter School, the city’s first charter school, opened in the building.