History – Lost Greetings

This postcard traveled from the itty-bitty town of Galilee, PA to Great Lakes, Illinois, home to a massive Navy installation which trained a staggering number of sailors for service in World War II.

The front of this card features an aerial image of Camp Chicopee, a traditional summer camp which was located in the rural northwest corner of Pennsylvania near the New York state line. The camp was in operation until the late 1960s (source), but based on some Google Maps sleuthing, the land has since returned to private use and little trace remains of the buildings depicted in this photo.

Regarding supervising campers, I can personally relate to the sender’s sentiments. I myself worked as a camp counselor for one summer in rural Vermont when I was 19, and can attest that keeping a group of 8-year-olds entertained and out of trouble is no easy feat no matter the era. Though, for the recipient of this card, I’m sure a Navy life wasn’t much of a picnic either. Continue reading “Summer Camp and Boot Camp [1943 – Galilee, PA]” →

Vintage Photos

Post Office in the Sand: Servicemen Sorting Packages on an Unidentified Island in the Pacific – [1940s Photo]

January 18, 2020March 30, 2020 lostgreetings

This is not a postcard, but I also have an affinity for photos such as this.

Though postcards have fallen out of popularity as short-form communication, packages are still of vital importance to everyone of us. This is especially true for Americans still serving in far-flung locations around the globe, just as they were in this candid photo from the Pacific Theater of World War II. Instead of being secured with clear packing tape, the parcels pictured here were carefully tied with string before being entrusted to the mail service to bring a bit of home to service members abroad.

“Photograph of two U.S. Army Air Forces servicemen sorting packages in the sand in a post office hut at an unidentified camp on an unidentified island in the Pacific Theater during World War II. A row of Army Air Forces mail bags is seen on a stand. Photograph taken or collected by Capt. Ferd L. Davis of Zebulon, N.C., while he served in the 394th Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomb Group (Heavy), during the war (undated).”

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From Ferd L. Davis Papers, WWII 191, World War II Papers, Military Collection, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.

Europe, Military Postcards, Postcards

Now quartered [1945 – A.P.O. 527 Germany]

January 4, 2018August 4, 2020 lostgreetings

George found himself in a quaint alpine village in the late summer of 1945. The picturesque village of Reit im Winkl is a small German town near the Austrian border with a strong tradition of tourism. No rank or unit is given on this card, but the postcard was stamped at APO 527.

August 17

We are now quartered in this little Alpine village. We are really miles from no where. They say the snow here is terrific gets to 8′ deep in the village. Don’t you think the Alps look beautiful?

George

Postmark: U.S. Army Postal Service A.P.0 572 – 25 Aug 1945

To: Miss Olga Schleichen | 450 N. Pine St. | Indianapolis, Indiana

Image description: Reit im Winkl mit Keisergebirge 2344m

Reit im Winkl

An alpine community in the Southeast corner of modern Germany, to this day, the town has no rail connection (source), but remains a popular destination for winter and summer outdoor sports.

Reit im Winkl Tourist Information

Wikipedia

Postcards, United States

Cannot walk home [1910 – Bensenville/Chicago, Illinois]

October 12, 2017October 11, 2017 lostgreetings

Postcards like this one always prompt me to reflect on how places change over decades. The building pictured is the Art Institute of Chicago, constructed in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exhibition. The card was postmarked Bensenville, Illinois, which is located near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

This antique photograph postcard reflects an earlier era before the divided back postcard format. The message had to be squeezed on the front and the reverse reserved for the address only.

The place and time where Marie wrote and sent this card seems as distant from our present as our nearest celestial neighbors are from Earth itself. The Chicago of today would be unrecognizable to a 1910 resident, save for monumental landmarks such as this one.

“Come for me to night as I cannot walk home very well. Even if it is late. I must sew late any way. Marie”

To: Miss Eleanor Ehlers, Bensenville, Illinois

Postmark: Bensonville, Illinois – July 1, 1910

Image: Real photograph “Art Institute of Chicago”

Continue reading “Cannot walk home [1910 – Bensenville/Chicago, Illinois]” →

Europe, Postcards

Before and After [1937 – Fleet Street, London]

September 21, 2017September 12, 2017 lostgreetings

Featuring an Interwar photograph of St. Clement Danes Church and Fleet Street in London, this postcard proves that worthwhile correspondence can be short. Designed by famed architect Sir Christopher Wren, the church was severely damaged in World War II bombing raids of London. In 1958, St Clement Danes became the Central Church of the Royal Air Force with features inside and out, commemorating units and individual members of the RAF (Wikipedia).

Best Wishes

To: Nashville, Tenn U.S.A.

Postmark: London, 6 Sep 1937 “Post Early in the Day”

More About St Clement Danes

Ablaze after German Blitz May 10, 1941

Continue reading “Before and After [1937 – Fleet Street, London]” →

Military Postcards, Postcards, United States

I wouldn’t trade my place with anybody. [1941 – Ellington Field, TX]

September 7, 2017August 4, 2020 lostgreetings

Such a charming message with positive sentiment from this soldier who only left us his initials. Ellington Field (where this card was postmarked) was a significant military installation for the war effort in the 1940’s, offering advanced flight training for bomber pilots (Wikipedia).

Due to favorable weather patterns (well, at least most of the time) surrounding its location near Houston, Texas, Ellington Field has served as a significant aviation operations center for the U.S. Military since the First World War. It’s legacy continues as the present “Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base,” serving the Texas Air National Guard, Johnson Space Center (NASA), and other active duty units (source: Wikipedia).

August 18-1941

Dear friend

I just thought I would write you and send this card along at the same time. Everything on the other side pertains to me except the last line. I wouldn’t trade my place with anybody. Believe it or not that is a picture of me on the other side. I think I’ll get to come home next Saturday. Well this leaves me still a kicking and doing fine.

So long. RRH

To: Miss Martha Bolton / Buckholts, Texas

Postmark: Ellington Field, Texas – Aug 19, 1941 – 1 cent stamp

Continue reading “I wouldn’t trade my place with anybody. [1941 – Ellington Field, TX]” →

Military Postcards, Postcards, United States

A Full House: Coastal Artillery [1943-Watsonville, California]

August 17, 2017August 4, 2020 lostgreetings

Private Ellis jotted this quick and lighthearted note to a friend while stationed on the West Coast. Camp McQuaide was an active post during WWII which specialized in Coastal Artillery, and was located on the Pacific coast in Santa Cruz County, California. (source).

Hello Sarg

How is Trisha[?] by now. As for me everything is OK. Save that da[?] for I am going to get that furlow sometime. I hope. Ha Ha.

Love Mart

From:
Pvt. Marvin H. Ellis
Btry C 102 Trng Bn.
Camp McQuaide, California U.S. Army

To:
Mr. Ed Mathis
Detroit, Michigan

Postmark: Watsonville, California – Jan 18, 1943 Continue reading “A Full House: Coastal Artillery [1943-Watsonville, California]” →

Medical, Postcards, United States

She has a rash. [1953 – Cheyenne, Wyoming]

August 10, 2017July 20, 2018 lostgreetings

Poor Carolyn. I’m sure a bout of the measles couldn’t have been much fun. Somehow, she and Ruby managed to enjoy the capitol and Indian reservation. Next stop Colorado Springs.

Hello there. How is every body. Carolyn has been sick ever since we’ve been here but is a little better. She has a rash. [?] or measles. I think it is the shots Dr. [?] sad she had virus infection. We’ve seen the Indian Reservation. The capitol is pretty. we are going over to Col. Springs

See I made it O.K.

Ruby K.

To:

Mrs. Felix Tyson Family
East Morrison
Gallatin, Tennessee

Postmark: July 2, 1953 – Cheyenne, Wyoming

Comic Cards – Comic Postcard C-102 “I’ll bet you thought I couldn’t make it, officer!”

Continue reading “She has a rash. [1953 – Cheyenne, Wyoming]” →

North America, Postcards

Greetings from Xochimilco [1920 – Mexico]

July 27, 2017September 6, 2017 lostgreetings

Reasons why I find this particular postcard fascinating:

Name: An addressee name I’ve never heard before: “Alphild” (a traditional Norse forname)
Uncommon date: Postcard popularity slowed in the 1920s, so this is one of the few I have from that decade.
Place: Xochimilco is a fascinating location. This postcard was sent before Xochimilco was incorporated into Mexico City in 1928, and retains its distinct identity today. Chinampa is the type of traditional agriculture practice here along the canals, and is a tourist attraction as well.
Content: I always enjoy reading about how the sender got to their destination, and here William H. mentions a pleasant train journey. What a train ride to Mexico City must have been like in 1920 is fascinating to imagine.

Greetings from Xochimilco Mexico. Had a very pleasant train trip to Mexico City. The weather is Simply Magnificent. How was your trip home? And how is little Alphild?

My Best William H.

Misses Alphild & Evanna Larson
5100 S. Cornell
Chicago, Ill
U.S.A.

Postmark: 17 April 1920 – Mexico

More about the location:

Xochimilco, Early 20th Century

Ca. 1910-1919 Source: Flickr

No sign of moving yet [1919 – Bar-le-Duc, France]

July 22, 2017August 4, 2020 lostgreetings

The Treaty of Versailles had not yet been signed, but Umberger can certainly see the light at the end of the tunnel. With a location-less postmark from the U.S. Army Postal Service, there’s no telling exactly from where in Europe this postcard was sent. Umberger would likely have been in the vicinity of Bar-le-Duc at some point to have acquired the image of this town in Northwest France. Hopefully he arrived back on American soil not long after his postcard did.

I have two postcards from this WWI soldier, A.C. Umberger. Here is the other, sent in March 1919.

A pretty nice place. Hope to be home soon to play with you but there is no sign of moving yet.

Yours

A.C. Umberger

To:

Miss Jean T. Hunter
326 E. Bucynus St.
Crestline, Ohio
U.S.A.

Postmark: U.S. Army Postal Service, Feb 18, 1919 / “Passed as censored” stamp

Image: Bar-le-Duc