Laurel Cottage Genealogy
Genealogy Services, Old Photos, Postcards, Trade Cards, Etc.

Monthly Archives: May 2014

983 Woodruff Place East Drive, Indianapolis, 1912

Posted on May 25th, 2014 by

Mystery House At 983 pc1Mystery House At 983 pc2

“April 19, 1912. Dear Folks:  Al was out to see us Wed. evening and told us you were nicely located. Fess has been at home sick since Monday P.M. he has gone to the office now for a little while he is not well yet and if he does not get well soon he will take a trip to Battle Creek Mich. have a new stomach made out of his old one. The rest of us are well. Love to all   U ? s [Unis?]”

Addressed to:  “Mr. John Hormell, New Smyrna Florida, General Delivery”

This was a great one to research. Nothing was found in the New Smyrna area for the addressee, John Hormell. Maybe the Hormells were snowbirds and the Florida address was temporary. And the sender’s name is awfully hard to read, and Unis or Eunice a rather popular name, so nothing definite was found there. However, Fess turns out to be Fessenden W. Lough of 983 Woodruff Place East Drive, Indianapolis. If you enlarge the image you can see the street number just to the left of the porch gate. I was having no luck searching for Fess without having his last name. So, what the heck, I tried Googling just  “983 Indianapolis” and came up with the correct address above, (what are the odds?) but of course I didn’t know it was the correct address at first. But then Find A Grave was a major help, showing Fess’ full name with wife Josie (Healton) Lough. The search then in Ancestry.com for Fessenden W. Lough revealed the city directories which showed the street address of 983 East Drive (W. P.) – What the heck is W. P.? I searched for 983 East Drive and that brought up East Street, not Drive. But getting back to Google again brought up the Woodruff Place result, then the light bulb went on, (duh or voila, whichever your preference) – W. P. for Woodruff Place.  In 1912, Fess was Chairman for the Prohibition State Headquarters, and we might assume from what the sender wrote that this could have been a little stressful. Incidentally, the Battle Creek Sanitarium mentioned on the card was a health resort renowned for stressing the holistic approach to healing. Anyway, in the same household in 1912 is Avis M. Lough, stenographer, and Thomas W. Lough, no occupation given. Maybe this card was written by Avis, but the signature seems to start with a “U.” Back to the city directories:  The 1914 shows Fess’ occupation as Evangelist, with Thomas Lough still living with him. A little further online searching shows that Fess was a Quaker, born Montgomery, Indiana in 1874, and that his parents are Thomas W. Lough and Lydia Andrus.  In searching again online it was excellent to find that this beautiful house still exists today. (But what are the fairly evenly-spaced marks on the house’s top front trim in this photo?)

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, used. Postmarked from Indianapolis, Indiana April 19, 1912.

Price:  $15.00

Sources:  Find A Grave memorial number 84015216. (www.findagrave.com)

Publisher R. L. Polk & Co., Indianapolis city directory 1912, p. 992 and 1914 Indianapolis city directory, p. 900. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]

Earlham College; Richmond, Indiana; Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes. Ancestry.com. U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1994

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Creek_Sanitarium

Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories: Houses, Postcards, Postcards Used, Real Photo Postcards

Bonham, Barnhart And Thomas – Four Generations

Posted on May 22nd, 2014 by

Bonhan And Barnhart Four Generations pc1Bonhan And Barnhart Four Generations pc2

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, unused with writing. AZO stamp box. Date of photo:  October 12, 1910.

Price:  $15.00

“Oct. 12 – 1910. The fourth generation. Grand ma Bonham age 78, Grand ma Barnhart age 59, May Thomas age 25, Bernice Thomas age 18 mo.”

Real Photo Postcard showing four generations of Bonham, Barnhart and Thomas women. How nice that they are identified, and with their ages listed, too. Also lucky that someone had written what they thought to be the location of Kellogg, Idaho (which I think we can assume to be correct.) In checking the census records, we find on the Federal Census, taken 1910 in Kellogg, Idaho,  Bernice Thomas, the adorable little girl here (notice that she is wearing a ring – how cute), born Idaho 1909, with her mother May (standing) born Missouri 1886, and father Richard Thomas, born Wales 1880 of Welsh parents. Richard Thomas is listed as proprietor of a barber shop.

May Barnhart married Richard Thomas. The marriage record shows April 25, 1906, Shoshone, Idaho (referring to either city or county of Shoshone) and May’s full name is Anna Mae Barnhart. Is there a 1900 census showing Anna Mae and family? Ah-ha, yes. Anna Mae is one of five children on the 1900 taken in Kellogg:  This census shows David H. Barnhart, born 1847 Indiana, occupation carpenter; Eliza J., born 1850 Ohio; Henry C., born 1868 Kansas; Andrew L., born 1870 Kansas; Dee, born 1883 Missouri; Anna M., born 1885 Missouri; Josiah H., born 1889 Missouri; Sarah A. Bonham, widowed mother-in-law to head of household David, born 1832 Ohio; and border Randolph Scofield, born 1865 New Zealand of New Zealand parents. (I just finding this interesting, as New Zealand doesn’t come up too often in U.S. census records.)

So, now we’ve got three out of four of these beautiful ladies identified….We then find census records showing Sarah A. married to Hamilton Bonham, and a marriage record showing Sarah Ann Patterson, married 1849 in Ohio to Hamilton H. Bonham. Sarah and Hamilton had a large family, but a full listing would require much research, so won’t be pursued here. A very touching obituary and beautiful photo can be found on the Find A Grave website for Sarah Ann (Patterson) Bonham, along with a link for husband Hamilton Bonham and a wonderful photo for him.

Just to recap, in this postcard photo we have:  Sarah Ann (Patterson) Bonham (on the left) born Ohio, 1832; Sarah’s daughter Elizabeth Jane (Bonham) Barnhart (holding Bernice) born Ohio about 1850; Liza Jane’s daughter Anna Mae (Barnhart) Thomas (standing) born about 1885 Missouri; and Anna Mae’s daughter Bernice Thomas, born Idaho, about 1909.

Sources:  Year: 1910; Census Place: Kellogg, Shoshone, Idaho; Roll: T624_227; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0253; FHL microfilm: 1374240. (Ancestry.com)

Upper Snake River Family History Center and Ricks College; Rexburg, Idaho; Idaho Marriages, 1842-1996. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Kellogg, Shoshone, Idaho; Roll: 234; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0101; FHL microfilm: 1240234. (Ancestry.com)

Source number: 565.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: DHL. Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1880; Census Place: Cass, Wapello, Iowa; Roll: 368; Family History Film: 1254368; Page: 256D; Enumeration District: 072; Image: 0133. (Ancestry.com)

Find A Grave memorial number 67106311. Online at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=67106311

Tags: , , ,
Categories: Children, Photos With Names, Postcards, Postcards Unused With Writing, Real Photo Postcards

Little Dutch Boy

Posted on May 20th, 2014 by

Little Dutch Boy pc1Little Dutch Boy pc2

Divided back, used postcard, postmarked September 1, 1916 from San Francisco, California. Publisher:  The Gibson Art Company, Cincinnati. Series or number 3536.

Price:  $7.00

“I’ve lots of room

in my heart ’tis true,

And I’m keeping a

great, big place for you!”

A very well-done postcard from The Gibson Art Company (artist unknown) of a little Dutch boy in traditional costume. The card is addressed to:  “Mrs. J. M. Ellison, 1415 Lee St, Sacramento, Cal.”  The sender (whose signature is difficult to make out) wrote:  “Dear Mother, arrived O.K. this morning and certainly having a nice time. Maybe I won’t have time to write again. Am terribly busy.”

Tags: ,
Categories: Children, Hats, People, Postcards, Postcards Used, The Alice Ellison Collection, Traditional Costumes

Bridal Shower Card

Posted on May 19th, 2014 by

Bridal Shower Card 1Bridal Shower 2Bridal Shower 3

Bridal shower card, circa 1927 from The Buzza Co. The yellow ribbon attached to the card has produced some discoloration under the ribbon on the front and inside of the card.

Price: $20.00

“Here is wishing all your showers

Will be happy ones like this.

And that when you are a Mrs.

My gift will not come a-miss.”

It’s raining flowers in this absolutely lovely bridal shower card showing a young dark-haired bride-to-be in a yellow and white gown, and holding a cute little black umbrella. This is a Buzza Company card, and there is already a lot that’s been written about this company and it’s founder, so just a few quick facts:  Buzza was George E. Buzza (1883 – 1957) who started a greeting card company that became one of the largest in the United States. The first cards came out in 1910. The company was known for it’s high quality and innovation, and also produced other items like bridge score cards, etiquette and children’s books, and framed sentimental sayings. The card shown above opens almost in the center to reveal the message on the inside; the second image above was cropped so that the saying would be easier to read. The third image shown above is, of course, the back of the card, and you would hardly recognize that there is anything there unless you look very closely. At the bottom right there is a faint imprint showing “The Buzza Co. Craftacres. Mpls. U. S. A. Copyright 1924”  . Craftacres is a building name:  When the company, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, needed more space, Buzza had a new building constructed that was opened to it’s employees in May of 1927, and was named Craftacres.

Source:  Koutsky, L. (2013, April 23) Checking out the buzz at Buzza Lofts. The Journal. Retrieved from:  http://www.journalmpls.com/voices/voices/checking-out-the-buzz-at-buzza-lofts

Tags: , , ,
Categories: Buzza Company Cards, Flowers, Miscellaneous Cards and Other, Umbrellas and Parasols

Lilies Of The Valley

Posted on May 18th, 2014 by

Lillies Of The Valley pc1Lillies Of The Valley pc2

Divided back, embossed, unused postcard. Series or number 3307. Publisher unknown. Date circa 1907 – 1914.

Price:  $1.00

“Great souls by instinct

to each other turn,

Demand alliance, and

in friendship burn.”

Graceful lilies of the valley on a gold-tone background showing a well-known verse from the poem “The Campaign” (1704) by Joseph Addison (1672-1719), an English essayist, poet, dramatist and politician.

Source:  http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joseph_Addison

Tags: ,
Categories: Flowers, Postcards, Postcards Unused

Chinatown, San Francisco

Posted on May 18th, 2014 by

Chinatown San Francisco pc1Chinatown San Francisco pc2

“San Francisco’s Chinatown. Keystone thoroughfare of interesting and colorful oriental activity in San Francisco is famous Grant Avenue – many quaint bazaars and shops, cafes and nightclubs offer a picturesque and romantic contrast between eastern and western hemisphere customs. The annual parade of the Buddah Lion, Joss-house ceremonies, banquets and paper lantern festivals herald the Chinese New Year here in an Asiatic atmosphere of universal appeal to visitors.”

In the bottom left corner we can see part of the sign for the New Lincoln Hotel. Just next to this is the sign showing Sing Fat Co. Across the street, on the same side, we see the Sing Chong Co. with the words Chinese Bazaar on the building. In looking for the approximate date of this postcard I came across almost the exact photograph online at NYPL (New York Public Library) Digital Gallery, however there is no date given. There is a very interesting thing about the other photo, though:  The architectural scroll that we see here in the foreground, is missing. Evidently the photographer or company that produced it, must have felt that the scroll detracted from the scene. In looking at the NYPL digital image below, you’ll notice the blue tinge to the area that was altered, and it looks like the street car tracks were put back in. The photo that the postcard was printed from and the one on the NYPL website were probably taken on the same day, but definitely at different intervals; the people in the photos are different, for one thing. The car that is parked at the corner (with it’s nose going uphill) is a major clue to the date of the two photos:  It is believed to be a 1927 Nash 239 Special Six Sedan. The year 1927 also comes up for another postcard (found online regarding a different subject) that indicated the same printer and publisher info as on the postcard image on top…. Below is the NYPL image for comparison.

Grant Ave Chinatown

Divided back, unused postcard. Bardell Hi-Gloss Print. Published for Scenic View Card Co., San Francisco, California. Date:  circa 1927.

Price of postcard – shown as front and back images at top:  $10.00.

See source below for any inquiries regarding the digital image at NYPL.

Source:  The New York Public Library, NYPL Digital Collections. Image 1640819. “View of San Francisco’s Chinatown.”  [http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e4-763e-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99]

Tags: ,
Categories: Automobiles Buses Trucks, Postcards, Postcards Unused

Photo Day

Posted on May 17th, 2014 by

Christening Day pc1Christening Day pc2

Real Photo Postcard, unused. AZO stamp box. Circa 1907 – 1918.

Price:  $10.00

The divided back plus AZO stamp box, with all four triangles pointing up, places this Real Photo Postcard at around 1907 – 1918. We can tell the original photo was of the studio variety from the fake backdrop; it’s a charmer of a youngish mother and father with their infant son or daughter. The child wears a white gown and a very unusual bonnet with sides that stick out. (We wonder how the child felt about that bonnet later on!) The woman wears a short-sleeved corduroy dress with lace applied at the sleeves and in a “V” at the neck, a large-brimmed hat, and gloves. The man wears a pin-striped, three-piece suit and tie. We can see that his shirt collar is of the pointed, turned down variety. A shadow was produced in the photo from the collar that is not laying flat. He wears a hat with a short brim that is perched back on his head, maybe because he was having his photo taken, and we can see the shine on his right shoe and notice the side buttons. Also, if you look closely at this photo you will see the stuffed animal that the child is holding; it looks like a lion, and you’ll notice that the mother is making sure the lion stays in one place for the photo. We might imagine that this photo could have been taken after the child’s christening, or perhaps it was part of the family’s Sunday excursion to the park, after attending church.

Tags:
Categories: Children, Hats, Photos Without Names, Postcards, Postcards Unused, Real Photo Postcards

The Conversation

Posted on May 17th, 2014 by

The Conversation pc1The Conversation pc2

Divided back, unused postcard. Publisher unknown. Date circa 1910 – 1920.

Price:  $4.00

Unusual postcard scene of a girl on a pony, talking with a boy that is standing a little bit in front of them. The boy and girl appear to be having a conversation, and the scene takes place on a dirt road with the houses or other buildings of the community behind them, and in the background some snow covered mountains. For some reason this scene reminds me of Eastern Europe, but it could depict a number of different locations around the world. The image is round and surrounded by a gold-tone border with white – how does one describe these designs? I’ve seen a similar design once or twice before on other postcards – they remind me of thistle. I like this card because of it’s unusual theme and design, and the slightly optical illusion effect of the circle going off the postcard.

Update Sept. 2015:  The scene’s location mystery appears to have been solved. No, it does not match this web author’s fanciful Eastern Europe impression; as it turns out it is much closer to home – the Pacific Northwest. See River Logging Stereoview.

Tags: ,
Categories: Animals, Children, Horses, Postcards, Postcards Unused

Beautiful Mother And Daughter

Posted on May 16th, 2014 by

Beautiful Mother And Daughter p1

Oval studio photo, with decorative border, mounted on heavy cardboard. Date:  circa 1890 – 1900. Size:  About 6 x 4″

Price:  $15.00

A gorgeous oval studio photo found in Salinas, California of a mother and daughter. I love their beautiful expressions and how the mom is looking off to her right and the baby looking into the camera. At first glance I thought the little girl’s cap was polka dot but if you enlarge the view you will see that it was made from lace, and her ruffled high-neck dress is adorable. The mom’s lace blouse is just as lovely. Mother and daughter both wear pendants, and the mom has a perfume vial attached at the waist; it is of a simple design, perhaps of crystal or glass with a sterling silver top. These scent bottles were one of the many items that could have been worn on a chatelaine (used during the 16th – 19th centuries.) Dictionary.com describes a chatelaine as  “a hook-like clasp or chain for suspending keys, trinkets, scissors, a watch, etc. worn at the waist by women.”  Check out the photos of chatelaines online, like the ones shown in this Pinterest collection listed below in sources. (Wow, absolutely incredible!) ….We can’t  forget to mention the woman’s hat in this photo, a very high affair which jaunts off to one side, and so tall that the top part was cut out of the photo. It might have included feathers, maybe ostrich, though it is a little hard to tell.

Sources:  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chatelaine

http://www.pinterest.com/mysweetbebe/chatelaines/

Tags: , , ,
Categories: Children, Hats, Lace and Crochet Work, Photos Without Names

A Family In 1904

Posted on May 15th, 2014 by

A Family In 1904 pc1A Family In 1904 pc2

Real Photo Postcard of two women and two men, names unknown, possibly siblings, posing for the photo. The women are wearing wide-brimmed hats. The photo is on the blurry side. Too bad or we would be better able to see those stylish hats, but it’s a great photo anyway, of some very nice-looking people, and written on the front of the card is the date of July 3, 1904. This is from the pre-divided back era, and the back shows the logo of an eagle with a shield. Incidentally, July 3rd, 1904 was a Sunday.

Real Photo Postcard, non-divided back, not postmarked. Dated July 3, 1904. Publisher or printer unknown. Location unknown.

Price:  $4.00

Tags: ,
Categories: Hats, Photos Without Names, Postcards, Postcards Unused, Real Photo Postcards