Note the apostrophe in Hallowe'en, which in earlier years indicated it was the eve of All Hallow's Day (also known as All Saints Day).
My husband's WOOD family used penny postcards like to stay in touch throughout the year, on every conceivable occasion (including Lincoln's birthday and Independence Day).
May you have all treats, no tricks, on Halloween!
Why is a rooster is guarding a nest full of colorful Easter eggs? And why does this holiday-themed scene appear to be in Holland?!
Happy Easter to all.
Both of these postcards were sent more than a century ago, part of the Wood family's ongoing plan to stay in touch even when they lived hours away from each other.
Presidential birthdays were two of many occasions for aunts and uncles to write a line or two to young nieces and nephews!
May your 2024 start with much good luck!
I was surprised to learn, from Smithsonian Magazine, about the history of Christmas penny postcards--all because someone wanted to streamline his holiday correspondence.
Wishing you and all those dear to you a very merry Christmas.
The greeting asked whether the boy was practicing his violin or had decided to stop taking lessons. (Spoiler alert: he quit!)
In the early 1900s, hubby's Wood family throughout the Midwest stayed in touch via this type of penny postcard, colorful and convenient, not to mention affordable. Thankfully, 110 years later, the colors remain bright and the handwritten message is still legible today.
For more about the history of the postcard, and the craze for penny postal greetings, see this page.
It was postmarked 12 February 1912, sent from Chicago to Cleveland.
The senders were Nellie (Rachel Ellen) Wood Kirby and her second husband, Arthur Kirby.
How many six-year-olds get mail? Wallis (the correct spelling of his given name, not the wrong spelling shown on the card) was probably happy to see this pretty card from relatives!
Now, 108 years later, let me wish you a new year of health, happiness, and peace, with a lot of lucky ancestor discoveries!
The colors are still bright and so is the greeting to you, dear readers!
Here's a hearty greeting from me and mine,
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas time.
Printed in beautiful color in Germany, some of the penny post cards sent to the Wood family were purchased in Toledo, Ohio, and others in Chicago, Illinois. All the cards are still in great shape, in the family's hands more than a century later!
I just love these vintage postcards, still in the family more than a century later.
The sender was Rachel "Nellie" Wood Kirby (1864-1954), an attentive aunt living in Chicago, Illinois.
Nellie and other members of the Wood family rarely missed an opportunity to send penny postcards to younger relatives.
One year, Nellie even sent her nephew a postcard for George Washington's birthday on February 22, which was celebrated as a federal holiday beginning in 1879.
Today, of course, George Washington shares his official holiday with Abraham Lincoln, both celebrated on Presidents' Day.
Happy Independence Day!
Shown at left is the postcard from his aunt, "Nellie" Wood Kirby (1864-1954) and her husband, Arthur Kirby (1860-1939).
Nellie was an older sister of Wallis's father, James Edgar Wood (1871-1939).
Nellie was living in a nursing home when she died, and I haven't found her there in the 1950 Census, nor at the address where she lived in 1945, according to the city directory. I'll keep looking!
By 1920, Ada and her husband, James Sills Baker (1866-1937) were living in Cleveland and most likely visited with Wallis and his family quite often.
Ada was the older sister of Wallis's mother, Mary Slatter Wood (1869-1925).
Now 108 years later, these postcards live on in the Wood family's collection!
It was very early in the air age. The two kiddies in in this air ship are having a steampunk holiday, from the looks of this colorful illustration.
But in reality, an airship named America did set out to cross the Atlantic Ocean in October of 1910, lifting off from New Jersey to land somewhere in Europe (no fixed destination). Before experiencing difficulty and abandoning the attempt, the crew set a new record for flight time (71.5 hours) and distance flown (1,008 miles).
Dear readers, wishing you a brighter and better new year in 2022!
This and other postcards are still in family hands today, much treasured and well preserved.
Dear readers, may you have a joyful Christmas!
Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy and very healthy Thanksgiving!
Any holiday or celebration was a great reason to write to a young relative.
Not just on birthdays but also for Abraham Lincoln's birthday and July 4th and everything in between!
Penny postcard craze
The Wood family was completely caught up in the postcard craze of that era.
It really took off when the price of mailing a postcard was lowered from two cents to one cent.
Postcards as family history clues
Wallis Wood (1905-1957), my hubby's uncle living in Cleveland, received dozens of birthday postcards during his preteen years. Happily, the family held onto these postcards over the years.
Thanks to the addresses and postmarks, I was able to track this Cleveland branch of the Wood family as they moved to different houses nearly every year from 1905 to 1917.
James constructed a new house roughly every year, moved his family in as he finished the interior, and sold that home. Then he moved the family to another home being completed by his crew.
James, his wife (Mary Slatter Wood, 1869-1925), and their four sons had lots of different addresses over the years. In between Census years and in between directory listings, the postcards showed me where they were living.
These are just three of the fun birthday postcards sent to Wallis before 1915.
This is my post for week #46 of Amy Johnson Crow's #52 Ancestors challenge.
