A Box of Postcards

Today's postcard is not used, but it is fitting to the season. It says on the back, "Huronia Museum, Midland, Ont., The Huron Christmas Story." "This diorama, donated by the National Museum, shows how the Jesuits adapted the story of Christ's birth to the understanding of the Huron Indians. Three Great Chiefs (The Three Wise Men) are presenting gifts of fur to the Holy Child born in a lodge of broken bark. Wandering hunters (The Shepherds) are coming to the longhouse to see the son of Gitchie-Manitou, the Great Spirit." Midland is the place of the Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons - a restored historical site on the shores of Georgian Bay in Ontario. This cool place holds good memories for me - as a grade school kid we made a field trip to learn more about our history. As an adult, it was the first "field trip" my husband and our friends took on a May 24 long-weekend. While in college, I worked at another historic site - Doon Pioneer Village in Kitchen

Today's postcard is a picture of the Parliament Buildings in Victoria, B.C. The message is this: "Baker and I just returned to Harrison. We have been to Victoria for a couple of days to see about my storage, to be shipped to Banff, where that will be my next stop. Tom wants me to buy another Motel but I am not too well and feel I shouldn't. Just taking it easy these days. Love J." How intriguing. Checking the storage of what? Moving from Victoria to Banff for what? Buying another Motel? Who is this... an early Canadian version of Donald Trump. Who buys Motels? What a mystery. The card is undated, but the stamp is a Canadian 4 cent, which was made in 1963. The stamp is worth 15 cents today. I cannot find information on why the stamp included a "tower" in the corner, but the 1cent featured mineral crystal; the 2 cent a pine tree; the 3 cent a fish and the 5 cent wheat...so I am guessing they represent industry in Canada - the tower

Today's postcard is unused, and it depicts an area of Scotland called Ganavan Sands, Oban, Argyllshire. As usual I am struck by the coincidences: I am currently planning a vacation to Scotland, to visit my neice who married a Scotsman and lives there. Her last name is now Valentine - and this postcard's publisher is also Valentine!! This is C102 of the Valentine's Scots Pictorial Series. James Valentine was an original member of the Edinburgh Photographic Society and his company, James Valentine and Sons Ltd. produced postcards up until the 1960s. This one is likely from 1960 or 1963. It shows a lovely seascape, and says this: "Ganavan Sands, Oban, Argyllshire - The strip of safe sand is the playground for visitors to the nearby busy holiday town of Oban." When you Google Ganavan Sands you will see that a new development of upscale homes is being build with a seaside view. The website for the developer includes a virtual tour of different versions of the homes. So

Today's postcard is of a mill wheel found in Wayne County, Kentucky. The postcard reads: "6/14/74 They've really accompli shed wonders. The weather is great. The Z----s say hello - and we'll think of your guys when we have Hot Kentucky Browns next week. Now to rest for more golf tomorrow. He never gives up. " This mill wheel was made a National Historic Site in 1973 (the year before the traveller's were there). Perhaps that's what the author means by "they've really accomplished wonders" - or maybe not. In 1908, the 28-foot cedar wheel was replaced by a steel water wheel, which you see in this picture. Still in use today, the wheel is one of the largest overshot water wheels in the world. Diameter of 40 feet, 10 inches, and a breast of three feet. It is powered by 13 natural springs located beside the mill, and is thought to be one of the largest of it's kind in the world. What is a Hot Kentucky Brown? It is a traditional sandwich which o

Today's postcard is not written on. It is a fountain in the Parque del Retiro, La Rosaleda or "Ritiro Park", The Rosary in Madrid, Spain. The park is located in the heart of the Spanish capital city, behind the Prado museum. This well-known park is the largest in Madrid and is 1.4 square kilometres. It has many fountains and statues in it, including the only statue in the world that shows Lucifer being thrown from Paradise. Carved by Ricardo Beliver in 1885. Fountains have a great history in this city, since their river the River Manzanares has a low water level and people relied on underground springs in the summer. To make the water accessible, fountains and jets were made and people could collect their water there. These park fountains are not drinking water quality. The New York Times publishes travel articles featuring a detailed itinerary, "24 hours in" different cities. They have one on Madrid, and it includes a visit to the Park on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. T

A postcard from Austria: "19 February 1958 "Enjoying a skiing and sightseeing holiday in Western Austria. The kids are enjoying the snow, we had so little of it in France. Our Pension is called Daheim and it is like a ski lodge and much cheaper than staying at a hotel. Expect to go up to the top of Germany's highest mountain on a cable car soon, and intend to go to Innsbruck tomorrow. Took some ski lessons from a real Austrian ski champ, but I still get stiff and sore. Must be getting old!" The illustration (black and white) shows the highest mountain in Germany, the Zugspitze, which is actually shared by Germany and Austria. The cable car, which takes you from the municipality of Ehrwald to the top, was build in 1926 and then renovated in 1991. It takes 10 minutes to get to the top. How ironic that this is the postcard right now, as we are in the midst of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada - and I remember that they were held in Innsbruck in 1976 (I was 15 years o

Today's postcard (on top) has not been used, but I felt it was appropriate for Valentine's Day. It features a painting and is called "View of Lover's Leap and The Narrows". At the bottom it says "1652 Ft. Above Sea Level, Cumberland, MD. 4" On the back, it says, "Lover's Leap and The Narrows, Cumberland, Maryland. From Lover's Leap one may view the National Highway (U.S. 40) one thousand feet below. The city of Cumberland and surrounding states of Pennsyvania and West Virginia may be seen from this point." My research tells me that this postcard is likely showing a 1937 view, but may have been produced in 1951 as it is printed on linen stock by Marken & Bielfeld. In fact, I found a matching postcard (it is numbered 3 on the bottom) for sale for $8 to $10. It is by the same company, looks similar to this but is the 1937 Aerial View of the Narrows West of Cumberland (image on the bottom). The legend of "Lover's Leap" ex

Today I'm featuring two postcards at once - because it is freaky that they were together in the box, and that they look so much alike, and that one is from North Carolina in 1967 and one is from Kanazawa, Japan mailed in 1963! Have a look and a read: Top from Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina: "A delightful village - 80 degrees this afternoon. 5 large golf courses - John is having a splendid time you know where! Andy says you two would enjoy the quaint shops here - we went to church this a.m. in Durham, N.C. arrived here after lunch. Hope you are having a fine Easter. Cleaned and packed drapes before I left." Bottom from Kanazawa, Japan: "Dear Friends, One of our oldest cherry trees goes on this card to greet you and to say thanks for your part in this wonderful trip. I am loving every minute." I have learned that the Village of Pinehurst is situated in the Sandhills of North Carolina and boasts world-famous golf courses. This beautiful area was settled in th

"Hi, again. Today we are having a waiting day. Patience you know. I told you I lost my wallet. Tried Kish Lorraine saw Laterna Magika going to Expo Theater Monday - The Supremes. Having fun. Love Betty" This postcard depicts the Great Britian Pavilion at Expo67. I was 6 years old and in Grade One. For some reason I had two tiny red placemats with the gold logo stamped on them - I think we got them in school. Of course the only image I remember is the big round dome, which was the USA pavilion at Expo67. This person lost their wallet - were they waiting for their ID to be returned? Or for money to reach them? How hard was all that to figure out in 1967 before the internet and the ATM technology we have today? Quiche Lorraine - I guess it's a French dish originally, but I made it for all my children's baptisms - because it's easy (with frozen pie crust) and you can assemble it in the morning and put it in the oven as you leave for church and when you return from th