This picture follows on the previous image, showing much more detail of the ballroom gardens from an elevation, presumably a taller building in the vicinity.
The description states:
Ballroom Garden, Governor’s Palace
Williamsburg, Virginia
In 1724, the Reverend Hugh Jones wrote of the Govern’s Palace <a magnificent Structure, built at the public Expense, finished and beautified with Gates, fine Garrdens, Offices, Walks a fine Canal, Orchards &c> The Palace, its dependencies and gardens have been reconstructed to their original appearance.
–The gardens are of the more geometric tradition common in gardens throughout Europe at the time. The card likely dates to the 1950s.
Category: Postcards From Another Millennium
Postcards from various decades of the 20th century.
Governor’s Palace Garden, Williamsburg, Virginia
This begins a two week visit to Virginia focussing on the historical sites of colonial Williamsburg. The first image is of the entrance to the Palace Garden
The description states:
Governor’s Palace Garden
Williamsburg, Virginia
A view of the formal ballroom garden and the ballroom wing, added in 1751, of the Goverrnor’s Palace.
–As indicated in the caption, the postcard was made in Switzerland and imported for sale as a souvenir at the Williamsburg site. The style of the card indicates a likely date of the 1950s.
Favosite Coral, Michigan
This image is of petrified coral known as Favosites, or honeycomb coral. The form of coral shown here is long extinct.
The description states:
“Petrified Honeycomb”
A colonial coral known as FAVOSITES. Both cross sectional and longitudinal cuts make attractive jewelry. Found throughout Michigan.
–The bottom right sample shows the most common view of the coral type, while the others show how the stacks of coral appear from the sides. The card is dated 1962.
Water Reservoir, Arcadian Copper Mine, Hancock, Michigan
This final image of the mine shows the face of the blocked tunnel where a water reservoir was located. The open pipes and valves present in the wall face indicate the water is no longer stored here.
The description states:
ARCADIAN COPPER MINE TOURS — End of tour at Water Reservoir. Original Arcadian Mine established 1864 in Ripley, Michigan, on M26 one mile from Hancock, Michigan. Believe it or not it is the only underground Copper Mine in the world open to the public.
–The term M26 refers to the Michigan state highway that was constructed near the mine. The mine long predates the highway. The card is dated 1955.
Horn and Cup Corals, Michigan
This image shows a variety of corals, in this case corals that grew individually and not in colonies as is common today. Scientifically, they are known as Rugosa.
The description states:
Petrified Horn and Cup Corals
Simple (solitary) corals are found in both upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. These fossil corrals have been silicified. Both cross-sections and longitudinal cuts are interesting for lapidary use.
–The cup coral type is still found alive in many parts of the world’s oceans. it is possible that the cup coral described in the picture are extinct Rugosa. The card is dated 1962.
Stope Chute and Winze, Arcadian Copper Mine, Hancock, Michigan
This image of the Arcadian copper mine shows a miner in a chamber occupied by a miner. Such chambers are called stopes, and the chutes which allow movement of ore from one level to another are seen at the left. The winze is the vertical shaft at right which penetrates between levels of excavation.
The description reads:
ARCADIAN COPPER MINE TOURS — Stope Chute and Winze. Original Arcadian Mine established in 1864 in Ripley, Michigan, on M26 one mile from Hancock. Believe it or not it is the only underground Copper Mine in the world open to the public.
–There is some flare from lights at the far end of the tunnel that give the miner the appearance of light emerging from his eyes. This unlikely ability would have been quite useful in a professional miner. The card is dated 1955.
Chain Coral, Michigan
This image displays several pieces and sections of chain coral, more officially known as Halysites. They are a form of extinct coral that lived in the Paleozoic era, roughly 540 to 250 million years ago.
The description states:
CHAIN CORAL
Silurian coral, chain coral, Halysites. Found in both peninsulas of Michigan. Interesting jewelry is made from cross section and longitudinal cuts of this petrified coral.
–Silurian refers to the time period that the coral likely lived, approximately 440-420 million years ago. The card is dated 1962.
Mining Drill, Arcadia Mini, Hancock, Michigan
This next image of the Arcadia Copper Mine shows a miner holding a drill in position to bore a deep, narrow hole. Such holes were typically filled with some high explosive, such as dynamite or TNT, and large masses of rock would be freed for the miners to collect and transport to the surface. The drill is so heavy that the metal column next to it is attached to the drill to hold most of the weight while the drilling progresses.
The description states:
ARCADIAN COPPER MINE TOURS – Air Drilling Machine. Original Arcadian Mine established in 1864 in Ripley, Michigan, on M26 one mile from Hancock. Believe it or not it is the only underground Copper Mine in the world open to the public.
–The term ‘air drilling’ means that the drill operated by compressed air, which allowed it to operate in the closed atmosphere of the mine without creating toxic fumes. The card is dated 1955.
Chert Samples, Michigan
This is a few small examples of the rock known as chert. It is a sedimentary rock, and sometimes contains small fossils, as shown in the sample on the left.
The description states:
CHERT
Banded and mottled Chert (embedded fossils). Usually occur with limestone or dolomites, and found throughout Michigan in glacial drift. Chemically the same as Japer and Flint. Can be tumbled or cut for lapidary work.
–As it has properties similar to flint, it was also used in making bladed implements and weapons. The card is dated 1962.
Arcadian Copper Mine, Hancock, Michigan
This image begins a series of cards showing the interior of what was the only copper mine open to the public, the Arcadian Copper Mine. This first image shows two miners in a chamber leading down a tunnel, lined with a rail for ore cars. The picture is blurry in the original, and it probably was not well lit when photographed. The resulting retouching and colorization has created the effect seen here.
The description states:
ARCADIAN COPPER MINE
Ripley, Hancock, Michigan.
Guided tours underground thru a real Copper Mine. Open June thru October 15th.
–The three rails on the ground are actually two rails, left and inner right, which carried the ore cars. The furthest right rail is in fact a pipe, likely used for ventilation. This card dates from the 1950s.