This image shows the front and spire of the First Presbyterian Church, the oldest Presbyterian church in continuous use in the Old Northwest Territory.
The description states:
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, GALENA, ILLINOIS
Founded 1828, erected 1838, oldest Presbyterian church in Illinois in continuous use.
–The structure is an iconic style for American churches, with the towering spire over the main entryway. Most churches of this type were built of wood, but with very similar design and layout.
This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.
Tag: 1950s
Grace Episcopal Church, Galena, Illinois
This image shows the neo-Gothic tower and entrance to the Grace Episcopal Church of Galena, Illinois. It is the oldest Episcopal Church in the Chicago Diocese.
The description states:
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, GALENA, ILLINOIS
Founded 1827, erected 1847. Stained glass windows imported from Belgium. The delicate silvery tones of the 1838 one-manual organ have been strengthened by an electric blower.
–The term one manual means a single keyboard, which indicates a simpler design than most organs known today, which have multiple keyboards.
This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.
Chief Whitecalf and Family, Sioux Dancers, Ogallala, Nebraska
This image brings us back to the card presented two weeks ago which showed a cropped form of this same image, which is similar to yesterday’s photo, but there are slight posture differences indicating they were two separate photos.
The description states:
SIOUX INDIANS
Ogallala, Nebraska, “Land of the Sioux”
Sioux Chief Whitecalf and his troup of Indian dancers. These Sioux Indians return every summer to Ogallala, once the hunting ground of the Ogallala tribe. Visitors to Nebraska may see these Indians in native costume perform their ceremonial, “war, snake, buffalo, hoop,” and other dances.
–As there is a clear progression in age among the children, it appears that these are family members of Chief Whitecalf, and not merely members of the Ogallala band.
Dancing for tourists has fallen out of popularity with the rise of Indian self-determination in the 1970s, and such performances are now considered exploitative.
This card was used and is dated 13 June 1956.
Sioux Indian Dancers, Ogallala, Nebraska
This image is of a famous family of Ogallala Lakota Sioux, led by the older man named Chief Whitecalf. They ran the Sioux Trading Post shown previously, and presented Native American dances for travelers.
The description states:
SIOUX INDIANS
Ogallala, Nebraska, “Land of the Sioux”
Sioux Chief Whitecalf and his troup of Indian dancers. These Sioux Indians return every summer to Ogallala, once the hunting ground of the Ogallala tribe. Visitor to Nebraska may see these Indians in native costume perform their ceremonial, “war, snake, buffalo, hoop,” and other dances.
–The dances originally had a very intimate and profound cultural significance, but were performed in simplified form for the money it would provide from tourists.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Sioux Trading Post, Ogallala, Nebraska
This business is a typical feature of the highways of the far West in mid-century America. Indian trading posts, as they were called, appeared anywhere there was an opportunity for the local Native Americans to set up a shop, a gas station or eatery for passing travelers. This one, located in Ogallala Sioux territory, was built and run by Ogallala Native Americans.
The description states:
SIOUX TRADING POST
On U. S. Highway No. 30
Ogallala, Nebraska
In the land of the Sioux Indian visited annually by thousands of guests from all sections of the country. Sioux Indians in Native stoma entertain guests of Nebraska with Ceremonial Dances, adding to the enjoyment of young and old.
–The cars visible in this image clearly indicate this photo dates from the 1950s.
Chimney Rock, Bayard, Nebraska
This formation is styled Chimney Rock for it’s narrow pointed shape on top of a larger rounded base, much like a remaining chimney after a house fire or collapse. It was taller when first viewed by migrants along the Oregon Trail, but erosion and lightning strikes have affected it’s primary peak.
The description states:
Standing alone in the vast prairie, Chimney Rock, near Bayard in Western Nebraska, guided the weary Oregon Trail travelers. Now a national monument, this wind-eroded sentinel serves as a landmark for the modern-day vacationers, reminding them of Nebraska’s rich pioneer past.
–The Oregon Trail was the main route for migrants heading into and through the Great Plains and Great Basin, many of whom went all the way to the west coast.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Jail and Courthouse Rocks, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska
Another formation near the previously mentioned Wildcat Hills are Jail and Courthouse Rock, butte formations from the same eroded escarpment. They are located near the town of Bridgeport, Nebraska.
The description states:
JAIL AND COURTHOUSE ROCKS – were the first imposing landmarks seen by pioneers in their trek along the Oregon and Mormon trails. Located near Bridgeport, theses wind carved sentinels were named by travelers for their similarity to a jail and court-house they remembered near their eastern homes.
–It is more likely that the bulk of the erosion was by water over the course of millions of years. The attributions are just as likely to be the product of vivid imagination as having any particular structure as a reference.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Nebraska’s Wildcat Hills
This image shows a portion of the escarpment named the Wildcat Hills, found in the western Nebraska panhandle between the North Platte River and Pumpkin Creek. They are part of a large area with such forested buttes and mesas, including Scotts Bluff.
The description states:
“Nebraska’s beautiful Wild-Cat Hills” near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Deer, buffalo and other animals live here protected on the game reserve.
–The buffalo referred to are in fact American Bison, and not mentioned is the significant mountain lion population that populates this area of Nebraska and no other.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Pony Express Station, Gothenburg, Nebraska
This card features one of the many stops along the Pony Express, a means of transporting messages from St. Joseph, Missouri on the Missouri-Kansas border to Sacramento, California just before the American Civil War.
The description states:
Greetings from the ORIGINAL PONY EXPRESS STATION, City Park, Gothenburg, Nebraska.
Thousands of tourists traveling U. S. 30 make a very interesting stop in Gothenburg and visit the famous Original Pony Express Station, used from 1860 to 1861 and dedicated to all the Pioneer who passed this way to win and hold the West.
Free picnic area.
–The Pony Express has a reputation much larger than its impact on communications in the American west, as it was only in operation for 18 months. While the reduction in time cross-country to 10 days was significant, the concurrent construction of the trans-continental telegraph line, completed in October, 1861, made the service unviable immediately.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Nebraska Promotional Postcard
This card is not about a specific place in Nebraska, but instead features two of the characteristics considered notable for the state: the presence of Native Americans and bison.
There is no description on the back of the card. The Native Americans are from the Ogallala band of the Lakota, which is one of two larger groups which make up the Sioux tribe.
The bison shown in the lower half are one of their most common food sources. There were millions of bison roaming throughout the Great Plains of the United States until unchecked predation by immigrants and tourists nearly drove them to extinction.
This card was used and is dated 13 June 1956.