One final image of Pluto Falls, one of nineteen named waterfalls in Watkins Glen State Park. Compare this image to a previous posting on this blog here. Note that the images are superficially identical, but the artist that colored the first one also added water effects to make the image feel more dynamic.
There is no description on the back of this card, but it is consistent with other cards that date from the 1950’s.
Tag: 1950s
Glen of the Pools, Watkins Glen, New York
A change of season with this postcard, which depicts Winter in Watkins Glen State Park. This photo was also black and white, then colored before printing, so the colors are likely somewhat fantastic.
What appears to be damage in the lower center of the image is, rather, a printing problem. The description states:
In winter time, Watkins Glen State Park, is seldom visited as the various ice formations make the Glen inaccessible. In the summer season thousands of persons go through the gorge.
This card is part of a series believed to date from the 1950s.
Rainbow Falls Cascade, Watkins Glen, New York
This image is similar to the previous one, in that it shows another portion of the Rainbow Falls area of Watkins Glen State Park. In this case, it is the cascade leading to the falls themselves. Again, this is hand colored from a black and white photograph, so the colors are quite fanciful.
There is no description on the back of this postcard, only the publisher’s mark: Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. American Art” Post Card (Reg, U.S. Pat. Off.) Which is an abbreviation for the Patent Office.
This card is consistent with others in this set that are dated to the 1950s.
Rainbow Falls, Watkins Glen, New York – 1950s
Another, later view of Rainbow Falls in the gorge of Watkins Glen State Park, from a colored black and white photo, similar to this earlier post.
The description on the back states:
One of the most famous water falls in the Lakes Country is Rainbow Falls. Here in the late afternoon brilliant rainbows flash in the Summer’s sun. (sic)
— This postcard was used, and is dated May 1954.
Watkins Glen State Park, New York
The images of Watkins Glen continue with this folio of views from the park and surrounding areas. These images have some unexpected repetitions, but also show some of the surrounding area near the park.
The park preserves a deep canyon cut by Glen Creek, which empties into nearby Seneca Lake. It is located in the western end of New York state in the area known as the Finger Lakes region, due to the several very long, narrow and deep lakes all arrayed side by side.
This folio is dated on the front and is from 1957.
Wisconsin Dells, United States
This folio illustrates a number of scenic areas in the region known as the Wisconsin Dells, the word derived from the French ‘dalles’, or narrows. The more formal name is the Dells of the Wisconsin River. There is also a nearby city that uses the same name. This folio design emphasizes the historical presence of the Native Americans in the area.
A tour boat is available to view the scenes displayed from the best vantage points.
The photos were printed with an offset process which has had some registration problems resulting in odd color banding, present in a few of the photos.
As is indicated on the folio front by the original purchaser, this collection is from the 1950s.
Kitch-iti-ki-pi Spring, Manistique, Michigan
A final view of visitors on the raft that floats over Kitch-iti-ki-pi as they gaze down through the transparent waters to the churning sand shapes forming constantly on the bottom. There is a submerged viewing port in the center of the raft all the visitors are gathered around which allows viewing without reflections. The raft itself is moved by a cable which the riders operate themselves.
The description states:
KITCH-ITI-KI-PI
The “Big Spring”
Manistique, Michigan
Known to the Indians as “The Mirror of Heaven”, the Big Spring is one of the seven wonders of Michigan. Located in the Palms-Book State Park near Manistique, there is no charge to see this magnificent phenomenon of Upper Michigan.
–This card was dates from the 1950s.
Kitch-iti-ki-pi Spring, Manistique, Michigan
This folio displays many of the interesting and unusual views from the natural spring now called Kitch-iti-ki-pi. As shown, visitors board a simple raft which floats on the waters of the spring while they look down into the depths. The spring is about 40 feet deep, but because of the fast flowing water, is completely clear to the bottom.
There is a connection from the spring to a nearby lake, and from there different types of trout frequently swim into the spring. However, there is little food because of the fast flowing mineralized water, so the spring is essentially barren and the fish rarely remain there.
The images were likely taken in black and white and manually colored. The folio most likely dates from the 1950s.
Kitch-iti-ki-pi Spring Old Boat Launch, Manistique, Michigan
We start a weekend of views of the unique fresh water spring near Manistique, Michigan called Kitch-iti-ki-pi. It is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
This view shows the old raft launch viewing area and the raft slowly moving away in the distance as the passengers view the bottom of the spring. The water flows so fast and clear that it is possible to see the bottom quite easily, and among other views are constantly shifting sands that form shapes for interpretation much like clouds.
The description states:
KITCH-ITI-KI-PI SPRING
Near Manistique, Michigan
In a land of intensely cold winters the crystal-clear waters of the “Big Spring” never freeze over. Legend has it that an Indian maiden, spurning the attentions of an unwanted suitor, fell into the spring and was changed by the magic properties of the water into a white deer.
–As can be seen by the mechanical postmarking in the sky area of the card, the postcard was used and is dated 19 July 1956.
1917 Stutz Bearcat
This is an image of the legendary Stutz Bearcat, a model built, with interruptions, from 1911 until 1934. This example appears to be from 1917, based on the step-over sides, the external gearing, and the right hand drive.
The name was considered so valuable and iconic that it was reused in other completely different designs and by other manufacturers several times over later decades. It became a car that other sporty roadsters were compared to even into the 1950s and 1960s.
This image is on a card used as a marketing promotion for the Gezon Motor Sales Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to remind customers to have their current cars serviced. This card was used, and is dated 3 January 1957.