Tag Archives: New York

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.

Arthur H. Richards, Watkins Glen, N. Y.


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.

Arthur H. Richards, Watkins Glen, N. Y.


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.

All images by Finger Lakes Post Card Co., Watkins Glen, N. Y.






 




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.

Minnehaha Falls, Watkins Glen, New York

This card shows  a couple of different natural features of Watkins Glen State Park. The face of the card indicates it is a view of the Stone Gorge, but the description comments on another aspect of this location.
The description states:
Minnehaha Falls is one of the chief attractions of Watkins Glen, N.Y., one of America’s great beauty spots said to be over 50,000 year in the making.
–From the description, Minnehaha Falls is part of the Famous Stone Gorge, and while it is not clear from the description which of the two falls depicted is Minnehaha, in fact it is the one in the foreground.
There is no indication of the age or publisher of this card, but its similarity to others posted here indicates it is from the 1940’s.

Rainbow Falls, Watkins Glen, New York

This image features the Rainbow Falls area and a nearby cascade and walkway that illustrates the paths visitors might take when viewing the various sights in this park.
The description on the back of the card states:
Acclaimed one of the most beautiful waterfalls in America, Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen, N. Y. derives its name from the brilliant rainbows that flash in the Summer sunlight.
As this was originally a black and white photo that was manually colored, there was no opportunity to capture the color effects mentioned in the description. There is no other commentary on the card, or indications of maker or publisher. It is very similar to other cards in this series that are believed to date from the 1940s.

Pluto Falls, Watkins Glen, New York

This image is from another postcard series, a different collection of painted black and white photos. This is the same image as seen here from earlier in the week. The elevation is higher, and the colors more fanciful.

Arthur C. Richards, Jr. Watkins Glen, N.Y.


There is no description on the back of this card, as was typical for postcards in the first half of the 20th century. It is believed this card dates from the 1940s from the style of photo and card design.

Central Cascade, Watkins Glen, New York

This image highlights the so-called Central Cascade of the Watkins Glen State Park. Beside the lower cascade is an observer, and above the falls is an observation point with two spectators to provide scale.

R.C. Pomeroy, Watkins Glen, N.Y.


The scan illustrates the textured card stock used to provide a more complex look and feel. There is no description on the card, so there is no definitive indication of the date. The clothes on the observers points to the 1940s

Suspension Bridge, Watkins Glen, New York

Next postcard image is of the bridge above the river in Watkins Glen State Park. This image was obviously black and white originally, then creatively colored by an inspired illustrator.

C.T. American Art Colored


There is no description on the back of the card. It is believed this card is later than the previous one, which did not have a series number in the lower corner, and is tentatively dated from the 1940s.

Pluto Falls, Watkins Glen, New York

This card begins an excursion at the Watkins Glen State Park near the village of the same name in upstate New York. The first card is a colored and edited image of Pluto Falls, a thin cascade that descends through a small fissure in the rocks to a pool below.

Santway Photo Craft Co., Watertown, N.Y.


The water flow on this card has been enhanced and modified to provide a more dynamic appearance. This will be obvious in a later card showing the same image.
This card has no description on the back and was used. It is dated 28 August 1931.

Mini Cards: Hotels and Mark Twain House

Among the other pictorial souvenirs available were these business card sized ones, which were not meant to be mailed (being too small). They were usually given as promotional advertising reminders or as small collectibles.
First is a business card from a boarding house in Watkins Glen, NY.

Rainbow Falls


The card appears to be from the 1940’s, since the phone number is a local branch office type which were widely replaced in the 1940s and 1950s. Also, an online search shows a multi-family structure at this address built in 1940, which would fit the type of business described.
Next is a two sided color photo business card from a motel in Willamsburg, VA.


Again, this card is likely from the 1940s, as indicated from the obsolete four digit phone number. An online search (via Trulia) shows the buildings in the photograph still standing, but boarded up and blocked by a fence. More recent satellite imagery indicates the old buildings were torn down recently and replaced with a condo/apartment building on the site.
Next are three souvenir photo cards from the Mark Twain birthplace in Hannibal, MO. They have descriptions on the back transcribed after each photo.

Ansco Color By John Winkler and Kenneth Botkins.


The Dining Room in Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home, Hannibal, Missouri. On the table is Mark Twain’s own lap writing desk, and a knife-and-fork basket. In the “Adventures of Tom Sawyer” Peter the Cat jumped out the window of this room, squalling and breathing fire, after Tom gave him a dose of Pain-killer, a patent medicine.

Ansco Color By John Winkler and Kenneth Botkins.


The Kitchen in Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home, the Tom Sawyer House, in Hannibal, Missouri. A charcoal foot-warmer sits before the ancient rocker. On the table is a candle-lantern, and a fluter (device for putting ruffles in dresses and curtains) with a crank. Brass and iron kettles gleam on the “Geneva No. 7” stove

Ansco Color By John Winkler and Kenneth Botkins.


Stature of Mark Twain in Riverview Park, Hannibal, Missouri. Erected by the State of Missouri in 1913, the sculptor was Frederick Hibbard. The inscription reads: “His religion was humanity, and a whole world mourned for him when he died.” The heroic bronze figure looks out from a three-hundred foor bluff over the river that he played on as a boy and navigated as a pilot. On a clear day places twenty miles and more away may be seen from here.
These photos are also likely from the 1940’s.