This photo follows along the previous post and shows some more of the basic amenities available in the 1950s for folks spending time near the lakes of Indian River, MI.
The description states:
Greetings from Indian River, Michigan
G-247
White Birches & Blue Water make the Northland superbly scenic.
Vacationland Scene
–This view of the lake near Indian River reinforces the Impression that it was a location where families would have second, summer homes which combined with some additional public access areas. This card is dated 1959.
Tag: postcard
Lake near Iron River, Michigan
This image is a recreational lake, common throughout the eastern and central United States. While the lake is not identified specifically, it would appear to be associated with summer homes and cabins that were prevalent around such lakes, as indicated by the simple boat launches spaced regularly around the lake shore.
The description states:
Greetings from Indian River, Michigan
G-245
A quiet spot in the land of enchantment for resting or fishing.
Vacationland Scene
—Indian River, Michigan is located at the northernmost end of the lower peninsula of Michigan, and is adjacent to Burt and Mullet Lakes, of which this is likely one or the other. The card is dated 1959.
Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Blue Ox, Ossineke, MI
This is the second of two photos of the same scene, this one in landscape format, showing the legendary Paul Bunyan and his companion, Babe the Blue Ox. Here they are situated on a hill overlooking a nearby highway. They have since been moved to a town park and restored.
The description states:
MICHIGAN’S PAUL BUNYAN LOOKOUT on U.S. 23. Of steel and concrete construction. Paul – 25.5 ft. weighs 11.5 ton. Babe – 10.5 ft. weighs 4.5 ton.
–This photo is very similar to the previous one, and the shadows on the fave of Babe are in the exact locations, indicating that the photos were taken only a few seconds apart. However, they are not the same and simply reformatted, as the position of the tree branch behind Paul’s head is different in each photo.
Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, Ossineke, Michigan
This is the first of two postcards depicting the legendary Paul Bunyan and his companion Babe, the Blue Ox. This particular statue pair is located in Ossineke, MI, near the old US Highway 23. Originally, Babe was constructed alone in 1938, without any legendary attribution, as a white bull overlooking the town as a symbol of good luck. In 1950 a new owner of the property painted the statue blue, and in 1953 added the Paul Bunyan statue. In 2006, the statues were moved from the hill to a town park and restored a year later.
The description states:
MICHIGAN’S PAUL BUNYAN LOOKOUT on U.S. 23. Of steel and concrete construction, Paul – 25.5 ft. weighs 11.5 ton. Babe – 10.5 ft. weighs 4.5 ton.
–The hillside location is obvious from the view and the presence of the highway in the lower right. This postcard is dated 1957.
Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah
This image shows the narrow canyon leading to the Bingham Canyon Mine, an open pit mine that covers the entire background of the photo.
The description states:
BINGHAM CANYON AND COPPER MINE, UTAH
The most unusual town in the world, Bingham Canyon is one street wide and three miles long. Its single street leads up the floor of the canyon and the homes and business buildings hug the steep mountain sides. In the background tower the terraces of Bingham Copper Mine, largest open-pit copper mine in the world.
–This card has a small pouch of copper ore attached to the side, much the same as the salt samples commonly attached to similar postcards. This card is believed to date from the 1960s.
Pioneer Monument, Salt Lake City, Utah
Shown here is a view of the Pioneer Monument erected just outside the Temple Square precinct, with an unusual souvenir attached.
The description states:
SL-109 — PIONEER MONUMENT AND “MORMON” TEMPLE
This impressive monument to Brigham Young and the “Mormon” Pioneers, stands at the intersection of Main and South Temple Street. On one side is the statue of the famous scout Jim Bridger, and on the other, Washakie, a friendly Ute Indian Chief. In the background is the magnificent “Mormon” Temple, the most imposing structure in Temple Square, and perhaps the most famed building in the west.
–This is an example of an intact card with the small pouch of salt from the Great Salt Lake, which once would be mailed without issue, but today would not be allowed because it would foul the address reading machines. It was an extra penny to mail such cards when they were new. This card dates from the 1960s.
The Haven Motel, St. George, Utah
A brief departure from the environs of Salt Lake City with this view of a typical 1940s era motel, this one located on the now extinct US Route 91 as it passed west and north of the town of St. George.
The description states:
The Haven Motel
3 blocks W. of center of town on U.S. 91
St. George, Utah
Phone 576
New De Luxe, air conditioned units. Electrically heated. Accommodations for 1 to 6 people.
–This structure is unlikely to have survived to the present day. Such buildings were normally demolished as the newer Interstate Highway roads replaced the U.S. highways and diverted tourist trade away in the 1970s. This card dates from the 1940s.
Sea Gull Monument, Salt Lake City, Utah
This monument tells a very unusual story, and is located in the Temple Square in sight of the Mormon Temple, visible in the right background.
The description states:
SEA GULL MONUMENT
The Sea Gull Monument, situated in the famous Temple Square, was erected in commemoration of the miraculous delivery of the Mormon pioneers from starvation when a plague of crickets threatened destruction of their crops in 1848 and 1849. Flocks of sea gulls appeared and preyed upon the destroyers until the pests vanished and the people were saved.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.
Eagle Gate, Salt Lake City, Utah
This long view of the road leading to the State Capitol in Salt Lake City emphasizes the so-called Eagle Gate. This picture appears to be a colorized photo rather than an artist’s rendering.
The description states:
EAGLE GATE
Eagle Gate, as it is called, is immediately east of the Bee Hive House; it was originally the gateway leading into the President Young’s private grounds. The eagle was carved from wood.
–While this card has a marking of the 1947 Centennial, the image shows only cars from the 1930s and earlier, and not a single car from the 1940s. It is likely this image was made before the Second World War, and the card published in the late 1940s with the older image.
Brigham Young, Mormon Leader
This card shows a carefully edited picture of the Mormon leader Brigham Young, lightly colorized after being photographed.
The description states:
BRIGHAM YOUNG
Brigham Young was born June 1st, 1801 in Whittingham, Windsor County, Vermont; ordained an Apostle February 14, 1835; sustained as President of the Church December 27, 1847; and died in Salt Lake City, August 29, 1877.
–On the back is a city seal and the legend “1847 1947 UTAH CENTENNIAL, which clearly places this card in the 1940s.