This lovely scene is of the pool overlooking the river that runs close by the Bellingrath Gardens.
The description states:
BELLINGRATH GARDENS, MOBILE, ALABAMA…showing the pool in front of the Bellingrath home, overlooking the Isle-Aux-Oies River (River of Fowl).
The Isle-Aux-Oies River is a channel that flows primarily parallel to Mobile Bay, along the land at the western edge of the bay entrance.
This photo, like the others in this series, dates from the 1960’s.
Tag: postcard
Flowered Path, Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile, Alabama
Another pastoral scene at the Bellingrath Gardens, this time of a unidentified path through the elaborate landscaping.
The description on the back states:
BELLINGRATH GARDENS, MOBILE, ALABAMA…showing one of the many paths lined with Camellias, Azaleas and other colorful flowers.
Images from this series date from the 1960s.
Grotto, Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile, Alabama
A tranquil view of a flagstone structure with a gentle waterfall in the Bellingrath Gardens.
The description states:
BELLINGRATH GARDENS, MOBILE, ALABAMA
…showing the Grotto in front of the Bellingrath home on the banks of the Isle-Aux-Oies River.
The card is undated and unused, but is part of a larger series that dates from the 1960s.
John Bragg Home, Mobile, Alabama
This week features the Bellingrath Gardens and surroundings in Mobile, Alabama. The first image is of the John Bragg home, more commonly known now as the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion.
The description on the back states:
HISTORIC BRAGG HOME, MOBILE ALABAMA
Framed by magnificent live oaks, carpets of green lawn, and bordered by colorful azaleas, this beautiful old home was often visited by the famous Confederate General Braxton Bragg and is a favorite tourist attraction. Located at 1906 Spring Hill Avenue.
The card was not used, but others in the series date from the 1960s.
Night over Lake Michigan
The final card of the week is a colored photo of Lake Michigan from Mackinac Island, MI.
It’s not clear what is happening on the lake, but the safe guess is that there is a small steamship in the middle distance. The card has several bits of damage, including the folded lower right corner, and some very subtle mechanical cancellation in the upper center.
While it is impossible to date the photo from the picture itself, the card was mailed and has a postmark of July, 1929.
Beach Scene, Manitowoc, WI
This is a fairly unusual composition for American postcards. While the image is common, what stands out is the attention paid to the photographer by the people in the near foreground. Rather than a candid photo with their faces turned away, they are posed for the photographer’s benefit.
This card marked the last one before the journey proceeded to Green Bay. The beach is not otherwise identified, as there is no description on the back. The black markings across the upper half are the result of mechanical cancellation.
Both the bathing suits and the postmark identify this in time, and the date is June 1939.
Downtown Manitowoc, Wisconsin
This image shows an idealized view of a principal street in the town of Manitowoc, WI.
There is no description on the back of this card. The black marks across the sky in the image were caused by mechanical cancellation. As the cars depicted would indicate, the date on the card is June 1939.
Sabin Lock, Soo Michigan
This image is of a steamship waiting to progress through the Soo Locks between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. This particular lock is currently unused pending replacement with a much larger lock once funding is secured.
There is no additional description on the back of this card, but the steamship pictured here is named after James A. Farrell, the former president of the U.S. Steel Co.
The postcard was used and is dated June, 1939.
Michigan Logging Wheels, Traverse City, Michigan
This next card in the series is a historical relic even for the time this postcard was made. By the 1930’s horse-drawn logging was played out in the Traverse City area, but devices like this remained. This one was even demonstrated as shown in the photo.
As with the others of this series, there is no description on the card back. The Michigan logging wheel operated by looping a chain under the logs, then winching them up enough to hang free of the ground, allowing the horse team to pull the load without dragging. Some versions would drag the trailing tip of the lower log, others would suspend the entire load with chains on the axle and the drawbar.
This card was used and is dated June 1939.
Beach at Traverse City, Michigan
This card the the first of five which were purchased and mailed during a family trip from Cadillac, MI to Green Bay, WI. This is a colored photo of folks enjoying a day at the beach in Traverse City, MI.
The swimwear fashions shown give a good indication of the era, but since the postcard was mailed, it can be conclusively dated at 1939.