This image shows the well-known landmark in the downtown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a memorial to the soldiers who took part in the American Civil War from the Grand Rapids area. The statue has been moved recently a small distance within the park, and now stands overlooking the junction of Fulton and Division Streets at the center of the city.
The monument is unusual as it was the first to include a built-in fountain, and also commemorates the activities of women during the Civil War.
This card was used and is dated 28 April 1914.
Tag: used
Alma Manufacturing, Alma, Michigan
This card shows a factory as it looked near the beginning of the 20th century. It is clearly labelled Alma Manufacturing, and was located in Alma Michigan. It apparently produced woodworking machinery, steam and gasoline engines during its history.
There is no description on the back of the card. This company was renamed in 1913 to Alma Motor Truck Company, so this image predates that event. This card was used, and is postmarked 14 April 1913.
Monroe Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan
This image is a view of Grand Rapids near the turn of the 20th century, as indicated by the clothing styles and transportation modes typical of that era.
The sideways caption reads:
Monroe St. Looking S.E., Grand Rapids Mich. 1369
The final number is the series identification. The landmark department store called Herpolsheimer’s is clearly visible in the center background due to the common habit of painting signs on the exposed sides of tall buildings. This building was left vacant by the company and another department store, Wurzburg’s, moved into the vacated space.
This card was used and is dated 10 August 1907.
Battle Creek Michigan Water Works
This image, almost identical to the previous post, shows the pumping station for the Battle Creek Water Works and the main building more clearly on the left, omitting the boaters.
There is no description on the back of the card, only the mark of the publisher, noted above. There are faint cancellation marks across the sky, and a tear above the chimney at left.
The pumping station and water works no longer exist in this location. There are two women visible in the center of the image walking at the edge of the lake shore.
The postcard was used, and is dated 11 September 1910.
Goguac Lake, Battle Creek, Michigan
This image, a black and white photo manually colored for postcard use, is of a couple rowing on Goguac Lake in Battle Creek. There is a pumping station for the city water system in the right background.
There is no description on the back of this card. The lake is spring fed, and the water level rises and falls with the seasonal rainfall.
This card was used and is dated 2 August 1915.
Christmas Postcard
This image is of a child in a rocking cradle decorated for Christmas, with greetings of the season.
As is typical of this era of card, there is no description on the back. The card has what appears at first to be a reddish stain on it. Closer examination, particularly at the point where the rocker meets the cradle footboard, clearly indicates this is in fact a registration error. This means that the color red was misaligned with the card when passed through the printing press, applying the color too far to the left.
This card was used, and is postmarked 24 December 1920.
Feral Horses, Wyoming
This image shows a few feral horses against the dramatic backdrop of the Wyoming plateau.
The description states simply:
#3749 Horses on the Range
The two multi-colored horses are typically referred to as ‘paints‘ and is a very common breed, while the other is more commonly described as ‘palomino‘.
This card was used and is dated July 1955.
Cowboy ‘Riding Herd’ in Colorado
This image shows a cowboy aboard what appears to be an Appaloosa roan horse while he watches over a modest herd.
The description states:
No. 4005 – Cowboy watching herd of cattle on a mountain meadow.
–The image was published by a Colorado company, and was sold to tourists in Little America, Wyoming. The black staining in the upper left is from the cancellation machine, as this card was used. The postmark is dated June 17, 1955.
Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands, San Francisco, CA
This image of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is taken from a popular tourist viewing area on the north side of the narrows, an area called the Marin Headlands.
The description states:
216 – GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
The longest and highest single-span suspension bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge measures 4,200 feet between the two towers and 8,940 feet overall and its towers rise 746 feet above high tide. Completed in 1937 at a cost of $35,000,000, it connects San Francisco with Marin County and the Redwood Empire.
–The bridge is no longer the longest in the world, having been surpassed decades ago by several bridges elsewhere in the United States and the world. This card was used and is dated 26 June 1955.
Grant Street, Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
This is another view of the Grant Street and California Ave. intersection in San Francisco’s Chinatown, featuring the unique light posts and the Cathay House building on the corner.
The description states:
UNION OIL COMPANY’S
Natural Color Scenes of the West
Chinatown, San Francisco, has the largest settlement of Chinese in the world outside of China. Grant Street with its ornamental lamp posts is the main thoroughfare.
–This card is unusual in this collection as it was printed and sold by the Union Oil Company from their refueling stations, rather than sold by stores and other vendors.
This card was used and is dated 12 March 1956.