Postcard #1087: Stone Inn, Carthage, IL — Love Harve to Pearl, May 1944

Front of postcard #1087: Real photo postcard (sepia tone) showing the "Stone Inn" in Carthage, Illinois. It is a two-story dark stone building wi

Transcription

Back — Just about time to hit the trail Have seen Docs. Harris & Ed Cutlers W. Nichols. Ran or Marnel & Neal just left Ray & E. Ethel got run over by a car and was in to see Dr. but he was not in they are coming back to morrow to pick up Mr. B. Horace is taking me to Guys to morrow Eve all are comfortable here well [?] but Lizzie is not any to good just now. tell you more when I get home. Love Harve

Back of postcard #1087

Postcard Information

  • Postmark: CARTHAGE, ILL., MAY 3 1944
  • Sent To: Carthage IL
  • Era: White Border (1915–1930)
  • Stamp:
  • Distance Traveled: ~15 miles
  • Notes: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC). Postmark date (1944) is much later than the typical Divided Back era. Message mentions daughter Marnelle ("Marnel") and mentions an acquaintance, Ethel, being run over by a car.

About This Card

The Stone Inn in Carthage, Illinois was a two-story stone building on or near the town square — one of the older commercial structures in the city, built from the local limestone that defined early Carthage construction before brick became the dominant material. Harvey sent this real photo postcard, signing it “Love Harve.” Harvey had grown up in La Harpe and moved to Carthage when he and Pearl married in October 1910; the Stone Inn was part of the commercial geography of the town he adopted. The building’s stone construction set it apart from the later brick commercial blocks that surrounded it.

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Postcard #1074: The Shocking Truth at Victory Field, Indianapolis


Vintage postcard featuring the grand, symmetrical Art Deco entrance to Victory Field in Indianapolis, Indiana, with tall windows, vertical fins, and a rounded canopy over the entrance, all under a blue sky with some green trees and grass.
Front — A grand, Art Deco-style building entrance labeled “Entrance to Victory Field, Indianapolis, Indiana.”

Postcard Metadata


Handwritten message on the back of a vintage postcard from
Back — Correspondence from Frank to Mr. E.T. Mathias

Transcription

Dear Gene, Be patient please. The shocking truth will soon be revealed. Frank

Historical & Family Notes

This postcard, sent from Indianapolis in 1947, diverts from the primary Pearl and Harvey narrative, offering a fascinating glimpse into other connections within the family’s broader historical circle. Addressed to Mr. E.T. Mathias, an RCA Representative in Chicago, the cryptic message from “Frank” promising that “The shocking truth will soon be revealed” suggests a personal or professional intrigue unfolding in the post-war landscape.

The front of the card features the impressive Art Deco entrance to Victory Field, a prominent landmark in Indianapolis. While the postcard doesn’t directly involve Pearl and Harvey Sights, its inclusion in the collection enriches the historical context, illustrating the diverse lives and correspondences that co-existed alongside their romance. It hints at the complex web of relationships and the historical backdrop of mid-20th century America.

The mention of RCA and Santay Corp. places this card within the booming electronics and manufacturing industries of the time. This piece reminds us that multi-generational family archives encompass not just core family members but also the broader professional and personal acquaintances who shaped their world, each with their own stories waiting to be unraveled.

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