Sent From: Iowa - When My Tan Wears Out

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, Interiors, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation

Postcard #0094: Sporting Edition, Wever, IA — Mayme to Pearl, July 1909

July 27, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0094: Illustration of a young boy and girl sitting back-to-back on a circular bench around a tree trunk. The boy on the left w

Transcription

Back — ] Mayme. ] Ans. soon as conv. My ring is real nice. [main message:] Rec’d your postal Sat. night & was glad to hear from you. How is this for warm weather? I am almost melted. I was up to Wever Sat. & Sun day night. Saw Annie & Fay [?] there too. Most everybody around here is busy threshing but we. We didn’t have any threshing to do & I’m glad of it. But wait til next yr. Oh, my.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, JUL 29 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Julius Bien & Company / Keystone Post Cards, New York, N.Y.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0093: Wever, IA — and violet to Pearl, June 1908

July 24, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0093: Illustration by Katharine Gassaway depicting a young boy in a blue sailor suit kneeling in front of a young girl in a wh

Transcription

Back — "Hello" Pearl, Rec’d your postal, all O.K. & am "answering" "soon or sooner" as you can see. Mamie & Alda came up yesterday afternoon. Alda & I went to Harve & Mamie stayed with Verge. We stopped a-while & visited with Anne You sure can bet I cer-tainly had a fine time the 4th. I went to Burlington the next evening & to [illegible] [illegible] write soon. with love and violet. for me.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, JUN 17 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: JULIUS BIEN & COMPANY, New York, N.Y.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~35 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, General Correspondence, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation, Undivided Back (Pre-1907)

Postcard #0091: THE METROPOLITAN, Wever, IA — R. H. / H. R. S to Pearl, June 1908

July 22, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0091: Color postcard depicting a street scene of Second Street looking west in Fort Madison, Iowa. On the right side of the st

Transcription

Front — ] H. R. S.

Back — ] R. H.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, JUN 27 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
Publisher: Axt Drug Co., Fort Madison, Iowa
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

About This Card

Second Street in Fort Madison, looking west past the brick storefronts, shows the commercial center of a city that was in the middle of its industrial prime. The postcard was sent from Wever, Iowa — a small community about twenty miles upriver — and signed “H.R.S.” on the front and “R.H.” on the back. The initials H.R.S. suggest Harvey R. Sights, and if so, this card — sent in June 1908, about two years before Harvey and Pearl’s wedding — is one of several in the collection that track Harvey’s movements around the Lee County area while working on the railroad.

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0090: Julia, Burlington, IA — Julia to Pearl, May 1908

July 21, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0090: Color illustration depicting a river scene at Black Hawk Heights in Fort Madison, Iowa. A brick building with a tall smo

Transcription

Back — Hello Pearle I will write you a few lines to let you know that I been sick had such a cold and sore throat couldnt speak above a whisper. good by will write more some other time. ] Julia.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Burlington, IA., MAY 18 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: AXT DRUG CO.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

About This Card

Black Hawk Heights, on the Fort Madison riverfront, takes its name from the Sauk leader Black Hawk, who led his band across this stretch of the Mississippi in the spring of 1832 in what became known as the Black Hawk War — the conflict that effectively ended Native American resistance in the upper Mississippi valley. The brick building with the tall smokestack visible in the background suggests the industrial character of Fort Madison’s waterfront by 1908. Julia, writing from Burlington, had just recovered from illness and was catching Pearl up on her news.

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, People & Portraits, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation

Postcard #0089: Keokuk, IA — M. S. W. C to Pearl, December 1908

July 20, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0089: Colored postcard depicting a road sweeping past trees toward the Mississippi River and Government Canal under a soft yel

Transcription

Back — ] Here is one of the cards I told you about for the evening of the 31 of Oct. wishing you many Happy Returns, — M. S. W. C. ] m. s. w. c.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Keokuk, Iowa, DEC 3 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Western Mercantile Co.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1900s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Parks & Recreation, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0087: Rand Park, Keokuk, IA — Leota to Pearl, October 1909

July 16, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0087: Colored landscape illustration showing Rand Park and Anschutz Road in Keokuk, Iowa, overlooking the Mississippi River. A

Transcription

Back — Leota

Postcard Information

Postmark: KEOKUK, IOWA, OCT 8 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

About This Card

Rand Park in Keokuk, Iowa sits on the bluffs above the Mississippi River, looking out over the foot of the Des Moines Rapids — the stretch of river that made Keokuk strategically important for generations. The city was once among the most powerful on the upper Mississippi; Samuel Clemens piloted steamboats past these bluffs in the 1850s, and Keokuk was briefly considered as a possible capital of Iowa. By 1909, when Leota sent this card, Keokuk was still a substantial city, though the completion of the Keokuk Dam in 1913 would transform both the river’s character and the town’s identity.

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Parks & Recreation, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0086: Chief Keokuk’s Monument, Keokuk, IA — Stuart Hoover to Pearl, January 1908

July 15, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0086: Sepia-toned photograph showing Chief Keokuk's Monument, a large stone structure situated in a park with lawns, pathways,

Transcription

Back — Hello Kid Say but this is a fancy postal Put this up in garrett so no one can see it Your Friend Stuart Hoover 719 Exc St [?] Keokuk Iowa

Postcard Information

Postmark: Keokuk, Iowa, JAN 28 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: PEARSON-ULLBERG CO., MINNEAPOLIS
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1900s, General Correspondence, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Parks & Recreation, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Undivided Back (Pre-1907)

Postcard #0085: Burlington, IA — Julia / Mrs. Chesnut to Pearl, September 1908

July 14, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0085: Color illustration of the Corse Statue (an equestrian monument on a tall stone pedestal) located in Crapo Park, Burlingt

Transcription

Front — Julia.

Back — Mrs. Chesnut.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Burlington, IA, SEP 14 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
Publisher: S. H. KNOX & CO.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

About This Card

The Corse Statue in Burlington, Iowa commemorates Brigadier General John Murray Corse, a Burlington native who commanded troops at the Battle of Allatoona in 1864 and received the famous signal “Hold the Fort” from Sherman. He held it. The equestrian monument stands near the northern entrance to Crapo Park. Julia sent this card in September 1908 and signed only her first name on the front — “Julia.” — with a separate signature on the back identifying herself as Mrs. Chesnut.

1900s, General Correspondence, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Parks & Recreation, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation, Undivided Back (Pre-1907)

Postcard #0084: Crapo Park, Burlington, IA — A C to Pearl, July 1907

July 13, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0084: Illustrated postcard showing an elevated, wide scenic view of Crapo Park in Burlington, Iowa. Features lush green lawns,

Transcription

Front — Did you ever see this place? Dear Pearl: Thanks for your card received so long ago Why don’t you write? A C.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Burlington, IA., JUL 27 1907
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
Publisher: S. H. KNOX & CO.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles
Notes: message written on front instead of back

About This Card

Crapo Park in Burlington, Iowa was donated to the city by the family of Michigan Governor Henry Howland Crapo in the 1890s, developed from land along the bluffs above the Mississippi. By the time A.C. sent this card in July 1907, Crapo Park was already considered one of the finest municipal parks on the upper Mississippi — a winding drive through mature trees above the river, with pavilions, a small zoo, and Black Hawk Spring, a natural spring with a storied Sauk history. Burlington had been a prosperous railroad and manufacturing city since the Civil War, and the park was an expression of that prosperity.

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Religious Buildings, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation

Postcard #1086: Old Methodist Church, Burlington, IA — Pearl to Pearl, July 1909

July 12, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1086: Hand-colored illustration of the Old Methodist Church in Carthage, Illinois. The building is a large orange-brick struct

Transcription

Back — Arrived all ok Roy missed me but we found the place all right Have had a fine time but am all in down & out. Hiram & [illegible] are going to stay here tonight. Saw H.U. D.M. & La Harpe operator was on the train & [illegible] [illegible] on the train & went [?] with me to Dallas Pearle

Postcard Information

Postmark: BURLINGTON, IOWA, JUL 6 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Ed. Hoch, Carthage, Illinois
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢ — Features a profile of Benjamin Franklin.
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles
Notes: Postmark includes "TRANS. CLK." (Transit Clerk). Mention of a "La Harpe operator" and a trip to "Dallas" (likely Dallas City, Illinois).

About This Card

The Old Methodist Church in Carthage — the earlier building replaced by the large brick structure shown in the linen-era card — represented the congregation’s first permanent home in the city. Carthage was settled in the 1830s and its Protestant congregations organized quickly; the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were among the first institutions the settlers established. Pearl sending this card from Burlington suggests she was traveling and found a card of her own neighborhood church at a store — or that someone mailed it to her while she was away.

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation, Undivided Back (Pre-1907)

Postcard #0083: Carthage Lake Club House in Burlington, Burlington, IA — Annie to Pearl, June 1907

July 10, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0083: Color illustration depicting the Carthage Lake Club House in Burlington, Iowa, a multi-story building with arched upper

Transcription

Front — Received your card I am at Marie going to help her clean house am pretty tired think I will go home Sun Ans. soon. Annie

Postcard Information

Postmark: Burlington, IA., JUN 14 1907
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
Publisher: S. H. KNOX & CO.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles
Notes: Message written on front instead of back due to undivided back format.

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0082: Mayme., Wever, IA — Mayme to Pearl, April 1908

July 9, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0082: Color illustration of a scenic view looking through a dark brick-arch viaduct. The view frames a landscape of lush green

Transcription

Front — ] Mayme.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, APR 20 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Malcolm Halsey, Bellport, New York
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~25 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, General Correspondence, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation, Undivided Back (Pre-1907)

Postcard #0078: Pine Street looking south in Fort Madison, Wever, IA — Violet to Pearl, June 1908

July 3, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0078: Color illustration of Pine Street looking south in Fort Madison, Iowa, featuring a prominent brick building with a conic

Transcription

Front — ] mayme.

Back — ] "Better late than never" but I would have answered sooner if I’d had any cards. I haven’t as pretty a card to send as the one I rec’d from you, for that violet postal was certainly pretty. I liked it fine. Don’t you think all had a fairly good time yesterday afternoon, at least what we done kept us pretty busy. How is the Children’s Day exercises. I’ve got a job today I don’t like very well – helping Mamma pick up cherries. Ans. soon as ever. – Violet.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, JUN 8 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
Publisher: Axt Drug Co., Fort Madison, Iowa
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~25 miles
Notes: Hand-drawn dividing line on back, message written on front margin

About This Card

Pine Street in Fort Madison, looking south from this vantage, shows the kind of small-city commercial vitality that characterized river towns along the upper Mississippi in the early twentieth century. Fort Madison had grown up around an early American fort — the original Fort Madison, the first U.S. military post in what would become Iowa, was destroyed and abandoned in 1813 after repeated Sauk attacks during the War of 1812. The town that took its name later that century had no direct connection to the military installation; it simply kept the name. Five years after Violet sent this card, Walter Sheaffer would open his pen factory nearby, and Pine Street’s commercial character would begin to shift.

1920s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, General Correspondence, People & Portraits, Religious Buildings, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation, White Border (1915–1930)

Postcard #0077: Lee County Court House, Fort Madison, IA — Caroline to Pearl, October 1920

July 2, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0077: Colorized postcard depicting the Lee County Court House in Fort Madison, Iowa, featuring its prominent white columns. Ba

Transcription

Back — Hello Pearl Received you card and thought I would ans. it. I went to the Ball game Sunday and had a fine time I had crowd of four of folkes here Sunday night and had a fine time and wish you was here to [?] as ever Caroline [illegible] ] Caroline.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Fort Madison, Iowa, OCT 20 [illegible]
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: White Border (1915–1930)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~25 miles

About This Card

The Lee County Courthouse in Fort Madison stands on a prominent corner downtown, its white columns visible for some distance along the approaches from the river. Fort Madison sits on a sharp bend of the Mississippi, and the view from the courthouse steps takes in a wide sweep of water. Caroline, writing from Fort Madison in autumn, doesn’t mention the courthouse — she’s writing about a ball game and promising to answer Pearl’s card. The building is background, not subject.