White Border (1915–1930) - When My Tan Wears Out

1930s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, People & Portraits, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Chicago IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation, White Border (1915–1930)

Postcard #1088: Old Jail, Carthage, IL — Grandma to Pearl, August 1938

July 19, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1088: Hand-colored postcard showing the "Old Jail" in Carthage, Illinois. The scene features a two-story stone building with a

Transcription

Back — Seeing lots of old friends at Homecoming going to Picnic to morrow then back to Chicago. Had a big storm here last night. love from Grandma

Postcard Information

Postmark: CARTHAGE, ILL., AUG 8 1938
Sent To: Chicago IL
Era: White Border (1915–1930)
Publisher: NICHOLS’ BOOK STORE / C. T. AMERICAN ART BLUE-SKY (TEICH CO.), Carthage, Illinois / Chicago, Illinois
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~240 miles

About This Card

The Carthage Jail was built in 1839 and became, on June 27, 1844, the site of the murder of Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his brother Hyrum. A mob stormed the jail, where Smith was being held on charges of treason, and shot both men. The LDS Church acquired the building in 1903 and has operated it as a historic site ever since. Grandma sent this hand-colored postcard during Homecoming in August 1938, saw lots of old friends, and mentioned a big storm the night before. The jail she photographed or purchased a card of had been standing for nearly a century and had housed the most consequential prisoner in American religious history.

1940s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation, Wartime Correspondence, White Border (1915–1930)

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

July 18, 2026 No Comments

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

Postcard Information

Postmark: CARTHAGE, ILL., MAY 3 1944
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: White Border (1915–1930)
Stamp: 1¢
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.

1920s, General Correspondence, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation, White Border (1915–1930)

Postcard #1083: Zephyr Flour, Quincy, IL — Ray to Pearl, December 1920

July 4, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1083: A sepia-toned real photo of a grocery store window display. The window is filled with sacks of "Zephyr Flour" stacked in

Transcription

Back — Received your letter last night had made all purchases Thursday. Do not get to work at all Saturday So nothing happened will be there either in a.m. or be on [illegible] about noon for [illegible] was well. He [?] is late and am tired so will go mail this and retire Ray

Postcard Information

Postmark: QUINCY, ILL., DEC 20 [illegible]
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: White Border (1915–1930)
Stamp: 1¢ (two stamps) — Two 1-cent stamps applied side-by-side.
Distance Traveled: ~40 miles

About This Card

This real photo postcard of a grocery store window display in Quincy, Illinois is a small window into the retail world of early-twentieth-century commerce. The window is filled with sacks and containers — flour, possibly grain, canned goods — arranged for display in a manner that valued quantity and variety over design. Ray sent this card from Quincy with a brief note. Quincy grocery stores in this period served a large regional market, and the window display reflects the practical character of commerce in a river city that still had deep agricultural connections to its hinterland.

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.