Carthage Illinois - When My Tan Wears Out

Postcard #0028: Clearwater River, Lewiston with Merry Christmas 1908 Greetings

A vintage postcard depicting the Clearwater River in Lewiston, Idaho. The river dominates the foreground with calm, reflective water. Along the right bank, a raised railroad track runs parallel to the river, with tall, slender trees lining its side. In the background, across the river, lies the town of Lewiston nestled against distant hills under a cloudy sky. The sky above is a mix of pale blues and whites, with a hint of warm colors from the postcard's printing process. The title — Front — A postcard view of the Clearwater River in Lewiston, Idaho, with a railroad track running alongside the water and a town visible in the distance.

Postcard Metadata

Postmarked: Lewiston, Idaho — December 19, 1908
Sent From: Lewiston, Idaho
Sent To: J.J. McMenamy, Carthage, Illinois
Distance Traveled: Approximately 1,900 miles
Postage: 1 cent U.S. Franklin green stamp
Card Details: Divided Back Era (1907-present)

The divided back of a postcard, featuring handwritten cursive text on the left side and an address on the right. A green one-cent U.S. Franklin stamp is affixed in the upper right corner. A clear circular postmark indicates — Back — Correspondence from O.W. and Aunt Clara to J.J. McMenamy

Transcription

Merry Xmas and Happy 1908 From your nephew O.W. and Niece Aunt Clara

Historical & Family Notes

While this postcard features a beautiful early 20th-century landscape of the Clearwater River in Idaho, its primary interest for this collection lies in its connection to Carthage, Illinois—the hometown of Pearl Byers. Uniquely, this card is not addressed to Pearl or Harvey, but to J.J. McMenamy, a resident of Carthage. The senders, identified as “nephew O.W. and Aunt Clara,” extend simple holiday wishes for Christmas 1908.

The presence of this card in a collection primarily focused on Pearl Byers and Harvey Sights suggests a possible familial or community tie within Carthage, perhaps indicating that the McMenamy family was known to the Byers or Sights, or that the card was later acquired and added to the collection for its local historical relevance. It offers a glimpse into broader social connections within Carthage during the early 1900s, even if not directly part of Pearl and Harvey’s personal correspondence.

This holiday greeting provides a brief snapshot of seasonal communication at the turn of the century, sent across a vast distance from Idaho to Illinois. It captures the simple charm of period postcards, serving as a reminder of distant relations and the enduring tradition of sharing good wishes during the festive season.

Postcard #0021: Lebanon Kansas Main Street and a Rainy Journey Home

Sepia-toned historical postcard showing a wide, unpaved Main Street in Lebanon, Kansas, looking north. The street is lined with two-story commercial buildings featuring awnings, and a few indistinct figures walk along the dirt street and sidewalks under a bright sky. The caption — Front — A wide, unpaved Main Street in Lebanon, Kansas, looking north, lined with multi-story business buildings.

Postcard Metadata

Postmarked: Topeka, Kan. — Oct 27, 1909, 6PM
Sent From: Topeka, Kansas
Sent To: Miss Pearl Byers, Carthage, Ill.
Distance Traveled: Approximately 280 miles
Postage: U.S. Postage, One Cent, green stamp (Benjamin Franklin profile)
Card Details: Divided Back postcard, manufactured by M. L. Zercher Book and Sta. Co., Topeka, Kan.

Back of a sepia-toned postcard with a handwritten message in cursive from Leonard Timberlake to Miss Pearl Byers in Carthage, Illinois. The card is postmarked Topeka, Kansas, October 27, 1909, 6PM, and bears a one-cent green U.S. postage stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin. The manufacturer's details are visible on the left side. — Back — Correspondence from Leonard Timberlake to Miss Pearl Byers

Transcription

Well I guess you thought I was never going to write anything but I finally got around to it. I had swell trip home it rained severall the time after I left Quincy. Leonard Timberlake.

Historical & Family Notes

This postcard, sent to Pearl Byers from Leonard Timberlake, provides a glimpse into her social circle before her eventual marriage to Harvey Sights. The message details Leonard’s “swell trip home” despite rain after leaving Quincy, suggesting Pearl might have been visiting Quincy, Illinois, or that Leonard was visiting Pearl (or nearby) before heading back to his own home, likely in or near Topeka, Kansas, where the card was postmarked.

The existence of correspondence from other individuals like Leonard underscores that Pearl had a vibrant social life and various acquaintances, a common experience for young women of the era. These interactions form part of the broader narrative leading up to her relationship with Harvey Sights, showing the context of her world.

The card’s front, depicting Main Street in Lebanon, Kansas, is a generic scene often found on postcards of the period, chosen by the sender likely for its availability rather than any specific connection to Pearl or Leonard. It highlights the widespread use of postcards for casual correspondence and sharing snippets of daily life or travel.