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

Postcard #1079: landscape view of Long Creek near Carthage, Carthage, IL — October 1909

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Front of postcard #1079: Hand-colored landscape view of Long Creek near Carthage, Illinois. The image shows a wide, shallow creek bed with muddy

Transcription

Back — Before 1910

Back of postcard #1079

Postcard Information

  • Postmark: Carthage, ILL., OCT 20 1909
  • Sent To: Carthage IL
  • Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
  • Publisher: Ed. Hoch, Importer and Publisher, Carthage, Ill.
  • Print Origin: Printed in Germany
  • Stamp: 1¢ — Two identical 1¢ stamps.
  • Distance Traveled: Local mail
  • Notes: Two 1¢ stamps used on a single card; card is an undivided back style design despite being mailed in 1909; contains a handwritten pencil note "Before 1910" at the top of the back which appears to be a later addition.

About This Card

Long Creek near Carthage appears in the collection multiple times across different decades — Harvey sending a card of it from La Harpe before their wedding, Pearl’s mother sending a view later, and now this hand-colored landscape postmarked from Carthage in the linen era. Long Creek was the natural feature closest to both of their hometowns: it ran through the farm country between Carthage and La Harpe, and it was the kind of creek people knew by name because they crossed it regularly. This unsigned card was sent by an unsigned sender — the creek speaks for itself.

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1900s, Family Correspondence, General Correspondence, Golden Age (1900–1915), Novelty & Humor, Sent From: Illinois

Postcard #0036: A Peculiar Kiss and a Sunday Morning Homecoming

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Vintage postcard illustration depicting two couples kissing, one young and one older, with a poem titled
Front — An illustration featuring two panels of couples kissing and a humorous poem about the nature of a kiss.

Postcard Metadata

  • Postmarked: Carthage, Illinois — October 3, 1905
  • Sent From: Carthage, Illinois
  • Sent To: Miss Pearl Byers Carthage Ill.
  • Distance Traveled: Approximately 0 miles (local mail)
  • Postage: 1 cent green Benjamin Franklin stamp, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
  • Card Details: Undivided Back (pre-1907 era)

The back of a vintage postcard with a handwritten message in cursive script from Franklin T. to Miss Pearl Byers. It is postmarked Carthage, Illinois, October 3, 1905, and bears a green one-cent Benjamin Franklin postage stamp in the upper right corner.
Back — Correspondence from Franklin T. to Miss Pearl Byers

Transcription

We got home Sunday morning. The folks were glad to see us. Good-bye Franklin T.

Historical & Family Notes

This postcard offers a charming glimpse into the everyday social life of Pearl Byers in the early 20th century. While not from Harvey Sights, it illustrates the common practice of sending brief updates to friends and family through the mail, even for local news like a weekend trip. The sender, Franklin T., shares a simple message confirming their safe return home and the family’s happiness at their arrival.

The front of the card, with its humorous take on “A KISS,” adds a playful, slightly risqué touch, common for postcards of the era. It presents a lighthearted reflection on romance, from young love to the enduring affection of an older couple. This choice of card suggests a friendly and perhaps jovial relationship between Pearl and Franklin T.

Given that the postcard was sent and received within Carthage, Illinois, it highlights the role of the postal service in maintaining local connections. Even for messages that could easily be conveyed in person, postcards provided a quick and convenient way to share news, keeping individuals like Pearl Byers connected to their wider community before the advent of modern communication.

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Golden Age (1900–1915), 1900s, Birthday, General Correspondence, Local Mail, Sent From: Illinois

Postcard #008: Bird Family Birthday Greetings to Pearl

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Vintage postcard illustration of a rustic nature scene featuring five red-breasted robins perched on a weathered stone wall, with a quaint cottage and lush green trees in the background under a warm, gradient sky. The phrase
Front — An illustration of a bird family gathered on a stone wall in a country setting with a house and trees, wishing “Birthday Greetings”.

Postcard Metadata

  • Postmarked: Carthage, Illinois — December 4, 1908
  • Sent From: Carthage, Illinois
  • Sent To: Miss Pearl Byers, Carthage, Ill.
  • Distance Traveled: Local delivery (within Carthage, Illinois)
  • Postage: 1-cent US Postage (Benjamin Franklin)
  • Card Details: Divided Back era (1907-Present)

The back of a vintage postcard with a green 1-cent Benjamin Franklin postage stamp postmarked
Back — Correspondence from Dora C. to Miss Pearl Byers

Transcription

Dear Pearl. I wish you many, many happy Birthdays Dora C. Miss Pearl Byers Carthage Ill. Dec. 4. 1908.

Historical & Family Notes

This charming postcard marks a special day, as it was sent to Pearl Byers on her exact birthday, December 4, 1908. The sender, identified as Dora C., extended warm wishes for “many, many happy Birthdays,” a sentiment that was delivered locally within Carthage, Illinois.

The card serves as a delightful record of Pearl’s social connections and the customary practice of sending celebratory postcards, even for local greetings. It highlights the importance of marking personal milestones through tangible correspondence, a cherished tradition in the early 20th century.

Establishing Pearl’s precise birthday through this card provides valuable archival data, anchoring future biographical details within the collection. It allows us to connect the dots in her timeline and understand the personal touches that adorned her life before her marriage to Harvey Sights.

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Golden Age (1900–1915), 1900s, Family Correspondence, Greeting Card, Local Mail, Novelty & Humor, Sent From: Illinois

Postcard #003: A Birthday Greeting from Hallie, Featuring a Dutch Windmill Scene

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Vintage sepia-toned postcard from 1909 depicting a woman with long, flowing hair looking down at a cluster of flowers, with a small Dutch windmill nestled among them, all within a circular frame. The circular image is flanked by two rectangular, abstract, darker panels. Above the central image, oriented vertically, is decorative script text that reads
Front — A sepia-toned postcard featuring a central circular vignette of a woman with flowing hair among flowers and a windmill, flanked by abstract rectangular designs, with Dutch text “A Hartelijk Welkom.”

Postcard Metadata

  • Postmarked: Carthage, Illinois — December 4, 1909
  • Sent From: Carthage, Illinois
  • Sent To: Miss Pearle Byers City
  • Distance Traveled: 0 miles
  • Postage: One Cent George Washington stamp
  • Card Details: Divided Back Postcard (1907-1915)

The back of a 1909 postcard featuring a split back for correspondence and address. The left side contains a handwritten birthday message in cursive ink:
Back — Correspondence from Hallie to Miss Pearle Byers

Transcription

Wishing you Many Happy Returns of the day. Hallie 12-4-09. Miss Pearle Byers City

Historical & Family Notes

This postcard offers a charming glimpse into Pearle Byers’ early life, marking her birthday on December 4th, 1909. The sender, Hallie, likely a close friend or family member also residing in Carthage, sent this brief but warm greeting locally, as indicated by the “City” address. Such local correspondence was common, strengthening community ties within small Midwestern towns like Carthage.

The front of the card, with its distinctly European theme featuring a windmill and the Dutch phrase “A Hartelijk Welkom” (A Hearty Welcome), reflects the era’s fascination with international imagery and diverse artistic styles. While the message is simple, the act of sending a birthday card was a meaningful gesture, especially for a young woman like Pearle.

This card, sent before her eventual marriage to Harvey Sights, captures a moment of personal celebration in Pearle’s life. It serves as a gentle reminder of the network of friends and well-wishers who acknowledged her special day, contributing to the rich tapestry of her personal history.

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