real-photo-postcard - When My Tan Wears Out

1900s, City & Street Scenes, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Parks & Recreation, Religious Buildings, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1099: Dallas City, IL — H. S. S to Pearl, July 1909

August 29, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1099: A sepia-toned real photo postcard showing an elevated bird's eye view of Dallas City, Illinois. The scene includes house

Transcription

Back — Rec’d your card was glad to hear from you again – you stayed up longer than you intended to did you not was you mad at me for doing the way I did, but really I could not help it. H. S. S.

Postcard Information

Postmark: DALLAS CITY, ILL., JUL 13 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: C. U. WILLIAMS, BLOOMINGTON, ILL.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

About This Card

This bird’s-eye view of Dallas City, Illinois was sent by H.S.S. — initials that match Harvey Sarchet Sights. If this is Harvey, he was standing on a high point above the river town, looking down at its orderly grid of streets and the Mississippi beyond, and sending a card home. Dallas City is in Hancock County, the same county as Carthage and La Harpe; Harvey would have known the town well. The combination of H.S.S. initials and Hancock County geography makes a strong circumstantial case for Harvey as sender.

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, Golden Age, Romance & Courtship, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: La Harpe, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1098: The Corner Grocery, La Harpe, IL — September 1908

August 23, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1098: Sepia-toned real photo postcard of a wide dirt street in a small town. A single electric light bulb is suspended by wire

Transcription

Back — Here is my application for the telephone work. 8061 ???

Postcard Information

Postmark: LA HARPE, ILL., SEP 27 1908
Sent To: La Harpe IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: Local mail
Notes: Local mail; Reference to "telephone work"; The number "8061 ???" appears to be a later addition in pencil.

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

Postcard #1096: L.O. MYERS, Dallas City, IL — H to Pearl, June 1909

August 16, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1096: A real photo postcard showing a street view of Oak Street in Dallas City, Illinois. Brick buildings line both sides of t

Transcription

Back — Dallas Ills. 22-09 Dear friend. As I promised, I will send you a view of Dallas. As Ever yours, H.

Postcard Information

Postmark: DALLAS CITY, ILL., JUN 22 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

About This Card

Oak Street in Dallas City, Illinois shows the commercial core of a small river town — brick storefronts, wooden awnings, a quiet main street that served the farm families of Hancock County’s southern tier. Dallas City was connected to Carthage by road and to the wider world by the Mississippi River; its economy depended on both. H. sent this card from Dallas City. The street is empty in the image, which may indicate it was taken on a Sunday or early morning when commerce hadn’t yet begun.

1900s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1095: Dallas City, IL — V.H to Pearl, July 1909

August 15, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1095: Real photo postcard of a large stone high school building featuring gothic-style windows and a central tower with a cupo

Transcription

Back — Rec’d your card thanks for same. Where are you going to spend the 4th come up to Dallas & we will go to Burlington. V.H. ] This is where I spend many long and tiresome days.

Postcard Information

Postmark: DALLAS CITY, ILL., JUL 2 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: C. U. WILLIAMS, BLOOMINGTON, ILL.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

About This Card

Dallas City, Illinois sits on the Mississippi River in Hancock County, about twenty miles south of Carthage on the river road. The city was platted in 1836 and grew as a river landing serving the agricultural hinterland; by the early twentieth century it was a small brick-street town with a school, a bank, and the river commerce that sustained communities of its size along the upper Mississippi. V.H. sent this real photo postcard of the high school building. The stone Gothic-style windows on a prairie school building suggest civic ambition in a community that took its children’s education seriously.

1950s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, Chrome (1945–present), Sent From: Unknown, Sent To: Unknown, Sights Collection, Subject: No Specific Location, Transportation

Postcard #1090: brick U

July 26, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1090: Real photo postcard of the brick U.S. Post Office in Carthage, Illinois. The building is a single-story structure with a

Postcard Information

Postmark: ILLEGIBLE
Sent To: Unknown
Era: Chrome (1945–present)
Stamp: NOT VISIBLE
Distance Traveled: Undetermined
Notes: Blank card. The Carthage Post Office building shown was completed in 1933.

About This Card

This second real photo postcard of the Carthage Post Office shows the building from a slightly different angle than card 1089, suggesting both cards were made at around the same time by someone systematically documenting the city’s public buildings. The Carthage post office was the hub of Pearl’s correspondence — every card in this collection passed through it at some point, either arriving or departing. It processed Harvey’s railroad postcards from Fort Madison, Elva’s cards from Hawaii, Marnelle’s cards from Chicago, and Frank McMinimy’s cards from France.

1910s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Parks & Recreation, Sent From: Unknown, Sent To: Unknown, Sights Collection, Subject: No Specific Location, Transportation

Postcard #1089: UNITED STATES POST OFFICE CARTHAGE ILL.

July 25, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1089: A real photo postcard showing the brick building of the Carthage, Illinois Post Office. The building has a flag flying f

Postcard Information

Postmark: ILLEGIBLE
Sent To: Unknown
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: NOT VISIBLE — Stamp missing but printed box with EKC logo visible.
Distance Traveled: Undetermined
Notes: Blank card. Real Photo Postcard (RPPC). The car and architecture suggest a date in the late 1930s or 1940s, despite the Divided Back layout.

About This Card

The Carthage, Illinois Post Office occupied a brick building that served the city’s federal postal needs in the early twentieth century. As the county seat of Hancock County, Carthage received its federal buildings — courthouse, post office — through the same process of federal investment that gave small county seats their civic permanence. Pearl’s correspondence arrived and departed through this building for most of her life at 318 N. Fayette Street.

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.

1900s, Golden Age, Interiors, Religious Buildings, Romance & Courtship, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: La Harpe, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1084: Presbyterian Church, Carthage, IL — Hallie to Pearl, October 1909

July 5, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1084: Black and white real photo postcard showing the interior of the Presbyterian Church in Carthage, Illinois. A large pipe

Transcription

Back — Carthage Ill. 10-13-09 Hello Pearle. What do you know about this? Hope you will get this card safe. am glad you are having a good time only wish the weather was better. never mind the weather. Ask Harvey if he Dares me. Better not. Hallie.

Postcard Information

Postmark: CARTHAGE, ILL., OCT 13 1909
Sent To: La Harpe IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

About This Card

The interior of the Presbyterian Church in Carthage, Illinois shows the characteristic worship space of a mainline Protestant congregation in a small county seat: pale walls, wooden pews, a central pulpit, colored glass in the windows. Hallie sent this real photo postcard from Carthage — the kind of postcard a congregation member might send to a friend who had moved away, showing what the church looked like inside. Carthage’s Presbyterian congregation was established in the early years of the town’s settlement and remained one of the city’s significant institutions.

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.

1900s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1082: two-story white clapboard schoolhouse with a cupola and bell, Bently, IL — From C.H to Pearl, June 1909

June 28, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1082: Sepia-toned photograph of a two-story white clapboard schoolhouse with a cupola and bell tower. Several tall, leafless t

Transcription

Back — How is Ferris? Have you got over that fit you had that Sunday eve? ] From C.H.

Postcard Information

Postmark: BENTLY, ILL., JUN 1 1909
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1910s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Sent From: Unknown, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: No Specific Location, Transportation

Postcard #1081: C

June 27, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1081: Black and white real photo postcard of fifteen young men in football attire, including padded pants and sweaters, standi

Transcription

Back — ] Junior Robbins Harris Seward Harold Salisbury Stuart [illegible] Leon [illegible] Karl [illegible] Laurence [illegible] Rich Owings Harvey Sights Earl [illegible] Frank Johnson Clarence Talbot. Chester Clarke. Paul Whitehouse Carthage High School Football 1908 Team ] Carthage Football 1908

Postcard Information

Postmark: ILLEGIBLE
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: AZO
Stamp: NOT VISIBLE — Stamp missing but printed box visible.
Distance Traveled: Undetermined
Notes: The handwritten list on the back includes Harvey Sights. The card was never mailed and serves as a photo identification. Message is written vertically across both sections of the back. Large ink flourishes/scribbles over the center of the back. Handwriting on front identifies the team and year.

1950s, Chrome (1945–present), General Correspondence, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Chicago IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1080: real photo postcard showing a landscape view of Carthage Lak, Chicago, IL — Love Mae [?] to Pearl, November 1950

June 21, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1080: Sepia-toned real photo postcard showing a landscape view of Carthage Lake. The calm water reflects the trees lining the

Transcription

Back — The Plastics party has been definitely set for nov. 13. on mon. nite. all come that can. I think Mary wd like to come with you. John goes to school that nite. I think Arvetta may want to come with you too. not sure yet if she can come at all. but mary can talk to you all between now & starting time. Hope all can come Love Mae [?]

Postcard Information

Postmark: Chicago, Illinois, NOV 9 1950
Sent To: Chicago IL
Era: Chrome (1945–present)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: Local mail

Golden Age (1900–1915), 1900s, 1910s, Family Correspondence, General Correspondence, Romance & Courtship, Sent From: Illinois, Subject: Buildings & Architecture

Postcard #1076: A Busy Day at the Store

June 7, 2026 No Comments

Sepia-toned real photo postcard showing three women and four men posing in what appears to be a dry goods or department store, with a central display case featuring umbrellas for sale and a sign reading — Front — A group of store employees or proprietors pose with a display case of umbrellas.

Postcard Metadata

Postmarked: Not Visible
Sent From: None
Sent To: None
Distance Traveled: None
Postage: Not visible (no stamp)
Card Details: Divided Back, Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) with “A Z O” stamp box (circa 1907-1920s).

Sepia-toned real photo postcard back with — Back — A list of names

Transcription

Fred Peasley
Waldo Mason
Miss Erbroidt
Miss Osborn
Tom Roberts
Carrie Campbell
Maude Biggs
Mabel Roberto

Mason Dry Goods Store, La Harpe

Historical & Family Notes

This charming real photo postcard, likely dating to the early 20th century, captures a slice of small-town commerce, possibly the very store where Harvey Sights worked or visited. The image presents a bustling scene with employees, a counter, and umbrellas for sale, suggesting a dry goods or department store.