Old Antique Vintage Postcards of Lowell and Boston Massachusetts

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This is the third installment of massive buildings from the early 1900s in Massachusetts. The first example today is a circa 1908 view of Memorial Hall in Lowell Massachusetts. I could not find any information on the building but it appears to be constructed of large granite blocks, has stained glass windows and looks like a church to me.

The second post card is a circa 1920s view of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association building on Huntington Avenue in Boston Massachusetts. It was built especially for public exhibitions of American manufacturers and mechanic arts and was also used for Grand Opera and other events. Both of these post cards are available in my Massachusetts listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! Visit your hometown as it was 100 years ago.

1905 Old Antique Vintage Postcards of Lawrence Massachusetts

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This is the second of three articles covering massive buildings of the early 1900s in the state of Massachusetts. Today we will cover two circa 1905 impressive public buildings in Lawrence Massachusetts. The first post card shows the two huge turrets on the front of the Armory and the imposing "Don't mess with me" castle construction style.

The second building is the Public Library which rambles over a city block and is constructed of large stone blocks. It offers a very safe appearance and invites you to come inside for a quite comfortable place to lose yourself in a great book. Both of these post cards are available in my Massachusetts listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! The hobby with millions of possibilities.

1905 Old Antique Vintage Postcards of Fall River Massachusetts

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This article and the next two will generally cover massive buildings from the early 1900s in the state of Massachusetts. The first of these shown below is the Boy's Club in Fall River Massachusetts. The 1910 census indicated that 119,295 people resided here at this time which made it the third largest in the state behind Boston and Worcester. This is a postally used circa 1905 postcard with proper writing on the front since only the address could appear on the back until March 1907. While the size of the Boy's Club is not massive, the building has the stone mass and look of a fortress.

The second post card shows the High School which is massive and also has the heft of a stone fortress. This postcard also has proper writing on the front but there is no writing on the back since it was not mailed. This memo on the front is most interesting since it says "Given by a Mrs Young in memory of her son. Cost over half million. White Stone." Both post cards are available in my Massachusetts listings along with 10,000 more postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! Your window to the past.

1908 Old Antique Vintage Postcards of Cambridge Massachusetts

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Cambridge Massachusetts is home to Harvard and our first post card is a Metropolitan News Company circa 1906 view of Gore Hall at Harvard College. In 1764, a fire at Harvard Hall destroyed the library but Harvard Hall was rebuilt and the college began to replace the lost books. By the 1830's, the new Harvard Hall was full but since it was not fireproof, work was begun on a new fireproof library using funds from a gift by Christopher Gore. In 1841, the library was transferred to very impressive, and modern looking even by today's standards, Gore Hall where it remained until 1913 when the library was demolished.

The second post card is a circa 1908 view of the Weld Boathouse which was built with funds George Weld gave to Harvard for its construction in 1906. Located on the Charles River in Cambridge, it is very close to Harvard Yard and is still in use today. Both of these post cards can be found in my Massachusetts listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! The hobby that documents history.

Top Seven Reasons You Should Collect Old Antique Vintage Postcards

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Everyone needs a hobby to escape the increasingly fast pace and mounting pressure of today’s world. You simply must take time to do something relaxing that will give you an escape from your job, problems, the TV and especially that cell phone or Blackberry. Vintage postcards can provide the perfect relief valve from life’s pressure cooker and improve your health and peace of mind. Here are 7 reasons you should collect old antique postcards.

#1 Over the years I have been a collector of many things beginning with coins and moving on to stamps, guns, arrowheads, toy guns, broken bank notes, Confederate bank notes, national currency, duck prints, furniture, bears, bottles, sports cards, autographs and even 1.2 million pre prohibition whiskey labels. They were fun for a while but just didn’t have the diversity, availability, affordability, history and attraction that postcards do. Now they are all gone, except the whiskey labels that I don’t know what to do with. Today, I only have postcards.

#2 Diversity! I honestly believe that you can find a postcard on any subject you wish to collect. I have looked at millions of postcards and believe me; whatever you want is out there.

#3 Availability! According to the International Postal Union, over 140 BILLION postcards were mailed from 1907 through 1919 and millions more were bought and collected but not mailed. In the early 1900s, the New York City post office would handle up to 30,000 postcards a day and in 1909, Americans alone bought over 1 BILLION postcards.

#4 Affordability! Postcards can be bought for pennies to thousands of dollars with the vast majority in the under $10 range with more closer to a dollar than $10.

#5 History! In the early 1900s, there were clubs for exchanging postcards by mail and collections were put in albums and proudly displayed in the parlor for guests. They were also used to teach children about far away places and show them animals, birds, ships, Indians, presidents, disasters, maps and state capitols they never had a chance to see.

#6 You Decide! I started with early Yellowstone postcards because I worked there during the summers of 1959-1962 and I wanted to see what it looked like in the early days. But, once you start looking at postcards, you will see something else you like such as bear postcards. Then fantasy postcards with frogs having breakfast in bed or four beetles toasting wine glasses at a picnic or a rabbit dancing with a chicken while a band of chickens play instruments on an Easter card. I like postcards that make me smile and there are tons of them out there like the ones below. Those smiles will make you forget your problems!

#7 Your Roots! Postcards of the town where you grew up, the hospital where you were born, your elementary or high school, the city swimming pool, the town where you parents grew up, or Ellis Island where your grand parents arrived from Europe will take you back to a different and simpler time. Remember, you are what you were then. These postcards are called “views” and they are windows to your past and a perfect gift for the genealogy buffs.

Now turn that TV and cell phone off and get on the computer and see what is available out there by checking out over 10,000 old antique vintage postcards on my website Moody’s Postcards AND read more about postcards on Moody’s Postcards blog. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! The only thing you will regret is not starting earlier.

Old Antique Vintage 1908 Postcards of Thermopolis Wyoming

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Several blogs back I covered a couple of post cards from Thermopolis Wyoming and today I must return there to show you the town and one more of its unusual uses for the local hot springs. This town view is a circa 1908 view of what is probably the majority of the town and even Herard's Pharmacy, on the left side of the street, seems to be having a slump in business despite his self proclaimed status as the busiest place in town. The town had a population of 1,524 in 1910, grew to 2,095 around 1930 and as of 2000 had 3,172 people.

The second postcard shows the FREE State Baths available at Big Horn Hot Springs which are open to the public based on an 1896 treaty with the Shoshone and Arapaho Indian tribes. It appears to be very busy in this view and that is understandable based on the lack of bathing facilities in the frontier days. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! It will lead you to exciting discoveries as you research your postcards which is very easy on the internet. These postcards are available in my Wyoming listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards.

Old Antique Vintage Rock Springs Wyoming 1908 Postcards

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Today we will visit Rock Springs Wyoming on two circa 1908 C. U. Williams postcards which have multiple town views. The first of these shows three churches including the Mormon Church, Finish Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Congregational Church.

The second C. U. Williams post card gives us two birds eye views of the railroad yards which appear quite extensive. Rock Springs in the early days was a large coal mining town and in 1908 had a population of 5,778 while today it has approximately 18,708 residents.

The last postcard is a 1948 Curteich linen postcard showing a bird's eye view of the town at that time with the snow covered Rocky Mountains in the background. Today, coal mining has given away to the energy boom's demand for oil and natural gas which is also plentiful in the area. All of these post cards are available in my Wyoming listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! A great hobby the whole family can enjoy.

Thermopolis Wyoming Old Antique Vintage 1908 Postcards

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Today we are going back to the wild west with a visit to Thermopolis Wyoming to see how things were 100 years ago. The first circa 1908 post card shows three stage coaches absolutely full of people out in the middle of nowhere but my guess is they are headed to or from some of the many hot springs in the area.

The second circa 1908 postcard shows a man and woman in a small boat hooked up to one of the two wires stretched over the river. Again we have to draw our own conclusions but my best guess is he is waiting on those 3 stage coaches full of tourists so he can charge to ferry them to the local sights such as the Hot Spring Falls spilling into the Big Horn River in the background. Both of these antique postcards can be found in my Wyoming listings on my website along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER!! It will provide you with endless supply of fantastic views of days gone by.

Old Antique Vintage Hammonton New Jersey Postcards

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I have some great news for New Jersey post card collectors in general and for Hammonton New Jersey postcard collectors in particular. On Monday 22 September 2008, Arcadia Publishing will be releasing their latest "Postcard History Series" book, "Hammonton", and it has 127 pages of Hammonton New Jersey full size vintage postcards that will blow your mind. I have been dealing in postcards for many years and this collection of postcards is nothing short of amazing. The authors, Grayce Pitera and Kristin Colasurdo, have provided descriptions with interesting and detailed information about each post card which showcases their vast knowledge of the town and surrounding area.

Hammonton New Jersey is half way between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, about 30 miles each way, in Atlantic County. According to the 1910 census, the population was 5,088 which grew to 7,656 in 1930 and was 12,604 in 2000 with almost 46% of the residents of Italian ancestry which is the second highest percentage in the United States. Of special interest to me was the chapter on the company town of Amatol New Jersey and the postcards which reveal the bomb making facility built by the government in East Hammonton in 1918 but today is gone except for one building. The book covers all aspects of Hammonton including the Pennsylvania & Reading railroads, residences, factories, parks, lakes, town and people. Shown below are two of the postcards found in the book with the first being a "butterfly lady" with four local scenes shown in the wings. This style postcard is hard to find, especially on small towns.

This second postcard from the book shows one of the many "May Day" real photo postcards which are also hard to find but a very popular topic for postcard collectors. The bottom line is this is a fabulous book showcasing an awesome postcard collection with a detailed accurate explanation of the images. The book will be available at area bookstores, independent and on line retailers or through Arcadia Publishing's website and is priced at a very reasonable $19.95.

Don't forget to check out my New Jersey postcard listing and over 10,000 additional post cards available on my website Moody's Postcards.

Columbia Missouri 1920s Old Antique Vintage Postcards

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Missouri is the show me state so I am going to show off a couple of nice Missouri vintage postcards. The first is 1920s E. C. Kropp post card of the beautiful six story Hotel Marquette in Cape Giradeau Missouri.Cape Giradeau is located in Cape Giradeau County but Jackson is the county seat. Located on the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri, the town had a 1910 population of 8,475 which grew to 10,068 by the 1930s and today is just over 35,000.

The second Missouri postcard is a 1930s view of the Post Office in Columbia Missouri which today is the fifth largest city in Missouri, is the county seat of Boone County and home to the University of Missouri. Missouri was a slave state with Southern sympathies but did not withdraw from the Union and Columbia remained untouched by the Civil War primarily because the city was pro Union, while the rural areas were pro slavery, and Union troops were stationed in Columbia during the war. Columbia has had steady growth with a population of 9,662 in 1910, 14,275 in the 1930s, 84,531 in 2,000 and today is almost 100,000. I am inclined to believe that this post office is no longer adequate. Both of these post cards can be found in my Missouri listings along with 10,000 additional post cards on my website Moody's Postcards. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER! Go to my website and see what your home town looked like 50 to 100 years ago.

Victoria Texas 1913 Old Antique Vintage Postcards

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Victoria Texas is only 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and Port Lavaca and was named for General Don Guadalupe Victoria who was the first president of independent Mexico. Guadalupe Victoria was founded in 1824 by Don Martin De Leon on the Guadalupe River and was primarily a Mexican settlement. The town supported the Texas cause against Santa Anna but was occupied during the fighting. Once Santa Anna was defeated, the Mexican residents were mistreated and driven from the city as the Anglos took over and changed the name to just Victoria. The city served as the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande in 1840. In 1910, the population was 3,673 and by the 1930s it had grown to almost 6,000. The 2000 census put the population at just over 55,000 and today it is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas. The first post card shows the Nazareth Academy on this 1913 Curt Teich view.

The second view is a 1931 Curteich postcard showing the Denver Hotel and both of these post cards are avialable in my Texas listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. Postcards provide many hours of entertainment and researching their subject matter is fun, eductional and very easy on your computer. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER! The best hobby ever with a budget to fit everyone and something new to learn with every postcard.

Old Antique Vintage La Grange Texas 1907 Postcards

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More Texas towns today with two fantastic views of the main business section of La Grange Texas. Both of these post cards were produced circa 1907 but a close examination of them convinces me that the pictures used to produce the postcards were taken several years before that. There is nothing on either post card but hitching posts and horse drawn wagons. Automobiles were not common in 1907 but they were around and that is why I think these views are closer to 1900. The first postcard shows the South side of the Public Square and if I have my directions right that would be the East side of the square in the distance. In the right foreground I can read the signs for the La Grange Saddlery Co and The Von Rosenberg Company but those are the only ones.

The second postcard shows the North side of the Public Square and the first store on the left with the horse and wagon tied up has a sign that says T. S. Brown. The only other sign I can read is farther down the street where two wagons are tied up and that is the Saloon. Look at the surprise on my face! Together, these postcards give a great early view of La Grange which was first settled in 1822 and was a major site of German and Czech settlement since the country side reminded them of their homeland. The town still shows their influence in customs and architecture and you will not be surprised to know that they only gave token support to prohibition. CATCH POSTCARD FEVER! Your only regret will be that you did not discover it earlier. Both of these postcards can be found in my Texas listings along with 10,000 more postcards on my website Moody's Postcards.

Old Antique Vintage Hillsboro & Mineral Wells Texas Postcards

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I'm going to focus on old vintage Texas postcards for a couple of days and will start the day off with a 1920s E. C. Kropp postcard view of the Hotel Wear in Hillsboro Texas. Hotels are a very popular subject with post card collectors and many are still around today although they may have been converted to other uses.

Another popular subject for postcard collectors are U.S.O. (United Service Organizations) facilities. The USO has been around since 1941 and is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit, charitable corporation but is NOT a part of the U.S. government. It is funded almost entirely by donations from individuals, organizations and corporations with $0.89 of every dollar spent on the delivery of programs and services to our troops. To find out more or to donate, go to www.uso.org. The USO facility on this 1940s Colourpicture post card is the North Oak USO in Mineral Wells Texas and was constructed in the early 1940s for the soldiers of Camp Wolters. Both of these post cards can be found in my Texas listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. Catch postcard fever and learn something new everyday!

Old Antique Vintage Houston Missouri Real Photo Postcard

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Today we are going to get in the postcard time machine and visit the "Garden Spot of the Ozarks", Houston Missouri in the early 1940s. I have highlighted several of these early real photo town views that were popular from the 1930s and into the 1950s on this blog and will continue to do so. I'm not sure if that is a threat or promise but here I go. The "Business Section" shows some great old cars and on the left side of the street I can see Blankenship's Rexall Drugs, Corlee Clothes at Leavitts, The Beauty Shoppe, Russell Market and I think that is a movie marquee on the last building. On the right is the Chevrolet dealership where they sell Sinclair HC gas, another drug store and in the distance is White's Cafe. I can also see three different Coke signs. Crystal clear detail is the attraction of real photos and with a 10 power magnifying glass you can read a lot of the store signs. Once again I encourage you to look for these postcards because they are a snapshot in time. Catch the postcard fever and you will have an exciting hobby at a modest cost that is limited only by your curiosity. Look through my previous blogs, there is a link on this page, to see hundreds of possibilities or click on the link below to my website to see thousands. This postcard is available in my Missouri listings along with more than 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards.

Old Antique Vintage Lake Charles Louisiana Postcards

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In honor of Louisiana's valiant showing against Hurricane Gustav, I thought I would show a couple of old antique post cards from the state and Lake Charles in particular. Ever since Katrina and Rita beat up the Gulf coast, postcards of the area have been selling better than usual as customers are seeking images of homes, businesses and landmarks that no longer exist. The first post card is a 1916 Curteich showing Pujo Street looking West from Kirkman in a beautiful residential district.

The second postcard is also a 1916 Curteich view showing the Lake Charles Academy and Convent. I hope all of these homes and the Academy and Convent are still standing today. Both of these post cards can be found in my Louisiana listings along with 10,000 additional postcards on my website Moody's Postcards. No matter what you collect, chances are there are plenty of postcards out there that will compliment your collection. Postcard collecting is fun, educational and very affordable. Join the fun!!