Postcard Diaspora: Belmont, MA 1918

Postcard mailed from Atlantic City, NJ, to Belmont, MA, on March 10, 1918. Message: I arrived here Sat. Afternoon with my father. It is great here and I love it here. I expect to ride on horseback Tuesday. Do you see the horses on the shore? I am staying in Hotel Traymore. Love, Dorothy. I'll mail this to the Belmont address tomorrow.

Postcard Diaspora: Slatington, PA 1961

Postcard mailed from Washington, PA, to Slatington, PA, on July 11, 1961. Message: Hi Fellows: Had a nice trip so far. The convention is right across the st. from here. Visited one of Laffy's buddys (in the war) at Charleroi this evening. Iona & Laffy. I'll mail this to the Slatington address tomorrow.

Postcard Diaspora: Lynn, MA, 1932

Happy Easter postcard mailed from Armento, Potenza, Italy, to Lynn, Massachusetts, on March 9, 1932. Message: Tuo amico, Rocco Zerundi [?]. I'll mail this to the Lynn address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Rochester, NY, 1966

Postcard mailed from Washington, DC, to Rochester, New York, sometime in 1966. Message: Hi Kath. This is where I’m staying while in Wash. That’s why I haven’t written. I’ll explain later. I’m having a ball. Got a new minie dress too! I’ll write soon. Hope all is well & everyone’s fine. Stay as sweet as you are & and all will be good. See ya soon. Love ya, JoAnn. I'll mail this to the Rochester address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Eagle Nest, NY, 1950

Postcard mailed from Eagle Nest [Blue Mountain Lake], New York, to Princeton, New Jersey, on August 8, 1950. Message: Bernedette & Jane up at E. Nest but don’t like it like Keene Valley. We will stay 3 weeks more. All are well. Hope you got a nice place. I don’t hear any news. I hope Rose your two children are well. Has the baby come yet. Come to see me in the city. Love, Kathleen & Bernadette Galligan. I'll mail this to the Princeton address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Springfield, OH, 1973

Postcard mailed from Stratford-upon-Avon, England, to Springfield, Ohio, on July 13, 1973. Message: Dear Marsha, I hope you got to go on your trip. We have had some varied & exciting experiences – some good, some wonderful, some “pretty bad.” On the whole wonderful, but not enough time! Tonite we saw As You Like It. [illegible] wonderful! Love, Ruth. P.S. If you don’t collect cards, please save this for my collection. R. I'll mail this to the Springfield address today. The review I link to of the production that the writer saw is worth reading.

Postcard Diaspora: S. Portland, ME, 1960

Postcard mailed from Cleveland, Ohio, to S. Portland, Maine, on April 4, 1960. Message: Dear Sis! Did a big slate grey handbag get into that big box of stuff I sent you? I bought one because mine was getting seedy. Yesterday I turned the apt upside down & couldn’t find it. My only theory is that it got into your box by mistake. Please let me know. I'll mail this to the S. Portland address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1971

Postcard mailed from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on February 25, 1971. Message: Russ appointment for tooth extraction not until March 10. Will call you that weekend sometime when I know what’s what. Polly. I'll mail this to the Ft. Lauderdale address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Miami, FL, 1986

Postcard mailed from Pembine, Wisconsin, to Miami, Florida, on August 11, 1986. Message: Sylvia: Gramma loves her balls! She’s teaching me to cut a turkey out of a plastic milk jug to show you. Such excitement! Don’t know how much longer I can take it. Love, Kirk. Do I sense an edge of sarcasm? I'll mail this to the Miami address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Rockford, IL, 1953

Postcard mailed from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to Rockford, IL, on July 23, 1951. Message: Dear Grandma & Grandpa – I’m having a good time up here so far this week & I know I will the whole time. I have 11 girls who are all real swell. Right now they are having a pillow fight. The weather is O.K. but it looks like rain again today. See you soon. Love, Marolyn. I'll mail this to the Rockford address today.

Postcard Diaspora: New Britain, CT, 1960

Postcard mailed from Eglin AFB, FL, to New Britain, Connecticut, on November 3, 1960. Message: Dear Mar, Hi. You having snow up there? Its hot & sunny down here. I’m really getting bored down here away from Lois & the girls. How’s the job. Haven’t been any where down here but to Fort Walton Beach & City. The South really stinks. Northern Florida here is just like Geo. S.C. Ala. etc. rotten shacks and scrubs. It’s warm but that’s all. Bye for now. Love, Den. I'll mail this to the New Britain address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Rockford, IL, 1969

Postcard mailed from Oak Park, Illinois, to Rockford, Illinois, on January 15, 1969. Message: 8:00 AM Wednesday morning. Dear Mom: Get well soon! I think about you all the time. Sure hope you start feeling better real soon. This is the restaurant where Sylvia took me Saturday. I had a real good steak dinner at Marilyn's last nite. Love, Mar. [In margin]Den called last night to see how you were. [Sender circled "Aged Prime Rib of Beef" in the postcard text and wrote, "Delicious!" I'll mail this to the Rockford address today.

Trashball 091013: Lead Head Fred

Tiny lead head I dug up with a metal detector in Bethesda.

Trashball 091013: An Appointment Claustrophobes Would Want to Miss

Mysterious note found on Sentinel Drive in Bethesda.

Postcard Diaspora: Marietta, OH, 1973

Postcard mailed from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Marietta, Ohio, on October 1, 1973. Message: Made it to Gettysburg early. Staying at “Heritage Motor Lodge.” Real nice. Rain all the way. Dalsie just dried her pant suit. Took her picture. [signed] The bad kid. I'll mail this to the Marietta address today.

A Craig Shergold Postcard

I had no idea who Craig Shergold was until I came across this postcard in a bulk lot I bought. The sender mailed the postcard on July 11, 1990, and writes, Hi Craig, I hope you'll get your wish today. Love, Larissa Robins.

Postcard Diaspora: St. Petersburg, FL, 1964

Postcard mailed from Ouray, Colorado, to St. Petersburg, Florida, on April 15, 1964. Message: No I did not know that [illegible] was in hospital, I knew she was not well. Might it be good for both of you to come to the mountains? We still have lots of snow, but I walked on green grass on south side of house to-day in beautiful sunshine. We followed TV through McArthur services and Anchorage reports. Wilbur Morris (Walter’s cousin) lives in Anchorage. He visited us last summer. Ruth had written us, is to marry a friend of hers June 6, and she asked him to plan to spend a few days with her before the wedding. He was not hurt but would be very busy. Love, Walter and Ada. I'll mail this to the St. Petersburg address today.

Pizza Nostalgia

I'm no fan of Pizza Hut pizza, but I certainly was when I was a kid, and this postcard I came across shows a PH restaurant just as it was when I used to go to the branch on N Main St in Dayton, OH, in the 1970s. You have the long-lost "Pizza Hut Pete" (they really ought to bring him back), the checkered tablecloths, the wooden seats and even the "beer barrels" that stuck out of the wall, housing the beer taps. This image really took me back!

Postcard Diaspora: Portland, OR, 1973

Postcard mailed from Pompano Beach, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, on October 1, 1973. Message: Beloved Self, Nice to hear from you again. At present our inventory of books is inadequate to attempt a N.Y. Times ad. Perhaps someday. It’s a good idea! You might try Banyen Books, 2715 W. 4^th Ave, Vancouver, B.C. for “Temples of Tibet” by BHAVANS. Love and pranams. Ladene and Stephen Wilard. I'll mail this to the Portland address today. Note the street name: Failing.

Postcard Diaspora: Beaver Falls, PA, 1990

Postcard mailed from Esmond, North Dakota, to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on June 12, 1990. Message: Yesterday we went to this place. Dolores & I are at her sister’s farm in North Dakota. Howard died of pneumonia last Thursday and the funeral was yesterday. I’ll tell you more when I see you – going to Minnesota this coming weekend. See you soon. Hi to Bet. Hi Dolores. I'll mail this to the Beaver Falls address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Chicago, 1971

Postcard mailed from Cameron, Wisconsin to Chicago on August 23, 1971. Message: Here you see all of us girls wading in Red Cedar River! Actually, I spent 2 hours floating down the river on an intertube [sic] and walking back to the starting point and floating down again, etc. Finally Jon joined me. Then we persuaded Dave he could do it without drowning (it was only waist deep). Last night Jon sang & played at the Free Church. All of us were invited out for coffee. Our host played his violin and Gladys Ora and I tried a trio. Take care now. Love, Shirley. I'll mail this to the Chicago address today.

Trashball 090413: Sunsmear

Found photo from the late 60s, taken in the Holy Land.

Postcard Diaspora: Belmont, MA, 1940

Postcard mailed from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Belmont, Massachusetts, on February 16, 1940. Message: Mama dear, Sonny and I drove up here yesterday, and going back sometime to-day. We have had a fine trip. This is an attractive city, but very smoky from the soft coal. Will write soon. Love, Dorothy. I'll mail this to the Belmont address today.

Postcard Diaspora: Dayton, KY, 1962

Postcard mailed from Ashland, Virginia, to Dayton, Kentucky, on May 1, 1962. Message: Hi Corene, (Wait till I put my glasses on), Now I can write better! Here is the legend of the dogwood we talked about. It's quite a story and I thought you would be interested in it. The hills here are beginning to look green. Wish you were here to see them. "88" Russel. I'll mail this to the Dayton address today.

Postcard Diaspora: York, PA, 1943

Postcard mailed from Camp Breckingridge, KY to York, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 1943. Message: Well Dad I'm ok and I hope you are the same. I don't know how soon I'll see you. I'm only 120 miles away. I might see you in about three or four month. It is a new camp. I think I'll like it. Write soon, your son RUSS. I'll mail this to the York address today. 

But here's why I doubt I'll hear back from this address.

Postcard Diaspora: Washington, DC, 1908

Postcard mailed from El Reno, Oklahoma to Washington, DC, on January 20, 1908. Message [front of card]: Hello old boy how are you getting along. On the S Canadian. [Back of card]: Received your card and thank you for it. W.V. I'll mail this to the DC address today.