To: Miss Anna Hickey, From: Ellen R. 1910’s
Dear Anna,
I did not see you to say good bye. We are all here and it is just grand up here. How is all your family? I hope all well. This is like the beach we go to. Goodbye
From,
Ellen R.
(On Cayuga Lake)
At top: By Biddeford Pool(?)…Maine
Although the postmark on this card has faded, I’m reasonably sure this dates to between 1909-1912. There’s all the usual suspects: a divided back, a one cent stamp, the publishing company (which began in 1908). But the clincher for me is the beach scene on the front of the postcard. The waves are filled with vacation revelers, but the women are dressed in the long bathing dresses of the early 20th century. Further, their hair is pinned up in the distinct Gibson Girl style that defined the beauty standards of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
So, although I don’t have an exact date, it is with relative certainty that I can say this postcard was sent during a time when the nation was on the cusp of change. The Progressives were far from perfect, but they fought against the corruption of the gilded age. Standards of living rose, labor practices became better for workers, and women…
Well, women wouldn’t get the right to vote for another ten years. And remember, that’s effectively only white women. Alas, alack, at least the styles were beautiful.
As for Anna and her friend Ellen? I’m pretty sure I found Anna, though I’m not entirely confident the time frame works out. I found an Anna Hickey living in Aurora, New York, but she was born in 1862. Which, if my time line is correct, would make her nearing 50 by the time this postcard was sent. While, of course, many women chose to remain unmarried, this Anna did marry. Through a stroke of luck I found a small obituary entry that announced her death with her full name — both maiden and married (Murphy).
This Anna lived a long life, and died in 1956. So, it’s possible she married late in life. But seeing as the title is “Miss” on the card, I tend to think our Anna is younger. Unfortunately, the obituary was the only solid piece of evidence I found. So, if Anna had a niece named after her, I wouldn’t know. It’s also feasible that Anna was a middle name, or short for Annabelle, or Anastasia.
Though, every day I find something stuck behind a paywall it chips away at my resistance to only use free services.
Nonetheless, it seems that Ellen had a lovely time in Maine. Biddeford Pool is a tidal pool with sleek waves and soft beaches. I’d like to think that she wrote her postcard to Anna on the beach, staring at the ocean. Maybe a breeze played at her loosely pinned up hair, maybe her skin flushed a bit from the sun. But she took time out of her vacation to share the moment with her friend. And now, it’s immortalized for us us to share.
“Bathing Scene at the Pier,” Old Orchard, ME
Hipstory 