Tag: family

Nellia and Lola Frey: A Glimpse into Childhood Innocence

Post author By mshipstory
Post date August 28, 2024
2 Comments on Nellia and Lola Frey: A Glimpse into Childhood Innocence

To: Nellia Frey From: Lola Frey Circa 1910-1920

Hollo (sic) Nellia,

What are you doing now days. Answer soon.

From,

Lola Frey

From the “what are you doing now days” (without a question mark) to the childish script so lovingly labored over, childhood innocence spills out of this postcard. In fact, it’s what truly draws me to this particular card in my collection. I get this vivid image of a young girl writing at a small table, her tongue stuck out in concentration, her palms sweaty as she tries to perfect each swoop of the cursive lettering. Truly beautiful.

Unfortunately, there’s no postmark, so it’s hard to say when — or even where — the postcard is from. Based on the handwriting, my guess is that it lies somewhere between 1910 and 1920. However, without a stamp the only thing we know for certain is that it was after 1907 (the divided back strikes again!).

When setting out to research this card, I felt pretty positive I’d be able to find the sender or recipient. I had both names, a place, and some sort of family connection, so I really believed that I’d be able to go down a family line and find Nellia and Lola.

Oh, how naive I am.

Much to my chagrin, I couldn’t find Nellia or Lola at all. Even accounting for the fact that Nellia may be a pet name, and is more likely to be “Nellie” in the records. I immediately found a promising family, but there wasn’t a sister or cousin that I could trace to them. In that research, however, I did find a beautiful Nellie Frey Hagburg. Her photo is blurred, but she’s staring out of the frame with a slight smile on her face and has a Mona Lisa quality to her.

That Nellie is not our Nellia, but she died of consumption at 19, followed the next year by her mother. A pattern of loss that must have devastated the family.

As for Mapleton, it’s a small town located in the southern quadrant of Minnesota. As of 2020, the town only had 1,700 people, 3 full time police officers, and a volunteer fire department. I’m willing to bet that Nellia was of German decent, and was first generation in the midwest.

Without a postmark or stamp I have to wonder how Lola got her card to Nellia. I suspect they are cousins. Perhaps one brother was visiting the other and took the card. Perhaps Nellia and Lola were of the same age, and an older cousin was visiting Lola’s house and took the card. We can’t be sure of any of it. But, the card exists in the record as a memento to the love and innocence of childhood bonds.

Front of Postcard

Tags family, History, Letters, Photography, Postcards, Vintage, Writing Community

Education History Photographs Postcards Teaching Vintage Writing Prompt

A Timeless Bond: Uncovering Sylvia and Ethel’s Correspondence

Post author By mshipstory
Post date August 19, 2024
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From: Sylvia To: Miss Ethel Maurey. (1906-1910)

Dear Ethel,

You would enjoy seeing this place it is beautiful.

Sylvia

For the very few of you who are avid followers of my blog, you’ll notice something right off the bat about this postcard. If you’ve recently started following me, fret not sweet friend because you’re about to learn something that *may* help you win a random trivia night.

For those of you who don’t already know, the unique thing about this postcard is that the text is written on the front. Therefore we know that this is part of the “Post Card Period”. Simply put, the period between 1901 and 1907 where it was prohibited to write anything other than an address on the back of the postcard.

Although the postmark date is unreadable, my estimate is that the postcard was written somewhere between 1905-1910. Yes, I’m dating it after the divided back period began, because as we’ve seen before, just because you could write on the back of postcards beginning in 1907, didn’t mean everyone did.

Despite the short message, it truly is a lovely postcard. That’s likely one of the reasons Ethel kept it, and why it’s survived for over a hundred years. The soft glow of the sunset (or sunrise) in the background mingles with the bright cheeriness of the flower arrangements. I love the thought of the postcard itself exchanging hands time and time again, all of us agreeing with the sentiment of the sender.

But who was Ethel Maurey? And who was Sylvia? Well, it turns out I found both of them!

Ethel was born in Sunbury, PA in May of 1892 to Henry and Emma Fritz Sanders Maurey. That would put her anywhere between 9 and 15 during 1901-1907. Based on her obituary, Ethel led a life of great service, raised two sons (though one predeceased her) and was married for 56 years to Jesse Lloyd. Obituaries are difficult, because there’s so much left unsaid. We can’t know the day to day of her life. But we do know she lived through two major wars, could cast her first vote at the age of 28 (!!) and witnessed the assassination of JFK, the Civil Rights Movement, and the first man walk on the moon. Interesting indeed.

And what of Sylvia? Well, if my gut is right, Sylvia is actually Sylvania Maurey, Ethel’s sister. Sylvania was born in 1880, which made her 12 when Ethel was born. Why was Sylvia in Maryland visiting Eutaw Park? I’m not sure. The area still exists as an architectural district that housed many important residents at the turn of the 20th century. Was Sylvia visiting a friend? A college? Was she simply on a trip? Unfortunately the postcard doesn’t tell us.

However, it stands as a testament to the bond of the two sisters. Despite their age gap, Sylvia took time out of her trip to send a quick, and stunning, postcard to Ethel. Because of her bond with Sylvia, Ethel kept the card likely until the day she died. It took another 50+ years to make it into my hands. Which, frankly I find miraculous and serendipitous. It’s as though Ethel and Sylvia wanted me to share their bond with you, my dear readers. So, as you go about your day, think of Ethel and Sylvia, and reach out to your sibling, or best friend, or parents. I think they’d be glad you did.

Back of Postcard with Ethel’s address

Tags Education, family, Geneology, History, Photography, Postcards, Teaching, Vintage

Education History Photographs Postcards Teaching Vintage Writing Prompt

“Hello Chimmie”: Insights into Childhood Friendship at the Turn of the 20th Century

Post author By mshipstory
Post date August 14, 2024
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Miss Dorothy Termansen, 1910. Sender Unknown

Hello Chimmie,

We got here safe and sound. Having a fine time. I wish you was here we would have all the more fun ain’t it. We are going on this rock today. It is 100ft high. Fine scenery out here along Rock River. Well bye by kid. Write P.D.Q.

1910 had already been a lion of a year by the time October arrived. In July, race riots broke out all across the nation after African American boxer Jack Johnson defeated James Jefferies in a heavyweight boxing match. In August, a wildfire devastated large swaths of the Pacific Northwest, and on October 1, the LA Times was bombed. A tragedy that resulted in 21 deaths and multiple more injuries.

Although we know that this postcard was sent to Minnesota, what’s less clear is where it was sent from. The ink on the postmark is either worn down, or was never there in the first place. So it’s hard to tell how much the events of the nation impacted both our sender, and the recipient. Though, there is a spot in Minnesota called “Palisade Head” which looks similar to the photograph on the front of the card. But, Rock River flows out of Wisconsin, so maybe they are there? Hard to know. I’d love to hear any information any of you might have.

Though we don’t know the place, I’d wager a tidy sum of money that the sender and Dorothy were children. Maybe siblings or cousins or friends from school. If this is the case, they would have likely existed in the sort of bliss that stems from being protected and somewhat oblivious to the events of the surrounding world. Especially since our sender seems to be on a vacation.

This postcard speaks oodles to me, especially because of how familiar the sender seems to be with Dorothy. From the pet name “Chimmie” to the gentle urging to write “P.D.Q” (or pretty darn quick). The card reads more like a note my students might write to each other complete with it’s own lingo and poor grammar. “I wish you was here, we would have all the more fun ain’t it” tells you this card was not meant for adults. It was a gesture of friendship and love from one friend to another.

As for Dorothy, I had a bit of a difficult time finding her. I found a few Termansen’s, but none that would fit our Dorothy. I’m fairly certain I have the last name correct and although the sender sounded Dorothy’s name phonetically (Dorathy), I’m also pretty sure it’s actually “Dorothy”. Though it is possible that was a middle name. Well. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

Overall, this postcard is a fantastic peek into the everyday lives of children living in a changing world.

Tags Education, family, History, Photographs, Photography, Postcards, Teaching, Vintage

family History Photographs Postcards Vintage writing

“My Dear Boy”: A Desperate Message from a Loving Mama

Post author By mshipstory
Post date August 5, 2024
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To Mr. Walter Meyers. Date Unknown

May 2: My dear boy Walter,

Well I was at the ranch and am back again after firing me. They hired another woman and I have lost out all around so I am out of work and out of money. How do you like your place?

Your loving mama

Because there’s not a postmark on this card it’s impossible to know when it was sent/delivered to Walter Meyers. My instinct tells me it’s somewhere between 1900 and 1915, though it could be into the early 1920’s. The publisher, Edward H Mitchell, was active between 1898 and 1920.

Additionally, in my experience, earlier dated postcards typically conveyed family information like illness, hardships, celebrations, or moves. However, as the ability to communicate over longer distances became easier, later dated postcards typically discuss vacations and trips. Of course, this is not always the case, but it’s something I’ve noticed.

I also tend to think that this postcard originated (and ended) in Northern California, though I suppose our “loving mama” could have been in Southern or Central California (based on the fact that she’d been on a ranch of some sort). At the turn of the 20th century, much of California was agricultural and relied on migrant workers for labor. Frankly, this is still the case. I have a feeling this mother and son lived and worked in different areas of Northern California. Especially since the postcard was printed in San Francisco.

That leads me to the message and picture of the card itself. The desolation of a dark, lonely lake only illuminated by a high moon seems to fit the desperate message of the card: “I am out of work and out of money”. Yet, something about the card makes me uncomfortable, and I can’t place why. Is it simply because the mother is in need. Is the reverberation of her fear for the future imbedded into the fading pencil marks? Or is it something else?

Our loving mama doesn’t outright as her son for money, but she makes it clear she has none. She ends the message with a question of how he likes “his place.” She’s likely referring to his job, here. Is she trying to get hired? Is she reaching out to her child only as an act of self preservation? My mind reels with questions. All parent-child relationships are complicated, but still I can’t help wondering how close these two were, and whether her son was happy or disappointed to hear from her. The overall message itself feels…cold. Desperate, yes, but also seems to lack true affection.

Perhaps I’m being unfair. In fact, I’m probably being unfair. Especially since without a date and place it’s difficult to search for Walter or the “C/O John Vaugh”. I hope that our loving mama got her job and money situation sorted, and I do hope that she and her son were able to have a sweet reunion. How and why this card was kept, we won’t ever know. But, now it exists as a testament to the hardships of life and family.

Front of Postcard

Tags Education, family, History, Photography, Postcards, Teaching, Vintage

Flash Fiction parenting Poems Poetry writing

Forgetting

I fear the forgetting as much as being forgotten

Memories that slip away, intangible as a morning mist.

Faces that drift in and out with names that evade me.

And so, dear child. I write the most mundane things.

Your mercurial moods. Your sunshining smiles. Your stomachaches and heartbreaks.

That is how you’ll know I love you.

Tags family, Poems, Poetry, writing

Flash Fiction Poems Poetry

Cousins

Did you know, little one, that in the bright cusp of summer, when the sun was low but the grass still warm, your mother communed with fairies?

She drank tea from snapdragon cups while the fairies spun her hair into a gold plaited crown before she sat on her ivy throne and held court with the snails and ladybugs.

Your mother whispered to the butterflies, so the fairies turned her eyes into stars and her lips into the moon — because only the night sky can tell secrets to the insects that sleep on roses.

And dear one, on slow August nights when the wind slips across your skin like thick velvet and the sun is yawning low in the sky, you can still hear the song she taught the crickets.