Miss Lillian's Post Cards - A Tweet from Relatives

Sender: Elsie (Mueller)
Addressee: Miss Lillian M. Maguire, 1902 G Terry Av., Seattle, Wash.
Postmark: Cleveland, Ohio
Date: August 23, 1909
Image: Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland, O.

Looking exactly the same in 1909 as it does now, Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland is on the National Register of Historic Places. This beautiful structure was built in 1901, so it was still a bit of a wonder at the time of this post card.

Message:

Dear Lill:

- Arrived

in Cleveland this A.M.

Had a lake trip from

Buffalo.

Love from

Elsie & Paula

P.S. Have the folks

written to mama

yet? - E.

More relatives enter our view into Lillian's world! In this case, it is a postcard from Elsie and Paula Mueller, sisters of Adolph F Mueller, who is married to Lillian's sister Ann. It is with Ann and Adolph that Lillian is living at this time. The two sisters have just traveled from Buffalo to Cleveland. Both cities are located on the shores of Lake Erie, hence the reference to a "lake trip".

Our clue that they are family (aside from my searches on Ancestry.com) is the postscript. Since Lillian is living with their brother, Elsie asks if "the folks" (meaning Adolph and Annie) have written to mama (that is, Elsie's mother). Elsie is the same age as Lillian (in 1909, age 27), and is just a couple of years younger than Adolph and Ann. Paula is about 6 years younger than her sister.

 An afternoon dress from 1909

Miss Lillian's Vintage Postcards: With Affection From Lizzie

Postcard 36

Sender: Lizzie Mulvey
Addressee: Miss Lilian Maguire, 1902 G Terry Av, Seattle, Wash.
Postmark: St Louis, MO
Date: Aug 24, 1908
Image: Reproduction of painting - outdoor scene labeled "Late Fall"

You can just barely see the title of this scene at the center bottom of the postcard - "Late Fall". It certainly looks like winter. The small figure in the lower right corner is most likely a person bringing in the harvest. It is a chilly scene for a postcard sent in August. :)

Message:

Dear Lillian,

Your postal

was received and more

than glad to hear from you

hoping to hear from you real

soon again. We certainly 

did have nice times

together. With much love,

Lizzie Mulvey

This is the first time we have heard from Lizzie, who is apparently a long-time friend of Lillian's from St Louis. Lizzie penciled this message in reply to a postal from Lillian. She recalls the nice times they had together, and signs it affectionately. How very sweet. :)

Miss Lilliian's Postcards - Vintage Tweets - Out West for Health

Postcard 025

Sender: Maureen and Edna McGarry
Addressee: Miss Lillian MacGuire, 1902G Terry Av., Seattle, Wash.
Postmark: Bellingham, WASH
Date: May 7, 1908
Image: Nooksack Falls, Whatcom County, Washington
Message: 

Dear Lillian, You failed to 

sign your last name &

we had to guess at it. Hope

this will reach you. We are

having a very nice time

and leave for home this

coming Monday. Go to

Vancouver by boat. We were

very anxious about you

until we received the

card and knew for sure

you were with your

sister. Hope you will like

the West & get good & strong.

Our Minneapolis address is

419 E. 14th St. Love from

Maureen and Edna McGarry

Looking very "Northwest", this postcard illustrates the beautiful Nooksack Falls in Whatcom County, Washington state, a popular attraction then and now. Whatcom county and Bellingham are adjacent to British Columbia, Canada. 

Well, well! This postcard from a pair of sisters from Minneapolis informs us that Lillian is still in Seattle, and evidently staying with her sister Ann, not a surprise there. What IS interesting is that Lillian is in Seattle for her health! I am intrigued! I wonder how poorly her health was. The summers and winters are milder in Seattle than in St. Louis, could that be easier on the health? Or did she have a specific ailment? No way to know.

Miss Lillian's Postcards - Vintage Tweets from 1908: Miss Lillian is in Seattle!

Postcard 024

Sender: Elsie
Addressee: Miss Lillian Maguire, 1902G Terry Av., Seattle, Wash.
Postmark: East St Louis, Ill.
Date: April 27, 1908
Image: First Presbyterian Church, East St. Louis, Ill.
Message: 

Dear Lillian,

By the time this

reaches you, you 

will be with the

Kidders. I hope you

arrived safely &

enjoyed your trip.

Be sure to write soon.

I rec'd your postal

from St. Paul.
Love, Elsie

This postcard features a lovely church in East St Louis that was probably newly built or relatively newly built. Whether the building still stands, I do not know. East St Louis, Illinois is located across the Mississippi River from St Louis,Missouri.

What is exciting about this postcard is the fact that Miss Lillian has traveled to Seattle, Washington, where her sister and brother-in-law live (Anne and Adolph Mueller). She is staying with the Kidder family, about whom we know nothing. Are they family? Are they friends? And how long is Miss Lillian staying? Why is she not staying with her sister? So many questions!

According to this postcard from Elsie, Miss Lillian traveled through St Paul, Minnesota on her way to Seattle. I believe the only Amtrak passenger train between Seattle and Chicago still goes through St Paul. I have taken that train ride, but I suspect that it took me much less time than it took Miss Lillian in 1908.  I look forward to learning more about this adventure!

1907 Fashion