This blog is a small snapshot of the life of Kathryn Junk, who lived in Ottawa, Ohio a hundred years ago. Her story is told through the post cards she received and collected.
Papa's Baby is Papa's Love. It's not addressed to Katie - it looks like Mrs. Frederick Gattling in Ottawa, Ohio. Postmarked September 8, 1908 from Memphis,TN. Maybe this was flirtatious?
Dear Friend, We are all quite well Jimmie is feeling fine Your loving friend Mary Bates Custar O. This is odd because there is no postmark, but we obviously know where it comes from. The stamp is unusual - all of them have been one cent Ben Franklin stamps. This stamp is a Commemorative Series 1907 United States of America Founding of Georgetown Capt. John Smith. I did a little web research. It's a rare stamp. Unused, it's worth $150.
No signature. Sent from Weston September 14, 1 PM, 1905. I like this illustration. The well-to-do fellow looks sidelong at the poor schlub with his mismatched shoes and whiskers - reluctant to give up his coin. I love the font, also. It's copyrighted 1905 by E. B. & E.
Wishing you a glorious fourth of July. Yours. (notes inside the tiny envelope on the front)Happy Days for you - Love and Kind Wishes From A.U.O. Not sure who this is from - could it be great granny Oster once again? Although it's postmarked from Holgate, not Custar. Dated July 1, 1907.
This postmarked from St Louis, MO, October 29, 1907. No signature. This is what i know of as a "wiggle picture," except that the image is reversed on top of itself instead of showing movement.
Dear Katie, I just got back from Buffalo. Had Gailen there. Have to take him back in 10 days. They say they can cure him. They all say that. I don't get much chance to write. Write and let me know how you are. I was in Buffalo two days and nights. Mike's father went with me. Try an come out here this summer. Hattie. Hattie must have a child that is ill. It seems as though she is weary of doctors' promises. She sounds like she needs a friend. The subtitle on this card reads, "Where President McKinley died. September 14, 1901. (x) Shows location of Room in which he Died." I could not locate the "x". That must be McKinley in the oval inset.
We are here talking to --- We are going to Detroit Sunday tell Mrs. B. Julia. This is postmarked from Weston. Who are they talking to? Why was the name intentionally left off of the card?
Dear Katie, We moved to N.Y. We got here today. ??? stood big trip good. Will hear from me again. Mrs. Mike Kane, Wellsville, N.Y. This is postmarked from Wellsville, obviously, but I can't make out the year. This card is stunning - there are gold accents and it is embossed.
dear Friend Katie I will send you an Postal of the City as I am in Findlay today and if ma Could only see me now I am Fat Ragged and Saucy. There is no signature here, and it is not stamped or postmarked, so I'm not sure how it came to Katie. I looked up this term, and it means "In good health and spirits". While googling this phrase, I came across a fascinating resource: The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
From Mrs L A Phillis. This is postmarked from Sistersville, West Virginia. The date is October 25, but the year is impossible to read. Wikipedia says, "Echo Temple was built in 1790 as a summer dining room for Gustav III who loved to eat outdoors." Katie certainly has a wide circle of acquaintances, didn't she? Sistersville is a city in Tyler County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. The Sistersville Ferry crosses the Ohio River to the unincorporated community of Fly in Monroe County, Ohio.
I'm not sure what to make of this image. It's printed on a piece of fabric, then mounted on a postcard. I like that one industrious little bug is using a ladder. It was sent from Elyria on March 2, 1907. There is no signature. The printing on the postcard says, "Copyrighted 1906 by Fabric Art Co. NY.
Dear Katherine:- Heart collapse tomorrow this is Leap Year and really another chance gone, you know who! Gertrude joins me in sending regrets and sympathy I'll double twice over. Thought it best to inform you before hand. Sad but true, Catherine. This is dated September 19, 1908, from Custar. I believe this is from Catherine Oster, my grandfather's paternal aunt. It is somewhat cryptic. What does leap year have to do with anything and whose heart is collapsing? Why is she sending sympathy?
Dear Sister, Are you coming home thanksgiving. I will answer your letter soon. I am busy cleaning house now. We butchered yesterday. We got our door yard all cleaned. Best wishes on your birthday. From your sister Anna. It's interesting to think about butchering as just another chore like cleaning the house. A door yard is the yard in front of the door of a house. Anna and Katie corresponded quite a bit.
This card is simply signed, "Julia". It is addressed to Catherine Junk with a "c", which makes me wonder how well Julia knew Katie at this time. It is postmarked from Lima, June 19, 1908.
Hello there I suppose you think I entirely forgot about you but I did not. How are you and all. Best to all. I hope you enjoy the 4. Your Friend Anna. I think this is from my Great Granny, even though it says "friend" instead of "sister". It's postmarked from Lorain, Ohio, June 17, 1908. I really like the representation of the "spirit" on this card. It reminds me of the holy ghost.
Dear Friend. We are having a nice time. We were at this place this afternoon isting(?) 10.40P.M. Mary This is addressed to Miss Katherine Junk, Ottawa, Ohio, Putnam County from Akron, Ohio, August 17, 1908.
I am at Oster's yet but we'll go to N. Amherst soon. I had a fine trip & am having a good time. Yours, M. Junk. This address includes R.N.1, Ottawa, Ohio, which gives a little more info than previous cards. I'm guessing that M Junk is a sibling, but i don't know for sure. It is postmarked from Lorain, Aug 25, 1908.
This card is exquisite - it might be hard to tell from the scan, but it is embossed. On the back of the card, it simply says - From Lura - it's dated June 10, 1908, 8PM from Custar, Ohio to Miss Katie Junk, Ottowa, Ohio.
From your sister I wish you was here Anna Oster I like this one because it is from my Great Grandmother, Anna Oster. It is neat to see her handwriting and I like that the grammar is incorrect. it is postmarked from Put-In-Bay, so we know that Anna was married and on vacation, the date is indiscernible.
Miss Katie Dear Friend. I am not yet dead. There is a dance in Weston Weston Ohio. Wish it was so I could go but I guess not unless I make it late. Dawson. This is postmarked from Weston, Jan 12 3PM, but the date is somewhat illegible. My guess is 1909. I am wondering as I post this correspondence for the world to see, if my relations would approve. Not that i'm disillusioned to think that a lot of people are reading, but there is an element of voyeurism here. I have looked through this book many times, but i've never taken the cards out to read them.
text is written over image on front of postcard When are U coming home I have been home for 2 Wks rec yr letter I heard U were in Custar Tuesday. I will be home for two weeks yet. hope I will get to see U. If you come home this is difficult to decipher.. could you stop by ??? This has no signature and it is postmarked from Milton, Ohio, Feb 1909
Dear Katie If you come home for Thanksgiving be sure & come & eat dinner with me We will have a good time let me know Lura This is postmarked from Custar, Ohio (where my people are from) November 10, 3pm.
2/5, MCMJX, It is great doings only a little bit bad getting around but I hope it will be better soon - I am the Candy Kid ha,ha But you are sweeter than that in fact you are just "It". If the roads keep on I don't know about coming over but you know how crazy I am so it will have to be "you know," I would like to see you tonight but not likely I will. But all the same, it is fun for "The Kids", Love to the whole family, Edward. (sideways text) Now quit you funning with me see. I'm not sure if Kathryn placed these cards chronologically, or in some other sequence of significance. Gilboa is a small town with a winery and a limestone quarry.
This card is signed on the front "Julia" and on the back, "From Julia." It is addressed Kathryn Junk, Ottawa, Ohio - no street address. I am posting these in the order she placed them in her book.
I have a book of postcards that was handed down to me from my Great Aunt. These postcards belonged to her aunt, Kathryn Junk. The postcards are gorgeous, but more than than that, I wanted to discover the story they tell. I do not know much about this relative except that she lived about a hundred years ago. She never married or had children and I seem to remember hearing that she died at a fairly young age. I have a photo and what I believe to be the necklace that she is wearing in the photo.