Floral

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?

The Rustic Bridge, Put-In-Bay, O.

Our woman of few words, Julia, signed this. There is no other text except the address. It's postmarked from Put-In-Bay, 1908.

Best Birthday Wishes

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.

County Court House, Lima, O

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.

The "Spirit of '76"

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.

Best wishes and happy returns

This card has no text except the address and the initials on the front A.E.L. It has no stamp or postmark, so perhaps it was hand delivered.

Bridge at the Gorge

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.

St Mary's Church, Lorain, O.

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.

Butterfly

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.

Fox's Dock, Put-In-Bay, O.

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.

North Pond, Weston Cemetary

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.

When are U coming home

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

Thanksgiving Day

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.

My Darling from Gilboa, O.

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.

Birthday Greetings, no postmark

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.

No date, from nobody to noone

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.