Patriotic Postcards

It's a red-white-and-blue kind of weekend! Happy 4th of July!!
Not surprisingly, I like these quaint, vintage patriotic post cards.


JULY
Handwritten: "Dear old U. S. A. on the 4th of July. My last cent boys(?)" 
COPYRIGHT 1905 THE ULMAN MFG. CO. N.Y. . Postmarked March 1907


"The Star Spangled Banner" Postmarked January 1913

The last three verses of The Star Spangled Banner aren't even vaguely familiar to me.

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Chorus:

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? 

On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a Country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution:

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,

Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace may the Heaven-rescued land

Praise the Pow’r  that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto - "In God is our trust!" 

Written by Francis Scott Key – September 1814

Proclaimed the National Anthem by an Act of Congress – March 3, 1931

"OUR FLAG" 
"WHEN you see the STARS AND STRIPES displayed, son, stand up and take off your hat! Somebody may titter. But don’t you mind! When Old Glory comes along, salute, and let them think what they please! For of all the signs and symbols since the world began, there is never another so full of meaning to mankind as the flag of our country.
That piece of red, white and blue bunting means five thousand years of struggle upward. It is the full blown flower of ages of fighting for liberty. It is the century plant of human hope in bloom.
Our flag stands for no race. It stands for men, men of any blood who will come and live with us under its protection. It is the only banner that means mankind. It is not the flag of our king – it is the flag of ourselves.
OTHER flags mean a glorious past; our flag, a glorious past and a still more glorious future. It is the flag of our fathers, and of our children yet unborn. It is the flag of to-morrow.
It stands for the open door of ambition and opportunity – of equal rights to every one beneath the shadow of its folds.
Our flag waves defiance at all the ghosts that have so long intimidated men: the ghost of monarchy, the ghost of war, and all their kind that still lay shadowy hands upon the life of Europe and Asia.
Listen son! The band is playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’ They have let loose Old Glory yonder. Stand up! Some people over there are smiling at us. Stand up, bare your head, lift up your eyes and thank God that you live under that flag, which means the redemption of the world.”



"IN GOD WE TRUST" 
"THE AMERICAN CREED" 
by William Tyler Page. Accepted by House of Representatives, April 3rd, 1918. 
"I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its Flag, and to defend it against all enemies."
 

200 YEARS OF FREEDOM 
Words and Music by Glenn E. Heck 
"Tell all the world a-bout it, Stand on your feet and shout it. 
Two hun-dred years of lib-er-ty…….. 
Tell all the world our Sto-ry, two - hun - dred years of glo - ry. 
We know the joy of be - ing free. . . . . . 
Wake up the world, we're mov-ing, Wake up the world, we're march - ing 
on - ward to high-er des-ti-ny. . . . . 
Two hun - dred years of free-dom, two hun - dred years of free-dom, 
Two hun - dred years of lib - er - ty! 
May our na - tion, un - der God, re - mem - ber where our fa-thers 
trod and raise our ban - ner proud and free for peo - ple of the 
world to see. 
- ty. . . . Two hun - dred years of Fine lib - er - ty!" 
"200 years of freedom is the official Bicentennial Song of Warner Robins, "Georgia's International City", written in 1975 by Glenn Heck. The arrangements for solo, chorus, barbershop quartette [sic] and band are by Lyle Heck."

Grandpa's Wallet

Sunday afternoon and I decide to organize a cupboard. I'm not very good at organizing because I always find something that interests and sidetracks me!
I came upon the foldout portion of my Grandpa Hawes' wallet. It's like his time capsule - what he carried with him in 1958 when he was bit younger than I am now.

Photos of his kids
My Dad on the left and Uncle Bill on the right (very early 1940s?)

From Grandpa's Wallet

Uncle Bill on the left, my Dad on the right (mid 1940s?)

There were only a handful of photos and this one that he chose to carry - it was hidden behind the one of his sons and is dated on the back August 1940 HAHAHA


My Grandma's photo. I believe this photo was from the late 1920s so would have been a thirty year old photo in the late 1950s!


I've seen this baby before but I need help identifying him/her.


One of his hunting trips (I think he's the one second from the left).


Aunt Lee and Uncle Bill (mid 1950s)


Calendar (front)


(back)


Voting Information




Insurance Information






Business card (I have no idea what a Forwarding Company is)


1957 Puget Sound Naval Base Association Membership card


13th Naval District, Local No. 8 Retirement Association Member Certificate 1957


Red Cross Card (front)


(Back - this was long expired in the late 50s!)


Grandpa - I was glad to find this glimpse in to your life!

The Kalakala

Her nickname was "The Silver Slug". Some thought she was ugly. Kalakala means "Flying Bird" in the Chinook jargon.

From Wikipedia

She was constructed in 1926 as Peralta for the Key System's ferry service on San Francisco Bay. On 6 May 1933 Peralta burned as a result of an arson fire at the terminal where she was moored, resulting in the complete destruction of her superstructure. The hull was still intact and on 12 October 1933 the vessel was sold to the Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSNC), also known by its marketing name, the "Black Ball Line". PSNC funded a refit at Lake Washington Shipyards in Houghton, Washington (since annexed to Kirkland) to restore the vessel as a ferry.

In November 1934, William Thorniley, publicist for PSNC and president of the Olympic Peninsula Travel Association, named the new ferry Kalakala . . .

She made runs mostly between Seattle and Bremerton from 1935-1967.  I know she also made runs from Port Angeles to Victoria, BC as well.

Before the Space Needle, The Kalakala and The Smith Tower were considered THE Seattle icons.

"World's First Streamlined Motor Ferry M. S. Kalakala ~ Seattle, Wash." Ellis 1002. Mailed January 1945


"The World Famous M. F. Kalakala leaving the Seattle harbor on one of its many daily trips to Bremerton Washington." C5681 Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen Natural color by Mike Roberts Berkeley 2, Calif. Published by C. P. Johnston Company. Seattle, Washington

After she was retired as a ferry, she was used as a fish cannery in Alaska.  When she was retired from there, she was looking pretty injured and towed back to Puget Sound in 1998. She's been at a couple of different docks including Lake Union and then the last ten years she has been rotting and rusting in Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma and was considered an eyesore by many. There were plans to restore her to her Art Deco glory days and turn her in to a party venue or museum.

A few days after the Seattle Seahawks made their incredible all-hope-seemed-lost-come-from-behind win to earn the NFC spot in Super Bowl XLIX, the Kalakala was scrapped.  No last-minute miracle like the Seahawks for her. On Thursday January 22, 2015 she was slowly towed to the graving yard for scrapping.  I would love to purchase a small piece of Seattle history and even emailed the demolition company to inquire but I think they've been getting a lot of the similar requests.

My growing postcard collection includes several of the Kalakala so in tribute, please enjoy this unique structure. It will be a seek-and-find in some of them :-)


"Motor Ferry 'KALAKALA' World's first streamlined vessel in service between Seattle and Bremerton, Wash. on Puget Sound. (Kah-Lock-al-lah, Chinook for Flying Bird) is the world's first completely Streamlined Motor Ferry. The hull is divided into twenty-five water-tight compartments, making it virtually unsinkable, length over all 276 feet, beam over all 55.8 feet, passenger capacity 2,000, automobile capacity 110, has 5 decks, horsepower main engine 3,000, cruising speed 18 knots. The Kalakala is designed primarily to meet the needs of steadily increasing passenger and automobile traffic on Beautiful Puget Sound." C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Washington. 1C-P1990 Genuine Curteich - Chicago


"Seattle Skyline, Washington. In the foreground may be seen the all-metal ferry Kalakala while at the extreme right is the 42-story Smith Tower." Plastichrome by Colourpicture, Boston 15, Mass., ASA. Color by Lee Merrill, Tacoma, Wash. Pub. by Smith Scenic Views, Tacoma, Washington."


52 "Kalakala, Leaving Seattle Harbor on Moonlight Cruise" Chas. R. Laidlaw - Aerophoto 6A-H386 "C.T. Art Colortone" 


"Union Oil Company's Natural Color Scenes of the West. Seattle, a major Pacific Coast port and gateway to Alaska and the Orient. Tour the West this year with 76 gasoline"


"Seattle, Washington. This aerial view shows a portion of Elliott Bay, the waterfront, metropolitan area, Space Needle in the distance, Lake Union at upper right and the new freeway borders the far right of the picture. Color by Bud Kimball. Plastichrome by ColourPicture Boston, Mass. 02130"


"The Harbor Tourist - loaded with sightseers on a tour of Seattle's fascinating waterfront. No visit to this city is complete without this most enjoyable cruise." C-183 Ektachrome by Josef Scaylea Pub. by Ellis Post Card Co., Arlington, Wash. Made by Dexter West Nyack, N. Y. 39536-B


"At sunset on the Alaska Way Viaduct at Seattle, Washington. The Viaduct makes it possible to pass non-stop through the downtown business district. Docks and ships are very spectacular from the viaduct." Ektachrome by Max R. Jensen.

The Hyak was built in 1967 - the Kalakala was retired as a ferry in 1967 - they're both in this postcard.

"Seattle Waterfront - Seattle Washington This view shows the Waterfront from Ye Olde Curiosity Shop north to Magnolia Bluff. Known as 'The Gateway to the Orient,' Seattle's docks and piers accommodate ships from every country in the World At the left can be seen the new Super-Ferry M. V. Hyak as it approaches the new Ultra-Modern Ferry Terminal." Color by Pat O'Malley Plastichrome by Colourpicture Boston, Mass 12130. Distributed only by Smith-Western Co. Inc. Tacoma-Portland.

There she goes - sailing out of the picture . . .

"78 Seattle and its Famous Harbor, Washington 6A-H2682" Chas. R. Laidlaw Aerophoto. C. T. Art Colortone Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Made only by Curt Teich & Co., Inc., Chicago. C. P. Johnston., Seattle, Washington. Postmarked September 1937

Vintage Cherry Blossom Time in Washington DC

There is an informative timeline of the Cherry Blossom trees in Washington DC found here.
I "knew" that the Cherry Blossom trees had been there since 1912 (my daughter was there in 2012 for a school trip that happened to fall on the 100th anniversary). The National Park Service link above mentions that the hope for Cherry Blossoms goes back even further.  And that Japan even gifted 2,000 trees in 1909 (coming by way of Seattle!).  However, those trees were infested and the lot was sadly burned.

Japan gifted 3,020 trees in 1912 and they were successfully planted.  In 1965 an additional gift of 3,800 trees was made by Japan.  Propagates of the 1912 trees still exist.

Generations of visitors have enjoyed these beautiful trees.


"Washington Monument, Cherry Blossom Time, Washington, D. C." H. H. Rideout


"Cherry Blossom Time Washington, D. C. - The Japanese Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin is considered the most beautiful Photographers' Paradise in the World. Thousands of Visitors from every State in the Nation and Foreign Countries, view this Nature's Magnificent Attraction each year. The Festival is held around April 1st Annually."


"Blooming of the Cherry Trees Washington, D. C. This event in the Spring attracts thousands of visitors. Washington Monument is pictorially framed with these blooms." Color by Mike Roberts  Postmarked April 10, 1969. Message reads:

"Hi! Isn't that a beautiful picture on this postcard? The thing is, it looks just like that it's 80 degrees out. We visited all the 'tourist-traps' but after all they are interesting. We leave for New York tomorrow."

"Lincoln Memorial and Japanese Cherry Blossoms, Washington. D.C." " Lincoln Memorial and Japanese Cherry Blossoms, Washington, D. C. The Lincoln Memorial, modelled after a classic Greek Temple, is situated on an eminence in Potomac Park on the banks of the Potomac River. From the far side of Tidal Basin., the view as pictured here is very beautiful and attractive, especially in the early Spring when the Japanese Cherry Trees are in bloom."


"Lincoln Memorial Through Cherry Blossoms, Washington, D. C."


"Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D. C."


"Cherry Blossom Time in Washington, D. C." "Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Background" H. H. Rideout. Postmarked August 19, 1949


"The Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D. C. During the cherry blossom season in early spring the beautiful Jefferson Memorial is surrounded by pink blossoms."


"Cherry Blossom Time Thomas Jefferson Memorial Washington, D. C. - The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. It is constructed of Danby Vermont marble for the exterior and Georgia white marble for its interior. This Historic Shrine with its setting of Cherry Blossoms is one of the most beautiful sights in Springtime, and is visited by thousands each year."

Daffodils

In my family history research, I learned that my Dad's Dad's Mother was from Wales. Today, March 1st is St. David's Day - a national Welsh festival for centuries.  Daffodils are the national symbol of Wales - although the origin is not quite clear:
From Wales.com:

Daffodils: The Welsh for leek (the original national emblem) is Cenhinen, while the Welsh for daffodil is Cenhinen Pedr. Over the years they became confused until the daffodil was adopted as a second emblem of Wales.

From VisitWales.com

Daffodils: This is one for those who believe that contemporary culture is all style over substance. The origins of the national flower of Wales appears to be as an attractive interloper, introduced during the 19^th century, as a replacement for the humble leek. David Lloyd George, the only Welshman to serve as Prime Minister, was a public advocate of the Narcissus (its Latin name) and its appearance in early spring as a symbol of nature’s optimism neatly coincides with St David’s Day on March 1. A more unusual link is that daffodils are grown commercially in Mid Wales to produce galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Daffodils grow really well in Washington State and I wanted to share some old postcards featuring them.


"Mount Rainier forms a backdrop for daffodil fields of the Puyallup Valley" ~1944


"Picking Daffodils, Puyallup Valley, Washington" "Pierce County, of which Puyallup is a part, produces one third the Nation's crop of Daffodils. There are 500 acres of this fertile valley cultivated to produce 300 varieties and about 100 million Daffodils." C. P. Johnston Co., Seattle, Wash.


"One of the Daffodil Farms in the Puyallup Valley which lies between Seattle and Tacoma provides a striking carpet before mighty Mt. Rainier."


"Mt. Rainier and Daffodil Fields, Washington. Ideal soil and weather conditions make the bulb industry one of major importance in the Puyallup valley and other sections of Western Washington" Ektachrome by Clifford B. Ellis


"Daffodil Field in Washington - This field of King Alfreds, one of the hardiest of daffodil varieties, is part of 575 acres in Pierce County, Washington, devoted to producing bulbs for nation-wide distribution. Flowers from bulbs from this area bloom from one to two weeks earlier than those from other sections of the world. Mt. Rainier can be seen in the distance." Color Transparency by Lee Merrill.


"Mt. Rainier and Daffodils - This awe-inspiring view is available every spring in the Puyallup Valley, Washington."


"Majestic Mt. Rainier overlooks this beautiful field of golden daffodils. this section of Washington is noted for its bulb industry and each spring the Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival attracts thousands of visitors to its week-long celebration." Route of the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited

From TheDaffodilFestival.org

Daffodils came to the Puyallup Valley around 1925 to replace the area’s dying hop industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended bulb growing because of the Valley’s excellent soil and ideal climate. About 200 varieties of Daffodils are grown, with the King Alfred being best known and most locally grown.

Daffodil blooms are a cheerful sign that spring is coming!

Happy St. David's Day!