by Peter Wimsey
Member since:
October 31, 2006

Ella Sends A Kettle on the Fire to Annie Messer - 1918

December 24, 2008 10:27 AM EST
views: 53 | comments: 24

Annie Messer lived in Easton, Pennsylvania, a small city on the Delaware River - which is the border with the neighboring state of New Jersey.

Annie had a friend named, "Ella", who also lived in Easton.

On December 21, 1918, Ella sent a Christmas postcard to Annie Messer.

The card featured a kettle boiling over a fire, and a large bunch of holly and spruce.

The card bore the legend, "A Merry Christmas to You".

*

The face of the card also contained a Christmas verse:

"Come gather round the logs of Yule,

Let song and mirth and gladness rule.

Be merry-hearted and of cheer

Old Christmas comes but once a year."

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Postmark

Easton, PA

Dec 21, 1918

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Address

Miss Annie Messer

Line Street near Centre

So side,

Easton

Pa

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Message

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas

Ella

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Comments: 24

Stephanie B. Dec 24, 2008, 10:35am EST
Nice handwriting! Card's a little on the stark side - lots of blank space. I liked, since my MIL is Wiccan, that, if not for the specific mention of Christmas, this would make a fine card for a Wiccan. Since my MIL does Christmas anyway, it would work well for her as is.

You know, except for being addressed to someone else :).

Do you think people generally had better handwriting back then than they do now? You see a lot more handwriting from different times than I do.
Peter Wimsey Dec 24, 2008, 10:45am EST
"Do you think people generally had better handwriting back then than they do now?"

There were more persons who were unschooled or illiterate in the early years of the 20th century - so I have cards with barely legible scrawls -some are entirely unreadable to me.

For persons with an education, hand-writing was considered more important than it is now -so there were more examples of truly beautiful penmanship.
Peter Wimsey Dec 24, 2008, 10:47am EST
"You know, except for being addressed to someone else :) "

I have several blank vintage cards, Stephanie. I'll watch for any blank Wiccan-appropriate cards that might come along.
Mariana T. Dec 24, 2008, 12:55pm EST
Peter, this was wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing - if you ever come across any written post cards from Tomahawk, Wisconsin or Muscatine, Iowa area, please let me know - Ok well happy Winter season & all that happy Jazz! Salud
Mariana T. Dec 24, 2008, 12:57pm EST
Wow Kate - great work. I still want to find my mama's best friend - Sylvia Doherty Duncan from Alexandria, La. I want to find her before she passes on. I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas Kate - all the best ! Salud
Mariana T. Dec 24, 2008, 12:58pm EST
Peter, I love the card and yes, the old fashioned handwriting too...I'm on a very slow dialup right now up in Eureka, Nevada - a small gold-mining town - 6500 feet up! So, I best check out other posts ! Thank you! Salud
Beautiful, Peter! I only have time to fly by for a minute today.

Wishing you Merry Whatever You Celebrate!
Peter Wimsey Dec 24, 2008, 6:25pm EST
"Wishing you Merry Whatever You Celebrate! "

It's Christmas for me, Ina.

I leave for dinner, then to an historic and beautiful church (President John Tyler was married there) for midnight services.

All the blessings of the season.
Peter Wimsey Dec 24, 2008, 6:27pm EST
"... if you ever come across any written post cards from Tomahawk, Wisconsin or Muscatine, Iowa area, please let me know..."

I will keep a look-out for them, Mariana.

Glad to see you writing to us from the mountains.

Merry Christmas.
Peter Wimsey Dec 24, 2008, 6:28pm EST
"Here is the family as it appeared then."

Thanks, Kate.

Miss Annie Messer was already 39 years old when she received this card from her friend.
Peter Wimsey Dec 24, 2008, 6:29pm EST
Have a blessed Christmas, Kate.

I have many more Christmas "personalities", but will be in the lovely countryside of Pennsylvania for a few days.
Aniko     Dec 25, 2008, 4:37am EST
Merry Christmas, Peter, and have a great trip!
Peter Wimsey Dec 28, 2008, 11:11am EST
I did not return to New York until late last night,

I hope that Kacy is feeling better, Kate.
Peter Wimsey Dec 28, 2008, 11:11am EST
Merry Christmas, Aniko.

I'm sorry I miossed your greeting on Christmas Day.
Dannielle S. Dec 28, 2008, 11:22am EST
Ah! That verse pretty much sums up what I wish Christmas celebrations were like now. The stress over gifts/shopping ruins the season. If we just saw it as a time to gather together for singing, feasting, and catching up on each other's news or sharing favorite stories and memories, that would be what warms our hearts through the winter months ahead.

Now to go back and read the comments.
Dannielle S. Dec 28, 2008, 11:25am EST
So, I was pleased to note that the 13yo and 8yo of Annie's family were not shown as laborers in the mill. It must be their good luck that the grocery store supported the family well enough that they weren't sent off to earn their keep.
Peter Wimsey Dec 28, 2008, 3:00pm EST
"That verse pretty much sums up what I wish Christmas celebrations were like now. "

I quite agree, dannielle.

You would have enjoyed most of my family Christmas: lots of food, good wine, witty conversation, and SINGING.
Peter Wimsey Dec 28, 2008, 3:01pm EST
"I was pleased to note that the 13yo and 8yo of Annie's family were not shown as laborers in the mill. "

A blessing, indeed.

Many children who did attend school left after 8th grade to go to work.

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