While many cities and towns celebrate their monuments and display their charming vistas on postcards today, the practice was more common in the first half of the twentieth century.
In recent weeks, I have been posting prisitne views of American places that were displayed on linen postcards circa 1930-1950.
Vintage America: Lancaster, Ohio
Vintage America: Bangor, Maine circa 1940
Lexington, Kentucky circa 1940
Vintage America: Utica, New York circa 1940
Scenes from Binghamton, New York circa 1940
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The latest postcard of Vintage America features Ironton, Ohio.
Ironton was named for the iron-making industries around which this Ohio River city developed.
Here is the opening paragraph from the city's website:
"The city of Ironton was founded in 1849 and was built in the heart of Hanging Rock Region, once the largest center of pig iron in the world. As a terminal on the Iron Railroad and as a shipping port on the Ohio River, Ironton grew rapidly, becoming the county seat of Lawrence County, Ohio, in 1851."
Additional history can be found at the Wiki site:
I love the specific historic details that are oftern noted in Wiki entries:
"Between 1850 and 1890, Ironton was one of the foremost producers of iron in the world. England, France, and Russia all purchased iron for warships from here due to the quality; iron produced in Ironton and surrounding areas was used for the USS Monitor, the United States' first ironclad ship."
The Wiki entry also notes that, as it became a wealthy city, Ironton had a relaxed attitude toward "sin", and was the home of numerous brothels and saloons, and a racetrack.
As an Ohio-river community, it also was an important link in the Underground Railroad, which was supported by many leading citizens.
Ironton is one of the fascinating cities in this country that was larger in 1900 than it is today. (There are quite a few places like this - as industries change and population centers shift.)
Many interesting photographs can be found on the official website of the city:
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From the city's website, I learned that a fund-raising appeal has been made to restore a dilapidated city landmark, Memorial Hall. I hope the effort is successful; too many cities have lost their architectural heritage.
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Comments: 22
:-)
But, I have learned quite a bit by investigating postcard histories.
As you note, the postcards are easier to move.
The text about Memorial Hall overlay an image of the structure. It seems to be a very imposing building.
I have been a long-time collector of prints and engravings, but became a fanatic about postcards less than two years ago (through collaboration with a talented genealogist who was active on Gather).
I like anything old (no smart remarks now). I remember the days when postcards were an everyday thing.. they were really nice to get and you could let people know you were thinking about them real easy.. never thought in those days they would be important... But I bet it sure beast having to make a lot of space for a collection.
What I have is mostly German and English engraving of the 17th-19th century
Although they are small and relatively light, postcards cumbersome in vast quantities (such as I am amassing).
The buildings that constituted "the valley" when I was growing up, were recently torn down. Part of the block was saved as there were still active businesses who had kept their sections in good repair. It makes me so sad to drive by and see that "Marty's Toyland", "Buelow's Five and Dime," "Edmondson's Dry Goods" are all gone. The businesses have been gone for years and now the buildings are too.
(Dannielle S. is another promoter of restored downtowns.)
It is clear from the Wiki article that the city suffered catastrophic losses of industry and jobs.
It would be great to see some shots of Ironton today, although probably saddening, too.
People trudged for miles through waist-deep snow to catch a glimpse of the bright metallic splendor.
Illinois has a number of old communities that have declined greatly in the past 100 years.