Aywaille, Seminary of St. Roch, and environs, Liège, Belgium, 1922
This used photo postcard is postmarked with the year 1922, but the ink from the stamp does not show the place. Handwritten at the upper right on the reverse is La Bree. La Brée-les-Bains is a place located in southwestern France. Aywaille, also called Walloon, is a community of about 11,700 in Liège, Belgium. In the foreground of the picture is the Seminary de St. Roch. The main part of the church and tower are at the left side behind the school building.
The card was produced by Ernst Thill (1882-1942), brother-in-law of Edouard Nels (1869-1925). Nels was a photographer, who with Paul Nels, founded Nels Bruxelles in 1898. The firm became the largest producer of postcards in Belgium. They also produced maps and guidebooks. When Edouard’s health deteriorated in 1907, his brother-in-law, Ernst Thill began running the business. In 1913 Nels transferred the entire business to Thill. The Nels logo dates from the time of the transfer from Nels to Thills. The company was dissolved in 1962.
Nels logo
Saint Roch, also called Rock in English, was a Majorcan Catholic confessor who lived from 1348 to 1376. “He is the patron saint of dogs, invalids, falsely accused people, bachelors, and several other things.” He is said to have survived the Black Death plague having been fed pieces of bread brought to him by a dog. The dog never left his side after he recovered. He had a red birthmark on his chest in the shape of a cross and from an early age had shown great devoutness. His parents died when he was about 20 years old. After their deaths he distributed all his worldly good among the poor and entered the Franciscan Third Order. He set out as a pilgrim for Rome. He was canonized by Pope Gregory XIV (1535-1591).
For additional information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aywaille
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Roch
https://rthcards.co.uk/pclogos/data/NELS/NELS_01.html
https://commons.wikimedia/wiki/Category:Nels/Thills
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