If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 715

 

 

 

 

 

The Ducal Palace, Nevers, France, ca 1906 to 1915

 

The two unused postcards shared this week were part of a booklet set, consecutively numbered 6 and 7, found at the lower left.  The title centered at the bottom and the publishing house identified by the logo, letter P with ND in the middle and “hot.” under the top part of the letter P [ND Phot.].  The cards have divided backs and the typical greenish color common on vintage cards from France.  Not visible on the card are the fine perforation marks along the left margin where the cards were removed from the booklet set.  These two black & white postcards feature the city of Nevers and the Ducal Palace.

 

The Ducal Palace seen on the first card served as the residence castle of the counts and dukes of Nevers in the 15^th and 16^th centuries.  It is on the list of French historic monuments for 1840.  Built on a hill where an old fortress used to be, it is considered the first of the Loire castles.  It has been rebuilt and restored more than once during the intervening years.  The restoration project in the 1980s provided space for a town hall that included the mayor’s office and council chamber.  There are also a tourist office, exhibition halls, a reception area, a permanent exhibition on the history of the city, and an aquarium featuring Loire fish.  Pieces of 14^th century artillery were found during the restoration in 1988. 

  

 

 

Nevers, France, General View, ca 1906-1915

 

The general view of the city of Nevers is featured on the second card.  Nevers was first named Noviodunum and later Nevirnum by the Romans.  In 52 BCE Julius Caesar used this convenient position on the banks of the Loire River as a depot.  As a result, medals, coins and other Roman Antiquities have been found on the site.  At the end of the 5^th century, it became a seat of a Roman Catholic bishopric and it still is today.  Charters were obtained by the citizens in 1194 and 1231 and for a brief period the town was home to a university.  In 1565 the town became the seat of a branch of the Gonzaga family.  The Gonzaga Dukes of Nevers died out in 1708.  A number of products, such as porcelain, agricultural implements, glue, iron goods, boots, shoes, fur garments plus other things, are produced in the town which support the economy. 

 

 We can estimate the date to between 1906 and 1915 when the company was using the ND Phot. Logo; although, it is possible it was reprinted after the company combined with L.L. but continued to use the old logo.

 

 

Logo of the Neurdein postcard company

 

The photographer, Étienne Neurdein (1832-1918), established his business in 1864 and began publishing postcards in 1875 under the name Neurdein et Cie.  His brother, Louis-Antonin Neurdein (1846-1914), joined him in 1885 and together they owned and ran the company now called Neurdein Frères.  By 1906 they were using the ND Phot. logo.  Lévy and Letellier (L.L.) acquired existing Neurdein postcard plates and continued to offer them under the Neurdein ND logo but also under the L.L. logo.  In 1915 the name changed to Neurdein and then from 1916 to 1918 it was Neurdein & Cie.  The French government began funding the production of Algerian images to promote colonial tourism and private investment.  The cards had views of major cities and types and costumes of the local people.  Emile Crété acquired both companies in 1920 and published some cards under both ND and L.L.  Then in 1932 the joint company was further consolidated by Compagnie des Arts Potoméchaniques (CAP) although it remained at the same address.*

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_ducal_de_Nevers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevers

https://www.archnet.org/authorities/9539

 

 *  *  *  *

 

  *[see also Reference:  Rebecca J. DeRoo “Colonial Collecting: French Women and Algerian Cartes Postales” in Postcards: Ephemeral Histories of Modernity, David Prochaska, and Jordana Mendelsohn, eds. (State College, Penn., Penn State University Press, 2010), 159-71]

 

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 714

 

 

 

 

 

Wailua Falls, Maui, Hawaii

[Photograph by R. Wenkem]

 

Today’s unused postcard features a color photograph by R. Wenkem of Wailua Falls, Maui, Hawaii.  Published by Ray Helbig’s Hawaiian Service, Honolulu in 1951 the card has S-116 on the reverse center line at the top.  It is Mirro-Krome card by H.S. Crocker Co., Inc. of San Francisco, California.  It is identified as a Natural Color Card, Nani Li’I “Hawaiian for ‘Little Beauty.’”  At the upper left on the reverse is the blurb:  “Wailua Falls, Maui . . . near Hana; the falls are one of the many cascades that plunge into the sea from the Haleakala slopes, and provide a beautiful setting for camera fans stopping at the distinctive Hotel Hana-Maui.”  The card was most likely a souvenir available at the hotel.

 

The Hana Highway, also called The Road to Hana, connects the town of Hana to east Maui.  This highway is 64.4 miles long.  It is narrow and winding, so it takes about 2.5 hours to travel from Kahului to Hana by car.  One report showed 620 curves all through lush tropical rainforest.  There are bridges dating from 1910 that are still in use.  In 2000 President Bill Clinton designated it as the Hana Millennium Legacy Trail.  There is a stone monument and a Zero Mile marker at the junction of routes 36, 360, and 365.  In 2001 the highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Today the Hana Highway is a popular tourist attraction with many waterfalls and other attractions.  There are scenic turn outs including one for Wailua Falls. 

 

Haleakala crater is an active shield volcano located in East Maui.  It forms about 75% of Maui. The tallest peak is 10,023 ft or 3,055 m.  The last time it erupted was estimated in 1999 by the U.S. Geological Survey to have occurred between 1480 and 1600.  Even though it has not erupted in recent times it is still considered dormant rather than extinct.

 

Robert George Wenkam was a photographer, author, and book producer born in 1920 in Oakland, California.  He worked as a civil engineer with the Army Corps Engineers from 1941-1946.  In 1947 he worked as a civil engineer for Bogert Childs Association, of New York City.  Then in 1948 as an architect, designer for various firms in Honolulu.  From 1949 to 1976 he was an independent photographer.  In 1976 he was the owner, writer, photographer, of Wenkam/Candere Books, Honolulu.  Wenkam died in 2000 at the age of 80.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Highway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleakal%C4%81

https://prabook.com/web/george.wenkam/358294

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 713

 

 

 

 

 

San Giacomo [St. James], Trieste, Italy, 1854

 

This is one postcard in a booklet set.  It features a painting of San Giacomo, or St. James, church and part of the surrounding area.  My friend who lives in Trieste recently sent this card and two others from the set.  The only information about the picture is printed on the back of the card at the upper left:  “Nuova Chiesa di s. Giacomo in Trieste, 1854.”  My friend’s note on the card provided some additional information.  He says in part:  “This hill was a good place to see afar and protect the town from raids.  The neighborhood is very old around the cathedral. … It is a very urbanized quarter [now] so all the trees and field have disappeared, alas.  But it is quite lively, with foreign communities from the Balkans and it is a popular neighborhood, not yet gentrified or overwhelmed by tourism.”

 

Notice the detail on the church, the people’s clothing, the horse and wagon, and the hint of the landscape in the background.  The square in front of the church is called Campo San Giacomo.  The church was built between 1851 and 1854.  It seems likely that this picture on the card is representative of the way the church and square appeared when the church was new.  Today this part of the city, near the center of Trieste, is the most populous and houses about one quarter of the city inhabitants.  The neighborhood has every service from supermarkets, bars, taverns, restaurants, to schools.  There is also a “washhouse” that can be visited where a permanent exhibit tells the story of the washerwomen.  This same building is also a venue that can be used free of charge as a meeting place for citizen events and hosting cultural associations.

As always, thank you M for sending the card!

For additional information, see:

 

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Giacomo_(Trieste)  [select translate option for English]

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 712

 

 

 

 

 

 Woodland Park Zoo, Snow Leopard, Aibek

 

This week’s postcard was purchased at the Woodland Park Zoo gift shop and features the male snow leopard named Aibek.  The number 96583-46 is at the lower left corner on the reverse.  No photographer is credited nor is there an information blurb on the card. 

 

Bob and I have a friend who volunteers at the zoo.  She had been showing us pictures of the animals, including the snow leopards.  She said she didn’t have regular days or hours at the zoo but was often there.  We crossed our fingers and chose a sunny day to visit the zoo, hoping that she would be there.  And, she was!  She explained that leopards are solitary in the wild; therefore, Aibek, the male, and his mother, Helen, came out at different times.  While Marai, mate of Aibek, and the 3 cubs came out as a group.  All of the snow leopards are not out at the same time.  We asked if there was a time of day when it was most likely to see the mother and cubs.  She said it was not always at the same time. 

 

When we got to the snow leopard area viewing station, we could barely see Aibek who was sleeping on top of a rock with the sun on his back.  Our friend said she could tell which leopard it was by the pattern of spots on his coat.  The volunteer on duty came over to talk to her and explained that Aibek had been taking a snooze up there for more than an hour and a half.  Just at the moment, Aibek stretched and ambled down from the rock, posing briefly before moving to a less visible area in the enclosure.  We did not get to see the cubs, Lenny, Phillis and Raya, but we will go back another time and hope to see them also. 

 

 

Aibek coming down from the top of the rock where he had been taking a long nap

 

 

Aibek looking right at us

Since 1981 Woodland Park Zoo has been a conservation partner with the Snow Leopard Trust.  The zoo participates in a Snow Leopard Species Survival Plan working with other accredited zoos to ensure a healthy population.  In the wild their native home is in the high mountain ranges of Russia and in countries like Afghanistan, China, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, and Pakistan. 

 

For more information about Woodland Park Zoo, see:

https://www.zoo.org/

https://www.zoo.org/snowleopards

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Woodland+park+snow+leopards

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 711

 

 

 

 

 

Giant City State Park, Makanda, Illinois, ca 1950

 

This used Genuine Curteich, “C.T. Photo-Finish” postcard features a black & white photograph of Shady Lane Drive in Giant City State Park, Makanda, Illinois.  The date 5-7-50 is handwritten at the center back above the message.  The photographer is identified as Bill Hedrich of Hedrich-Blessing Photographers.  This card does not have an information blurb; however, the title at the bottom on the front of the card shows the location of Shady Lane, Giant City State Park, Makanda, Illinois.  

. 

Giant City State Park was established in 1927 on more than 1100 acres acquired near Makanda, in Southern Illinois.  Makanda is a small village of about 550 people and was named after a local Native American chieftain.  A lodge and six cabins were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps [CCC] in 1934-1935 using harvested lumber and locally quarried sandstone.  The CCC also built the furniture for the lodge.  In 1985 the cabins and lodge were added to the National Register of Historic Places.  That same year the original cabins were replaced by replica cabins and several new cabins were added.  The lodge now houses a restaurant and gift shop.  The cabins are available as rentals for visitors to the park.  Today the park spans 4000 acres in Jackson and Union Counties.  It is a popular destination for hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, and rock climbing. 

 

The Hedrich Blessing Photographers company was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1929 by Ken Hedrich and Henry Blessing.  It originally produced architectural photos.  A 50-year (1929-1979) collection of the pictures can be found at the Chicago History Museum.  The University of Chicago also as a collection in its photographic archive.  Although Blessing left the firm in 1931 the business continued to operate under the Hedrich-Blessing name.  Henrich’s two new partners were his brothers, Ed and Bill.  Bill is the person credited with the picture on this week’s card.  Later a third brother, Jack, joined them and was an administrator and the president for about 40 years.  Hedrich-Blessing continued as a family-run business until Jim Hedrich, Ken’s son, retired in 2003.  The studio finally closed in 2017. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makanda,_Illinois

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_City_State_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedrich_Blessing_Photographers

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 710

 

 

 

 

The Church, Pioneer Park, Ferndale, Washington, ca 1968-1970s

 

This unused color postcard was published by F. Wear Photographers, Blaine, Washington in conjunction with Dexter Press, Inc. of West Nyack, New York.  The picture is of the church in Pioneer Park, Ferndale, Washington.  The code:  41062-C is located at the lower left corner on the reverse.  There is a blurb at the upper left corner on the reverse:  “The Church,  Pioneer Park, Ferndale, Washington.  This Church, the first in Whatcom County, was built in 1876 of massive hand hewn cedar logs.  It was inspired by Rev. (Father) W. M. Stewart, who at the time was an 80 year old patriarch.  The Church was moved from its original site on California Creek to its present location in 1968 under the sponsorship of Edna Pike.”  Since the photograph shows the church in the park, it is possible to estimate the date as to sometime between 1968 and the 1970s.  It is likely it was available at the park headquarters as a souvenir card.

 

In 1901 the Whatcom County Old Settles Association purchased 4 acres of uncut cedar trees that now form the Pioneer Park.  The association has held an annual pioneer picnic on the park grounds since that time and it is considered one of the oldest celebrations of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.  A dance hall and headquarters building were added in 1925.  Gradually, beginning in the mid to late 1930s and 1940s, abandoned pioneer structures from the 1800s were relocated to the park land to be preserved as examples of rustic pioneer architecture.  The grounds are open to the public without charge.  However, guided tours of the cabins are given from May 15 to September 15, 11 am to 4 pm, for a small fee.  

 

The Ferndale Heritage Society web page has links to more information including some YouTube videos.  One video is from the 2009 Annual Old Settlers Association Picnic, another video explains more about how the cabins were acquired and moved to the park.  HistoryLink.org has an article by Kathleen Moles “Ferndale—Thumbnail History” that provides more detailed interesting historical information about Ferndale.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferndale_Washington

https://www.ferndaleheritagesociety.org/about-pioneer-park

https://www.historylink.org/File/10806

 

Icicle Ridge, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Icicle Ridge trail, near Leavenworth

 

The Icicle Ridge trail is located near the town of Leavenworth in Eastern Washington.  We have cross-country skied at Icicle Creek but had never tried hiking the nearby Icicle Ridge.  The turn off road to the parking area is a little hard to find.  There is a sign but it is at ground level on the road not at eye level and it is relatively small.  The parking area is on a dirt road loop, with one section closer to the sign shown in the picture above and at the entrance to the actual trail.  No pass is required.  Next to this area is also a port-a-potty.  The lower parking area is a short walk down the hill from the upper lot. 

 

Most of the trail surface looks like this

 

The trail is locally popular and in good to excellent condition.  The surface is smooth packed dirt with practically no rocks or roots.  There are 21 switchbacks up to the top and the grade gets steeper the higher you go.  This early in the season our legs and stamina are not at peak condition yet, so we knew we would not go all the way up and ended up turning around at the 11^th switchback.  As far as we went this trail did not have staircases or steps.  

 

Icicle Ridge looking out from the trail

 

Icicle Ridge looking down and toward the Wenatchee River

 

 

 Even though we did not go all the way up, there were several places on the way up that offered wonderful views of the valley and the Wenatchee River.  The forest is mainly Pine trees that are for the most part widely spread apart and offer viewing opportunities along the way.  There have been fires in the area in the past and lots of the trees have blackened trunks.  Unlike the west side forests where there are lots of downed trees from the November bomb cyclone, we did not notice many downed trees. 

 

This shows the steep hillside

 

In the Spring this area is full of gorgeous arrow leaf balsam root flowers.  In places the entire hillside was covered in these grand, large yellow flowers.  There were lots of other flowers as well, such as Ballhead Waterleaf, Fairy Bells, Mertensia, Service Berry, Blue-Eyed-Mary, Sandwort, Vetch, Oregon Anemone, Spring Beauty, and Death Camas.  The Oregon Anemone was a surprise.  It is not common and we had not seen it before. 

 

Balsam root flowers were all over the hillside on one section of the trail

 

 Ballhead Waterleaf

 

Fairy Bells

 

 Mertensia

 

Vetch

 

 Service Berry aka Saskatoon

 

 Oregon Anemone

 

 

Death Camas

 

 Prairie Star

 

 Spring Beauty

 

 

Count for the day:

37 hikers, plus one baby being carried in a front pack

3 dogs

3 miles RT

650 ft elevation gain

 

 

Note:  Something to be aware of, there are rattlesnakes in many places in Eastern Washington; however, we have not seen any on our hikes. 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 709

 

 

 

 

 

Old St. Johns County Jail, St. Augustine, Florida, 1983

 

This unused 1983 Souvenir card features a color photograph of “The Old St. Johns County Jail.”  It was published by Florida Souvenir Co., Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, Florida and has the identifier:  FS401, 116848 at the center bottom margin on the reverse.  The blurb at the upper left on the reverse:  “Old Jail, St. Augustine, Florida.  “The Old Jail” in the Oldest City in the U.S.A. where you’ll find items that date back into the 1600’s, is one of the most educational and interesting sites in St. Augustine, Florida.”

 

The P.J. Pauley Jail Building and Manufacturing Company designed and built the jail in 1891.  The building was used as a jail until 1953 at which time the jail facilities were moved to a new modern building.  The original building had a two-story northern wing that could hold up to 72 prisoners.  There were areas for the general population, a women’s section, a maximum-security area for the most dangerous prisoners, plus a death row cell.  A kitchen was located on the lower level.  The two-story southern wing contained the sheriff’s office and living quarters for his family.  Conditions in the jail were poor by modern standards. 

 

In 1987 the Old Jail was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.  Today it serves as the Old Jail Museum with the sheriff’s quarters restored, a display of weaponry and a pictorial history of the hangings carried out at the Old Jail.  During the time it operated as the jail a total of eight men were hung from gallows.  Tours of the Jail, complete with costumed guides, are available.  During the Old Town Trolley’s Ghost and Gravestones tour, the Jail is used as the grand finale.

 

This jail is one of several built by the Pauley Jail Company.  Members of the Pauley family were steamboat blacksmiths on the Mississippi River in the mid 1850s.  They used their skills to design and build steel cages that could be mounted on flatbed wagons and used as portable jail cells.  Later the cages would be installed in buildings.  The company eventually became associated with traditional jail and prison construction.  Their “Patent Rotary Jail remains a testament to American inventiveness.”  [Quote from:  www.paulyjail.com/legacy]

 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_County_Jail

https://www.pualyjail.com/legacy

 

Early Hiking Summary, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Oxbow Loop

 

We put away the skis and got out the boots.  The hiking season this year started with a few of our usual warm up hikes, such as Oxbow Loop where the Discover Pass is required, and the Connector Trail that goes between the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River parking area and the Garfield Ledges trailhead.  Both Middle Fork and Garfield Ledges require the NW Forest Pass or senior National Park Pass.  These are short, 2 miles RT, and easy.  Since people ask, especially if they are taking children, the Oxbow outhouse was open and clean.  The Middle Fork Snoqualmie trailhead outhouse was also open.  We did the entire Oxbow Loop but only part of the Connector.  Mostly we were looking for a good spot on the Connector to sit by the Taylor River and enjoy a snack.  

 

 

 Fawn Lilies on a section of the Barnum Point trail

 

The next week we did a new trail, for us, Barnum Point, and associated side trails, plus the Iverson Spit trail, which we had done part of once before.  Both of these areas are on Camano Island.  There are porta-potties only.  No passes or fees are required at these Camano parks.  

 

 

Yesler Swamp found in the Urban Horticultural Center

In between we did a local city walk at Yesler Swamp, part of the Urban Horticultural Center on Lake Washington.  A lot of this trail is on boardwalks over boggy or wet areas.  There are some view points and interpretive signs.  It is level and a short walk.  

 

  

 

 

Looking out from the top of Goose Rock at Puget Sound, US Navy Base at mid upper left

 

The following week we did Goose Rock at Deception Pass, where a Discover Pass is required.  It is steep but short with lots of flowers.  The parking area by the bridge has flush toilets and sinks.  From Goose Rock we drove to the Meerkerk Gardens on Whidbey Island where the rhododendrons are blooming and gorgeous.  The Gardens have a $10 entrance fee.  There is supposed to be one or more porta-potty.  That day ended with a stop at the Greenbank Farm Cheese Store and a ferry ride home.  

 

 Rhododendrons at the Meerkerk Gardens

 

 

 

 

The hillside was covered in the yellow balsam flowers. 

 

 

Our most recent hikes were on a two-day trip to Leavenworth where we did a new trail for us, Icicle Ridge, where no pass is required and where there is a porta-potty.  It is steep with 21 switchbacks.  We knew it was too early in the season for us to go all the way up to the saddle but we managed to get to the 11^th switchback before turning around.  That trail is very popular with few rocks and no roots to speak of.  It gets progressively steeper as it goes up, for a total elevation gain of about 1700 ft, which might be more than we can do at this age.  The trail is open to mountain bikers as well as hikers.  There were hundreds of beautiful arrow leaf balsam root flowers and other flowers too.  

 

 Looking down on Ingalls Creek from the trail

 

Also, near Leavenworth, we did Ingalls Creek where the NW Forest Pass or a senior National Park Pass is needed.  The Ingalls Creek outhouse was closed and locked.  It did not have a sign on the door, so it might open in May when there are more hikers.  There were early flowers including a couple of uncommon finds. 

 

A few individual reports will posted about the new places for us.