If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 767

  

 

 

 

 

Turnagain Arm, Alaska

 

This is an unused “Alaska Joe” original souvenir postcard with scalloped edges.  It has C-ANCH-11 at the bottom reverse center line and Plastichrome, Boston just underneath that code.  The publisher/distributor is identified as Alaska Scenic P.C. of Anchorage, Alaska.  The price of the card is found at the lower right corner on the reverse as 10 cents.  A blurb is found at the bottom of the left side on the reverse:  “Showing the paved highway to Portage Glacier and Seward, Alaska; also scenic route of Alaska Railroad."  As noted previously cards with this type of edging date mostly from the 1950s to 1960s but some can range from the 1945 into the 1970s. The title on the front of the card is:  "Turnagain Arm in the Fall."

 

The waterway called Turnagain Arm is found in the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska.  It is known for climate extremes and large tide ranges.  It is one of two narrow branches, or arms, at the north end of Cook Inlet.  The British Royal Navy officer, explorer, and cartographer, Captain James Cook (1728-1779), spent ten days exploring the inlet that was named after him.  Hoping to find the Northwest Passage, he was disappointed to discover that there was no outlet in either arm.  He then had the additional bad luck of running aground on a sandbar on his way back out of the shallow water, hence the name Turnagain or River Turnagain.  The area is also known for its mineral resources, notably gold placers and gold quartz lodes.  Large numbers of placer claims were made here from 1896 to 1898.  

 

One of several beautiful glaciers found in Alaska is Portage Glacier, located between Prince William Sound and Turnagain Arm.  It was discovered in 1898 by Thomas Corwin Mendenall, a member of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.  It is so named because it is on a portage route between the two bodies of water.  This glacier once filled the entire Portage Valley, a distance of 14 miles or 23 km.  Now there are five separate glaciers. In the summer a boat ride across the lake is required to view the glacier up close.  

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James-Cook    

 

https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Portage_Glacier

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 766

  

 

 

 

 

Pantheon, Rome, Italy

 

This unused, divided back, postcard is another one that has had some reddish tinting added to a black & white photograph of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.  Halftone printed cards, such as this one, date from the early 1900s through 1930, A flat red or blue color was applied to specific areas of a black & white image.  There is a blurb at the upper left side:  “The Pantheon, Rome, Italy.—A celebrated temple in Rome built 27 B.C. by Marcus Agrippa, and known as the Pantheon of Agrippa.  It has the finest dome in the world, 142 ½ feet [or 43.4 meters] internal diameter and 145 feet high [or 44.19 meters].  It is considered one of the most interesting sights of Rome.”  The card does not provide the printer/publisher/distributor or photographer, but only indicates that it takes a one-cent stamp.  Note:  The present building shown on the card is not the original one, but one that was built by the emperor Hadrian and dedicated in 126 A.D. to replace the one built in 27 BC which had burned down.  Hadrian chose to re-inscribe the newer temple with Agrippa’s original inscription from the older temple. 

 

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved of all the Ancient Roman buildings, most likely because it has been in continuous use throughout its history.  Since the 7^th century it has been a Roman Catholic church dedicated to St. Mary of the Martyrs.  The square in front of the building is the Piazza della Rotonda.  Today the Pantheon is a state property managed by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism.  Millions of people visit it each year. 

 

The oculus or eye of the dome is open to let in light; however, it also lets in rain, hence the marble floor is inclined and has drains built in to promote rainwater runoff.  When the Pantheon was dedicated for Christian worship in 609, the icon of the Virgin and Child was given by Phocas to Pope Boniface IV.  The present altar and the apses were commissioned by Pope Clement XI (1700-1721).  The choir, designed by Luigi Poletti, was added in 1840.  Numerous paintings and sculptures have been added over the years. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 765

 

 

 

 

 

L'Abue et Mathaux, France, 1910

 

Featured on this Vintage postcard is a black & white photograph of the devasting flooding in France that occurred on the 20^th and 21^st of January 1910.  The location is in the Aube department in north central France.  The number 10 and L’Aube et Mathaux is found at the bottom center.  At the upper right, the event is identified as the floods,  “Les Inondations á BAR sur AUBE (20 et 21 Janvier 1910. (G.L.)”   The initials (G.L.) may be the photographer’s.  No other information about the publisher or photographer is found on the card.  This is a used card with a divided back that is postmarked 7/3/1910.  The handwritten note has the date 3/7/10.  This makes it difficult to tell if the date was the 7^th of March or the 3^rd of July.  Usually European dates read DD/MM/YYYY unlike American dates that generally are written MM/DD/YYYY. 

 

In the winter of 1909-1910 there were historic storms in Marseille and Toulon and higher than usual rainfall in many other parts of the country that saturated the ground.  In addition, exceptionally warm weather caused snow melt resulting in rivers rising to flood stage in many different areas of France.  There were several French rivers that reached flood stage causing considerable damage. 

 

This would be considered a historically interesting card since it shows the result of a notable and catastrophic event.  Although there are no people shown in the photograph it is possible to see flooding impacting the lower levels of the buildings, the road over run with water, and the trees with water up the trunks.  The place is Mathaux, a small community within the Aube department. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1910_Great_Flood_of_Paris

https://en.wikipedia.org./wiki/January_1910_Doubs-river-flood

 

Iron Goat, 2026

  

 

 

 

 

Sign at the Iron Goat trailhead

 

It has been a couple of years since we hiked the Iron Goat Trail.  It is one of our favorites for flowers and getting our legs used to extending the distance.  There are two trails, the upper trail and the lower trail.  It is an interpretive trail with signs along the way explaining the history of the old railroad.  While it is possible to make a loop, we most often do an out and back on the lower trail.  At this time of the year, we know there will be some flowers in special places along the lower route. 

The lower level provides a gentle rise in elevation and a round-trip distance of 5.5 miles.  This trail was designed as an ADA (Americans with Disability Act) trail that allowed for baby strollers and wheelchairs.  The trail surface has been mostly packed earth with a layer of gravel.  It is really not suitable as an ADA trail currently as there has been significant water and slide damage recently in several places.  

 

 

When we started out the trail condition looked like this …

 

 

Snowshed wall

 

Part of the trail runs beside the old snowshed that was built to protect the railroad line.  

 

   

There are the remains of old railroad tunnels built in 1916.

 

One of the first indications that something was different this year…

 

  

And then this, the trail disappears, the stream has been redirected onto the old trail …

 

 

Downed logs

 

 

And this, a huge pile of downed logs from wind, water and slides sometime during the winter.  Note this is the exact same place where an avalanche of snow and ice piled up a few years ago.

 

 

  

A miracle, the small wooden bridge survived with only minor damage.

 

We managed, with some care, to edge our way around the slide and water damage to continue on to the Martin Creek Trailhead, our normal turn around place.

 

It had rained earlier in the morning and most of the plants were still still wet.  In addition to the ones pictured we also saw a few bedraggled Salmon Berry blossoms and some almost finished trillium.  There were probably more Fairy Bells than we have seen before on this trail and tons of Bleeding Heart as well.  We saw evidence of a few more Chocolate Lilies but only one plant was okay to photograph.

 

 Aven

 

Bane Berry

 

Bleeding Heart

 

Carpet Bugleweed aka Ajuga

 

Calypso Orchids

 

 

 Chocolate Lilies, almost done blooming

 

 

 Elder Berry

 

Fairy Bells

 

For-Get-Me-Not

 

Fringe Cup

 

Mertensia

 

 

Red Columbine

 

Spotted Coral Root

 

Star Flower

 

 

 Starry Solomon Seal

 

Thimble Berry

 

 

 Trillium

 

Count for the day:

 

7 people, no dogs

RT 5.5 miles

400 ft elevation gain

Forest Service Pass required

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 764

 

 

 

 

 

 Interior of the Church of Notre-Dame de Saint-Melaine, Rennes, France

 

 

This is an unused Vintage postcard produced by Neurdein featuring a black & white photograph of the interior of the Our Lady of Saint Melaine Catholic church located in Rennes, France.  The divided back card has the typical greenish color on the reverse that is common in French cards of the late 1800s or early 1900s. 

 

The title is printed on the bottom margin and the Neurdin logo, large P hot. and ND in the center, is at the bottom right corner.  Neurdin is also identified at the left margin on the reverse.  Neurdin was a family publishing company founded by Jean César Adolphe Neurdein (1806-1867) and succeeded by his sons, Etienne (1832-1918) and Atonin (1846-1914).  They primarily took pictures of buildings, historical places, castles, expositions, and cemeteries and published many of their photographs on postcards. 

 

Before the current church was built there was an abbey that dated back to the 6^th century.  The church is named for Melaine, a monk who became abbot of a small monastery and later Bishop of Rennes in the 6^th century.  He was popular among the people and several miracles are attributed to him.  After his death, Melaine was quickly revered as a saint and is today the principal patron saint of the Diocese of Rennes.  He is buried in the Abbey Church of Notre-Dame de Saint Melaine, Rennes, France.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

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

https://religiana.com/church-notre-dame-de-saint-melaine-rennes

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 763

 

 

 

 

 

Old State House, Boston, Massachusetts, ca 1950s

 

This is an unused souvenir postcard featuring the Old State House in Boston, Massachusetts.  The card has the identifier P926 at the top margin on the reverse.  At the upper left corner is a blurb:  “The Old State House at Washington and State Streets where John Hancock was inaugurated fist governor of Massachusetts and in front of which the Boston Massacre took place is now the home of the Bostonian society.  It is labeled as a Gift-O-Rama card with Plasstichrome by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., Boston 15, Mass, U.S.A”  Note:  the 15.  This helps to date the card to before postal zip codes were introduced in 1963.  Souvenir Corp. of America, Boston, Mass. Is printed along the left margin on the reverse. 

Old State House was built in 1713 as a replacement for Boston’s First Town House built in 1658.  It was the seat of the Massachusetts General Court until 1798 and is one of the oldest existing public buildings in the United States.  A fire damaged the interior in 1747 and was rebuilt the following year using the 1713 plans.  The exterior brick walls survived the fire but a gable roof replaced the gambrel roof and the polygonal cupola was replaced by a central tower.  Other significant modifications were made between 1750 and 1830. 

 

The Boston Massacre in 1770 was a confrontation between American colonists and nine British soldiers.  A crowd of an undetermined number, perhaps 50 to 200, began verbally harassing, swinging clubs and throwing stones and snowballs at the soldiers, who eventually fired upon the crowd.  Five colonists were killed as a result.  Several American Patriots, including Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, described it as “a massacre.”  It is a landmark on Boston’s Freedom Trail.  It is the place where the Declaration of Independence was read to the people of Boston.  These events were part of what started the American Revolution movement.  When a proposal was made in 1881 to move the Old State House, “brick by brick” to Chicago, Illinois, the non-profit Bostonian Society was organized primarily to prevent the building from being moved.  In 2020 the Society merged with the Old South Association in Boston to form Revolutionary Spaces.  Today the building also includes a museum. 

 

The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and a Boston Landmark in 1994.  Over the years there have many necessary restorations and repairs.   

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_State_House_(Boston)

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

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

 

Humpback Creek Falls, 2026

 

 

 

 Sign at the trailhead

 

The same day we visited Franklin Falls we also went to Humpback Creek Falls.  These falls are seen from the bridge on the Annette Lake trail.  There is a large parking area at the trail head and an older small outhouse that did not have toilet paper the day we were there.  I think most hikers are prepared for lack of TP and carry some just in case.  We always have TP, hand sanitizer, plenty of water, bug repellent, and wear packs with other essentials. 

 

 

 

Junction sign for the Asahel Curtis Nature trail and Annette Lake

 

It is a short, ½ mile RT, steep up, with lots of rocks and roots, to the Annette Lake bridge but the view was spectacular.  All the way to Annette Lake would be about an 8 mile RT hike.

 

 

 Humpback Creek Falls 

 

 

 

 

Count for the day:

 

8 people, 1 dog

1/2 mile RT 

Forest Service Pass required 

 

 

Franklin Falls, 2026

 

 

 

Sign at the trailhead parking lot

We were here two years ago.  That day it had been raining, was cloudy, with mud on the trail and slippery rocks.  We saw 11 people and 3 dogs.  Franklin Falls is an extremely popular trail especially when there is the promise of a lot of water rushing down the falls.  The trail is steep.  I did not count, but there are perhaps hundreds of steps.  The surface of the trail is packed dirt and gravel with some rocks and roots.  This time the weather was mostly sunny with scattered clouds.  The temperature was low 50s F.  Gusty winds made the wind chill about 45 F.  A comfortable temperature for going uphill.   

 

This time we counted 50 people and 1 dog.  That includes a couple of families with infants and/or young children.  This can be an in and out hike on the main trail, or a loop by taking the Wagon Road back to the trail head about 2.4 miles RT.  The large double outhouse at the main parking lot was open.  The designated handicapped parking lot below also has an outhouse but one side was still closed for the winter. 

 

 South Fork Snoqualmie river

 

The main trail follows beside the South Fork Snoqualmie River.  The pleasant sound of rushing water together with peek-a-boo views continue all the way.  There are many rapids and clear pools to admire as you go along.  A viewing platform of the lower or little Franklin Falls is found before reaching the main falls.  

 

 Lower or Little Franklin Falls 

 

 

 

 A sample of the steps and part of one of the new bridges

 

   

After all the stairs up to that point it was nice to stop and enjoy Little Franklin Falls before continuing on up the rest of the way.  After cresting the hill the trail leads down to the main falls. The way down to the small beach at the foot of the falls has rock steps that can be wet and slippery.  There is one very narrow section where it is difficult to see if someone is coming up from below and just barely enough room for others to pass by.  Once down at the beach, flowing water has to be crossed on rocks and/or a log to get up close to the falls.  

 

 

Getting closer...

 

 

Franklin Falls

 

      

This area was logged and is a second growth forest which means most of the current trees are a similar size and there are lots of nurse logs or stumps that have newer trees growing on them.  Every once a and while we find a big old growth tree or an interesting one. 

 

 

Big old growth tree with fancy roots

 

 

 Junction sign

 

We elected to take the Wagon Road trail back to the parking area.  No steps(!) but a lot more downed trees on Wagon Road trail than were on the main trail.  Also, a couple of places to go under, around, or over.  All along the entire loop there were trillium blooming.  

 

 Going under a downed tree...

 

 

 

 and around another one 

 

 

 Trail crews have been busy putting in new foot bridges over marshy areas or running water since the last time we were here. 

 

A small variety of wildflowers were in bloom.

 

 

 Skunk Cabbage

 

 

Salmon berry

 

 

 Yellow Stream Violet

 

 

 Trillium

 

 

 Marsh Marigold

 

 

 Bleeding Heart

 

 

 Count for the day:

 

50 people, includes babies and young children, 1 dog

2.4 miles approximately RT

400 ft elevation gain

Forest Service Pass required