If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 660

 

 

 

 

 

Skiens Kirke, Norway, 1933

 

On the front bottom margin of this used Eneret:J.H.Koenholdt postcard is:  3655 Skiens Kirke [Skien’s Church] together with the postcard photographer-printer’s name.  The black & white picture is of the red brick parish church located in the town of Skien, Norway.  The card was sent to Petra Lee as a Christmas and New Year greeting from I.C. Lee’s sister, Ingeborg Hvalen, postmarked 30 December 1933.

 

This church was built in 1894 and is shaped like a Latin cross with two towers.  It is 154 ft or 47 m long with the towers 223 ft or 68 m high.  Located on a ridge overlooking the harbor it is impressive.  One of Norway’s largest organs with 5000 pipes is found here.  The primary artistic decorations are in the form of stained-glass windows and painted ornamentation on the walls and ceilings.

 

There was an earlier church here that was partly destroyed by fire in 1777 and restored.  Another fire in 1886 burned the church again and this time it was not salvageable.  Only the baptismal font, the holy vessels, two gilded wooden figures and the altar piece could be saved.  An interim church was erected and used between 1886 and 1894 when the red brick church was finally completed.  The interim church was later converted to a school building, then demolished in 2011.  There have been several maintenance repairs since this church was built, the most recent one involved replacing the brick façade in 2004.

 

 

 

The stamps are ones often seen on letters and cards from the 1930s.  The cancellation mark was clearer than some others, making it easy to date the card.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 659

 

 

 

 

 

Telemark, Løveidkanalen, 1906

 

This used Eneberettiget postcard, with a black and white photograph dated 1906, shows ships near the Løveid canal, Telemark, Norway, was printed and distributed by Peter Ålstrup Kunsforlag, Kristiania.  The card was mailed to I.C. Lee as a Christmas and New Year greeting from friends Kathrine og Hans Koblad.  This divided back card has a hand-written note dated 16 December 1907 at the upper right on the reverse.  For another more modern view of part of the canal and lock system, see the Thursday postcard #61 from 18 October 2012.

 

The canal links several long lakes in southern Norway connecting the towns of Skien and Dalen.  There are 18 locks in the series and took from 1854 to 1861 to complete.  Today there are river boats that take tourists down the staircase locks.  Originally there were two canals, the Norsjø-Skien, that linked Skien with Norsjø lake and a longer canal, Bandak-Norsjø.  The Bandak-Norsjø Canal which opened in 1892, was built mainly to transport goods and passengers, log floating and to prevent flooding.  It was made a National Cultural Heritage in 2017. 

 

For additional information, see: 

 

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

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 517

 

 

 

 

 

Ballard Locks, painting by Carl Funseth

 

This Carl Funseth painting of the Ballard Locks is found on an unused postcard published by Mark Ukelson.  The reprints of the original painting are available through Russell Galleries in Seattle.  The card was purchased at the Locks gift shop. 

 

The artist, Carl Edward Funseth (1931-2000) was well known for his paintings, many local scenes in Spokane.  His work is described as straddling impressionism and naturalism.  His series of old Seattle, such as on the postcard, were made into prints. 

 

The Ballard Locks or Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are located at the west end of Salmon Bay, in Seattle, Washington’s Lake Washington Ship Canal between Ballard and Magnolia.  These locks have more boat traffic than any other lock in the United States.  There are also a fish ladder and botantical gardens on the grounds surrounding the locks.  When we visited here recently we saw large boats in the larger lock and small pleasure craft, including several kayaks, in the smaller lock.  An added attraction that day were the harbor seals hunting for fish in and around the locks and a great blue heron that was also fishing. 

 

A navigable connection between the fresh water in Lake Washington, 8.8 ft or 2.7 m higher than the salt water Puget Sound, for the purpose of moving logs, milled lumber and fishing vessels was a topic of discussion as early as 1854.  Originally a Naval shipyard was also proposed but later that was built at Bremerton instead.  In 1867 the United States Navy endorsed the canal project but it was not until 1891 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started planning the project.  Some work began in 1906 but work in earnest did not begin until 1911 under the direction of Hiram M. Chittenden for whom the locks are named.  The locks were completed in 1916/1917 .  The Lees visited the locks shortly after they were open to the public and would often bring out of town visitors to see the locks.  There are movable walkways that allow visitors to watch as the water is raised and lowered and the boats pass through to either the Sound or the Lake.

 

The construction of the Locks required rerouting the Cedar River into Lake Washington so that there would be sufficient water flow for operating the locks.  The rerouting disrupted the Duwamish salmon runs.  To solve that problem salmon runs were reintroduced to migrate through the locks via fish ladders.  To prevent salt water from flowing upstream into the fresh water lakes it was necessary to design of system of siphons and flushing mechanisms.  Also, the Cedar River is the main source of drinking water for the city of Seattle so problems with maintaining an adequate water supply to operate the locks needed solving.  The second unused postcard, also purchased at the Locks gift shop, has views of the lock construction as well as drawings of how the locks work. 

 

 

An Impact photo graphics card with Impact photography

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/spokesman/name/carl-funseth

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 503

 

 

 

 

The Prime Minister Michelsen welcomes the King aboard “Heimdal,” 1905 

 

In a few days it will be time to celebrate Syttende Mai!  Also called Norwegian National Day or Norwegian Constitution Day held annually on 17 May.  The postcards shared this week were sent Petra Landaas Lee.  The cards were part of a 5-postcard set sent to Petra by relatives or friends in Bergen, Norway at the time it separated from Sweden.  This set of cards was distributed by Eneberettiget John Fredrikson’s Eftf, Kunstforlag of Christiania (Oslo).  The photograph shows the new King, Haakon VII, holding his son, the Crown Prince, Olav and shaking the hand of the Prime Minister, Chr. Michelsen. 

 

 Note to Petra on the 5-postcard set flap, 1906

 

An unsigned message penned on the inner fold of the card set says: “Mom and Dad send their heartfelt greetings and thanks for the photographs and cards to you and your husband.  Here you greet your ancestors (relatives).”  The postmark is dated 17 January 1906.  The printed date on the series of cards is 25 November 1905.

 

In the 1380s, when Olaf II of Denmark inherited the Kingdom of Norway at the death of his father, Haakon VI of Norway, until 1814 Norway and Denmark were linked together in a union sometimes referred to as the Twin Kingdoms.  Each country had its own laws, currency, and armies.  Since Denmark was mainly agricultural and Norway had an export-driven economy the countries balanced and benefited each other.  As a result of the defeat of the combined union of Denmark and Norway during the Napoleonic Wars, the union was dissolved.  In the hope that Norway could avoid being ceded to Sweden the Norwegian Constitution, declaring Norway to be an independent kingdom, was signed on 17 May 1814 at Eidsvoll.  However, at that time Norway was still legally in a union with Sweden.  Instead of becoming its own country Norway now was in a union with the King of Sweden, who became the King of Sweden and Norway.  It was not until 1905 that Norway peacefully separated from Sweden and became, at last, an independent country with its own monarchy. 

 

King Haakon VII, shown on the card, was born Prince Carl of Denmark, the son of Frederick VIII of Denmark and Louise of Sweden.  He chose to take the old Norse name Haakon and became the first independent Norwegian monarch since 1387.

 

 

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, 1905 

Queen Maud, Prince Olav, and King Haakon VII, 1905 arriving in Kristiania now Oslo 

 

Seattle, and particularly the Ballard district of the city, is known to have a large Scandinavian-American community.  Each year there is a 17^th of May parade held in Ballard where many people wear the traditional Norwegian costumes and wave Norwegian flags, enjoy music and entertainment.  A commemorative pin is issued each year.  The proceeds go to help fund the parade and associated events. This year's pin is shown below.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consitution_Day_(Norway)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark-Norway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Oslo’s_name

https://www.visitoslo.com/en.articles/history/

https://www.17thofmay.org/

 

 

Update: Harry Oliver & Sigrid Landaas and others …

 

 

 

From time to time I get questions concerning the extended family groups and this post will not address all of those but will attempt to add information and pictures as an update to a previous post about Harry Oliver and Sigrid Landaas.  In that post there was a photo of Harry with one of his Belmont Dye Works delivery cars.  A request for more information about the delivery cars arrived about the time I was already reviewing material for the next volume of the Family Gathering books.  As it turns out there are a number of old photographs in Dick Thompson’s Scrapbook Collection that are not found in the Petra Landaas Lee Trunk Collection or the Lorig Picture Box.  The delivery car question prompted a second look at Harry and Sigrid as well as a couple of other people in the Landaas, Lee, Lorig and Thompson family groups. 

 

 

 Sigrid Landaas, ca 1907

Harry Oliver, ca 1907

To recap, in the early 1900s, and at least by 1910, Harry owned and operated Belmont Dye Works, a dry-cleaning business located at 508 East Pine Street in Seattle.  After they married in 1908, Sigrid worked as the bookkeeper for the company.  This was a position she kept until they retired around 1950.  Harry’s younger brother, Walker, worked for him as a presser in the 1920s and 1930s.  It is also possible that his older brother, Johnny, worked there as a driver for a short period of time.  In later years, Johnny was a coal and oil truck driver for a fuel company.  However, it is likely Johnny’s wife, Lena, worked in the laundry section of the Dye Works for several years.  James was a farmer in the Walla Walla area of Eastern Washington.  Lenard owned and operated a café in Seattle.  Lenard worked in the shipyards beginning in 1942 and probably as long as the military needed him there during World War II. 

 

The five Oliver brothers from the left:  Lenard [Leonard] born 1896, James born 1892, John born 1885, Walker born 1894, Harry born 1888, ca 1908.

 

As I was looking at the pictures of the Belmont Dye Works delivery cars, I noticed some differences.  My youngest son is a mechanical engineer and I showed him the photos and a couple of other earlier delivery wagon pictures to see if he could help identify improvements that were made in the designs. 

 

 I.C. Lee with City Laundry delivery wagon, before 1905

 

In this photo, taken before 1905, I.C. Lee is the policeman helping the pedestrian cross the street.  Just behind him is a horse drawn City Laundry delivery wagon.  Notice the design of the wagon cab, the overhanging roof and the protective barrier in front of the driver, and the lack of a door for easier access.  Part of the laundry load is stored on top of the wagon.  We can tell that this picture was prior to 1905 because I.C. was promoted to Sergeant in that year and here he is shown as a patrolman.

 

Star Bakery horse drawn delivery wagon, 1905

 

This next photo, above, dated 1905, shows a horse drawn Star Bakery delivery wagon with a similar design to the laundry wagon.  It is not possible to see the access way into the wagon but the overall design is almost the same as the laundry wagon.  In the scrapbook margin in addition to the date, Dick Thompson noted: “$2.00 a day, those were happy days.”  He arrived in Seattle in 1903 from Bergen, Norway and this was one of the first jobs he had here in America.  

 

 

 

Harry Oliver standing by his #2 delivery car, ca 1910-1912

 

Here we see Harry Oliver standing beside his No. 2 delivery car.  The cab looks remarkably like the horse drawn cab with the horse replaced by an engine, the metal or wooden wagon wheels replaced with rubber wheels.  It is probably a 1910-1912 version model T Ford.  The model T was introduced in October 1908 as a 1909 model.  Since only a limited number of unsuccessful model C and model N delivery vans or cars were made and sold prior to the model T, it is unlikely that Harry’s delivery cars were something other than a model T.   In the earlier post the photo was a faded sepia tone but I have changed the color to black & white to increase the definition. 

 

Some things to notice about the car include the manual, bulb operated exterior horn.  Harry has his arm resting on the bulb.  Brass tubing curves under the door opening to the horn mounted on the side of the hood just above the fender.  Brass was needed in World War I efforts; therefore, this type of tubing was not used after about 1915/1916.  There is a vertical double canister, called a Prestolite tank, attached to the running board that contained water and gas for the acetylene powered head lamps.  These tanks were either installed by the dealer or sometimes by the factory, 1909-1912.  The model Ts in 1913/1914 had a horizontal tank divided into three compartments and color coded that held, gas, oil, and water.  The fenders were designed to prevent mud splatter at a low speed.  The windshield is a simple small pane held in place by rods and mounted at eye level.  Since the car is numbered 2 it suggests that he had at least two of the vehicles.  

 

 

 The two newer Belmont Dye Works delivery cars, ca 1915 and later

 

These are newer model Ts, most likely 1915 and later.  The one on the right does not yet have a door, the bench is a basic flat seat, the fenders are similar to what is shown on the 1910-1912 model.  The horn and headlights have been electrified.  Beginning in 1913/1915 the horns were mounted under the hood with louvers in the hood added to help amplify the sound of the horn.  The windshield has been enlarged in size but is still held in place by rods that extend to the floor of the cab. The car is numbered 2 and most likely dates around 1914/1915.  Harry has added more advertising information on the side of the cab including a phone number and the words, Cleaning and Pressing.

 

The still newer car at the left, 1915/1916, now has a door and an improved, more comfortable looking padded bench for the driver.  The fenders have been changed to prevent mud splatters at higher rates of speed than the older models were capable of doing.  The windshield has been further improved and is attached at the hood level.  The bigger windshield protected the occupant(s) better at increased speed levels.  The roof of the cab is slightly more curved than the earlier model.  This is the newest delivery car that Harry owned at the time. The business design has added a line in back of the bell and placed the address at the left and the phone number at the right.  

It appears from these pictures that Harry must have had a schedule for replacing his delivery cars, probably every three years or so, alternating replacement between car #1 and car #2.  Both of the pictures with Harry’s delivery cars were made into postcards, a popular option for pictures during this time period. 

 

As general interest, Ford had manufacturing plants in Seattle beginning in 1914 that closed in 1932.  The first plant building was a 5 story structure located in the South Lake Union district of Seattle and the second plant was on E. Marginal Way South Seattle.  The plant on E. Marginal Way was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 2013.  The South Lake Union plant was purchased by the W.P. Fuller Paint Company in 1936.  It changed hands a couple more times and most recently was used by Public Storage, a self-storage chain.

 

For additional information about the delivery cars, see:

 

http://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/4902

http://www.mtfca.com/discu/messages/118802/179303.html

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

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1903-1919-ford-trucks1.html

https://www.historylink.org/File/875

https://www.cogapa.com/history.html

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

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 482

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, ca 1912 to 1925

 

This unused C.T. American Art Colored postcard was produced by Curt Teich and published by the Deseret Book Company of Salt Lake City, Utah.  As mentioned in previous postcard posts, Curt Teich’s company was in operation from 1898 to 1978.  The company used various numbering systems during the years it operated.  Because this card is identified as C.T. American Art and that series was predominant during the period between 1912 and 1925 we can guess that it dates from that time.  The numbers are not prefixed by letters or have hyphenated two digit dates, so it is not possible to be more exact.  The numbers that appear on the bottom border, along with a title, are 544, at the left, and 55876 at the right.  The picture shows the Tabernacle building and the Seagull Monument with part of the Assembly Hall shown at the left side.

 

 

Clara Lee, ca 1913-1915

 

A.C. Lee, brother of I.C., moved to Salt Lake City around 1893 and raised his family there.  His daughter, Clara, is seen in the above photo taken around the time the Seagull Monument was dedicated in 1913.  The second picture, seen below, was taken in 1985 and shows the monument base and the bronze seagulls on top.

 

 

 Seagull Monument, 1985

 

In 1848 crickets descended on the farms and began to consume the pioneers’ first planted crops.  In answer to prayers offered up by the pioneer farmers, flock of native seagulls arrived and devoured the crickets.  The event is often referred to as the miracle of the seagulls and the monument is a commemoration of the event. 

 

 

 Part of the refurbished Tabernacle, 2016

 The Tabernacle was closed and refurbished between 2005 and 2007.  The upgrades included retrofitting for earthquakes, new gold leafing to the organ pipes, new plumbing, new dressing rooms and a music library, and more.

 

 

The Salt Lake Tabernacle, also known as the Mormon Tabernacle, is located in the heart of Salt Lake City in Temple Square.  It was built between 1863 and 1875 and was used for church meetings including the semi-annual General Conferences.  General Conference is now held in the newer and much larger Conference Center.  The Tabernacle is still used for overflow crowds during Conference and for some of the televised Music and the Spoken Word programs featuring the Tabernacle Choir. 

 

 

 

The shape of the Tabernacle was inspired by plans to build a canvas tabernacle in Nauvoo, Illinois that was never built.  The exterior of the building is constructed of granite blocks.  The foundation and the 44 supporting pillars for the domed roof are made of sandstone.  The lattice-truss arch system is held together by dowels and wedges with very few nails as nails were scarce during pioneer Utah.  The acoustics are amazing.  During a tour of the Tabernacle there is a demonstration of the acoustics by dropping a pin at the front of the room by the organ that can be easily heard at the very rear of the building.  

 

 

 Manger scene by the Tabernacle during Christmas holidays

 

 A few of the Christmas lights at Temple Square

 

 

 During the Christmas holidays Temple Square is decorated with thousands of outdoor lights and Christmas scenes.  When we visited a couple of years ago the manger scene was by the Tabernacle.  Another scene was in the reflection pond by the Temple.

 

For additional information, see:

 

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

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

https://www.newberry.org/sites/default/files/researchguide-attachments/Teich_Postcard_Dating_Guide_2016.pdf

http://www.metropostcard.com/publisherst.html