"Greetings From" - About Those Large Letter Postcards

 Curt Teich Large Letter Postcard for Williamsport Pa

"Large-letter", or "Greetings From", postcards began popping up in the U.S. in the late 1920s and became really popular from the 1930s through the 1950s.  These postcards featuring photos inside large letters spelling out the location, where a popular way, before the advent of computers and social media, to show off their travels to loved ones back home. 

Curt Teich , an immigrant and pioneer of the offset printing process, began his postcard company as early as 1898.  But it was in the 1930s that the firm took off with a new process, producing what would become a wildly successful design trend of bright, graphically illustrated linen postcards.

In Teich's Chicago studio, professionally taken, but somewhat dull black & white photos would be  retouched, usi everything from mechanical airbrushes to precision sable-tipped brushes.  The images were cleaned up, colorized, and details were sharpened.  They process made a nondescript or unattractive business look clean and bright, and small towns look perfect with dazzling skies in colorful hues.

Soon Teich added "Large Letter" postcards.   "So-called large-letter postcards weren’t new when a German immigrant named Curt Teich began producing colorful linen-textured versions in the early 1930s, but he “was kind of a genius,” said Will Hansen, curator of Americana at the Newberry Library in Chicago, home to largest public collection of Teich postcards in the United States.

Teich was not the only manufacturer of the large letter design, but he is one of the best known.   "Just as Henry Ford revolutionized automobile production, Teich’s company perfected a system of mass producing large-letter postcards based on the idea that no town was too small to include."

Although the idea was that "no town was too small", in reality, many small towns were featured only in a line of text above the letters of the state. Danville and Bloomsburg are an example of cards using the same text over the Large Letter Pennsylvania.

These postcards’ popularity in the 1940s, 50s and 60s was fueled by an obsession with the automobile and the adventure of road travel. Teich and his imitators used saturated colors and simplified scenes to paint an enticing view of mid-20th-century America.

His linen-style postcards depicted an optimistic view of America, creating a unique record of national tourism and documenting the U.S. landscape from its smallest towns to its grandest natural wonders. The cards—and Teich’s runaway success selling them—also reflect an era when a boom in highway construction and an uptick in auto sales were changing the way Americans worked, played, vacationed, and communicated with one another.

For non-collectors, sending the postcards to friends and family was an inexpensive way to show off their travel. Today, travelers pose in front of murals around the country that mimic the vintage postcards and share photos on social media. 

By the mid-1950s, the Teich aesthetic began to fade and was replaced with hyperrealist, photographic postcards.

Links to Large Letter Post Card Collections:

• https://www.pinterest.com/libraryofva/greetings-from
• https://vintagraph.com/collections/1940s-50s-greetings-postcards
• https://archives.newberry.org/repositories/2/resources/1282

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Sources:

• Quotes taken from - Part of a recurring Ap Press series, “American Objects,” marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
• Library Of Virginia
• https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/immigrant-story-behind-classic-greetings-from-postcards-180970894/

Curt Teich Postcards

Established in 1898, the Curt Teich Co. was best known for its wide range of advertising and postcards of North America. By the 1920s, it was producing so many postcards with borders that they became recognized as a type dubbed “White Border Cards,” creating an “era.” Later, Curt Teich’s innovations in this printing technique directly led to the production of what we now call “linens” by the early 1930s.

History

Curt Teich emigrated to Chicago in 1895. He had worked as a lithographer in Lobenstein, Germany. In 1898, he founded the Curt Teich Company, concentrating on newspaper and magazine printing. He was an early publisher of postcards, but he didn’t begin printing them himself until 1908.

The company, which operated until 1978, was renowned for its production of postcards featuring various subjects, including North American scenic views, landmarks, events, and advertising. By the 1920s, it was producing so many postcards with borders that they became recognized as a type dubbed “White Border Cards,” creating an “era.”

Their U.S. factories produced a vast quantity of cards, making them the leading printer in the industry. Curt Teich Company pioneered the use of offset lithography, leading to the development of the popular linen-type postcard. The company aided the war effort during World War II by printing many military maps.

In 1974, the Teich Company was sold to Regensteiner Publishers, but it continued printing Teich postcards until its closure in 1978. Curt Teich’s contributions significantly impacted the postcard industry, leaving behind a rich legacy of artistic and historical significance. The Teich Company continued to operate in the same building and continued printing Teich postcards until 1978 when the rights to the company name and processes were sold to the Irish company, John Hinde Ltd. Their California subsidiary now prints postcards under the name John Hinde Curteich, Inc.

   

The Molly Maguires - Index

The Molly Maguires

An Index Of Assorted Stories, Posts, and Resources

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A Time Line  Of The  Molly Maguire Saga

When Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction Oddities From The Molly Maguire Saga

An Attempt to Understand The Molly Maguire Drama

Mary Catherine Faux - Witness to McKinley's Assassination, & Molly Maguire Executions

Alexander W. Rea, Founder Of Centralia, Molly Maguire Victim

The Molly Maguire Memorial In Mahanoy

The Valley Of Fear A Sherlock  Holmes Novel,  l oosely based  on the  Molly Maguires	A Movie About  The Molly Maguires,  starring  Sean Connery,  was filmed at  Eckley Miners  Village	Making Sense Of the Molly Maguires by Kevin Kenny
Library Of Congress Research Guide	Audio Driving Tours of Molly Maguire Sites

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ASSORTED NOTES & MENTIONS:

• On this day in local history, September 6th 1869 - The Avondale Mine disaster. 111 workers, mostly welsh, were killed. Later investigation showed it was caused by a design flaw in the mine shaft, but early on, the Molly Maguires were blamed. Read more about the disaster at Wynning History: https://wynninghistory.com/2019/03/04/avondale/

• In 2026 I read the book Centennial by Fergus M. Bordewich, "about the great fair of 1876".  I found it to be much more about the politics of the nation around the time of the Worlds Fair than all that much about the actual fair, but it was interesting, nonetheless.  There's a chapter on the Molly Maguires, and the author connects that saga to the railroad riots (unions).  It was interesting, something I had never thought through before, and I need to make a time line to look more at the correlation between the two.  On Amazon https://amzn.to/4wYVBQS  ( I did disagree with the authors statement that there had been no real record of murders before the Pinkertons got involved...  there was an astounding number of unsolved murders in that time frame. 

• One hundred years after Kehoe's execution, in January 1979, Pennsylvania Governor Milton J. Shapp signed a letter memorializing Kehoe's posthumous pardon.  https://kehoefoundation.org/john-kehoe/

How The Valley Celebrated The Fourth - Town By Town

 

4th Of July Celebrations, Historically, In Our Area

Observing Independence Day only became commonplace after the War of 1812. Soon, events such as groundbreaking ceremonies for the Erie Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were scheduled to coincide with July 4th festivities.
(Above photo is Sunbury, 1918)

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The Fourth Of July Historically

What the  4th Of July Looked Like 100 Years Ago,  Town By Town:

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The 4th Of July in   Lewisburg 1836-1900	The 4th Of July in  Sunbury 1800-1927 Including Edison's Return	4th Of July in  Watsontown 1894-1918

The 4th Of July in Turbotville 1907-1917	The 4th Of July Parade Washingtonville 1908

"It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." - John Adams, in a letter to Abigail Adams, July 2nd 1776 [Full letter at bottom of page]

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SPECIAL EVENTS
On The 4th Of July

Combining big events with the 4th of July Celebrations was not just at a National Level.  It was very common in our local towns too!  The dedication of the fabridam, Watsontown's Welcome Home Celebration, the dedication of the war monument in Lewisburg, and  Sunbury's Sesquicentennial Celebration (with Thomas Edison in attendance!) in 1922 are just a few of the local celebrations held over the 4th of July week-end.

The 1895 Lycoming County Centennial Celebration was very similar to the Nations Centennial Fair - but on a  smaller scale.	Pine Creek Declaration The legend, and the reality.	Opening Of the West Branch Canal
Edison in Sunbury Thomas Edison both flipped the switch to turn on the first electric 3 wire light in Sunbury, and then also returned for Sunbury's Sesquicentennial, where the hotel was named in his honor.	The 1910 Benton Fireworks Fire Sixty buildings were destroyed in Benton, the fire started when fireworks ignited hay.	Watsontown and Berwick are two of the towns that held Welcome Home Celebrations, after World War I, over the 4th of July Week-End.
Centralia's Centennial	The Fabridam Dedication

In 1777, Adams wrote to his daughter - " Yesterday, being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion. 
I am too old to delight in pretty descriptions, if I had a talent for them, otherwise a picture might be drawn, which would please the fancy of a Whig, at least. The thought of taking any notice of this day, was not conceived, until the second of this month, and it was not mentioned until the third. It was too late to have a sermon, as every one wished, so this must be deferred another year...." [Full letter at bottom of page]

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Modern Day 4th Of July Photos
(Photos from Celebrations I have attended personally)
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	Watsontown 2026

 

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Letter from John Adams, To Abigail Adams:

Philadelphia July 3d. 1776

Had a Declaration of Independency been made seven Months ago, it would have been attended with many great and glorious Effects . . . . We might before this Hour, have formed Alliances with foreign States. -- We should have mastered Quebec and been in Possession of Canada .... You will perhaps wonder, how such a Declaration would have influenced our Affairs, in Canada, but if I could write with Freedom I could easily convince you, that it would, and explain to you the manner how. -- Many Gentlemen in high Stations and of great Influence have been duped, by the ministerial Bubble of Commissioners to treat .... And in real, sincere Expectation of this effort Event, which they so fondly wished, they have been slow and languid, in promoting Measures for the Reduction of that Province. Others there are in the Colonies who really wished that our Enterprise in Canada would be defeated, that the Colonies might be brought into Danger and Distress between two Fires, and be thus induced to submit. Others really wished to defeat the Expedition to Canada, lest the Conquest of it, should elevate the Minds of the People too much to hearken to those Terms of Reconciliation which they believed would be offered Us. These jarring Views, Wishes and Designs, occasioned an opposition to many salutary Measures, which were proposed for the Support of that Expedition, and caused Obstructions, Embarrassments and studied Delays, which have finally, lost Us the Province.

All these Causes however in Conjunction would not have disappointed Us, if it had not been for a Misfortune, which could not be foreseen, and perhaps could not have been prevented, I mean the Prevalence of the small Pox among our Troops .... This fatal Pestilence compleated our Destruction. -- It is a Frown of Providence upon Us, which We ought to lay to heart.

But on the other Hand, the Delay of this Declaration to this Time, has many great Advantages attending it. -- The Hopes of Reconciliation, which were fondly entertained by Multitudes of honest and well meaning tho weak and mistaken People, have been gradually and at last totally extinguished. -- Time has been given for the whole People, maturely to consider the great Question of Independence and to ripen their judgments, dissipate their Fears, and allure their Hopes, by discussing it in News Papers and Pamphletts, by debating it, in Assemblies, Conventions, Committees of Safety and Inspection, in Town and County Meetings, as well as in private Conversations, so that the whole People in every Colony of the 13, have now adopted it, as their own Act. -- This will cement the Union, and avoid those Heats and perhaps Convulsions which might have been occasioned, by such a Declaration Six Months ago.

But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

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John Adams to Abigail Adams 2d

Philadelphia, July 5th, 1777My dear Daughter

Yesterday, being the anniversary of American Independence, was celebrated here with a festivity and ceremony becoming the occasion.

I am too old to delight in pretty descriptions, if I had a talent for them, otherwise a picture might be drawn, which would please the fancy of a Whig, at least.

The thought of taking any notice of this day, was not conceived, until the second of this month, and it was not mentioned until the third. It was too late to have a sermon, as every one wished, so this must be deferred another year.

Congress determined to adjourn over that day, and to dine together. The general officers and others in town were invited, after the President and Council, and Board of War of this State.

In the morning the Delaware frigate, several large gallies, and other continental armed vessels, the Pennsylvania ship1 and row gallies and guard boats, were all hawled off in the river, and several of them beautifully dressed in the colours of all nations, displayed about upon the masts, yards, and rigging.

At one o’clock the ships were all manned, that is, the men were all ordered aloft, and arranged upon the tops, yards, and shrowds, making a striking appearance—of companies of men drawn up in order, in the air.

Then I went on board the Delaware, with the President and several gentlemen of the Marine Committee, soon after which we were saluted with a discharge of thirteen guns, which was followed by thirteen others, from each other armed vessel in the river; then the gallies followed the fire, and after them the guard boats. Then the President and company returned in the barge to the shore, and were saluted with three cheers, from every ship, galley, and boat in the river. The wharves and shores, were lined with a vast concourse of people, all shouting and huzzaing, in a manner which gave great joy to every friend to this country, and the utmost terror and dismay to every lurking tory.

At three we went to dinner, and were very agreeably entertained with excellent company, good cheer, fine music from the band of Hes­sians taken at Trenton, and continual vollies between every toast, from a company of soldiers drawn up in Second-street before the city tavern, where we dined. The toasts were in honour of our country, and the heroes who have fallen in their pious efforts to defend her. After this, two troops of light-horse, raised in Maryland, accidentally here in their way to camp, were paraded through Second-street, after them a train of artillery, and then about a thousand infantry, now in this city on their march to camp, from North Carolina. All these marched into the common, where they went through their firings and manoeuvres; but I did not follow them. In the evening, I was walking about the streets for a little fresh air and exercise, and was surprised to find the whole city lighting up their candles at the windows. I walked most of the evening, and I think it was the most splendid illumination I ever saw; a few surly houses were dark; but the lights were very universal. Considering the lateness of the design and the suddenness of the execution, I was amazed at the universal joy and alacrity that was discovered, and at the brilliancy and splendour of every part of this joyful exhibition. I had forgot the ringing of bells all day and evening, and the bonfires in the streets, and the fireworks played off.2

Had General Howe been here in disguise, or his master, this show would have given them the heart-ache. I am your affectionate father,

John Adams

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Haleeka Club

 

Haleeka Park Manor

Near Trout Run, Lycoming County Pa

A 1947 issue of Now & Then tells us "Haleeka was named for a Delaware Indian Chief who, it is alleged, in 1769 traded Great Island to a William Dunn for a rifle and a keg of whiskey."

In 1949, the Daily Gazette and Bulletin reported that the Haleeka Inn, on Lycoming Creek Road north of Cogan Station, was sold by B.E. Richards and his wife of this city to George T. Leamon, a hotel man from Jersey Shore.

The article further reports the Haleeka Inn was built in 1903 as a health sanitarium by local physicians, and was operated "as such for several years".

  It was later acquired by a group of Williamsporters and became the Haleeka Club.

The Haleeka Club was popular for outings.

A sampling includes 

In 1905, the Haleeka Country club donated the use of its grounds for the Lycoming County Bar Association banquet.  A special Northern Central train was run for the event.

In 1909, 33 "lads of the Industrial Home are being given a treat today.  Taken to Haleeka for Feast and Fun."

"We [Lycoming DAR] celebrate Flag Day by an annual outing This year Mrs. Melick Foresman entertained the chapter delightfully at Haleeka a favorite country club house nine miles north of Williamsport. The weather was ideal and the afternoon was charming in every particular. Some of the Daughters strolled through the grounds to the sparkling rippling Lycoming creek; some played bridge and others more curious tried to peer into the future by having their palms read by Miss Edna Stewart in her usual happy manner. Delicious refreshments were served on the long broad piazza under the shadows of the national emblem whose natal day we were celebrating" - The American Monthly Magazine  1910

In 1937, the Gazette and Bulletin reported that 75 employees, directors, and their families attended the annual outing of the Lycoming Dairy Farms at the Haleeka Inn.  Activities included Baseball, Quits,  and other games.  Dinner was served "in charge of Mrs. Margaret Manley"

A 1912 article in the Williamsport Sun mentioned that G.H. Drumm "what has charge of the house and grounds at Haleeka" had in his possession a seat from one of the first passenger coaches run on the Northern Central railroad.  "As railroad people did not appear to want the broken seats, they were gradually made use of by the people of the neighborhood.  The seat is in excellent state of preservation and while it has not as much spring as the seats of the cars of the present day it is yet very restful and many of the visitors to the Haleeka use it."  The same article went on to say:

"Haleeka as now known, was first the residence and office of Dr. Sallada, about fifty years ago.  The location, on Lycoming Creek between Cogan Station and Crescent, was chosen with special thought as to its healthfulness, and from it's beginning has been in the hands of various physicians.  

Dr. Detweiler was associated with and succeeded Dr Sallada.

Afterwards Drs J. F. Fleming and Howell, and other physicians occupied it as a specialty hospital.  

It is now [1912] owned in association by twenty-four prominent families of this section, who spend a portion of their time, principally in the summer, there.  Dr H.G. McCormick is president; H C Bubb Secretary and treasurer, and H. M. Foresman, chairman of the house committee of the association."

In May of 1932, the Haleeka Country Club was discontinued.  The property was purchased by Blanchard Richards.  the 1932 article in the Grit lists the members of the club at the time of transfer.  Among the names listed were Crooks, Decker, Hough, Lamade, Hays, Mosser, Sprout, Searns..  and others.

  When B.E. Richards purchased the club he turned it into tourist lodging. When   Leamon purchased it in 1949, he intended to continue with it in the tourist business.

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B. E. Richards - Blanchard Edward Richards was born in 1889.  He married Martha Janke.  In the 1950 census his occupation was given as proprietor in real estate office.