Postcards from the Ledge: Happy New Year from Cleveland, Ohio!

FreshWater Cleveland PostCard Archives Monday, December 29, 2025
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We're closing out another year as a species here, and it's one last chance to send a thought to someone before we start the new calendar. Today's cards all come from around 1910 (give or take a year or two) and, as with our recent Christmas card offerings, we did hold back a few that were definitely from the New-Year's-time of their year, but maybe not quite as jolly in the sentiment. We do have a lot of embossed cards, which are personal faves, here in the archives.

Happy New Year (ca 1910)Happy New Year (ca 1910)Postmark: DEC 31 1910 9:30AM
Card Front: A very wintery-looking bell tower where the numbers on the clock have been replaced with "Happy New Year" and (potentially) a Freemason's symbol in the center. A holly branch is over the top of the picture, and the border is gold and lightly embossed.

Card Back:
Written Text:

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Marie

New Year Greetings (ca 1907)New Year Greetings (ca 1907)Postmark: DEC 23 1907 5PM
Card Front: A girl crouched down next to and looking at another girl standing on a fancy chair, looking at herself in the mirror (reflecting on the previous year?)

Card Back:
Written Text:

Dear Friend, I wish you and Mother and Sister a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Shall give a friend of ours a letter of introduction. Mrs. E Simmons

A Happy New Year (ca 1900s)A Happy New Year (ca 1900s)Postmark: (Not Mailed / Likely Hand Delivered)
Card Front: "A Happy New Year" in stylized text across the top, some holly with an inset of an older photo postcard over it with the text "CLEVELAND,O. Public Square" written on the inset card.

Card Back:
Written Text:

Dear Mamma, May all the good things come to you in the New Year just coming. Gay.

Wishing You a Happy New Year (ca 1908)Wishing You a Happy New Year (ca 1908)Postmark: DEC 31 1908 1PM
Card Front: A depiction of the handoff of old year to new, from Father Time to baby New Year. The text "Wishing you a happy New Year" is written in gold cursive at the top, and a giant block with "January 1" is in the bottom center so that there can be no confusion.

Card Back:
Written Text:

A Happy New Year to all. From Lydia.

To Wish You a Happy New Year (ca 1908)To Wish You a Happy New Year (ca 1908)Postmark: DEC 26 1910 11PM
Card Front: A holiday-styled book, opened to the middle with ribbon to mark the page, with a painting of a house by some water in the winter on the left, and "To Wish you a Happy New Year" written on the right page; some holly underneath on the right.

Card Back:
Written Text:

Dear Agnes, we received the postals, and certainly were delighted to hear from you all. I often spoke about you, but did not know your address. Wishing you a Happy New Year and hoping to hear from you often. I remain your friend, Julia

A Happy New Year (ca 1909)A Happy New Year (ca 1909)Postmark: DEC 30 1909 2:30PM
Card Front: a border of lumpy snow, with the text "A Happy New Year" written in icy/snowy-style lettering across the top, with a mill near a creek in the winter.

Card Back:
Written Text:

Happy New Year to you and all the folks. Pearl


Pearl says it best here: Happy New Year to you and everyone out there. May 2026 bring us all the good news fit to report on the rest of the site, we'll still be here in the Archives looking for new concepts!