Post Cards from the Ledge: Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day! And, if you won't be getting a Valentine's card this year, we've got 5 for you right here. One of the coldest times of year is the best for cuddling up and looking at someone else's old postcards for sure (better with chocolates). For now, let's see what the folks of Cleveland's past were sending each other at this time of year.
If you haven't yet sent someone even a "thinking of you" message, there's still time. Your love notes today provide content for our site 100 years from now!
Valentine's Day Card (1904)Postmark: FEB 12 1904 7:30PMCard Front: This one has several tool-related puns. No, the egg-headed lad is not a tool, and seems a bit perplexed trying to upcycle a soap box for... purposes. The sender was actually forward thinking enough to ink the date ("Feb. 14, -1904") across the front. A poem reads:
My heart is nailed to thine, the truth is plane, sweet ValentineCard Back:
Written Text: Only addressed to "Miss Mabel Gibson 1470 Cedar Ave, City" (that was enough, back then)
Valentine's Day Card (1913)Postmark: FEB 4 1913 10AMCard Front: A fancily-dressed woman in a flowy shawl walks away from multiple cherubs. One cherub seems to be employing love-hadoukens to fling hearts at her, as the other two brace each other in case she falls backwards after getting hit. A poem reads:
You, they say, have hearts a-many... this doesn't really seem like a nice thing to say about a person, but here we are.
Counted by the score
Yet I assume there's always room
for one heart more.
Card Back:
Written Text: Again, only addressed to "Miss Loretta Pekasik, 6057 Hillman Ave, City".
Valentine's Day Card (1911)Postmark: FEB 12 1911 6:30PMCard Front: Some floating hearts and roses, and a Japanese doll (embossed into the cardstock), who, based on the related poem, we'll assume is named Sukey San. A poem reads:
To My Little ValentineSukey San is just a dolly,
But she brings a gift from me,
For her arms are full of roses
And roses are for love you see
Card Back:
Written Text:
Deal Alice - I am sending any "best wishes" to you. John
Valentine's Day Card (1917)Postmark: FEB 13 1917 11AMCard Front: A very to-the-point message of "Hello, Sweetheart! This is your Valentine" with an image of a young, curly-haired girl on a very old-style telephone... so that someone said it, she's not eating the mouthpiece, the microphones were very bad, so you indeed had to put your mouth right up into them or shout.
Card Back:
Written Text:
Dear Helen: How do you do? We are all well. Greetings to you, to Mamma and Papa from all of us. Nana H.
Valentine's Day Card (1910)Postmark: FEB 14 1910 5PMCard Front: A young girl holds some flowers and a very large key stands between 2 heart-shaped balloons with the words "To My Valentine" across the top. Yet another poem reads:
St. Valentine proclaimed a day, for lovers miles apartCard Back:
To tell each other of their love, so I send you the key to my heart
Written Text:
Cleveland O.
Feb 13 '10Dear Clara, As this is Sunday evening I supposed you have your sweetheart visiting you. As I haven't any, I am spending my time this way. I am having a delightful time out[?]. Don't you feel sorry for me. How is your mama. With love and best wishes, Mabel
Proof that it's never to late to send a card (5PM on the day), but Mabel has the right idea. Just because she's solo, she doesn't have to feel so low.
Whoever you find yourself with this Valentine's day, even if it's nobody, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment... and have a chocolate. Or, as solo folks know, half-priced chocolates at the drug store on 2/15!