Business,  Collecting,  Katheryn McMahon Newton Album,  Real Photo Post Cards,  Social,  Travel

Very Fond of Children and the Pacific Coast Limited

Katheryn McMahon Newton Album, cards 20-22, 24

Today’s is a bit of a miscellany.

First is a travel postcard produced by the Metropolitan News Co., a northeastern firm responsible for a number of regional-oriented images.

This particular card has no inscription whatsoever. The sender evidently presumed Anna McMahon would understand from whom it came–likely the only person she knew in Boston at the time.

As a side point, according to Google Maps 1800 State Street is about midway between the two addresses we have for Katheryn McMahon. 2621 South Shields Avenue (Google is not currently offering me an option for North Shields) is about 1.5 miles walk south-southwest. 315 Wabash Avenue is 1.5-2 miles north-northeast (depending on whether the Atlas School Supply Co. was at South or North Wabash Ave.)

Next we have a postcard similarly lacking in any contextual information but addressed to Katheryn. Here the postmark is from Chicago and this is a real photo postcard. I would dearly love to know who these women are and their relationship or connection to Katheryn. Alas, she provided no information. This was taken in a photographic studio. Quite apart from the strange dimensions of the pseudo-car, one can see parts of the wall to the bottom right and left of the backdrop. Still, the card survives to share four white women dressed for a drive.

Plus another card sent to Katheryn from someone comfortable calling her Kittie. This probably came from Dick, who sent the odd woman-holding-pig card discussed two posts back. The handwriting of name and address is almost exactly the same. Likewise, since the pig postcard was sent as his ship left New York in June of 1907, it’s quite possible he took a visit to French Lick, Indiana, at some point. This particular postcard was produced in Germany for the French Lick Drug Co. and likely sold primarily in-town. The town was known for its mineral springs.

Last but not least, here’s a postcard from Fred. He’s in Salt Lake City and picked up a Utah-focused postcard to send to her. Note that he made a slight amendment to the card’s caption.

Collage of baby photos with the printed caption "Utah's Best Crop" with manuscript addition "Season of 1908". Added message "Feb 19th 1908--Salt Lake City U. Am very fond of children also This is a popular town, what?"
Fred Newton to Katheryn McMahon, 18/19 February 1908, front

One wonders if the reference to fondness for children is meant as encouragement to the possibility of having some with Katheryn or invoking the many children’s images presented in the card.

He dated the card the 19th, but it’s postmarked the 18th. It’s anyone’s guess whether he miscounted days or someone forgot to change the date on the postmark stamp. Given his movements around the Pacific Northwest and West, I wondered if he was in sales. Although I still lack any information as to his position, firm, and industry, this card does offer evidence to support the suspicion of sales. For a salesman, buyers who prefer talking to buying would be a professional hazard!

Stamp. Postmark Salt Lake City, Utah, 7.30PM, 18 February 1908. Addressee Miss Katheryn McMahon #2621 Shields Ave Chicago Ill. Message: “Katheryn Dear:- Expect to go out on the 100 Pacific Coast limited tomorrow or if I decid to may take it yet this P.M. Have one or two appointments with buyers but I think they want to talk more than buy. Am still minus letter. Fred.”
Fred Newton to Katheryn McMahon, 18/19 February 1908, reverse

He also specifies two possible travel arrangements. He might leave the next day on the Pacific Coast Limited, or go out that night–depending on how much the buyers talk!

“Expect to go out on the 100 Pacific Coast limited tomorrow or if I decid to may take it yet this P.M. Have one or two appointments with buyers but I think they want to talk more than buy. Am still minus letter. ”

Fred Newton to Katheryn McMahon, 18/19 February 1908

Of equal interest is that last reference: “Am still minus letter.” He’s mentioned wanting to hear from her in other postcards as well, especially cards sent in February of 1908. How many postcards have I already included here that he sent her that month? This is the fifth. There will be another in the next post. I did a quick flip to the back end of the batch of letters–and there are some more there. I’m afraid we won’t be able to compile a full list of postcards he sent Kathryn in that one month until much later in the year. February is a short month, but I have to admit I’m beginning to wonder if the number of cards he sent her may rival the number of days!

“Very fond of children and the Pacific Coast Limited,” copyright 2021, A.R. Henle.

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