2005 in Review Card of the Month Contests How many do you remember? March April June

1 . No. 6 .

Revised Vol

Sal Fiorello Bob Duerholz Don Pocher January February May

Steve Martorano Don Pocher Steve Madara September November

October Serving Post Card Collectors Since 1971

Mimi Fridie

6 Newsletter Tom Kearney

200 Lynn McKelvey Emily Divento July August December

January Featured Card PoCax 2006 Program Cover

Bob Duerholz Steve Martorano Kevin McKelvey

SJPCC Newsletter Card of the Month Contests for 2006 - It’s time for something new!!! Published Quarterly in A new format for the monthly Card Contests January, April, Because much of America’s cultural experience is measured by the movies we see and the July and October TV programs we watch, starting in January the monthly topic will be determined by you, based on the title of a movie or the name of a TV program. The topic will not be an assigned person, place, Please send inquires, and Letters to the Editor to: event, or thing. You will enter cards that are important to your concepts of American culture. 1111 E. Pine Street Each month you will be given a movie title and a TV show. This means you may enter two Millville, NJ 08332 cards each month, one movie card and one TV card, although both cards will be judged as part of or email: [email protected] one contest. To see your new challenges and examples of how it works. See page 7. January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 2.

The Chew Mansion (Cliveden) Remember seeing this card in the October issue?

the home of Benjamin Chew and the Battle of Germantown. The challenge was … if you attended school in this by Tom Kearney building and sent a story about what you learned to the Newsletter you could win a free, one-year membership. Since winning ‘the card of the month’ for October ’05, I have delved into the history of this beautiful home built by The winner is Bud Plumer Benjamin Chew between 1763 and 1767. As usual I thoroughly enjoyed the October Newsletter. In Chew held various offices in his time, including fact, I just interrupted my packing for a 15 day trip to Italy to Attorney General and Chief Justice of respond. the State of Pennsylvania. Justice I graduated from Central High School in Philadel- Chew fell into disfavor amongst the phia in January 1943, a member of the 179th class, which Revolutionaries during the War of was the 179th class to graduate from the school. By Independence and was placed under coincidence, we graduated 179 students. The building house arrest in 1777 and paroled to shown in the newsletter was the third location of the school. the Union Iron Works in New Jersey. It was at Broad and Green Streets, now the location of the Shortly after his arrest, his Benjamin Franklin High School. We were the first class to family was evicted and the home was occupied by His enter the new building in 1939 at Ogontz and Olney Majesty’s forces - soldiers under the command of Colonel Avenues, the fourth location of the school. The old building Musgrave. At the same time, General Washington and his was demolished. forces were encamped northwest of the city in the vicinity I am the Class Treasurer, and was recently of the Bethlehem Pike in Whitemarsh – an area now known honored by my class with a surprise luncheon for over 62 as Fort Washington. years service as treasurer and organizing class reunions. Washington was planning an assault on General Central was founded in 1836, the second oldest Howe’s troops in Germantown, and on October 2, 1777, he public high school in the country. The first was the Boston led his soldiers into the city and south onto Germantown Grammar School. Today, as when I attended, it is an all Avenue. Most of the assault was hampered by a severe academic school, but today it is co-ed, whereas in my day it fog, but a large force attacked the mansion at Cliveden was all male. A decision by the U. S. Supreme Court since they were coming under heavy fire from Musgrave’s changed that about 20 years ago. 75 members of my class troops. For some inexplicable reason, they repeatedly became doctors, dentists or lawyers. Many prominent attacked the British, fortified in the mansion, and were people in the sciences, entertainment profession, and beaten back every time. This diversion of attacking Chew’s judiciary, graduated from Central, including several Nobel mansion and the lack of communication due to the fog went Prize and Pulitzer Prize recipients . away from Washington’s plan and the subsequent loss of The building in the postcard illustration was forces prevented him from continuing the battle. dedicated by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1905. A retreat was called and the Revolutionary Army Another family connection is the illustration of the marched back to their encampment in Whitemarsh, soundly Philadelphia Normal School then at 13th and Spring defeated. General Howe pursued them as far as Hope Garden to Green Streets . My mother, Mary B. Plumer Lodge, another magnificent home in the area, but was graduated as a teacher from there in 1921. She was born afraid to open fire with cannon, fearing the return fire would in London in 1902 and came to this country when she was destroy the Lodge, remembering that Cliveden was all but eight years old. She taught fifth grade at the Mt. Vernon ruined. The British returned to defend and occupy School at Third and Catharine Streets in what is now Philadelphia while Washington and his men headed west known at the Queen Village section of Philadelphia. The for a winter stay in Valley Forge. Normal School was operated by the School District of Cliveden was restored to its grandeur after the war Philadelphia and as a tuition free school kept the system and the Chews and their descendants lived there until supplied with an ample supply of teachers. I don't know 1972. Today Cliveden is one of Germantown’s most when it was discontinued, but I believe some time in the visited “living museums.” early 30's. The building was eventually changed to the * * * Stoddard Junior High School. My mother eventually retired A sidebar to the Cliveden story. General Washington, like the from teaching and joined my dad in the real estate British commander, made his headquarters in a stately home near business, which he founded in 1923. his encampment at Whitemarsh. It was the home of George By the way, Central High School issues a BA Emlen. There are postcards of the Emlen house too - a story of degree to graduates with a good grade average. that home is one for another time.

January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 3. PoCax 2005 - Redux South Jersey Postcard Club’s annual show and exhibit celebrated its 34th renewal last October with an amazing exhibit of nearly fifty boards. That exhibit once again was proof that SJPCC members own, not only an eclectic (and some times, eccentric) collection, but an aesthetic one as well.

For many the exhibit is a favorite part of PoCax because it is one of precious few opportunities to share our collections with others. Part of the ‘fun’ for those who see the exhibit is guessing which board belongs to whom. [A personal note from the editor: this was the first year in many that I was unable to participate in the exhibit; but as I watched and listened, there were many who thought Judi Kearney’s board belonged to me. You sure surprised lots of people, Judi - including me.]

Congratulations to Bob Duerholz!!! Bob took home the Best of Show award - his second in three years . Bob’s board of real-photo, fantasy-aviation cards won the people’s choice. The Board is a wonderful exam ple of how important real-photo post cards were as vacation souvenirs in decades past. The majority of the cards are “sea-shore” studio photos of vacationers who paid ten cents or a quarter to dress up and have their pictures taken. Bob’s collection is not only an example of these cards , but a reminder of the variety and how difficult it is to find souvenir cards . Two examples from Bob’s board are, “Lovers in a Basket” and “The Channel Scorcher.”

Honorable Mention Medals were won by Judi Kearney, Emily DiVento, and Lynn McKelvey.

Judi offered a board of French postcards from a Series – “La Normandie Pittoresque,” showing The Faces of the French Country Side. These cards portray a wonderful innocence of an era gone-by. They also remind us of just how enthusiastically the French embraced the concept of Carte Postales in every cultural entity. The titles are in Old French – a language that is much different from the one spoken today, but with a little help from a French dictionary, I can suggest that the translations are reasonable. See how older brother is reminding his sister that it is . . . “especially important to remember all the instructions given us by mother.” And, how a kiss on the cheek . . . “reminds us of the passage of time.”

Lynn entered the exhibit competition for the first time in 2005, and of course with her collection of dandelion post cards, oh wait, I mean sunflower post cards (inside joke, folks), she won an Honorable Mention for her board entitled Fantasy Sunflowers. An example from her board is this artist- signed card showing a sunflower worshiping the sun, entitled Soleil. A second very interesting feature of this card is its publisher’s insignia at the top edge. It reads, L’Éclair, journal politique independent, à 5 centimes. L’ÉCLAIR was an early twentieth century French political newspaper. Éclair is the French word for lightning. Five centimes = approximately two cents.

Emily’s winning entry for 2005 was titled: Beaded Beauties. These cards are truly unique in their presentation of seasonal greetings. The example seen here seems to be a fairly standard Merry Christmas , except when you examine the card closely, you find that the tree in the picture is made of very tiny (approximate 1/32 of an inch in diameter) glass beads. Obviously green for the tree, gold to imitate the light of the candles and white is used for the bits of background. The beads are carefully placed, but also mixed with the beads is red, silver, green and blue glitter to simulate the ornaments. And, to compliment the whole image, the entire picture is embossed. Emily always comes to PoCax with a new and fascinating piece of her collection. Thanks to Emily, Lynn, Judi and Bob, and also to the other members who participated in the PoCax 2005 Exhibit. January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 4.

Atlantic City High School Its early history…… Compiled by Allen “Boo” Pergament - An Atlantic City Historian

As early as 1836, long before Atlantic City was incorporated in 1854, Richard Risley came from the mainland to instruct less than a dozen children, all members of the Jeremiah Leeds family. The first public school was opened in 1858. The city and student population grew rapidly as Atlantic City flourished and developed rapidly into the “Playground of the World.” School buildings were added or expanded to meet the educational needs of the community. By 1916 it was apparent that another new and larger, high school facility was necessary. Steps were taken to appropriate land on the southern side of Albany Avenue, and in September 1921, the erection of a new and modern building was begun. [The postcard, left, shows a pre-1923 view of the area where the new school would be built.] It was completed at a cost of $1,760,000 and officially opened on September 22, 1923. The complex housed the most up to date gymnasium and health department, library, cafeteria, science rooms, and music hall – including the world’s fourth largest pipe organ, designed by Atlantic City’s own State Senator Emerson L. Richards at a cost of $40,000. In 1929, he would design and oversee the installation of the world’s largest organ at the new Atlantic City Convention Hall. [Circa 1923 post card, left. Atlantic City High School.] The High School was in a Gothic style and occupied the entire block between Atlantic Avenue and Ventnor Avenue, Albany Avenue and Trenton Avenue. Its crowning glory was a six story tower with clocks on all four sides. In 1999, after 76 years of serving generations of area families the structure was demolis hed. š› Oh, really? Who Would Have Thought?

Do you recognize the building on this post card? Take a ten dollar bill out of your wallet, look at the back, and now your memory should be working . . . but, if you had found this postcard, as Don Pocher did, you may be scratching your head. If you read the only printed title on this card, you would learn that this scene is the Halfway point on Pike’s Peak, in Colorado. See the detail illustration below.

So, with this card, Don has provided us with that inevitable truth, “Don’t Believe Everything You Read.” Because of their size, strength and docile personalities, The truth of the matter is, the U.S. Treasury elephants, arguably the largest animal in the world, have building is located at 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue – right been used to work, transport, and entertain the human race across 15th Street from the White House, in Washington, almost since time began, but there was one exception … DC. Construction began during the Jackson Administration …when Noah took two elephants on the Ark in 1836. It is currently being renovated. someone heard them complaining about being assigned seats behind the giraffes. Life is tough! January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 5.

February 12, 1908: the Day the Great Race Began Many of us alive today know very little about the “Great Race” of 1908, except what we remember from an outlandish 1965 movie of the same name starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood. Forget about the movie; let me tell you the facts.

The Great Race was a once-in-a-lifetime, world class event sponsored by the New York Times and a sister newspaper in Paris, La Matin. The participants were teams of drivers/navigators from the US, France, Italy, and Germany. The idea was quite simplistic – drive from New York City to Paris in the shortest time possible. The route, as determined by the newspapers, would be from Times Square in New York City and proceed to Albany, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Valdez (in the Alaska Territory), Vladivostok, Russia; Omsk, Siberia; Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin, and then on to the finish line in Paris. The American team won. Known as the Thomas Flyer Team—named after the $4,000, 1907 Thomas Flyer car—they covered the course across three continents, traveling more than 22,000 miles in 169 days. [See postcard, left, showing the car during a rest stop in the Nevada desert.] George Schuster, Sr., was the driver of record and he still holds the world’s record. If you wish to break Schuster’s record, you must do so before 6 PM, July 30, 2008 – the 100th anniversary of the team’s arrival in Paris. After then the record will be retired. [See photo, right, of Schuster at age 92, still in possession of a valid driver’s license.] The German team was second, they arrived 26 days later. The Italians finished third on September 17, 1908. The Thomas Flyer, model #35 was built by the E. R. Thomas Motor Company in Buffalo, New York. It weighed just under five thousand pounds and could travel at a top speed of 60 miles per hour. The engine had four cylinders and could develop up to 70 horsepower. The wheels were standard size for the time – 30 inch, balloon tube type. The interior, could seat the driver and three passengers, but needless to say, most space was used for fuel tanks and repair kits. Naturally Schuster and his team were given a hero’s welcome home, ticker-tape parade when they returned to New York. [See postcard, left.] Many race enthusiasts have wondered why Schuster was given the opportunity to drive the Thomas car in such an important event. The answer is simple; he worked for the Thomas Company. He started as a radiator maker, then a mechanic and by 1908 he was the Chief Road Tester for all Thomas vehicles , but Schuster wasn’t asked to drive in the race until the day before the start. He took a train to New York and arrived in Times Square just in time for the start of the race. The car was delivered to the Starting Line by the New York City dealer-representative of the Thomas Company. It was a showroom car with no special features. Schuster worked for Thomas until their last day of business in 1912 and then he moved on to the Pierce Arrow Company. He lived in Springville, New York, until his death on July 4, 1972, at age 99. In 1964 the Thomas Flyer was purchased by William Harrah founder of the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. With George Schuster’s help the restoration of the car began and took several agonizing years . Today, the Thomas Flyer is on display at the museum. [See photos, below.]

By the way. There is a post card of Tony Curtis, sitting in the driver’s seat of the Thomas Flyer #35 after it was restored and on exhibit in the National Automobile Museum. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a copy of that card. January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 6.

The Penguin – An Unusual Bird by Emily DiVento v Penguins are the only aquatic birds that cannot fly. Their natural habitat is the southern hemisphere. v The King Penguin, the most popular of all penguins, is very large and stands upright on its short legs. The King can attain a height of 35 to 37 inches. The penguin waddles when it walks and its head is slender, with a long pointed beak. It has webbed feet and its wings are reduced to flippers. v Breeding of the King penguin takes place on islands in the South Pacific and Indian oceans, including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island. For the months of October through April, thousands of penguins migrate to these remote islands to mate. They lay eggs in two time periods, November through December, and February through March. Females lay the eggs on the ground, usually one at a time. The eggs are then rolled on her feet and put into a fold of skin to be kept warm. She does this with the help of her beak. v Both males and females take care of their eggs, taking turns for a few days each at a time. The chick hatches within 55 days. Baby penguins stay near their parents until they are one month old, when they are assembled in one area, and a few adults care for them while the remaining adults return to the ocean to feed. v King penguins swim at great speeds and are well-adapted to marine life. They are able to dive in very deep water using their wings as oars or fins, to catch their favorite foods – squid, shellfish, and fish. v Penguins are very popular and can be seen at most zoos.

[Editor’s note: the post card that Emily used for an illustration is very interesting – it is 7” x 4¾” and is from the International Antarctic Cente in Christchurch, New Zealand. The centre has an amazing website at: http://www.iceberg.co.nz/. Additional information follows . . .

The International Antarctic Centre of Christchurch, New Zealand

For over a century Christchurch has been the gateway to March of the Penguins – the Movie Antarctica. Back in 1901 Robert Falcon Scott's ship THIS IS NOT A COMMERCIAL – IT’S AN OPINION Discovery docked at the city's port at Lyttelton. Six years later Ernest Henry Shackleton followed in Nimrod, and in If you care to see a beautiful and heart-warming movie 1910 Scott returned with Terra Nova embarking on his ill- about penguins , you should see Warner International’s fated second expedition. release of the National Geographic film March of the In 1955 a new era began when Christchurch first Penguins, narrated by Morgan Freeman. welcomed the United States planes, ships and crews of Filmed completely on location in Antarctica during "Operation Deep Freeze." This close relationship continues the winter of 2003, this movie is a documentary by Luc today. Jacquet of the life cycle of the The International Antarctic Centre opened on Sep- emporer penguin and why they tember 28, 1990. The Centre, built near Christchurch choose the harshest place on International Airport, was established to support Antarctic earth to mate. (Please know that scientific programs. Its architecture was inspired by the the king and the emporer penguin icebergs, ice shelves and glaciers of Antarctica. are different species, but are very The Centre is home to the New Zealand, United much alike in looks, habits and States and Italian Antarctic Programs and com - behavior.) prises administration offices, warehouses , a US & NZ This film is currently clothing store, a post office and travel agency, the available in stores in a DVD Antarctic Passenger Terminal and of course the Visitor format for approximately $17.00. Centre, now known as The Antarctic Attraction. All the The post card (right) is a rack people of the world are welcome; the centre is open 365 card advertising the film. days a year. Enjoy! January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 7. January Mystery Card . . . L'Arlésienne This statue of I recently found this Teddyuscung, chief of card in Bill Johnson’s inven- the Wissahickon Indians , tory. I have many similar to it portrays him in a prose but this one has a rather that is reminiscent of his special nuance. Its title is last look at the tribe’s Arlésienne - a literal trans - beautiful hunting lation from the French is : A grounds. young person of Arlés. You can win this Arlés is a beautiful post card if you are first city of southern France where to tell your editor where even today the natives those hunting grounds celebrate holidays in and this statue are traditional garb. located. Arlés, a city of great Send your history, art and cuisine is also answer to the return the place that inspired address on Page 1 or Georges Bizet to write music email to: of the same name for a play [email protected] based on a love story not unlike Romeo and Juliet. Thanks Bill, for the loan of the card. š› š› Sesqui-Centennial Exposition The Baker Bowl Remember the Baseball stories Philadelphia should assuredly Sesqui- be left to the Centennial? experts. It was only 80 So here’s a years ago. challenge. Here is a view This of the Royal card of the stadium Baking Power named for William Company F. Baker shows the Pavilion. Royal home of the Phillies Baking Powder was one of the few products being from 1894 to 1938. Who’s up to the task? We need a story exhibited at the Sesqui-Centennial that was also exhibited about the Baker Bowl for the April issue. fifty years before at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. š› Explanation of the new Card of the Month Contests (Should you go to the movies or will you watch TV?) If you want to do the movie, for example Gone with the Wind, you could enter any card related to any theme (the American South and/or the Civil War), character (Rhett Butler, Scarlet O’Hara), location (a southern plantation), actor (Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh) or object (wagons taking cotton to market) in the movie. If you prefer the TV program, for example Twilight Zone, remember the Judgment Night episode starring Nehemiah Persoff who thought the ship he was on would be sunk by a Nazi U- boat? Remember the snow-globe in Citizen Kane or the time when Lucy and Ethel took jobs in the candy factory?

Or you could enter both a movie and a TV card. Double your chances to win!

There are thousands of possibilities . Good luck and have fun.

Card Inspirations for the First Half 0f 2006 Month Movies TV Programs January Casablanca I Love Lucy February My Fair Lady Star Trek March Patton Gun Smoke April Star Wars M*A*S*H May Psycho All in the Family June The Sound of Music Perry Mason

January 2006 South Jersey Post Card Club Newsletter Page 8.

How Many Authors Are On Post Cards? Recently while searching for something else, I happened upon a list that completely surprised me. The list is a ranking compiled by , professor of journalism at the University of Missouri, of 100 English language authors working between 1662 and 1945. What was so surprising was that I had never heard of two of the top six. (Now, I know this sounds braggadocios, but remember, I was a librarian for 34 years of my teaching career.) ü ü ü Earl Stanley Gardner ? Gene Stratton Porter ü Sir ? Harold Bell Wright

I finished reading the list and knew every other name at least by reputation. I certainly had not read books by all of the other 94, but I had at least heard of them. So, the question is obvious, who were Gene Stratton Porter and Harold Bell Wright? Years ago, if such a question came up, it would take hours of searching reference books, but with the Internet, I had my answer in minutes. And, not only did I have an answer, I also had illustrations from post cards for sale on eBay.com. š› Harold B. Wright, Novelist. Dead at 72. Gene Stratton Porter (1863-1924) … from a New York Times Obituary Gene (born Geneva) Stratton-Porter is Preacher of the Ozarks Earned one of America’s most famous female Huge Fortune as Author, authors. Her life and intellect fascinated Though Scorned by Critics millions of her readers for she was a prime example of an independent BOOKS SOLD IN MILLIONS woman, an accomplished naturalist, a perfectionist extraordinaire and a born , CALIF., MAY 24, [1944] story-teller. Harold Bell Wright who left the pulpit to Born near Wabash, Indiana in become one of America's best known 1863, she lived until 1924 when she died and wealthiest fiction writers, died today in a streetcar accident in Los Angeles. in a La Jolla, Calif., hospital. He was 72 In addition to being an author of books years old. Mr. Wright became lli two that sold in the millions, Porter was also weeks ago and entered the hospital last week. Death was actively involved in natural lands preservation projects and working attributed to bronchial pneumonia. His wife was at the bedside with her son-in-law, who was making movies of her novels. when he died. Porters first two novels were Song of the Cardinal in Only last month he sold his $70,000 ranch home, known 1903 and Freckles in 1904. These books, along with three others, as Quiet Hills Farm, near Escondido, thirty miles northeast of here, were written at her home in Geneva, Indiana. The house was and moved to San Diego. named “Limberlost” after the nearby Limberlost Swamp. Unpopular With Critics Today Porter’s home is an Indiana historical site, While critics heaped words of scorn upon Harold Bell administered by the Department of Natural Resources. The Porters Wright as a purveyor of sweetness and light, millions of Americans built the home in 1895 after the birth of their only child, Jeannette. avidly read every word he wrote. Several years ago his publisher, The Limberlost Cabin has 14 rooms, many of them restored to Harper & Bros., audited the record of his books' sales and found their original design reflecting a fantastic attention to detail, yet that an average of 737,443 copies were sold of each of his first each is still warm and embracing. twelve novels, a total of nearly 10,000,000 copies. At that time more than 2,000,000 copies each had been sold of "The Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Winning of Barbara Worth." His Family Life He was born May 4, 1872, at Rome, N. Y., the son of William and Anna Watson Wright. His father and mother had married while the former was a young lieutenant right after the Civil War. When Mr. Wright was 11 years old his mother died, and after a period of wandering he reached Hiram, Ohio, where he worked in a book store for the privilege of reading as many books as he could. He also attended the preparatory school of Hiram College, apparently his only formal schooling. His Books Sells Millions He published his first book in1903. From then on writing Postcard published by Limberlost Historical Site occupied most of his time. His books, like the sermons he preached in the Ozarks, were simply worded and "plain food for In 1913, the Porters moved from this home, to build plain people." Wildflower Woods in Rome City, Indiana. After Mrs. Porter tragic In the next 28 death she was buried in California, but was recently re-interred at years he wrote nearly Wildflower Wood as an endearment to the family by the twenty books including an conservatory group now managing the properties. autobiography in 1934. After a silence of eight š› years his last book, a

novel, "The Man Who PS: With regard to my title. In one of my moments of manic Went Away," was curiosity I started searching eBay for each name on Professor published in 1942. Mott’s list. I haven’t finished the whole list (I’m currently working Both cards used to illustrate this article were for sale on on #52), but to this point, I have found 47 post cards for sale of the eBay.com. I did not buy them. 51 authors I’ve searched for.