While wandering through a huge flea market today in Chantilly, Va., this blogger came across a couple selling vintage postcards. They had a large section devoted to New York state -- and a subsection within that for Cattaraugus County.
"You don't have any cards from Little Valley?" I asked.
"I certainly do," the woman replied.
"You don't," I cleverly sputtered.
"I do. I have a very nice twin set," she said, pulling out a binder from behind the counter.
Sure enough, she had a wonderful panoramic scene -- it appears to be two postcards connected to each other -- showing L.V. from up above on what we in the 400 block of Fair Oaks Street used to call "the hill" (the one that rises above where Bush Industries' factory has been).
She had picked it up at some other flea market or a yard sale sometime in the past.
So of course, I bought it.
I'll get it scanned in for a better look, but this camera shot will give you a rough idea of what it shows.
I can easily pick out the fair grounds and Fair Oaks Street. The Memmott homestead is obscured by those great Elm trees that used to line the street. The school building -- before the addition was put on in the '50s, I think -- is to the right.
On the back is a message, written to a Mr. & Mrs. William "Noy" or "Hoy" (I can't be sure) at 648 1/2 Roscoe, Chicago. The postmark says it left L.V. at 10 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1947. Here's what the sender writes:
Dear Bill & Marion,
We are here to visit Marjorie & Milton's (I think it says Milton) summer home. It sure is lovely and what a view. I think dad is coming tonite (sic) to spend Sunday. Will see you either Monday or Tuesday.
Mother.
A couple questions:
- Does anyone have an idea who these people were? Or who they might be, I suppose, since Bill & Marion could have been children at the time and "mother" might have been a young women in 1947.
- Does anyone have a theory on why someone would visit a summer home in February?
One other note: The postcard says it was "published by McLouth's Drug Store, Little Valley, N.Y." That's before my time. Who remembers it?
