These postcards were written in 1908 by Sweed, Anders Gustofson, from Kapowsin, to an Elisabeth Bergman. It’s hard not to wonder if they were friends, family or lovers. In any event, it looks like June and November of 1908 Elisabeth moved from Sand Point, Idaho to Deluth.
Postcards were the way people originally “dropped you a line”. In 908, more than 677 million postcards were mailed. (Per Wikipedia.)
My wonderful Norwegian friend Venke Lyngsnes translated them for me. The first one reads:
Thank you for the card which I got a long time ago. If you receive this
write back soon and I will send you photography. I’m going to Tacoma next
week, then I will take a card ….. Where is your brother Johan now, and
Torsten? At last, a greeting from Anders Gustafson
The second reads:
Thank you for the card I received today. Nice to hear that you are alive.
You are not far from here I understand. Me and Card P. …. again, my
brother is in the big city Tacoma but I like it best out on the country.
Carl P. says hello. Write back soon. Kind regards Anders Gustafson
Images courtesy of Diane Mettler.
Click on images to enlarge.
- 1908 Kapowsin postcard (pink flower side 1)
Eatonville To Rainier 