A Picture Postcard

It’s always nice to receive correspondence via the United States Postal Service. That’s right, I’m talking about mail—but not just any mail, especially not of the junk variety. In this day of electronic communication, email reigns supreme. However, I fondly recall a simpler time in my childhood of the 1970’s when I would venture out of my house and down to the end of my family’s driveway to the mailbox. Once here, I would slowly retrieve the day’s proverbial “catch.”

Unlike today, packages represented an extraordinary occurrence. Another highlight was the reception of one of several specialty magazines to which my brothers and I had subscriptions, ranging from Boys Life, Sport, Electric Company, Dynamite and Mad. Also, unlike today, there were the personally handwritten letters from a relative or friend. In most cases, you would be tipped off to the sender’s identity as his/her name (and return address) could be found in the upper left-hand corner of the parcel. The excitement and anticipation for the envelope’s contents would grow as I walked the driveway leading back to my house, where said letter would be read.  

Every so often, another rare treat would show up in the mailbox—and it didn’t even have an envelope! It was a thin card, measuring 3.5”x 5.5,”and possessed a scenic picture of a sweeping city scape or noted landmark on one side. On the flipside could be found the postage stamp, recipient’s name, and a brief handwritten message that read as a slightly embellished version of “having a great time, wish you were here.” Nine times out of ten, this was postmarked with the name of some exotic or foreign destination—and when I say foreign, that could mean anywhere other than Maryland with the exception of Ocean City, of course. This, my friends, was the miracle of “the picture post card,” a lost staple of a magical time. 

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Camp Conlie card

Postal Cards
Post cards originated in Europe in the mid-1800s, and served as a means of quick communication, at a reduced rate. Early uses were also advantageous for advertising messages. The first commercially produced postal cards here in America were devoid of images and created by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia in 1861. Charlton patented his product and later sold the rights to Hymen Lipman who would add a decorative border.
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The first known printed picture postcard, with an image on one side, was created in France in 1870 and featured Camp Conlie, a training camp for soldiers in the Franco-Prussian War. While these are certainly the first known picture postcards, there was no space for stamps and no evidence that they were ever posted without envelopes. In the following year, the first known picture postcard in which the image functioned as a souvenir was sent from Vienna. Cards showing images increased in number during the 1880s. The newly-built Eiffel Tower gave true impetus to the postcard as we know it today, as the man-made marvel’s image led to the so-called "golden age" of the picture postcard in years following the mid-1890s. 

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I was interested to learn the following on the history of the postcard from Wikipedia:

The first postcard to be printed as a souvenir in the US was created in 1893 to advertise the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. These featured buildings and were distributed at the fair. The Post Office was the only establishment allowed to print postcards, and it held its monopoly until May 19, 1898, when Congress passed the Private Mailing Card Act which allowed private publishers and printers to produce postcards. Initially, the United States government prohibited private companies from calling their cards "postcards", so they were known as "souvenir cards". These cards had to be labeled "Private Mailing Cards.” This prohibition was rescinded on December 24, 1901, from when private companies could use the word "postcard".

Postcards were not allowed to have a divided back and correspondents could only write on the front of the postcard. This was known as the "undivided back" era of postcards. From March 1, 1907 the Post Office allowed private citizens to write on the address side of a postcard. It was on this date that postcards were allowed to have a "divided back.” On these cards the back is divided into two sections: the left section is used for the message and the right for the address. Thus began the Golden Age of American postcards, which peaked in 1910 with the introduction of tariffs on German-printed postcards, and ended by 1915, when World War I ultimately disrupted the printing and import of the fine German printed cards. The postcard craze between 1907 and 1910 was particularly popular among rural and small-town women in northern US states. In 1908, more than 677 million postcards were mailed.

Eiffel Tower postal card of 1890

US Government Post card

Private Mailing Card

Designated Souvenir Card

Undivided Back Post Card

Maximum usage of a Divided Back Card

Early postcards of the early 1900’s were often saved, and not discarded, because images of places and things were still somewhat of a rarity. Not everyone had access to camera equipment, and formal portraits had to be arranged with an appointment at a professional photo gallery. Books, newspapers and magazines certainly did not boast as many photos as we are accustomed to in later times, hence the importance of these cards, especially in small towns around the country. Collecting cards became a hobby, as special albums were created to hold them.
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Real photograph postcards continue to be a valuable source of surviving photography from the past of a place, some depicting long-gone storefronts, modes of transportation and styles of dress. They are a known collectible, as are the stamps and the ink postmarks that adorn their backsides. The history of the postcard industry is quite an entity unto itself, marked by shifts and trends that can be labeled as distinct eras, much the way archaeologists or geologists describe the study of mankind and the earth’s creation. In respect to the postcard, the "white border" era (named for borders around the picture area) lasted from about 1916 to 1930. This was followed by the “linen” era (1931-59), so named because the cards possessed a linen-like texture. The modern style is part of the “chrome” era (1960-present). In 1945, an Ashland, Ohio professor named Randall Rhoades coined the term “Deltiology,” the accepted description of the study and collecting of picture postcards. 

(c. 1910) Postcard of Mount Olivet Cemetery (Marken & Bielfeld)

White border card by Louis Kaufman of Baltimore

Linen card by Marken & Bielfeld

Chrome postcard view of the Square Corner by D. E. Traub of Baltimore

​One little known “sub-era” involved the fad of sending unique postcards made of soft leather. These contained both humorous and romantic messages tooled into them. Leather postcards were very popular from the around 1905 to 1910, and were made from deer hide. The design was burned into the leather by a process called pyrography, while some were also inked Holes were made into the cards, some in all four corners so they could be stitched together for pillow covers and wall hangings. There was a down side which likely added to their demise—the leather cards posed problems for the post office as they were adversely affecting the sorting machines.

Leather postcard

I recently acquired one of these cards on eBay, as it was sent and received by two members of our Mount Olivet Cemetery community. The card was received by Miss Amye Kolb of 16 W. Church Street in Frederick. I had to perform some sleuth-work but soon found that Amie was the daughter of Lt. David Harmon Kolb (1831-1912) and wife Mary Elizabeth (Salter).

There could have been some confusion with the exact address on the card as Amie was living with her family at 14 W. Church St., home to the Independent Fire Company. This is confirmed by the 1900 census. Lt. Kolb was one of the oldest firemen in town and served as chief engineer at the company, in charge of all the fire apparatus. He was a beloved member of the company with involvement dating back as early as the 1850's.

​From our cemetery records and  Lt. Kolb's obituary, I learned that he  was a member of the Independent Rifle Company of Frederick, and participated in the capture of John Brown at Harpers Ferry in 1859. He would join the Potomac Home Brigade during the American Civil War, and fought with distinction. Apparently, he carried a blood-stained flag with him during the war, which is documented as being buried with him in 1912 according to his obituary appearing in a local Frederick paper. (I have included this at the end of the article)

The Kolbs once lived in the Independent Building in the first block of Frederick's W. Church St. (large red brick building on left)

Kolb Family living in Frederick in the 1900 US Census

Baltimore Sun (Feb 4, 1909)

​Amye Feldman Kolb was born on May 8th, 1880. She was 25 years-old when she received the leather card from a sender who simply wrote his name as “G. H.”  Well, a little further research showed that Amye would marry a gentleman named William Golden Herwig in 1909. Their wedding announcement appears on the pages of the Baltimore Sun’s February 4th issue of that year. William, or Golden, as he was affectionately known to Amie, was born in Frederick in September, 1887. Not that it should matter, but the suitor was 18 years-old when he sent the leather postcard to his future bride. 

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No different from Amie, I found Golden’s parents buried here in Mount Olivet as well, and possessing an even greater connection and story than Lt. Kolb’s war-torn flag.  Golden’s father was Henry Edward Herwig (1859-1930) the second superintendent of our cemetery. He served from 1887-1893, which seems to point to the fact that Golden was possibly born on the premises.  The elder Herwig would leave his cemetery post to take the job of warden at the Montevue Hospital northwest of town, a position he would hold for two years. 

The 1910 census shows Golden and Amy living at 10 E. South St. Golden was employed as a clerk at a local Monon Laundry operation. In 1916, the Frederick News would herald Golden as one of the proprietors of the new Sanitary Steam Laundry, the first of its kind in town, once located on E. Patrick St. 

By 1920, the couple had left Maryland and can be found living in Williamsport, PA—home of the Little League World Series. Golden was employed as a manager of a shoe store in town. The couple had a daughter named Mary V. (born in 1913) and I found that Amie picked up the premium prize for an infant’s dress she entered back in the 1915 Great Frederick Fair.

1930 US Census showing Herwig Family living in Williamsport, PA

Amy died in 1946, and her body was brought back to her hometown and buried in the Kolb family plot in Area A/Lot 119. Golden would live an additional 24 years to age 82. He died on April 4th, 1970 in Williamsport, and would return to his birthplace, and buried in Mount Olivet.  Just like the image depicted on the leather postcard, the two lovers were once again side by side.

​The Trigger
So what sparked my recent recollections about postcards?  Well, early last month we received a vintage postcard here at the cemetery. It didn’t come “au natural” as it was contained within an envelope sent from Stockton, California. The curious, hand-typed envelope contained a postcard from 1915 featuring Mount Olivet’s superintendent’s home adjacent the cemetery’s front gate.  An accompanying letter told us that the sender was a 91-year-old gentleman named Lowell Joerg, a resident of Brookdale Assistant Living facility.
 
Here’s the card and letter we received:

backside of card

"Postcard Man" Mr. Lowell Joerg of Stockton, CA

I eventually scoured the internet to find more on our “postcard good Samaritan.” According to news articles published across the country, the folksy letter we received in early January was almost boilerplate — right down to the $6 cost of the postcard and the bet with the letter writer’s wife.
Joerg, it turns out, has been performing his “little hobby” for about 27 years. He is affectionately known to many as “the Postcard Man.” He continues to find old postcards depicting buildings or places of note and sends them to the towns and places pictured on the cards, with a letter much like the one we received.

​Joerg told one newspaper he sends out three or four historical post cards a month. About 75 percent of the recipients respond. Sadly, Lowell’s wife, Terryl Ann Joerg, died last May (2018). He won’t have to take her to lunch, but we were sure to make sure he lost the bet anyway as we sent a return package in which we covered his costs, plus threw in some Francis Scott Key memorabilia and a History of Mount Olivet book. We thanked him for his “redistribution of kindness,” but also gently poked that the card sent is not one of our best views, as there have been several postcards over the past 120 years that depict Mount Olivet Cemetery. Above all, our most picturesque scene is that of the Francis Scott Key Monument, which ironically enough was unveiled in August, 1898—just three months after the US Congress passed the above mentioned US Mailing Card Act.

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​Especially now with the advent of digital cameras, and smart phones, the Francis Scott Key Monument is photographed basically every day. I, myself, have taken over a thousand pictures of it, including my best yet—a rendition featuring the famed memorial at sunset, taken on January 29th (2019) just after a snow shower. It may be postcard worthy, what do you think? 

The specific card sent to us by Mr. Joerg was postmarked in 1915 and depicts the second iteration of the Mount Olivet Cemetery superintendent’s house, built in 1911. Upon inspection, I could not find the name of a photographer or publisher, however I have another postcard exactly like it and it notes the maker as Lewis R. Dertzbaugh. This gives a definitive clue of where this card was purchased, as Mr. Dertzbaugh was a legendary businessman in Frederick history annals. At this time (1915) Dertzbaugh was a bookseller, stationer and general merchant who managed an iconic shop at 201-203 N. Market St. He named it “The Busy Corner.

Frederick Post (May 14, 1912)

Frederick News (Oct 27, 1906)

​Lewis Rice Dertzbaugh was born in Frederick on November 16th, 1882. He attended local schools and received his first working experience as a clerk in the employ of Shipley & Bopst. He was said to have been “an alert, watchful clerk” for the bookseller and stationary store and remained until 1906, at which time he took the leap of going into business for himself.  He partnered with F. Lester Smith, and so began “The Busy Corner.”

By 1909, he was the sole owner and also sold fancy goods and house furnishings in addition to postal cards, books, magazines, paper, writing supplies, and holiday cards and decorations. Another big seller at Dertzbaugh’s “Busy Corner,” was the first phonograph players and the records to play on these technological marvels that brought pre-recorded music into homes without the need for instruments. William’s History of Frederick County called the operation “one of the most complete stores in Western Maryland. It has a most up-to-date stock, and the display fixtures are best in the city.”
 
Among the town’s youngest business leaders of the time, Lewis Dertzbaugh was ripe to play a pivotal role in Frederick’s Board of Trade, soon to become known as the Frederick Chamber of Commerce. He was also a founding member of the Frederick Rotary Club. Although not a photographer, printer or artist, Dertzbaugh entered into other partnerships to produce and publish the local postcards he offered for sale in his shop. A venture that helped him complete this task was his involvement in starting an upstart, independent newspaper in town to rival the Daily News started by William T. Delaplaine in 1883. This was in late 1910, and the new offering was named The Frederick Post. Dertzbaugh would serve on the operation’s executive board of directors as secretary.

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Central National Bank by Dertzbaugh

Frederick Post (Oct 22, 1906)

Dertzbaugh postcard featuring Mount Olivet's Francis Scott Key Chapel

Catoctin Clarion (Oct 26, 1916)

"The Busy Corner" can be seen as the first building on the left. This is the NE corner of N. Market and W. 2nd streets in Downtown Frederick. Today, this is the home of the Velvet Lounge boutique.

Frederick News (July 18, 1919)

​“The Busy Corner “continued to thrive under Lewis R. Dertzbaugh until he decided to sell the business in December 1918. The purchasers were Storm & Shipley, who would keep the well-known name, and product line the same. Dertzbaugh embarked on a new career as an insurance broker.  He would be just as successful in this endeavor—one that would last for over 50 years.
 
Lewis R. Dertzbaugh lived a very productive life both professionally, and personally. Where he had gotten into business early, and made his mark, Mr. Dertzbaugh was a late bloomer when it came to starting a family of his own.  He married Cornelia Ringgold McSherry in December, 1923, and had a daughter (Cornelia R.) in 1927. The Dertzbaughs made their home residence at 202 Upper College Terrace in the College Park development of town. Mrs. Dertzbaugh died in 1938, leaving Lewis with the task of serving as a single parent of his then, ten-year old daughter. Like any other task put before him, Dertzbaugh prevailed and the youngster grew up fine, completing nursing school, marrying Dr. F. Sidney Gardner and relocating to Fayetteville, NC.

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​The former “stationer” also had a lifelong connection with more than stationary, as he was a loyal member and administrator of the Junior Fire Company’s Station #2. He served as president from 1930 through 1952.
 
Lewis R. Dertzbaugh, the man behind the curious postcard sent to Mount Olivet by Lowel Joerg of Stockton, CA, died of heart failure on July 24th, 1975. Two days later, family and close friends attending his private interment had a clear view of the cemetery superintendent’s house from the Dertzbaugh grave plot located in Area E/Lot 60. 

Frederick News (July 25, 1970)

Editor's Note from the Frederick News (July 25, 1970)

Stay tuned for part II of this story next week, as we take a look at a few more of Frederick’s vintage post card makers, buried here in "scenic" Mount Olivet.
 
AUTHOR’S NOTE: As part of the mission of the newly established Mount Olivet Preservation & Enhancement Fund, we are interested in collecting paper memorabilia and photographs pertaining to the cemetery’s rich heritage. We will gladly accept donations including original artifacts, or electronic digital scans of professional and personal photographs of the grounds, buildings and monuments of Mount Olivet. As always, we are also very interested in photographs of our "Stories in Stone" subjects, as we can easily add these to past stories, and help inspire future ones.  Contact Chris Haugh for more details.
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Frederick News (Oct 5, 1912)