I dashed out of work on Thursday and Friday during my lunch break to hit up a couple of Estate Sales with the thought of just looking and not buying (mom and I are supposed to be on a junk diet). Well what can I say, I have no willpower! I spotted a box of old letters and cards and I knew I was going to cave. The envelopes were marked 1944 and the box was huge and after taking a peek in a couple of those envelopes I hauled the box up to the checkout and then loaded them in my car.
I couldn't wait to get home and dig through all that paper. The cards are in pretty good condition and do not have that stinky smell (thank goodness). As I went through them a sad little story revealed itself. Annie Markwalter married Walter Poole and they exchanged sweet little cards and signed them "Wifey" and "Hubby" or "Your Sweetheart" for years. They set up household on the Hill at 1522 Whitney Street. They seemed like a happy couple that loved each other dearly, however in 1944 around Christmas time Walter passed away. I do not believe that Annie ever remarried as the cards from the 1960's are still addressed to Mrs. Walter S. Poole or Annie Poole. Someone took great care with these lovely letters and cards so I can't imagine how they came to be in box at an Estate Sale (they were not related to the Poole's).
I am going to see if I can find out more about the Poole's and see if there is still family here in Augusta. They may want some of these lovely papers and I am also going to ride by 1522 Whitney Street to see where Annie and Walter started their life together.
So with all that said, here are a few of my favorite things that were in the box:
Lots of Christmas Cards - the first one has a place for a coin on the inside
Happy New Year!
Love this little card!
Happy Easter! The nest on the little bird family card is made out of real straw.
Happy Birthday!
Be my Valentine!
Happy Anniversary!
Sweet Postcards - signed 1911 C. Twelvetrees. They are absolutely adorable.
Some of the beautiful envelopes!
1937 Calendar
Another fabulous postcard
French Postcard!
Sympathy cards sent to Annie in 1944.
A basket full of the life of Annie and Walter Poole.
This photo was in the box with all the cards and letters, wonder if one of these couples could be Annie and Walt.
I also bought some old railroad stuff that I will share in another post. There were hundreds of cards in the box I brought home and obviously I couldn't include them all here. I did post almost 300 pictures on our Facebook if you would like to take a peek. You can find them here.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!
Sharing with:
Sir Thrift A Lot
The Nifty Thrifty
Knick of Time
Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Thrift Share Monday - Apron Thrift Girl
Share Your Cup - Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
From My Front Porch to Yours - THT
The Thrifty Groove - TTF
Junkin Joe
Sharing with:
Sir Thrift A Lot
The Nifty Thrifty
Knick of Time
Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Thrift Share Monday - Apron Thrift Girl
Share Your Cup - Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
From My Front Porch to Yours - THT
The Thrifty Groove - TTF
Junkin Joe
That is quite a card collection. It is wonderful that someone preserved them all these years. Such a sweet and sad background about the family.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you cheated on your junk diet this week. These treasures may not have been appreciated by someone else as they will be by you.
The Facebook pictures are great. Thanks for taking the time to show us all of these beautiful vintage cards.
What a treasure to find. I wonder if they never had children? I had a great aunt & uncle who never had children & some of their papers came to me through my mother. If there were no direct descendants things easily leave the family. There is usually too much stuff to deal with it all.
ReplyDeleteI also think the photograph is too old to be them. The clothes & hairstyles look much earlier than the forties to me.
I LOVE the first card so much! Snowy, swoopy roofs, hores and sleighs... gets me every time! My husband found me a box full of paper ephemera in a house he was working on in Fayetteville, TX - the owner said "Sure take'em"! Some I sold, some I still have...
ReplyDeleteWhat a collection I am a little envious they are so lovely and I love old cards and letters like these the story they tell is often so amazing and lovely...........it is a shame that so many young people do not know the joy of writing letters and sending nice cards........
ReplyDeleteWow! What a cool collection to have!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad someone who knows the value of these little bits of history has them. I hope you do find some family of Annie and Walt.
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC FINDS!!! Love all those vintage graphics!
ReplyDeleteSmiles,
Rachael
The Joyful Thrifter
Those are wonderful! My fav is the flapper, so glamorous.
ReplyDeleteJunk diet??!! When you find something like that and if you left it? It would be like Gordon Ramsey coming over to your house to bake a cake and you telling him you where on a diet! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure. I would love to hear more of this story as you gather more information. What beautiful cards, and I'm so glad she saved her sweet memories all these years. Her one and only love.
ReplyDeleteA sweet collection to be sure! I'm trying to hold off on junk this week too. We'll see how I do. Willpower is definitely needed.
ReplyDeleteLiz
Drooling! I love vintage cards. So glad to find your lovely post at Share your cup Thursday!
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards! What a find!
ReplyDeleteAll those cards and letters are a wonderful find. It's hard sometimes to pickup a piece of someone's life like that isn't it!! Thanks for joining TTF this week!
ReplyDeleteLinda
This collection is wonderful! How fun that you are going to drive by the home and see if you can find anyone related to Annie. I passed up going to an estate sale on Friday. I too am trying to not bring home more. Thanks for sharing with SYC. Would love to know what you find out.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
What a great find, I could not have walked away from those vintage cards either. Loved seeing them. Visiting from Junkin Joes.
ReplyDeleteI recently just won a big box of cards, letters, and photos from an auction and am just waiting for the time to go through them all. I want to be able to give them the proper attention they deserve!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day:-)
Erica
What a delightful post...simply adored everything!!! TFS : ) hugs...
ReplyDelete