Postcards from the Past #1: Large Grain Elevator(s)

One of the things I love best about thrift stores and junk stores is the hundreds of old, unused postcards. Most of them are only a dollar or two, and they show us what places used to look like fifty years ago, or which motels feature "de-luxe" accomodations and "gourmet" food. I like to take these cards, which were bought on vacation and taken home, then stored in a shoebox and eventually thrown out, and write on them and mail them to my friends.

I know, it's not the best way to preserve this valuable reminder of our society's past. On the other hand, these ephemera were made to be mailed, and a postcard stamp is still insanely cheap. (What this means for you, dear reader, is that the best and most interesting postcards are long gone -- I mailed them to people years ago so I can't post them here.)

Here's one from my most recent batch of purchases. Click to embiggen -- the details are great. First, and most noticeable, is that someone had to handwrite the pluralization of "elevator" on the original proof of the card, and then add another comma after it. You can read the company names on the elevators, too. From front to back, I see Richardson, Pool, and Union.

Port Arthur and Fort William merged in 1970, into the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The city still has grain elevators, though the buildings on the postcard are most likely long gone.



You'll notice that one edge of the card is perforated, which means it was probably taken from a book of postcards. The Photogelatine Engraving Co, Ltd, of Toronto, was in existence from 1910 to 1953. Other than looking up company histories, the only way I can think of to pinpoint the date of this picture any further is by finding a copy of this book. It's held in three libraries, all in Canada. If anyone in Ontario has further information, or the time to flip through this book, feel free to comment below.