A 'Swenglish' journey through family photos, notes and postcards
from the early 20th century.

2019-05-29

G.022.2 Styrsö Hafsbad < 1902



December 1902: Gustaf and Gerda (brother and sister) are now both in the United States. Gustaf is in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania (and has got a postbox of his own now); and Gerda in Chicago, Illinois.

This card from Gerda to Gustaf was sent from Chicago, but the image is from a seaside resort in Sweden: Styrsö Havsbad (near Strömstad on the west coast)

As you can see, Gerda is using every available space to write on! and her handwriting is not the easiest to decipher... (Still a couple of words I haven't managed to work out.)

It can be concluded from the card that the two of them had been in touch by letter within the US before this card was sent.

I don't know if they travelled to America together on the same ship; but they were both there and had found somewhere to stay in December 1902.



To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Port Allegany, Box 148, Pennselvania
From: Gerda (Ekman)
Sent from Chicago, Dec 20, 1902
Arrived in Port Allegany, PA, Dec 22, 1902



Tack skall du ha för brefvet som jag fick i går middag, det var roligt att få. Är ej detta ett vackert vykort, sådana har de också. Sverige är allt vackert. Jag skall skrifva bref snart så du får till julen. 


Jag fick bref från Oscar i tisdags kväll, så jag kan hälsa från honom och äfven från Elin hade jag bref o ... (?) hade lagt i en lapp(?) så det var ... (?)


Du har väl flyttat kan jag tro eftersom adr. är ändrad. skicka mig ett vykort ifrån Port Allegany till julen, det skulle vara roligt att få. Jag är kvar på samma plats till nyår. Skrif snart Hälsningar Gerda. - Kan hälsa från Frida, talade vid [henne?] 
Chicago den 19 Dec. 02

Thank you for the letter that I got yesterday at noon, that was nice to get. Isn't this a beautiful viewcard, they have those too. Sweden is really beautiful. I will write a letter soon so that you get it for Christmas.  /  I got a letter from Oscar on Tuesday evening, so I have greetings from him and I had a letter from Elin too and ... (?) had put in a note(?) so (that was?) ... (?)   /  You have moved I suppose as the address has changed. Send me a postcard from Port Allegany for Christmas, that would be nice to get. I will be staying at the same place until New Year. Write soon. Best wishes, Gerda.  /  I have greetings from Frida as well, spoke to [her]  /
Chicago 19 Dec. 02. 


2 comments:

  1. all of these cards are a blast from the past.. a good idea to store them here for the future to know what it was like way back then...

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    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoy them, Sandra! I find that the history "comes to life" to myself as well, through blogging about it.

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