It's time to share another postcard from the Engle family vintage postcard collection.
This postcard was addressed to Mrs. R. Engle, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Mrs. R. Engle was Sarah Amanda (Waterman) Engle. Her husband was Richard Engle. Sarah was my maternal 2nd great-grandaunt.
The writing on the front of the postcard says 6-30-05 and Chas. A. Engle.
Chas. A. Engle is short for Charles A. Engle. And Charles A. is short for Charles Albert. You may remember Charles from a previous 52 Ancestors post I shared here on my blog. Charles was one of Sarah and Richard Engle's sons.
On June 30, 1905, Charles sent this postcard to his mother, Sarah.
Richard and Sarah Engle lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for many years. In 1909, Sarah moved to California. Richard joined her in California a few years later. Richard, who was a Civil War veteran, was living in a U.S. National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Sioux Falls from 1908-1909. I found Richard in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.1 He was 78 years old at the time and was listed as one of the many lodgers living in a home on Main Street. Perhaps he was recuperating before he moved to California to join his wife.
I'm not sure when Charles A. Engle moved to California. I know he was still living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1900, because that's where he is listed in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census.2 I found him living in South Pasadena, California in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census.3 But, I haven't found him in the 1910 census yet. Perhaps he came to California ahead of his parents and sent this postcard to his mother.
This beautiful postcard is a 1903 postcard by the Detroit Photographic Co. It shows Avalon, which is a city on Santa Catalina Island. Santa Catalina Island is off the coast of California near Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, Charles didn't write any message to his mom that would give us a clue about why he was in California in June of 1905. But the postcard he sent to his mom is interesting and gives us a special glimpse into what Avalon looked like in the early 1900s.
This photo of Avalon was taken in 2004, about 100 years after the image of Avalon in the postcard above was published.
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| Avalon Bay in Santa Catalina California Photo by Aaron Logan - Wikimedia Commons |
Thanks for stopping by!
Jana
© 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved
1 Year: 1910; Census Place: Sioux Falls Ward 2, Minnehaha, South Dakota; Roll: T624_1485; Page: 8B. Line 58; Enumeration District: 0334; FHL microfilm: 1375498.↩
2 Year: 1900; Census Place: Sioux Falls Ward 6, Minnehaha, South Dakota; Roll: 1553; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0265; FHL microfilm: 1241553. Line 15.↩
3 Year: 1920; Census Place: South Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T625_119; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 614; Image: 975. Line 47.↩
Just when you think you might make a little headway in solving a mystery .... Nada! Still, it's a good son who sends his mother a postcard.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yep...but as you say, he was a very good son to send this postcard to his mother. =)
DeleteCirca 1875-1910 many people came to California to start/continue citrus orchards. Pasadena advertised for people to come west! Hint Hint! Catalina island had a citrus orchard start of some type around the turn of the century.(I have been pondering this puzzle for a few years now too!) Many people came west to So.Cal for health reasons. Our climate is very nice. We have a lot of sun and our temps average 55*-75* year round. Winter's on the coast rarely see more then a few night's of freeze and Summer's rarely go over 85* for more then several weeks.
ReplyDeleteMy roots have been here since 1777! Southern California born and raised! I had the pleasure of spending several summers of my childhood swimming Avalon Harbor and spent many weekends with my grandparents on wooden sailboat in the water's of the island chain on our coast. Cheers from Southern California!
Hi,
DeleteThank you for your comments! I've never been to Avalon or Santa Catalina Island. It looks beautiful! I wonder if the Engle family did come to California for health reasons. Thank you for that idea! =)
What a treat to see the old postcard without the Casino. Having lived in Southern California for more than 60 years, Catalina is one of the places we've hung out. My kids and I spent weeks there at a time and my grandson is now as familiar with the Island as my kids were. I have pictures of my brother and I there when we were small with our grandparents. Wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann,
DeleteCatalina looks like a beautiful place to visit. It sounds like you have lovely memories of spending time there. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your comments! =)