Last week I was going through some stacks of papers by my desk and found this vintage postcard addressed to my father. It read:
Mr. Andrew Harvill
Freer, Texas
_________________________________
Chandler, Arizona
Sept. 11, 1935
Hello Boy: We long way from home. Some country here.
from
Henry Ford
Woodrow Wiederkehr
In 1935 the United States was slowly struggling out of the Great Depression under Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He would win the presidency again in the 1936 election over Republican Alfred M. Landon. Eighty-one years later this lament could mirror some of the dissatisfaction today as we head toward the 2016 presidential election in November.
(An oil boom around the small Texas town of Freer was pulling it out of the Depression as men flocked to the area for the jobs in the oilfields. In 1935 my father was twenty-five years old and was either helping his father on the family ranch or working in the oil fields. More likely he was doing both. He had a wife and child with another on the way. I wonder what his two long-time friends from Freer were doing in Arizona? Today Chandler is a prominent suburb of Phoenix.)
THE COASTAL CRONE 
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
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Thank you again for the reblog!
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I so love old postcards and letters. I have a precious few from my family. Many letters and cards that my grandmother saved were burned in a house fire. We can learn so much about history and ourselves from them 🙂
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Sad that you lost so many in a fire! The letters and cards tell such a story in their own words and reflect the time. Thanks for sharing!
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Wisdom!
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It seem appropriate for today! Thanks for stopping by!
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Nice to read a bit about your father. The depression is something my parents went through as well, but in Manitoba.
And what a great postcard! Echoes what’s going on today in your country. That distrust of politicians just keeps popping up, no matter what, huh? And given the history of the last 16 years, it’s easy to see why.
I’m just sorry the elections have deteriorated so much with all the mud slinging. I hope and pray that you get a good president. We Canadians are also rooting for a good one as we need a neighbour that has a reasoned and compassionate leader, one who is committed to working on current global challenges with other nations.
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My father told me so many stories about the Depression that I joke that I still have Depression genes! There are so many stories that I should write down. Thanks for rooting for us to get a decent president – we need one who will work with the rest of the world and especially our neighbors. The election has gotten so nasty and has seemed to divide us even more. And we are still distrustful of our government!
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What a great find Joss. A piece of history to be kept for future family members. Wonder what else you’ll find?
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I have so many letters and papers which reflect the family history that I must organize them one of these days and perhaps write about my memories also. Thanks for stopping by, Judith!
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Interesting! And the post card is lovely. I have a large collection of postcards from differents countries. Sadly actually few people send a single letter 😦
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Thank you! I used to collect postcards when I was younger and still have quite a few. They do tell stories with their dates and writing. Yes, fewer and fewer people send letters but I have saved many old ones. Printing up an e-mail is just not the same. Thanks for taking time to visit and comment!
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Lovely find..:-) and I would say that old Hosteen Yazzie was a wise 110 yr old 🙂 And thank you for sharing a little history.. Looking at that poster.. Nothing much changes does it.. Love and Hugs…
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Yes, he was rather wise! At least politics does not seem to change in this country but we can only hope for something that would pull us together with civility.
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I pray you get the right one!
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What a vintage find. Old Hosteen Yazzie, was one of the last Navajo Indians to surrender. Name means Mister Little Tree.
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You know your history! I did not know what his name meant. The back of the post card stated, as you said, that he had been one of the last of the Navajo Indians to surrender and added,that he “…surrendered to Army Scout, Kit Carson, and the U.S. Soldiers. He has been a familiar figure throughout the Southwest.” Thanks for stopping by my territory! It is rewarding when someone appreciates the obscure. Cheers, Maverick!
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I always find old postcards to be so interesting – both the card itself and what was written on it. They provide a window to a different place and time.
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Oh, I love old postcards too as both sides tell a story. I knew you would appreciate the old writing as you treasured your grandmother’s diary. I should dig out some more. Thanks for the visit , Sheryl!
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Love this! I have boxes of ‘stuff’ my father kept from his mother and father. I haven’t gone through them yet but know there are some letters and old postcards in there. One of these days I will open those boxes. My father was raised down in Corpus Christie and then later moved up to Sinton. He was the last of three children, born in 1927. The stories he use to tell about growing up.
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You know I think people used to keep more “stuff” back then as my father had stuff from his parents and he kept so many things – receipts, letters, bills, cards, etc. You really should open that box! It will be like a time capsule. Always good to hear from you, Val! Cheers and hugs to you!
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I read this twice…what a great find and so reflective of today’s USA.
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Sad but it does mirror politics today! The Republican party is being pulled apart and no one trusts Hillary Clinton. Perhaps we should think about voting for Uncle Sam! It has been a crazy election year and it is just getting started. Cheers!
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Sometimes old wisdom is the best! Thanks for sharing!
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Yes, age and experience should account for something. Our country does not always recognize it. Thanks for the visit!
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Yesterday is very powerful, therefore should influence today as we work toward tomorrow. But the events of tomorrow cannot influence today … none at all, so yesterday is important.
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I love old cards like that and nothing has changed in todays world, it just gotten louder.
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It is rather strange that politics do not seem to change! And I agree that it has gotten louder and more constant with TV, internet, tweeting, etc. We shall see where it ends in November. Cheers!
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Beautiful postcard. If Trump gets in and has his way, expelling 11 million Muslims and bringing back torture, we will all need to write a lament.
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Yes, it Trump triumphs we may all be lamenting! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. He seems to think he will be CEO of the USA. Always a pleasure to have you comment.
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History is such a dynamic inspiration in our lives! Unfortunately, it sometimes repeats itself.
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History is always fascinating as we can sometimes see ourselves reflected back. Yes, it can be an inspiration to be as courageous as those that went before us or a reminder not to make the same mistakes. Cheers!
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I have that exact same postcard in a stack from my grandmother and parents.The more things change, the more the same?
Thanks for the smiles
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How funny! I know you will treasure it as much as I treasure mine. Yes, some things don’t change. Thanks for sharing! These old postcards are such a reflection of the time!
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`Eighty-one years later this lament could mirror some of the dissatisfaction today as we head toward the 2016 presidential election in November´…
So eloquent and well-put… History teaches us not make the same mistakes, being cyclical as it is…
Great post. 🙂 All the best to you!, Aquileana 😀
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Thank you! Coming from you, that is a special compliment! It is rather sad that politics have not changed that much. And now the “establishment” Republicans don’t really like their choices either. Cheers! Thanks so much for the comments.
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It is really interesting to learn more about your father, and to see the post card from the 1930’s. It sounds like it was difficult back then. Items like this really give us a better understanding of those times.
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Yes, there are so many stories out there about the Depression. My parents married at the start of the Depression and lived with my mother’s parents and then with my father’s parents for a time. Just like your grandmother’s journal, things like this tell a story. I really enjoyed your sharing her story!
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I tried a Google search and was fascinated to find that Hosteen Yazzie was a real person who lived a long and interesting life. Sadly, I don’t have many letters and postcards from my own family that date so far back.
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Yes, he was a real person with an interesting past that is part of our US history. I like researching the obscure and evidently you do also. And I always learn from my fellow bloggers. Glad you took the time to check Hosteen Yazzie out. My family seemed to save many old letters and documents that add to family history for which am grateful. Perhaps you will do better than your family in saving things. Thanks for stopping by to share! Always a pleasure to have you.
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It’s great that you have so many old letters and documents. I’ll bet it makes family history much more vivid and interesting. 🙂
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The postcard is sad in its simplicity and grace. (Strange as that word may seem, I find grace in the way the old Indian thinks in this quote. Grace and wisdom!)
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No, simplicity and grace seem just right with this quote and he was a real person. Too bad we do not have more grace and wisdom in the current election! Civility even would be welcome!
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Amen to that!!!!
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