(click for an enlarged image in a new browser window)
This image from the Tribune Photographic Archive
was not published.
The setting appears to be Crawford School
playground. The image is believed to be from May of 1951.
(click for an enlarged image in a new browser window)
This photo shows Welch School students from
the graduating class of 1958.
Are these second graders?
Can you help identify the students or the
teacher?
(click for an enlarged image in a new browser window)
Who is Eddie Allen?
Who is in his radio orchestra?
Why does this WOI-related postcard show an
address of Fifth and Douglas?
Can you read this postcard?
The front side is easy to read, of course, but please try the back side. Notify us if you are successful.

This 1909 Ames postcard (mailed in 1911) is unusual because of the use of the good luck swastika or Hakenkreuz. This was long before, of course, the swastika was adopted as a symbol of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, better known as the Nazi Party.
The reverse side of the postcard has an interesting efficient way of cramming more messages into a small space. Evidently, the writer penned his message the usual way and then turned the postcard upside down and continued a second layer, and then constructed a third layer diagonally, and again reversed the diagonal for a fourth layer of writing.
We can't read the message? Can you? If you can transcribe part or all of the message, please let us know. Please click on the image to see a greatly enlarged version. If you can decipher this puzzle, you deserve a prize!
And congratulations to Tom Hansen, who wrote us with his translation seen below. Tom has been sent a box containing his prize!
| Hi, this is Tom Hansen,
Daily editor-in-chief from 77-78, now living in Indiana. I looked
at the four-way writing on the mystery postcard, and here's what I get
out of it. Maybe someone already deciphered it, but if not, I claim
the prize!
Turn 90 degrees counterclockwise and read: "Dear friend: I expect that this will beat you to the Rapids. I wish I could have the opportunity to go home on vacation and I envy you. 7 ½ more weeks and I will get my chance. School has just been going fine this week had 4 mid term exams and am sure that I passed them all. Wish that I could attend D.C.C. this afternoon but instead I am going to attend the final class game. It lies (?) between the juniors and preps to decide the college championship." Turn another 90 degrees counter clockwise and continue: "Did you have a snow storm Thursday? The ground here was just white. It made me think of a sleigh ride. My room today makes me feel" Turn another 135 degrees counter clockwise and continue: "like a fire would feel fine. Landlady is away so we do as we please. We have a swell number on our lecture course Sat. night." Turn another 90 degrees counter clockwise and continue: "It just seems like I can’t get stopped. Guess I should have used a letter. Don’t read it more than once." Then the signature line appears upside down at the top of the card viewed normally: "Bye bye W. Everette S." |
We have some successful identifications
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