Southern Hotel, Baltimore, MD

Another beautiful hotel no longer standing, the Southern Hotel was open for business from 1918-1964.  It was built on the site of both the Old Fountain Inn and the Carrollton Hotel. Please see below enlargement of the postcard inscription.  Here is a detailed article about the hotel from a 1918 Hotel Monthly Magazine.

Era:  White Border Era (1915-1930)

Publisher: Maryland Lith. Co., Baltimore, MD

Rennert Hotel, Baltimore, MD

Designed by architect E.F. Baldwin, the famous Rennert hotel was frequented by Baltimore and Washington D.C.'s elite, such as H.L. Mencken.  The restaurant featured a raw oyster bar and numerous local delicasies such as Maryland beaten biscuits. The establishment struggled through Prohibition, but never fully recovered. It was demolished in 1941.

Era:  Divided Back (1907-1914)

Publisher:  I.&M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, MD  #235

Printed in U.S. A-14562

Baltimore, MD Sea Lions in Druid Hill Park

One more Druid Hill Park card.  These adorable sea lions are in a man-made pond north of the Mansion House. Later on, they were moved inside as part of the zoo and the pond no longer maintained.

Era: Undivided Back (1901-1907)

Publisher:  The Hugh C. Leighton Co., Portland, ME

Printed in Frankfort, Germany #1376

Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD: Boat Lake and Edmunds Well

According to the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Druid Hill Park "was developed as part of a nationwide movement-the American Parks Movement- to provide large parks for urban dwellers. This movement followed in the tradition of European Park design. Druid Hill Park is now on the National Register of Historic Places. "  The second card is also from Druid Hill Park and features Edmunds' Well, apparently named in memory of a young child who had died.

Both these cards were sent in 1906 to Miss Emma Lippy of Westminster, MD.  People often wrote on the front of the postcards in the Undivided Back Era as the back was reserved for the mailing address.

Hope you arrived safe. B. G.

Please give Mamie her card.

Era:  Undivided Back (1901-1907)

Publisher: A.C. Bosselman & Co., New York

Printed in Germany, #385 and #384 in series, respectively

Recipient and Address:  Mrs. Emma Lippy, 52 Penna. Ave., Westminster, MD

Postmark(s):  Mailed from Baltimore, MD Mar 27 1906 and June 9 1906 respectively
Cancelled Ben Franklin penny stamps.

Conservatory at Rose Gardens, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

Opened in 1888, the beautiful Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanical Gardens celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2013.  This is the 2nd oldest glass conservatory in the country.  

Era:  Linen (1930-1945)

Publisher:  I.&M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, MD

Printing: "C.T. Art-Colortone" Curteich in Chicago, IL
Card No 3A-H196

Hello Eva, How is everybody we'll be home soon have had a good rest & a nice time  B Johnston

Recipient and Address:  Mrs. Alfred Brew, Thurston Place, Barre, CT

Postmark(s):  Mailed from Baltimore, MD Sep 25 1939
Cancelled George Washington penny stamp.

Deer feeding in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

Breaking away from building view postcards, I just had to post this beautiful winter-themed card today.  Sent well over a 100 years ago, this scene shows Druid Hill Park in another era. In the very middle, you can see the deer.  So peaceful! 

10/11/06 I. Maida R.

Era: Undivided Back (1901-1907)

Publisher:  J. Thos. Smith, Baltimore, MD  No. 108

Printed in Germany 

Recipient and Address:  Mrs. Daniel Harvey, Childs, Cecil Co., Md
Postmark(s):  Mailed from Baltimore, MD Oct 3 1906
Cancelled Ben Franklin penny stamp

The Church Home and Infirmary of the City of Baltimore, MD

This beautiful building housed The Church Home and Infirmary of the City of Baltimore, which was the forerunner of Church Home and Hospital.  Founded in 1857, it was a joint operation of a hospital for the poor and a place of residence for elderly women. It was affiliated with the Episcopal Church.

Era:  Linen (1930-1945)

Publisher:  I.&M. Ottenheimer, Baltimore, MD

Printing: "C.T. Art-Colortone" Curteich in Chicago, IL
Card No. 6A-H740

Baltimore City Hospital and College of Physicians and Surgeons

City Hospital, founded by six "Sisters of Mercy" was the forerunner of Mercy Hospital. The college was in existence from 1872 to 1915, when it merged with the Medical College of the University of Maryland. For more information on the college... 

Era:  Undivided Back (1901-1907)

Publisher: I.&M. Ottenheimer. No. 4603. Printed in Germany.

Johns Hopkins - Old Campus in Downtown, Baltimore

I recently acquired this multi-view card of buildings from the original downtown Baltimore campus of Johns Hopkins University.  From left to right:  McCoy & Levering Hall, Treasurer's Office, Biological Laboratory, and McCoy Hall (bottom left). Sent from an unknown student to Dr. Albert Johannsen in Needleton, Colorado.  Dr. Johannsen was a noted microscopical petographer of the era.

9-13-'03 Dear friend: We are now all back again in Baltimore.  Tomorrow school begins, and that means work for us all.  Trusting you are enjoying good health. I am "Can you guess?"

Era:  Undivided Back (1901-1907)

Publisher:  National Art Views, N.Y. City, No. 551

Recipient and Address:  Dr. Albert Johannsen, Needleton, Colorado

Postmark(s):  Mailed from Baltimore, MD Sep 13 1903/Durango, CO Sep 17 1903/Needleton, CO Sep 18 1903

My Mother's Old High School - Western High School Baltimore, MD

Western Female High School, Baltimore, MD  Est. 1844.

The oldest public all-girls high school in the United States. This beautiful building, designed by architect Alfred Mason, is considered to be an excellent example of Romanesque Revival style. Still in use, it is currently home to The Booker T. Washington Middle School. 

 My mother graduated from Western circa 1948.

Era:  Divided Back (1907-1914)

Publisher:  Rinn Publ. Co. - No. 663.  Printed in Germany

Here I am, once more on the Garden ? of its earth...Dear Old Baltimore
Had a nice time in Martinsburg but lost three pounds. thought best to come back to Dumb bells and Porter. Laurie is still in Martinsburg will come down next Sunday. Earliest will come home some time this week.  Loving, Blanch

Recipient and Address:  Mrs. C. J. Scheelky, 3005 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, VA

Postmark(s):  Mailed from Baltimore, MD Aug 30, 1909
Cancelled Ben Franklin penny stamp.

The Old State Normal School Towson, Baltimore, MD

Opened in 1866 as a state teachers' training school, MSNS, the (Maryland) State Normal School was the forerunner of the current Towson University.  In between, it was named Towson State University, from which my brother graduated in 1977. For more information on Towson University history...

Era: White Border (1915-1930)

Publisher:  The Chessler Co., Baltimore, MD  No. 69