Harrisburg and Dauphin County, Pa.

Dance card, inside pages for the Programme and Engagements. See also the front and back covers (below). Programme. Grand march promptly at 9 o'clock, p.m. 1. Waltz--Plain. 2. Waltz--Schottische. 3. Waltz--Polka. 4. Quadrille--Plain. 5. Waltz--Plain. 6. Waltz--Polka Mazourka. 7. Waltz--Gallop. 8. Quadrille--Lanciers. 9. Waltz--Plain. 10. Waltz--Polka. 11. Waltz--Danish. 12. Quadrille--Plain. Intermission 13. Cotillion. 14. Rhinelander. 15. Waltz--Gallop. 16. Quadrille--Glide Caledonian. 17. Waltz--Plain. 18. Waltz--Polka. 19. Waltz--Polka-Mazourka. 20. Quadrille--Plain. 21. Waltz--Plain. 22. Waltz--Gallop. 23. Quadrille--Plain. 24. Waltz--Racquet. Engagements, 1 - 24.

Dr. John Birkmire Lawrence (1890-1961), a chiropodist (or podiatrist ) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, promoted his services by adding his name to this amusing list of Rules of the Road. It's difficult to determine when Lawrence may have first circulated these rules. Versions of it were already appearing in published sources as early as the first decade of the twentieth century (see, for instance, " Constable Trust in Darkest Michigan ," The Auto Era , Sept. 1908, p. 11). According to "Dr. Lawrence Moves to 23 S. Third St.," an article that appeared in the Harrisburg Sunday Courier , on February 3, 1935, p. 5, the doctor's office was located at 204 Market Street from 1915 until 1924, so presumably he had them printed sometime during those years. For another example of early automobile humor, see Not Exceeding the Speed Limit in 1908 . Rules of the Road Adoped by the Farmers' Anti-Automobile Society 1. Upon Discovering an Approaching Team, the automobilist must stop offside and cover his machine with a blanket painted to correspond to the scenery. 2. The Speed Limit on Country Roads This Year Will Be a Secret, and the penalty for violation will be $10 for every mile an offender is caught going in excess of it. 3 In Case an Automobile Makes a Team Run Away, the penalty will be $50 for the first mile, $100 for the second, $200 for the third, etc., that the team runs; in addition to the usual damages. 4 On Approaching a Corner, where he cannot command a view of the road ahead, the automobilist must stop not less than 100 yards from the turn, toot his horn, ring a bell, fire a revolver, halloo, and send up three bombs at intervals of five minutes. 5 Automobiles Must Again Be Seasonably Painted, that is, so they will merge with the pastoral ensemble and not be startling. They must be green in spring, golden in summer, red in autumn, and white in winter. 6 Automobiles Running on the Country Roads at Night must send up a red rocket Every Mile and Wait Ten Minutes for the road to clear. They may then proceed carefully, blowing their horns and shooting Roman candles. 7. All Members of the Society will give up Sunday to chasing automobiles, shooting and shouting at them, making arrests, and otherwise discouraging country touring on that day. 8. In Case a Horse Will Not Pass an Automobile, the automobilist will take the machine apart as rapidly as possible and conceal the parts in the grass. 9. In Case an Automobile Approach[es] a Farmer's House When the Roads Are Dusty, it will slow down to one mile an hour and the chauffeur will lay the dust in front of the house with a hand sprinkler worked over the dashboard. Compliments of Dr. J. B. Lawrence, chiropodist, 204 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pa. Logo at top: "Harrisburg Rotary Club."

"Christmas 1918--Just to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year and that 'Old Santa' will bring you lots of nice gifts is my earnest wish. Mary Elizabeth Doutrich." Mary Elizabeth Doutrich was the daughter of I. H. Doutrich, proprietor of a popular men's clothing store located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

"The Chocolate and Cocoa Town."

Rev. B. L. C. Baer was the pastor of the Highspire Church of God in Highspire, Pa. New Year Greeting, 1912 Being deprived the privilege of coming into your home I still herewith extend to you the greetings of the season. My good wishes for your happiness and success are not limited to a day or a week--they continue throughout the year; but at this joyous Christmas and New Year season I gladly renew and emphasize my good wishes, and as I count my blessings I find your good will among those most highly prized. B. L. C. Baer, Highspire, Pa.

The Berks and Dauphin Turnpike Road Company was in existence from 1805 to about 1917 and collected tolls along a road that extended from Berks County through Lebanon County and into Dauphin County in Pennsylvania. The punches on this ticket indicate that it cost 5 cents for a trip in Lebanon County between Annville (or Sporting Hill?) and Sunny Side, a distance of 3 (or 2¼?) miles. Berks & Dauphin Turnpike Road Co. Dimes - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. Rates For 1 horse and carriage - 1½ cts. per mile For 2 horses and carriage - 2½ cts. per mile For 1 horse and sleigh - .75 cts. per mile For 1 horse rode or led - ½ cts. per mile For 1 horse and sulky - 1 cts. per mile For 1 wagon per horse - 1 cts. per mile For bicycle - ½ cts. per mile From Junction - Mls. to P. & R. Crossing - 1 to Swatara Station - 1¾ to Palmyra - 5 to Kreider's Mill - 9¼ to Annville - 10¼ to Sporting Hill - 11 to Cleona - 12 to Stony Side - 13 to Lebanon - 15¼ to Wernersville - 34¼ to Robesonia - 31¼ to Womelsdorf - 28¼ to Waterloo - 26½ to Stouchsburg - 26 to Owl Creek - 22¾ to Myerstown - 21¾ to West Myerstown - 21¼ to Half-way - 19¼ to Narrows - 18¼ to Avon - 17¼ Cents - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0. For a similar item, see Lancaster, Elizabethtown, and Middletown Turnpike Company Ticket .

"This is to certify that Mrs. Mary Ritters is a full feathered charter member of the Ron Drake Bird Watching Society, WHP radio 580." A Bird Watching Society membership card issued to fans of the popular radio personality Ron Drake (a "drake" is also a bird, get it?), who was active on the air in Harrisburg, Pa., from the 1960s until his retirement in 1982. Sadly, Drake passed away in 2005 .

"1. Set arrow to city nearest starting point. 2. Read mileage in window of destination. 3. Principal highways are shown in red."

Advertisement on the back: "All leather Triangle Brand Shoes. Sturdy good looking shoes for husky boys. Dainty styles for growing girls. They last longer. Pleasant View Store, general merchandise, Nuangola Sta., Pa." This wheel chart or volvelle was an advertising giveaway intended for children, who could turn the interlocking paper wheels to display information about each American state. The arrow at the top of the wheel points to Pennsylvania ("Penn."), for instance, and corresponding text visible in the small windows on the map reveal that Pennsylvania's capital is Harrisburg, its principal city is Philadelphia, it gained statehood in 1787, and other tidbits of information. See below for a variety of other wheel charts on various topics.

A defaced or altered photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. I was surprised when I spotted this painted-over cabinet card photo at an antique mall last year. I had never seen anything quite like it, and I thought that it ruined the photo. On the other hand, I was intrigued by the way some unknown artist had re-imagined what was probably an otherwise unremarkable portrait, painting a modern lucha libre skull mask (and a small bat) onto a nineteenth-century photo and thereby transforming it into a work of Halloween art. I didn't necessarily want to encourage anyone to deface old photos, and I debated whether to even purchase it. The cabinet card was the only painted photo in the antique dealer's booth, however, and the eyes looked so haunting and pleading that I ended up buying it. Since then, I've come across Now and Then: The Cabinet Card Paintings of Alex Gross (Berkeley, Calif.: Gingko Press, 2012), a book described by its publisher as "the complete compendium of acclaimed artist Alex Gross's mixed media paintings layered on top of antique 19th century cabinet card photographs from portrait studios all around the country" (for before-and-after examples of the cabinet photos and finished paintings in the book, see the February 8, 2013, posting on Larry Fire's Fire Wire Pop Culture Blog ). This cabinet card painting isn't as elaborate as those by Alex Gross, and I still have mixed feelings about these kinds of mixed media, but it's still fascinating to see how the somewhat contradictory juxtaposition of modern artwork and vintage media can create something new and surprising. Note to administrators of photo groups: If you feel that the altered aspect of this photo isn't suitable for your group, I won't be offended at all if you remove it. Otherwise, I hope it sparks some discussion regarding the appropriateness of using old photographs in this manner.

Autumn Sociable. Social Twelve cordially request the pleasure of your company and that of your friend on Saturday evening, Oct. 10th, 1896, at 7:15 o'clock, to join a social party at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Ressler at Aberdeen. Committee: Social Twelve. Should the weather prove unfavorable the party will be held the following Saturd'y. Refreshments required.

"Dr. F. C. Williams, eye specialist, Harrisburg, Pa. Eyes carefully tested and examined. Eye glasses and spectacles made to order and guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction. 928 N. Sixth Street, Harrisburg, Pa. Office hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2 to 4, 5 to 8 p.m. Bell phone 357-R." See also Charles S. Frantz, Graduate Ophthalmic Optician, Watchmaker, and Jeweler, Lancaster, Pa. and B. B. Lupfer, Graduate Optician, New Bloomfield, Pa.

"Wishing You a Happy New Year, J. P. Baker, Trav. Ag't, Harrisburg, Pa. Buckeye. 1895. 1896. Buckeye. J. H. Trezise, 1125-27 N. Third St., H'b'g." This is a unique photographic New Year greeting that depicts Father Time--carrying an old-fashioned scythe and designated as "1895"--worriedly running away from an overdressed gent who's uttering the word "Buckeye" as he tips his hat and rides atop a newfangled "1896" mechanical reaping machine pulled by a bevy of Cupid-like putti . The inset to the right of this imaginative scene is a photo of "J. P. Baker," who's identified as a traveling agent (salesman) from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dressed in a hat, cravat, vest, and suit coat, Baker appears to be the model for the gussied-up guy riding the reaper. Although I haven't uncovered any specific information regarding J. P. Baker, I suspect that he may have worked for Aultman, Miller & Co., manufacturer of Buckeye Harvesting Machinery, which had an office at 625 Walnut Street in Harrisburg, according to Boyd's Directory of Harrisburg and Steelton for 1895. The company sold a variety of agricultural equipment for mowing, reaping, threshing, and other tasks (to see a fascinating early silent film clip of a Buckeye machine in operation in Australia, take a look at Wheat Harvesting with Reaper and Binder -1899 ). J. P. Baker evidently used this photograph to wish a happy New Year to his friends and business associates and to promote himself and his Buckeye machines to customers.

As Wikipedia explains it, " Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February [February 16 in 2015] in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Colloquially, it is widely known as 'Presidents Day' and is often an occasion to remember all the presidents, not just George Washington [whose actual birthdate is February 22] or Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is also in February [on February 12]. The term 'Presidents Day' was informally coined in a deliberate attempt to use the holiday to honor multiple presidents and is virtually always used that way today." Today, Presidents' Day is simply noted as a time for special store sales or--for some--a day off from work or school. In years past, however, George Washington's birthday was celebrated with special events, like this program of musical performances and recitations that was held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1894. Washington Tea Given by the Luther Union, Zion Lutheran Church, Thursday, February 22, 1894, 7:45 p.m. Programme Hymn - "America" [For the verses, see the image above.] Instrumental Duett - Misses Knocke and Seidel Declamation - "Eulogy on Washington," Phillips - Mr. William Bomgardner Bass Solo - "The Bugler" - Mr. Chas. Barnitz Address - B. M. Nead, Esq. Collection Recitation - "Ode to America," Eliza Cook - Master Clarence Funk Violin Solo - "National Airs" - Miss Blanche Raysor Essay - "Martha Washington" - Miss Annie Hershey Vocal Solo - Miss Emma Meyer All are invited to remain for the reception.

"The Penn Harris, Harrisburg, Pa. Five distinctive restaurants."

"Clark's Ferry Bridge Co. Good for one passage across Clark's Ferry Bridge with passenger automobile, seating capacity not over seven persons. Without trailer. Christian W. Lynch, president. F204762, F204763, F204764." As Wikipedia explains, "The Clark's Ferry Bridge carries U.S. Routes 22 and 322 across the Susquehanna River near Duncannon, Pennsylvania about 20 miles north of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania ." The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the Clark's Ferry Bridge in the 1940s and eventually discontinued tolls. The bridge was completely rebuilt in the 1980s.

Printed on the back of this postcard: "Sam's Ice Cream. Store-room and manufacturing plant. 2008 Paxton Street, Harrisburg, Penna. (at the city line on Hershey Hgwy. Rt. 422. Store-room featuring large snack-bar, counter service, plus self-service dept. Also truck retail distributing service to your door within 100 miles radius of Harrisburg. (Open daily 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. including Sundays.)"

Printed on the back of this postcard: "The Broadway Limited, the Aristocrat of the Rails, is America's foremost train. It makes the daily run over the Pennsylvania Railroad between New York and Chicago in 20 hours; Philadelphia and Chicago in 18¼ hours. Direct connections in new Union Station, Chicago, for Pacific Coast and points West." As Wikipedia explains, "The Broadway Limited was a passenger train operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad between New York City and Chicago. It operated from 1912 to 1995." The illustration on this advertising postcard comes from a 1920s painting by Harold Brett entitled Speed and Security . It shows the Broadway Limited traveling over the Rockville Bridge , which crosses the Susquehanna River a few miles north of Harrisburg, Pa.