Lancaster, Pa.

"Chas. S. Frantz, graduate ophthalmic optician, watchmaker, and jeweler, Lancaster, Pa." Detail showing the return address in the upper left-hand corner of an envelope printed by D. B. Landis, Pluck Art Printery, Lancaster, Pa. For similar items, see Dr. F. C. Williams, Eye Specialist, Harrisburg, Pa. , and B. B. Lupfer, Graduate Optician, New Bloomfield, Pa.

Melvern R. Evans, an architect in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, created this remarkable folded Christmas card in 1932. The front of the card, which was printed on plain green paper, simply says, "Just a minute--please." Inside (see above) is a photo of Evans holding a Santa mask along with a message indicating that 1932 was a "poor business year" (it was the height of the Great Depression ). To remedy the economic situation, Evans suggests, "Let's take off the mask and stop playing Santa Claus to the entire world ," meaning, I guess, that the United States should concentrate on addressing its domestic problems before providing aid to other countries. Despite his feelings about the dire financial conditions during 1932, Evans ends his greeting on a positive note by acknowledging old friendships and wishing a Merry Christmas "to you and those you love" (see below for the full text of the card). Just a minute--please This is a time for deep thought and accurate action . Let's take off the mask and stop playing Santa Claus to the entire world . We must have contentment at home to be a happy family . The year 1932 passes--well let it--it has been a poor business year. But ...it has ripened old friendships --and it's [because of] that old friendship that I cheer it's passing with a Merry Christmas wish--to you and those you love. Melvern R. Evans, A.I.A., Architect, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at Christmas, 1932.

"Our Gilt-Edge Goods. Nothing is too much trouble or too expensive to make these goods all that the name implies. The newest requirements of the people are satisfied with a pleasing completeness. The newest ideas are tested for practical worth and freely used, being carefully embodied when they contribute increased advantage. Selected workmen of special training and superior skill aid in securing perfection. The use of the purest pigirons only and the best materials for all fittings establish their superior quality, utility, durability, convenience, & beauty. Nothing better made. Reilly Bros. & Raub, Lancaster, Pa." Front cover of an advertising leaflet for Reilly Bros. & Raub, a hardware store that was located in Lancaster, Pa. (the building that housed the store is still standing). Note the distinctive typefaces and the devilish figure with pitchfork at top. An inside page from the leaflet (see below) contains an advertisement for the Valley Novelty Range. Compare this with a similar ad for the same stove on a separate advertising trade card from Lebanon, Pa. (below).

"Valley Novelty Range is the one to buy. Remember, every one guaranteed to bake and operate. Increase the heat of the oven as the bread bakes. Important! If you cannot come to the store, send in your address and we will call and see you and show you a photograph of this beautiful range and explain its many good points. It can't be beat, and the price is right. It provides the greatest comfort to the cook by having the greatest conveniences of the day." Inside page of a leaflet (see its elaborate cover below) for Reilly Bros. & Raub, a hardware store that was located in Lancaster, Pa. See also an advertising trade card with a similar ad for the same stove (below).

"Be cool and comfortable. We have a large and full assortment of electric fans to select from. Prices reduced. Edison Electric Company, Griest Building, Lancaster, Penn." An advertisement printed on the back of a 1920s Edison Electric Company bill.

"S. Elliott & Son, wholesale and retail dealers in pure artificial ice, manufactured by the Consumers' Ice Company of Lancaster. 242 S. Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. S. Elliott. S. G. Elliott. Bell 'Phone, 4924. United 'Phone, 1846 B."

"Lancaster, E., & M. Turnpike Co. The gate keepers must punch the spaces. Gate - 1, 2, 3, 4, 4½ , 5, 6, 7. Horse Team - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Cattle, Etc." An unused ticket for the Lancaster, Elizabethtown, and Middletown Turnpike Company, which operated a private turnpike in Lancaster and Dauphin counties in Pennsylvania. Sections of what are now Pennsylvania Route 230 and Pennsylvania Route 283 eventually replaced the turnpike. See also a rotated version of the ticket .

For more information, see the original version of the ticket .

"You are invited to attend a Hallowe'en party to be given by the employees of the Lancaster Stanley-Warner Theatres at the Capitol, Saturday nite, November 1, 11:30 p.m. This invitation admits one. Fifty cents." For other vintage Halloween party invitations, see Witches Watch Halloween Party Invitation, October 31, 1914 , Halloween Party Invitation with Bat and Witch , Come to a Hallowe'en Party , and Yooooo Are Invited to a Halloween Party (below),

"Lecture, Fulton Hall, Thursday even'g, March 13, 1878. Rev. Dr. G. F. Krotel. Subject: 'Whom to Marry.' Express Print." Gottlob Frederick Krotel (1826-1907) was the pastor of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 1853 to 1862. As this ticket indicates, he returned to Lancaster on March 13, 1873, to deliver a lecture titled "Whom to Marry" at Fulton Hall , which is known today as the Fulton Opera House or Fulton Theatre. The Reading Times (Reading, Pa.) for Saturday, March 15, 1873, p. 4, noted that the lecture took place--"Rev. Dr. Krotel told the people of Lancaster 'Whom to Marry' on Thursday evening"--but didn't reveal any of his marriage advice.

"Chas. O. Ursprung, wholesale horse collar manufacturer, No. 408 North Market St., Lancaster, Pa. CU. Special trademark." Charles O. Ursprung (1867-1935) moved his horse collar manufactory to 408 North Market Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sometime in the early 1900s (city directories from the late 1890s give his business locations as either 21 or 32 West Chestnut Street in Lancaster). For a similar business card from the same job printer ( Pluck Print ), see William C. Myers, Practical Artesian Well Contractor, Salunga, Pa.

"How we do things at Lancaster, Pa. Our Kind." Alfred Stanley Johnson, Jr., of Waupun, Wisconsin, created this postcard in 1911.

A business card by Pluck Print with an illustration of anthropomorphic pigs by the Philadelphia engraving firm of Crosscup and West. C. L. Hartz Dealer in all kinds of first-class smoked meats, such as ham, dried beef, bologna, breakfast bacon, &c Cheese: New York state, full cream, imported Swiss, sapsago, kimmel, and Limburger. 223 East Frederick St., Lancaster, Pa. At Northern and Central Markets. Avenue C, stalls 37 and 39, Northern Market. Pluck Print. Buyers Office. Crosscup & West, Phila.

"W. R. Cheney, Carriage Builder. Repairing and repainting done promptly. 26 North Christian St., Lancaster, Pa." William R. Cheney (1859-1932) was a blacksmith and carriage builder in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For similar business cards from the same job printer ( Pluck Print ), see Chas. O. Ursprung, Horse Collar Manufacturer, Lancaster, Pa. and William C. Myers, Practical Artesian Well Contractor, Salunga, Pa. For a card from another carriage maker, see Bardens Carriage Company, Horseshoers and Wagonmakers, West Orange, New Jersey .

See also Black Cat Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 27, 1922 for another Halloween dance held in Hiemenz's Auditorium. Hell'o'een Masked Dance Hiemenz Auditorium, Friday, Oct. 29. Kiphorn's Orchestra. Admission, 60 cts.

A Halloween dance possibly named after the Black Cat Dance (sheet music, 1916). The site of the dance was Hiemenz's Auditorium, a venue managed by H. John Hiemenz . See also Hell'o'een Masked Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 29, 1920 . Black Cat Dance Friday, Oct. 27. Danceland Six. (Hiemenz's). Novelties. Admission, 55 cts.

A Halloween party ticket, probably dating to the first decade of the twentieth century. Hallow Eve Party By the Young Men's Society of 1st M.E. Church, at Iris Club Building, No. 323 North Duke St., Friday, October 30. Tickets, 10 cts. Pluck Print.

To deliver toy Simplex Typewriters in 1911, Santa Claus left his sleigh and reindeer at the North Pole and somehow constructed an airplane out of a Christmas tree. Or at least that's what this advertising postcard from the Watt & Shand department store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, would have us believe. For other early Simplex Typewriter advertisements featuring Santa, see: • Santa's Simplex Typewriters, 1905 • Dear Santa, I Want the 1905 Simplex Typewriter • Santa's Favorite Simplex Typewriters, 1908 • Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908 Your Boy, Your Girl Should Have a 1911 Simplex Typewriter. Christmas presents, $1. $2, $3. No. 1, Note size, has all the capitals, figures, and necessary marks for punctuation, $1.00. No. 2, Note size with capitals small letters, figures, and necessary marks for punctuation, $2.00. No. 3, Full size, has all the characters of standard typewriters, $3.00. Larger, better than ever. Remodeled. Finer machines. More characters. They do better work. More room for the fingers. Easier to operate. With greetings from Watt & Shand, Lancaster, Pa.