Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "Lancaster"

Telephones and Stoves

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 03:05:34 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of telephones.

This is a real photo postcard used as an advertisement by the Keely Stove Company of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The card dates to 1920, and it shows a woman with a candlestick telephone. She's getting married and wants a Keely Columbian Stove just like her mother has, so she's telephoning Herr & Co. in Lancaster, Pa., to order one. In other versions of the ad that I spotted online, the same woman is phoning J. A. Best & Co. in Allentown, Pa., and Bennett & Billington in Canajoharie, N.Y.

I have another copy of this postcard that was addressed to Miss Fannie Groff, Kirkwood, Lanc. Co., Pa., R.R.#1, and mailed in New Providence, Pa., on Nov. 3, 1920. The handwritten message on that copy doesn't refer to the advertisement itself but the writer does mention "phoning" and "call[ing] . . . on the phone":

"Tue. eve. [Nov. 2]. Dear Fannie, I received your letter this morning. I guess you think I am a great one for not phoning to you, but I was so busy today. And Jacob came up to vote [Warren G. Harding won the U.S. presidential election held that day], and because it rained he is staying up so I was not at Margie's to stay all night. Fannie, I won't be down this week, but I will come next Fri. eve. as far as I know now, if it suits you. We are invited to a kitchen shower on Sat. eve. Write to let me know if it will suit. And I will write later or call you up on the phone. R.E.M."

History of this Genuine Photo

The mother of this young lady has a Columbian Stove manufactured by The Keely Stove Co., Columbia, Pa. She is about to get married and telephones to Herr & Co., 7 E. King St., Lancaster, Pa., for she wants one just like Mother's.

515. Schaefer Ross Co., Inc., Rochester, N.Y.

Grand Spelling Bee, Fair View School, Mechanicsville, Pa., March 24, 1906

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 03:09:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Katharine Hostetter Kauffman, later known as Katharine “Katie” Kauffman Herr (1886-1986), was the teacher who organized the spelling bee advertised on this handbill.

For a similar item from a later event, see Spelling Bee, Terre Hill, Pa., April 3, 1925.

Come One! Come All! To a Grand "Spelling Bee"

To Be Held at the
Fair View School
Near Mechanicsville
along Manheim Trolley Road

Saturday Eve., March 24, '06

Classes are as follows:
Class I. Open to Pupils of 11 years and under.
Class II. Open to all Public School Children.
Class III. Arithmetical Contest, open to all.
Class IV. General Information, open to all.

16 Valuable Prizes to be Distributed
The Program will consist of Music, Phonograph and School Recitations and Dialogues

General Admission - 10 Cts.
Proceeds to be used for the School Library.

Doors Open at 7 o'clock. Exercises begin at 7:30 o'clock.

Katharine H. Kauffman, Teacher.

Should the weather prove too unfavorable the Bee will be held the first fair evening following Monday.

L. B. Herr Print, 51-53 N. Queen St., Lancaster, Pa.

E. Oettel, Philadelphia Reliable Fancy Bakery and Confectionery, Lancaster, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 03:33:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An elaborate business card printed by David Bachman Landis of Pluck Art Printery (later known as Landis Art Print).

The wavy, wiry vertical lines that Landis used to separate the "Special Attention" section on the left from the main "E. Oettel" portion of the card come from a set of "Capital Ornaments" dated 1891 that was available from the Barnhart Brothers & Spindler (BB&S) type foundry. Landis also used these separators in a number of other printed pieces. See, for instance, the following examples:

-- Charles S. Frantz, Graduate Ophthalmic Optician, Watchmaker, and Jeweler, Lancaster, Pa.
-- A. H. Herr, Mill Creek Dairy, Lancaster, Pa.
-- J. M. Trout, Fire Sand Quarries, Landisville, Pennsylvania, ca. 1890s

BB&S also sold a set of "Brownies" characters that included the tiny owl in the upper left-hand corner.

Typefaces: Duerer ("Fancy Bakery and Confectionery"), Pynson ("All kinds of Cakes, Pies, Creams, Water Ices, and"), Hansard ("Home Made Bread"), Dante ("No. 506 Manor Street, Lancaster, Pa."). The unidentified typeface used here for "E. Oettel" appears to be the same as the one selected for "J. M. Trout" on the J. M. Trout, Fire Sand Quarries card.

E. Oettel, Philadelphia Reliable Fancy Bakery and Confectionery.

All kinds of Cakes, Pies, Creams, Water Ices, and Home Made Bread.

No. 506 Manor Street, Lancaster, Pa.

Special attention given to wedding and party orders.

Stands at Eastern, Central, and Southern Markets.

Who Was That Masked Man?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 03:52:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Halloween (costumes, masks, jack-o'-lanterns, decorations, ghosts, gravestones, or anything else spooky or scary; no limit—post as many Halloween photos as you'd like).

A photo of a man (or possibly a woman) wearing a grotesque mask, overalls, suit jacket, gloves, neckerchief, and straw hat. He's carrying a cane in one hand and a package wrapped in newspapers in the other.

Could this be a Halloween costume? If so, is he dressed as a farmer? Or do the cane and package suggest a stick-type bindle characteristic of a hobo?

This is an unused real photo postcard with an AGFA-ANSCO stamp box on the other side, which indicates that it may date to the 1930s or 1940s.

A couple of other details point to a specific locale. First, under magnification, the heading on part of the bundled up newspapers says, "New Era," so it's possible that it was the Lancaster New Era, a paper published in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Secondly, a pouch of "Good Bite" chewing tobacco with a fish logo is sticking out of the breast pocket on the man's suit jacket. The Good Bite brand of chewing tobacco originated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

For some other disconcerting masks, see Costume Creepiness.

Henry Weill, Dealer in Horses, Lancaster, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 04:29:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Henry Weill (1860-1929) was a well-known horse dealer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This business card was printed for him by David Bachman Landis.

For similar cards by Landis that feature text printed over a background illustration, see:

-- Chas. O. Ursprung, Horse Collar Manufacturer, Lancaster, Pa.
-- W. R. Cheney, Carriage Builder, Lancaster, Pa.
-- William C. Myers, Practical Artesian Well Contractor, Salunga, Pa.

Henry Weill,

Dealer in Driving, Heavy Draft, and Fine Coach and Saddle Horses.

Sale and Exchange Stables, 200 to 216 West Orange St., Lancaster, Pa.

Presented by ________

Acclimated and western horses always on hand.

Telephone connection.

John K. Trewetz Billhead, Musical Novelties, Lancaster, Pa., 1880s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 04:15:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

John K. Trewetz (1864-1938), a well-known musician who lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, advertised a patented "bellophone" on his billhead, but I haven't been able to uncover any information about it.

David Bachman Landis of Pluck Art Printery created this billhead for Trewetz.

M ________

To John K. Trewetz, Dr.

Musical Novelties, 350 West Orange St.

Lancaster, Pa., ________ 188__

Bellophone. Patented.

Halloween Party Invitation, Lancaster, Pa., October 31, 1912

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 03:10:50 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Eight years after Alice Graybill and her sisters held their Halloween party at 718 North Plum Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the 1920 United States Federal Census recorded that the Graybills still lived at the same address. Alice was 31 years old in 1920, and she worked as a weaver in a silk mill. The census listed Alice as the owner of the home and the head of the household.

There were six family members living at the house on Plum Street that year:

-- Alice W. Graybill, 31, single, head of the house, weaver, silk mill
-- Susan W. Graybill, 29, sister, weaver, silk mill
-- Ada W. Graybill, 27, sister, cleaner, silk mill
-- Weidler Graybill, 25, brother, machinist, machine shop
-- Marie Graybill, 15, sister, winder, silk mill
-- Grace Graybill, 12, sister, no occupation listed

So at the time of their Halloween party in 1912, Alice and her sisters would have been about 23, 21, 19, 7, and 4 years old (perhaps they allowed brother Weidler at age 17 to attend, too).

Alice eventurally married, and as Alice Graybill Harrington (1888-1969) she lived to the age of 80.

For some other early twentieth-century Halloween invitations, see:

-- Witches Watch Halloween Party Invitation, October 31, 1914
-- A Halloween Masquerade Invitation! October 23, 1920
-- Greetings for Halloween—Invitation for Revelry on Mystic Halloween, 1923

Yourself and friend are cordially invited to attend
A Hallowe'en Party

to be given at the home of
Alice Graybill and sisters

On Thursday evening, October the thirty-first
nineteen hundred and twelve

No. 718 North Plum Street, Lancaster, Pa.

R.S.V.P.

Halloween Masquerade Ball Ticket, Queen of Sheba Temple No. 137, Lancaster, Pa., October 31, 1940

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 03:10:44 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Halloween dance ticket printed by Landis Art Press, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who used the same decorative half moons on other tickets. See, for instance, Sophomore Barn Party Ticket, East Petersburg, October 27, 1920 and Hell'o'een Masked Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 29, 1920.

Masquerade Ball

Will be given by the Anniversary Committee of Queen of Sheba Temple No. 137 on Thursday, October 31, 1940 in new Elk's Auditorium, 452 South Duke Street, Lancaster, Pa.

Music by Duke Norman. Prizes awarded. Best dressed. Most comic.

Admission 55 cents.

John B. Martin, Bicycle Trick Rider, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ca. 1903

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 04:40:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The Lancaster City Directory for 1903 listed John B. Martin (1875-1906) as a bicycle repairer and gave his address as 421 N. Prince Street, so it seems likely that this business card with the same information dates to about the same time.

I haven't uncovered any information regarding Martin's career as a trick rider, nor have I found any reference to the athletic grounds and banked bicycle track that he operated on Prince Street.

Martin died on March 19, 1906. He was only 30 years old and left behind three young daughters.

David Bachman Landis of Pluck Art Printery printed Martin's business card.

J. B. Martin, Wheels to Hire

Martin the Trick Rider.

First-Class Bicycle Repairing. Athletic Grounds in the Rear.

Come and see the new banked Bicycle Track.

421 N. Prince St., Lancaster, Pa.

Half square north of the P.R.R. freight depot.

Slaymaker, Barry and Company, Lancaster, Pa., ca. 1890s

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 04:57:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A business card for Slaymaker, Barry and Company (later Slaymaker Lock Company). Printed by D. B. Landis of Pluck Print, probably sometime in the 1890s.

Slaymaker, Barry & Co.

Manufacturers of Shelf Hardware

Self Locking Scandinavian Pad-Locks

Lancaster, Pa.

John J. Kane

Crescent Electric Company, Electric Motors and Fans, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ca. 1895

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:43:30 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The business card for James D. Brinser, who was the superintendent of the Crescent Electric Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The card was printed by D. B, Landis, Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pa.

I relied on listings and ads in various publications for the approximate date of 1895. The Annual Report of the Factory Inspector for Pennsylvania in the year 1894, for instance, gives the location of the Crescent Electric Company as 117 East Chestnut in Lancaster, as printed on the card. In 1896, however, Brinser assigned an Electric-Motor Fan patent to the Marietta Manufacturing Company in Marietta, Pa., which suggests that fans were no longer manufactured in Lancaster by that time. By 1898, the ads for Crescent Electric Fans indicated that the Marietta Manufacturing Company made them.

The Crescent Electric Co.

Manufacturers of Electric Motors and Fans

111 to 117 East Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pa.

Electrical and general machine repairing.
Armature and magnet winding a specialty.
New and second-hand motors in stock.

Prompt attention. Obliging service. Reasonable prices.

James Brinser, superintendent.

Telephone.

Hipple Bros. & Co., Inc., Leaf Tobacco, Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:40:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

For other tobacco dealer cards, see S. N. Mumma and Co., Packers of and Dealers in Leaf Tobacco, Landisville, Pa., and Benj. H. Brubaker, Dealer and Packer of Pennsylvania Seed-Leaf Tobacco, East Petersburg, Pa.

Hipple Bros. & Co., Inc.

Leaf Tobacco

Main Office, 151 N. Third St., Philadelphia

Packing Warehouse, Cor. Duke & Chestnut Sts., Lancaster, Pa.

A. H. Herr, Mill Creek Dairy, Lancaster, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:18:12 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century business card printed by David Bachman Landis, who operated Pluck Art Printery, which was later known as Landis Art Print.

I haven't uncovered any reference to a "Mill Creek Dairy," but it's possible that "A. H. Herr" was Aaron H. Herr (1880-1940), a farmer who lived in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

A. H. Herr, Mill Creek Dairy.

Pure milk and cream.

Lancaster P.O., Pa.

Hallow Eve Party Ticket, Young Men's Society, First Methodist Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 14:50:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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.

Black Cat Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 27, 1922

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 05:59:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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.

Hell'o'een Masked Dance Ticket, Lancaster, Pa., October 29, 1920

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 05:59:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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.

W. R. Cheney, Carriage Builder, Lancaster, Pa.

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 20:21:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"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.

Spangler and Rich, Dealers in Dry Goods, Marietta, Pennsylvania—Then and Now

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 05:30:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This is a side-by-side comparison of a nineteenth-century advertising card with a Google Street View (from 2011) of the building depicted on the card.

It's quite surprising to discover that the façade of the building, which was a store in the late 1800s and today is a laundromat, hasn't changed much in over 100 years.

See a second Google Street View from a slightly different angle for a better view of the signs and window on the first floor.

Spangler and Rich, Dealers in Dry Goods, Marietta, Pennsylvania

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 05:30:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A nineteenth-century advertising card for Spangler & Rich, a store in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Amazingly enough, the building that housed the store is still standing, and its façade hasn't changed dramatically in over 100 years. A laundromat occupies the building today.

See a side-by-side comparison of the image on the card and a recent Google Street View (from 2011) of the building .

Spangler & Rich

No. 64 Market Street, Marietta, Pa.,
Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Groceries, &c.

Fish--Carpets and Floor Oil Clothes.
Queensware and Wall Papers--Salt.

Express Steam Print, Lancaster, Pa.
Crosscup, Phila.

C. L. Hartz, Dealer in Meats and Cheese, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 18:43:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

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.