I live within 2 blocks of this Lake at 1851 Stroud Ave. Green Lake, Seattle Wash.
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| Front: 5576. Seattle, Wash. Green Lake. |
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| Back: Postcard meant for Miss Ella. |
Past Post: Within 2 Blocks Of Green Lake
October 31st, 2007 @ 12:31 am by Cliffe | Sorted Past Post |
Today’s Past Postcard is mysterious in a number of ways. The card from an unknown writer with an unknown date was on its way to ” Miss Ella” … somewhere. The look of the card and the fact that it has a divided-back most likely place it between 1907 and 1930. See the text below and click on the images for a high-res copy.
Just having a name on the card doesn’t mean it’s incomplete or unsent. Yes, the card itself may have not journeyed through the postal system alone, but the card may have been included with a letter, or the card may have been handed to the person in person, or it may have been included with a gift, etc. It’s not totally uncommon to see just a name sans address on an older postcard.
Ya, I’ve seen a number of cards with just a name. I should have been more clear: When I say “unsent” I just mean not postally used as a standalone, so less clues and more conjecture on our part as to where and when it was going. Yet, sometimes that’s even more fun…
Cliffe
Vintage Seattle
Interesting address. As far as I can tell, Stroud only extends from E. Green Lake Dr. N. to N. 82nd St, making 1851 an impossible address. Also, as far as I know, Green Lake never had its own numbering system…and the only place you’ll find an address as low as 18xx on an Ave. N. is in Queen Anne. Did she get her own address wrong and it was really 8151, or DID that neighborhood once have its own scheme? I wonder.
Perhaps whoever sent this lovely card to Miss Ella was looking for a quickie and didn’t want her family to know because she might have been going with the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. So he left no name and gave her a fake address just so her dad with a possible shotgun wouldn’t hunt him down. My guess anyway.
Didi’s theory wins on sheer creativity alone.
Good questions, Ben. I was wondering these myself based on the street.
Cliffe
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the diagonal block of Stroud Avenue from the lake to 80th used to be numbered 1800. Notice that 80th from Wallingford to Burke is the 1800 block. Stroud was considered east-west in that section apparently.