Uncle John and Aunt Signa Hedrick Go to Reno:

This week's Sepia Saturday theme has to do with cows at market.  Well, my only old cow photo is this one, and I'm not going to give you a bunch of bull ... I have shown it on here before!

I really wanted to share some old postcards that my Uncle John and Aunt Signa bought in Reno, Nevada when they were on their trip to Salt Lake City, Utah in November 1945.  I learned from Mom that they were on their honeymoon, and were married at Aunt Signa's brother's home in Prineville.  They were married after WWII was over, and Uncle John got back from being stationed in Brazil.  (Here is a post about him going on leave to visit a cemetery, and why the USA was in Brazil during WWII "CLICK HERE".)

Here is the happy young couple on their wedding day.  Uncle John became a radiologist, and Aunt Signa a telephone operator.  

Here are the postcards.  I think that they went to the trouble of buying them and getting them ready to mail, but I don't t think they actually mailed them.  The postcards didn't have any stamps on the back and were all together in Uncle John's mementos.

To:  Mrs. Hazel Woods, Drain Oregon  (Aunt Signa's mother) 

Elko, Nevada
November 23, 1945 

Dear Mom, 

Thought sure I would get a card off to you yesterday, but couldn't get around.  So hard to find places open and where to go.  It has been late every night when we get in.  So far we haven't slept in the car, but thought maybe we would have to last night.  We had a flat tire at 7 miles from Elko.  We haven't had any snow since we left Bend. (I can't make out the last sentence.) 

Love, Signa and John

11-23-45
Elko, Nev. 

Dear Folks, 

Here we are at Elko and everything going fine except we did have a flat yesterday.  The weather and roads are swell.  Will try to drop you a line from Salt Lake. 

Love,
John and Signa

To:  Mr. and Mrs. Ethan L. Woods,  
       128 Idlewood Ave., 
       Prinville, Ore. 

Elko, Nevada
11-23-45 

Things are going fine.  No snow since we left Lakeview except in the hills, but the roads are dry.  And just one flat tire and that was yesterday.  Thanks a lot for everything.  We have been having good luck getting places to stay so far.  I have decided that all they do in Nev. is drink and gamble. 

Love, John and Signa 

I just can hear the relatives telling others, if they HAD received the postcards, "Oh, we heard from John and Signa!  They had a flat near Elko and John says that all they do in Nevada is drink and gamble!"

The following postcards were never filled out, and the pictures are very clear: 

Just a bit of Reno and Vicinity's history.  This came from a packet of Reno postcard pictures that can be found in this post, Vintage Reno and Vicinity Post Card Packet, 1937.  

I also have a bunch of postcards that they brought back from Salt Lake City, bought as souvenirs.  Sometime I will get around to scanning and posting those also. 

So, there you are, my friends.  If you enjoyed this story, please visit my Sepia Saturday friends by "CLICKING HERE" to find other neat photos and stories.  To read more about my family and other stories featuring old photos, memories and more, please look for this picture of me and my dad on the left-hand sidebar and read whatever else catches your fancy.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.