Scouting Around

Here are two more post cards from between Echo Mountain and the Alpine Tavern.

The post card at the top has red ink printed across the top of its face. It says, “1500- SCENE ALONG PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILWAY, MT. LOWE, CALIFORNIA IN WINTER”. It is beautiful proof that Southern California can get snow – at least, up in the mountains surrounding the basin. It is the older of the two cards. As you can see, it is from the divided back era. The picture goes right to the edge of the post card. The bottom card is from the “white border” era. Across the bottom white border one can read the caption: “CLIMBING TO CLOUDLAND, MT. LOWE, CALIFORNIA”. It looks to be springtime on the mountain. The red flowers are in full bloom along the tracks. The top card is the product of Edward H. Mitchell. Mitchell was born in 1867 in San Francisco, California. This is the city in which he based his printing/publishing company. In fact, he was printing cards in a building that was destroyed by the great earthquake. He was a very prolific producer. He travelled all over the United States gathering subject matter for his post cards. Mitchell also owned or was a partner in the Pacific Novelty Co. and the Souvenir Publishing Co. I have some great cards he printed of produce being shipped to market on flat cars and in gondolas. I will save them for a future series of postings. There is no date on the card but we know that it was printed between about 1907 and 1915.

The bottom card is another E.C. Kropp Company product. We can date this card a bit easier, because there is a postmark on the back. It was mailed from:” Mount Lowe California Aug 23 P.M. 1930” The Mt. Lowe trademark that we saw in the last posting is also on this post card. The message is from Janet to Florence. Janet says, “Like all the high toned people, I’m spending my time here. One more day of this and then I’m winding my way to the office.” Florence lives in Los Angeles and works at the Hall of Records. I think Janet probably worked there, too. I wonder which got back to the office first, the post card or Janet.