Red Lodge no good
This RPPC (real photo post card) was published by the Red Lodge Drug Co., Red Lodge, Mont. It was postmarked Laurel, Mont. on 17 April 1910, addressed to Mrs. Hannah Smith, R5 Box 34 Dubuque Iowa.
The rear is very faded, so I’ll translate:
4/16/10
hello mother
Red Lodge no good
all foreighners cant
talk U.S. am
taking first train
for parts unknown
will advise later
yours, Geo.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
You might enjoy Letters of the Century, a book of letters written from 1900-1999. It’s really interesting getting a history lesson from the perspective of every day people writing back home to their loved ones.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:15 am
I love this card. A real vagabond.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I cannot help but wonder what language they were speaking.
November 2nd, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Thanks, Kit.
Martha, I too, ended up in Red Lodge alone & young, seventy years after George. People were “talking U.S.” by that time!
Jim - Red Lodge in 1910 had a wide variety of immigrants, most were here to work in the area mines. Many of their descendants are still in the area. Finns, Italians, Slavs, Germans, Irish, English, Welsh and Scots made up a large part of these immigrants. There were earlier non-native residents that were “American”, including people who would qualify for DAR status. Many of these people raised sheep and cattle. Norwegians and other Scandinavians also had early ranches in the area. The railroads brought in Asian workers. I have found Filipinos, Japanese and Chinese families in early Carbon County. There were Germans from Russia and people of Mexican descent - both were following the sugar beet industry. There were shepherds from Latin & South American countries and several European countries.
Poor George must have went down all the “wrong ” streets! Since I was raised in NYC, I understand how that could have happened. I used to walk ten blocks from the train station to my house in Queens. Some days I heard no English on that walk.
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:17 am
Have you read Ivan Doig’s “Montana Triology”? It’s got “US” talk in it, but it’s sat over by Two Medicine during various decades and the language varies as the population changes. Very good.
November 4th, 2007 at 4:33 am
I laughed so hard at that…to say so much in so few words!
November 4th, 2007 at 8:34 am
I love these old postcard entries. It makes me sad, though, when I see old postcards and old photographs for sale in antique stores because I know that they are a part of someone’s personal history and they have become detached from their families. Is that what will happen to mine, I wonder? Makes me want to buy them all up so that they won’t sit alone any longer.
November 14th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Wondering what you are up to? It’s a sunny nice day here in Helena. Nothing much going on. I am working on setting up a place to do my art work. Getting it out, putting it up, takes more time than I get to actually draw or paint. Hope all is well.
Martha
November 14th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Hi Karen, your post reminded me of an incident I encountered holidaying at Wolf Creek two years back - he didnt speak U.S. either! Have linked to you from my page. Oh how I wish my Scottish ancestors had taken the plunge!
November 21st, 2007 at 8:58 am
Right away I knew what the writer meant. My great-grandparents immigrated from Finland, Sweden, and Italy and all settled near Red Lodge. I think The Festival of Nations is still held each summer.