This view of the elementary school is a coarse halftone cut, off-center to allow some room for a message. This school building was probably a brand-new landmark and a thing of some local pride when this postcard was issued. The school had been built in 1900. The Sesquicentennial History, published in 1964, says: "The present Grade School was erected in 1900 on the site of the old school building which was destroyed by fire. At the time it had 12 recitation rooms, with a gymnasium, auditorium, etc., and was well equipped. This school continued with the first eight grades until 1957, when the upper grades were removed to the old high school building, forming the present Salem Junior High School." That historical note needs some amplification and revision. Over the years that the Elementary School was in service the gym and auditorium disappeared, replaced by more desks as the school-age population of Salem grew. Reduced to the first five grades, it was finally closed when the current Bradie Shrum Elementary was opened. The site today looks considerably different. About "Undivided Back" Postcards This card is one of several in the collection with an undivided back -- postal regulations required that the entire back of the card be reserved for the address, and any message had to be written on the front: The earliest known postcard mailed in the United States is postmarked 1848, and governments around the world issued plain cards with printed postage on them beginning in the 1860s and 1870s. Picture postcards produced by private printers made their appearance in this era. But only the government could label its card as a "Postcard" -- the cards sold by private printers said "Mail Card" or "Correspondence Card" or "Souvenir Card." In 1989 Congress allowed private printers to use "Private Mailing Card," and, in 1901, "Post Card" or "Postcard." Finally, in March of 1907, changes in the law allowed printers to publish "divided-back" cards -- cards that allotted half the back to space for the address, and the other half to the sender's message. This left them free to cover the entire front of the card with the picture. (For an overview of postcard history, see A Brief History of Postcard Types, an article credited to a guy who ought to know, Stefano Neis, who probably sold me some of the cards you see here.) This card was postmarked from Salem at 7 p.m., Oct. 22, 1906, addressed to Miss Nana Berkshire, Christiansburg, Ohio. Miss Berkshire evidently treasured her memories of Salem -- there's a very neat pinhole at the top center of the card where it was pinned up for display. (1/24/00) Home | The 1900s | Next card