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This building plays a double role in Salem history. It was originally built as a school building in 1824. The 1916-1976 History notes that it was called the Salem Grammar School, and it functioned as a sort of junior college. It was so popular that it turned away students, so a bigger building was built and the school, renamed the Salem Seminary, moved a couple of blocks north to Hackberry Street. This small brick building was sold and used as a residence. (The Salem Seminary and a sister school, the Female Collegiate Institution, eventually became Salem's first high school.) When the photograph used for this card was taken the John Hay Birthplace didn't yet have the marker that appears in the front yard in the Curt Teich card. Likewise, it apparently hadn't yet acquired the side porch, but it has shutters and multi-pane windows that were replaced before the 1930s. It was apparently painted white, although more recent work has restored the unpainted brick, as shown in the card from the 1970s and a photograph taken in the summer of 2000. This card was mailed in Salem some years after it was printed, on Nov. 9, 1911. It was sent to the Rev. M. S. Heavenridge in Washington, Indiana. The message, written along the edge of the picture, says "Salem, Ind. -- Happy birthday -- greetings -- Jessie Brewer." (Another copy of this same card was sold on eBay earlier this year. It was postmarked Sept. 27, 1907, from Salem and signed "Compliments of Mr. and Mrs. W. V. Mason." It was also addressed to the Rev. M. S. Heavenridge, this time in Mitchell, Indiana. Apparently the Rev. Mr. Heavenridge got around.) (4/23/01) |