This picture of four deer is a real photo postmarked from Salem at 4 p.m. on August 2, 1924, and sent to Miss Minne Arnholt, 916 E. 4th St., Columbus, Ind. The message reads, "Game farm on other side. The one deer's name is Charlie named after Charley Chaplin. Having a real time down here in the hills. Buzz." Where this farm might be, or where the card came from, I have no idea, but this card and the next one, a view of a stone cottage, taken together raise some interesting possibilities. Both cards have handwritten captions that run up the left edge of the back: This one reads, "Deer Farm Polk Township, Wash. Co., Ind." The next card reads, "Stone House Becks 6 M.S.W. Salem Ind." Both captions, and presumably both photographs, come from the same hand. Taken together, they paint a picture of an enterprising photographer who documented Washington County's rural tourist attractions. Buzz, whoever he was, had been visiting in the southeastern corner of the county -- Polk Township is to the east of Pekin. The Beck's Mill neighborhood, if indeed that is where the Stone House was, is in Howard Township, southwest of Salem. (07/26/01, revised 08/24/04) Home | The 1920s | Next card