Messages: A familiar name appears

In our second Messages post, we examine a card depicting a winter scene on Michigan Avenue, known to modern-day Escanabans as Lake Shore Drive. The view is fitting, as Escanaba and the surrounding area currently struggle through a particularly cold and snowy January. 

But this is a Messages post, so let's flip the card over and see what it has to say:

Right away, we notice a few things:

• Despite the snowy winter scene, the card was sent mid-July of 1909. Perhaps our sender, known only as Harold, disliked the heat and longed for more frigid temps? 
• An early example from the new divided back postcard era, this card only allotted 1/4 of the space for the message. These early divided back cards often required the sender to write their message sideways. In this particular case, the lack of space wasn't a problem as Harold appears to be a man of few words.
• Even more interesting than the message – and the reason this card is featured here – is the recipient, a Mr. O. B. Fuller from Lansing, Michigan.

If that name rings a bell, it's because most folks from Escanaba have spent some time camping, swimming, or simply relaxing at nearby Fuller Park. The park, of course, is named for O. B. Fuller, who was a politician of some repute in the early part of the 20th century. A quick Google search turns up documents indicating he was Auditor General in 1917 and Senator of the Thirtieth District by 1922.

So the next time you're sitting around the campfire at Fuller Park, take a moment to remember O. B. Fuller and his old buddy Harold.

This card is located in our Other City Streets exhibit. Do you know more about O. B. Fuller or the mysterious Harold? If so, let us know in the comments below. Thanks!