Historic Lynchburg Postcards
From the collection of member Kurt Reisweber
These cards all date to the 1920's or earlier. Picture postcards first appeared in England and continental Europe in the 19th century. They first appeared in the United States at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Most American cards are post-1900, however. They were a collector's item from the very outset, with collectors usually keeping scrapbooks of them. I purchased these either on E-Bay or at railroadiana shows. - Kurt
Personal cameras were not an universal item for families early in the last century. Post cards provided a way that the average person could keep pictures of prominent everyday scenes and memories of their travels. - ed.
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This view of the Southern Railway Bridge over the James River is a J.P. Bell card from the 1920's. |
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This northbound view of Kemper Street Station was published by a Chicago firm prior to World War I. |
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This card showing the Kemper Street station is the only one of these cards that was actually used. The year of the postmark is illegible. The card is a J.P. Bell of pre World War I vintage. |
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The N&W bridge is the one east of Lynchburg. The card was one of a series on Lynchburg produced by Raphael Tuck & Sons of England. It was printed in Saxony (Germany). This is a pre World War I card. |
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A bird's eye view showing Union Station is a Raphael Tuck card from the same series as the N&W bridge card. |
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Published by the American News Company of New York. It was also printed in Germany. This is the depot that was once down near the James River, but was demolished years ago. This card shows the front. |
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Published by J. P. Bell of Lynchburg. This card dates to the 1920's and was made in USA. |
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Also a J. P. Bell card of the 1920's. The train in the view is a retouching that was added to a photograph by the manufacturer. |
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This second bird's eye view showing Union Station is a Raphael Tuck card from the same series as the N&W bridge card. |
