This Divided Back postcard featuring a tranquil, scenic landscape from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
The front displays a wonderful, vibrant chromolithograph view titled: "View of Cedar Creek near Allentown, Pa." The image captures a peaceful look at the flowing waters of Cedar Creek winding past a hillside pasture fence, lush trees, and riverside foliage.
The reverse side is a beautifully preserved divided back layout featuring a strong machine cancellation mark, original period postage, and a highly descriptive handwritten travel message.
Handwritten Transcription:
The sender writes a wonderful note on the left side describing an outing along the creek:
"We rode along this creek on a street car yesterday. We stopped at a park where there are lots of rabbits and ducks of all kinds. It was a nice place. Ruth E."
Historical Context & Site Details:
- The Streetcar Line: Ruth’s message vividly documents Allentown's historic transit system. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company (LVT) operated a highly popular scenic streetcar line out toward the west end of town that ran parallel to Cedar Creek.
- The Park: The park with the "rabbits and ducks" that Ruth visited by streetcar is the historic Dorney Park, which originally opened in 1884 as a fish hatchery and public picnic resort along the banks of Cedar Creek before evolving into the modern amusement park it is today.
ON THE FRONT: "View of Cedar Creek Allentown, Pa."