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Harford County in Vintage
Postcards by Bill Bates Introduction to book: Alternate version two |Version one This is the second version of the introduction. I focused on the wow factors of choosing the best and rarest postcards, but as an introduction to a history book, it doesn't say much. With this collection of 224 postcards that date back as far as 1874, you are getting the best of the best. From well over 1,000 irreplaceable, historic postcards, I chose the oldest, most striking, the rarest postcards. A B&O train plummets into the Susquehanna River. Like little icebergs, ice floes invade Havre de Grace. A locomotive rides through a peaceful view of Forest Hill. Farm families sit on their porches and work in the fields in Darlington. Soldiers learn to operate massive battle guns at APG. You’ll go back 100 years to see streets and homes, churches and schools, hotels and general stores in Aberdeen, Fallston, Jarrettsville, Perryman, and every corner of the county. These are valuable postcards, including many Real Photo postcards—actual photo prints on heavyweight photo paper—with quality as sharp as the photographer’s camera lens. Some postcards will bring back memories while others will surprise you. The captions share more than facts—there are stories and memories from folks who still remember bygone Harford—little insider details you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll also read a few of the actual messages to get a further insight into the lives of folks from generations past. Dates listed in boldface type as part of the card’s title represent the postmark, not necessarily the date of the photo. Because postcards do not carry copyright dates, the postmark, when available, is the surest way to date the card. You may have questions or comments about something in this book, or you might have postcards, photos, or stories for me to include in future books about Harford County. I’d love to hear from you. Send e-mail to bill@harfordbooks.com. If you’d like to know more about this book or more about Harford County, visit www.harfordbooks.com. You’ll find list of written and online resources, additional images and more about specific images from this book, a rationale for how I selected the images that I used, and for collectors, thoughts on the rarity of some of these cards. |
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