Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Sheep Herding [1909]

From our collection of old postcards ...

In 1909 the Northern Pacific Railroad was looking for passengers to ride the rails. How about it ... Would this scene make you want to travel? Or, perhaps, take up sheep herding?

Shepard, two dogs, and a herd of sheep.

Postmarked St. Paul & Spokane Railway Post Office -- 4th Division
Train #4, July 29, 1909
(Postmarked aboard the train.)

One of the Northern Pacific Railroad's logos.

Mother's message ...


If we are reading it correctly ...
Bozeman Montana 
We are now crossing the Rockies. I wish I could describe the magnificence of the scenery. How I have wished for you all. It seems so selfish to have it all to myself. It is not cold although some of the mountains are snow capped.
Mother

Details ... The card was "Made in Germany" ...  No. 992, American Import Co., Publishers, Minneapolis, U.S.A.

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.


15 comments:

  1. Hmmmm. Seems like the railroad could have found a more compelling image. :)

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  2. I chuckled with EG. I take photos of the everyday every day...so I appreciate the image for that reason maybe.

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  3. The two dogs look like they are ready for a break! Your postcard series is a breath of fresh air I have enjoyed each and every one.

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  4. The Rockies are beautiful. I love the scene with the sheep and dogs..But, it seems to be a scene more for Ireland.. A wonderful postcard, thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day!

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  5. John, I've never seen such a bunch of sheep. That poor shepard! The note from Mother on the back is very sweet.

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  6. Today this postcard would make me want to do some sheep herding (for the time of vacation;). If this card would have talked me into travelling in those days - I'm not sure about that :)
    Thanks for your visit John! Won't miss any of your posts anymore, I've just signed in, I should be #111 :))
    And when I looked at an older card of a Dining Car, I realized that I didn't take a picture of that. Well, I didn't eat in there, just walked through. Maybe next time :)
    Have a fine day
    【ツ】Knipsa


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  7. i bet those two dogs were worth their weight in gold!

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  8. It was a fun image, if only for the humor factor. It's interesting what people thought would bring somebody aboard a train back then. :-)

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  9. Oh my that is a lot of sheep. Lots of work for those two dogs. : )

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  10. I rather like the image, John, it brings back simpler times, and I love that.

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  11. This is such a wonderful postcard. It's always fun to see what a person has written. We could make a movie of his journey though a lot of it would be a guess, but what a story he must have had at the end of it. Thanks for sharing John.

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  12. Hi John, Such a wonderful postcard and special message for a family so long ago.
    Great photo of the Shepard and his herd of sheep. The dogs had a lot of work.
    Thanks for sharing.
    CM

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  13. I think it would scare me to see that many sheep surrounding the wagon, lol. The most sheep I ever saw was in New Zealand where sheep outnumber humans.

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  14. That is a neat postcard and letter! It looks like quite the treasure! After all the vintage tv shows I've seen about range wars, I'm hoping the shepherd found plenty of room in Montana, far away from cattlemen! The writer provided a beautiful description of the scenery--makes a person want to see it!

    My grandma was just telling me the other day of a postcard she inherited from her great grandmother (not sure if I have the right generation there) written near the Wapsipinicon river by Independence, IA about how they were worried about the Indians stealing cattle...I'm hoping she shows me one of these days!

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    1. Postcard or letter--I'm not sure...Grandma said it didn't have a stamp, but was marked by hand.

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