G2G: To: Mrs. Henry A. Boudie August 19, 1946 East Walpole, Mass…a sweet message

Question

Hi Wikitreers,

I have in my vintage antique postcard collection another new and fascinating genealogy mystery!

We have a beautiful vintage post card from what it was like during the 1940’s in Historic Talcottville, Conn! What you might notice is the agriculture of the photo as this is now a idea of the past and has been replaced by traffic and overcrowded housing but their are still glimpses behind the modern day bustle!

The postcard needs deciphering as it’s in one’s own cursive handwriting!

The post card is addressed to a Mrs. Henry Boudie who lives at Washington Street, East Walpole, Massachusetts.

Sender: Needs collaboration in determining who sent the card?

Receiver: Mrs. Henry Boudie at 67 Washington Street, East Walpole, Massachusetts

Postage Date: August 19, 1946

Postage: 0.1 cent George Washington stamp

1.) Need last name spelling as it could be alternate Baudie? Etc.,

2.) Who is the sender?

3.) What is the transcription of the bio?

4.) What is Mrs. Henry Boudie’s name?

5.) Need 1940 East Walpole, Mass census for Washington Street

6.) Please note the era as this is just barely Post WWII and the war ended September 2, 1945!

Any collaboration is appreciated in this vintage New England postcard

Let’s get the the genealogy behind the antique vintage post card 

Thank you

Answer 1

Andrew:

Here is the 1940 Census for 67 Washington Street, Walpole, Massachusetts, which has Henry Dowdie and his wife Nellie Dowdie at that location:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4NF-D9P

It is attached to a familysearch profile for a Henry Aloysius Dowdie:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L1FN-4C8

The wife is reflected as Nellie Angeline Keyes:

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L27R-QQ8

Comments

Hi Roger,

Oh I see it now Dowdie and the name “Nell” is mentioned as Dear Nell and Henry. A positive match! The cursive writing and smudging was making it very complex!

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Their last name may be Doudie.  I sent you links to the obituaries by private message just to be safe because of how recent they are.

P.S.  The handwriting is hard.

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I got it! The obit matches. 

Here is his memorial with wife’s. 

See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176504692/henry_a-doudie

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Doudie is the spelling on stone. I wonder who sent the card it mentions her birthday cake the weather and even making a pair of shorts with a pattern?

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Looking closer at sender seems to read “With Loads of Love to you both”…Bonnie…Anne??….Keyes

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Could it be Carrie and Arnie?

Nellie had a sister Carrie that married an Arnold Johnston.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L27R-321

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Definitely a female writer and does appear to be

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Occupation listed for Henry in 1940 census is elevator operator at box factory

Henry’s birthplace is listed in 1940 census as Scotland

Note: it appears per obit and census no children mentioned

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His draft registration for World War II lists his employer as Bird & Son, Inc of East Walpole.

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/195561212:2238?tid=72588785&pid=192496841456&queryid=6e889cef-d14b-4f51-954b-6f420806717f&_phsrc=nxM7773&_phstart=successSource

It seems to have been a prominent local business.

https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/collection/data/191731903

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The box factories and paper mills were good jobs In the day and age especially 1940’s unfortunately those good paying American factory jobs left years ago…

My great grandfather worked in a box factory in east hampton for years!

Note: the 1940 census of the street gives a inside view of the local jobs….those Days are gone likely to never return

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The second post card I just found appears to be written from his mother? A rare find to have more than one from same group

Update: actually found more a total of 4 I’ll add the other two soon…

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Really genealogy can be so much more than the records…it can be found in everything…I think even in the ”beyond” but for some that is stretching the frontier 

Answer 2

Dear Nell and Henry,
(I think you have figured out all of the names involved.)
I forgot to tell Ma that the cake with the yellow  "Happy Birthday" was yours.  It's a white one and Barb's is chocolate.  Better eat it right up because it doesn't keep well this kind of weather.  Arn is making shorts for you Henry.  Dug the material out last night and also the pattern.  Will mail them up when they are finished.  Hope you have a pleasant birthday.  Are you going anywhere?  With loads of love to you both!
         Carrie - Arn says don't (forget??) the cloth bags.

Comments

Oh nice job on translating the cursive writing! It really is a neat card of the times! Old fashioned just the way most remember those days  

Thank you Beulah

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We can put this into the bio on their respective profiles! Excellent work 

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Cursive was easy.  Kids now can't figure it out nor are the future generations going to be able to read historical written documents.

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Found another post card and to my surprise it is the same family group! Rare! See profile for updates

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Just added the fourth and final post card in collection. She mentions it raining hard! I think the smudges are possibly from that rain that day! June 4, 1945 about 4pm

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I added the sister and mother so they can be linked to the cards too.

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Andrew, I suggest adding a link in the comments of each card to it's other side.

Also I think the Ma on cards 2 and 4 is the same person and that it's Nellie's mom.

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Thank you