Faded and yellowed after more than a century, this Valentine’s Day card is hard to read. It appears to have been sent in 1906 to a Miss Tarehin on Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn—between Brownsville and East New York.
But who is it from? The sender is a mystery, and there doesn’t appear to be any message. The last name of the recipient is an unusual one as well.
A quick Google search uncovers an Anna Tarehin, buried in 1945 in Queens’ Third Calvary Cemetery, which is not that far from Glenmore Avenue.
[Card: NYPL Digital Gallery]
Tags: Anna Tarehin Brooklyn, Glenmore Avenue Brooklyn, Mystery Valentine's Day Cards, New York in 1906, Old Valentine's Day cards, Old Valentine's Day Traditions, Third Calvary Cemetery Queens
February 13, 2017 at 7:16 am |
Anna ws 68 years old when she died on Jan 20th, 1945 in Kings County, NY.
Did Anna treasure this card from a romantic interest? When it arrived in the post, was it clutched to her chest, the signature kissed as she twirled in delight at having received a special Valentine. Oh, if the tiny bit of cardboard ‘n ink could reveal the…
NO — WAIT…
This was sent as an endearment; Being a romantic, I’d like to believe it was from someone other than a relative, a long ago school chum or the corner shoe-repairman. The Valentine was carefully preserved by Anna, so it had to have had something more… (And if not, I can dream!)
The story of the mailing should only be shared between this pair of hearts. Once they cease to beat, we must recognize the glory was THEIRS. Tis’ a tangible reminder of a moment of thoughtful tenderness…and this slice of cardboard and printer’s ink might just deserve a wee kiss once more, as all sweet Valentines do.
February 13, 2017 at 3:12 pm |
Thanks Audrey–good point that someone did save this Valentine, so it must have been meaningful in a way that’s lost to the ages.
At the same time, someone donated it to the NYPL, where it is now digitized. A relative cleaning out Miss Terehin’s Glenmore Street home, perhaps?
February 13, 2017 at 10:10 am |
how wonderful
February 13, 2017 at 11:43 am |
I love it! The Valentine card is beautiful as well……
February 13, 2017 at 12:55 pm |
I think it’s addressed to Miss Margaret Tarehin – Anna’s sister. Both were Newfoundland-born gold-cutters who probably worked in the Auer family’s gold leaf manufactory (and residence) at 525 Glenmore Avenue – one of several such establishments in that area.
February 13, 2017 at 3:10 pm |
That makes sense, I couldn’t figure out the first initial. And “Auer” is on the card as well. Thank you Ian!
February 13, 2017 at 3:44 pm |
Fascinating stuff, thanks!
February 13, 2017 at 1:51 pm |
I love getting your blogs.. thank you
February 13, 2017 at 3:09 pm |
Thank you for reading!
February 13, 2017 at 3:48 pm |
A second mystery – why is 525 Glenmore Avenue blurred out in Google streetview?
February 13, 2017 at 4:00 pm |
How strange…I guess the people who live there now are very privacy sensitive?
February 13, 2017 at 4:07 pm |
I don’t think residents can opt out based on personal preference, it must be some other reason.
February 13, 2017 at 4:50 pm |
>
February 13, 2017 at 7:26 pm |
I am guessing the image of the structure (with as many as 5 to 7 bedrooms and several bathrooms, you can divide how ever you want into rental-units) had been provided for a real estate firm. Since the property had sold not too long ago, by blurring the image, they essentially showed it was ‘off the market’.
How is THAT for a guess!
February 13, 2017 at 7:28 pm |
Google streetview images are generated by a special car that Google owns and sends out all over the world. This will give you the gist https://www.google.com/streetview/understand/
February 13, 2017 at 7:43 pm |
TRULIA has a blurred image of the bldg. ZILLOW has a clear photo of what was once the goldleaf manufacturers. (AU is the chemical symbol for GOLD / hence the name of the firm.) It is still the orig. red brick with stripes of white stone / 3 story / tall steps with only a minor stoop at the entry. The structure was built in 1910, so it was still a fairly new place at the time of the Valentine’s mailing. Alas, it is not what it once was…and sold for $675-grand in May of last year.
February 14, 2017 at 8:19 am |
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