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
Ephemeral New York 
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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