“Citizens were encouraged to write the soldiers for encouragement and to lift their spirits.”
Craig Field AT-6 trainer
A picture postcard showing an Army Air Corps training airplane on the front was sent to Miss Sue Howard of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on September 16, 1942. The sender was Private Anthony “Tony” J. Infantino, who was at the base during this time. Infantino’s postcard has a Selma postmark. His message to Sue was a polite and cordial one.
“Stopped here and will soon be on our way to Texas by plane. Will write later. Your pal, Tony”
Craig Field, located near Selma, Alabama, was a significant military airfield during World War II. Established as part of the United States’ rapid expansion of air training facilities, Craig Field played a vital role in preparing pilots for combat and supporting the broader war effort. This overview explores the history, operations, and legacy of Craig Field during the WWII era.
The base was constructed in 1940 as the threat of global conflict grew and the United States recognized the need to train a vast number of aviators. Named in honor of Lieutenant Bruce K. Craig, a military aviator who lost his life in service, the field became operational in early 1941. Its primary mission was to serve as an advanced pilot training base under the Army Air Forces’ Southeast Training Center.
During WWII, Craig Field was primarily dedicated to advanced flight training. Cadets, having completed basic flight instruction elsewhere, arrived at Craig for rigorous, comprehensive training on advanced aircraft.
The base specialized in transitioning pilots to operate single-engine fighter planes and multi-engine bombers, crucial to the Allied air campaign. Training included instrument flying, formation maneuvers, navigation, and aerial combat tactics.
Thousands of American and Allied pilot trainees passed through Craig Field during the war. The influx of personnel brought economic growth and increased activity to the surrounding Selma community. The base employed both military and civilian workers, fostering a sense of shared purpose in the national war effort.
Craig Field operated a variety of aircraft, including the North American AT-6 Texan, which was widely used for advanced pilot training. The field was equipped with modern runways, hangars, and support facilities, reflecting the technological advancements of the era. The curriculum emphasized proficiency in the latest aviation technology and combat readiness.
The pilots trained at Craig Field went on to serve in every theater of World War II, flying missions over Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa. The field’s rigorous training programs ensured that aviators were well-prepared for the challenges they would face in combat. Craig Field thus played a pivotal role in the overall success of the U.S. Army Air Forces during the war.
With the end of WWII, Craig Field continued to serve as a training and operational base, adapting to the needs of the emerging U.S. Air Force. Its contributions during WWII are remembered as a key chapter in the history of American military aviation, and the field’s legacy endures in both the region and the broader context of air power development.
Craig Field’s history during World War II is marked by its critical function as a center for advanced pilot training, technological innovation, and community involvement. Its legacy reflects the determination and teamwork that underpinned the Allied victory in the air war.
At Craig Field for a brief time, Pvt. Anthony Infantino was probably on his way to Randolph Field near San Antonio for further training. He was born on July 22, 1919, in New York. Enlisting in the Army at the age of 23, tragically, Tony was killed in action (KIA) while parachuting into enemy territory in the Netherlands.
This happened on March 24, 1945, with his remains not brought back to the States until 1948, where it was interred in his hometown of Pawling, New York. Flags were lowered to half staff, with quite a few residents turning out for the service. Tony’s young friend may have never known.
Sue Howard was much younger than Tony, and judging by the context of the postcard message, their relationship was strictly one of friendship. Perhaps she was more of a pen pal than anything. Citizens were encouraged to write the soldiers for encouragement and to lift their spirits. This nationwide campaign was called V-MAIL, or Victory Mail.
Miss Betty Sue Howard married Eugene L. Delves on March 27, 1954. The couple stayed together until their deaths. Eugene passed away in 2011, and Betty Sue, seven years later, in 2018.
Private Anthony “Tony” InfantinoBetty Sue Howard-Delves1954
“I just don’t like the idea of someone going through our mail and then writing a story about what they found.”
A while back, I started compiling vintage postcards and then researching the people who had sent them, including those on the receiving end. My goal was to dissect 50 postcards and then stop, which I did. Since stopping—I’ve been asked to continue my work with a book offer on the table.
There are postcard books out there, yet none that I’ve found where the book author went so far as to do background searches on people mentioned in the cards. “Postcard People,” as I call them. I’m sure someone will come along and do exactly that, but it won’t be me.
I get more satisfaction out of people reading my discoveries for free rather than trying to make an extra dollar hawking this material. Folks read my blog by the thousands, with payment being a like, thumbs up, or nice comment. Those gestures alone keep me writing.
The pressure of compiling another book turns me off more than anything, especially with book marketing almost non-existent for the little guy or gal. “Who you know” plays a big part in the literary field just as it does in music.
Some celebrities, sports stars, and politicians hawk their latest books on late-night television, although the finished product might stink. That global marketing reaches millions of people and sells tons of books.
A best seller doesn’t always mean it’s a good read—only that it was well promoted. I’ve purchased a couple of expensive best-sellers and stopped reading them less than halfway through. With that said, it’s time to get back to talking postcards, or is that postcards talking?
The act of sending postcards has long been a cherished tradition around the world. From the late 19th century to the present day, postcards have captured moments, shared stories, and connected people across distances. I’ll lightly touch upon how postcards evolved from simple pieces of mail into treasured keepsakes that reflect social, cultural, and technological changes throughout the years.
The concept of the postcard emerged in the mid-1800s as postal services expanded and literacy rates increased. The first known postcard was sent in 1840 by writer Theodore Hook in London, but it was not until 1869 that the Austrian postal service officially introduced the “Correspondenz-Karte.” This innovation offered a cheap, convenient way for people to send short messages without the need for an envelope, revolutionizing personal communication.
The idea quickly spread across Europe and beyond. By the 1870s and 1880s, countries such as Germany, France, and the United States had adopted postcards as part of their postal systems. Early postcards were typically plain, but soon, decorative illustrations and photographs appeared, turning them into miniature works of art. The Golden Age of Postcards, spanning from the 1890s to the 1910s, saw millions of postcards exchanged annually, capturing travel scenes, local landmarks, holidays, and personal messages.
Postcards played an important role in social life, offering a quick and accessible method for people to stay in touch. Travelers sent postcards to family and friends as souvenirs or updates from their journeys. Soldiers used them to communicate with loved ones during wartime, providing comfort and maintaining connections across great distances. Postcards also became tools for advertising, political campaigns, and public service announcements.
The rise of telephones and, later, digital communication methods such as email and messaging apps led to a decline in postcard usage. However, postcards remain popular among collectors and enthusiasts, and many people still send them as a personal touch from travels or on special occasions. The advent of customizable and digital postcards has allowed the tradition to persist in new forms, blending nostalgia with modern convenience.
Sending postcards has become more than just a way to convey information; it represents a unique intersection of art, culture, and personal expression. Collectors prize vintage postcards for their historical value and design, while contemporary aficionados appreciate the tangible connection they provide in an increasingly digital world. Count me in with that group.
Postcards continue to serve as artifacts of social history, capturing snapshots of everyday life and commemorating important events.
The history of sending postcards reveals a fascinating journey from simple cards to beloved keepsakes. While the way people communicate has changed dramatically, the postcard endures as a symbol of connection, creativity, and shared experience—reminding us of the enduring value of a personal message sent across the miles.
Mom and her two sisters loved to send postcards when they went on trips. My brother did as well. Joleen and I sent postcards, but over the past 20 years, we’ve mailed very few.
Some of the cards that Mother sent, I still possess, including several from other folks. I’ll hang onto them and make sure they don’t go public or are sold on eBay. Not that there’s anything shady lurking in my family’s past, that I know of, but I just don’t like the idea of some writer going through our mail and then composing stories about what they uncovered. There should be a law against it, or perhaps there already is 😊
“Imagine that you are Miss Ruby Ellens, having just received this card, or better yet, Ruby’s father.”
Main Street – Yuma, Arizona
Yuma Army Air Field, located near Yuma, Arizona, played a significant role during World War II as a key training base for military aviators. Established in 1942, the airfield was part of the United States Army Air Forces’ rapid expansion to meet wartime demands for skilled pilots and aircrew.
Throughout the war, Yuma Army Air Field hosted advanced flight training for thousands of cadets, specializing in single-engine aircraft. Its vast desert terrain provided ideal conditions for year-round flying and rigorous training exercises. The base operated various aircraft types, including the AT-6 Texan and P-40 Warhawk, and contributed to the preparation of pilots for combat missions across multiple theaters.
In addition to flight training, the airfield supported gunnery and bombing practice, further enhancing the capabilities of U.S. air forces. After the war ended in 1945, the base was deactivated but later reopened and evolved into today’s Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, continuing its legacy as a vital military aviation facility.
Private C.W. Hilleboe was assigned to the Yuma airfield at the start of WWII. I know this much because I have a picture postcard the private sent Miss Ruby Ellens in Sioux Falls, North Dakota, from Yuma, 71 years ago, on October 1, 1944. The card has a color shot of Yuma’s Main Street on the front, also showing older automobiles of the period.
Before I go any further, let me say that I’ve come across numerous vintage newspaper articles along with postcards having racist undertones. For the most part, I don’t include them in my stories, but in this case, the message that Pvt. Charles William “Bill” Hilleboe sent Ruby Ellens may have been the very reason this couple didn’t stay together.
I decided to print his short note, as written, to prove my point. Imagine that you are Miss Ruby Ellens, having just received this card, or better yet, Ruby’s father. Perhaps Bill didn’t mean what he said, but unfortunately, things came out wrong, especially where drinking alcohol is concerned.
“10-1-44
It isn’t that clean, believe me.
Here’s the card I promised to send you. I would have sent it sooner but last night was my first night in town, also my last. The town is no good. All you see are Mexicans and halfbreeds. One thing though they have plenty of liquor. Believe it or not, I didn’t touch it last night. I am waiting until I get home. Will write you a letter soon. Love, Bill.”
Ruby Jean Ellens was born on February 16. 1922, in Minnehaha, South Dakota. She came from a very religious family, and she was highly active in church as a young person.
Charles William “Bill” Hilleboe was born on March 5, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Enlisting in the US Army on June 27, 1942, at the age of 18, he was only 20 when he wrote Ruby Ellens.
Pvt. Hilleboe served as a radio operator on B-17 and B-24 bombers during WWII. He married Barbara Ellen Doherty on June 29, 1946, but that marriage didn’t last. They divorced on May 19, 1950.
Bill then wed Iva Maurine McKinney on October 9, 1950. After leaving the service, he worked as a depot agent for Union Pacific Railroad for 37 years before retiring. Mr. Hilleboe was also mayor and city councilman of his hometown in Idaho, and an active Lions Club officer and participant. The couple had three children.
Bill and Maurine stayed together for 53 years before she died in 2004. Bill died one year later, on May 10, 2005, at the age of 81.
For those wondering what happened to Miss Ruby Jean Ellens, stay tuned for my next story, “Yuma Blues – Part Two.”
“The word Blythe alone doesn’t conjure up an oasis or vacation destination for me.”
Lonely and desolate
During WWII, there were several airfields in and around our neck of the woods. My mother always used that term when describing her hometown in Alabama. Works for me here in Arizona, although there are no woods within sight; only rocks and sagebrush out my back door, along with the lake.
Lake Havasu City had yet to become a dream in developer Robert McCulloch Sr’s eyes when a military airfield was built on what’s now called “The Island.” That facility was simply named Site 6 and was used as a recreational site more than anything. On occasion, a civilian airplane experiencing engine trouble landed there for repairs.
Yucca had a military base, as did Kingman and Yuma. What some people don’t realize is that an Army Air Base at Blythe, California, played a significant role during World War II as a training and operational facility for the US Army Air Corp.
Established in 1942, the base was strategically located in the desert of Riverside County, which provided an ideal environment for flight training due to its generally clear weather and vast open spaces.
Blythe Army Air Base primarily served as a training ground for bomber crews, including those assigned to fly B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators. The facility was part of the larger West Coast airfield network, supporting the war effort by preparing air crews for combat missions overseas. Personnel stationed at Blythe underwent rigorous training in navigation, bombing techniques, and aerial gunnery.
In addition to its training functions, Blythe Army Air Base supported various operational units and hosted several temporary deployments. Its airstrips and facilities were also used for aircraft maintenance and logistics operations. The base contributed to the overall readiness of the Army Air Forces, helping to ensure the effective deployment of trained airmen to the European and Pacific theaters.
After the end of World War II, Blythe Army Air Base was deactivated and eventually repurposed for civilian use, becoming Blythe Airport. Today, its legacy endures as a reminder of the region’s contribution to the nation’s wartime aviation history.
A postcard I acquired was sent by Pvt. Darrel L. Adams to his two nieces in Bloomington, Indiana, Carolyn and Norma Adams, while the private was stationed at Blythe Army Air Base in California. The message on this card briefly describes his surroundings:
“Dear Niece: At last I found a postal that gives you some idea what this country looks like. Note the barren mountain & no trees, also rocks, sand, & sage brush. With love, Darrel. P.S. Needles is not far from Blythe.”
Darrel’s black & white postcard shows a picture of a bleak section of Highway 195 from Needles to Parker. The word Blythe alone doesn’t conjure up an oasis or vacation destination for me. This vintage postcard was postmarked in Blythe on September 30, 1942, with the return address being,
Pvt. Darrel L. Adams
190th. Qm. Co. Serv. Group
Army Air Base
Blythe, California
I wasn’t sure what I’d find regarding the card sender and recipients, greatly hoping that Pvt. Adams made it through the war alive. Thankfully, things turned out well for all three people.
Private Darrel Adams was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1945 after WWII ended. Adams went on to become a custodian for an office building. Previous to enlisting in the service, he declared his occupation on a 1940 census report as a professional projectionist. Born in 1921, Darrel Lewis Adams died in 1988 at the age of 77.
Carolyn June Adams was born August 24, 1925, and would’ve been 17 when Uncle Darrel sent that postcard to the girls. Carolyn’s sister, Norma, was only 14, having been born on March 7, 1928.
Carolyn married Roy Henry Torbit on May 5, 1944, while her sister Norma wed a guy named Ted Lee Fox in 1948. A previous marriage for Norma had failed. Carolyn died in 2000 at the age of 75, with younger sister Norma outliving her, passing away in 2012 at the age of 84.
I found nothing outrageous or controversial about Darrel, Carolyn, or Norma Adams. Their lives were what I call routine where ‘postcard people’ are concerned—much unlike “The Adams Family” of television fame.
Postcard people is a new terminology I’ve given to the sender and recipients of vintage postcards. If things catch on, there’s a very slight chance it’ll go viral!
“With the name of Lucksley, Virginia’s husband should’ve also been on that Vegas trip.”
Flamingo Hotel – Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, a city celebrated for its neon-lit nights, high-stakes glamour, and ceaseless entertainment, owes much of its iconic identity to one particular establishment: the Flamingo Hotel. Steeped in both glitz and intrigue, the Flamingo was more than just a hotel—it was a turning point in the transformation of Las Vegas from a dusty railroad town into the entertainment capital of the world.
The story of the Flamingo Hotel begins in the mid-1940s. At that time, Las Vegas was a modest settlement with a handful of casinos clustered in its downtown area. The seeds of expansion, however, had been planted by several visionaries, among whom Billy Wilkerson stood out.
Wilkerson, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, dreamed of building an opulent resort outside the city limits on a stretch of highway that would become the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. He envisioned a luxury hotel with fine dining, lavish entertainment, and a casino that catered to Hollywood’s elite.
Construction on Wilkerson’s dream began in 1945, but he soon ran into financial trouble. It was at this critical juncture that the infamous Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel entered the picture. Siegel, a notorious figure in the world of organized crime, saw the potential in Wilkerson’s project. Backed by mob syndicate funding, Siegel took over the construction and poured money into the venture, determined to create the most dazzling resort Las Vegas had ever seen.
The Flamingo Hotel and Casino officially opened its doors on December 26, 1946. The opening was anything but smooth. Construction delays, budget overruns—reportedly ballooning to $6 million, a staggering sum at the time—and a rainstorm that dampened opening night festivities made for a rocky start. The unfinished hotel failed to impress its celebrity guests, and the casino lost money in its first few months.
Despite these setbacks, the Flamingo was a marvel of its time. It boasted luxurious accommodations, lush gardens, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a showroom that would host some of the biggest names in entertainment. The hotel’s pink neon sign and tropical motif set it apart from the Western saloons and low-slung casinos of downtown. Siegel was determined to make the Flamingo succeed and spent lavishly to cement its reputation as the finest resort in Las Vegas.
However, the financial troubles continued. By June 1947, the Flamingo still had not turned a profit. The mob investors grew impatient, and on June 20, 1947, Siegel was assassinated in Los Angeles. With Siegel’s death, Gus Greenbaum took over management, and the Flamingo finally began to thrive.
The Flamingo’s success reshaped the Las Vegas landscape. Its location—a couple of miles south of downtown along Highway 91—became the blueprint for future resort developments. Soon, other lavish hotels followed: the Desert Inn, the Sands, the Sahara. The Las Vegas Strip was born, and the Flamingo stood as its glamorous pioneer.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Flamingo played host to a who’s who of entertainers: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Judy Garland graced its stage. The hotel became synonymous with high-class entertainment, drawing crowds from across the country. Its casino was the playground of gamblers and celebrities alike, and its poolside gardens became the ultimate symbol of postwar leisure.
Over the decades, the Flamingo underwent numerous expansions and renovations. The original low-rise wings were demolished in the 1960s to make way for larger towers, as the hotel adapted to the boom in Las Vegas tourism. The property changed hands several times—first to Kirk Kerkorian, who acquired it in the late 1960s, and then to Hilton Hotels Corporation in the 1970s. Each new owner invested in upgrades, ensuring the Flamingo remained competitive with newer resorts.
By the late 20th century, the Flamingo had become a sprawling complex, with over 3,600 rooms, sprawling gardens, and one of the largest casinos on the Strip. However, it always maintained its signature pink and tropical theme, a nod to Siegel’s original vision.
In the 1990s, the Flamingo became part of the Hilton chain, and later, following a series of mergers, was operated by Caesars Entertainment. The resort continued to reinvent itself to meet changing tastes, introducing new restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment options.
One of the Flamingo’s most charming features is its famous wildlife habitat—a lush sanctuary filled with Chilean flamingos, swans, ducks, koi, and turtles. This tranquil oasis offers a refreshing contrast to the bustling casino floor and continues to delight visitors today.
The Flamingo’s entertainment legacy lives on, now featuring successful residencies and shows such as Donny and Marie Osmond, RuPaul’s Drag Race Live!, and other acclaimed productions. Its wedding chapel remains a popular choice for couples seeking a touch of Vegas glamour on their special day.
The Flamingo occupies a unique place in the cultural imagination. Its beginnings are entwined with the lore of the American mob, the glamour of Hollywood, and the rise of Las Vegas itself. While the building itself has been replaced and expanded many times over the decades, its name is a direct link to the city’s storied past.
In film and television, the Flamingo has appeared as a backdrop to countless stories—its neon sign a beacon in the desert night. Its association with Bugsy Siegel and the mob has been immortalized in movies such as “Bugsy” (1991) and in numerous books and documentaries about Las Vegas.
Today, the Flamingo stands as both a monument to the past and a vibrant part of Las Vegas’s present. While new mega-resorts have risen on the Strip, the Flamingo remains a favorite for those seeking the nostalgia and charm of classic Las Vegas. Its pink facade, iconic signage, and tropical grounds continue to invite guests into a world of fun, fantasy, and history.
More than seven decades after its opening, the Flamingo Hotel and Casino has seen triumph and tragedy, reinvention and renewal. Its history is the history of Las Vegas itself—a story of visionaries, risk-takers, and dreamers who turned a patch of desert into a playground for the world. As long as the neon lights shine on the Strip, the Flamingo’s legacy will endure, a symbol of glamour, resilience, and the ever-evolving magic of Las Vegas.
On August 26, 1958, Alma May Gray, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, visited Las Vegas for perhaps the first time. Only two years prior, on May 8, 1956, she’d lost her husband, Charles Thaddeus Gray. The couple had been married for 33 years.
I can only speculate here. Friends and family undoubtedly told Alma after Charles died that she needed to get out of the house more often, “Take a trip!” they said. Finding a good deal on a bus excursion from Idaho Falls to Las Vegas, she did just that. Alma’s postcard to Mrs. L.F. Collins described what she found once she got there.
“We arrived at 8:30 this morning, and this is where we are staying. It is real hot here but our rooms are air conditioned. Will see you when I return. Alma Gray.”
The person Alma wrote to, Mrs. L.F. Collins, was Virginia Grahame Parsons Collins. She went by her husband, Lucksley F. Collins, initials as many women did back in the day. With the name of Lucksley, Virginia’s husband should’ve also been on that Vegas trip.
Alma Mae Gray lived to be 91, passing away on June 26, 1989. Hopefully, she got to see more of the country before getting too old to travel. Her friend, Mrs. L.F. Collins, made it to 94, dying on July 30, 1980. It’s possible that Alma Gray and Virginia Collins eventually went on bus tours together, with Virginia’s husband, Lucksley, passing away in 1964.
On a bright note, the Flamingo Hotel still stands, a popular stopping off point for tour buses, automobiles, and air travelers from throughout the world.
The former Collins house in Idaho Falls, Idaho, is now undergoing new siding replacement
“Maude, Harry, and Minnie took that private information to the grave.”
Pennell Building – Junction City, Kansas
An interesting old 1910 postcard I came across is actually a celebratory announcement of the opening of a new commercial building in Junction City, Kansas. The card sender was Maude K. of Junction City, with the recipient, Mr. Francis Bowman of Chapman, Kansas.
Given my familiarity with this structure and my wife’s birth in Junction City, I felt it was worthy of a full historical review of both entities. I’ll get to the biography of the sender and recipient at the end of my writing.
Located in the heart of Junction City, Kansas, the Pennell Building stands as a testament to the city’s commercial evolution and architectural heritage. For over a century, this structure has witnessed the ebb and flow of local history, entrepreneurship, and community life, earning its place as a cherished landmark in Geary County.
Junction City, founded in the mid-19th century at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers, blossomed as a hub of trade and transportation thanks to the arrival of the railroad. As the city’s population and economic ambitions grew, so did the demand for more commercial square footage. It was against this backdrop, in 1887, that the Pennell Building was constructed.
Commissioned by William Pennell, a notable local entrepreneur and investor, the building was designed to be a prominent fixture in the city’s burgeoning downtown district. Its construction reflected both the optimism of Junction City’s business community and the Victorian architectural trends sweeping the nation during the late 1800s.
The Pennell Building quickly distinguished itself through its stately brick façade, tall arched windows, and intricate ornamental details, features that set it apart from the simpler wooden storefronts common at the time.
Upon completion, the Pennell Building became a prime location for a variety of businesses. Its ground floor was home to general stores, mercantile shops, and other retail ventures that catered to both locals and travelers passing through Junction City by rail or stagecoach. The upper floors housed professional offices, including lawyers, doctors, and real estate agents, further cementing the Pennell Building’s reputation as a commercial nucleus.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the building evolved alongside the city’s changing economic landscape. As Junction City grew, so too did the diversity of enterprises within the Pennell Building. It became home to everything from specialty boutiques and financial institutions to printing presses and small manufacturing companies. The building’s adaptability mirrored the resilient spirit of Junction City itself, which weathered economic booms and busts, wars, and periods of rapid growth.
Beyond its role as a commercial center, the Pennell Building played an integral part in the social and cultural fabric of Junction City. Its upper floors were often used for meetings, gatherings, and even small performances. Community organizations, fraternal orders, and social clubs found a home in the building’s spacious rooms, making it a lively gathering place for local residents.
The Pennell Building’s location on Washington Street, one of Junction City’s main thoroughfares, made it a focal point for parades, celebrations, and public events. Its distinctive architecture provided a charming backdrop for photographs and festivities, endearing it to generations of townspeople.
Its original brickwork, decorative cornices, and grand windows are characteristic of Victorian commercial architecture—a style that emphasized both function and beauty. Over time, the building underwent several renovations, but much of its historic character has been carefully preserved.
Local preservation efforts in the late 20th and early 21st centuries recognized the Pennell Building’s significance. When many historic structures in small-town America faced demolition, Junction City’s leaders and citizens rallied to protect their architectural heritage. Restoration projects ensured that the building’s façade remained true to its 19th-century origins, while interior spaces were modernized to accommodate new businesses and offices.
In recent decades, the Pennell Building has experienced a renaissance, reflecting broader trends in downtown revitalization across the United States. Its street-level spaces have been home to a range of businesses—from cafes and antique stores to local service providers and boutiques—each contributing to Junction City’s vibrant small-business ecosystem.
All upper floors, once the domain of professionals and organizations, have been adapted for modern offices and, in some cases, residential lofts. This adaptive reuse has breathed new life into the historic structure, attracting entrepreneurs and residents who value its unique blend of old-world charm and contemporary amenities.
Today, the Pennell Building remains a cornerstone of Junction City’s downtown district. Its red-brick silhouette continues to evoke the city’s storied past, while its bustling storefronts and renovated interiors signal a commitment to the future. For longtime residents and newcomers alike, the Pennell Building is more than just an old structure—it is a living symbol of the city’s resilience, adaptability, and sense of community.
Few buildings in Junction City encapsulate the city’s history as completely as the Pennell Building. Over more than a century, it has weathered fires, economic challenges, and changing urban landscapes. In doing so, it has provided a sense of continuity and identity for the community.
Its preservation is a testament to the dedication of local citizens who recognized the importance of maintaining connections to their shared heritage. Educational tours, historical exhibits, and community events held in or around the building continue to foster appreciation for the city’s past.
The story of the Pennell Building is, in many ways, the story of Junction City itself. Born of entrepreneurial vision, shaped by the currents of commerce and community, and preserved through collective effort, the building remains a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape. As Junction City grows and changes, the Pennell Building stands as a reminder that history is not only something to be remembered but something to be lived—brick by brick, generation after generation.
From its prominent architectural features to its ever-changing roster of businesses and its enduring role as a community gathering place, the Pennell Building exemplifies the rich tapestry of Junction City’s evolution. Its walls have witnessed the ambitions, struggles, and celebrations of countless residents, and its continued presence ensures that the city’s heritage remains a living, breathing part of daily life.
A message on my vintage postcard, written to Francis Bowman, reads as follows:
“November 28, 1928
Dear Cousin – Please tell those people that we will be out Thursday if it does not storm for the turkeys. Guess me will find you. And oblidge.
Maude K.”
Born on April 16, 1873, Mr. Francis Bowman was a farmer living in the Rinehardt agricultural area of Chapman. Several wealthy ranchers and farmers resided in the vicinity, including Joseph Strickler Hollinger and John Hiram Taylor. These two distinguished gentlemen are buried in the Rinehart Cemetery.
Francis and his wife Emma eventually moved to Woodbine in 1913, a distance of approximately 15 miles from Chapman. They had a son one year later, whom they named Martin. Newspaper accounts have Francis listed as a wealthy and industrious farmer. An interesting thing I found printed about his farming operation was that he purchased a manure spreader in 1913. This bit of news was perhaps placed in the newspaper as a form of subtle humor.
Francis Bowman died on December 1, 1936, at the age of 63. His wife Emma passed away in 1974, living to be 93. They’re both buried in Woodbine Cemetery. Their son, Martin, was a retired Rock Island railroad conductor. He died in Alabama on June 28, 2010, at the age of 95. His body was brought back and interred in Herington, Kansas, in Dickinson County.
Maude K. or Maude Kipperling was, of course, a cousin to Francis Bowman. She, along with husband Harry Hoover Kipperling, farmed in the Junction City area. There wasn’t much found about them in local newspapers, yet a 1940 census report had a ‘servant’ living with them, Minnie Stiner. That in itself seems unusual.
Minnie Stiner appears to be someone they knew who lost her husband. It also appears that the Stiners kindly took her in, with Minnie helping out around the house as payment. Why she told a census taker that she was the Kipperling’s servant seems most strange, almost humorous. My guess is that she didn’t want it to seem as if Harry had two wives.
The Ancestry.com website shows Harry Kipperling was born in 1878 and died in 1949. His wife, Maude, was born in 1893 and passed away in 1949. Minnie Stiner was born in 1893 and died in 1943.
With Minnie only living with the Stiner’s for a short time, perhaps she was not in good health? My research did not disclose such, with Maude, Harry, and Minnie taking that personal information to the grave.
“There’s no satellite dish on the side of her house, nor does there appear to be an air conditioner.”
Martha Ann Mann-Amos
For many of the postcards that I’ve analyzed thus far, the people who either wrote or received them, I’ll eventually see in Heaven. This I know after reading about their lives in either census reports, newspaper articles, church records, and most importantly, obituaries.
Sadly, these days, some family members no longer compose an obituary for their loved one. An obituary can be a powerful testimony to those unsaved souls reading it, describing how and when this person came to know the Lord.
A postcard mailed from Ann Amos to Mrs. Pennie Garrett doesn’t say a lot on the outside, word-wise, but after researching both people, I discovered what I really wanted to know: they were believers.
Martha Ann Amos lived in Columbus, Kansas, and it’s easy to see in the photo on the front that she didn’t have it easy. There’s no satellite dish on the side of her house, nor does there appear to be an air conditioner. It can get very hot and humid in Kansas during the summer.
A brief note on the back of the card explains why the dog is sitting in her lap. It doesn’t appear that Mrs. Amos or the hound wanted their picture taken, judging by the photograph on the front.
“Alls well
are you
put this out to keep
the hawks away
from chickens”
Pennie Angy Garrett and her husband Edmund lived on small farms in Columbus, Kansas. Just like Ann Amos and her spouse, John, they were struggling farmers right up until the great depression hit, with the disastrous ‘Dust Bowl’ following soon after.
For those unaware of this, the Dust Bowl was caused by farmers stripping the land of almost all native vegetation. Winds then took over, making for what’s called a haboob in the desert. Dust and dirt were so thick that humans and animals struggled to breathe. Plants wouldn’t grow due to a lack of natural fertilizer.
Jennie Brown was born on August 21, 1871, in Kansas. She married Edmund Armson Garrett on December 12, 1895. Their first child didn’t arrive until 1897, with three others soon following. Jennie was the secretary/treasurer of their Baptist church.
On June 27, 1907, the Garretts lost one of their children. Little Ralph was a little over two years old. His obituary was most sad, with a touching poem at the end. Jennie passed away 12 years later, on September 23, 1919. She was only 48.
Jennie’s husband, Edmund, lived to be 82, dying on April 19, 1946. He never remarried. Interestingly enough, the farmer was born in London, England, before deciding to settle down in Kansas.
Martha Ann Mann-Amos lived a much different life from her friend, Jennie. Born in 1852 in Indiana, she came to Kansas already married to her husband, John. Their first child had died at birth.
With her most likely not able to bear children, in 1891, John and Ann eventually adopted a three-year-old boy. Named William Thacker Amos, sadly, in 1914, at the age of 23, while still living at home, “Willie” was struck in the head at his worksite and eventually died. Martha Ann passed away just 10 years later, on June 19,1924.
According to a census report from 1930, John Thacker was no longer working, with his home valued at $500. John died on July 19, 1934, at the age of 82. Enough was written about both the Amoses and the Garretts to tell me they were followers of Jesus Christ.
Were these people poor folk? It depends on who you ask. Despite all of the sadness found during my investigation, I tend to believe that before they left this world, the Amos and Garrett elders were happy, knowing without a shadow of a doubt they’d see their loved ones again. That’s worth far more than financial standing. Philippians 3:7-8
“During my research, I found Patricia Perry to be a professional dancer, while at the same time she owned the Patricia Perry School of Dance.”
Hay bales in Ophir, Alaska
I decided to try my investigative skills on an Alaska ghost town postcard, this vintage piece of paper featuring Ophir, Alaska. Ophir is an old gold mining town that’s now deserted, other than during the summer months.
A few outfits still mine gold in the area, with Ophir offering up the best airstrip for miles around. A friend and I landed there in his Aeronaca back in 2000. I haven’t returned since.
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race goes through Ophir every other year, where the checkpoint is a private cabin formerly belonging to Dick and Audra Forsgren. Their grandson, Kyle, now owns the rustic dwelling. That cabin has changed little since it was first built over 100 years ago.
Ophir was a bustling center of mining activity starting around 1906, but by 1955, things had pretty much come to a grinding halt. The abundant gold found there slowed to a dribble during the last 10 years as miners left for other locales. Because of this, businesses folded from a lack of customers, with imaginary ghosts taking over the dwellings.
The Ophir postcard I’m researching was postmarked on Sunday, March 30, 1941. This post office was permanently closed 16 years later in 1955, with letters and postcards having an Ophir postmark quite desirable amongst collectors.
A picture on the front shows stacks of hay covered with snow, along with an unusual title: Belated Harvest. Hewitt’s Drug Store in Anchorage was the postcard seller. On the back is written:
“Miss Ann Sanders – Ophir, Alaska. Dearest Miss Perry, At last I’ve found time to write to you and give you my address so that you can send me my shoes. Do you remember Barbara Weatherall a former student of yours. I met her brother yesterday. I’ll close hoping this finds you well and happy. Sincerely Ann Sanders Ophir Alaska”
The recipient address is:
Miss Patricia Perry
Textile Tower
Seattle, Wash.
During my research, I found Patricia Perry to be a professional dancer and performer, while at the same time, she owned the Patricia Perry School of Dance. Undoubtedly, those shoes Ann Sanders asked for were fancy dancing shoes. Of all places, Ophir wasn’t a dancing city like Seattle. Ann must have known she wouldn’t remain there long.
Barbara Weatherall went on to wed her high school sweetheart, Ivan Raymond Stafford, in 1957, only to become a widow by 1963. She then married Rick Mason, two years later, in 1965, and they stayed together until she died in 2012. Barbara’s brother, whom Ann mentioned in the letter, was George Weatherall. He has the most significance in Alaska’s mining and transportation history, where this postcard is concerned.
George Weatherman owned a freighting company based in Talkeetna, where he used dog teams, barges, and trucks to transport people and goods to places such as Ophir, Flat, Iditarod, Fairbanks, and other locales. The entrepreneur also had mining claims that he worked on with his son. Ann Sanders must’ve encountered the hard-working man when he passed through Ophir.
Finding out just who Ann Sanders is has been a tough nut to crack and still remains unbroken. She evidently tutored under Patricia Perry, only to move to Ophir soon after. Was she the daughter of a miner, or someone going there to help cook in the mining camp? Unlike other people I’ve searched for, so far, all of my resources have failed me here.
Single women were scarce in Alaska during the early years, with men competing for their hearts. As sexist as this may seem, if Ann could cook and keep a tidy cabin, that was more than enough to woo a lonely miner’s fancy.
When WWII began in 1941, mines throughout the country were ordered to shut down by the US War Production Board, with those mines in Alaska no exception. Many of the men who came to Alaska to work in the field soon left the state, leaving no forwarding address. Ann Sanders seems to fit that mold as well.
I’ll continue searching, believing that other newspapers in Alaska will eventually come online. Right now, there are only a few that are archived for review. Some of those that aren’t, languish in places that need to be personally visited.
For now, Ann Sanders will have to remain the mystery maiden of Ophir, Alaska.
“Trying to lasso Columbus into these same devious actions wouldn’t hold up in a court of law, at least not one presided over by a nonactivist judge.”
Perry Mason
I’m sure most everyone has watched television shows or Hollywood movies where court scenes play out. As a witness rambles on and on about what they seemingly know about a specific case, an attorney suddenly blurts out for the judge to hear, “I object, your honor…. this is merely hearsay!”
If this fictitious TV judge rules that the lawyer is correct, “Objection sustained!” is immediately heard from the bench. One of my favorite such shows is “Perry Mason.” I still watch the reruns, especially loving the comedic interaction between Perry Mason and Los Angeles City Attorney, Hamilton Burger.
If hearsay was allowed in court, can you imagine the case outcome? All a witness would have to do is interject a bit of “poetic license” on their testimony to make things appear as if it happened instead of using proven facts. A case could suddenly turn into “Days of Our Lives” with both sides resorting to storytelling.
There seem to be two venues where this sometimes holds true — the 6:00 news and history books. I’ll stick to history books as my main point here because history is my favorite subject, and one where poetic license runs free like a raging river.
Before continuing on, for those not knowing what the term, poetic license, means, according to Miss Purdy, my artificial intelligence (AI) helpmate, it’s the freedom to depart from the facts of a matter or from the conventional rules of language when speaking or writing to create an effect.
In layman’s terms, where history is concerned, “Anything goes as long as it seems believable to the masses!”
Hollywood uses poetic license more than anyone. My wife and I watched “Field of Missing Shoes” the other evening. It’s a movie about a group of mostly teenage Virginia Military Academy students being used as soldiers during the American Civil War.
At the beginning of this historical film, the five words “Based Upon A True Story” slowly rolls across the screen. To some viewers, “based upon” automatically means everything in this movie is factual when, in fact, it’s not. Some things, such as romantic scenes, were undoubtedly added to give the film more viewing pleasure as I like to call it. Regardless, it was an excellent movie.
History books as a whole don’t have these five words anywhere in them. Readers are taught, especially elementary school students, that the contents inside are all real. I had no problem with that growing up, yet now I’m seeing this information attacked by activist groups using different truths or unadulterated hearsay to back up their changes.
It’s almost guaranteed that if I told someone a story about a 12-inch fish I caught in 1900, with that story being repeated over the years by 12 different people, now 125 years later, that fish story wouldn’t be close to the same.
Let’s take things back even further, with me telling it 600 years ago, with 125 different storytellers repeating it. That 12-inch fish would now grow even larger — perhaps being over 30 feet long.
Much of our history is based on passed-down stories, folklore, rumors, fables, and the like, with written documentation to back things up not always available. Christopher Columbus is a prime example. I was taught in grade school that he was a good man.
Some of his crew are known to have been filled with evil, based upon written records, yet trying to lasso Columbus into these same devious actions wouldn’t hold up in a court of law, at least not one presided over by a nonactivist judge. Much of this erroneous information against Christopher Columbus has been thoroughly debunked based upon Columbus’s own writings.
Saying that Christopher Columbus is guilty of atrocious acts because of what a few members of his crew possibly did is no different than holding President Joe Biden responsible for his son, Hunter Biden, and this younger man’s numerous illegal activities.
Mount McKinley, in Alaska, has been named that since 1895, as records prove. In 2015, President Barack Hussein Obama used hearsay in changing it to Denali, claiming that Denali is what the Alaskan Indians had originally called the mountain.
Obama’s statement is called spinning the truth, and even worse things, outside of Washington D.C. circles by those having done the research. Stories or folklore passed down via word of mouth have been proven countless times to be remarkably inaccurate.
Archived newspapers from the late 1800s, along with other documented records, show that Mt. McKinley was called “Bulshaia” by Alaska Natives and Russians way before 1895. It’s right there in black and white.
The Dena’ina Athabaskan Indians didn’t start phonetically recording their language until the 1970s. Denali would not have been one of their words five centuries ago, as their communication was strictly an oral language at that point, including simple drawings.
New Age historians are slyly trying to use the terms folklore or hearsay to substantiate their viewpoint here. That falls perfectly in line with my fish story example.
A good example of passed-down hearsay in Lake Havasu City is the rumor that an Olive Garden restaurant is coming to town. I’ve heard that story repeated over the years from many different people. Some of them still swear that their information came from reliable sources, with these people continuing to believe their own message.
It’s been some 30 years now, and no ground has been broken. In another 100 years, some citizens will erroneously report that Olive Garden was once located on Swanson Boulevard, yet has closed after being forced to by city leaders, with a good many future residents buying into this fable.
One of my favorite songs by the music group, Moody Blues, is “Knights in White Satin.” At the end of this popular 1970s song is a mind-provoking poem. In the poem, Late Lament, written by Graeme Edge, three ending lines sum up best how I now look at the truth, especially where certain manuscripts, books, movies, and television news channels are concerned.
“Red is grey and yellow white.
But we decide which is right.
And which is an illusion.”
That poem definitely applies to history books. The only book that I’ve found to tell the absolute truth, without reservation, is the Holy Bible.
If Christopher Columbus or any of my childhood heroes are guilty of atrocities against Indigenous people, as some now claim, all they need to have done afterward is ask Jesus for forgiveness, and those sins were washed away.
It’ll make no difference what history Professor Ima Knowitall or Dr. P.C. Leftist have to say about them in future history books, including me, or anyone else for that matter.
God is the ultimate and final judge here, with folklore, poetic license, and hearsay not admittable as evidence in His court of Absolute Truth!
“They were nice to me and on Christmas always left a sizable tip or present.”
Looking back at folks I’ve met along the way, several stand out tall amongst the rest. Two of these were special people that I didn’t entirely know the history of. It was only after they passed away and I began writing, did I unearth their backgrounds through old wedding announcements and obituaries.
Alan and Muriel Girardet I first met as customers on my newspaper route in Anchorage. They were nice to me and on Christmas always left a sizable tip or present. When I say sizable I’m talking at least $5. The couple lived in a small but well-kept trailer in an older section of Alaskan Village Trailer Park.
Muriel and Alan were especially kind to neighborhood children, and this was especially true on Halloween. They were known to hand out the largest amount of candy of anyone in the park. There was a reason for them being so gracious to us kids that I didn’t know back then.
Alan went by the nickname of Jerry and I still don’t know the reason for that and probably never will at this point. His middle name was Newton. Mr. Girardet and his wife owned Lock, Stock, and Barrel gun shop, with a few of us kids who owned rifles purchasing .22 ammo from him. We’d been taught gun safety at Clark Junior High so it was nothing out of the ordinary.
The school had a small “take down” shooting range for the Clark Shooting Club. It would be set up in the gym and then taken down when not in use. For competition purposes, we’d go to an indoor target range on a local military base.
At home, sitting behind the gun shop was a hill that we could safely shoot into. A wrecked car sitting in front of it was riddled with holes. It was quite common to find several locals back there on a Saturday morning firing away.
My father eventually purchased the building that housed Lock, Stock, and Barrel Gun Shop, and I came to know Jerry even better. The man had a German Shepherd dog named “Heidi” that he brought to work every day. At lunch, Jerry would toss a ball and Heidi would chase it. You could tell by the excitement in her retrieving it that it was the highlight of the day.
Jerry became friends with my father-in-law and I learned from Herman that Jerry had also been in the United States Navy. Both men saw duty in WWII so they had something in common to talk about. Jerry served on the aircraft carrier USS Maine before retiring in 1959. His wife, Muriel, was also in the Navy. Being a member of the WAVES (women accepted for voluntary emergency service), Muriel remained on active duty until the end of the war.
Sadly, Jerry’s brother, David Lloyd Girardet, was killed in the crash of a Grumman Hellcat airplane during WWII. Not once did Jerry ever mention this to me nor tell my wife’s father, Herman, about the tragedy. Ensign David Lloyd Girardet attended the Naval Academy with a presidential appointment courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Hanging on a wall in the gun shop was a Brown Bess musket and powder horn dating back to the 1700s. I often visited Jerry just to check out this weapon. He eventually brought it down for me to inspect. I knew it was one of his prized possessions just by the way he handed it to me. The gun was long and heavy.
Because of my fascination for this Brown Bess, thirty years later I purchased one in Scottsdale, Arizona. I always wondered what happened to Jerry’s musket believing that it’d been sold after he passed away.
A couple of important things were learned about Jerry and Muriel along with that Brown Bess in writing this story—one of them quite sad. I never knew during the time I first met them in 1967, that they’d lost their only son in a motorcycle accident just three years prior.
David Lloyd Girardet was struck by a drunk driver in 1964 and killed. I can’t imagine the heartbreak of losing a child, and I suppose this was a reason for them seemingly “adopting” some of us neighborhood kids. David was without question named after Jerry’s late brother.
The other thing I came to know is not so tragic. The beloved “Brown Bess” was donated by Jerry and Muriel to the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum in New York. A picture of it on their website shows the musket and powder horn in a place of reverence. A brass tag identifies it as being donated by the Girardets.
Interestingly enough, Jerry was born and raised in Lake Ronkonkoma, with the family living on Hawkins Lane. That street name was eventually changed to Hawkins Avenue, now considered the city business center. The Girardet patriarch came to America from France, where he also served in the Navy. Jerry, Muriel, and David are buried in the Lake Ronkonkoma Cemetery.
Some might ask what does this story have to do with Lake Havasu City? The answer is simple. There are thousands of seniors living here from all parts of the country. Undoubtedly, a good many have backgrounds much like the Giradets. In most cases, we’ll never know until they’re gone!
I like to write junk... 