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In this wonderful collection of images, discover Port Huron as it once was. Although Port Huron is now referred to as the "Maritime Capital of the Great Lakes," its initial growth happened because it was a point where roads, rails, and water all met to create the center of commerce it became. Return to a time when people rode streetcars and interurbans, took day trips to Detroit on ships such as the Tashmoo and the Greyhound; when they worked and shopped in downtown stores; and when they lived in diverse ethnic neighborhoods such as South Park and the First Ward. Many of the postcards seen here were mailed at or near the beginning of the 20th century and were a way to communicate basic information between friends and family. These images have now returned to introduce a new generation to what Port Huron once was. In an age where e-mails instantly travel back and forth, it can be hard to imagine how those receiving these messages anxiously awaited what messages arrived with these penny postcards.
About the author
This postcard book was written and researched by T. J. Gaffney, curator of collections of the Port Huron Museum. The images seen here come from the postcard collection that he and his late father, Thomas John Gaffney, have collected over the course of more than 40 years.
