This is Seaton around 1900. The population was 326. It would never get any higher. The building closest to us there on the left is the depot. I actually remember trains going through town. I have a sign that says Seaton that came off a sign near the tracks. There was an old trestle bridge at Uncle Ed's farm over the tracks that went through town. The building with the witch's hat turret was the bank building. At one time there were a couple blacksmith's, an opera house, hotel and a couple churches.
Whoever Clara R was she sent this postcard to old Mike up in Chicago. Imagine such a simple address finding its owner. And without a stamp, no less, unless it fell off somewhere. One can only assume this was bought and postmarked from the post office, maybe eliminating the need for one. Reminds me of a Christmas card we received once that just had "Marj and the Boys" as an address. The wonder and awe of small towns.
By the time the Blythe Boys arrived in town a half century and a hundred less people it would be home to a veterinarian, a grocery store, hardware, gas station, café, grain elevator, Stan's garage, and the bank still owned by the same family.
Seaton was dying back then, too, I suppose. But for us boys, it was world enough.
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