A postcard arrived in Michigan almost 100 years after it went in the mail

Sep 12, 2020, 8:51 PM | Updated: Jan 25, 2023, 11:56 am

The postcard arrived just in time for Halloween. (Courtesy Brittany Keech)...

The postcard arrived just in time for Halloween. (Courtesy Brittany Keech)

(Courtesy Brittany Keech)

(CNN) — A Michigan woman got quite a surprise when she went to her mailbox this week — amid her regular bills and junk mail was a postcard that had been mailed almost 100 years ago.

Brittany Keech told CNN that she didn’t give the card much thought at first because she was busy with her kids and her daily hustle and bustle.

“I thought it was very peculiar that I was receiving a postcard because nobody sends postcards anymore nowadays,” Keech said. “I went ‘OK, this is different.'”

Later she noticed that the card was postmarked October 29, 1920. It had her Belding, Michigan, address but was written to someone named Roy McQueen in faded cursive writing.

The card reads:

“Dear Cousins,

Hope this will find you all well. We are quite well but mother has awful lame knees. It is awful cold here. I just finished my history lesson and am going to bed pretty soon. My father is shaving and my mother is telling me your address. I will have to close for a night. Hope grandma and grandpa are well. Don’t forget to write us – Roy get his pants fixed yet.”

It was signed by Flossie Burgess.

The card has a Halloween theme that includes a black cat holding a broom, a bat, a goose and an owl, along with a woman with a cane and a jack-o’-lantern in a witch’s hat.

There’s a George Washington one cent stamp on the back and the smudged postmark says Jamestown, but the state appears to be covered by some kind of sticker.

Keech, 30, said she has no idea what delayed the card, which was mailed decades before she was born.

A spokesperson for the Postal Service told CNN affiliate WXMI that “in most cases these incidents do not involve mail that had been lost in our network and later found. What we typically find is that old letters and postcards — sometimes purchased at flea markets, antique shops and even online — are re-entered into our system. The end result is what we do best — as long as there is a deliverable address and postage, the card or letter gets delivered.”

Keech posted photos of the postcard on a Facebook group in hopes of finding McQueen’s or Burgess’ relatives, or someone who might have known the families.

“I have two wonderful ladies that are helping me look into their genealogy,” she said.

Several people have posted old documents in the comments section that might help solve the mystery.

Keech wants to return the card to a family member and said they’ve got a lead on one possible relative.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Sponsored Articles

...

Bear Lake

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this sponsored guide—brought to you in partnership with Bear Lake —uncovers everything you need to plan the ultimate getaway.   There’s nothing quite like the thrill of hopping in the car with your favorite snacks in tow and heading out for a […]

...

Harper Clinic

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression.    Utah’s mental health crisis is leaving many residents caught in an uncomfortable middle ground: struggling too much for weekly therapy alone, but unable to step away from work, parenting or daily life for inpatient treatment. As demand […]

...

Harper Clinic

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

This article is sponsored by Harper Clinic, a Utah-based clinic offering FDA-approved TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression.    The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, managing side effects and wondering if this is simply how life is going to feel.   According to the World Health Organization, depression affects […]

mental health...

Andrew Adams, KSL

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Therapists say it’s common for men to repress things like trauma, grief, stress and anxiety. Now, a new weekly series of discussions aims to help men bring it all to the surface.

...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

SALT LAKE CITY – The holiday season shines brightest when time slows down and loved ones gather. Gifts, decorations and festive music come and go, but shared experiences tend to last much longer. Research supports that idea. Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato told Psychology Today that vacations can strengthen relationships by creating meaningful time away from daily […]

...

Harper Clinic

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model

OREM — A few decades ago, you’d have had a hard time finding a doctor to treat both your mind and body; And a century ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a doctor to treat your mind at all. Today, medical professionals are understanding more and more the undeniable connection between the body and […]

A postcard arrived in Michigan almost 100 years after it went in the mail