1912 Lagoon and Sheep in Washington Park, Chicago Vintage Postcard

About This Vintage Postcard

This charming color lithograph captures a quintessential pastoral scene from the early 20th-century history of Chicago's Washington Park. The image depicts a leisurely couple in a rowboat on the lagoon, while a large flock of sheep grazes peacefully on the bank nearby. During this era, sheep were famously used in South Side parks to maintain the lawns, a practical and picturesque solution for grass management before the widespread use of mechanical mowers. The rustic wooden bridge and lush foliage illustrate the landscape design of Frederick Law Olmsted, who envisioned the park as a rural retreat for city dwellers. This card serves as a nostalgic record of the "pastoral ideal" that defined Chicago’s public green spaces at the turn of the century.

Details

Era: Divided Back (1912)
City: Chicago (Publisher Location) / Evanston (Sender Location)
State or Region: Illinois
Country: United States
Topic: Washington Park, Chicago Park History, Sheep Lawn Mowers, Leisure Boating, Urban Pastoralism, Chicago Postcard History
Condition: Circulated
Postage: 1 Cent George Washington Green Stamp (Scott #405), postmarked Aug 30, 1912, in Evanston, Ill.
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: The Acme Graph Co., Chicago (No. 642)
Printer: The Acme Graph Co.
Print Type: Lithograph (Color)

Additional Information

This postcard was published by The Acme Graph Co. of Chicago, a firm known for its vibrant "Acme-graph" color lithographs. The manufacturing date is narrowed to 1912, confirmed by the August 30, 1912, postmark from Evanston, Illinois. The card features a 1-cent George Washington stamp from the Washington-Franklin issues. The message, written by Myrtle to Miss Hanna Preuss in Frederick, Kansas, describes a busy but fun life in the city: "I am having lots of fun & work also. I have quite heavy work then there is so much on the side line such as seeing sights, concerts & etc." She even includes her local address at 645 Custer Ave, Evanston. This card perfectly illustrates how the park's "sheep lawn mowers" were once a standard and beloved sight for Chicago residents and visitors alike.

This postcard would look great framed or make an excellent addition to any collection.

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