Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
1990.060.307 |
Object Name |
Postcard, Photographic |
Donor |
Bedstemors, Inc. |
Description |
The front of the postcard is horizontally oriented and has a black and white photograph of a band playing outside in front of a row of trees. The band members appear to all be men and are wearing dark suits and hats. They are standing in a somewhat circular shape. There is a large white border around the image. The back of the postcard reads "POST CARD" along the top and below are sections for correspondence and an address. In the correspondence section is a handwritten note in brown ink that reads: "Dear Sigurd: I wish / you a happy birthday / Don't know if I am / too late or too early / but know it is some / time in July. Are you / entirely well now? / Took this of Nysted / Band July 4. Bob stands / just back of C. Petersen. / I have marked his hat. / Love to all Julia." In the address section is handwritten in brown ink "Mr. Sigurd Lykke, / Kimballton, Iowa". The black stamped postmark reads: "LINCOLN, NEBR. / JUL 20 / 630PM / 1915". In the upper right corner of the back is a stamp that has a green etching of George Washington's head in profile. Above his head reads, "U.S. POSTAGE", and below reads, "1 CENT". |
Print Size |
5.428in. x 3.428in. |
Creation Date |
1915 |
Place of Creation |
USA/Nebraska/Nysted |
Associated People |
Petersen, C. Lykke, Sigurd |
Search Terms |
photographic postcard photograph postcard Kimballton Lincoln Petersen, C. Lykke, Sigurd Julia Nysted Band Nysted Fourth of July |
Date Received by Museum |
1990 |
Provenance |
The postcard was sent from Julia of Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 20, 1915, to Sigurd Lykke of Kimballton, Iowa. Sigurd Lykke (1887-1963) was married to Anna (Petersen) Lykke (1890-1969). They had two children: Glen Lykke and Clara (Lykke) Johnson (1912-2003). The postcard was one of the furnishings provided to Bedstemors House during its restoration in the 1980s. HOUSE HISTORY Bedstemors Hus, or Grandmother's House, was built in 1908 by Jens Otto Christiansen, a Danish immigrant and Elk Horn businessman. He was often referred to as "Prince Otto" because he wore a coat with tails and a tall hat when going to church, and he walked very straight. According to local stories, he built the house as an engagement gift for a young woman who sadly turned down his marriage proposal. It is unknown if Christiansen ever lived in the home himself, but he rented the home to several families until he sold it to the Salem Old People's Home in 1933 for "one dollar and other valuable contributions." In 1946, the house was sold to Meta Mortensen, also of Danish descent. She lived in the home for 36 years, making only a few notable changes. The roses that she planted along all four sides of the house still bloom. In 1982, Meta sold the house to the Elk Horn-Kimballton Arts and Recreation Council for $8800. The Council and many area volunteers spent a year restoring the home to reflect the turn of the century. They named it "Bedstemor's House", using the Danish word for "Grandmother", in honor of Meta Mortensen who was herself a Danish-American grandmother. The House opened to the public in July of 1983, and a formal dedication was held October 1. Meta Mortensen was the guest of honor. It was after 1983 that the front porch was reconstructed and the exterior of the home was repainted from the white that Meta had had to the original two-tone green. The only modern room was just off the kitchen. Formerly Meta's bedroom, the room became the office for staff and has remained as such. The Council operated the house for seven years until it was donated to the Museum in 1990. Minutes from the Board of Directors meeting in February that year show that the donation was accepted for the Museum. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 16, 1997. The Museum continues to operate Bedstemor's House as an historic house museum, interpreting the home in its first decade. The home is located at 2105 College Street in Elk Horn on its original foundation. On June 25, 2008, the Museum held a dedication for the new tombstone for Jens Otto Christiansen who had not had a formal stone until then. It marked the centennial of the house. The ceremony was held at the Elk Horn Cemetery and a reception at Bedstemors House followed. |
Images |
165\1990060307.JPG |
Accession number |
1990.060 |