February 14, 2025
Happy Valentine's Day!

This week's Musings from Main highlights the enduring beauty & creativity
of Valentines sent over the centuries.

A Valentine Poem From 1852

This is the oldest Valentine message I came across in the postcard collection of the archives. This beautifully written Valentine poem was sent to Frederick King in South Windsor and is dated Feb., 1852. Although there is no info on who the sender was, I was able to deduce that it was not his future wife, as Nellie would have been only a year or two old at the time.   The poem reads:

"May thy life glide smoothly on/ And years of happiness be thine/ May love's pure star by clouds undimmed/ Upon thy pathway ever shine." -St. Valentine, Feb. 1852

An image of the original 1852 valentine note and envelope.

Maybe it was Fred's first puppy love sending him warm wishes; he would have been about 18 years old at the time, or perhaps more simply, it was written by one of his three sisters expressing best wishes and affection for her only brother.

Valentine Cards from 1906

These lovely Valentine's Day cards were sent by Eva M Ackerman in 1906.  One went to Claude Davis and the other to Chester Davis.  They were just recently found in the attic of an historic Main Street home.

Later Valentines

This Valentines Day's card has a little tab on the side that moves the feet of the couple pictured, making it look as though they are "waltzing through life together." Written in pencil on the back is "Aunt Ruth from Junior". No date is provided but it's thought to date from 1940-1970.

This Valentines Day post card was found in the attic with the others from 1906 but is actually from 1984. It is a post card which apparently was never sent. The only information is the illustrator's name, Carol Ward, and the date stamped on the back by the printer. 

Valentine's Day in the 21st Century.

Almost 175 years after Frederick King received his affectionate Valentine's Day Poem, the tradition of letting others know just how much they mean to you is still going strong.  These are a few of the Valentine's Day picture frames that were created today to show love and affection in the 21st Century.

Happy Valentine's Day!

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