Historical Society’s Postcard Fair ‘Creates Community Pride’
By Mary Anderson

For the second year in a row, the Bethel Historical Society sponsored a successful Postcard and History Fair, this one held May 24 at the Whitcomb High School gym.

Nick Nickolaidis, coordinator of the event, said that in addition to being a fundraiser for the Bethel Historical Society, the event "creates community pride and brings the community together." He noted that most of the 14 vendors were repeats from the year before, which showed that they, too, enjoyed the show.

Vendors included Henry Deeks of Ashburnham, Mass., who specializes in selling real photo postcards and Civil War portraits, and said he "will definitely come back."

Vendor Eleanor Brodeur echoed Deeks’ sentiment, saying that she came last year and would come back again. A history buff, Brodeur explained that postcards became legal for mailing in 1898, and by about 1901, they began to have pictures on them.

According to Brodeur, the initial cards fell into two categories—holiday greeting cards or cards which showed views. These cards were often traded by collectors and now fetch from 10 cents to over $1000 apiece. Brodeur attends the fair with her husband, who collects cards relating to maple sugaring. She said the first thing they do upon arrival is shop for themselves, noting that "real photo cards are the cream of the crop."

In addition to the postcard vendors, groups such as Friends of the Town Hall and the Bethel Fire Department had historical displays for the public to peruse. A few Bethel artists such as photographer Jessie Orr and author Janet Burnham had their works for sale.

Those attending the fair included many Bethel residents, but also drew in people from other states. Karen Blackman from Bridgewater, NJ was partaking in a four-generation visit with relatives in the area, including her grandmother Lydia Boepple of Randolph and Nick and Heidi Nickolaidis of Bethel. She enjoyed showing her sons, nine-year-old Ross and seven-year-old Lars, postcards which had old pictures of places they are familiar with in New Jersey.

Some shoppers came looking specifically for old cards depicting Barnard or Hawaii, while others came "just looking."

For a nominal fee, anyone can join the Bethel Historical Society and receive a newsletter which will inform them when next year’s Postcard and History Fair will take place. It will also list other historical society events, including the Vermont History Expo June 21 and 22 at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds.

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