1906 Postcard Mentions Lynching

My postcard collection never ceases to supply me with entertainment. I enjoy looking at them and I enjoy reading the messages written so long ago. I am now in the process of selling off some of  my postcards on eBay. As I am scanning these postcards, I am having fun reading them once again.

Today as I was getting ready to list six of these postcards, I rediscovered a 1906 postcard Springfield Missouri. Like most postcards of this time, it has an undivided back used for the address, and the message was written on the front. On this postcard, the writer makes reference to a tower seen in the photo on the card. The tower was the scene of a gruesome lynching just a few days before this postcard was sent.

Of course, this reference led me on a tangent of researching the event. It is hard to believe that this tragedy and mockery of justice occurred just 100 years ago. My mind’s eye can just feel the frustration of the Sheriff and the horror of the men and their families. To read more about these lynchings, go to the News-Leaders.com site.

Clifford Thompson AKA The Norwegian Viking Giant

Topping out at 8 ft 7 inches tall, Clifford Thompson heralded himself as the world's tallest man. I stumbled on Clifford's life story when I was researching a real photo postcard a had acquired at a recent estate auction.

Clifford was born in 1904 in Rugby, North Dakota and moved to Scandinavia, Wisconsin with his family soon after and was raised in Wisconsin.

He spent 8 years traveling with various circuses and sideshows. He also performed in movies and appeared in many advertising promotions.

He married his 5'6" wife in 1939.

In 1944, Clifford earned his law degree from Marquette University and eventually settled in Portland Oregon, where he died in 1944

I do currently have this postcard listed in my eBay auctions.

To view more pictures and read more about Mr. Thompson, you can visit the Ames Historical Society, Tallest Ever Movie Giants, Genesis 6 Giants and Phreeque.