UPDATE:  These folks have been claimed!  From the information I've been given, this family has apparently either died out or lost interest in these postcards, so they have been sent to the Phillips County Historical Society in Colorado.

There was a basket full of greeting cards and photo postcards all apparently from the same family.  The name is variously spelled STEPHENSON, STEVENSON, or STEVENS, but all appear to refer to the same family.  I couldn't afford to get the entire basketful, so only bought the seven below with photos on them.  The ones I have that are written on are addressed either to Bert Stephenson and his wife in Holyoke, Colorado or their daughter Ethel (seen in the center of the first photo below).  The two that were stamped and mailed were canceled in 1912 and 1913.  I do remember that some of the greeting cards in the basket had a different address in one of the other western states - the family must have moved at least once.

UPDATE:  A correspondent whose relatives knew this family provides the information that Bert Stephenson (1882 - 1966) worked as a clerk and salesman in Scheunemanns store in Holyoke, Colorado, which is still in operation today and still run by the Scheunemann family.  Mr. Stephenson was later elected Phillips County Assessor and held that position for forty years.  He and his wife lived out their lives in Holyoke and are buried in the Holyoke Cemetery.  "Uncle Gillis" (Gillis was his surname) worked as a janitor in the elementary school in Holyoke for many years.  Mrs. Stephenson (1877 - 1963) was born Aline Kristine Nelson in Kolding, Denmark - her name was later Americanized to Lena Christine.  A correspondent has submitted additional photos from that area of Colorado, which are included here with permission.

•      Members of the Stephenson family.  Going by the message on the back, the little girl in the center is Bert's daughter Ethel Stephenson.  The man on the right is her Uncle Gillis.  The other family members are not identified, but are probably Ethel's parents (a correspondent has identified the man on the left as Bert Stephenson - Ethel's father).  The card is addressed to Miss Ethel Stevenson, Holyoke, c/o Bert Stevenson.  The message on the back reads:

  "Ethel,
      Next time you must not cry and Uncle Gillis must pull down his shirt.
                      Good bye.
                      Mrs. O. M. G."

  A correspondent has submitted obituaries for Mr. Bert Stephenson (1882 - 1966) and his wife Aline Kristine Nelson (later Americanized to Lena Christine, 1877 - 1963) that were printed in the Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado.  Thanks very much!

•    Brice and Bruce.  These appear to be twins - probably relatives.  The front reads:

  "Brice and Bruce
  Three months old.
  15 1/2 lbs ---------- 16 lbs."

  The back is addressed to "Mr. + Mrs. Bert Stephenson" and reads as follows:

  "Hello Lena.  Rec'd your most welcome lettter a few days ago.  Will write you before long.  The babies was four mo. old the 4. Feb. weighed 17# apiece.
           Lovingly
           Bess"

•      Brice and Bruce appear to be slightly older in this photo.  The babies are named on the front (Brice on the left and Bruce on the right).  The back reads only "Ethel Stephenson, Holyoke, Colo."

•        Carrie's house.  This photo is not in good focus, but I sharpened it as much as I could anyway.  There is little detail in any of the faces of the people on the porch due to the blur in the photo.  There is no address on the back.  The message on the back reads:

  "This is a picture of Carrie's home.  It is not good.  They have bought a new Kodak and this is her first attempt at taking pictures."

•      Two men from Kansas.  This card is addressed to "Bert Stephens, Holyoke, Colorado, c/o Schuneman Store".  The message on the back is dated December 16, 1913 and reads as follows:

  "Merry Xmas to you and the folks.
  How are you these days.   I often wonder what you are about and what my Holyoke friends are doing and if they are all among the living.  Still playing the hard Lumber game."

  I can't make out the signature, but it looks like it might be "J. Straut" or something similar.

The two postcards below have no writing on them.  They were found in the same basket with all the Stephenson family greeting cards and postcards mentioned above, so I am assuming they belong with this group.

•  Two children

•    This appears to be some kind of class photo.  It must have been taken with the children facing straight into the full sun as several of them are squinting or hiding behind classmates to keep the sun out of their eyes.  I love the expressions on some of the kids' faces.
   

   

   

The following photos were submitted by a correspondent who lives in the area and are included here with permission:

•  Phillips County Bank in Holyoke, Colorado

•  Downtown Holyoke, Colorado

•  An old gas station on the grounds of the Phillips County Historical Society Museum.

•  Interior of the Phillips County Historical Society Museum showing a restored White Rose Gasoline tanker and other trucks.

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