The Walk to the Lake

[Walk to the Lake]

History

Most of the walks on campus run north-south. At the turn of the twentieth century, there were two main paths on campus that travelled east-west. One extended from Porter to Lower Lake, and one extended from approximately where the Art Building is today, down toward the lake. They were both treelined boulevards. Peter Carini of the Mount Holyoke Archives believes that these images are of the path that was destroyed to put in the Art Building. The vestiges of the path behind Porter still exists, though the tree composition has changed from deciduous trees to pine in the last century, and the path does not quite reach to the lake any longer because of the road in front of Prospect Hall.

The Images

All cards are available with both front and back scans, and comments about what is written on the front or back, either by the user or by the publisher, are included below.

H12452 The Walk to the Lake
front "The Walk to the Lake, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, unused, stamp box. Published by the Robbins Bros Co, Boston, Mass and Germany. #H12452. Postally unused. Inscription: "Little Seth from Beatrice's mother"

The Walk to the Lake
front "The Walk to the Lake Mt. Holyoke College South Hadley, Mass." In lower left of picture: "Designed by Glesman [sic] Bros. So. Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "2/22/07 Have just returned from this town and have had a fine day Florence"
back Undivided back, postmarked Feb 23, 1907 9:30am in Springfield, Mass.

Walk to Lake
front "Walk to Lake, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, unused, stamp box. Published by C. A Gridley & Son. #1115 Printed in Germany.

H12453 The Walk to the Lake
front "The Walk to the Lake, Mt. Holyoke College, So. Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, postmarked Sep 22, 1909 12midnight in South Hadley. Published by the Robbins Bros Co, Boston, Mass and Germany. #H12453 "Wednesday Morning. Dear Aunt Hattie: It has been raining here this morning. I am going to study and then go for a walk to the lake just before dinner. Harriet B. Blakeman." I have no idea who Harriet was; there is no alumna or staff member of that name known to the College.

The Walk to the Lake
front "The Walk to the Lake, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "Glad to get your card. It's lovely here now - Eloise M. Ritter"
back Divided back, postmarked May 1?, 1911 in South Hadley, stamp box. Published by Glesmann Bros., South Hadley, Mass. (Germany). #51236

The Walk to the Lake
front "The Walk to the Lake, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Marked "Handcolored", and it is.
back Undivided back, unused, stamp box. Published by Glesmann Bros., South Hadley, Mass. (Germany). #51236

A Shady Walk
front "A Shady Walk, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: "I am at Amherst for a few days. Thought you would like a souvenir. Have you ever walked beneath these trees? Mabel B."
back Undivided back, postmarked Sept 15, 1906 11:30 am in Amherst, Mass, flag cancel. Published by The Rochester News Company, Rochester, NY USA, Leipzig, Dresden. "Polychrome". #7673

A Shady Walk
front "A Shady Walk, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Inscription: " "Shady walks and hills of green." W. F. C."
back Undivided back, postmarked Oct 29, 1905 6pm in Turners Falls, Mass. Published by The Rochester News Company, Rochester, NY USA, Leipzig, Berlin. #2551

A Shady Walk
front "A Shady Walk, Mt. Holyoke College, Houth Hadley, Mass." Can't tell the difference between this one, and the one before it? Look again at the town name!
back Undivided back, unused (but obviously pasted in an album!). Published by The Rochester News Company, Rochester, NY USA, Leipzig, Berlin. #2551

Walk to Lake Nonotuck
front "Walk to Lake Nonotuck, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, unused, stamp box. Published by A. S. Kinney. Made in Germany. #AA3356

11697 Shady Path
front "11697. Shady Path, Mt. Holyoke College Grounds, South Hadley, Mass." Copyright, 1908 by Detroit Publishing Co.
back Divided back, unused, stamp box. "Phostint" card.

Footpath
front "Footpath, Prospect Hill, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, postmarked Jun 19, 1920[?] 10am in South Hadley. AZO. I'm guessing at the year based on the postmarks of other cards I have in this series, and on the inscription. "Lunch with me at the College Club Monday next, June 21, at one o'clock? I plan to make one of those high pressure trips on hospital education and want to see you even if I haven't much time. Will telephone if I have to change plan. Telephone in if you can't meet me. Love - A. H. T." Addressed to Mrs. John Kenny.

Path to the Boat House
front "Path to the Boat House, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." I think this is the Lower Lake boathouse, but I'm not sure.
back Divided back, postmarked May 21, 1928 10am in South Hadley. Published by Glesman [sic] Bros., So. Hadley, Mass. Made in Germany. "Dear Ruby, We had a good trip over yesterday The apple blossoms were beautiful. Yes, it rains but we can talk just the same. Mary & Ellina" #B 8779 Addressed to Ruby Sanborn.

Path to the Boat House
front "Path to the Boat House, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." I think this is the Lower Lake boathouse, but I'm not sure.
back Divided back, unused, stamp box. Published by The Springfield News Company, Springfield, Mass. Printed in Germany. #E 3306

Bridal Walk
front "Bridal Walk - Leading to College Campus, South Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, stamp box, postmarked Dec 23, 7pm in an unknown year in Shelburne Falls, Mass. Flag cancel. A. M. S. #4325 "A Merry Xmas and a glad New Year to you and Uncle Hugh From Agnes Howes"

The Walk to the Lake
front "The Walk to the Lake, Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass." Bark peels back to reveal view of the bridge. Copyright 1906 by C. M. Nelson. Initials: "F.K." Probably visiting a relative, Lillie Clarke Kneringer x1909.
back Undivided back, stamp box, postmarked in South Hadley, and transit marked may 24, 1907 5:30am in New Haven CT.

Footpath, Prospect Hill
front "Footpath, Prospect Hill Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."
back Pasted down in a photo album, but probably looks like this.

Footpath, Prospect Hill
front "Footpath, Prospect Hill. Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass."
back Divided back, postmarked Feb 27, 1921 11:30pm in Grand Central Station, NY. Addressed to Miss Cornelia M. Clapp in Mt Dora Fla. Inscription: "So. Hadley - Feb. 27. Your nice letter came last week and I will answer it as soon as I get back to N.Y. Peg Kelly & I have come up here for a week-end - are staying in the guest room in Porter - We are going upstairs to have breakfast with Miss Carr and Alzada Comstock now. As ever Mabel Hedge"