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A Glance at the Past as Seen On Old Post Cards

By John Winfield Spangler © 1990

Issue: March, 1990

Arbor Day, Max Meadows High School, Erected 1910, Max Meadows, Va. (This card was postmarked 1911.) Post Card courtesy of John W. Spangler, Shawsville, Virginia. Arbor Day, Max Meadows High School, Erected 1910, Max Meadows, Va. (This card was postmarked 1911.) Post Card courtesy of John W. Spangler, Shawsville, Virginia.
Bird's Eye View of Falling Spring, W. Va. (This Post Card is postmarked 1903.) From the collection of John W. Spangler, Shawsville, Virginia. Bird's Eye View of Falling Spring, W. Va. (This Post Card is postmarked 1903.) From the collection of John W. Spangler, Shawsville, Virginia.
This is number 1 in a series of post cards picturing the tanbark industry in Virginia. In this photo it shows the first thing that is done in the work of peeling tanbark. There are only two tools used - an ax and saw. First they take an ax and cut through the bark at the bottom of the tree and pry it out, which breaks it off at the top of the ground. Then a ring is cut about 4 ft. up. This post card has a date of Dec. 6, 1915 stamped on it. This is number 1 in a series of post cards picturing the tanbark industry in Virginia.