In the early 20th century, South Bend, Indiana's population more than tripled. Established industries like Studebaker and the Singer Sewing company rose to unprecedented heights of production, new businesses took root, and immigrants flooded into the area. Photo postcards, originally a quick and inexpensive form of communication, became key documents of South Bend's growth, recording events, businesses, landmarks, and people. Through nearly 200 vintage postcards, this book details South Bend's story from the turn of the 20th century to the aftermath of World War II. These images give a glimpse of lost glamour, representing the city as past generations witnessed it.

During the first half of the twentieth century, nearly every store in Indiana had a rack of postcards for sale. In the years leading up to World War I, postcard collecting became a national craze. Reed's book features classic postcards from the early 1900s to the 1950s, featuring more than ninety Indiana communities. Depicting street scenes, landmarks, fine homes and roadways, the postcards capture the state's rural and urban past. -- adapted from back cover.

Past visitors to the famous lakes of Steuben County had a wide range of interesting images on postcards to send back home or to add to their collections. The favorite locations and activities of vacationers were chronicled in the postcards that have been passed down through generations. Featuring more than 200 vintage postcards, Angola and Steuben County captures fleeting images that reflect the interesting and significant scenes of Steuben County's towns and day-to-day activities at the turn of the century. From thriving squares and bustling industries, to pleasant residential and lake areas, these postcards embrace the past and offer a glimpse into the lives and activities of a different era.

The fleeting scenes of the train depot in Ashley, the Auburn Hotel in Auburn, and the Thompson Opera House in Butler were captured on postcards sent or collected by DeKalb County's residents and visitors. Showcased here on over 200 vintage postcards and images is the history of DeKalb County. Offering a unique visual history of the area through preserved one-cent postcards, this book portrays the socials, events, buildings, homes, and residents of a by-gone era from the towns of DeKalb County, including Corunna, Garrett, Spencerville, St. Joe, Waterloo, and many other small towns and rural areas.

The fleeting scenes of Sylvan Lake and Kneipp Sanitarium have often been captured in postcards sent or collected by Noble County's residents and visitors. Captured here in over 200 vintage postcards is the history of Noble County, chosen by local merchants, depicting the thriving downtown areas, booming industries, and quiet, pleasant residential sections. Kendallville and Noble County provides a visual history of Noble County. This vast collection provides a wide range of fascinating images and poignant messages preserved on 1¢ postcards, including the socials, events, buildings, homes, and residents of the past from the towns of Noble County, including Albion, Ligonier, Wolf Lakes, and Wolcottville.

The fleeting scenes of Robison Park, Cathedral Square, and Fort Wayne's many parks have often been captured in postcards sent or collected by Allen County's residents and visitors. Captured here in over 200 vintage postcards and images is the history of Allen County, chosen by local merchants, depicting the thriving downtown areas, booming industries, and quiet, pleasant residential sections. Allen County provides a visual 40-year history of Allen County. This vast collection provides a wide range of fascinating images and poignant messages preserved on 1 postcards, including the socials, events, buildings, homes, and residents of the past from the towns of Allen County, including Churubusco, Fort Wayne, Grabill, Huntertown, New Haven, Monroeville and Zanesville.

The land now called St. Joseph County was familiar ground to Native Americans long before recorded history. Many Indians, including the local Potawatomie and Miami, trod the well-worn path that offered a two-mile portage between the St. Joseph River (and Lake Michigan) to the Kankakee River and eventually the Mississippi River. Pierre F. Navarre built a log cabin beside the St. Joseph River in 1820, and began a settlement that would eventually become South Bend and Mishawaka in St. Joseph County. The over 200 vintage images in this book, drawn from St. Joseph County and Mishawaka as well as South Bend, look back at the commerce, industry, and businesses like Studebaker, Ball Band, Singer, and Bendix, which grew on the rich resources of the area. Education was a high priority for early settlers, and they established one-room schoolhouses and Notre Dame University. The photographs show public places, buildings, and servants, some long gone, others that are still with us today. And of course, there are pictures of the people, the homes they built, and the activities they enjoyed in their northern Indiana home.