"Fill Up Your Tank And Your Tummy Too At Smit's Service." That's what the sign says on the roof of the white building in this photo postcard published by O'Neill Photo Co.
I really love this postcard. My grandparents, Debs and Willis Webster, and their family must have purchased this photo postcard during their cross-country trip in the summer of 1952.
In July of 1952, they immigrated to the United States from Brazil, traveling on the ocean liner SS Brazil. Sometime after their arrival in New York, the Webster family bought a car and some camping equipment and traveled across the United States toward their final destination in Southern California.
My mom remembers that during this trip they traveled through Badlands National Park and visited Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota.
It was difficult to figure out where the photo in this postcard was taken. The closest location I can come up with is Geddes, South Dakota. The writing at the bottom of the postcard looks like it says "Gedds, So. Dak." or "Geods, So. Dak." but those places don't exist. But, there is a Geddes, South Dakota.
The red pin on this Google Map is where Geddes, South Dakota is located. It's east of the Missouri River. The red arrow is pointing to Badlands National Park. And the blue arrow is pointing to the approximate location of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
The postcard also has the words "Wheeler Bridle" or "Wheeler Bridge" written on it. Interestingly, there is a North Wheeler Recreation Area located at 2908 N. Wheeler Road in Geddes, South Dakota.
I searched for 2908 N. Wheeler Road in Geddes, South Dakota in Google Maps and this is what I found. The red pin is where this address is located, near North Wheeler Recreation Area.
I'm so glad my grandparents purchased and then saved so many postcards from their travels.
Thanks for stopping by!
© 2015 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved
Love those old gas pumps. So often I see old buildings on the side of the road that were clearly gas stations in a former life. I wonder if they had pumps like these -- probably so.
ReplyDeleteGood work mapping the location. I do believe it says "Bridge." I have some old postcards with white writing at the bottom, and I have to wonder what kind of technology that was and why the "pen" was so fat causing some letters to be hard to read.
I agree Wendy. It probably does say Bridge. That makes much more sense than Bridle. It sure is interesting looking at postcards like this from days gone by with classic cars and old gas pumps. A wonderful glimpse into the past.
DeleteIt has been years since your post - Jana, about this postcard, but I just recently saw it.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures to chronicle your ancestor’s journey.
I saw in the local, The Daily Republic Mitchell, SD, newspaper, Mar. 3 1952 a funeral notice for Jerry Smit.
"Service Station Operator At Geddes Dies -Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church at Platte Feb. 28 for Jerry Smit, who died Feb. 22 after a long illness. Mr. Smit had been owner and operator of Smit's Service Station for the last 10 years.
The deceased is survived by his widow, two daughters, ...three sons... He also leaves eight grandchildren."
It looks like Jerry Smit passed away the same year your family was traveling across the state.