This week on Flashback Friday we present a ‘two-fer’ — two postcards showing Raleigh’s early 20th century City Auditorium and City Hall — the Municipal Building. The dual-purpose complex was designed by the prominent Atlanta architect P. Thornton Marye in the Beaux Arts style, and was erected in 1910.

2/20/23
Dear Sister:
Your letter rec’d and I will answer soon. We are having a grand time down here but cannot say how long we will stay. Were in Raleigh on Sun. Lovely city. Best wishes
from George and Jennie

You reckon Jennie took any photos of our ‘lovely city’ during her visit?

Thornton Marye also designed the Commercial National Bank (1912) and the Wake County Courthouse (1915), both of which have been demolished. The sole surviving building in Raleigh by this talented architect is the former state library and supreme court building (1913) on Capitol Square. It is now known as the Ruffin Building.

This second card shows the city hall portion of the complex. It was demolished in 1960. Do any Goodnight Raleigh readers know what familiar Raleigh building was later erected on the site; and also — what had been the fate of the auditorium 30 years earlier? Extra points if you can identify the building seen to the left.

Dear Bessie —
Can’t you come and make me a visit this winter? I would love to to see you. I think it’s awful we have drifted so far apart. Write me that you will come. Give all my best. love, cousin Maud

City Hall was brand new when a very lonely ‘Maud’ mailed this card in 1911. I wonder if cousin Bessie ever paid her a visit.

The ‘Auditorium and Municipal Building’ was printed by the well-known postcard publisher, Curt Teich. This is an example of a ‘white-border’ card. The number A-49454 indicates the Curt Teich production period 1908-1928.

Curt Teich Co.   1893-1974
Chicago, IL

A major publisher and printer. Their U.S. factories turned out more cards in quantity than any other printer. They published a wide range of national view-cards of America and Canada. Many consider them one of the finest producers of White Border Cards. The Linen Type postcard came about through their innovations as they pioneered the use of offset lithography. They were purchased by Regensteiner Publishers in 1974 which continued to print cards at the Chicago plant until 1978.

While the Curt Teich Company is largely known for manufacturing tinted halftone postcards in the United States, a number of their early cards were printed in Germany as tinted collotypes.

“Flashback Friday” is a weekly feature of Goodnight, Raleigh! in which we showcase vintage postcards depicting our historic capital city. We hope you enjoy this week end treat!