For Flashback Friday this week we feature a 1960s era photochrome postcard depicting Raleigh’s familiar ‘Three Presidents Monument’ on Capitol Square. The bronze and granite landmark has anchored the east plaza of the square since 1948.

The State Capitol
Raleigh, North Carolina

On the east ground is this monument to Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson, “Three Presidents North Carolina gave to the Nation.” (Color by C.H. Ruth)

Ed’s message to his parents[?] is one of the oddest I’ve read on a postcard. I wonder if he were settling down in Raleigh, or just passing through on a journey of discovering “new places”? And why all the excitement (three exclamation points!) over having “found a spoon”?

Dear Folks —
A line to say hello from a new place — I found a spoon!!!
Love — Ed

The address change is curious, too. I wonder why he scribbled out the first address to New Jersey and rewrote one to Missouri? Even so, the card was apparently never sent, as there is no cancellation mark. After all that effort, I wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Wolski ever received it?

The Three Presidents Monument

Actually, its formal, official name is the  ‘Presidents North Carolina Gave the Nation’ monument. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tip of the tongue, does it? I’ve never heard anyone refer to it by that name; I’ve always known it by the less linguistically challenging ‘Three Presidents Monument.’

The statue honors the three presidents born in North Carolina: Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States (1829-1837); James K Polk, the eleventh president (1845-1849}; and Andrew Johnson, the seventeenth president (1865-1869). Interestingly, all three left the state in their early years, and were elected president while living in Tennessee.

State Archives of North Carolina photo

This photo shows the Three Presidents Monument shortly after its dedication in 1948. (Anyone notice anything ‘odd’ about the granite base?)

North Carolina’s monument was among the last works of the classically trained American sculptor, Charles Keck, who was active in the first half of the 20th century.

The artistically composed bronze grouping sits upon a massive granite base engraved with each president’s name and his most significant national accomplishment —

• James Knox Polk of Mecklenburg County / President 1845-1849 / He Enlarged Our National Boundaries
• Andrew Jackson of Union County / President 1829-1837 / He Revitalized American Democracy
• Andrew Johnson of Wake County / President 1865-1869 / He Defended the Constitution

The Three Presidents Monument was dedicated on October 19, 1948. President Harry S Truman delivered the keynote address, with Governor Gregg Cherry, Secretary of the Army Kenneth Royall, and Senator Clyde Hoey in attendance. Descendants of each president participated in the unveiling.

Courtesy North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, UNC-Chapel Hill

In this rare color photograph President Truman speaks to the crowd from the reviewing stand. 

A Flashback Friday Readers’ Quiz

Before the Three Presidents Monument was erected on the east lawn of the Capitol in 1948, the site had been occupied for nearly 50 years by a monument memorializing another notable North Carolinian. How many readers can identify this individual, and who knows where his statue stands today?

State Archives of North Carolina photo

The Three Presidents Monument now occupies this site on Capitol Square. 

The Three Presidents Monument is a part of the Capitol Square Historic District.  

Our Flashback Friday photochrome postcard this week was published in 1969 by Aerial Photography Services of Charlotte. It was printed by Dexter Press, Inc. of West Nyack, NY.

Thomas Dexter Press   1934-1980
West Nyack, NY

Printer of a wide variety of postcards subjects as linens and photochromes. Thomas A. Dexter was the inventor of gang printing. The Company merged with MWM Color Press in 1980 to become MWM Dexter, and they moved to Aurora, MO.

While all the photochromes printed by Dexter boor the words Genuine Natural Color they went through a variety of phases. Their early photochromes went under the name Dextone and tended to be flat and somewhat dull in appearance. As years went by their optical blending techniques improved producing richer and more varied colors.

 

“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!