In 1909 ‘Bob’ wrote the folks back home in Cambridge, Illinois, dissing Raleigh’s Wake County courthouse building. Maybe he should have sent them a postcard of the state capitol instead.

Cambridge Court house beats this. State Capital [sic] is here also. Have not time to write a letter today. Hope all are well.
Bob

Ever curious, I looked up the Henry Co. courthouse in Cambridge, Illinois and found this image. And well, dang if it wasn’t a grander edifice. It was designed by noted architect Brentwood S. Tolan in 1880. Tolan made a career of designing courthouses and municipal buildings throughout the midwest in the late 19th century. Many of them are now on the National Register of Historic Places.

For the record, our modest Second Empire style courthouse was erected in 1882. I don’t know who the architect was. I have recently discovered that the architect was John B. Halcott, of Albany, NY. The building was actually an addition to the Greek Revival courthouse building which had stood on Fayetteville St. since 1837. Both buildings were demolished in 1915 when Wake County’s grandiose Beaux Arts courthouse was erected on the site. That building was designed by the renowned Atlanta architect, Philip Thornton Marye.

Our featured card on Flashback Friday this week was printed by the well-known post card publisher, Hugh C. Leighton Co.

The Hugh C. Leighton Co.   1906-1909
Portland, ME

A printer and major publisher of national view-cards, especially scenes of New England. They printed most of their cards in four distinct styles usually employing tinted halftones. Most of their cards had a subdued but recognizable pallet. While some cards were printed at their plant in the U.S. most were manufactured in Frankfurt, Germany. Almost all their cards were numbered. They merged with Valentine & Sons in 1909.

“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!