A penny a post bought an awful lot of Lancaster County history.

In their heyday, beginning around 1907, postcards cost about a cent to send. Who would've dreamed then that so many "wish you were here" messages to loved ones would someday become part of a window into the past?

But that's just what they are in "Wish You Were Here: Post Cards from Lancaster County," an exhibit that opened Wednesday at the Lancaster County Historical Society.

The exhibit, which was originally going to include 75 cards from the Historical Society's archive, has grown to more than 200 images, so far, according to curator Barry Rauhauser, who admits that it's hard to decide which get in and which don't. It also features a case of varied postcards and information from the Lancaster County Postcard Club.

"All of our cards focus only on the Lancaster County story," explains Rauhauser. "(The Postcard Club's) stuff is very diverse."

In addition to displays of individual cards, the exhibit features blown-up images of both the front and backs of early 20th century cards, complete with personal notes.

"They're almost identical to today's e-mail," says Rauhauser. "The messages are short, abbreviated – 'We're doing well,' 'Arrived here safely'. Since these were sent through the mail without an envelope, you'll find cryptic messages and inside jokes."

The writing on one such card is a prime example.

Addressed to Mr. Daniel Weinhold at Groff's Store in Monterey Pa. and dated Sept. 21, 1910, the card has a picture of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, James and N. Queen sts. on the front.

The message reads: "Dear Friend, Oh you should been here tonight. I laughed myself sick. Did you discover anything strange in your pocket? Yours, kiddo."

"To those two people, it obviously meant something," Rauhauser says. "To us outsiders, we can only imagine. We're never going to know. I'd love to track down some of these stories, but it's almost impossible."

While the writing on postcards is always an interesting part of the package, stories are also told in the cards themselves.

The earliest card on display at the exhibit is dated Feb. 11, 1897. It is an information only card, with no picture, as many of the early cards were.

Addressed to Mr. Daniel Shissler in Neffsville, the card reads:

"Dear Uncle, Grandmother Smaling died very suddenly last evening at the house of Aunt Kitty Pankake at Salunga. The funeral will be held at Landisville on Saturday at 1 o'clock p.m. Very sincerely, L.O. Reitzel. "

Those early cards were either plain postal cards, or could have pictures, but didn't have a place for the sender to write a message.

It wasn't until 1907, with the institution of the divided back, that the use of postcards really took off.

"Communication being what it was in 1907, that was a very reliable way of sending a message," says Rauhauser.

But what did people send?

People often selected souvenir cards from places they visited. They also sent cards with images of their own hometown to friends and relatives across the county.

Jere Greider, president of the Lancaster County Postcard Club, says that the images of early postcards are often quite beautiful. And from a native Lancastrian's perspective, they can offer an insight into our hometown's history.

"Postcards give you a glimpse into the past," he explains. "You can see things on postcards that no longer exist. Especially natives to Lancaster County. You'll be amazed at how things used to look. So many things have changed over the years."

The exhibition, however, does more than show pictures of the past.

It shows perception, as well.

"It's how people viewed Lancaster County," explains Rauhauser. "Both the people who selected the cards and the publishers. They chose what they thought Lancaster County was or what they wanted people to envision Lancaster County to be.

"That gives you an insight into how people viewed the place that they lived."

For the most part, Lancaster County postcards depicted peaceful, rural scenes, but never wild or untamed, he says.

Sometimes they imbedded the industrial landscape into the rural landscape, sending the message that our county is beautiful, but it's also productive.

Those types of images are still on postcards today. Is it what we believe about our home? Or is it what we want others to believe?

"Wish You Were Here:

Post Cards from Lancaster County''

Opened Wed. Cont. through Aug. 11

Tues. and Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Wed., Fri. and Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Free

Lancaster County Historical Society

230 N. President Ave., 392-4633
www.lancasterhistory.org.