Presque Isle Lighthouses: Postcards from Presque Isle - A book of images and history about the area

Postcards from Presque Isle

The first commercially produced postcards in the U.S. appeared in 1861, and the first picture postcards were issued in 1873. These letters-without-envelopes proved very popular! In time they were also recognized as remarkable historic artifacts. Postcards document the landscapes, structures, and activities which distinguish an area at particular moments in its history. Some landmarks, such as buildings, are still here; others are long gone. In addition, the brief messages which senders wrote on their postcards give important insights into how they spent their time and what they found of value during their visits.

For this reason we are delighted that local historians Judith Kimball and John Porter have produced a new volume in the Postcard History Series, entitled Grand Lake and Presque Isle. In their book we can explore Burnham's Landing, the abandoned community of Bell, Presque Isle's two celebrated lighthouses, two youth camps, the new limestone mining enterprise at Rockport, and other important venues. The authors show us that that some visitors in the 20th century groused that the water was too cold, the fish were too reluctant to bite, getting here took too long... and their visits proved much too brief. Many people considered Grand Lake and Presque Isle a little piece of heaven. Judith's and John's broad knowledge of local history, and their extensive research on Presque Isle personalities, make this book a new treat.