In the golden afternoon light of June 1912, Rochester's famed East Avenue stretches away beneath a cathedral canopy of mature elms and maples, their interlocked branches forming a tunnel of living green that earned the boulevard its reputation as one of America's most beautiful residential streets. A solitary gas lamp stands sentinel at left, and the unpaved road surface — still years away from asphalt — glows warm amber, with a distant horse-drawn vehicle barely visible in the shade. The card was posted on June 4, 1912, from 169 Mingo Street, Rochester, addressed to Miss Helene in Los Angeles, California — care of "J.J. M. Hale & Co., 345 S. Broadway." The sender, whose name ends in what appears to be "Alice," writes with the breathless enthusiasm of a traveller: "Mon eve June 3rd — Arrived Friday, am having a lovely time. Rochester is a beautiful city. Mr. West took us out for a drive this evening, enjoyed it so much. Will write when I get to Phila. With much love." The 1-cent Benjamin Franklin green stamp is properly cancelled with a Rochester, NY machine cancel dated JUN 4 / 3-PM / 1912.