Hardscrabble Phil B.

I was reading the Postmark Pursuit section of the 6 OCT 2008 edition of Linn's Stamp News (I picked it up to-day), in search of air- and airmail-themed postmarks from Texas. I send away for them for my Texas postmark collection on U.S. airmail.

I came across an advertisement for a postmark for Red Hook, NY (Sept. 20) for "Hardscrabble Station". Linn's says the postmark shows the Villiage Hall building and has text reading "32nd Annual Community Celebration".

I've been to Red Hook. Nice town. In fact, I was there a year ago this month. I've seen hardscrabble towns in central Texas, but I didn't think Red Hook was hardscrabble. It looked more like a town out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

I'm sorry to hear that the economic downturn has hit Red Hook so hard. They should be proud that they can have a community celebration in the face of such difficult times.

David

Hardscrabble! Is that where all the letters are Q's, X's and Z's?