Clarence Wilson Brazer Corner Card - Chester, PA (1938)

Here's another Buck-a-Cover find with an interesting history. The corner card being that of Clarence Wilson Brazer (1880-1956), a noted architect and stamp collector who, in his retirement, became a renowned philatelist of note as well:








http://www.philadelphiabuildings.or...ay.cfm/23655

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...Rid=60139033

While Brazer is famous in philately and widely recognized because of his pioneer work in the field of essays and proofs, I am a "living connection" to this cover in the respect that the addressee Forrest Smith was a stamp dealer in Stroudsburg/PA and when I first started dealing in stamps (c.1970) or it could even have been earlier, before I was a dealer, I attended a small show in Stroudsburg and met Mr. Smith, who was rather elderly (at least to me!) and purchased a Scott #64 pink (used) from him. Unfortunately, when I got it home and was able to study it under really good lighting I found that it had a filled thin. Mr. Smith had no qualms about giving me a refund. I think he died a few years later. Geez, another reminder of just how old I am.......(!)

Interesting connection and story. I think this is likely Mr. Smith's gravestone at Stroudsburg Cemetery: Forrest R. Smith (1912-1980)

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...id=100942101

Alas his home, Innerwick was the second oldest residence in Flushing when he lived in it but apparently is no longer in existence. Worse, there seems to be no record of where it stood. Flushing is a very large neighborhood that has undergone tremendous changes over the last 50 or 60 years, so there isn't even a place to begin. I lived in Flushing for a few years about 30 years ago.

It was easy to locate some information on Innerwick (a/k/a Innerwyck) it was located at 31-07 Union Street, Flushing, NY. Here's a link to a 1945 newspaper article about it:

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%...-%201335.pdf

I subsequently found this obscure reference suggesting that the house existed until 1959 when it was razed for a housing development:



Just found this one, too:

Obviously you have some special link to old newspapers; using the name on google had nothing on the location at all. I lived on the same street about 10 blocks south.

I have no "special link" to old newspapers (that I know of). I do a lot of historical research and it was just a simple Google search that uncovered the items noted above.

I think it may have to do with combinations of words and use of quotes, etc., that gives one different results. For example, the newspaper link above did not show up when using the term "Innerwick" but did when using "Innerwyck". Sometimes those details make a big difference in the Google search results.

You will quickly realize that wt1 is an asset to this community! His knowledge and research skills are second to no one. I'd bet the farm on that!

I second that! In fact, I would postulate that WT1 does not use Google - he IS Google.

Brian

Thanks for all the kind words!