A postcard mailed by Fran Murphey from Montana in 1962 finally arrived last week. A page 1 story about It by Beacon Journal reporter Jim Carney today spurred an avalanche of inquires from the the AP, newspapers and TV stations.
Click on the headline to read Carney’s story. Here’s his lead;
HUDSON: Last week, Dave Conn, a Hudson insurance agent, opened his post office box and found a postcard mailed from Helena, Mont., in 1962 and signed ''Fran.''
He didn't know who Fran was, but he didn't have to show it to very many people in Hudson before he had the answer.
The Beacon Journal's late reporter Frances B. Murphey, a fixture at the newspaper for 55 years, traveled often, mailing thousands of postcards from major cities and remote locations around the world to her friends back home.
One of those friends was Marion White, a longtime member of the Hudson Village Council. White died in 1988, and Conn took over her post office box shortly thereafter.
Murphey, a legendary character in Akron history, chronicled the lives of people in the suburbs and rural areas, attended fairs, took pictures and covered trustee meetings and fires during her five decades at the paper.
She died in 1998 at the age of 75 with a collection of about 200,000 postcards.
What she wrote to Marion White tells the story of that summer in 1962.
The front was inscribed with, ''Greetings from Montana.''
The back was dated July 5 and carried a 3-cent stamp.
Murphey was traveling across the country by train with co-worker Polly Paffilas, and the card said they were ''eastbound on the NP RR,'' likely referring to the Northern Pacific Railroad.
She wrote: ''Had a marvelous time in Montana.''
''Saw cattle, horses and mountains and water almost in every direction. Fed elk and deer.''
The fascinating story continues. Postal inspectors say they often fine errant mail and mail it whenever it is found.
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