Hay Making, Nova Scotia (about 1960)
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Out in the country people work hard, and back in the proverbial good old days they worked even harder. Whether on a farm, a fishing village or in the forest, rural folk have always had to put their bodies and souls into their labors to eke out a living.
As these vintage postcards from the eastern parts of Canada attest they at least did so amidst beautiful settings.
River Saguenay at Chicoutimi, Quebec (about 1940)
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Ox Cart, Rural Quebec (about 1940)
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Spinning in Rural Quebec (1950)
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Back of Spinning in Rural Quebec (1950): “Dear Ma – That’s you and me working. Lots of little farms and little houses here. Horses do most of the work. Farms are very small. In winter the men work in the lumber business, in summer farming. Women do fancy work in winter to sell it in the summer. Love Helen”
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- Old Church, Tadousac, Quebec (about 1940)
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- New Glasgow, Nova Scotia (about 1940)
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- Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia (about 1960)
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- Tobacco Field, Leamington, Ontario (1940)
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- Wood Carver, Rural Quebec (about 1940)
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- Sleigh, Montreal (1911)
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- Dog Cart, Quebec (about 1940)
Similar posts in O’Canada:
⊕ Quebec Charm in Vintage Postcards
⊕ “Dear Auntie . . don’t be cross”: Scenic British Columbia in Old Postcards
O' Canada 
So interesting, almost every photo could be also taken here in Finland.
Thanks for sharing that — a wonderful connection about rural life in different places!
I love old postcards, especially ones with messages on the back. When I travel in the summer, I make a point of sending my students postcards – because only a very few ever receive mail.
The kitchen one is especially interesting. I’ve never seen a stove like that one, with the double-doored oven ABOVE the firebox.
Thanks for sharing these!
cheers,
Jennie
There’s still a lot of charm about getting a handwritten postcard or note. Cool observation about the stove!
Brett: Nice. Vmm
Hi, Victor, thanks! 🙂
I love these old postcards. Farming was a tough life but rewarding as well. Salt of the earth folks.
Darlene, so true!
There sure are some beautiful parts to Canada! Now we just have to try to keep them beautiful!
Agreed! 🙂
I love old postcards. I haven’t sent or received one in a long time now though. Great post – feels very nostalgic.
🙂
A treasured collection
Thanks! 🙂
Living in rural Nova Scotia, those cards could have been taken right here, right now. Love it 🙂 Thanks for bringing those kind of cards back to us all !! Have a wonderful day !!
Thanks! Some of these scenes bring to mind present day rural Nova Scotia for me as well.
These are great, Brett. So much more interesting than just the “scenic view” type of postcards. These are keepers.
Very much a slice of life in the country! 🙂
Yes, and with people at their work it is more interesting – some action, rather than the static nature shots.
Brett: These are very special !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
🙂
My mom saved many post cards with the same colorations. That was the popular way to communicate in that era. We don’t remember the think paper used when sending a letter via “air mail” and how much cheaper it was to send a post card. But I, too, love the nostalgia it brings to us.
Me too! 🙂
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
Fantastic! Such beautiful cards.
🙂
Hi Brett,
Great article. Thanks so much for sharing. I have a unique postcard collection as well. Some of mine are up on my website. Musette Owner of zetsvintagestore.com
🙂
I want to jump right into these postcards! They’re so beautiful! Thank you for sharing 😊
🙂
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I love vintage postcards and think these are beautiful pieces of history, Brett. They depict everyday life but we have so few examples of this captured in pictures.
More common are dressed up portraits. Smiles, Robin 💮
Robin, so true. 🙂
These are lovely. One of my favorite things to do when perusing antique stores is to find the photos and post cards section. I could peruse through them for hours.
I agree! 🙂
I enjoy old postcards and these are works of art, Brett.
Robin, thanks! 🙂