Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: brooms

Bats, an owl, and a black cat accompany a witch as she rides her broomstick over a snow-covered landscape in this illustration from a postcard dated 1910. For a similar postcard, see Halloween—Witch and Black Cat on a Broomstick .

"All Hallowe'en Greetings." A postcard addressed to Dessie Cable, 31 Linden Ave., Sewickley, Pa., and postmarked on Oct. 29, 1910, in Johnstown, Pa. Handwritten message: "Hello Dessie, How's the weather there? We have snow and it's very cold. My address is 935 Bedford St. Moved again. Rose. Ans. soon."

"Easter Greetings. A. Steiert & Son." Postcard addressed on the other side to Hauck Bros., Mechanicsburg, Pa., and postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., April 16, 1924. A. Steiert & Son was a manufacturer of brooms and brushes.

A witch holds her broomstick tightly as she rides in the back seat of a watermelon car driven by a wide-eyed veggie creature. A black cat sits next to her, and a bat flies above. A date of "Oct. 31st, 1908" is written on the other side of this postcard, which was published by the British firm of Raphael Tuck & Sons and issued as part of its popular Halloween series 150 .

A quirky Halloween postcard addressed to R. D. Bell, Bellwood, Penna., and postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 2, 1910.

Margaret Evans Price (1888-1973), a co-founder of Fisher-Price Toys, illustrated this postcard, which was postmarked in 1916.

Addressed on the back to Miss Anna Witmer, York , Pa., R.F.D. #12, but there's no stamp or postmark. Message: "From your Aunt Annie." In this surreal scene from a Halloween postcard by publisher Raphael Tuck, a witch, black cat, and some devils fly out of the top of a creepy jack-o'-lantern centerpiece as children cower in the background. See below for some other Tuck Halloween postcards.

"What the pig tho't of the ghost." A humorous Halloween postcard published by Julius Bien & Co. in 1908.

"Hallowe'en. Friendly fairy, witch, or fay, fulfill the wish you wish to-day. Ellen H. Clapsaddle."

"Come out and join the fun and watch for ghosts when Hallowe'en comes on."

"A Hallowe'en party! Oh, that's the fun / We'll join it at the set of sun."

A housework photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. The young woman on the right is preparing to use her baseball bat of a carpet beater to remove the dust and dirt from the rug hanging on the frame in front of her, while the one on the left is sweeping the walk. Perhaps they're getting ready and airing out the flag--it's awkwardly draped across the doorway--for a celebration on the Fourth of July or some other patriotic occasion.

"Witches Watch - Oct. 31st, '14. 8:00 p.m. - Masks! 2439 No. Eleventh Street. Admission - 25¢. ea. Guess you know who all!" Handwritten note on the back of the invitation: "George: Let me know if you come and how --singles or doubles! Marg. Hunsicker, 2852 N. Orkney St." A hundred-year-old Halloween party invitation! The flustered jack-o'-lanterns appear to be printed die-cut pumpkin shapes, but I'm not certain whether the witch silhouette was cut by hand or from a die. After using Google to search for the addresses (2439 N. Eleventh Street and 2852 N. Orkney Street), I believe that the location is probably Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I was surprised to discover that I couldn't find any precedent for the term "Witches Watch." I assumed that watching for the appearance of witches would be a common activity--and party theme--during the Halloween season, but the only reference to a similarly named event that I was able to locate came from the Spokane Daily Chronicle , Oct. 21, 1937, p. 3: "'Witches' Watch Halloween Ball. Chewelah, Wash., Oct. 21--(Special.)--Witches and pumpkins of paper decorated the Masonic hall Wednesday night when the Eastern Star held its invitational dance. Refreshments were served." Or perhaps I have it all wrong--maybe the witches are the ones who are doing the watching. Or--on a sillier note--could it refer to a timepiece worn by witches? Any other sightings of "Witches Watch" out there?

"To Mount Joy Broom Co. Dr. Manufacturers of brooms. Mount Joy, Pa., ________ 19__. Terms: ________."

"To my valentine."

Postmarked Roseburg, Oregon, Oct. 25, 1916.

"Eagle No. 6. Quality Brooms. Manufactured for B. S. Janney, Jr. & Co., Inc., 119-121-123 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa."