From the readers: Koester's Bakery, magic gates and strange orders

Here's the latest collection of great things sent in by Papergreat's readers...

Coupons from the E.H. Koester Bakery Co.: This post from more than 2,000 days ago is one of the most-commented-upon entries in Papergreat history. In August, reader Christy Tuoni went through and answered some of the questions that other readers have had over the years. Here's her introduction:

"My grandfather, A. Carroll Jones, did the advertising for Koester's bakery in the early 1920s. In 1928 he lost his advertising job in NYC and stopped by Koestler's to let Mr. Koester know. Mr. Koester hired him on the spot and made him head of advertising and GM. I have many trolley car proofs as do my relatives. My mother was used in a Christmas ad and I have the first proof. ... My grandfather ran the business for over 40 years. ... The coupons were my grandfather's idea. So were the baseball cards. ... The Koester sons bankrupted the business in the 60s. ... I know my grandfather lost his pension due to bankruptcy. ... My understanding is Sunbeam bakery bought the business after the sons bankrupted the business."

And here are Christy's answers to some of the past reader questions:

Comment from Darcee: "My grandfather, Bernard W. Rial of Baltimore was a painter, and the Koester twins was one of the things he painted. NOT the original I'm sure, but he painted sides of milk trucks and bread trucks, that kind of thing."
Response from Christy: "My grandfather designed these. He did all Koester bakery art from the early 1920s until he retired in the late 60s or 70s. He left us many ads and even used my Mom in a Christmas ad in their home on Gittings Avenue."

Question from Janice: "Could Koester Fresh bread be related to Koestler's Bakery in Vicksburg, Mississippi?"
Response from Christy: "No."

Comment from Anonymous: "I remember Koester's bread from the 1950s. The reason that I even found this site is that my husband and I were discussing bread wrappers from our childhood. Unlike today's bread wrappers, they were made from a waxed paper. ... Anyway, Koester's popped into my mind, and I immediately remembered the sticker on the end of the package that had the painting of the beautiful little twins on it."
Response from Christy: "Yes, their wrapping was waxed. My grandfather even tried to design ring-around bread. He thought it would be a big hit but it really never caught on as a new alternative."

1970s summer comics nostalgia with Thing and Vision, Episode VII: With regard to the magic set won by one of the Grit newspaper delivery boys, Tom from the Garage Sale Finds blog writes: "I wonder if that's the Marshall Brodien TV Magic set he won."

1939 textbook: Stick figures Arthur and Bill attempt to get a job: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "I thought it was going conclude with Arthur getting the job because he tricked Bill into waiting for him allowing Arthur to run past Bill and get the job."

Mystery face on TV screen in real photo postcard: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "Looks like too much hair for Mitch [Miller]. Maybe Perry Como?"

The joy and mystery and history of American place names: Joan writes: "Yay for meandering and tiny towns!!"

1,001 stories through the archway: Anonymous writes: "My first thought when I saw the picture was of the book The Secret Garden."

And Joan writes: "I'm so excited for this. May I volunteer my services as Create-A-Tale Technical Consultant?"

Absolutely! I need all the technical help I can get.

Mystery photo that might have come from an early photo booth: The awesomely named "Volcano-Cat on Youtube" writes: "She looks beautiful... if only we could step into the photograph. ... Love this blog!"

Thanks, Volcano-Cat!

Receipt for Knights of Pythias and Tweets of Old: Volcano-Cat on Youtube writes: "Fraternal Greetings from the Battle Of Waterloo Lodge No 1 (Lodge Nr, 2168) Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, Grand Council. Yes, really! As a 'Primo' or Second Degree Brother I was intrigued by this Order greatly. I'm supposed to be writing, but boredom is a terrible thing and I was noodling round the net to find your blog. Top notch!"

Inspirational Soviet postcard from the 1960s (Yes, I wrote that): Anonymous writes: "Cool postcard! :D And you can practice your Russian cursive here — https://lingualift.com/blog/russian-cursive-writing-practice-sheet/"

Hey, we're nothing if not education-focused here at Papergreat!

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Finally, we have a happy ending for one of the books featured on Papergreat. The August post "She was proud of her father, the bookseller" featured a 1924 edition of A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony that included inscriptions by Heath McCawley.

Diana Thebaud Nicholson, who wrote the obituary for Heath's sister, Mary Yorke McCawley, got in touch via email. She also knew the girls' father, and wrote:

"E.S. McCawley was my mother’s older brother and one of the world’s delightful people. He graduated from USNA Annapolis, where he was my father’s roommate, in the Class of 1913. He was a prolific and gifted writer of letters and poems to mark any — or no — occasion, and had a highly tuned sense of humor. I remember frequent visits to the bookstore in Villanova, which no doubt contributed to my own love of books."

And Diana also confirmed that Heath McCawley — they call her "Heathie" — is still alive and living in southeastern Pennsylvania. I have mailed A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony to Heathie's niece, so that it can be properly returned to her. That makes me happy.