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Happy Fourth of July from the White House, 103 years later Date published: 6/28/2011 By Jennifer Strobel By JENNIFER MILLER STROBEL How many iPhone picture messages will endure a century? This picture postcard has. Haddie Hackley sent the postcard in 1908, and it has lasted through generations of her family. Shirley Onderdonk of Fredericksburg is now the keeper of part of the family's collection, which she has shared with the Flashback column in recent months. Many of the cards show scenes from Washington, where Haddie lived with her husband, Charles. Charles grew up on a large dairy farm roughly bordered by Bealeton, Casanova, Catlett and Calverton in Fauquier County, and Haddie frequently wrote messages to his family back home. A revival of Haddie's postcard of America's most famous house seems fitting for the nation's 2011 Fourth of July celebration. More common White House images show the pillared front entrance of the presidential home and office complex. This one shows the building with its "new" entrance and addition. Theodore Roosevelt was president during the restoration, which included construction of the executive office building later known as the West Wing. According to the White House website, it was also during Theodore Roosevelt's administration that the White House acquired its now-famous name. Even with various restoration touches through the years, the White House image remains iconic in Americans' minds. The sights and sounds of the surrounding city have changed dramatically, however. Consider this tidbit from the White House website: Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to ride in an automobile. Shirley Onderdonk, the postcard keeper, isn't sure how Charles and Haddie made their trips between farm and city. Charles' brother, Clifton, who lived back home, worked for the railroad, so the couple might have taken the train that passed through Fauquier, Onderdonk surmised. Cars were in the early stages of development, and roads were rough. Whatever the travel mode, the trip was noteworthy enough that Haddie reported back upon their return to the city. Many of her messages went to Lena Hackley Hedrick, her sister-in-law, and Shirley Onderdonk's grandmother. On this card, postmarked from Washington on June 8, 1908, Haddie wrote: "Dear Lena, We arrived home all OK last night and found them all waiting for us. It was about 10 o'clock when we got home. Hope you had a nice drive. Love to all, Haddie." Haddie wrote her message by hand, in cursive, in ink. Jennifer Strobel:
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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