When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Tar Heel Archives - Premium Vintage Ephemera & Collectibles Tar Heel Archives
Premium Vintage Ephemera & Collectibles
1934 RPPC Fairplay CO Main Street Blizzard Hand Hotel Haunted Paranormal History Condition: This vintage posted postcard exhibits standard edge wear and corner bumping consistent with age and mail transit. Please carefully examine all provided high-resolution macro photos to determine the exact condition prior to purchasing.
This is an exceptional piece of 1930s high-altitude Colorado history. Taken right in the middle of the Dust Bowl era, this real photo postcard captures the aftermath of a massive April blizzard on Main Street in Fairplay. The visual details are fantastic—you get a crystal-clear look at the Fairplay Beauty Shop, a corner cafe, and the local drugstore, with locals actively digging out cars buried under feet of heavy snow.
The provenance on the back is just as compelling as the photo. Mailed by a member of the prominent Hand family to a relative in Kansas, it gives a great firsthand account of the wild weather swings of 1934—mentioning a rapid ten-day melt-off that turned the massive snowdrifts back into dry, dusty dirt roads. More importantly, the sender checks in on "N.J." (Norman J. Hand), who famously managed the historic Fairplay Hotel, noting how the local miners and "regulars" were helping keep him afloat during the Great Depression.
The Hand Hotel Connection & Paranormal Interest
For collectors of the macabre and paranormal, this card ties directly into the legendary Hand family, pioneers of Fairplay's hospitality industry. The Hand Hotel—built by Jacob and Jessie Hand in 1932—is widely celebrated as one of Colorado's most haunted locations and a frequent hotspot for paranormal investigators.
Local lore states that the spirits of the Hand family and their guests never checked out. "Grandma" Jessie Hand is said to still oversee the property, with her rocking chair frequently moving on its own. The basement is reportedly guarded by an aggressive phantom dog, while the spirits of two young twin girls are known to cause mischievous commotions in the kitchen. Having a handwritten piece of Hand family correspondence from the exact era the hotel was establishing its legacy is an incredible find for anyone fascinated by haunted Colorado history.
As an authentic vintage piece, this item may show typical signs of age, which can include minor edge wear, soft or bumped corners, slight yellowing, and light surface blemishes. Please carefully examine all provided high-resolution photos for the most accurate and definitive representation of the item's condition prior to purchasing. Trivia Corner
Sitting at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, Fairplay is the largest community in the geographic basin known as South Park, Colorado. Because of the extreme altitude, massive, heavy spring blizzards like the one shown here are a historical staple of the region, often melting away incredibly fast under the intense mountain sun.
Tar Heel Archives Shipping & Handling
All inventory is meticulously curated and stored in a smoke-free, climate-controlled archival workspace. Items are securely packaged to preserve their 'crisp' condition and prevent transit damage. Postcards are shipped securely in 7x9 rigid "stay-flat" photo document mailers to prevent bending; we strictly never use poly-mailers. We process and ship orders promptly; however, please understand that we have no control over final delivery speeds or carrier delays once the package is handed off to the postal service.
Thank you for visiting Tar Heel Archives. Please review all photos carefully and reach out with any questions prior to purchase.
