Postcard Collections

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, collecting picture postcards was a popular hobby. Postcards showing views of towns and cities were a way for travellers to share their experiences with friends and family back home, and huge numbers of postcards were produced for this market.

A hundred years later, postcards provide us with a fascinating glimpse of the way the world used to be. Markham Village, with its tradition of stewardship of its built heritage, is unusual in that many of these postcard scenes are still recognizable to 21st century eyes. The streets are paved now and filled with motor vehicle traffic, but many of the streetscapes shown in the postcards are still with us.