In this real photo postcard, a minister of a church (location and date unknown) stands in the midst of fruits and vegetables that decorate the altar in preparation for a Harvest Home service.

"Harvest Home" is a religious celebration that's still held today at some Lutheran, Reformed, and other churches in Pennsylvania and elsewhere during the late summer or early fall. As seen here, the observance typically involves a display of tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, cornstalks, flowers, etc.

For additional examples, see Harvest Service, Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1907, and Harvest Home Greetings, Methodist Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1909.

In this photo, the inscription at the bottom of the stained glass window on the right-hand side says, "Donated by Robert, Ella, & Sallie Wise."

The signboard hanging on the wall on the left-hand side of the photo provides the following information about the church:

Register - Attendance & Offering
Number on the roll - 200
Attendance today - 114
Attendance a year ago today - 81
Offering today - 236
Offering a year ago today - 104

Tags:   ephemera postcards real photo postcards rppc photos photographs found photos churches buildings interiors altars Harvest Home Harvest Service harvest services harvest celebrations harvest services church services celebrations fruits vegetables pumpkins corn cornstalks tomatoes potatoes men clothes clothing suits ties bow ties clergy clerical clergymen ministers pastors religious religion signs signboards stained glass windows stained glass windows antique old vintage

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"Harvest Home Greetings. Methodist Church, Strasburg, Pa."

Addressed on the other side to Mr. Roy D. Mowrer, Strasburg, Pa., and postmarked Iva, Pa., Oct. 20, 1909. Message: "The musical is to be held in the Hall. You know. A.B.D."

For other real photo postcards of Harvest Home celebrations, see Harvest Home Display with Minister and Harvest Service, Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1907.

Tags:   ephemera postcards real photo postcards rppc photos photographs found photos churches buildings interiors altars Harvest Service Harvest Home harvest services harvest celebrations harvest services church services Methodist Church Methodists celebrations fruits tomatoes peaches potatoes cantaloupes watermelons pumpkins squash celery peppers wheat corn cornstalks flowers religious religion 1909 1900s Iva Strasburg Pa. Lancaster County Pennsylvania antique old vintage

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"Harvest Service, 1907. Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Pa."

For other photos that show church altars decorated for a Harvest Service (also called Harvest Home), see Harvest Home Display with Minister and Harvest Home Greetings, Methodist Church, Strasburg, Pa., 1909.

Tags:   ephemera postcards real photo postcards rppc photos photographs found photos churches buildings interiors altars Harvest Service Harvest Home harvest services harvest celebrations harvest services church services Lutheran Church Lutherans celebrations fruits vegetables pumpkins squash wheat corn cornstalks flowers religious religion 1907 1900s Strasburg Pa. Lancaster County Pennsylvania antique old vintage AVC

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