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Real photo postcard showing theO.E.S. Home in Orange, Massachusetts, housed in the historicWheeler Mansion at 75 East Main Street.
The O.E.S. Home was operated by theOrder of the Eastern Staras a rest home for approximately65 years. The residence occupied the prominent Gilded Age Wheeler Mansion, making this postcard especially interesting as a record of both the building itself and its later institutional use.
The image shows the mansion’s imposing symmetrical façade with large classical columns, brick construction, dormer windows, multiple chimneys, formal entrance, landscaped grounds, walkway, and iron fencing. A sign in front identifies the property as:
“O. E. S. HOME / ORANGE, MASS.”
Postcard Details
- Subject: O.E.S. Home / Wheeler Mansion
- Organization: Order of the Eastern Star
- Location: 75 East Main Street, Orange, Massachusetts
- View: Exterior architectural view
- Postcard type:Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)
- Image: Black-and-white photographic view
- Back:Divided back
- Reverse wording: “POST CARD,” “CORRESPONDENCE,” and “ADDRESS ONLY”
- Publisher/photographer: Not identified on the postcard
- Series/card number: None visible
- Stamp: None
- Postmark: None
- Address: None
- Message: None
- Mailed: No
- Embossing: None apparent
Historical & Collector Interest
TheWheeler Mansionis notable for its substantial Gilded Age architecture, and its later use as the Order of the Eastern Star Home adds another layer of local and organizational history. This postcard captures the property during the period when it functioned as the O.E.S. rest home rather than simply as a private residence.
The card should appeal to collectors ofOrange, Massachusetts history, Franklin County history, Order of the Eastern Star memorabilia, fraternal organizations, Gilded Age architecture, historic homes, institutional history, and real photo postcards.
Condition
Pre-owned postcard with age-related wear. Visible condition includes corner and edge wear, light surface marks and toning, and some discoloration/staining, particularly near the lower-left area of the reverse. The photographic image remains clear overall. The postcard is unused and has no stamp or postmark.
Please use’s magnifier/zoom featureto inspect edge wear, corners, creases, surface issues, writing, stains, paper loss, album residue, discoloration, and any other imperfections visible in the photographs.
