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Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)

The Inn at Crooked Lake CONWAY MICHIGAN Vintage Real Photo Postcard

The Inn at Crooked Lake CONWAY MICHIGAN Vintage Real Photo Postcard

$28.00 USD
$28.00 USD
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Real photo postcard, "The Inn at Crooked Lake" featuring swimmers and sunbathers at the family resort in Conway, Michigan. *Note: the red/green discoloration on the treetop is from the scanner and not on the postcard.

The original hotel was built on the shores of Crooked Lake in 1873 with five guest rooms and was known as the Inland House. Grover Cleveland is said to have stayed there. New owners changed the name to the Conway Inn and by the 1950s, the name changed again to This Ole House. Fire destroyed the 116-year-old famous resort in 1989.

Black and white photograph with handwritten white ink caption.

  • Era: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC), 1930 - 1950, based on stamp box
  • Location: Conway, Michigan, USA
  • Publisher: L.L. Cook Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Subject: Hotel, beach
  • Condition: Excellent
  • Postmark: Unposted
  • Size: 5 ½” x 3 ½”

Packaged in protective postcard sleeve.

Just a quick heads‑up: the photos reveal details far better than text alone, so they’re worth a close review.

We share as much accurate information as possible about each item—from provenance to condition—but the images often show the nuances best. If you ever need more details, we’re always happy to help.

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Postcard Eras & Collecting Guide

  • Real Photo Postcards (c. 1890–1945)

    Early printed lithographs and Real Photo Postcards (RPPC) offer rich historical detail, documenting towns, events, family portraits, and everyday life. Disaster postcards depicting floods, fires, train wrecks, and other catastrophic events, were a popular way to share news as photographs could quickly be turned into postcards. Many RPPCs are scarce and unique due to their small‑batch production.

    Browse Real Postcards 

  • Pre-Linen Litho & Linen Postcards (c. 1907–1950)

    Pre‑Linen Litho cards (c. 1907–1929) were printed using smooth chromolithography and tinted halftone methods, producing soft, painterly views before the textured linen era. Linen postcards (c. 1930s–1950s) introduced high–rag‑content paper with a woven surface and bold saturated colors that reflected the optimism postwar travel culture. Together, these eras showcase the shift from early color printing.

    Browse Pre-Linen Litho and Linen Postcards 

  • Chrome Postcards (c.1939–)

    Chrome postcards, introduced in 1939, feature glossy surfaces, vivid color, and photographic imagery made possible by modern color film processes. The term “chrome” derives from Kodachrome, Eastman Kodak’s groundbreaking color film. Mid‑century examples depicting motels, highways, city skylines, national parks, and tourist destinations are collected for their documentation of postwar American travel and roadside culture.

    Browse Chrome Postcards