From Julia in Lille to the Van de Vyvere "chez Me Loontyens" in Gand

Lille, France is north of Paris and very close to the Belgium border. A quick Google Map search shows that all of these buildings are still standing. Except for The Grand Hôtel Bellevue, these buildings are now different businesses (shown below).

Grand Place - Les Grands Cafes now include:

Cafés Méo - https://www.meo.fr/

Sephora -

Furet du Nord ( a bookstore) - https://www.furet.com/blog/nos-magasins/furet-du-nord-de-lille/

BNP Paribas (a bank) - https://group.bnpparibas/en/

The Grand Hôtel Bellevue - https://www.grandhotelbellevue.com/en/

Julia mails this card to Jean Van de Vyvere, at Madam Loontjens home. Geneanet suggests that Maria Kamiel Loontjens is Jean's mother. Madame Loontjens lived at 19, Place du Marais in Gand (Ghent).

This is one of four postcards to Jean sent between 1919 and 1934. Two of these cards are also from Gaston.

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The Van de Vyvere family tree

Updated March 22, 2020. Based on names and addresses on postcards, this is the most likely family "tree". Those names in blue squares are people who either sent or received postcards. Most of this information was found due to Geneanet ( https://en.geneanet.org/ ). Any of this information could be incorrect.

To Grandmother from Gaston and Julia in 1921 from Strasbourg

On 8 April, 1921, using a postcard from Pres des Ponts couverts in Strasbourg, Julia writes to her grandmother the Widow Elisa Maria (Verburgh) Loontjens at 19 Place du Marais in Ghent, Belgium. Julia's mother, Elisa was widowed in 1900. Elisa died in 1927. Julia writes: "Dear Grandmother. Your grandchildren are very happy and until now, they have had a nice trip. We have already driven through tunnels, but luckily, openings were provided. (?)... on both ends, as Mariette says. Receive dear Grandmother, the affectionate well intended kisses from Gaiton and from Julia." * Thank you to Sofie, who volunteered to translate this card. And thank you to Timo Van Havere, who added (in the comment below) the translation: "... luckily, openings were pierced on both ends on both ends, as Mariette says" . Yes, Timo, a very delightful way to describe a tunnel! Julia is a niece of Maria Kamiel (Loontjens) Van de Vyvere and a cousin of Jeanine.

A Friday evening message to Monsieur et Madame Jean Van de Vyvere in Rotterdam. Posted in 1929 from Roma.

This card is a print from Ernesto Richter, a publisher whose studio was at 170 Via Serpenti in Rome. This image is of the Tumuli degli Orazi e Curiazi, near Via Apia (a Roman Road). It was posted from Rome/Roma in 1929.

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