(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office received an unexpected, thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.

 

Recently Sheriff Ron Heeg opened a letter from Lowell Joerg of Stockton, California. It included a postcard featuring the La Porte County Jail, dated August 20, 1916. The old paper relic depicts the Indiana Bedford limestone jail that stood along State Street from 1907 to 1977.

 

The 96-year-old Joerg explained that he collects old postcards and sends them back to their places of origin. As a bit of a relic himself, Joerg says he’s seen a lot of changes throughout his life. He says he got the idea as a way to keep history alive: “I said to myself, ‘By golly, I think I’ll send it back to where it can be appreciated. Heritage is important.’” He calls his work a “RE-DISTRIBUTION OF HAPPINESS.”

 

Joerg closed his letter to the Sheriff’s Office with a seasonal greeting— “HAPPY VALNETINE’S DAY to you and your staff.”

 

Sheriff Heeg thanked Joerg for his thoughtful gift and sent him some extra stamps to further his mission.

 

Last year Joerg sent a postcard of the old U.S. Post Office headquarters to the Postmaster General in Washington, D.C., who published a story about him. To read the story and see a picture of Mr. Joerg, known as the “Postcard Man,” click this LINK.