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The Heart of the City - Lovelands's Love Letters

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Real Estate Agent with Broker/Owner, Keller Williams 100000008

Well, anyone who has been to Loveland around Valentines Day knows that the Sweetheart City takes its roll seriously. Now I know, September is not exactly the best time to bring up Valentines Day, but Localism month is! So sit back while I tell you a bit about the history involved in Loveland's remailing program!

Known as 'The Sweetheart City,’ Loveland, Colo. has been re-mailing valentines with a special cachet and postal cancellation since 1946. Since then, Loveland, Colo. has become world renown for its dedication to romance. Not only does the The Sweetheart City capture the essence of romance via its world-renowned Valentine Re-mailing program, but also via the many weddings and anniversaries celebrated here each year!

So what is the program? This program includes the selection process of Miss Loveland Valentine, producing the annual “Official Loveland Valentine Card" and partnering with U.S. Postal Service in re-mailing more than 160,000 valentines each year. Each card is lovingly hand-stamped by volunteers during the first two weeks in February.

From February 1st through the 14th more than 60 volunteers come to the Chamber building to lovingly hand-stamp each Valentine card sent to 'The Sweetheart City.” As early as summer, inquiries from all over the world begin asking for directions on how to send their cards to Loveland so they will be stamped with the cachet and special postal cancellation.

Many of the valentines sent to Loveland have been accompanied by personal notes or letters. A grandmother in Detroit wrote of her young granddaughter who was dying in a Detroit hospital. She asked that the enclosed valentine be sent as soon as possible. The valentines were re-mailed promptly along with additional valentines from the Loveland Chamber of Commerce and Loveland postal employees.

A Brooklyn, New York lawyer wrote: “I just wanted to thank you for making this just a little nicer country to live in. People like myself who were born and reared in these great United States seem to take everything for granted until someone like you comes along and reminds us that we are very, very lucky.”

The valentines come in all shapes and sizes and range from handmade to elaborate. Many of the cards are addressed to individuals unknown by the stamping crew, but some famous recipients have included Lady Bird Johnson, Abigail Van Buren, Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama and others.

So how do you send your own? Per Loveland Chamber of Commerce:

"To receive this unique Loveland cancellation and valentine cachet, enclose your pre-addressed envelopes affixed with the proper postage in a larger 1st Class envelope.

Mail to:
Postmaster - Attention Valentines
446 E. 29th St.
Loveland, CO 80538-9998

Your valentines will be removed from the larger envelope at the Post Office. To ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day, U.S. destined mail must be received in Loveland by February 8, February 10 if in Colorado, and foreign mail must be received by February 4. Proper postage must be affixed, especially foreign."

 

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Ben Blonder

Owner/Managing Broker, Kapital Real Estate Inc

Office: 970-797-2190

Cell: 970-420-6166

ben_blonder@yahoo.com

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