I believe Lena may have worked as a cook in The Geysers; at least when she left there in 1906 she applied as a cook for another place nearby and was told (via postcard from a friend) that the positing had already been taken.
So Lena took another job--I can't figure what it was. I am pretty sure it was at the Napa State Hospital for the Insane because many later postcard were addressed to her there, or referred to her work there.
Napa was known in the early 1900's for its winemaking industry, farming, the huge Napa State hospital, and brothels:"In the late 1800's and early 1900's Napa was known for having the largest red-light district for a California city of its size. In 1905, Napa had over twenty brothels[5 primarily concentrated on and around Clinton Street. "
Here is a picture of that HUGE old hospital from around that time, from a postcard.
So here are some photos of Lena at work, with her coworkers, many of whom became her friends for life. I think that some of the photos, none of which have dates, may be from the Geysers and some from Napa)
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Thanks for posting the photos of the Napa hospital! My husband's great-great grandmother was a housekeeper at the Napa hospital for the insane probably around the same time! Small world, huh! -- Kathleen
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