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Coleman House: 1906

Asbury Park, New Jersey, circa 1906. "Coleman House." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Asbury Park, New Jersey, circa 1906. "Coleman House." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

 

On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5

Auto

Anyone know what type of car that is in the driveway?

Nothing Left but a Memory

I dropped into the Asbury Park Public Library yesterday. The Coleman House was at Asbury Ave. and Kingsley near the water. I took this photo from what I believe to be about the same location as in the original photo. If you look at the far right of the original photo, you can see a "Kingsley" street sign nailed onto a wooden pole.

All that is in this location now is a parking lot and a cheap hotel that caters to the gay community.

No blurs?

I know very little about photography of that time (as you will soon found out), but why is it that the people walking when this photo was taken are not blurry ghosts? Was this taken with some sort of state-of-the-art camera?

[By 1908, dry plate emulsions capable of stopping motion in daylight had been around for several decades.]

Ridin' Down Kingsley

At the extreme right edge of the picture, on the telephone pole is part of a sign is shown that says "Kingsley". This is a name Bruce Springsteen fans will be familiar with, as it is mentioned in songs by him.

Coleman Location

I believe it occupied a block at 6th Avenue and Ocean Avenue.

[It was at the corner of Asbury & Ocean Avenues.]

Coleman House

Anyone know if it's still there ?

[Torn down in 1934 for a parking lot.]

Carbon Arc Lamps

From my scant knowledge of carbon arc lamps, I know that the carbon rods slowly burn off and must be advanced to maintain the proper gap distance to keep the arc from failing. Were there small motors in these street lamps to accomplish this?

Watch your step!

The railroad tracks in the street surely turned many an ankle if a person didn't take care. Today they would probably want to sue, back then it was your own careless fault. From the overhead wires it was probably an electric railway. Possibly the Asbury Park & Sea Girt Railroad.

Street Lighting

Every time I see one of these pictures that show the carbon arc lamps that were used for lighting it amazes me that I had never considered such a type of illumination in public areas. It was never taught to me in history, I had never seen pictures like these, and none of my family ever said anything about methods of lighting in earlier days. I just supposed that everyone used oil or kerosene lamps until Edison invented the modern light bulb. What a revelation. Thanks Dave.

[Carbon arc lamps were used for street lighting long after the advent of Edison-style incandescent bulbs. Gaslight was also popular well into the 20th century. -Dave]

Caught in the web

Looks like a giant Spider has spun her web over the town!

Fill 'er up.

I like the arrangement of piping and fire hose attached to the fire hydrant. Since the streets are unpaved, I would suggest this was a convenient way for filling a tank wagon equipped with sprayers to keep down the dust on dry days. I notice that in many views of unpaved streets in this period there is usually a solid walkway (wood, concrete?) at an intersection to provide solid footing when the street turns to mud.

[A similar pipe seen here, in Boston. - Dave]

A balmy afternoon

Nice time for a cherry phosphate or chocolate ice cream soda at the Coleman House Pharmacy.

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