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A Bed of "Snow-Ball" is the uncharacteristically fanciful title of this 1907 entry from the Detroit Publishing catalogue, showing Grand Circus Park and the Fine Arts Building. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size.
The majority of the Fine Arts building was torn down in 2009. The facade was preserved for some future building project to use.
The title isn't entirely fanciful: The garden bed is filled with "Snowmound" or, as it was known in 1907, "Snow-Ball" Spirea.
[That would explain it! -Dave]
All the photographers in town must have taken out their cameras, as the view was really impressive.
Seeing the second photographer (another Detroit Publishing employee?) in the edge of the photo called to mind Peter O'Toole in _The Ruling Class_:
"I stand outside myself, watching myself, watching myself. I smile, I smile, I smile."
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