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Circa 1910. "Rockefeller Building and Superior Avenue -- Cleveland, O." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
It's nice that the only buildings now gone from that block are the two small ones directly left of the Rockefeller. They, along with the building at far right, are now parking lots. The surrounding area - the Warehouse District - is alive and well with many popular night spots and eateries.
What an amazing assortment of ancient vehicles, though of course most of them were not ancient at the time.
No less than nine trolley cars are in view.
The large leading car is an "interurban," providing service between communities. This type travelled on city streets and then on its own right-of-way when it got out of town. Some of them could hit 90 MPH.
The next two trolleys appear to be "convertible" cars whose window panels were removed during the hot summer months. There are safety bars to prevent patrons from falling out.
The early autos are also very interesting - any antique auto museum would be thrilled to have this assortment today.
Parked on the side street on the right is an very "upright"-looking machine which might be an early electric car, perhaps a Baker Electric.
Horses are still very much in evidence.
In just a few years, the horses will be pretty much gone, the streetcars have maybe 40-45 more years, and the "brass era" autos will go the way of all tech.
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