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April 1939. "Slums. Newark, New Jersey." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
Given that this is 1939, I'd like to have walked down that sidewalk when a steam engine was inching past. Even if it were a little switcher.
Especially on a cold day.
That looks like a 1937 Buick Limited on the street off to the right. Sure does not fit in that neighborhood! Landlord? Gangster? Or my wife says maybe a doctor? (She always likes to see the innocent side!)
The railroad track along Clifford street is a surviving clue to Rothstein's location. It was a spur line headed downtown, and it is still there along Clifford Street.
I tried to duplicate the point of view on Google Earth. Looks like it was taken from atop the railroad bridge on the main line.
https://earth.google.com/web/@40.71927585,-74.15984713,9.78570943a,307.9...
Messrs. Landew and Blume saw profit in recycling before it was cool.
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