View full size. Rear view of tenement, 134½ Thompson Street, New York City. Makers of artificial flowers live and work here. February 1912. Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine.
Submitted by elzabella on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 3:57pm.
This photo is distressing. When I see the oh-so-ugly physical conditions the children live within, it makes my heart heavy. So much for the "good ol' days."
However, at the same time, when I look at the two boys I can't help but feel a camaraderie between them, and I'm surprised (and elated) to note that the younger boy appears to be reading a book. If that's true, at least he has another world to escape into.
Here it is now (light building in the middle of the photo, looks like they painted over the bricks). Someone go down that alley with a camera and send us a picture!
