I wonder how many now-controlled substances were in those
"health candies."

We had a "Fruit & Nut Shoppe" in my hometown in the 1970's. I had completely forgotten it until now. They used to have these great candied fruit clusters.

Ignatius Geraci - A Proud Expert Cutter: yet another fine story, revealed in photos on Shorpy, of a successful immigrant to America, "the land of promise." I especially like the line referring to Geraci as an "acquisition that the United states could ill afford to lose." Why has our nation lost so much if its appreciation for those who come here and work hard, trying to do better for themselves, their family and their new community?

Is it merely coincidental that this photo is posed here or do the occupants of the car have some connection to one of businesses in the background?

---

Washington Post, Feb 24 1907

I. Geraci

An Italian by Birth and an American by Adoption,
He has Made His Influence Felt by His Enterprise as a
Merchant Tailor and His Fraternalism.

There are many opportunities offered in America for the adopted citizens who come from abroad and take up their lives on this side of the Atlantic, and many millions have come in the past and lent their energies to the making of the great new country. They have mostly prospered and with them has come the prosperity of the new nation.

In the making of this prosperity the alien-born have played no small part. One of those that may be taken as a model of those who come from other lands, and who are acquisitions that the United states could ill afford to lose, is I. Geraci, the sturdy merchant tailor, whose place of business is at 1235 G street northwest.

M. Geracu traces his origin back through the wanderings that have been followed to the sunny streets of Termini-Imoroso, Italy, where he was born in 1862. His youth was full of enterprise and at the age of nineteen he went into business for himself, and in two years had saved up sufficient money to buy his passage to America, the land of promise.

He reached the United States and Washington in the somber fall of that year, when bleak winds were sweeping down from the north. They were bitter to the warm southern blood, but he forgot the chill in industry, for he immediately went to work for Barr, Keen & Harold, tailors. For many years he was cutter for George T. Keen.

The feeling of independence and confidence that had caused him to embark in the enterprise of his youth, and later to give it up and sail out into the unknown, now prompted the expert cutter to leave the table of his employer and to start out on his own responsibility. Consequently, when he had been in this country for nine years, he went into business for himself, with a shop at 1235 G street, and has remained in business at that address ever since.

From the beginning he drew a good clientele, and the business has increased as his reputation went abroad, until now he is a man independent among his fellows. Fifteen years have passed, and the Italian tailor from Termini has grown and prospered.

I. Geraci is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is vice president of the Society of Unione and Fratellanza. He has recently been elected master of practical work of the Cutters' Association. He is a member of the Society of Victor Emanuelle II, and of La Trinacria, and is treasurer of the Italian Fishing Club.

I. Geraci is proud of his record and proud of the fact the learned his trade in Italy and France. He is proud of his record since coming to America, and still more proud of the fact that he is now an American. He is proud of the work that is being turned out of his shop, and especially does his heart swell at the contemplation of the new spring styles that he has just received for the coming season.

Easy to tell who belongs to whom.

Maybe they don't realize they are in a streetcar stop.

looks REALLY scary!!!

It looks like a bull terrier to me. Popular breed in the first half of the last century; remember Buster Brown and his dog Tige?

I imagine that doggy is not pleased with the photographer and stands ready to protect the new car.

Geared to the road as they may be - I still think it best to keep air in them.

This group is obviously from outer space, and the dog in the back is the ringleader. Nice disguises.

"Geared to the Road" -- great slogan for a tire company!

...had a daughter?

Forget health nuts. I'll take some of those health candies!

I worked prior to retirement for the newspaper in Fostoria, OH, where the Allen Car Co. was first formed, in 1913. It did well, but although of high quality, was high in price. The company left Fostoria in 1919 when it was sold to a Columbus, OH consortium and ceased production in 1921, a year after this photo. Mr. Allen's former home is now a funeral home.

I've seen thousands of restored autos at shows over the years, but seeing these photos of them when they were new is a real treat. This one looks like it left the showroom about ten minutes before the photo was taken. But why does the pooch look like he's not having a good time? A ride in a new car? Should be in doggie heaven.