I would think that this is a schoolroom and the kids have (under the guidance of their teacher) built a playground for display purposes? Perhaps their was a school competition for the "new park"?

[This model, built by grownups, was one of many such displays at the Metropolitan Parks Association's Exhibit of Congestion of Population in 1907 and 1908 at the Museum of Natural History. - Dave]

in the top hat who is grimacing at the little boy in the sailor suit. He has a criminal face if ever I saw one. Not to mention the two kids on the right about to beat each other with tennis rackets.

And this was paid for by the taxpayers?

It is if you have a sense of humor and a bit of imagination.

So the workman moved during exposure ... like 80% of the other plates we have from 1900 to 1915. So there's a walrus skull (smilodons - inaccurately known as Sabre-toothed tigers - have curved incisors) hanging on the wall. Before we realized we need to protect wildlife and preserve fossils, lots of people had such trophies, and a place with a miniature schoolyard would be good place for such an exhibit. The room looks like some kind of natural history museum - native american baskets on the walls, index cabinets and photos etc.

Neat photo, but hardly disturbing.

Is that the photographer's reflection (upside down) to the left of the flag?

[I do see a vaguely head-and-shoulders shape (the Virgin Mary?) but there's no reason his reflection would be upside down. - Dave]

There is a saber-tooth tiger skull on the beam next to the ghostly worker!

You can even see a ghost image of where the ladder was while the picture was taken.

TK
www.tk42one.com

While visiting a local photography exhibition, Grissom discovered that the "miniature killer" case extended back much further than he'd realized ...