April 1906. San Francisco after the earthquake and fire. "Sutter Street up from Grant Avenue." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing. View full size.

New York circa 1903. "Remember the poor: a Salvation Army Christmas box." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

We're all dolled up for Christmas Day and a visit by my godmother and her family. She's in front between my father and brother; her two sons in back. My squint and smirk is characteristic of my eight-year-old self. My brother is smirking because he's clandestinely clicking the shutter of my sister's Kodak Duaflex at the very instant that my godmother's husband is taking this shot. What's the deal with my sister's right hand? It's actually my mother's right hand. Restored as best I could from a horribly scratched, scuffed and faded Kodacolor print; the original is virtually all shades of purple. From all of us to all of you: Merry Christmas!

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, circa 1910. "Congress Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Miami, Florida, circa 1910. "Biscayne Bay through the cocoanut trees." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

1913. No location given. "G.W. Armstrong drugstore." Seidlitz Powders only 25 cents. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

September 26, 1924. Washington, D.C. "Mysterious tunnel." A strong Hardy Boys vibe here. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

UPDATE: While initial speculation (bootlegging, espionage) was soon dispelled by an eccentric insect expert's explanation that he had dug the passages "for exercise," historical evidence suggests that this was a tunnel of love. Or at the very least, bigamy.