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Egg Rollers: 1911
"Easter egg rolling at White House, 1911." Harris & Ewing. View full size. Litterbugs Apparently ... back then too ... Washington Post, Apr 17, 1911 Kiddies to Roll Eggs Today President May Speak to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2012 - 6:17pm -

"Easter egg rolling at White House, 1911." Harris & Ewing. View full size. LitterbugsApparently children were litterbugs back then too ... Washington Post, Apr 17, 1911 Kiddies to Roll Eggs Today President May Speak to Children on White House Lawn The White House is prepared for the Easter festivities which will be held today, when the White House lawns will be thrown open to all the children of the city for egg rolling. Baskets have been distributed profusely over the grounds, but today they will probably yearn in vain to be utilized. There are innumerable signs and other precautions taken to remind the heedless what a wastebasket is intended for and the policeman will plod from group to group to ask the parents, nurses, and children to throw their eggshells and empty bags into the places provided for them. The guardians of the grounds, however, know from experience that the well-groomed lawns after today's siege will be littered ankle deep with the remnants of picnicking, and they have hauled the extra rakes and wheelbarrows down from the loft of the executive stables in anticipation. The President will come out to spend a few minutes with the children, and probably will make a little speech to them. He expects, however, to be overshadowed as an attraction by the gayly uniformed Marine Band, which he has ordered out for the entertainment of the children, and he will not interrupt very long. The predictions for local weather conditions today, issued by the weather bureau last night at 11 o'clock are: Fair, slightly warmer Monday. Easter FineryThe clothing the children are wearing may be their Easter best but it certainly isn't the bright frilly dresses we see today. Insane hat brigadeThe hat on the left is absolutely fabulous. It looks like it was swiped from an eight-foot-tall Strawberry Shortcake doll. Pure awesome. I also love the second-to-last girl kneeling on the ground, whose head is completely engulfed in giant bows. Whatever happened to the days when you could dress your kids up in insane outfits and take them out in public like that? Nowadays, we seem to have slipped back to the "Miniature Adults" mode of the Puritans. They had to call out the Marines to deal with this crowd? Kids were tougher then. Now someone tell me what "egg rolling" is. Are they doing it for speed? Distance? Accuracy? Standing start, or do you get a run-up? Ah, sooo...Chinese eggrolling much better. Taste good, lick fingers, no messy lawn. Easter bonnets!Those are amazing hats! And the elderly lady's chapeau is no slouch, either! MomThe little girl kneeling on the far right looks almost exactly like my mom. Blindfold? Why would the second girl from the right be blindfolded? Rolling, rolling rolling...I had never heard of egg rolling until my English/Scottish friends invited me over one Easter. We decorated eggs for a couple of hours, then rolled them down a grassy incline to see whose went the farthest. Did it again and again until the eggs were pretty well toast (well, not toast exactly). Anyway we ended up seeing who could throw them the farthest -- not sure if that's the traditional method or not. Just like my grandmotherI have a photo of my grandmother at 3 years old (circa 1914) wearing the same hat as the little girl on the far left. Grandmother has the look which suggests that revenge on the parental units will be forthcoming. Younger youngest lawyer?Look! In the back row, in the middle! It's Pauline Floyd, already working on that "gaze"! On the BenchJust wondering who made that wonderful bench. I've never seen it in an any other photos of the White house. Someone put a lot of work into that. Easter fineryWhen I was a child in the 1950s, we still got new clothes - including a hat - for Easter. We also wore white gloves to church. That was about the end of the era of the Easter bonnet. I still remember the song: "In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it....." No Easter parades anymore either. (The Gallery, D.C., Easter, Harris + Ewing)
Red Widow: 1911
New York circa 1911. "Times Square at night." Now playing at the Astor: Raymond Hitchcock as ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 1:28pm -

New York circa 1911. "Times Square at night." Now playing at the Astor: Raymond Hitchcock as Cicero Hannibal Butts in the musical comedy "Red Widow." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Pity the poor commaAbused here in the Evans' Pastilles sign: FOR COLD'S COUGH'S HOARSENESS. Some things never change! [Pity the poor apostrophe -- so often confused with the comma! - Dave] Why Every Citizen Should Read the ChiefUpper right hand corner has a billboard for New York's Civil Service newspaper, still published today, with the same masthead. Only in the bizarro Shorpy worldWould it were possible that the character Cicero Hannibal Butts was the great-grandfather of today's real-life stage actor Norbert Leo Butts! Hail to The ChiefThe Independent Voice of New York City Civil Service Since 1897, so they say. Still publishing once a week, it was the place to check for info on government jobs in the NYC area before the Internets started laying down their tubes. Same View--Seven Years laterThis is the same view as found in this post but several years later. Looks like the Packard dealer didn't make it. https://www.shorpy.com/node/7407 IncredibleCompared to the non-stop intense sounds of Times Square today, that region looks to have been quiet, even peaceful during the time this picture was taken. Well, peaceful might be a stretch unless you closed your eyes to shield from the already dominant presence of light displays. I love both New Yorks. +99Below is the same view south from 45th Street taken in April of 2010. A Daunting ChallengeMaking a silent movie that's a musical comedy would be quite a challenge, I'd expect. [It would be, and it's not a movie. - Dave] Historical Photos Moments caught on camera that will never be seen again. I love old photos~ Wow! This I really like.What a fantastic and almost unbelievable contrast to today! ChiropodistIt's almost seven at night. Must be autumn? I'm wondering what a Chiropodist was? Someone who cracks your spine with his feet? Someone who handles feet? Endearing Times SquareFrom the halo glow of the Hotel sign atop the building to the plethora of illuminated signs, what a treat this magical place is. The automobiles look almost 3D like and so in focus. It's only 9:35 and the night is still young. How about those cool lanterns on their standards. Oh New York, New York. Two cabs, no waitingIdle taxis waiting for customers at the hack stand. And the chiropodist -- my mom went to one in the 1950s to get her aching feet checked. Great picture. Match Game '11Amazing to see how quickly electric lighting became commonplace, and how things looked in the era before neon, although if Wikipedia is correct neon lighting was demonstrated in Paris shortly before this photo was taken. I see the Match Game is on at the billiard parlor. Probably where Brett Somers made her debut. Louis MartinsVisible on 42nd Street are signs for both the Broadway and Seventh Avenue entrances for this 5,000 seat restaurant and lobster palace. It was the reincarnation of the elaborate but ill-fated Cafe de l'Opera, which failed when it required evening wear, and served food that cooled during the long trip from the kitchen. The Great White WayWas bright as it ever was in 1910. Times Square: The PaintingThe remains of a Chancellor Cigar poster from a drugstore. It took me years to find it depicted Times Square. There's a subway entrance depicted in the right half. I couldn't discern whether there is a similar structure in the photo. ChiropodyThe Chiropodist treated both hand and foot. Chiropody, and emptinessYes, a chiropodist is someone who handles feet - specifically, treats things like bunions, corns etc. They're still known as such in the UK (I think they're podiatrists now in the US but I might be wrong!) I love the cars/taxis! And how empty it looks. I've never seen it like that. Was it realyl short exposure so all the people are blurred and not really visible? (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Twelve Horsepower: 1911
... Transfer & Storage Co., Washington, D.C." In 1911, moving a boiler on D Street within sight of the Capitol with a 12-horse ... Must of wore them plumb out From the March 5, 1911 edition of The Washington Times : (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2014 - 12:51pm -

"Merchants Transfer & Storage Co., Washington, D.C." In 1911, moving a boiler on D Street within sight of the Capitol with a 12-horse team. Bonus: Many old billboards. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Shucks!My fingers tell me there are but ten horses. [Maybe you should stop listening to your fingers. - Dave] Cheap buzzSix beers for a quarter should just about do it. Is the bar open yet? Twelve?Upon a cursory look, I only spy ten horses. [2 + 2 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 12 - Dave] I agree but a cursory look should exonerate me from this foo-pah... Spare Horses?Unless there a pair of horses bringing up the rear and out of view -- I only see 10 horses (5 pairs). [See below, and above. A more interesting question might be: What is the cross street here? - Dave] ThreeThere looks to be three horses in the second bunch from the right, but nowhere else. [Three heads plus six forelegs = three horses in the middle group, too. - Dave] Military precisionAll those horses have their front hooves together but one slacker in the rear. That makes it easy to count but is that boiler full of water requiring lots of horse power or are they going a long way? D Street and Delaware Ave SWThe Statue of Freedom atop the Capitol faces east, and we're a little off the diagonal from the top of the Capitol and the SW corner of the building. The view from the same spot today is blocked by the Rayburn House Office Building. There Are Clearly 10Even in the "close up" from mailman7777777 you can clearly see that there are 2 horses not 3. Unless the horses are magical semi-transparent horses. What is 3 is just a horse that moved a bit in a long exposure. Come on people! [Horse 3 has a noseband, horse 2 does not. The exposure wasn't long enough for horse 1 to have moved that far. Horse 3 merely bobbed its head quickly during the exposure. Dave posted the closeup. -tterrace] [There are also three horses in the second group from the right -- three rumps and three tails at one end, and three necks and six ears at the other. Sarabellum might also want to count the legs.- Dave] Yep, TwelveYou can see the nose band on the blurred nose of the middle horse in the second team of three and three pairs of hames in the first triple team. It's an odd setup, usually seen only on fire engine teams, but what probably happened was they needed the added horsepower, but the two extra horses may not have teamed well together but worked well with the other teams. Normally, teamsters would have simply doubled the wheel team (closest to the the load). I guess they had their reasons for this configuration. It may be that those middle teams tended to drift and the third horses were there to keep them straight. I noticed that the only mounted driver is on the wheel team. Often there would be at least another driver on the near lead horse. In the old horse drawn artillery, there was a driver on each pair. Oversize Load, 1.0Very impressive example of the way large loads were moved back in the day. And no signs were needed to indicate the obvious, either. Delaware AvenueThe cross street is most likely Delaware Avenue. The Statue of Freedom on the dome faces east, which means we're on the south side of the Capitol (remember, there's a D Street on the north side, too). The cross street aims directly at the southwest corner of the Capitol Building, which, if it still extended that far, Delaware Avenue would do. The majority of the road is gone now. It is a huge parking lot to the southwest and the Rayburn House Office Building to the Northeast. What remains of it is a security screening area for delivery trucks waiting to enter the loading docks of one of the house office buildings. CameoDid anyone else notice the Alfred Hitchcock lookalike looking out from behind the bars of the window in the bar? But Wait - There's More!What is the large pole (leading out of the picture to the left) for? The fellow sitting on the pole would seem to suggest that it is well supported out of the picture. Now That's Entertainment!One of the many things that make SHORPY such a great site is the interaction of the commenters and Dave and tterrace. Not only do we get to see great old pictures, but on occasion we become privy to folks getting confused, or being mistaken, or just plain flummoxed by the pictures. Such fun! SHORPY is always good entertainment; always good for a grin, or a chuckle, or a good ol' belly laugh! Thank you to all the commenters for their input, whether confused or not. You make the day for so many people. And to Dave and tterrace, keep the pictures and the comments coming! BaseballLooks like perhaps that group of boys behind the horses, stopped their baseball game to gaze on all of that horsepower. Either that, or they lost their baseball diamond with all of the commotion. (For what it's worth, I think there might be a 13th horse in the second group from the back... an awful lot of legs. But perhaps they are ghost legs). More than meets the eyeBut wait asked: What is the large pole (leading out of the picture to the left) for? I think it is part of the wagon and there is more to this drayage than meets the eye, or fits in the picture. There could be a second boiler or more parts in another wagon connected to the visible wagon via said pole. But Wait, There's More...Based on the method of attachment to the pole under the first boiler trailer, the pole could be easily used to attach a 2nd trailer. Large PoleTo me it looks like the long pole the guy is sitting on is part of the trailer. The rear axle is adjustable for longer loads. The PoleLook at the undercarriage parts in front of the rear wheels...the pole is actually an adjustable chassis/backbone for the wagon, which seems to be adjustable for a load at least twice as long as the boiler with that particular pole. The pole seems adequately supported by the attachments to the axles and held up by the colossal weight of the load. You can see a simple holder there with what amounts to two huge hoseclamps to hang the axle unit onto the pole. I'm guessing that this is a seldom-used rig for the most awkward loads, and that it was disassembled for storage when not needed. Extended truck "log" frame under wagon.Signalman noticed that log to the left. Looking under the wagon you can see the adjustable collar used to extend or shorten the overall wagon length. This was a heavy haul wagon to start with based on the wheel rim, spoke, and axle sizing. No brakes either, though city hauls would be fairly level and some of the helpers might have been carrying wheel chocks to slow it down during downhill travel. Coatesville Boiler WorksHaving grown up just next to Coatesville, the town name on the new boiler was the first thing to catch my eye. The boiler works was most likely associated with (or at least bought their boilerplate from) Lukens Steel, which to this day is the oldest steel mill in commission within the United States. MoreGreat photo. As a retired structural engineer I would like to see more photos of turn-of-the-19th-century construction sites when the predominant power sources were men, horses and mules. Must of wore them plumb outFrom the March 5, 1911 edition of The Washington Times: (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Horses)
Big Annimated Show: 1911
Circa 1911. "Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y." Our idiosyncratically spelled title comes ... "The Revenue Man And The Girl" was released on 9/25/1911. One of the players was a young Mabel Normand. It was filmed in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/20/2017 - 11:36pm -

Circa 1911. "Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y." Our idiosyncratically spelled title comes from the marquee at the Hippodrome. Now playing: The Revenue Man and the Girl. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. "Make no little plans"said Daniel Burnham, the architect of the magnificent Italian Renaissance Ellicott Square Building in the center of the picture. Recently restored (except for the missing terracotta cornice and lion heads), at the time of this picture it had been relegated to only being the second largest office building in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellicott_Square_Building Hippodrome TheatreAccording to Wikipedia, Shea's Hippodrome theatre was opened in 1914 at 580 Main St. [This Hippodrome isn't Shea's Hippodrome, which looked like this. -tterrace] An early DW Griffith film"The Revenue Man And The Girl" was released on 9/25/1911. One of the players was a young Mabel Normand. It was filmed in the wilds of New Jersey! Michael Shea's Hippodrome did not open until 1914. Afterwards, this theater at 263 Main St., was then known as the Little Hippodrome. It closed in 1962 and was razed shortly after. +111Below is the same view from September of 2022 (The Gallery, Buffalo NY, DPC, Movies, Stores & Markets)
Spoiled Nan: 1911
Eastport, Maine. August 1911. "Nan de Gallant, 4 Clark Street, 9 year old cartoner, Seacoast Canning ... lose her arm. Another photo of Nan, also taken in August 1911: Nan 4 Thanks for the second look, I felt bad for a few ... 5 Clark, the blue-greenish house, may be a survivor from 1911; it's hard to tell. This old photo makes it look more like a lane than a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/07/2011 - 10:28pm -

Eastport, Maine. August 1911. "Nan de Gallant, 4 Clark Street, 9 year old cartoner, Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #2. Packs some with her mother. Mother and two sisters work in factory. One sister has made $7 in one day. During the rush season, the women begin work at 7 a.m., and at times work until midnight. Brother works on boats. The family comes from Perry, Maine, just for the summer months. Work is very irregular. Nan is already a spoiled child." View full size. Lewis W. Hine. Nanper the look on her face, she heard somebody calling her a spoiled child Nan 2As I look a second time, I think she is mad at me!!!! [Maybe she was a forum moderator???? - Dave] Spoiled Nan ...is a constant problem in Bangalore during the summer. Nan 3Is she hiding something behind her back? Behind Her backI think she's hiding a Glock 9. Perhaps a little something for the photographer? She's lost her arm at the factory.The comment that she is spoiled has a very different meaning than we assume today. Nan is not a brat. She has lost a limb in the canning plant, and thus is spoiled from being fit for productive labor. [She did not lose her arm. See photo above. - Dave] Spoiled Nan and Her ArmShe didn't lose her arm. Another photo of Nan, also taken in August 1911: Nan 4Thanks for the second look, I felt bad for a few minutes Strange but...The girl behind Nan definitely looks like her head is on backwards! Clark StreetIf this photo was taken on Clark Street and Nan is standing in front of #4, it's not there anymore. Looks like Clark has been widened quite a bit, as well. Number 5 Clark, the blue-greenish house, may be a survivor from 1911; it's hard to tell. This old photo makes it look more like a lane than a street, but both the old view and this GoogleMaps view terminate at the water - or, what might be termed a landing, so who can say for sure? View Larger Map Carrie: The Early YearsThis photo looks like it belongs as a book cover on a Stephen King novel. That girl's look is absolutely wicked. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Young FDR: 1911
Franklin Roosevelt in a portrait dated February 3, 1911, a few days after his 29th birthday. View full size. George Grantham ... I think he has pretty amazing glasses for it being 1911. Do they stay on just by being pinched on the nose? Pince-Nez Yup! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/07/2011 - 10:39pm -

Franklin Roosevelt in a portrait dated February 3, 1911, a few days after his 29th birthday. View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection. Looks like!Looks like Matthew McConaughey.....heh-heh Looks like Ben AffleckLooks like Ben Affleck His immigration speech isHis immigration speech is getting a lot of use now. A way with wordsHis years as president will always be debated, but his speeches were moving, the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, that was a great speech as was, a date which will live in infamy. FEARThe only thing we have to fear is fear itself, that was a great speech. Now all we hear is: Be Afraid...be very Afraid! I just took FDR's picture off my wall and boxed it up......since I'm packing and getting ready to move. At a Dallas estate sale many years ago, an antique dealer (the one who bought all of the leftovers that didn't sell) told me that many Texans hung pictures of FDR in their kitchen and homes during the Depression & WWII. The elderly lady who had passed away had never taken hers down so I bought it and hung it in my own kitchen...which always raises an eyebrow among my fellow Republicans. I just smile...and let them wonder. Interesting...to note (and for what it's worth) that at the time of this photo, Roosevelt walked. He contracted polio in 1921, and spent the rest of his life in braces and a wheelchair. Improvements...I think he has pretty amazing glasses for it being 1911. Do they stay on just by being pinched on the nose? Pince-NezYup! Indeed, they're a Pince-Nez: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pince-nez I think it's time for them to come back. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Portraits, Public Figures)
The Smiths: 1911
May 1911. West Point, Mississippi. "Dependent (able-bodied) Parents. Smith family. ... Trying to provide for a family of eight or nine or more in 1911 didn't leave much time for Better Homes and Gardens. Of course maybe he ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/22/2011 - 8:43pm -

May 1911. West Point, Mississippi. "Dependent (able-bodied) Parents. Smith family. Three girls (in front) work in the textile mill. This boy and others work uptown. Came from an Alabama farm six months ago. Smallest spinner runs two sides. 'Father just putters around. Don't work steady'; 'We all like the mill work better'n the hot sun on farm.' House barren and run down." Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. And yetAll are well dressed and nicely turned out. Suit is pressed, nice shoes, etc. And not just on this photo. A sign of the times? Or a lack on our part? They must be pretty well offThey all have shoes except the baby. Not common in many of these pictures. Trail Dust SteakhouseLooks like the young man was in Dallas recently, by the look of his tie. They've been cutting them shorter and shorter every year since then. If Looks Could KillJudging by the looks on their faces, it doesn't appear as if any of the Smiths are much enamored of Mr. Hine. Doin'good!This family looks to be a notch above the other Hine family portraits.All are fairly clean and with the exception of the youngest they all have good shoes ! Sgt Schultzesque - "I hear nothing"No one mentioned the woman in the background on the porch. Could she be the crazy relative living in the attic yet denied by all? Girl behind the rockerCurious to say the least The OutsiderWonder what the story is about the girl alone in the background trying to blend in with the wall boards. Maybe she is not a Smith but a visitor or perhaps she is the shy one in the family. Also I'm somewhat offended by Hine's judgmental tone regarding the "house is barren and rundown." Trying to provide for a family of eight or nine or more in 1911 didn't leave much time for Better Homes and Gardens. Of course maybe he was implying that Dad should make himself useful in other ways besides "puttering." Dad"Father just putters around. Don't work steady" Read: dad drinks all day while the kids bring home the cash to eat and keep roof over head. StrangeIt seems there is an ethereal Smith in the background. I am surprised nobody else has commented. Creepy. SpiffyAdditionally, despite the state of obvious squalor, they have buttoned shirts, laced shoes, and bows in their hair. Many families today, even middle class families, would struggle to look so sharp on a good day. I applaud the Smiths. DignifiedI find this a very moving photo. Despite their circumstances they've absolutely done their best to present themselves the finest way they could. What beautiful childrenI have to say, one of the "improvements" of the 21st century is that people age better i.e. I would bet the parents of these cute kids are younger than me (I am in my 50's) but they look SO much older (and more dour-life must have been hard) The little boy in the front left is angelic looking in white and I bet the girl on the far right is holding her arm that way so that history will admire her lovely bracelet and ring (probably treasured items). (The Gallery, Lewis Hine)
West Side Cowboy: 1911
... the New York Central's Eleventh Avenue freight line circa 1911. In a 1930 article on the West Side tracks' demise, the New York Times ... buildings, 32 and 34 10th Avenue, is Plate 10 of the 1911 Atlas. This building faces the marginal street by the Hudson River piers ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 7:26pm -

Equestrian signalman on the New York Central's Eleventh Avenue freight line circa 1911. In a 1930 article on the West Side tracks' demise, the New York Times wrote of the "eight men and twenty-four horses comprising the famous 'cowboy troop' [or 'West Side Cowboys'] whose function it has been for years to ride ahead of the puffing locomotives as they wheeled along Death Avenue." The dangerous street-level tracks were eventually replaced by a 1½-mile viaduct, the High Line, that after decades of abandonment is being turned into a long, thin elevated park. View full size. 5x7 glass negative, George Grantham Bain Collection. Pegleg?Does the man in the right-hand background have a peg instead of a foot? [Could be. - Dave] Actually...Peg was his wife; his name was Ben; Ben Cobble. No, really. Peg leg?I think he does have a pegleg. 11th Avenue LineI have been looking into the locations of the "11th Avenue" photos and think that this one is also on 10th Avenue, though much lower than the other two. This one is at 13th Street, looking south (see "13th Street Market" wording on awning). Eleventh avenue doesn't even exist this far south. The map showing these buildings, 32 and 34 10th Avenue, is Plate 10 of the 1911 Atlas. This building faces the marginal street by the Hudson River piers which had just been renovated in the decade-long "Chelsea Improvement" that enabled very large ships to dock. In 1912, Cunard's Pier 54 across the street from this building would welcome the ship Carpathia after she disembarked Titanic lifeboats and survivors at White Star Pier 59. In May of 1915 the Lusitania departed from Pier 54 on her final voyage. This location is now the west side of the luxury Standard Hotel. This photo of the arrival of Lusitania on her maiden voyage in 1907 (before the completion of proper pier sheds) appears to have been taken from the roof of this building or one nearby. [I'd say the labels on the negatives reflect the fact that the line was called the 11th Avenue Railroad because that's where most of it was, or at least the most dangerous part was, even if stretches of it were on other streets. - Dave] About that cowboyCalling them "cowboys" was the railroad's attempt at being polite. The locals called them "dummy boys" as they led the shrouded steam locomotives, called "steam dummies" so as not to spook the local horses. Grandfather and cousin told me a few stories about those guys. ObservationsStarting at bottom right and moving up through the picture, before ending apparently under the boxcars, we have the remnants of a former trolley line. Since much of NYC disallowed the use of overhead wires and instead used the "slot" system, we can tell this line is somewhat recently abandoned. The rails have been removed, with them and the "slot" filled in by bricks. Looking at the path of the former streetcar line, we can see that at some point it would have passed up by the Strauch brothers building, probably connecting with another line at the far end of the triangle shaped area. The Swift company used overhead loading tracks to move goods from the cars and into the shop or vice versa. You can barely make out this system under the awning. Whereas most steam dummies were Shay-type geared locomotives, this one predates that and is a squat Tank type. (The Gallery, G.G. Bain, Horses, NYC, Railroads)
S.S. Olympic: 1911
New York. June 21, 1911. "White Star liner S.S. Olympic guided in by tugboats Geo. K. ... ends, Olympic's worst event in her 24-year career was her 1911 collision with the British warship HMS Hawke in the Solent (the strait ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2012 - 7:05pm -

New York. June 21, 1911. "White Star liner S.S. Olympic guided in by tugboats Geo. K. Kirkham and Downer." Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Luckiest woman in the worldAlthough Olympic's two sister ships Titanic and Britannic had tragic ends, Olympic's worst event in her 24-year career was her 1911 collision with the British warship HMS Hawke in the Solent (the strait between mainland England and the Isle of Wight) when her captain ordered a turn that caused a collision with the Hawke, much to the surprise of the Hawke's captain (who probably muttered "amateurs!"). Repairs caused a delay in the completion of the Titanic and, when the all-better-now Olympic lost a prop blade sailing from New York in February 1912, a blade from the Titanic was used to replace the one that was lost, pushing Titanic's first/final voyage to three weeks later, very probably creating her iceberg collision destiny. The captain of both the Olympic during the Hawke wreck and the Titanic was Edward Smith (who died with Titanic). The luckiest woman? That'd be Violet Jessop, a young woman who was a stewardess on Olympic when the Hawke collision occurred, a stewardess who survived Titanic and, while serving in World War One as a Red Cross nurse, escaped from Britannic when she sank in the Aegean Sea after hitting (it's thought) a mine. By the way the rearmost (aftest?) smoke stack on all three of these ships was a dummy, to make the designs more balanced. The stacks were used for ventilation. Here's Nurse Jessop in her Britannic uniform. Too bad they scrapped it.It would have saved James Cameron a lot of CGI work. Looks familiar because?Because the Olympic was a sister ship to both the Britannic and Titanic, and the smallest of the three, but not by a lot. Olympic was the world's largest ocean liner between the time she was launched and 1934 or so, when the Queen Mary came into service, except for during the very brief careers of the two sister ships. Everyone knows about Titanic. Britannic was launched right about as World War One was starting up, and never served as passenger ship. She was put into service as a hospital ship, and struck a mine near Greece in 1916 and sank. RMS OlympicGoogle-Wiki has a very informative article on this ship. For instance, like the Titanic, when she first went to sea she was equipped with twenty lifeboats, enough for half the people on board. When White Star received public condemnation for this after the Titanic disaster, it scurried around and secured additional, second hand, collapsible lifeboats from troop ships, for the Olympic. Some were rotten and could not be opened. 'And so they went to sea once more, "Sensation" they for aye forswore.' (Apologies to W.S. Gilbert.) In 1918, she sank the U-103, that was attempting to torpedo her, by colliding with it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Olympic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6dB2RA8Kno Not the largest ship in the world for longThe Olympic class liners were quickly outclassed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Imperator The three Imperator class ships also had far improved interior volume then any ship previous including the Titanic. They were the first ship to break up the exhaust into many smaller pipes. On the Titanic the funnel casing ran straight up the middle of the ship. She Carried The MailBecause she was equipped and certified to carry the mail, Olympic's actual title (like Titanic) was not 'SS' (Steam Ship) but 'RMS' (Royal Mail Ship). Sister Bitannic was an HMHS (Her Majesty's Hospital Ship). Many old photographs and film mistakenly identify Titanic but are in fact Olympic. The way to tell the difference between the two is the open promenade deck (below the boat deck) as seen here on the Olympic, which was enclosed on Titanic after Olympic customers had complained of the cold there. According to author Walter Lord, after the Olympic was decommissioned in 1935, her interior wood panelling was sold off and used to decorate the interior of British pubs. Not Her Majesties Hospital Ship BritanicSince it was the Edwardian era, it would have been His Majesties Hospital Ship Britanic. Running on 4 Cylinders?It is well known that No. 4 funnel on TITANIC was a dummy, and also that the three "sister ships" were not true sisters but differed in a number of respects, including principal dimensions; they might not be called sisters were they in existence today. In this photo it looks to me like there is smoke coming out of No. 4 funnel, which in the most famous sister was a dummy. Does that mean this was a "real" funnel in OLYMPIC? Smoke is plainly to be seen above No. 1 and 3, with maybe a tiny wisp above No. 2. Isn't it at least a little odd that all boilers seem to be active as the ship is just maneuvering into harbor? While the ship's engines would be used in docking, with tugs to help, it doesn't seem that full power would be needed and letting some boilers cool off would be more economical of coal. Is it possible the photo was touched up to show smoke where there was none in reality? Smoking RoomThe aftmost stack was a dummy as far as the main boilers were concerned, but was still used for ventilation of other machinery - 'donkey' engines, cooking smoke, et c. Olympic & TitanicThe two were sister ships. They were built to the same plans. Britannic was the most different of the three. The Olympic & Titanic had the exact same dimensions. Titanic simply had more enclosed space than Olympic, which was factored into her gross tonnage figures (tonnage was not weight, but a measurement of internal space) and made her the "largest" liner in the world. Olympic was the world's largest ship for about two years (discounting Titanic's brief reign) until the Imperator came out in 1913. The dummy funnel was used for ventilation and also exhausted smoke from the galleys. Full power could still be needed while moving into port, so I doubt they would begin shutting down boilers at this point. The Hudson has very strong currents. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, NYC)
Euclid Avenue: 1911
Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1911. "Euclid Avenue, east from Public Square." A close-up of the greenery at ... quadrennial and 12th international convention) in July 1911. - Dave] MACCABEES ARE IN CAMP UNIFORM RANK DELEGATES ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 10:52pm -

Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1911. "Euclid Avenue, east from Public Square." A close-up of the greenery at the base of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument seen in the previous post. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Working on the streetcar lineI love the guy on a ladder, apparently brought by a cart pulled by a horse, working on the streetcar line. I can imagine the old timers complaining about those new fangled electric car lines, as opposed to the good old fashioned ones pulled by horses or donkeys. Problem solvedI had to wonder what the designs of the various flower beds were, they are insignias of different Army corps. Looks like a summer day.I feel sorry for those people, so heavily dressed. Back then the most people had to cool off would have been an electric fan blowing over ice. In that respect, it's much easier to get cool and stay cool now. But, hey, I've always been cool, heh, heh. First Traffic LightIts no wonder the first traffic light was installed at 105th and Euclid Ave. I believe the first electric traffic light was also invented in Cleveland. K.O.T.M.Knights of the Maccabees. A fraternal organization inspired by Judas Maccabeus. Their lodges were called "tents." Eventually morphed into an insurance company. They seem to have drawn quite a crowd to the May Co. [The crowd itself might be the Maccabees. There were signs all over Cleveland, including the banner across the street, welcoming delegates to the Maccabees "encampment" (the first quadrennial and 12th international convention) in July 1911. - Dave] MACCABEES ARE IN CAMP UNIFORM RANK DELEGATES FROM 11 STATES GATHER. CLEVELAND, OHIO, July 16. -- In falling rain Camp Cleveland of the national encampment of the uniform rank of the Knights of the Maccabees was formally opened in Edgewater park here today with about 500 uniformed knights present. They represent 43 divisions and 11 states. The encampment is being held in conjunction with the quadrennial review of the Supreme Tent, the national legislative body. The latter will begin its sitting next Tuesday. In addition the Supreme Hive, ladies of the Maccabees, now in session at Atlantic City, N.J., will adjourn and come to Cleveland in a special train to take part in the social and business features of the convention. An important matter to come before the Supreme Tent is the plan for three big homes and sanitariums of the order. If favorably acted on the first institution will possibly be located in or near Cleveland, and built at a cost of from $200,000 to $300,000. Euclid, Euclid everywhereCan someone please explain to me why so many cities have streets named Euclid? Did the "Father of Geometry" really have that many fans among city planners in the 19th Century? Nice LawnWhat a well manicured lawn. Had gasoline powered lawn mowers been invented yet? [I think the gardeners probably used a reel mower. - Dave] That Euclid really got aroundHere in southern California, I know of streets named for Euclid in Ontario, Fullerton, and East Los Angeles. I suppose the folks laying out roads have a liking for him and his geography geometry. And as a kid I had a die-cast model of a piece of Euclid road-building equipment. Hyperfocal DistanceI've always been impressed at the sharp focus of photos like this. Does anyone who knows more about the mechanics of cameras from this time period know if the photographers focused their cameras at the hyperfocal distance to assist in achieving this outcome? +105Below is the same view from July of 2016. (The Gallery, Cleveland, DPC, Streetcars)
Gotham Gulch: 1911
New York circa 1911. "The Canyon of Lower Broadway at Bowling Green and Battery Place." 8x10 ... there, and just north of that (and just visible in the 1911 photo) are the Trinity and United States Realty Buildings , which were pretty new in 1911. Be There Dragons? On the lampposts in front of the building on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/07/2020 - 4:19pm -

New York circa 1911. "The Canyon of Lower Broadway at Bowling Green and Battery Place." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Some buildings up the street still liveThe curved building smack in the center of the photo is 26 Broadway. It was combined with some adjacent buildings (including the one directly to the north) and gotten a new facade, but it's still the same building. The structure on the top is still there, and it has the same number of floors. If you "drive" uptown on Google Maps you can see that today it's across from the Charging Bull statue. Farther up Broadway is Trinity Church, which of course is still there, and just north of that (and just visible in the 1911 photo) are the Trinity and United States Realty Buildings, which were pretty new in 1911. Be There Dragons?On the lampposts in front of the building on the far left. Are those dragons? I can't tell, even with the photo enlarged. Only some things still the sameOnly some elements of this view are the same as back then. The building with the dragons is now known as the International Mercantile Marine Company Building, though that company is no longer in it. In this picture it was in its original state as constructed in 1882, before International Mercantile Marine bought it and modified the facade to the present form in 1919. The road that went around the south part of Bowling Green is now sidewalk. And what will replace this? The building at left is 1 Broadway. It was built in 1882, enlarged in 1886 (that's when the dragon lamp posts were added), and reconstructed in 1922. Looking at Gotham Gulch today it appears No. 1 is as close to still being there as anything. The tower of the Singer Building (149 Broadway) is at left in 1911. That building was demolished in 1968. I cannot identify anything else unchanged except Bowling Green park itself. An oldieThat's a 2 horse power horsecar in the lower right, while all the other streetcars in the photo are powered by electricity from an underground conduit between the rails. The nearer horsecar horse is gray or white, and harder to see. The photographer is on the uptown platform of the Battery Place station of the 9th & 6th Avenue El. The IMM BuildingThis is a fantastic photo of lower Broadway. The building on the left, correctly identified by another as the IMM building, housed the offices of most of the steamship companies owned by J.P. Morgan's giant shipping conglomerate. On the left we can see the sign for the American Line, one of the original companies in the IMM. In 1903 Morgan absorbed Britain's White Star Line into the IMM. Their office was just a short distance up the street on the left at 9 Broadway. Once can still see the company name by the door to this day though the firm was long ago merged into their rival Cunard line following the collapse of the parent IMM. In mid April of the year after this photo was taken, the street was packed with distressed family and friends trying to discover the fate of their loved ones who had sailed on the Titanic. Twice daily the line posted updated lists of survivors outside the doors to their offices. Mobs of reporters and the morbidly curious also added to the scene of near pandemonium. Few today are aware of the history this section of Broadway has scene crowded with banks, and brokerages and the offices of the now long vanished companies that transported people all over the world before the advent of air travel. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC, Streetcars)
Breaker Boys: 1911
January 1911. Breaker boys in #9 Breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Company mine at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 6:59pm -

January 1911. Breaker boys in #9 Breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Company mine at Hughestown Borough near Pittston. Smallest boy is Angelo Ross, 142 Panama Street, Hughestown Borough. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. Labor DayI hope we all enjoyed our Labor Day off work. ShorpyI love this web site. The photos are fantastic.Keep up the good work. I live in the bituminous coal country of western Pennsylvania. According to my now retired mining expert, in the days when mules were used in the mines, the mules were often more valued and protected than the miners. If a mule was injured or killed, a replacement had to be bought. If a miner was injured or killed, he could be replaced for free by another miner willing to take his place. Thank God for John L. Lewis and his UMWA. I shudder to think what the mining profession would be like today if it weren't for Mr. Lewis, those miners and their families of long ago who suffered so much so that today's coalminer could go underground in safety and get paid decent wages for what surely must be the most dangerous job in the world. A coal miner's daughter Revloc, Pa. Been staring at this picture for 10 minutesOh man, the kid in the front with the blue eyes is freaking me out! Not to mention the kid behind him to the right who looks like he's about to either burst out in tears or kill someone. ... These kid, these kids. This is messed up. How could this have been going on just a hundred years ago...? Am I a bad parent?...I show these pictures to my 9 year old when he complains about cleaning his room or doing household chores. Breaker houseGrowing up in West Virginia, I often heard my relatives talk about working in the coal mines and heard the stories about what it was like back when my great-grandfather and my grandfather worked the mines. Safety was not of real concern to the Company owners. Ventilation was poor and as a result my grandfather suffered his whole life from black-lung disease. My father has spent all his adult working life in and around the mines. I avoided that life myself by going to college and then joining the military. This doesn't mean I don't respect the coal miners, I just wasn't cut out for underground work. If I recall my mining knowledge correctly, I think the breaker house was where the larger chunks of coal were broken down into smaller, more manageable sizes. This was accomplished using a series of augers and large rollers. I've heard stories of breaker boys falling into the machinery and being mangled. The companies didn't care. Common business mentality was that workers were just cogs in the machine to be replaced when they were of no further use to the Companies. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine, Mining)
Sailors Platter: 1911
June 22, 1911. "Navy Yard, New York. U.S.S. North Dakota messmen being served from ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/19/2012 - 10:17pm -

June 22, 1911. "Navy Yard, New York. U.S.S. North Dakota messmen being served from crew's galley." Three heaping helpings of something. View full size. Whatever that matter on the platter isIt is not sushi. Even with those Clark Gable earsThe lad in the front is nice looking (it does seem to me that if a man doesn't sport a huge handlebar 'stache and/or other unusual facial hair of that time, he can definitely more easily fit into OUR time) But even as the young man is attractive, what he is holding for his meal is definitely NOT (burnt BBQ ribs?) Looks like little had changed yetsince the times of the wooden walls - the youngest member of each mess was the runner. Grub du jourI'm thinking Fried Chicken on the front platter and BBQ (or some other sauce)Beef Short Ribs on the back two platters. I'm also betting that Fried Chicken would have looked a lot better up close and personal.. maybe being plated for 101 years has taken the edge off the bouquet! Naval CuisineAccording to my late father who was a WW2 sailor the only dish they were served was generous amounts of SOS. This mystery meat looks like an improvement. Platter, not plate!I am fairly sure those are platters of main course, not plates for individuals. Whatever it is... plop it in the middle of the table and watch them grab 'em off quick! Mess CooksThose guys are "Mess Cooks" Regular Sailors. Probably recently arrived on the ship without a specialty rating. It was their job to work in the galley at whatever chore the ships cook needed them for. Every Sailor in the Navy had mess cooking duty at one time or another in their career A fine-looking lot of fellows, seriously.Relatively carefree, as well. It was the beginning of a great adventure, sailing around the world, stopping in port cities, watching silents like "Sailor Jack's Reformation" on board ship with their messmates. I wonder how many were still in the US Navy during the Great War. What's Your Beef?My destroyer served two years in Vietnam and one week we went six straight days eating "mystery meat". As the Plan of the Day was being posted in the radio shack, on which there was printed tomorrow's menu, one of my buddies made a derogatory comment about "more mystery meat". Unfortunately, the captain happened to walk into the shack at that very moment and immediately invited my buddy into his cabin for a chat. My buddy was shaking entering the captain's cabin, knowing he was going to get a chewing-out, whereupon the captain inquired "What's your beef?" He almost wet his pants trying to stifle his laughter. They all look like roast beef to me.Wonder what the chiefs and officers got for dinner. I vote for ribsI agree that the mystery meat looks like ribs, though what happened to them during the cooking process remains a mystery. And kvenido, I know just what you mean about faces that fit OUR time. I've noticed this in other pictures, a woman whose hair isn't marcelled or waved looks like someone you'd see on the street now, lost amid the old-fashioned people. It's one of the fascinations of shorpy. The unspoken doctrineIf you don't like it today, get a second helping, lest you be served the same thing (possibly disguised) tomorrow. I'll have the brown stuffand no asbestos from that big white pipe please. No wonder they call it "mess"Gotta hand it to the Navy; what they lack in cooking skills they make up for in portions. Roast Beef? Probably some sort.I served from 1982-2008, retiring as a Chief Machinist's Mate. The Navy has many names for roasted beef. Roast Beef, Pot Roast, Yankee Pot Roast and Roast Chuck come readily to mind. We had roasted beef 3 or 4 times a week. This might be a version of it, but I don't see the potatoes (mashed or baked) that always accompanied the beef (the Navy is very big on starches). As for the Chiefs and Offices, Chiefs are typically served the same menu as the Junior Enlisted. Their main perk is the Chiefs' Mess is separate and quieter, a lot of Ship's business is taken care of during meals. In most Messes the Chiefs chip in to buy "augmenting" foodstuffs that help make the meal more enjoyable. The Mess will often have something available to eat even outside of chow hours. Officers have their own mess, the Wardroom, and pay for their own food (meals for Enlisted are free), and so have their own menu. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Natl Photo)
Carrying-In Boy: 1911
June 1911."Carrying-in" boy in Alexandria Glass Factory, Alexandria, Virginia. Works ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2012 - 9:47am -

June 1911."Carrying-in" boy in Alexandria Glass Factory, Alexandria, Virginia. Works on day shift one week and night shift next week. Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. Rob KiddOn the Library of Congress record for this photo there's a note that says on the back of the caption card someone has written "Rob Kidd?" So this might have been the boy's name. This is one of my favourite Hine photos, I think that the weary expression on the boy's face is exactly what Lewis Hine wanted to capture and bring to the public. Serious workBet these guys didn't go home after work and play on their PS2's and Wii's. Rob KiddThis is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. Thanks to a previous comment, I have identified the boy as Robert Ellis Kidd, born in Virginia about 1898. In the 1910 census, he is living in Alexandria, and everyone in his immediate family, except him, is listed as working at the glass factory. In the 1920 census, he is living with his widowed father and four brothers in Baltimore. In the 1930 census, now listed as Ellis Kidd, he is living in Amherst, Virginia, with his wife and 3-year-old daughter, both named Mary, and he is working for a lumber company. From that date on, he does not appear in any of the online records that are commonly available. His oldest brother, Bradley Kidd, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on March 13, 1952. Rob KiddI have a correction to make. The Ellis Kidd I found in the 1930 census in Amherst, VA, is not Rob, after all. I later found Robert Ellis Kidd in the 1930 census in Alexandria, and he's married with five children. I am still looking for more information. Mr. Manning - more on Robert Ellis KiddMr Manning - Your request from the Fairfax Genealogical Society was referred to the VA Room, where I am a volunteer. Obviously you have found a descendent of Mr. Kidd's. I was able to ascertain through his WWI registration (dated Sept. 11, 1918) that he was born September 29, 1898, Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia. It states that his occupation was a brakeman for the R.F. & P.R.R. -- the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. His height was short; Build - medium, Eyes blue and color of hair Light Brown. His nearest relative at the time was Joseph M. Kidd, 17 N. Highland Ave., Baltimore, MD. Hope this helps. If you should need to get a copy of the WWI registration, please contact the Virginia Room at the Fairfax City Regional Library - 703-293-6227 and press 6. Kathe Gunther Volunteer researcher Virginia Room Robb Kidd againJoe Manning again, of the Lewis Hine Project. I found one of Robert Kidd's daughters, and she is living with her 101-year-old mother, who was Robert's wife. Amazing. They've never seen the photo. Robert died in 1960. Wow!Thank you for posting this incredible photo! I googled myself and have now found your collection--a true treasure. Rob KiddThis is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. I interviewed Robert Kidd's daughter. She sent me several photos of him as an older man. You can see the photos and the interview at www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/robertkidd1.html Re: Rob KiddWow. Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Manning. I appreciate your work as much as I do Dave's. I'm glad you were able to connect with the family and provide them with this picture. How amazing that his wife is still alive! Rob KiddThis is Joe Manning, who wrote the story about Rob Kidd. The link to that story has been changed. It is now: http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/robert-kidd-page-one/ (The Gallery, Factories, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Broad Street: 1911
Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1911. "Broad Street looking west." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit ... by Thompson and Frohling of New York and built in 1910-1911. Today it houses condominiums. In the distance at the left can be seen the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/01/2014 - 8:05am -

Charleston, South Carolina, circa 1911. "Broad Street looking west." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. What is this thing?Hearse? Food cart? [Delivery van for the Jet-White steam laundry. - Dave] No Google Street View HereInterestingly, Google does not have street view for this part of Broad Street. The drug store on the right was razed, and is now a Wachovia (soon to be Wells Fargo). Also, the tall building on the right is now lacking the wonderful cornice detail it once had. Non-clearance CurveThe CARS PASS HERE sign likely refers to the fact that if streetcars travelling in opposite directions attempted to pass each other on the curve, they would collide. Cars PassThe Cars Pass here sign is not uncommon on older streetcar systems that have upgraded from the short 2 axle cars to longer 4 axle ones. The problem, that cities found, was that the existing trackwork didn't always have the best clearances. Where two shorter cars may pass fine on such a curve, longer cars would often over hang and strike each other. Since most (not all of course) streetcar systems worked on "sight" or without signals with the motormen maintaining safe distance on their own based on what they see, you would often find signs like this near pinch points. Basically what it tells the motorman is that if they saw another car (there should be a mirror somewhere on a building for this) that the driver was to stop and wait for the car to pass him before starting forward. CARS PASS HEREPerhaps the sign refers to the crossover track below. On another subject, the cigar store Indian brings to mind a question - what's the reason for that association that was so common in those days? [Indians introduced tobacco to the white man. - Dave] Walker-EvansWho knew he was a stationer at the age of 7? Tonics for the NervesVigorone and Coca Celery. Broad ViewSo many details about life a century ago are in this picture: 1. Utility poles are not 100% straight and still have the knots from where their branches once grew. 2. Those poles are planted in the street, amid the cobblestones. They are also inventoried and labeled by their owner (as if pole rustling was a problem back then). 3. The Indian not only has wheels, he has a custom box to stand on--again out in the street. Likewise the postcard/cigar/soda water sign. And if you have a barrel full of whatever is in that barrel, put it out beyond the curb too. The street is not for transportation. It is part of the front yard of the stores. 4.Repainting signs is not important. Everyone knows where Folio Bros Cigars and Carolina Building Material are, so no need to keep the sign from fading or peeling. 5. You can park your car on either side of the street, facing either direction. Just be sure to look before you step out, so you don't step in any equine by-products. 6. Lots of mounting blocks and hitching posts for those horses. 7. Next to the Walker Evans pole is a great place to hang out and socialize. 8. The middle of the street is a good place to walk along. 9. It is very much a man's world. I see only one women and no children along the entire street. Utility PolesThe reason that the utility poles are numbered is to keep track of maintenance and alterations. Also, in some areas back then there might well be a difference as to who was responsible for the electric power and the telephone poles (vs one leasing space on the other). Most of the overhead clutter of wires and crossarms was before multi-conductor telephone cables were developed. Buildings of NoteThis view is taken from the foot of Broad Street at East Bay Street. The tall building on the right is Charleston's first skyscraper, the People's National Bank Building; it was designed by Thompson and Frohling of New York and built in 1910-1911. Today it houses condominiums. In the distance at the left can be seen the tower of St. Michael's Church, built 1752-1761 and still standing at what Charlestonians call the "Four Corners of Law" (the intersection of Broad and Meeting Streets). +99Below is the same view from July of 2010. (The Gallery, Charleston, DPC)
Take a Letter: 1911
May 22, 1911. "Buhl Stamping Co., Detroit, Mich. Office from inside." Last seen here ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/28/2022 - 4:27pm -

May 22, 1911. "Buhl Stamping Co., Detroit, Mich. Office from inside." Last seen here, from across the counter. Office-Boy, finally off the phone, is now on the filing cabinet, while Miss Shorthand has changed desks to take some dictation. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Married to EileenJudging from his posture in these photos, I'd guess the Office Boy is named McLean. What this place really needs... is an Office Christmas Party. What in tarnation?Is that contraption on the pillar? [Fire alarm. - Dave] Housekeeping in the teensI am always amazed at how filthy the floors are in these old pictures. How hard is it to run a mop over it? 10 minutes a day right before closing wouldn't cost anything. The rest of the place is pretty tidy, it's like they just don't see it. [The was the factory office where the workers tromped in for their paychecks. Mopping happens after these folks go home for the night. And: That might not even be dirt, but where the finish has worn off the floorboards. - Dave] Electric meter IDVisible through the doorway, high on the brick wall, appears to be a Fort Wayne Type K, with the top terminal block option. The anchorSliver of the lit floor coming through the door is the key to the composition. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, The Office)
Occoquan: 1911
Fairfax County, Virginia, circa 1911. "Occoquan Work House, sleeping area." Part of the jail operated by the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 6:37pm -

Fairfax County, Virginia, circa 1911. "Occoquan Work House, sleeping area." Part of the jail operated by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections, shown shortly after its construction. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Then and NowThe prison was closed down the 1990s, and the low security dorm shown in this photo has been converted into an center for the arts and a museum -- quite a change! http://workhousemuseums.org/ Love the track lightingI think it fits the decor. The exteriorof another part of this charming facility. Click to embiggen. "Occoquan Work House, exterior." (Harris & Ewing) The beds don't look too comfybut it's clean, there's heat and lots of natural light. I can think of worse places to be locked up. I'm guessing these guys were minimum security types. The well-read inmateAt least one inmate here reads the Washington Post. Today the workhouse is an arts center: http://www.workhousearts.org/ The Work HouseWhat exactly was a Work House? Sounds like something out of Charles Dickens. I worked there.I was employed by the Department of Corrections for over ten years starting 1971. The workhouse, at least in those days, was simply the minimum security facility of Lorton Reformatory. The DCDC had five facilities in Lorton, Virginia. Maximum Security (the Wall, where I ate lunch every day for a dollar), Big Lorton (Central Facilities), the Workhouse (or Occoquan - never actually called Minimum Security). There was also YC1 and YC2, both Youth Centers. I started as a Correctional Office at YC2, then worked in the Industries Division at Central for 10 years. Many a time I have walked the sweltering underground tunnels connecting YC2 to the steam plant at Occoquan. Occoquan was where an inmate could hope to graduate to, from Big Lorton, when nearing his parole and escape risk was very low. Inmates at the workhouse could be truck drivers' helpers, or any number of jobs at the facilities, and earned a small salary which would help a lot when paroled. I could write a book about all that went on in Lorton, and am always thrilled to see old photos. Here is one of One Tower and the Salleyport at the Wall. It was never called the Citadel. Really this is is exterior view of same building?The interior view seems to be of a much wider building. For instance there seems to be space for 4 rows of beds with additional room for 2 wide corridors, one in each of the bays. Also the windows in the interior view seem to start at least 10 or maybe even 11 feet above the floor. [As noted in the captions, the interior shot shows the workhouse dormitory and the outdoor shot shows the workhouse. - Dave] Outdoor & Indoor Shots?The more I look at the two photos, the more i think they are two separate buildings. The interior space, height of the windows from the floor ... [As noted in the captions, the interior shot shows the workhouse dormitory and the outdoor shot shows the workhouse. - Dave] More elevated steamAnother photo showing radiators 5 feet or more off the floor. First time I saw this was from another Shorpy picture of an auto repair shop. Only times I have ever seen this. SimilarThis shot reminds me a lot of these Civil War images. Aside from steam radiators and electric lights, there's not much difference. https://www.shorpy.com/node/2388?size=_original https://www.shorpy.com/node/2384?size=_original Been there, done thatSpent two nights there with Mr. Chomsky and Mr. Mailer back in '67. Good place to plan the Revolution. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing)
Stacked Decks: 1911
New York. June 21, 1911. "White Star liner S.S. Olympic guided by tugboats Kirkham and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 7:27pm -

New York. June 21, 1911. "White Star liner S.S. Olympic guided by tugboats Kirkham and Admiral." Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Seeing doubleCurious about those over & under double portholes. Were they designed to give additional light and views to upper class passenger cabins? Or improved ventilation for crowded below decks areas? What Hustle...What Bustle!!Lower New York Harbor was alive with small, and BIG craft during the early 20th Century as evidenced here. From just the narrow view of one photograph, I counted a dozen or so small boats and, of course, the two Behemoths. We've identified the Olympic, could the one in the background be a Cunarder? Besides the Kirkham and the Admiral, there are two other tugs toiling up the starboard side of the Olympic as well. Great action shot....thank you, Dave. Note to Jules....The bow configuration looks correct for the RMS Lusitania. This is sad commentary....a doomed ship in the background and a doomed Captain of his next command in the foreground. Jules Is CorrectThe Cunarder in the background is certainly Lusitania of 1907. She differed from her almost identical sister Mauretania in the type of ventilators. Lusitania had a type described often as "pot-lids", with the visible portions looking like a 6-quart stew pot with the lid tilted, rather than the bent-horn type more commonly seen. Lusitania is easily identified by this feature that very few ships (and none anything like her) had. OlympicThis was the Olympic's first arrival in NYC; she sailed from Southampton on June 14. Her captain was Edward J. Smith, who would later be in charge of the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage the following year. The ship behind the Olympic does look like a Cunarder. It looks to me like the Lusitania: PortholesThe double portholes provided light to the 1st and 2nd class dining saloons on D-deck. However, I'm pretty sure that the light was filtered through translucent, leaded glass windows on the interior. A view of the North Atlantic (and the moving horizon) was not deemed desirable for dining passengers. Tug Geo. K KirkhamTug George K Kirkham: built 1900 at Athens, N.Y., 76' long, 95 gross tons. Color reference from 1903 painting by Antonio Jacobsen. Re: PortholesCorrect. Here is what it looked like from the inside: The Old Grey Lady confirms itAn article in the next day's New York Times (entitled "Biggest of Liners Gets Noisy Welcome") confirms that the other ship is the ill-fated Lusitania: "The Cunarder Lusitania swung out into the river at 9 o'clock, just after the Olympic had passed and gave the small army of photographers on the piers a chance for a good picture of the two big ships." The Lusitania failed to salute the Olympic, however, a lapse that the Times treated as an oversight by the Lusitania's skipper. Among the passengers on the Olympic for this voyage was James Bruce Ismay, president of the ship's owner. Ismay was especially proud of the Olympic's squash and racquet court. He noted that "there were a few minor details that might be corrected on the next ship, the Titanic," but "nothing of any importance." Visit RMS Queen MaryThough launched in the 1930s, a generation later than these two fine ocean liners, the Long Beach-moored QM is the only ship remaining to suggest the vast size and elegance of Atlantic liners in service prior to World War 2. I'm so happy it's only a few hours drive from my home and visit at least once every year. In the MoviesI believe I see a movie camera on the Boat Deck. Newsreel? Lucky(?) lady aboardSomewhere aboard the Olympic at the time of the photo was the nurse/stewardess Violet Jessop. She was aboard when the ship was involved in a major collision a few months later. She transferred to service on the then-new Titanic, and we know what happened there. Jessop was one of the survivors. She then went on to work on the Britannic as a nurse during WWI. She was aboard when that ship was struck by a mine and sunk. She survived that incident, too. After all that, Jessop continued her career aboard ocean liners, apparently without further excitement but perhaps with a few extra gray (grey?) hairs. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, NYC)
Fifth Avenue: 1911
New York circa 1911. "Fifth Avenue at West 43rd Street." 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative, ... Virtually everything in this photo has been changed since 1911, with the exception of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the twin spires of which ... the one in the photo. Perhaps it was moved sometime after 1911? One final note: if this photo had been taken just 5-7 years earlier, the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2017 - 1:29am -

New York circa 1911. "Fifth Avenue at West 43rd Street." 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Right-hand drive?So early on the US had right-hand drive cars? Very interesting, would love to know the history surrounding the change. [A situation often noted in Shorpy photos; in the words of Dave, "Cars of the era were a mix of right- and left-hand-drive. By 1920, most auto makers had settled on left-hand drive." -tterrace] From wherewould this photo be taken? [I think a couple of them are heading down the street on the right. -tterrace] Looking northThis is a view looking north on Fifth Avenue. Virtually everything in this photo has been changed since 1911, with the exception of St. Patrick's Cathedral, the twin spires of which appear in the distant haze on the right. There is today, however, a big pedestal clock on the same (west) side of Fifth Avenue, one block north of its location in the old photo. You can see it on Google Maps, and all of the filigree and other details on the clock appear to be the same as the one in the photo. Perhaps it was moved sometime after 1911? One final note: if this photo had been taken just 5-7 years earlier, the horses and buggies would still have greatly outnumbered the automobiles, even in midtown Manhattan. But by 1911, the tide had clearly turned. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, NYC)
Breaker Boys: 1911
January 1911. South Pittston, Pa. "Breaker boys working in Ewen Breaker of Pennsylvania ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/21/2012 - 10:28pm -

January 1911. South Pittston, Pa. "Breaker boys working in Ewen Breaker of Pennsylvania Coal Co." Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. Faces !Bottom row, sixth in from the left. His face says it all. Those facesWow, they look aged far beyond their years. This photo is both very fascinating and so depressing at the same time. Deeply TouchingMan, there must really be a story to be told here. I count one smileI count one smile, and it's more of a grimace. Great bookIf interested: There is a well written and illustrated book that covers working in the anthracite mines which goes into quite a bit of detail on kids working on the breakers. Title "The Kingdom of Coal" authors Donald L Miller and Richard E. Sharpless copyright 1985 by The University of Pennsylvania Press. And I used to complainwhen I had to take out the garbage. (The Gallery, Lewis Hine, Mining)
Executive Branch: 1911
Circa 1911, our second selection from the panoramic series "Washington from ... This set of panoramic shots, depicting Washington DC in 1911, is an incredible example of where this website excels in bringing history ... for future generations to ponder. Now, if I only had a 1911 Rand-McNally... [Unfortunately, any records of the photographers ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/10/2014 - 1:41pm -

Circa 1911, our second selection from the panoramic series "Washington from Washington Monument." Landmarks include the State, War & Navy Building at left; the White House and Ellipse; and U.S. Treasury. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Things Sure Have ChangedThere's a lot more trees and a much bigger fence around that side of the White House today. In fact when we were there in 2009, we saw a secret service person all dressed in black lurking in the trees with a machine gun. I spy...... The Cairo, at about 1 o'clock from the White House. Where Shorpy excelsThis set of panoramic shots, depicting Washington DC in 1911, is an incredible example of where this website excels in bringing history to life. I only wish I had a larger screen on which to relish this photo. Of course, we should also credit the original photog(s) who captured the scene for future generations to ponder. Now, if I only had a 1911 Rand-McNally... [Unfortunately, any records of the photographers employed by the Detroit Publishing Company or who made specific exposures have apparently not survived. -tterrace] +93Below is the same view from July of 2004. SundialAnyone know what happened to the sundial where the south fountain is or was it just trashed? Panoramic is really great.This series is really fantastic. I've found the first three of this series but can't seem to locate 4, 5 and 6. The Sumner School (17th and M Street) jumps out at me left of center because that's exactly what I see square on from my office window. (The Gallery, D.C., DPC, Sports, Streetcars)
Uneeda Biscuit: 1911
Detroit circa 1911. "National Biscuit Co." Manufacturers of the once-ubiquitous Uneeda ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/25/2022 - 2:30pm -

Detroit circa 1911. "National Biscuit Co." Manufacturers of the once-ubiquitous Uneeda Biscuit as well as its obliviated sibling, the Uneeda Jinjer Wayfer. (Proximity notwithstanding, something tells us that no amount of glib sloganeering will ever turn Byers Full Weight Wrought Iron Pipe into an impulse purchase.) Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Shorpy is my daily time travelI love this website. Notice the slightly less concise version of "Got Milk?" -- "Do you know Uneeda Biscuit?" Ubiquitous ... or "ubiscuitous" ??If you were patient and hung around, the next year — i.e. 1912 — you could have a package of "Leap Year Jumbles" (Hopefully NOT available in a titanic-sized box) And if you were really patient, and hung around for 17 years, you'd see this block (of Woodbridge Street) demolished to provide the entrance for the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Byers PipeWas a product of the A.M. Byers Company in Pittsburgh. Here's a photo of the still standing Byers Mansion - actually two dwellings, one for him, one for his daughter's family - on the former Allegheny City Millionaires' Row. Note the wrought iron gates. Look Ma, no wires!It's interesting in some photos showing downtown scenes, you see overhead wires crisscrossing all over the place but in the last few Shorpy pictures, you really don't see any! I guess they were buried under the streets. [There's a smattering of wires here that the Detroit Publishing people retouched out of the negative. - Dave] Marketing issue resolvedGottaHava Cast Iron Pipe. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Factories)
Galahad: 1911
1911. Washington, D.C. "Football. Georgetown University Game." Harris & ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/04/2012 - 2:24am -

1911. Washington, D.C. "Football. Georgetown University Game." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative, Library of Congress. View full size. The Shadow KnowsWhat makes this one is the shadow of someone's head (the photographer's?) on his pants. Otherwise, everyone seems wise to be giving this guy his personal space. Team PlayerThis guy could walk right into any modern men's ad--Armani, Calvin K, you name it. Rugby RootsNo doubt why the forward pass hadn't yet caught on with these earlier teams. It'd take a current NBA guy to get his hand around that football. Really shows football's roots in rugby, since their ball is still about that size and shape. Handsome Rake CandidateHubba hubba! With a side of yowza. [Something tells me he might be a little old for you, but what the hay. - Dave] Re: team playerYeah! You have right. I also look the faces of the past, to search persons, who can walk in the present without any differences. This guy can be a celeb in 2008 but maybe in 1920 he wasn't look good extremely, because the trend idea. Whoa"Galahad" indeed. Yowza. Talk about a smoldering stare. (The Gallery, D.C., Handsome Rakes, Harris + Ewing, Sports)
Raymond Bykes: 1911
... envelope than anything else. Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1911. View full size The Bicycle Bicycle design and geometry hasn't ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 08/13/2013 - 3:37pm -

Raymond Bykes, Western Union No. 23, Norfolk Va. Said he was fourteen. Works until after one a.m. every night. He is precocious and not a little "tough." Has been here at this office for only three months, but he already knows the Red Light District thoroughly and goes there constantly. He told me he often sleeps down at the Bay Line boat docks all night. Several times I saw his mother hanging around the office, but she seemed more concerned about getting his pay envelope than anything else. Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1911. View full size The BicycleBicycle design and geometry hasn't changed much in a 100 years. pedal as kick standNote how the bike in the middle is being held upright by leaning on a pedal -- I remember practicing for hours, trying to position the pedal just right so the bike would do that. Where I lived in the 1950's, it wasn't cool to use a kick stand. What to people use now? pedal/kick standWe do the same thing now with the pedals on the curb. For utilitarian bikes kickstands are also back in favor. Bykes?Why do I get the impression that "Bykes" is not the kid's real name? re: pedal as kick standIn my country, locks are necessary. Things have changed for the better. Short inseam, big bikeCheck his inseam vs the distance from the pedals to the top tube. Deux FixiesI think both the bikes are fixed gears. Note the lack of rim brakes or a reaction arm for a coaster brake. Fixies are much easier to prop against a curb using the pedal because the wheel and pedal are locked together. When one turns, the other does, too. No coasting! People generally just lean the bike against a wall or lay it on the ground these days. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Kids, Lewis Hine, Norfolk)
A Banner Day: 1911
Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1911. "Public Square -- Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument." With ... not newspapers. - Dave] Hometown Pride Yep, the 1911 date is right there. Time of day via shadow length seemed like late ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/23/2018 - 10:12pm -

Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1911. "Public Square -- Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument." With flags and bunting much in evidence. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. A Newfangled Auto? Who Needs One!I count at least 15 streetcars in one photo. Maybe I missed a couple. StreetcarsThere are quite a few streetcars in this scene. I love the May Company building on the far right. Accident?What's going on in front of the streetcar on the left side middle? It looks like a crowd of people gathering, and the wagon next to it seems to have dumped its load all over the street. Maybe someone got hit? A newspaper feeding frenzy?I interpret the gathering around the wagon with half its load on the ground as a delivery of newspapers. The small crowd has gathered to buy the latest edition "hot off the press." Those were the days of newsboys selling right on the streets! The Shorpy Sleuths can tell us if it's a morning, afternoon, or evening edition by studying the shadow patterns. [Whatever it is, it's not newspapers. - Dave] Hometown PrideYep, the 1911 date is right there. Time of day via shadow length seemed like late afternoon but squared up by a view of the clock on the May Co. building in the upper right: 3:10 p.m. The bunting is for a D.A.R. reunion that summer. Large stone building in the center was completed 1910 and is extant. The Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument (center right) was completed in 1894 and is also still standing, even after a recently finished redo of the whole of Public Square. Here's a Shorpy photo from the opposite direction 11 years earlier: https://www.shorpy.com/node/17589 Keep up the good work ... yer feeding my habit ! 15 StreetcarsAnd not a single one named Desire I'd bet. Hey 19is my streetcar count. With that many, it would be no problem to get around! I lived in San Francisco for a while, and could get within three blocks of anywhere in the city by bus or streetcar. Then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where you were extremely lucky if you could get within two miles of where you wanted to go. If Grand Rapids was anything like this scene, I'd have never needed a driver's license! Wayward Implements"I am so tired of carrying this ladder. That's it, I quit." A Small Bit Of Trivia...Down in the lower left hand corner of the picture would be where Ralphie and his family watch the Christmas Parade in the film, 'A Christmas Story". And also, the four squares that make up Public Square in this picture have been remodeled into two large ones; Ontario Avenue no longer goes all the way through the square. CEICºThe Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. had his offices in one of the buildings in the middle, at 75 Public Square. Here's a square related to them: (The Gallery, Cleveland, DPC, Patriotic, Streetcars)
New Jersey Zinc: 1911
Paterson, New Jersey, circa 1911. "American Locomotive Co. Rogers Works. 0-4-0 locomotive for New Jersey ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/21/2016 - 10:54am -

Paterson, New Jersey, circa 1911. "American Locomotive Co. Rogers Works. 0-4-0 locomotive for New Jersey Zinc Co." 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Fireless steam locomotive This may be a fireless steam locomotive and not a saddle tank. They were often used as industrial switchers, especially at armament factories. NJ Zinc Co / Palmerton PA Superfund siteTheir zinc smelting operation deforested a long section east of town that has been the site of a Superfund reclamation project. Hike east from Palmerton along the Appalachian Trail and you'd swear that you were on Mars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmerton,_Pennsylvania "Light Locomotives for Domestic Service"Order one here! Surprisingly intactNow the Paterson Museum. You know those times... when people speak of the majesty and beauty of the great steam engines? This is not one of those times. Salt of the EarthA subsidiary of New Jersey Zinc, Empire Zinc of New Mexico, was the subject of the 1954 movie "Salt of the Earth," based on the Bayard, N.M., miners' strike. DerailedThe Rogers Works produced nearly 6,200 locomotives starting in 1837, and in late 19th century was the second largest locomotive builder in the US. Besides the pocket size industrial locomotive shown here they built surprisingly large main-line locomotives as well, and were known for quality and innovation. Surprisingly, the plant had no direct rail connections, and all incoming materials and outbound finished locomotives were hauled by horse-drawn wagons several blocks on the streets of Paterson to the nearest rails! The plant closed in 1913. BTW, did you spot the photobomber? Photo Bomberto the right mid picture behind the large post. Took a while Interesting little WorkhorseLet the thing with the majesty and beauty of the steam locomotive to get away, and focus on the image. There is an interesting locomotive with a lot of interesting details. The compact design reminds us that there is a locomotive for use under technical equipment (loading bridges etc.). Steam Locomotives for the real underground use are rather unsuitable (What to do with all the smoke?). Also interesting is the artifices which had to apply the designers to go from the low-lying frame back to the standard coupling height. The generously dimensioned buffer beams indicate that the track position in the field of application would not likely to have been the most amazing (In the event of a derailment preventing such buffer beams that the wheels of the locomotive firmly dig in the mud). Further interesting the saddle tank - a feature that was actually more common in England. The equipment with external engine and internal control is also not been so common in North America at the time. The nameplate on the smoke chamber support is another unusual detail - but was on the smoke chamber (the normal place for this plate on north american locos) just not a place because of the saddle tank, so they just have shifted the nameplate down slightly (in Europe, especially in Germany were nameplates on the cylinders usual). The cover of the cab with (Yes what, anyway? Fabric? Tar paper?) Is another detail that you as looks more on wagons to locomotives. And the lack of side doors finally point out that the locomotive may have been coupled in everyday life with any Tender well - another meaningful reason for a single wide opening in the rear wall of the cab will not occur to me. Not fireless.This is not a fireless locomotive. It's one of a type of small locomotives that were typically called "Contractor" locomotives due to their size. Rogers was known for producing these small locomotives, with most of them being coal fired, while a few were oil fired. This one is most likely the former. (The Gallery, Factories, Mining, Railroads)
Cigarette Girl: 1911
June 1911. Ethel Shumate. Has been rolling cigarettes in Danville (Virginia) factory ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/10/2010 - 7:14am -

June 1911. Ethel Shumate. Has been rolling cigarettes in Danville (Virginia) factory for six months. Lives at 614 Upper Street. Said she was 13 years old, but it is doubtful. View full size. Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. BillboardWhat does the bottom of the Coca-Cola billboard say? [5¢ relieves fatigue sold everywhere - Dave] Ethel's ageThe 1910 census lists Ethel as 12. She's listed as the first child of James C. and Lucy L. Shumate living at 614 Upper St. Horse Trough?What is that next to the fire hydrant? A public trough for horses maybe? Horse TroughIt's awfully shallow for a trough, at least from this angle, but that's what I thought it was, too, since they had them then. I'm thinking now it is a spittoon or a place to dispose of cigarette/cigar butts. This was the era you would see "Don't spit" signs on the streetcars; not only was it dirty, but it spread tuberculosis. [It's a cast-iron horse waterer, with plumbing. Somewhere around here I have a picture showing it being used. - Dave] Ethel Shumate 1898-1981The Social Security Death Index shows an Ethel Shumate, born on 28, Jan 1898, which would have been this girl's birth year according to the 1910 census, who died January 1981 in Flint, Michigan. There are only nine Ethel Shumates listed so it is likely her. Perhaps she never married or was divorced. She Was Telling The Truth All Along.So, while the photo's caption sat around for 100 years with Hine's proclaiming Ethel's age of 13 was "doubtful", we know now that she was telling the truth all along! Rest in peace Ethel! [Lewis Hine was frequently "doubtful" in his caption notes as to whether these kids were as old as they said they were. But for every name we or our readers have been able to check in the Social Security Death Index, the "doubtfuls" all turn out to have been telling the truth, Shorpy himself among them. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Cutting Crew: 1911
August 1911, Eastport, Maine. All these boys are cutters in the Seacoast Canning Co., ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2007 - 2:11pm -

August 1911, Eastport, Maine. All these boys are cutters in the Seacoast Canning Co., Factory #7. Ages range from 7 to 12. Seven year old boy in front, Byron Hamilton, has a badly cut finger, but helps his brother regularly. Behind him is his brother George, 11 years. He cut his finger half off while working. They and many other youngsters said they were always cutting their fingers. George earns $1 some days, 75 cents usually. Some of the others said they earn $1 when they work all day. At times they start at 7 A.M. Work all day, and until midnight, but the work is very irregular. Names of those in the photo are George Mathews, Johnny Rust, John Surles, Fulsom McCutchin (11 yrs.), Albert Robinson, Morris McConnell. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. SadAnd I thought my life was tough... Old Eyes.And we say now that children grow up too fast. I wonder if Albert RobinsonI wonder if Albert Robinson is an ancestor? About the right time in the right area. Have to see... WowWhat can you say? Yeah...wow.Amen to that Yeah...wow.I'm with Ron. What CAN you say? Except this...we all still need to be careful how we spend our money. When Americans & Europeans buy designer knock-offs, they support an industry KNOWN for child exploitation. (Buy American when you can...and from countries that have strict child labor laws when you can't.) That boy on the right looks familiar......How about that kid on the far right? Looks like a young Reinhard Heydrich to me. And that aggressive way he's holding the knife... (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Purdie Family: 1911
Matoaca, Virginia. June 1911. "Lawrence Purdie (right end) has been spinning in the mule room of the ... lived there with him. Another little brother (Miland, b. 1911) also appears. Joseph Early is living with his in-laws and has a daughter ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 5:42pm -

Matoaca, Virginia. June 1911. "Lawrence Purdie (right end) has been spinning in the mule room of the cotton mill at Matoaca for two years. His brother, next to him, helps there. Others in the photo are not working yet. The father is not at work now as work is slack." View full size. Photo and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. Lovely looking childrenWhat lovely looking children. I hope they had happy lives. Purdie FamilyThis is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. I mananged to find most of the information noted below a while ago, and I interviewed several of the descendants of the family. However, due to some divorces and early deaths in the family, nobody remembered much about these children. You can see what I found at this link: http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/12/29/purdie-family/ Purdie Family researchWhile not a member of the Purdie family, a bit of digging on Ancestry.com revealed a few more details on this family. The Purdies were an old Virginia family, with records going back to the early-18th century. The five children shown here were the offspring of William H. Purdie (b. May 1864) and his wife Mary (b. Aug 1870). From the 1910 census, they appear to be left to right: Edward L. (b. 1901), Huse? (b. 1903), Agatha (b. 1907), Joseph Early (b. June 1898) and Lawrence Benjamin (b. July 1896). There were three older brothers (not shown), Walter L. (b. Jan 1891), James Harris (b. June 1892) and William L. (b. Mar 1894). As to their lives after the picture, one can only fill in a few sketchy details. Both Lawrence and Joseph Early completed WWI draft cards. Lawrence was still single, and working in a cotton factory. Joseph E. was married, and working as a suitcase maker for the Plumbers Bag Co. Neither could read or write, and signed their registration cards with an "X". The 1920 census showed Edward (now 19) still single and living at his parent's home, along with Lawrence (24) but Lawrence is now married and his wife Nevie lived there with him. Another little brother (Miland, b. 1911) also appears. Joseph Early is living with his in-laws and has a daughter (Bertha, b. 1919) By the 1930 census, Edward has married (to Marinda) and has four children. Living next door are brother Lawrence (33) and his wife Nevie (38), though still apparently childless. The last public record I was able to find, was Lawrence's WWII registration card (probably completed in 1942). On it, he was shown to be employed by American Hardware in Petersburg, VA. He is still married to Nevie, living on Stuart Avenue in Matoaca. Again, his registration card is signed with an "X" (his mark). Tracking the girls is obviously more difficult, as once they were married, we lose track of their new names. Ila and RalphLater in the Purdie family 1 girl name of Ila Purdie married a Ralph Vaughan. Vaughan family came from Petersburg. Ralph Vaughan was from Chesterfield/Colonial Heights. Both Ila and Ralph are gone now. Family still around, Vaughans and Purdies. Ralph Vaughan was my uncle. lawncut1@yahoo.com My FamilyThe Cox family lived right near those old cotton homes. Right around on Ferndale and near the Appomattox River. Thanks for good memories. Thanks Joe ManningInteresting research on your website; just my kind of thing - thanks! (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine, Rural America)
Works All Day: 1911
... a cannery." Location unspecified but possibly Mississippi. 1911. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. It is Haunting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2012 - 9:37am -

"The girl works all day in a cannery." Location unspecified but possibly Mississippi. 1911. View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. It is HauntingI agree with Dave Creepy music is playing inCreepy music is playing in the background... PowerfulWhat an incredibly powerful photo. I am at a loss for words. [I feel the same way. It's my favorite of the past week, even though it got the fewest views of the 10 I posted that day. - Dave] WowThat is a lovely show of freckles. She has a wonderful face. Too bad we can't find out who she was and what she accomplished. Her Face Jumps Out of the PictureThe way he focused on the plane of her face, with her body in low focus and the background completely obscured creates an amazing effect. The window to the soulHer eyes say it all. A wonderful fascinatingly powerful image. I wonder what became of her? PersonalizedI'll bet she did that hand embroidery and applique in her spare time. Possibly to personalize a hand-me-down from an older sibling. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine)
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