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Beer Joint: 1905
Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Goebel Brewing Co., bottling works." Our third look at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/16/2019 - 8:38am -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Goebel Brewing Co., bottling works." Our third look at the brewery at Rivard and Maple streets. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. CompositionLove the composition of this one. And that is one precariously leaning pile on the right. Rivard St.My great-grandfather had a saloon at 519 Rivard, it would have been just down the street, not sure which direction we're looking in the photo. Great find, thanks! (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Peerless Dental Parlors: 1905
Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad office, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2014 - 3:37pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1905. "Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad office, Woodward & Jefferson Aves." Last seen here, without the barefoot newsie. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. What do you supposeis the blurry, rectangular thing just above the manhole cover, behind the gent waiting for the streetcar? Is it rising, or falling? [Abrasion on the negative. -tterrace] How does that work?The Peerless Dentist upstairs advertises "teeth without plates" which was impossible in 1905 since dental implants hadn't been invented yet. Also, does anybody know what "vitalized air" was? [Below from the Ohio State Journal of Dental Science, 1883. -tterrace] Thank you tterrace for the enlightenment. For Cash read CassiusCassius M. Havens was born in Allegany, New York in March 1845; in 1869 he married Adelaide Illick. They had 4 children: Beluach, Ninabelle, Grace and Hubert. Cassius was a sergeant in the Civil War in the 19th Regiment NY Volunteer Cavalry (later the 1st Reg NY Dragoons). Cassius died in 1907. I can't find a death date for Adelaide. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC)
The Firs: 1901
Circa 1901. "The Firs -- New Baltimore, Michigan, from west." Our fourth look at this summer resort, where two ladies ... to be rolled right down. Demolished in 2005 From Michigan.gov The Firs, also known as the Hatheway House, located at 36240 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/21/2014 - 10:16am -

Circa 1901. "The Firs -- New Baltimore, Michigan, from west." Our fourth look at this summer resort, where two ladies are setting out in the surrey with the fringe on top. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Corbels and mortar scars and moreI wonder if the mortar scars are left from scaffolding. I've seen buildings where scaffolding was inserted as the walls were built; when it was removed there would be holes, which sometimes were just left and sometimes were filled in but still could be seen if you look closely. The corbeling to support the brackets is very unusual, but nice. It makes you aware that they're supposed to be supporting a load. I count three types of window tops: stone lintels on the far left, segmental arches in the wall facing us over the porch, and segmental arches with flat tops in the ell. The diamond panes look later than 1860, and there also seems to be a bit of window arch above the porch roof (it probably lit a stair landing), so I'm guessing that the wing was built later. Prior to demolitionI have just found this document concerning delisting The Firs Historic District, New Baltimore. Page eight contains four pictures of the building prior to demolition in 2005. A Fine, Sunny DayThe isinglass curtains won't need to be rolled right down. Demolished in 2005From Michigan.gov The Firs, also known as the Hatheway House, located at 36240 24 Mile Road in New Baltimore. The Firs, originally called the Hatheway House, was a brick Italianate house constructed circa 1860 by Gilbert Hatheway. Corbels and mortar scarsI'm not sure I've ever seen brick ledges like that, apparently made just for the corbels, but these certainly are nice enough corbels to deserve such treatment. Does anyone know, or have a guess as to what those apparent mortar repairs would be from? There appear to be a pair at the top edge of each window, and a row along the porch wall. Corbel treatmentI think the brick ledge is pure architectural design. I don't think I've seen that either but the widow's walk shows them as they usually occur. You'd think the standing water on the ledge would be hard on the wood. SurreyThe wheels are yellow, the upholstery brown; the dashboard's genuine leather. Other photosThis forum has some pictures of the house, apparently just before it was torn down in 2005. But, what is this...?I'm with "Wiggy" on the scaffolding supports for sure. I have done major restorations on many houses in Norfolk dating back to the late 1800's and have seen these "fill-in repairs" quite often. However, i have not seen this style of brick supports for the corbels. They certainly work well structurally and look great... But, as "Paul A" pondered, the wood, would take a soaking bath unless the masons put a bevel of mud on the top edge out of sight, but anyway,... What is this crazy crooked patch? This is a photo of the new addition to the building.Pictured standing is Abby K. Tillotson, proprietress of the house. In the buggy are her sister and mother. The portion of the building in the foreground is the new addition that Abby had built to expand it into the resort called "The Firs". The original part of the building was build sometime prior to the civil war. Our best guess based on what we know is in the mid 1850's. This photo was taken July, 1901. [There was no photo attached to your post. -tterrace] (The Gallery, DPC, Horses)
Candy Kitchen: 1908
Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 1908. "View of Monroe Street showing Hotel Pantlind." Not to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:09pm -

Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 1908. "View of Monroe Street showing Hotel Pantlind." Not to mention the Candy Kitchen and Ice Cream Parlor. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Handlesbar NetI like the net on the bike, and note correct usage: two handles, one bar. [Kind of like teethbrush, or eyesglasses. - Dave] Don't use the tower clock to sync your pocket watchThe clock on the tower says that it is 9:34, but the shadows, especially the awnings on the hotel, appear to be more middle of the day, noontime, shadows to me. Amway Grand PlazaThe old Pantlind Hotel is now the east portion of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. NowadaysIt would be called Kandy Kitchen. Spacious Streetscape It's positively capacious! No bus shelters, benches, trees or overflowing litter receptacles. There aren't even any parking meters or lampposts to properly lock those newfangled bicycles against. So many peopleBy my count there are over 40 people (and one dog) visible in the picture. That's more than in most cityscape pictures, even ones in much larger cities than Grand Rapids. Cover StoryWhat's the story behind the tarps that are covering some of the store front windows? (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Streetcars)
The Floating Tunnel: 1910
... Detroit River circa 1910. "Sinking last tubular section, Michigan Central R.R. tunnel. W.S. Kinnear, Chief Engineer, Butler Bros. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 4:10pm -

The Detroit River circa 1910. "Sinking last tubular section, Michigan Central R.R. tunnel. W.S. Kinnear, Chief Engineer, Butler Bros. Construction Co., contractors." 6½ x 8½ inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Railroads)
Meanwhile, Back at the Stove Factory
Chelsea, Michigan, circa 1901. "Glazier Stove Company, shipping room." Our sixth look ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/20/2012 - 10:50am -

Chelsea, Michigan, circa 1901. "Glazier Stove Company, shipping room." Our sixth look behind the scenes at Glazier Stove, whose brand was B&B ("Brightest and Best"). 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. All he needsIs a morning coat, a top hat and a cane. Nice pants. Creative shelvingTwo interesting ways of putting up a shelf can be seen on the pillar. One is hanging by wires, the other is propped up with a stay. The latter is perhaps more practical, but I like the elegance of the wired shelf. Nothing says lovin'... like shovin' an oven! TinderboxThat's just the first word that comes to mind. Let's hope the electricity stays on and they don't have to light that kerosene lantern. Really no fire codes back in those days. Wouldn't wanna fight the fellawho could stack the stoves so high Bob Books!Now I know where the Bob Books got their logo! If you're not familiar with Bob Books (a series of kids' learn to read books) check out amazon. It is AMAZING! Stoves in StirI just remembered something about a gas range manufacturer. The Caloric Stove Company of Topton Pa, shipped their products with a Union Label sticker that read "No prison labor used". Creative wiringJudging from the ingenious way in which that light bulb has been added to the circuit, the kerosene lantern may be the more benign option. Buzz Kill? Kerosene could be much more forgiving than electricity in those days! Most rural service was knob and post, with many exposed, uninsulated runs, so as to facilitate attaching power clamps in random locations. Many a workman and farmer learned the hard way not to carry a shovel on your shoulder! (The Gallery, DPC, Glazier Stove Works)
D.R.T.: 1910
Circa 1910. "Michigan Central R.R. -- Electric engine, Detroit River tunnel." 8x10 inch dry ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/17/2018 - 10:08am -

Circa 1910. "Michigan Central R.R. -- Electric engine, Detroit River tunnel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Angled boxes and moreThe angled boxes are fuse holders, designed to direct the inevitable arc away from anything possibly vulnerable. And for SouthBendModel34, I have worked around energized third rail for many years, and with much less clearance than here. NY Central RR Class R-1Built in 1910, scrapped in 1956. (How many of today's locomotives will still be running in 46 years?) Under-running (bottom-contact) third rail. Third rail shoes are visible below the wooden beams on the trucks. The man standing on the ground is closer to a third rail shoe than I would care to be. The tiny pantograph on the roof is an alternate electrical pickup which will contact overhead bus bars in areas where track switches require long gaps in the third rail. The Missing Link(s)The boxes seen in various places on the engine are fuse holders. Big ones like those make quite a "bang!" and also quite the vigorous arc-flash when they rupture. Simple but effective; cheap as well. The angled boxes on the locomotive are what?Just below the engineer's window are two boxes, angled down. Two more are below the platform, between the man and the engineer's seat. And there's one more near the rear truck. What on earth are they? Thank you. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Railroads)
Baraga School: 1905
Marquette, Michigan, circa 1905. "Baraga School and St. Peter's Cathedral." 8x10 inch dry ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2021 - 11:42am -

Marquette, Michigan, circa 1905. "Baraga School and St. Peter's Cathedral." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Church, then StateWhile the cathedral looks the same, the Baraga School has been replaced by the Marquette City Hall. Not quite the same cathedralThe cathedral has been remodeled. The original rose window and five windows below it have been replaced by one large stained glass window and the two towers are now both taller and domed. It also looks like the building was expanded in the back. Cathedral burned in 1935, this is a replacementPretty much what the title says. See https://stpetercathedral.org/about/history/ Rather colorful history, including the destruction by arson fire of an earlier cathedral in 1879! ContrastWhile the Cathedral has undergone a radical redesign for the better, the school has undergone a radical demolition and replacement for the worse. How a magnificent structure as the school could be replaced by that appalling excuse for a civic building, the City Hall, and that anyone thought this was a good idea, is beyond belief. (The Gallery, DPC, Education, Schools)
Just Add Water: 1912
November 8, 1912. Wyandotte, Michigan. "Steamer Seeandbee on the ways, broadside." The Great Lakes ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/09/2018 - 12:24pm -

November 8, 1912. Wyandotte, Michigan. "Steamer Seeandbee on the ways, broadside." The Great Lakes sidewheeler, built for the Cleveland & Buffalo Transit Co., the day before its launch at the Detroit Ship Building yards. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Wolverine!Thirty years after launch, she would be converted into an aircraft carrier to train pilots, USS Wolverine (IX-64). Amazing ShipI had absolutely no idea that sidewheelers like this were being built in the early 20th century. I'm not a boat guy... or a fence guy, or a train guy, but this is quickly becoming one of my all-time Shorpy favorites. The totality of this photograph is just stunning. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Fellow Travelers: 1899
... to Buffalo and eventually Chicago (when you include their Michigan Southern subsidiary). Today Garrison itself still has a rural feel ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/18/2016 - 12:43pm -

Circa 1899. "R.R. depot at Garrison, New York." En route to their final destination. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. Beautiful locationThe Metro-North Hudson line runs along the Hudson River up to Poughkeepsie. A truly beautiful train ride around sunset. Chair legs I'd venture a guess that the fellow second from right is the telegraph operator, due to the fact the chair he is sitting in has glass telegraph insulators on the front legs. I have heard of rangers on watch duty in forest fire towers and telegraph operators doing that in case of a lighning strike, but they would put them on all four, not just the front ones. Insulated leg extensionsIt looks like the young man sitting on the left has his chair propped up on some telegraph pole insulators. I would imagine they have a few boxes stored there. Dressed upGranted that people dressed up to go anywhere in those days, but the level of best-of-the-Sunday-best sort of suggests a trip to NYC itself. Bolivia BoundButch Cassidy leans nonchalantly agains the window sill while Sundance assumes an agressive stance to his left. Their traveling companion, Etta Place, has just went inside to buy their tickets. Hello DollyThe Garrison train station is used as the set (standing in for Yonkers) in the movie Hello Dolly. Lots of information if you scroll down to "Garrison New York Location" here. New York Central RailroadBeing that Garrison Station is now Metro North RR today this means it is a very good probability that at the time of the photograph this was a New York Central Railroad Station. RevolutionaryNew York City 50 miles this-a-way (south), and Boston 390 miles that-a-way (northeast). BTW, called Garrison, because General Washington garrisoned his troops there as a blocking force to protect control of the Hudson River while the British occupied 50 miles this-a-way (south) aka NYC. If the British got control of the Hudson, they would have had a wedge between New England and the remainder of the 13 colonies. B is for BuffaloThe "B 390" stands for Buffalo, NY, not Boston. The New York Central did eventually reach Boston, but via a subsidiary railroad called the Boston and Albany (which it didn't assume control of until a year after this photo was taken). Milepost measurements are from NYC to Buffalo and eventually Chicago (when you include their Michigan Southern subsidiary). Today Garrison itself still has a rural feel to it, but this station building is long gone, replaced by modern high-level concrete platforms. (The Gallery, DPC, Railroads)
Indian Curios: 1908
Circa 1908. "Main Street, Mackinac Island, Michigan." No motor traffic allowed, but postcards and dentists galore. 8x10 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/23/2019 - 10:05am -

Circa 1908. "Main Street, Mackinac Island, Michigan." No motor traffic allowed, but postcards and dentists galore. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Fudging the answerIf there's any kind of fudge they don't sell on the island, I don't know what it is. On a summer's day, you can smell the sugar just walking down the street. Tourists are referred toas "Fudgies" by locals. FudgeWe visited Mackinac Island a few years ago and one can smell it from the boat. I can tell you the aroma was not sugar. By the way, I learned from a native that the "c" was added by the French and the correct pronunciation is something like "Mackinah". He didn't give it the "w" sound. A Fudge QuestionI searched in vain for a "Fudge" sign in the photo. I wonder when the fudge revolution occurred -- because as indydad indicated, fudge is everywhere on Mackinac now. Right now I would imagine the lilacs -- the biggest lilac bushes I've ever seen -- are in bloom, so there is something wonderful in the air besides sugar. Fudgies!When I was a kid I lived down the road in Cheboygan, we called the tourists "Fudgies" because the stuff was so ubiquitous up there. Doud Bros. GroceriesI’ve been to the Island many times. Doud Bros Grocery is the oldest family run grocery in America. The present mayor of Mackinac Island is a Doud. Lots of history there on the island. I love going there. https://www.doudsmarket.com/about Present day viewMy daughter sent me this picture a couple of days ago. Similar view, same street. The “crosswalks”...I’m struck by what appear to be concrete crosswalks with a pattern. A friend suggested they may be specifically about avoiding mud during the rainy season. They just seem so out of place and time. Bike parkingFascinating how they parked their bikes at this time, there seems like a short kickstand. It also seems that bike theft was no huge concern. (The Gallery, DPC, Horses, Stores & Markets)
Tunnel Vision: 1910
Detroit circa 1910. "Michigan Central Railroad tunnel." Another view of the electrified tracks going ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/24/2012 - 10:40am -

Detroit circa 1910. "Michigan Central Railroad tunnel." Another view of the electrified tracks going under the Detroit River. View full size. Mystery pipesDoes anyone know for sure what those vertical "pipes" were, that hang from either side of the bridge from the overhead cable? My guess would be that it is some sort of "low clearance" warning system to protect obstructions on the bridge from high trucks or trains. [The obstructions don't need protecting. The telltales are there to protect you, if you're a brakeman, from the obstructions. -Dave] Tell-TaleThe standard tell-tale design had ropes on 3" centers for a width of 8 feet over the track, the bottoms of the ropes 6" lower than the height of the obstruction and placed 100 feet before the obstruction. Today trains do not have walkways on top of the cars or means to get to the roof. Dental WorkBrace yourself. Not only do we have the route canal going into the cavity under the river, but this image is crowned with bridge work going on a bit right of center. At least the debris and powder that was gumming up the tracks below the crest in a previous Shorpy post has been cleaned up. About the only thing missing are canines. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Railroads)
Ghost Ship: 1909
... "Launching party, freighter Benjamin Noble , Wyandotte, Michigan." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/15/2018 - 4:04pm -

April 28, 1909. "Launching party, freighter Benjamin Noble, Wyandotte, Michigan." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.         Top-heavy with a cargo of steel rails, the Benjamin Noble capsized in a squall 20 miles out from Duluth on April 14, 1914, vanishing into Lake Superior with the loss of all hands. After 90 years as a "ghost ship," its wreck was discovered at a depth of 400 feet off Knife Island in 2004, the front half buried in 40 feet of mud -- "heavily overloaded, just a submarine waiting to happen." "Grease the skids"Here we see the origin of the term. They were a Hardy Lot!Let's say the folks there average, oh, 165 pounds each. That's about 5,000 pounds of live-load on that rickety platform! And to have what looks like the "trigger" lines running below the reviewing stand? No chance of something snagging the flimsy framework of cobbled-together lumber and bracing — is there? A hardy, and trusting, lot indeed. [If anything does go wrong, they'll be Hardy Buoys. - Dave] Suppose anyone there's named Bob? The Noble OliveThe young lady with the large bouquet who christened the vessel is Olive Noble, eldest daughter of the ship's namesake, president of Detroit's Capitol Brass Works and organizer of the Capitol Transportation Company that owned it. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Madison and State: 1907
... the background is Montgomery Ward headquarters at 6 North Michigan Avenue. It's recently been converted to residential condos. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 10:09pm -

Chicago circa 1907. "Madison and State streets." Merchants trading on this corner include Carson Pirie Scott and Mandel Bros.; also note the Montgomery Ward delivery wagons. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. I hope they're restoring this!As all the stunning decorative elements are wrapped up, according to the latest Google drive-by: View Larger Map I would love to see/feast on that eye candy in person! Staff or customers?What's the deal with the ladies lurking behind the doors at Carson's? Are they weary shoppers or Victorian versions of Wal-Mart Greeters? Breaker 1-4Looks like there's a veritable Montgomery Ward and Co. convoy! Still there, still a department storeA national treasure, Louis Sullivan's Carson Pirie Scott building is still there and has been restored. It even got a replacement cornice during the late 2000s real state boom, but few tenants. Carson's occupied this building from 1904 to 2007, after first occupying the just as famous Reliance Building a block away. The lower floors are now being renovated for a Target store. Window WallendasMore Shorpy window cleaning derring-do, times two. re: Montgomery Ward and Co. convoy!The tower in the background is Montgomery Ward headquarters at 6 North Michigan Avenue. It's recently been converted to residential condos. There's a 6,200 square foot unit available for $4.5M in case anyone is looking a place. Missing Monkey-WardsAs a diehard huge fan of Montgomery-Wards, I have to say I really miss their stores, their merchandise and their catalogs. My big M.W. upright freezer is 36 years old and still works like a charm, my M.W. large 2-shelf microwave was bought in 1987, 25 yrs. ago and still works perfectly, some of my clothing from M.W. I'm still wearing and their dishes and flatware I use daily. It was one of my favorite stores and I'm not finding any new place as reliable and thrifty. (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Horses, Stores & Markets)
The Great Locks: 1908
... at all times, induce a current of clear water from Lake Michigan into the drainage canal. The height of water in the canal is ... Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is on the route from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. If you want to circumnavigate the eastern ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2014 - 12:14pm -

1908. "The Great Locks, Chicago Drainage Canal, Lockport, Illinois." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Dutch boy badly neededI count at least a dozen places where a finger needs to be poked. Controlling Works Annual Report of the Engineer and Surveyor of the State of New York, 1905. Report of William B. Landreth On my return from Rock Island to Chicago, I visited the controlling works of the Chicago drainage canal at Joliet. The controlling works were built for the purpose of regulating the flow from the Chicago drainage canal so as to, at all times, induce a current of clear water from Lake Michigan into the drainage canal. The height of water in the canal is controlled by a "bear trap " dam and several large gates. The masonry in the piers between the gates is of concrete, faced with paving blocks up to a certain height, above which the piers are of brick. The foundations of the "bear trap" dam, the vertical walls along the sides and at the end of the drainage channel, the vertical walls along the tail-race of the power-house and an arch bridge over the tail-race, are all of concrete. Where expansion joints were placed in these walls no cracks have occurred, but where these joints are omitted irregular cracks, extending through the wall, have developed at intervals of about twenty feet. The attendant at the controlling works stated that no repairs had been made on the mason work since its completion in 1900, and at the time of my visit the concrete work was in good condition. The mortar in the brick work of the piers was badly washed out by storms, and presented a very unsightly appearance. Bear trap dam Still there: View Larger Map Sanitary and Ship CanalThis narrow old lock is still there, but I don't think it is in use. A much larger, 100 foot wide lock was opened alongside it in 1933. About 10 million tons of cargo per year floats through Lockport. The Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal is on the route from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. If you want to circumnavigate the eastern United States, you have to go through Lockport. (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC)
Tucked In: 1905
... retired from service and used to store cement at Saginaw, Michigan. Sold for scrap in 2008, the E. M. Ford nevertheless remains intact ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 7:11pm -

Circa 1905. "Freighters in winter quarters." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Cool!Dave, I'm liking the winter shots. I've heard you've had some hot weather in the States recently, are you trying to cool down? Presque Isle of FairportThe vessel to the right of the Delaware is still with us. In the photo she is the Presque Isle, launched May 25, 1898, at Cleveland by the Cleveland Ship Building Company for the Presque Isle Transportation Company of Mentor, Ohio. In 1956 she was converted to a self-unloading cement carrier at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and renamed E. M. Ford in honor of the chairman of her new owners, the Huron Portland Cement Company. She remained in service until 1996 when she was retired from service and used to store cement at Saginaw, Michigan. Sold for scrap in 2008, the E. M. Ford nevertheless remains intact today, laid up at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. She was a very handsome vessel in her later years, with a majestic pilothouse. Below is a photo I took of the E. M. Ford at South Chicago in 1962. I was just a kid. Backseat DriverOut of curiosity, why the ship's wheels on the rear decks of a couple of these ships? Backup steering? I believe the bridge was well forward in lake steamers by 1900. Where's the E. M. Ford pic?I'd like to see Mr. Lafferty's 1962 pic. Backseat DrivingThe after steering station was likely an emergency redundant steering mechanism in case the normal steering wheel was disabled. It could potentially be used to add more manpower to turning the main system. Most ships do have an emergency wheel somewhere apart from the main wheel. Not overly familiar with the layouts and practices on the lakers, I would make an educated guess that in certain circumstances, such as maneuvering into locks or along side loading or unloading docks, a second pilot or complete ship control crew located aft where they could better see what was happening might be very useful. E.M. Ford on the riverThe Ford can be seen here in this old Bing map. I used to pass it on the water every weekend. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads, Streetcars)
A Horse's Tail: 1914
April 27, 1914. Detroit, Michigan. "Stables, Gordon & Pagel Co. bakery." 8x10 inch dry plate glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 3:00am -

April 27, 1914. Detroit, Michigan. "Stables, Gordon & Pagel Co. bakery." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Heigh Ho SilverGordon & Pagel would go national in the 1920s as the Gordon Baking Co., makers of Silvercup Bread. Although these horses would all have been long replaced by trucks by then, Silvercup would go on to make some more equine history as the original radio sponsors of the Lone Ranger, and, of course, his horse Silver. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Horses)
Quincy Street: 1906
Circa 1906. "Quincy Street -- Hancock, Michigan." In the copper country of the Upper Peninsula. Detroit Publishing ... it's First National Bank on the main floor, plus Northern Michigan Building & Loan Association on the second floor. They probably ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/06/2013 - 10:42am -

Circa 1906. "Quincy Street -- Hancock, Michigan." In the copper country of the Upper Peninsula. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Two levels of bankingIf I am reading the signs correctly, it's First National Bank on the main floor, plus Northern Michigan Building & Loan Association on the second floor. They probably weren't that competitive back then, but it's a little strange to have two financial businesses situated so closely. Much the same107 years later, and things look much the same. The spires and awnings are gone, and there are fewer wires criss-crossing the sky, but most of the buildings are still more or less intact. View Larger Map Does that place have a bank dick?A little before WC Fields. However, if the bank on the right side of the street was robbed about that time, I think we can put the finger on the guy on the left side thinking about it. The sharply dressed fellow in the windowOn the second floor on the right under Loan Association would never have imagined that 107 years later he'd still be looking out the same window! The gutter.Check out the new gutters on the sidewalk. I think that is the most impressive thing in this picture. Not bad for 1906. (The Gallery, DPC)
Family Portrait: 1907
... around in my beloved Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, where we've restored two of 52 brick houses made and lived in by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:47pm -

Savannah, Georgia, circa 1907. "The whole black family at the Hermitage." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The sign over the doorThe first word appears to be "Admittance." I cannot quite make out the second word. [Actually you just did. NO ADMITTANCE EXCEPT BUS. - Dave] Slave CabinsPerhaps these are still around in my beloved Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, where we've restored two of 52 brick houses made and lived in by enslaved workers at Henry McAlpin's coastal Georgia plantation, the Hermitage. These houses are still standing on the plantationIt is private property, but as a teen we use to sneak onto the property and go in these houses. Kind of a test of manhood type thing. There are ghost stories abound about Hermitage Plantation and the slave houses. (The Gallery, DPC, Savannah)
Mirror, Mirror: 1942
February 1942. "Detroit, Michigan. Negro girl putting up her hair." One in a series by Arthur Siegel ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/07/2013 - 10:46am -

February 1942. "Detroit, Michigan. Negro girl putting up her hair." One in a series by Arthur Siegel documenting the life of a "typical Negro worker's family" and the "conditions under which families originally lived before moving to the Sojourner Truth housing project." Office of War Information. View full size. BedspreadI love the chenille bedspread. Before the stormIn a few days, things were about to get very unpleasant. See this article. Wonder how this girl and her family made out. (The Gallery, Arthur Siegel, Detroit Photos, Pretty Girls)
Warship of the Air: 1942
... missions in September. Sincerely, Rick Wearing, Warren, Michigan. (The Gallery, Andreas Feininger, Aviation, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/23/2014 - 12:39pm -

December 1942. "Production. B-17 heavy bomber. The four mighty engines of a new B-17F (Flying Fortress) bomber warm up at the airfield of Boeing's Seattle plant as another warship of the air awaits its flight test. The Flying Fortress has performed with great credit in the South Pacific, over Germany and elsewhere. It is a four-engine heavy bomber capable of flying at high altitudes." Photo by Andreas Feininger for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Memphis Belle was oneA rugged, dependable aircraft Early modelEarly production with few forward firing guns. Regarding the B-17Wonderful picture. I volunteer at a vintage aircraft museum. I've had the opportunity to fly as a paying passenger on a vintage B-24, and to tour a couple of B-17s (on the ground). I know planes and piloting to a certain extent, and have heard and picked up this information from the old timers at the museum, and from the internet: The B-17 was more robust, damage resistant, and more likely to get their crews back to the base after incurring often horrific battle damage. The B-24 was faster, had a larger bomb capacity, and played more versatile roles in the war. Lots of debate among vintage aviation buffs on this one. One thing is beyond debate..the bravery of those young guys who were up there in the very, very wild blue yonder. Rugged?And quite fragile looking in some places. For instance, aileron hinge pin diameters of not even 1/2", if I recall correctly what I have once seen on a dressed-down B-17 at Meachum Field in Fort Worth. Factory equippedwith turbo-superchargers and disc brakes. "Capable of flying at high altitudes" is right---as much as 40,000 feet! But remember, these aircraft were unheated and unpressurized. Fleece-lined flight suits and gloves with electric heating were worn against the extreme sub-zero temperatures, and oxygen for your mask came from a manifold fed by bottles mounted on the bulkheads. And the only thing between you and enemy fire or flak was a dime-thick skin of aluminum! Still had some art-deco linesThis version of the B-17 still had some of the elegant, Gernsback-ish lines of the prototype B-17's. Later models would get more guns, more antennas and more kit bolted on and the clean lines losts. The B-17 would be much less pretty, but much more effective. No Disc BrakesThe B-17 did not have disc brakes. I currently fly as a crew member on the B-29 FIFI operating from Meacham Field in Fort Worth. The B-29, B-24 and B-17 all have expander tube brakes. We in the warbird organizations share brakes when we need to because they are hard to find parts for them. The 5 Grand and my dadMy dad, St.Sgt. Johnny Wearing, born 1925 in Detroit and still living there at 93, was the tailgunner on this plane. The plane was called the 5 Grand and my dad was in the first combat crew to fly 35 missions on her. Dad is in the front row on knees far right. He graduated high school in June of 1944 and was in the tail performing missions in September. Sincerely, Rick Wearing, Warren, Michigan. (The Gallery, Andreas Feininger, Aviation, WW2)
Eastern Elevator: 1900
... to water's edge twenty-five miles southwest of Ludington, Michigan, on October 4, 1910; crew rescued by Maggie Marshall . Vessel bound ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 12:21am -

Circa 1900. "Eastern elevator, Buffalo, New York." Ship: The Frank L. Vance. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Frank L. Vance: 1887-1910Built in 1887 by W.H. Radcliffe at Cleveland. Wood hulled propeller driven vessel 257 feet long, displacing 1733 tons, load capacity of 1444 tons. Removed from service with the following notation: "Burned to water's edge twenty-five miles southwest of Ludington, Michigan, on October 4, 1910; crew rescued by Maggie Marshall. Vessel bound from a Lake Erie port with coal for Milwaukee; had put into Ludington for weather." Buffalo Mills and ElevatorsThis is a nice site about the mills and elevators in Buffalo. Many of the old elevators are still standing although most are abandoned. http://www.buffalohistoryworks.com/grain/ Cargill SI wonder if this is the same grain elevator that is labeled "Cargill S" and still stands abandoned today? It's a great place to ride your bike to and explore. What GivesWith the giant arms that seem to extend from the Eastern building? Something really foreboding about the whole picture so dark and cold looking. Thanks! Photo date and mapI think this photo is a little after 1900. A map from 1894 shows the layout of these elevators along the south side of the Buffalo River; the Eastern Elevator, linseed works, and Marine Elevator. Another photo posted here, also dated 1900, no doubt shows the demolition of the old Eastern Elevator. This must be depicting a new Eastern Elevator constructed on the same site. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Buffalo NY, DPC)
Guys and Dolls: 1942
Spring 1942. "Detroit, Michigan. Girls coming out of the Highland Park Chrysler plant." Photo by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/03/2014 - 12:00pm -

Spring 1942. "Detroit, Michigan. Girls coming out of the Highland Park Chrysler plant." Photo by Arthur Siegel for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Steno PoolThe Dolls obviously work in the office. Bold FontThere's no missing the size of that "V for victory" pin. (The Gallery, Arthur Siegel, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Detroit Photos, Factories)
Where the Girls Are: 1905
... beach, Lincoln Park." We return to the shores of Lake Michigan under the watchful gaze of Officer K. Kop. 8x10 inch dry plate glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 9:13pm -

Chicago, Illinois, circa 1905. "Children's bathing beach, Lincoln Park." We return to the shores of Lake Michigan under the watchful gaze of Officer K. Kop. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Uh Oh!Looks like some young lady has her bloomers around her ankles and Officer K. Kop is pointing this out for all the world (including us) to see. Oh! the mortification! Hey Boo Boo.You distract the Ranger while I check out that pic-a-nic basket. Officer KopHas his club ready for any unruly kids! (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Kids, Swimming)
Frank E. Kirby: 1910
... out of Detroit. Burned and scrapped in 1932 at Ecorse, Michigan. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Toledo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 1:20pm -

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1910. Sidewheeler Frank E. Kirby at steamer landing." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Flyer of the LakesNamed to honor her designer, Frank E. Kirby, a naval architect who designed over 100 ships which plied the lakes. Nicknamed "The Flyer of the Lakes" for her exceptional speed. If you need to knowThe Frank E. Kirby was built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company in 1890. A 195.5 foot passenger and freight sidewheeler, working out of Detroit. Burned and scrapped in 1932 at Ecorse, Michigan. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Toledo)
Turnip Rock: 1900
... "The Thumbnail & Turnip Rock, Pointe aux Barques, Michigan." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/13/2015 - 11:14am -

Lake Huron circa 1900. "The Thumbnail & Turnip Rock, Pointe aux Barques, Michigan." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. They grew someThey grew some. 114 yearshttp://imgur.com/kawMqdH WhenDid 'Turnip Rock' acquire a stabilizing base? The 'now' picture does seem to show an added base from the 1900 picture. Nice trees, perfect spot for a really private picnic with few ants. Fact or legend?A previous generation of mast-tall trees may have given a ship-like appearance to the rock as LaSalle's men approached in the first European vessel on the upper lakes, Le Griffon, in 1679. Hence the name, Pointe aux Barques. Lower lake levelNo stabilizing base has been added. Until recently the levels of the Great Lakes have been quite low the past few years. Note that the triangular rock at the base of the formation to the left in the recent photo is underwater in the old photo. Maybe SoBut that 'base' does look quite regular and man-made with those square sides and even edges Concrete CollarAs for the base, according to Wikipedia: "A concrete collar has been built around the base of Turnip Rock at the waterline to retard further undercutting." And that sure looks like a man-made addition to me. As for the legend of a shiplike appearance, I would suggest that Turnip Rock would only look like a ship if viewed from land. From out in the lake, it would probably completely blend in with the background until one sailed very closely to it. (The Gallery, DPC, Landscapes)
The Big Dig: 1910
... removing rock loosened by dynamite, Livingstone Channel, Michigan." Construction of the navigation channel along the Detroit River circa ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 5:57pm -

"Steam shovel removing rock loosened by dynamite, Livingstone Channel, Michigan." Construction of the navigation channel along the Detroit River circa 1910. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. More news herehttps://www.shorpy.com/node/10126 [Also some more old steam shovels here. - Dave] What a shovelI never really thought about it but steam shovels like this one did not have a steam condenser,so the steam was ejected after each piston stroke through the pipe at the top of the rig. Consequently a steady supply of boiler feed water would have been necessary, and if the local water was hard cleaning the boiler tubes must have been a headache. Other than that there is an overhead tram for removing the excavated soil to a distant dump location. Mike Mulligan and Mary AnneA few years later, Popperville would need a new town hall, and the rest is history. Digging with steam?That looks like high pressure steam being released at the end of the boom. But then again, there is a long snaking hose running off to the right of the picture, Maybe they are using high pressure water to loosen rocks? Marion Steam ShovelThe steam shovel appears to be a converted 'railroad-type,' built by the Marion Steam Shovel Co. of Marion, Ohio. (The Gallery, DPC)
A Banner Day: 1911
... 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 ... 
 
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)
Fountain House: 1899
Macomb County, Michigan, circa 1899. "Fountain House, Mount Clemens." Bath houses and mineral ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2012 - 4:36pm -

Macomb County, Michigan, circa 1899. "Fountain House, Mount Clemens." Bath houses and mineral springs were the draw in this 19th-century spa town. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. A brief history of Mt. Clemens, "Bath City"http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=79 Ghosts!I see two! One is obvious, the other one's hiding. You can still get a roomBut in decidedly less swanky surroundings. More information about Mount Clemens and this particular Bath House/ Hotel may be found here. View Larger Map Let's go Bathers! Mt. Clemens' days as a bathing resort may be long over, but there is still one notable remnant of that era in the town's history. The Mt. Clemens High School Battling Bathers! In the treeI don't see the ghost that is hiding, but if you look up into the middle of the tree you see wires. One of them looks like it has snapped and coiled. Three "ghosts"I see the girl behind the tree in front of the house to the left, and the man waking on the sidewalk on the right. Those can be explained by lens and timeing, but how in the world did that lady get to sit sidesaddle up on top of that telephone pole in that huge tree? Spa Town Doppelganger The architecture of this hotel reminds me very much of the former Orkney Springs Hotel in Orkney Springs, Virginia in the Shenandoah mountains. The hotel was built starting in the 1850s, and is said to have served as a temporary hospital during the Civil War. Orkney Springs was a fashionable summer resort from the late 19th century to the 1920s, with seven purportedly healing springs. The former hotel, which is the largest wooden structure in Virginia, was bought by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in 1979, and is now part of the diocesan retreat center Shrine Mont. I went to six years of summer camp at Shrine Mont, and a favorite prank to play on first-year campers was to tell them that the red waters of the chalybeate (iron-bearing) spring tasted like Kool-Aid (they tasted like licking an iron pipe, of course!). (The Gallery, DPC)
Postal Kingdom: 1905
Circa 1905. "Post office, Saginaw, Michigan." Perhaps our most Disneyesque P.O. so far. 8x10 inch glass negative, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 10:24pm -

Circa 1905. "Post office, Saginaw, Michigan." Perhaps our most Disneyesque P.O. so far. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Workers' ParadiseI probably wouldn't have retired if I'd been working in that one. Not sure they would have gone for my spending my time making dioramas, though. Memorial FlagCan anyone make out the sign? ["Navy Recruiting Station Permanently Located" - tterrace] Thank You Saginaw!I was there a few years ago for a wedding but don't recall seeing the old post office. Here's a picture of it still going strong however! Castle MuseumThe post office left the building long ago. It is now known as the Castle Museum and is the home of the Saginaw Historical Society. AwningsI love the canvas awnings. FinialsThere is much to admire about this old building. But, my favorites are the metal finials at the high points of the building. They are probably forged from copper. Visited TodayWe visited the building today thanks to Shorpy. It is just as interesting on the inside as the outside. The tall tower has an incredible sprial staircase running up the outside wall. The main lobby is excellent too. Up in the attic space is a long narrow runway with peep holes to the floor spaces below so that inspectors could keep watch on the employees as they worked behind the counters and in the sorting rooms! A major addition in 1930 on the back of the building doubled it's size and was done so well you can't tell where the original building leaves off and the addition starts. The museum is excellent and the staff are very friendly. Highly recommended if you are ever in the area! (The Gallery, DPC)
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