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American Garage: 1943
... locomotive shops." Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... types but of 2 different designs. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/10/2009 - 11:43am -

March 1943. "San Bernardino, California. A general view in the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad locomotive shops." Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Mesothelioma waiting to happenSee the locomotive 2nd up from bottom with a section of its steel plating removed --- that white stuff is asbestos -- I feel bad for the workers who worked on these as well as ships, itc. My father-in-law died from this disease. Old Berdoo ShopsI "toured" this building after it closed. It still looked pretty much like this, minus the locomotives. A dozen locos or moreIn this picture you see a dozen or more locomotives. Every one looks different from the other. Railroads would buy just a few locos at a time back then, each batch with a different design, different specs, different parts. Replacement parts often had to be fabricated individually. Compare that to the assembly line sameness of diesels. The economy of maintenance alone was a strong argument for putting these magnificent machines out to pasture. Steam locos actually could be slightly more energy efficient than the diesels, and many were more powerful, too, but less economical. Warning - AsbestosPut on your protective gear now. Moving MountainsIn this view there are several "classes" of locomotives. Usually the first two numbers designate the class. For example, nos 3738, 3766, 3737 and 3711 are all of one design, although using two different fuels. This explains it a bit: The AT&SF bought two 4-8-2 "Mountains" from the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1918. One of them, road number 3700, was a coal burner and the other, road number 3701, burned oil. Before these two were delivered, another ten were ordered: five coal burners and five oil burners (road numbers 3702 through 3711). Between 1919 and 1924, the AT&SF would purchase another 39 "Mountains" (road numbers 3712 through 3750). Twenty of them were oil burners and nineteen were coal burners. Similarly no 1376 and 3525 were both 4-6-2 "Pacific" types but of 2 different designs. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
The Industrial Orange: 1943
... plant, Redlands, Calif." Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. The crate was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/09/2022 - 12:40pm -

March 1943. "Santa Fe R.R. trip. Packing oranges at a co-op packing plant, Redlands, Calif." Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. The crate was as good as the orangesThere were many packing sheds along the Santa Fe and the then Southern Pacific lines in Southern California. Each orange was wrapped in treated paper to prevent the spread of mold, packed in strong wooden crates, loaded in cars which stopped at the ice plant and were on their way east. The crates were not re-used and provided endless uses for boys. Hand-wrappedI've seen apples and pears individually wrapped. But for oranges, it wouldn't seem necessary unless that wrapping paper contains a spoilage or mold retardant. In any case, it looks like a boring, repetitious job for that worker! Possibly this location.This Sunkist building in Redlands has been repurposed, but at least it still exists. it still said Sunkist on the side as recently as 20-ish years ago. Time and MoneyHow many oranges in a crate, and long to pack it? I am curious if the packers were under pressure to meet a quota, and if there was accommodation for left-handed packers. These oranges appear to be uniform in size, so I expect there was a standard number of them per crate. I see she has one gloved hand to pick up the oranges and one ungloved hand to snag sheets of treated paper. She appears to be looking into the crate and not at the oranges or the paper. A process designed by efficiency experts? Wrapper stackThe spring-loaded device that is holding the papers down appears to be exactly the same as the one seen in the apple packing class a few posts back. Repetitious but WelcomeFolks were happy to get those jobs then, it was hard but didn't last long--not long enough for many. You can see a finger cot on this lady's left index finger. She also had one on her thumb the better to pick up the treated sheets. My dad had a drugstore in Pomona and did a brisk trade in them during packing season. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Agriculture, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Parked Girl: 1941
... district of Brattleboro, Vermont. 35mm nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Brooks ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/08/2008 - 12:32am -

August 1941. Cars in the business district of Brattleboro, Vermont. 35mm nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Brooks PharmacyStill open! RexallA Rexall! Like from the Phil Harris-Alice Faye show! RexallRexall still exists although in two far different forms than the store in the picture. In the USA the Rexall name was acquired by Sundown and the company became Rexall-Sundown, and is a manufacturer of nutritional supplements. In Canada the name is owned by the Katz Group which operated 1100 pharmacies across Canada including many operating as Rexall Pharmacies. The Katz Group bought the naming rights to the Edmonton Colliseum which is now known as Rexall Place. Parked GirlThats a fine looking automobile, and a nice day for the top to be down. RxRexall is still a huge name in pharmacies in Canada, but of course most are far larger than this little place. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano, Small Towns)
40th Street Yard: 1942
... & North Western R.R." Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. View full size. Solid Symbol of American Strength What a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/19/2017 - 12:24pm -

December 1942. Chicago. "Locomotives lined up for coal, sand and water at the coaling station in the 40th Street yard of the Chicago & North Western R.R." Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. View full size. Solid Symbol of American StrengthWhat a strong and stirring photo! Thank you, Dave. West Side Train Yards, Not South SideThe designation "40th Street Yard" might lead one to think that this railroad facility was located on the South Side of Chicago, where all the numbered streets are found. But it actually refers to a much older street name on the West Side of the city: 40th Street (or more properly, 40th Avenue), which was located 40 blocks west of State Street. This street was renamed Crawford Avenue in 1913, and - in a hotly debated move - renamed once again in 1933 as Pulaski Road. The railyard, which once serviced the North Western's intercity passenger trains, still exists in a much reduced state at the northwest corner of Pulaski Road and Kinzie Street, under the care of the line's current corporate owner, the Union Pacific. Incidentally, the name "Crawford Avenue" is still in use in the suburbs north and south of the city, and the West Side's numbered streets still exist in the western suburb of Cicero. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Vermont State Fair: 1941
... 1941. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Wow-What composition! I am in awe of this photo with the color ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 5:58pm -

A colorful scene from the Vermont State Fair at Rutland, September 1941. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Wow-What composition!I am in awe of this photo with the color preservation and superb composition. Jack Delano- You are a master! Surreal and specialWithout the man, this photograph would be only half as powerful. Every element of its composition is to be studied. A+ in every way. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano)
For Us, Bonds: 1943
... Union Station train concourse." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Union ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/18/2014 - 8:19am -

      Prequel to the poster seen here. January 1943. "Chicago, Illinois. Union Station train concourse." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Union Station?Can anyone tell me why so many transportation hubs for rail are called "union" stations? Was Woody Guthrie involved? Why union? Why rail? Not bus or ship. [The name "Union Station" was generally applied to those used by multiple railway companies. -tterrace] Increase bomber's altitudeThanks to Michael R for explaining that this section of the building is no longer there. I've been through Chicago's Union Station fairly often and just couldn't recognize the room, even considering years of change. Wonderful photos not only for the moment in time, but one can see where Mr. Delano stood to take his photos. Near center (U.S. flag) on this end, and to one side on the other end of the room (evidenced by the Philippine flag and edge of news stand). Possibly the model bomber hanging from the ceiling blocked a central shot. It's fun to put yourself in the shoes of the photographer. An aerial armada in miniatureLife magazine - Sept 28, 2042"Symbolically pointing toward Axis capitals, 4,500 models of Army and Navy planes hang from the ceiling of Chicago's Union Station" This previous Shorpy photo reveals them better. InterestBonds purchased then matured 40 years later worth about 5 times their cost. Interest rates were pretty low until the late 60s. Pink FloydThank you, JeffK, for the link to the 2007 post (https://www.shorpy.com/model-flight-1943) of the Jack Delano photo of the full armada of planes under the ceiling of Union Station in Chicago. One of the commenters there (Jim) notes the video image from Pink Floyd - The Wall (1982, directed by Alan Parker, animated scenes by Gerald Scarfe) of airplanes morphing into crosses, which I highly recommended (found at 2:10 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJUuDoRZpyU) -- the full chilling clip of aerial bombardments, as well as the moment itself of planes-to-crosses. Amazing to think this is over 30 years old now. Union or Non-UnionA "Union Station" was a separate company, jointly owned by each of its tenants who used it. Other "stations" were owned by a single railroad, though other railroads may have made use of it through "trackage rights" agreements. Non owners may also have used a "Union Station", without ownership, through trackage rights agreements. By the way, in railroad jargon, NONE of these buildings are "stations", but rather they are depots. A station, on a railroad, is a specific point specified by name in the railroads' Employee Timetable. An Employee Timetable names many locations not known in the Public Timetable. A station may, or may not, have a depot. In other words, a station is a location, a depot is a building. Two stations, then and nowAbout fifteen years after Union Station lost its concourse, the other last great old Chicago station was lost entirely, despite protests: Northwestern Station. The space it occupied is now the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center, above which is a bank skyscraper, both the work of Helmut Jahn. In the Waiting Room in Union Station, about two blocks away, it's not hard to imagine it's 1942 (until you look at the people), and you halfway expect to see GI's boarding trains pulled by steam engines, bound for places halfway round the world with names like Tarawa or Arnhem, which you've never heard of. In the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center, it's definitely 1990, and you definitely expect to see cellphones, sneakers, no smoking signs, and commuters bound for Irving Park or Crystal Lake, and home. Union Station: 2014My photo below shows the same location as the 1943 photo. The walkway at the rear of the 2014 photo is the tunnel under Canal Street labeled "Waiting Rooms" in 1943. Pillars have been added to support the 35-story building built above in 1971. The tunnel leads to the Great Hall, which IS still its glamorous 1925 self. It may not be glamorous, but the station serves about 140,000 passengers on a weekday in 2014. In 1943 the number was roughly 100,000. Of course, out-of-town traffic was huge in 1943. Today it's 90% commuters, with much less luggage. The seating on the left of the 2014 photo is in the spot of the newsstand in the 1943 photo (behind the "Information" sign). (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads, WW2)
Under the Hood: 1943
... Our fourth visit to this gas station. Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. A cutie No ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/26/2014 - 9:59am -

June 1943. "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Miss Frances Heisler, a garage attendant at one of the Atlantic Refining Company garages. She was formerly a clerk in the payroll department of Curtis Publishing." Our fourth visit to this gas station. Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. A cutieNo wonder postwar America had a baby boom! Would have been very pleasedto have had her test my clutch. For anyone with an interest, there will be an exhibit of DeLano’s railroad photographs at the Chicago History Museum, April 5, 2014 to August 10, 2015. Gotta love a girlWho can help rotate the tires. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Jack Delano, Philadelphia)
Lone Wolfsmith: 1943
... a suburban train to take him home to Chicago." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Definitely Bellwood ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/15/2013 - 10:52pm -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western R.R. between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The journey ended, conductor John M. Wolfsmith walks to the little passenger station to wait for a suburban train to take him home to Chicago." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Definitely BellwoodSeeing this photo was a pleasant surprise -- I grew up in Bellwood and my dad worked for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, so we were well acquainted with the Bellwood station. Thanks, KingTalkyTiki, for confirming my identification of that photo. I remember those old wooden steps up to Mannheim Bridge! I'm including a photo taken in 1954 looking north toward the station and bridge. I've loved seeing Jack Delano's photos from Proviso Yards on Shorpy!! Bellwood DepotThat's a near west suburb of the city right on what is now the Metra Commuter rail line. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Airport Newsstand: 1941
... Airport near Washington, D.C." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bad boy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/08/2020 - 7:16pm -

July 1941. "The newsstand in the waiting room. National Airport near Washington, D.C." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bad boyThat kid is looking at girly magazines! True ConfessionsBecause once I lived in sin. SadlyNot one single comic book in sight. There is probably thousands of dollars worth of magazines - if they survived to today - but nothing from the solid gold world of comics. They were probably on a revolving rack, out of camera frame. Confusion ReignsOh no! They put the Look magazines in the Ladies Home Journal rack! Now I'm totally confused. Or maybe that's the daring new tank top they're talking about. Lifeless.Looking at the larger image, it's amazing to see how many of those magazines are still in print, like Vogue, Variety, and Better Homes and Gardens, but what *really* amazed me was that I couldn't find LIFE magazine anywhere! There was Look, Saturday Evening Post, and Popular Mechanics, but no LIFE. Must have been sold out. LOL [Or it's one of the big stacks on the bottom shelf. - Dave] Smart marketing!The closer the patron got to the cashier, there is what appears to be Wrigley gum. Closer yet are the cigarettes. I could make out the Camel logo. And finally, a cornucopia of cigars. Nothing like tobacco and gum for that plane ride, eh? At a local grocery store that I patronize, there are gum, breath mints, soft drinks in a cold cabinet, tabloid magazines, the latest DVDs, and finally candy bars right below where you swipe your card. Nothing has changed. Daring DetectivePassion murder of the doomed beauty. Sorry kidYou’ll have to wait a while to find Mad Magazine on those racks. Priscilla Lane behind the counterAccording to these folks, that's actress, dancer and all-around healthy woman Priscilla Lane on the cover of Physical Culture. Brings back my smoking daysSeeing the big three -- Camels, Luckies and Chesterfield -- on the shelf reminds of when I started smoking at the age of 12 in 1944. At the time you could get a pack in a machine for 15 cents. With today's prices I couldn't afford it. I had the habit for over 30 years before I wised up and quit. Smokes and smokin'I'll take a pack of Camels and a copy of Physical Culture, ma'am! Amazing StoriesNext to bottom shelf, behind the man. September 1941 issue. Hey kid!Turn around look on the bottom shelf -- Amazing Stories, Fantastic, maybe an Astounding -- they will change your life! They did for me 20 years later. Color My World.I can't wait to see a colorized version with historically accurate colors of this image. Hint: That's a challenge to all! P.S. I love the ceiling light fixtures! Limited-time offer on Agfa filmAgfa had become part of IG Farben in Germany in 1925. In 1939, their US business merged with another company and became General Aniline and Film (GAF), but still used the Agfa brand name in the US, as seen here. In either late 1941 or early 1942, GAF was seized as enemy property by the US government, and wasn't privatized again until the mid-1960s. This is the same GAF that is known for making roofing shingles today. Color versionClick here for a version with color issues (as far as I could find them). Below the ones I could find. (The Gallery, Aviation, D.C., Jack Delano, Stores & Markets)
Hiawatha Noir: 1943
... from Union Station." View full size. Photograph by Jack Delano. Hiawatha Just to let people know, that's the rear of the train, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 6:54pm -

Chicago, January 1943. "Chicago, Milwaukee, Saint Paul and Pacific 'Hiawatha' about to leave from Union Station." View full size. Photograph by Jack Delano. HiawathaJust to let people know, that's the rear of the train, the last car known as an observation car. Also notice the raindrops falling through the roof ventilation, really neat photo. [That's snow. - Dave] A horny spotIt must've scared the bejeezus out of passengers looking out the rear window when they blew that air horn. HiawathaJust so anybody doesn't think that this is a typical observation car, this was unique to The Milwaukee Road. They made these things themselves in their own shops in their home city. Most other railroads had "store bought" observation cars, either the open platform units familiar from the movies, or the cars typical of the streamliners where the car curves from the sides to the rear. Front and BackThe locomotive on the Hiawatha was as much a thing of beauty as the "beaver tail" observation car. All designed by industrial designer Otto Kuhler. If this is the "Twin Cities Hiawatha" its 4-4-2 streamlined locomotive has been replaced with an E-6, itself a nice engine but nowhere near as lovely as those steam engines which were said to be the fasted ever produced in the United States (and some say, though without any records to prove it, the fastest steam engine in the world. Hiawatha formatWhat kind of film format do you think this is? Maybe medium format square? [2¼-inch square nitrate negative. - Dave] (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Santa Fe Brakeman: 1943
... of the cars for the entire distance." Nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Fresh Air Ride Does anyone know why the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/11/2009 - 11:35am -

March 1943. "Brakeman H.B. Van Santford riding on top of the caboose as the train on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad goes down from Summit to San Bernardino, California. The swing and head brakeman also ride on top of the cars for the entire distance." Nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Fresh Air RideDoes anyone know why the three rode outside? It seems as though it would have been easier to keep that cigarette lit while inside. Railroad storyI walked up to a brakeman Just to give him a line of talk He said if you've got money boy I'll see that you don't walk I haven't got a nickel, not a penny can I show He said get off you railroad bum And he slammed that boxcar door -- "Singing Brakeman," Jimmie Rodgers Perhaps a Little GrandstandingAutomatic air brakes eliminated the need for brakemen to run across the tops of cars applying and releasing brakes at the command of whistle signals from the locomotive. However, Mr. Van Santford does cut a gallant figure as he peers ahead looking for hot brakes or other mechanical ailments. [Or maybe the descent from Summit required extra caution. - Dave] Be AwareDo not confuse the Santa Fe Brakeman with the Wichita Lineman. Life Imitates PublishingIt's right out of Jack Kerouac, from the time when he was writing about being a brakeman in California. These days nobody gets to be on top of the train. That's less from safety rules than from the fact that they've eliminated the crews. "A train without a caboose is like a sentence without a period." Up on the RoofAs noted in the caption, the train is descending a grade and the train carries three brakemen – head end riding the engine, rear who normally rode the caboose and "swing" riding mid-train (another Delano photo shows a swing brakeman riding and standing on a car roof as the train goes downgrade, which was standard practice here. Brakemen would ride the roofs to watch for any sign of trouble (over-heated or burning journals ("hotbox"), burning brakes, line-side fires etc) — in this era, cars still had roofwalks and high-mounted handbrake gear, so if there was a failure or problem with the airbrakes as they descended, they could move from car to car and set the handbrakes in an effort to slow things down. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Tater Tot: 1940
... Does this beat Introduction to Algebra? Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Now Batting For Lew Hine, number 44, Jack ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/20/2013 - 10:37pm -

October 1940. "Near Caribou, Maine. The opening of school was delayed in sections of Aroostook County so children could help pick potatoes." Does this beat Introduction to Algebra? Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Now BattingFor Lew Hine, number 44, Jack Delano. Tater tot totes tubers ...to be tallied and transported to town by truck & trailer or by train, on Tuesday. Zoom ZoomWhen I visited Aroostook county back in the 70s, I had to ask about the roofs on the ground in the fields. Turns out they were root cellars for potato storage with just the roof above grade. In the middle of winter when the fields were snow covered, young fellows like this guy used them for jumps for their snowmobiles. The farmer did not approve. Still to this dayMany towns in "The County" (Aroostook County) still delay school during harvest season. There are some schools & classes that are open earlier in the Autumn, but many of the school-aged kids pick potatoes until the first frost, then begin their classes. DelayedAt least the county recognized the situation and delayed school. Some 15 years earlier in northern California, my Mom and her siblings were kept home until the second crop of grapes were picked, while school went on without them. Still hanging in thereMaine's potato industry is still significant even if it's not quite what it used to be. At the time of this photo about 250,000 acres were devoted to potatoes, almost all in Aroostook County, and Maine led the country in production. After many years of decline, the potato acreage stabilized at around 60,000 acres in the 1990's and hasn't varied too much ever since. Maine currently ranks fifth among the states in total potato production. Idaho is hugely dominant in first place, producing more than one-third of the country's potatoes on 350,000 acres. While there are some other factors, the biggest reason for Idaho's market dominance is that its soil and climate are especially good at producing the sort of large, evenly shaped potatoes most suitable for processing into french fries for the fast food industry. Go for AlgebraI'd take Introduction to Algebra any day. Picking potatoes in backbreaking work. My late father-in-law had a half acre truck garden in Boise, Idaho, and there were a couple of rows of potatoes. Aroostook County, Know it WellThat photo could have been taken at my father's family farm (have no idea if it was). My father grew up in Caribou, ME. on a potato farm. We moved up there for about 3 years and my father bought a farm. When I was there, in the early 1970s, we had 3 weeks off from school around October so that families could pitch in and pick potatoes and earn extra money. There were a lot of folks up that way, back then, that didn't have a lot of money. From what I've heard they still let the kids out of school for 3 weeks. However, I doubt many of the kids pick potatoes in the 21st Century because they hire workers from South America to work on the farms now. Tater TotTotes tubers. F E PWhich Caribou farmer in 1940 had the initials F.E.P? On the barrels. The ash baskets were handmade by Micmac and Maliseet Indians and were strung up in bulk for sale in front of farm and feed stores. They were used for one season and discarded as they usually didn't make it through more than one year. We used to sit on the handles to take a little break from picking. That basket would cost you big bucks now as the few basket makers still working actually charge something close to what their work is worth. The few hand crews still working now use 5-gallon buckets. Most potatoes are harvested mechanically. Sadly, I think only a few high schools and no grade schools still let out for harvest now. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Jack Delano, Kids)
Modern Forest: 1941
... in Midland, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/04/2019 - 2:45pm -

January 1941. "Stacks at the Pittsburgh Crucible Steel Company in Midland, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now that’s verticality!Not a word I get to use much, so need to jump at the chance. The family business Both of my grandfathers, a great-grandfather, and my dad (briefly) worked in that mill. (Lots of uncles as well.) Midland IntersectionAfter three months of this photograph haunting me, I've decide to comment in hopes that I can move on. I am not a teacher of photography (unless you count my 14-year-old), but if I were, this would be exhibit A for the lesson on composition. The intersection of every line, angle, and graphic element is so precise and considered, it must have been a labor of love for Jack to shuffle his cold feet and hands yards, then feet, then inches in each direction in the pursuit of excellence. There are other Delano images that are true favorites of mine (see Union Station: 1943 and The Home Team: 1941) yet this one certainly deserves a nod towards the art perfecting one’s craft. (The Gallery, Factories, Jack Delano, Railroads)
The Watchers, Watched: 1940
... contest in Presque Isle, Maine." 35mm nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Wow I wonder if that little girl grew up to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2012 - 1:17am -

October 1940. "Spectators at the annual barrel rolling contest in Presque Isle, Maine." 35mm nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. WowI wonder if that little girl grew up to be Kim Novak or Eva Marie Saint. Pretty BlondeI speculate the young lady will be breaking the hearts of some returning soldiers in a few years. Barrel Rolling Must Not Have Been FunNobody is smiling. They'd have even less reason to smile in another two months' time. [I see two people smiling. - tterrace] [And as far as "two months' time" goes, you're a year off. - Dave] SmilingRe: "Nobody is smiling." What do you mean? My maternal family is from Maine and Vermont. They ARE smiling! You lookin' at us?It's hard to tell which unsmiling expression is more interesting -- the curious girl's, the disgusted woman's, the bemused man's or the very alert dog's. SmilesFor Mainers those ARE smiles. They are practically grinning! Presque Isle's FinestPresque Isle, Maine is pretty close to the end of the road. Way, way up in northern Maine, beyond the northern terminus of I-95. Even today, the roughly 400 mile drive from Boston would take a good 7-8 hours, assuming you kept moving and didn't hit a moose along the way. In 1940, when US Route 1 was the only way to get there, it could easily have taken a couple of days. Yet, there she is. Up there in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but potato farms and the Great North Woods, sits a stunning vision of beauty, a girl any 12-year old boy would easily and quite happily fall hopelessly, eternally in love with. My goodness! (The Gallery, Dogs, Jack Delano, Kids)
Knock Knock: 1943
... Hammond, Indiana. Locomotive coupled to caboose." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Thumper Ah ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/07/2013 - 12:24pm -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana. Locomotive coupled to caboose." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. ThumperAh the bat... I worked for Penn Central railroad and can testify that even into the 70s, those bats were standard issue for train crews. Monsters Inc.The beast behind the door. The atmosphere is enhanced by the steam or smoke. Land Train"Candygram!" CNW 1300 series locomotivesA reasonable guess is we’re looking into the headlight of CNW 1381, one of over 300 class R-1's (4-6-0) built for the carrier by Baldwin and ALCO. Assuming the guess to be correct, Delano was probably riding with the crew of 1381 in interchange service between Proviso and Blue Island, taking Harbor traffic to, and CNW cars from the IHB. Apparently one running R-1 (CNW 1385) survives (recently restored) at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, Wisconsin. The Crawling EyePretty scary picture. It looks like a sci-fi movie from the '50s, with a one-eyed monster lurking in the door. 3 short blasts of the whistleSeeing how the smoke/steam is entering the caboose this train is/was/has making/made a reverse movement. Three short blasts of the whistle will let the crew and everyone else in the yard that she is about to make a reverse movement. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Cane Sugar: 1942
... Puerto Rico Sugar Company plant." Acetate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Geared up for production "Now, crawl up this ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/28/2019 - 8:45pm -

January 1942. Ensenada, Puerto Rico. "One of the mills in the South Puerto Rico Sugar Company plant." Acetate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Geared up for production"Now, crawl up this steep set of stairs with no handrails, and mind the gears" Slow RollI'll bet those gears grind slow as molasses. No FlojePlease! We have enough Floje to go around MusicWhy do I hear Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse" when I look at this picture? OSHA's DisneylandNot to mention the greasy wood walkways and steps had to be as slippery as ice. 007I see the grisly end of a Bond villain here. Cane-grind or monster-gear – either side will do. The daily grindLotta sweet teeth in that beast. LyricalMaybe inspiration for the 1946 Johhny Mercer song "My Sugar Is So Refined." Real men don't need safety!It's just unbelievable how safety wasn't a thing at all. Open, greasy gears, bucket conveyors without any protection, greasy floor and stairs and even ladders without any protection. I guess the slippery looking ladder, conveniently leaning on the bearing housing, was there to access the gravity drip feed oil dispensers on top of the plummer blocks. I see as well wide fitting pants and shirts, ideal for getting grabbed by hungry gears. For me as a machine designer, it's a nightmare. I guess I won't sleep the next three days. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Factories, Jack Delano, Puerto Rico)
City of Los Angeles: 1942
Detail from Jack Delano's shot of the C&NW railyards in December 1942, and streamliners ... ...........Vern.............. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/28/2007 - 7:58pm -

Detail from Jack Delano's shot of the C&NW railyards in December 1942, and streamliners City of Denver and City of Los Angeles. View full size. The one that's not yellowWhat is that red and white one? (Or red-white-and-???) City of Los Angeles?Ok, please explain the title, it simply cannot be correct. [The name of the right-hand train, written on the side, is City of Los Angeles. - Dave] LocomotivesCan't tell you about the red and white one - it looks like a 'B' unit. It could be a leased locomotive ('B' units were unmanned diesel locomotives controlled from the cab of the 'A' unit) but that in itself was puzzling because before the war at least the Union Pacific's "City" trains all ran with matched sets of locomotives, with the name of the train (City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, City of Denver, etc) painted on each unit of the train. At that time you'd never see a 'B' unit from the City of San Francisco on the City of Los Angeles - let alone a mismatched 'B' unit. War is hell. The middle locomotive (the one without a train attached) is a Chicago & North Western E unit, most likely an E6 like the locomotive on the City of Los Angeles. There's no indication of what train its part of so it could be either the C&NW's own "400" or one of the trains the C&NW and UP operated jointly, like The Challenger. The outermost locomotive is probably the most interesting stylistically. It's one of the CD series (CD-05, 06, or 07) - the CD standing for the City of Denver. That's written on the side of the locomotive but you really have to blow it up to see that detail. The cab was elevated above the main body of the engine. The distinctive grille is primarily decorative, a holdover from the first streamliners on the UP, M-1000 through M-1002. Indeed the CD locomotives were originally numbered M-1003 through M-1006. Sadly none of the CD locomotives were preserved. Red White BlueWar is hell, indeed...I "think" the red/white unit is actually red white and blue special paint promoting war bond purchases, I recall reading something about this one long ago but can't begin to be able to prove this now. Blue band is hiding in the shadow. Rare catch it is. Red White & BlueThere is a RR boxcar "State of Maine" that is red white and blue. A photo of it can be seen at www.davestrains.com. Their catalogue #3494-295 City of Los AngelesBelow, a black-and-white photo of the red, white and blue City of Los Angeles, from the October 19, 1942, Pennsylvania Evening Standard. (The word "stamps" is just visible in the color photo above.) The caption reads: STREAMLINED SELLING: A streamlined supersalesman of war bonds is the streamliner City of Los Angeles. Train was decked with banner urging purchase of war bonds and stamps. Inspecting it are Howard D. Mills of Treasury Department (left) and W.H. Guild, executive assistant, Union Pacific Railroad. Banner's colors are red, white and blue. Credit: NewspaperArchive.com Red White & BlueThat is amazing detective work. How did you find that? I had been trying to figure the mystery out. [I searched NewspaperArchive.com for "City of Los Angeles" and "streamliner" and "red" in the year 1942. - Dave] CoLAThe most useful text on the subject of the UP "City" trains is William Kratville's "Union Pacific Streamliners" (1974). The windows on the unit make me want to say it's an EMD model E-6 unit, quite possibly LA-4 (the lead unit of a 3 locomotive set which was permanently assigned to the 1941 edition of the City of Los Angeles streamliner). Yellows, Grays, Greens & BrandsThe photo displays equipment of two distinct "brands" at Chicago. The "Armour Yellow" and Gray, signature Union Pacific RR (UPRR) colors for its widely promoted "City" fleet of Streamliners. It was the work of Chicago & Northwestern (C&NW) to handle the moves between Chicago and Omaha, UPRR gateway for the West. The Green and Yellow motive power units, in the signature colors of the C&NW "400" Streamliner, service lanes between its on line points. Premier service lane between Chicago and Twin Cities. For the Operations folks, I'll conjecture a hard and fast rule did not permit intermixing of equipment. IMHO, the scene is at the area "wash" line... ...........Vern.............. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Rara Avis: 1941
... Rico. In a dress factory." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Puerto ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/10/2019 - 10:44pm -

December 1941. "San Juan, Puerto Rico. In a dress factory." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Puerto Rican sweatshop workerIt's Puerto Rico and a sweatshop, but I don't think our modista is Puerto Rican. [She is, and I'm not sure why you might think otherwise. - Dave] Winding the bobbinI always wound a bunch of bobbins up ahead of time. Never thought to wind them as I sewed. I was puzzled by the headline... until I zoomed in. Genetic engineering, 1941-styleWe crossed a human with a pigeon, and got a Puerto Rican sweatshop worker. OK ...I see the feathers now. And furthermoreRara Belleza! Nomenclatura ObscuraI generally get a chuckle out of the titles heren, but you nearly got me this time till I caught the feathers. (The Gallery, Factories, Jack Delano, Pretty Girls, Puerto Rico)
Fayetteville at Five: 1941
... when the workers start coming out of Fort Bragg." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. What's he standing on? Is what he's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/04/2021 - 1:13pm -

March 1941. "Traffic on the main street of Fayetteville, North Carolina, at about five o'clock, when the workers start coming out of Fort Bragg." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. What's he standing on?Is what he's standing on still there? [Planet Earth? Last we checked, yes. - Dave] Twist of FayettevilleThere have been a lot of changes in downtown Fayetteville. This looks approximately right - Rayless department store was at 200 Hay St. There is no more parking, and the street has been narrowed with many trees planted. I can spot at least 3 surviving buildings on the right, including the old McFadyen Music. It looks like the original photo was taken from the balcony of the Market House. You can see it in street view if you swivel 180 degrees. Is that a Lincoln?The fifth car back on the left, the light-colored one. I need help from the Shorpy auto buffs. I have lived here since the 70sYes, he will have been standing on the west balcony of the Market House, it was recently in the news due to an attempted arson during the riots last summer. The debate is still open as to what should be done with it, tear it down, move it, or? I remember many of the buildings in the picture, many started going away by the late 70s and early 80s as the downtown area fell apart and shopping moved out to the malls. Quite a few of the buildings are still there but heavily renovated. The Hotel Lafayette is long gone, The Prince Charles is still there and is currently housing rental condos and small businesses. Downtown has come, gone, and come again. My guess is ChryslerI'm thinking this is a 41 Chrysler Series 30 Eight 5th car on leftI don't believe so. The Continental had a different trunk lid and rubber mudguard on the front of the rear fender, and the Zephyr rear was more sloped. Could be wrong though. 5 p.m. Fort Bragg exodus?I lived on Fort Bragg when my dad was stationed there in the early '60s and it's highly unlikely any end-of-the-day traffic from the post would be noticed in downtown Fayetteville 13 miles away. [Fayetteville was home to thousands of construction workers engaged in a massive wartime expansion of Fort Bragg -- the reason this series of photos was made. - Dave] No, it's not a LincolnThe shape of the rear fender, the three horizontal ribs, and the location of the filler cap leave no room for guessing – it's a 1941 Plymouth P12 Special Deluxe. McFayden MusicI was a little surprised to find out that McFayden Music is still in business, though now they are in Greenville, according to their website! Fayetteville Street LifeI suppose the trees planted along the sidewalk in present-day Fayetteville are nice, and I know there is an anti-automobile sentiment in many towns, large and small, that results in limited street parking, narrower roads, bike lanes, pedestrian priority rights-of-way, etc. But I can't help but notice the vibrancy of street life in Fayetteville back in 1941. The streets are lined with shops, and there is exuberant signage everywhere. There are actual pedestrians - shoppers, workers, people running errands - walking on the sidewalks. The street is bustling with traffic. Today? It looks kind of quiet and desolate - although I bet the local shopping mall and the Wal-Mart and the Home Depot out by the Interstate are full of consumers. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano, Stores & Markets)
Polar Express: 1942
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Footsteps Galore Just an incredible amount of footsteps in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 10:03pm -

December 1942. Proviso classification yard of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Footsteps GaloreJust an incredible amount of footsteps in the snow - shows how much manual effort there needed to be to hook/unhook cars and make up trains. Must have been a fun job (not to mention dangerous) in the winter!! (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Oil and Water: 1943
... between Winslow and Seligman." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. From the future ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/30/2014 - 4:46pm -

March 1943. "Ash Fork, Arizona (vicinity). Passing an eastbound freight on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad between Winslow and Seligman." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. From the future looking pastIt appears that our vantage point is from a diesel locomotive looking onwards as a steam engine will come past us. I really want to guess that this is an EMD FT engine that we are riding. [He's on the locomotive shown below. - Dave] PortholesThe portholes are the round windows visible in this previous Shorpy photo and the pic posted by Phare Pleigh in the comments. Little change in the landscapeI believe this is the track that parallels I-40. I drove it eastbound from California 5 weeks ago, and it didn't look any different! LocoI was thinking the same thing -- FT it could be! Maybe an early F3? What do you suppose the wooden barricades are along the R.O.W.? Protection for a culvert? [Those are the wings of the cattle guards. They prevent cattle from sneaking around the grids, and are angled to accommodate passage of varying train and car widths. --tterrace] Four portholesidentify these as FT's at 1350 HP per unit. The F-3 model wasn't built until after the war. SorryWhat 'port holes'? Where would they be. Water is rightThese units were an exception to the general embargo on diesel unit construction during the war; they were permitted due to the difficulty of getting good water supplies across the desert. Milepost 398That white pole alongside the steamer must be Milepost 398 (from Albuquerque); Delano is looking WSW from about 35.239N 112.446W. The hill beyond the windshield wiper is Picacho Butte, 35.229N 112.741W. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
The Ritz: 1940
... Coaldale, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Lansford ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/29/2018 - 2:14pm -

August 1940. "Street in Coaldale, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Lansford is the next town over. I lived there until the age of 7 or so. Both towns are a stones throw from Mauch Chunk. Never knew Coaldale had an A&P, much less The Ritz. The old anthracite patch was booming on the eve of war. That's the Ritz?You're putting me on! All This, and Heaven TooWith Bette Davis as Henriette Deluzy-Desportes and Charles Boyer as Charles, Duke de Praslin. (Imagine trying to say that after a couple of glasses of wine.) New MoonWith Jeanette MacDonald as Marianne de Beaumanoir and Nelson Eddy as Charles (Henri), Duc de Villiers. Gallic galore! A&PI spent several of my teenage years stocking and bagging at a Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company store in Jacksonville. I was pretty good at it. Half a century later I still take time to instruct the baggers at the local Kroger's when they try to squish my bread. And I still reach for goods at the back of the shelf, since every good stocker knows to rotate the stock so the older stuff in toward the front. Future A&PThe "Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co." became the A&P grocery chain that was the biggest store chain of its day. It went out of business in 2015 after 156 years. Gone a few years laterRitz Theatre 117 Second Street, Coaldale, PA 18218 Permanently Closed, Demolished 1947-48 1 screen 250 seats One of the few places overlooked by Google Street View it seems. A Store By Any Other Name.I wonder how many people know that the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, (store at right of the Ritz), is really know to most of us poor schleps just as the A&P. InitiallyThe were probably known as the A&P a long time before they labeled their stores that way. 117 Second StreetYep, you guessed it: Destroyed by fire in the 1940s. A Store By Any Other Name.I wonder how many people know that the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, (store at right of the Ritz), is really know to most of us poor schleps just as the A&P. Putting On The RitzDapper guy with the smoke far right doesn't look like he's spent much time working that coal mine in the background. A&PGood Morning! Some of my earliest memories (I'm 71 now) involve smelling the 8 O'Clock Coffee grinder in the A&P store in New Freedom (York County) Pa. I'm sipping a mug of 8 O'Clock as I write this: hooked for life. Let them eat cakeFor 25 cents, how can anyone pass it up? For an additional 35 cents, they can even butter it. The Ritz Burned Down (Of Course)A pretty good website with newspaper articles on the 1948 demise of the Ritz is here: https://coaldalehighalumni.homestead.com/Articles_ritz.html The moderne successor to the Ritz was built in 1949, and is still showing movies. A&PI did a little poking around, and the shorthand A&P was on some branded products as early as 1885. There were many print ads that had "A&P" in them from at least the teens. So, it was very common and it's safe to assume that it was common 20 years later. It was a very big deal in our family when my mom stopped going to "Gateway" supermarket and switched to the A&P! All those famous brands were like we joined a larger culture. They hung in there a surprisingly long time -- 1859 to 2016 is a pretty good run. A&P in New EnglandOn Martha's Vineyard, there's a storefront with "A&P" done in tiles, embedded in the cement of the front step. There hasn't been an A&P on the island since 2003, but the store in Oak Bluffs dates from the 1930s. Looks like A&P got sucked up by a European conglomerate. I remember going to A&P with my mum in the 60s, and then they just kind of faded away. https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2003/02/14/ap-sells-both-vineyard-super... A&P and The RitzMy grandmother always called the A&P the tea store and I still think of it that way. And I'll bet that theater saw a whole lot of business in its time. That's what we did just as often as possible, go to the movies!! (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Movies, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Ghost Factory: 1941
... Works in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2022 - 4:35pm -

January 1941. "Interior of abandoned Howard Stove Works in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. (The Gallery, Factories, Jack Delano)
Fire-Eater: 1942
... North Western Railroad shops." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. The 400 In ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2014 - 7:42pm -

December 1942. Chicago, Illinois. "Working on a giant locomotive, one of the '400s,' in the Chicago & North Western Railroad shops." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. The 400 In ActionHere's a postcard view of it. #4000's built for "The 400":This is one of the E-4 class 4-6-4 Hudson locomotives C&NW ordered for their crack "400" passenger train numbered 4000-4009. Chicago to the Twin Cities: The "400", 400 miles in 400 minutes. Not bad with 8 stops along the way. Obviously undergoing heavy repairs. You can also clearly see the streamlined shroud supports along the top of the boiler, the streamlining having been removed for service. These were beautiful engines, it is too bad they were all cut up for scrap. Built for but not used for the 400. I believe the 4000 series C&NW 4-6-4s were not used in "400" service and instead ran mainly on the Chicago-Council Bluffs name trains--mostly on the lesser trains. Late in life they pulled commuter trains around Chicago. They were bucking progress--- namely the diesel electric. The 2900 series 4-6-2s ran the 400 until diesels bumped them in the late 30s. A 2900 is pictured in Vonderbees color postcard view. The 4000 series 4-6-4s were the most powerful 4-6-4s ever constructed. The popular New York Central 4-6-4s couldn't match them. The 4000s were scrapped in the mid 1950s except for one used for steam generator service at Escanaba and that one lasted until the mid-60s. Extended StallThey have some kind of door extension on this stall to give them more room to pull out the superheater tubes in the front. I guess this is a LONG locomotive! Another beauty.Truly, Jack Delano was the Ansel Adams of Railroad photography. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
The Georgia Line: 1941
... Georgia. Children at the school." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Mission ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/21/2019 - 2:23pm -

October 1941. "Siloam, Greene County, Georgia. Children at the school." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Mission accomplishedJack Delano proves his extraordinary abilities here in that he has every child’s face visible within the frame of this unusual point of view shot. Look outSome of those kids look downright diabolical. But I think the girl in the striped dress is calling the shots. Talk about linesDave, the titles you apply to all these great photos are a classic in themselves! Many thanks for all those 'extra' LOL's!!! [We do what we can. - Dave] (The Gallery, Education, Schools, Jack Delano, Kids, Small Towns)
North by Night: 1940
... buy anything from clothing to Coca-Colas." Photo by Jack Delano -- Farm Security Administration. View full size. Where's ... (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Jack Delano, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/02/2021 - 3:03pm -

July 1940. "Negroes from Florida and Georgia travel by car and truck, following the crops northward. The company store at Camden, North Carolina, where migrants buy anything from clothing to Coca-Colas." Photo by Jack Delano -- Farm Security Administration. View full size. Where's George C. Scott?This is like a scene from "The Flim-Flam Man." Near twinsOn the left, nearly out of the frame, is a 1935 Ford Tudor sedan -- a standard model, with but one taillamp. Farther to the right is a 1936 Tudor that may or may not be a standard, since the far lamp is hidden, if it's there. There were other differences not seen in this photo. I have owned an example of each of these jewels. Florida in JulySteve Belcher, I'm right with you except the cool evening breeze would be very humid, hot, and muggy. That BikeLooks exactly like the one that my wife had a few years back. Her's Hers was green and white with whitewall tires. Outstanding composition, detail and exposureIf there was ever a photo here that moves me, it's this one. I feel like I just walked up a dirt road and back into time. I can almost hear the bugs and feel the cool evening breeze. 361-452 & Old Screen Doors1931 Chevrolet AE Independence Coach. Mixed in with the faint whisper of the evening breeze and summer night insect sounds, I hear the gentle double-slam of those ornate screen doors. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Jack Delano, Stores & Markets)
Argentine Yard, Kansas City: 1943
... 1943. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Argentine Yard History of the Argentine Yard: ... (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 6:32pm -

Coal and sand chutes at the Argentine Yard, Santa Fe R.R., Kansas City, Kansas. March 1943. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Argentine YardHistory of the Argentine Yard: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/wyandott/argentine/03.htm (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Work From Home: 1941
... Corporation in background." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/23/2018 - 12:25pm -

January 1941. "Scene in west Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Stacks of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation in background." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I don't know a thing ... about the Farm Security Administration. It's hard to imagine a government agency with such a mundane handle could produce an artist like Jack Delano. I'll bet they never knew. [Not to mention Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Walker Evans et al. - Dave] The Coming War YearsI love these snapshots in time. A year after this photo was taken, the steel mills of Pennsylvania would soon be working overtime for the war effort. (The Gallery, Factories, Jack Delano)
Well Oiled: 1943
... Refining Company garages." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Pretty Girl ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/05/2017 - 6:10pm -

June 1943. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "Miss Natalie O'Donald, service-station attendant at the Atlantic Refining Company garages." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Pretty Girl Tag Maybe it's just my personal taste, but I think the young lady in the greasy coveralls is as, if not more, deserving of the tag than some of the examples of Haute Couture we've seen. Atlantic Refining CompanyIt seems they hired some hotties during the war. I'm with Shrike-all 3 of the ladies we've seen so far from there are very worthy of the pretty girls tag! East of LaramieAh, what could be more quintessentially American than a plucky, confident girl and a shiny Buick? Miss Natalie is gorgeous!And she knows car stuff too! Who could ask for more? The boys are off to war so the women work.Now gentlemen, no dippy comments now, no sticky wisecracks. She has to have a job, and she is an adult woman, pretty maybe, but not a girl, she's a woman! And she did not get equal pay in the 40s, so the owner gets off cheap while she puts in long dirty hours and suffers the catcalls of the males who are not off in the war. Let's be nice, and more modern if we can. Ahh - and on Saturday eveningWhen those lovely tresses dreamily unfold and trail with the scent of evening in Paris or - wait a minute, she could be jitterbugging, a whole different dream, never mind - - - Pretty Girl Tag SecondedHear, hear! She's beautiful. (The Gallery, Gas Stations, Jack Delano, Philadelphia, Pretty Girls)
The Mourners: 1941
... back from a funeral." Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Sure you can take our picture A unique ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/13/2013 - 3:45pm -

June 1941. Greene County, Georgia. "Family who has just come back from a funeral." Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Sure you can take our pictureA unique moment in time, captured forever by the talented Jack Delano. A handsome familyand a fascinating portrait. Does the spacing of the individuals hint at their relationships? And who died? In my imagination, the older woman is the proud grandmother of the two beautiful little boys. Her easy smile suggests to me that it is neither her spouse nor her child who has passed away -- just as the grimace of the right-most woman leaves me wondering if it is her husband who was buried on this day. The man standing next to her (on the far right) is further back and somewhat apart from the rest of the family. The two men certainly favor each other -- brothers? The yard appears to be neatly swept and everyone is dressed in their well-pressed Sunday Best (one can excuse the little boys who may have refused to put their shoes back on for the photo). But how did the middle man forget to turn down the waistband of his sweater vest? The Tyranny of FashionHaving spent a few summers in Georgia, I'm getting a vicarious heat rash from this photo. Attending a funeral demands one's best clothes, but I can well imagine how uncomfortable these mourners must be. Re: A handsome familyI agree with the imagining of commenter I am singin now. In fact, I think we have two grown brothers and a sister who's just lost her husband. As for the sweater, he was forced by one of his womanfolk to put it back on for the photograph. He struggled it back on as far as we see here, when he said, "Just take the photograph already." Twins?Handsome family indeed! The two older brothers look so alike it makes me wonder if they're twins. The grandmotherly figure on the left seems to exude sweetness. You know she loved on those children with all her heart. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Rural America)
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