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Piano Man: 1941
... Hand Mission. Portsmouth, Virginia." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Picture on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/10/2021 - 10:06pm -

March 1941. "Mission pianist in his room at the Helping Hand Mission. Portsmouth, Virginia." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Picture on the far wallI wonder who that is in that picture. It looks like it could be an entertainer. Who does the Mission pianist idolize? Any Shorpy fans have any ideas? Call me crazybut I am always amazed at photos like this, of the decrepit state of the walls, and in this case even the mantelpiece. Had these folks never heard of paint? Were they so destitute that they could not afford even a single coat, or a layer of wallpaper? Or were they too lazy, or did they simply not care? The ugliness had to have threatened to suck the life right out of them. I'll wager that even the goldfish would have agreed with me. And don't get me started on that welter of wires. "Outside these walls"Hope our subject lightened up a bit when he played for the audience. Rings a bellThe image above our man’s right shoulder—man and woman in a field—is Millet’s “Angelus,” which depicts farm laborers stopping their work to pray at the 6 p.m. ringing of the bells. Speaking of time, the unsynchronized clocks on the mantel fit right into the general decrepitude. Re: crazyNow that I own my house (an old one), I do fix-it work non-stop. As a rental tenant, though, I never did a thing – I figured it was the landlord’s responsibility. What I didn’t realize in my younger years was that, even though I didn’t own my home back then, I would have improved my living conditions immeasurably had I painted or gardened, despite the fact that I was maintaining someone else’s property. All the work put into my rented place by myself would have benefited myself, but I didn’t understand this concept. With regard to the piano man’s place, it needs more than a lick of paint -- some preliminary plaster work is definitely required. On the far wallThe picture looks like it may be Dickie Powell. Early Power BarWe plug our scanners, computers, printers, etc. into a power bar with a circuit breaker. The octopus wiring setup in this photo might be considered an earlier version of the same thing. Having moved into my 1928 home in 1977 that still had its original 30 amp 115 volt panel with fuses, I soon learned which electrical appliances could not be plugged in simultaneously. Within three years the house was upgraded to a 125 amp system with 115 and 240 volts available. I might also note that many of John Vachon's photos of people bear a resemblance to those of Diane Arbus in the 1960s. Living SimplyHe probably lives in such spartan conditions because he works at the mission for nothing, or next to nothing. Believe it or not, there used to be a time when people did church work because they loved people and cared about them. I would hazard a guess that the modern-day 'teaching pastor' or 'praise team' member wouldn't be caught dead living in a hovel like this so that they could have the privilege to minister to the needs of their fellow man! Way Down On The ListYes, we see a lot of places we wouldn't want to live on Shorpy. I think it's driven by the everyday need to acquire basic necessities to survive back then (and for a lot of folks today too). The furnishings are nice and the place looks clean. The stove fluecaught my eye right away. I wonder how hard it was to get a draft going. While the flue pipe may radiate a lot of trapped heat, getting that heat to go down and then up is no easy task. All I can see is smoke billowing from the door each time it's stoked. I look at the walls and wonder what became of the trim around the windows. Perhaps the stove can tell us. I'm with Penny on the sketchy wiring. It reminds me of A Christmas Story. An entertainer's lotis not a happy one even if it includes a Loths Air Blast (a name not dissimilar to that of a local brew in a far away place I once knew). Don't you just love this truly magnificent piece of kit! The inclusion of a multiple light extravaganza with a suspended control centre however is still not enough to please our master of the keys. Having just recently adjusted and fine tuned (with a hammer?) the contemporary air conditioning (note the spare parts in the storage facility behind the seat) he is left to contemplate the reason why one of his timepiece collection appears to be malfunctioning. With regard to curtains and paint, the property is owned by others, in this case "the Mission," wherein lies the economic scantiness of the trend-setting decor. Entertainers the world over are quite inured against the quality of gaffs between gigs. There are also reasons to be found for the crutch standing forlornly in the corner. Excellent material for the housebound Shorpyite. Love the stoveBut the draft situation looks sketchy. Looks familiar I just took painted wallpaper off exterior plaster (on brick) walls, in a house that's probably older than the place pictured here. And the walls looked ... about like that. Sad quartersJenny Pennifer mentioned paint, wallpaper and scary wiring, but this is really, umm, *basic* living! How about that toaster, jammed on the back of the crowded dresser? Is that the only suggestion of cooking in the room? And, as with any man with two clocks, he has no idea of the time of day. A tip of the cap to Mad MagazineIn my misspent youth, Mad Magazine had a regular feature called "What's Wrong with This Picture?" Most of them looked a lot like this one. What time is it?Was this photo taken at 2:12 or 7:43? Déjà vuI feel like the photo hanging above the mantel is one I've seen on Shorpy before. Two out of three!Although the clocks don't agree on the time of the picture, his wristwatch and the mantel clock on the left appear to agree that it is 8:43 p.m. I suggest p.m. since it appears to be dark outside the window, as it would be in Virginia in March. [Your mantel clock is off by an hour -- it says 7:43. - Dave] The Face on the WallCurious about the man's portrait on the wall obscured by 'wiring,' I checked out a few of Vachon's other photos of this profoundly sad room. I came across this shot of our dour keyboard artist, which has an unobstructed view of the portrait which appears to be of, and inscribed by, Mickey Rooney...am I right? [You are right, and it bears the inscription "I'll be seeing you at the Gxxxx Theater Something" and then maybe "Sunday September Xth -- Mickey" - Dave] Lighten up, everybodyHow many of us are wearing a tie? Strike up the bandI believe the inscription reads "I'll be seeing you at the Gates Theater starting Sunday September 29th -- Mickey." The Gates Theatre was a cinema in Portsmouth in this era. Rooney's third(!) film of 1940, "Strike up the Band," was released on September 29, which was a Sunday. It appears our musician in the photo was a vermouth drinker. That's a bottle of Gambarelli & Davitto dry American vermouth on the chest of drawers. Not-teaFrom that bottle of hooch on the dresser I am guessing that this mission is not being run by strict Baptists. Plugs and PicturesI also find the wiring a bit worrisome; the relatively short time I spent as a volunteer firefighter instilled in me fire prevention measures that will always be with me. I hope he unplugged that mess when he left the room. Also, the older looking picture of two people on the wall seems to me as if it should be a man with a large bundle of sticks on his back; the condition of the wall matches that of the Led Zeppelin IV album cover. Who is the "piano man"?He is Clayton William Pierce (1905-1953). He never married and lived with his parents, and then his married sister, in Portsmouth for most of his life. He was a piano teacher his entire adult life. He died of heart disease at age 47. His WWII draft card indicated he was 5' 6" tall, 235 pounds, brown eyes, black hair, ruddy complexion, and a scar on his right cheek. ~ Steve Weird mental acrobatics on my part but --There was that keyboard player in early Rolling Stones lineup who did not fit in the band's image. LookalikeHe reminds me very much of another musician -- Riley Puckett, guitarist and vocalist of my favorite old-timey string band, the Skillet Lickers. Danger!Dangerous room to live in. If the wiring doesn't catch on fire, the leaky stove pipe will get you with carbon monoxide. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Raggedy Andy: 1938
... for the A&F catalog. Medium-format nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. re: You really do have to wonder No, you ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/20/2013 - 6:04pm -

July 1938. "Young boy in Baltimore slum area." Potential model for the A&F catalog. Medium-format nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. re: You really do have to wonderNo, you don't. When you consider the venue, it's easy to discern between poor people and pampered kids sporting faux "authenticity". Fashion or Fortune?You really do have to wonder - are the pants the product of poverty or is there a fashion statement too? Fashion Trendsetter!I know kids who would pay lots of money for those jeans! They buy new ones with the holes already in them. That's proof that many people have too much, these days, in my opinion! SlummingFor living in a slum, this guy is clean, well groomed, and generally looks healthy and well-fed. Also, the steps are in good order, and the ground is clean. A far cry from the condition of some of the NON-slums in modern Detroit, where I live. Smoke If You Got 'EmLooks like the boy rolled his own. NicotineThe opiate of the underclass. Uncanny resemblance to my sonMy son who died last year in April at the young age of twenty looks identical to this boy in the photo. You can imagine the shock on my face when I was shown this picture; my son dressed like that, holes in jeans button-up long sleeves and all. He would even glare at someone like that when he wanted to provoke a fight. I am just amazed; it's like my son jumped back thru time and posed for this pic. Does anyone know the boy's real name? He has to be a relative; You can see for yourself; I uploaded a photo of my son. (The Gallery, Baltimore, John Vachon)
Here's the Beef: 1941
... in Austin, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Non-vegan ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/30/2020 - 3:39pm -

July 1941. "The beef cut. Packing plant in Austin, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Non-veganGazing hungrily at that hunk of rib on the shelf puts me in mind of the 1748 Hogarth painting "O the Roast Beef of Old England", a detail of which is provided below. Where's the beef?Isn't this the Hormel pork plant in Austin? [It's the Hormel meat-packing plant. - Dave] Beef in miniature Those are the tiniest cows I've ever seen. [Veal calves. - Dave] Not counting sheep tonightSuggestion: don't follow Dave's link to the LoC's Hormel plant collection right before bed. WWII -- Serving Our TroopsWith the passing of the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, Hormel Foods shipped up to 15 million cans of meat per week overseas, most of which were products from the iconic SPAM brand. By 1944, more than 90 percent of the canned foods were shipped for government use. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kitchens etc.)
Ice Cycle: 1941
... till someone lets it in. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. DANGER ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/14/2020 - 3:15pm -

January 1941. "Harrisonburg, Virginia." Braking at the door till someone lets it in. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. DANGER WILL ROBINSON!Imagine trying to ride that bicycle on those icy streets. Alternative explanationThey don't open the door for peddlers. Robert FrostDave’s line “Braking at the door till someone lets it in” puts me in mind (cadence + theme of ice and snow) of the title of Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Cold Steel BeautyLooks to be a late 1930's Wards Hawthorn bicycle with a New Departure two speed rear hub. Vachonesque!Before reading his name, i knew that picture was from John Vachon. What a talent! (The Gallery, Bicycles, John Vachon)
Best Friends: 1938
... "Boy with dog. Omaha, Nebraska." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Dog Point ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2017 - 9:24am -

November 1938. "Boy with dog. Omaha, Nebraska." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Dog PointHere in the quail country of north Florida/southwest Georgia, that's a Bird Dog! Definitely a hound.Can any of you colorization gurus take a stab at this one? Methinks that dog is a bluetick. edit-EQ,you guys are right. I did some image searching. A boy and his dogThankfully, some things never change. Definitely not a houndThis dog is no bluetick, it's some kind of setter. To Settle the 'What Kind of Dog' MatterLooks like a "Curb Setter" to me! BondHow astute of Mr. Vachon to capture this simple moment of mutual affection. Bird DogI was thinking it looked like an English Setter. Shoe Shine?Even though you can only see a small corner of it, the boy appears to be sitting on a type of box used by shoe-shine boys - open at the bottom to hold shoe polish, brushes, etc. He also seems to be using a fire hydrant as a back rest. Definitely an English SetterAfter taking a closer look, I think the dog is definitely an English Setter. The hair on the chest looks like one of my dog's, and there are slight curly areas in the hindquarters. Not to mention the way he/she is looking at the boy, I have seen that look many times! Daddy And His Dog?I really had to do a doubletake at seeing this. I instantly thought of a photo of my father when he was a boy -- in Omaha. He would have been about 7-1/2 at that time, and this boy looks like he's a little older than that, but still ... It's hard to tell in my photo if the dog could be quite as multicolored as the dog in this Shorpy photo. Springer?He may also be a pet quality English Springer spaniel. (The Gallery, Dogs, John Vachon, Omaha)
Beauty Ress Court: 1942
... your choice of Coke, Pepsi or Calso. Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. West ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/12/2022 - 8:14pm -

April 1942. "Missoula, Montana. Entering the town. Tourist apartments." More specifically, the "Strictly Modern" Beauty Ress Court. And gas station. With your choice of Coke, Pepsi or Calso. Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. West Broadway, +80 yearsBecause of the winding nature of the street, this had to be very close to the spot. Permissively Modernseems more like it. OTOH, I'm surprised - not "strictly", but still, somewhat - that they advertise accepting credit cards. Which is surely a good thing, 'cuz the nearest ATM is many miles, and many years, away. Beauty Ress "Court"News item, The Daily Missoulian, Nov. 20, 1941: Beauty Ress and all the restI wondered about that! Thanks Dave! To the mattresses, Mr. Mercer you scoundrel! Cute CoupeThe 1934 Chevy Standard three-window coupe parked next to the ladies' room is showing a considerable amount of wear and tear, but its classic styling forces you to look beyond its blemishes (well-earned patina). (The Gallery, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Kids, Small Towns)
Beer Here: 1937
... rounds, you can get a haircut. Medium-format negative by John Vachon. View full size. Clever slogan Free State was located on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/25/2013 - 2:03pm -

Sept. 1937. "Barber shop and pool hall. Berwyn, Maryland." Between rounds, you can get a haircut. Medium-format negative by John Vachon. View full size. Clever sloganFree State was located on Baltimore's Hillen Street, I believe; the site is now occupied by a Baltimore fire house. Their slogan was one of the neatest going: "Your Thirst Choice". Unfortunately for them, their beer WASN'T Baltimore's first choice [or second or fourth...]. Shaefer took over Gunther's and dropped the name, dropped the recipe and thought Baltimoreans would flock to Shaefer. It didn't happen. Globe Brewing had a lineage dating back to the late 18th Century. All gone todayArrow Beer was a brand of Baltimore's Globe Brewing and lasted until 1963. Gunther Beer merged with Schaefer around the same time, with the Baltimore facility lasting about another decade. Free State closed in 1952; there is now a popular Kansas microbrewery of the same name but I don't believe they are related. I Wondered What The Good Head Was OnNow we know. I only need a shave.Make mine a shorty and a shot. Handled CorrectlyYou could stay there forever. No need to go home. Trolley Tripper?With one or two transfers John Vachon could have easily traveled from his Rosslyn, VA photo locations to this one. Most of Berwyn's business district was within a block or so of the trolley line. In fact, I have a dim memory of my dad and I visiting a barber shop there in the 50's that sat right next to the track. Old Hopfheiser (Hop-Hi-Zer)Hopfheiser Beer was contract brewed for a distributor in the Washington, DC area by the Globe Brewing Co. The beers may be gone, butThe building lives on at 5000, 5002 and 5004 Berwyn Road, Berwyn Heights. Berwyn Road is of of US Route 1 just north of the University of Maryland. Short walk to trolleyThe trolley ran on what is now the College Park Trolley Trail that is approximately 50 yards away. The correct current address is 5002 and 5004. 5000 is corner building not pictured in Vachon image. Growing up a GuntherGrowing up in Baltimore with the last name of Gunther could be hazardous. I was always subject to any juvenile humor that would turn around a jingle to my disadvantage. The ad in the comment below was before my time thankfully but I still remember being playfully taunted by my friends whenever a new campaign would roll out. My bearing the brunt of the jibes was finally paid off when in 1954 the Baltimore Orioles came to the American League and Gunther became their TV sponsors and out in left field was a big scoreboard with my last name along the bottom. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
A Sign: 1941
... Ohio. "Jewelers sign." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The stuff ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/15/2011 - 7:48am -

October 1941. Chillicothe, Ohio. "Jewelers sign." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The stuff that dreams are made ofJust the thing Spade or Marlowe would see from his office window. Mis-spelling?Null points for spelling - both you and the sign maker - Jeweller surely? [In American English, "jeweler" has but one L. - Dave] Little light bulbsIt must have been a major job keeping signs illuminated in the pre-neon days. Now even neon is passe -- being replaced by LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). [Neon -- replaced ages ago by fluorescent backlight signage -- is actually quite chic these days. - Dave] Yes, I never liked fluorescent back-lit signs, they are bland, boring. Neon was more colorful and can be animated. LEDs are more colorful and animateable yet- and can create infinite designs and even pictures. Cool sign, cool photoI think John Vachon took by far the most interesting photographs of anyone from the FSA. De-signsSome of these signs were pretty cleverly designed. The garage sign below is one of my favorites. It sold for $34,500 at auction last year. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Little Sipper: 1942
... borrower, giving her daughter a glass of milk." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Hand me a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/20/2022 - 2:37pm -

May 1942. "Lancaster County, Nebraska. Mrs. Pierce, wife of FSA borrower, giving her daughter a glass of milk." Photo by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Hand me a hankyLooks as though Mrs. Pierce had a hasty session with the curling iron that morning, likely in anticipation of Mr. Vachon's arrival with his lens, but no matter; the photo is all kinds of charming. I love the hands: Mom's hand gently encircling the baby's back, the other patiently holding the glass one wishes could have been a sippy cup (which would not be invented for another forty years). The baby girl's little hands, poised in a remarkably composed way for one her age, and her eyes, looking up in concentration at receiving the refreshing milk, are just sweet, sweet, sweet. One of those tiny moments -- perhaps posed but so what -- of which lives are made. I find it unexpectedly touching. KindchenschemaIn 1943, ethologist Konrad Lorenz proposed that "baby schema effect" (Kindchenschema) is an innate releasing mechanism primed by a set of infantile physical features. The large head, protruding forehead, round face, big eyes, small nose and mouth, evoke positive emotions and instinctual behavioral responses in adults with the evolutionary function of enhancing offspring survival. "Baby Cuteness"- This little girl has it in SPADES! (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
I Walk the Line: 1941
... Virginia." The lady last seen here . Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Drying clothes the old fashioned way I can ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/23/2020 - 8:31pm -

March 1941. "Sailor's wife living in trailer camp for construction workers near Navy yard. Portsmouth, Virginia." The lady last seen here. Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Drying clothes the old fashioned wayI can remember way back my mom hanging clothes out on a line like that. She continued to do that for a lot of stuff even after getting a dryer because she insisted the clothes smell better when dried out on a line. View the eternal struggleLove the dog and cat face off that was caught in the photo. Snowing down SouthThe peek of her slip harks back to the days when ladies wore them any time they put on a dress or skirt. My mother, who will turn 83 tomorrow and is a sharp dresser, often struggles with her slip showing. We point it out and she laughs at herself along with us as she repairs to the powder room to hitch it up or whatever she does to bring its hem higher than that of her skirt. In other news, the pulled out fur of the cat and the cur is about to occur unless something happens to break the attention of either canine or feline or both. Mr. Vachon's shutterbug shadow is the coup de grâce for this fantastic photo. Keeping a respectful distanceSure looks like the hound has had a full dose of cat claws once or twice in it's life. It's taking no chances first thing in the morning. Pup vs KittyThe little drama going on behind her back adds to this one, as does Mr. Vachon's Hitchcock-like cameo. (The Gallery, Cats, Dogs, John Vachon, WW2)
Indian Trails Texaco: 1940
... in Benton Harbor, Michigan." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Fully ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/31/2010 - 9:32pm -

July 1940. "Gas station in Benton Harbor, Michigan." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Fully PackedMust have been a really busy place on Saturdays. I wonder if they had a snack bar? "Registered"I've been to quite a few service stations that I wish had a "registered" rest room! Gimme a pack of Camelsand a Coke! Transport evolutionAmazing contrast between the old-styled pickup parked in front of the gas station and the bulkier, more substantial and modern looking cars on the street. That truck can't be 10 years old in that picture, and yet it looks as archaic as a horse-drawn buggy. "Retire now"I really had to think about that one. FacilitiesI need to see the National Registry of Restrooms. What is its web address? Happy trails?The Indian can trail Texaco all day long but will never defeat them. Found It!Using the word "VINCENT" on the roofline behind the original. View Larger Map Ford TruckThat's a 1928 or 1929 Ford truck out front, so it would be 11 or 12 years old. The rounding out of the corners started in the mid-thirties and by the end of the decade all the boxy shapes were pretty much gone. The truck's looking a little tired already. The spare tire is missing from the bracket on the driver's side. Looks like folks have been leaning on the front fenders too, judging by the distance from the front of the tire and the crack about halfway back. I helped a friend restore a 1930 Ford, and it's front fenders looked just the same at the start. U Know!According to the Google Street View, it's now the U Know Barber and Beauty Shop. Behind it, with the the tire on the side, is the Motor Building. TransitionalThe two pumps in the middle look to be a transition style from the old visible pumps, using circular gauges rather than the "rollover" ones at the ends of the island. Registered RestroomsIn 1939 Texaco became one of the first oil companies to introduce a "Registered Rest Room" program to ensure that restroom facilities at all Texaco stations nationwide maintained a standard level of cleanliness to the motoring public. The company hired a staff of inspectors who traveled from station to station periodically to ensure that restrooms were up to standard. The "Registered Rest Room" program was later copied by other oil companies and continued at Texaco until the energy crises of the 1970s. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, John Vachon)
C. City City Hall: 1942
... region of Central Colorado." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pretty ... might as well be tourist pockets, right? (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/15/2022 - 11:54am -

May 1942. "Central City, an old mining town in the mountainous region of Central Colorado." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pretty much all intactExcept that Central City is a bunch of casinos now. Only the SECOND most important civic buildingfor an aging "ghost town" like CC; the most important being a firehouse: for half-deserted and closely-built towns such as this, burning was the biggest danger (or a very close second to obsolescence). Unchanged Yet Completely DifferentToday Central City looks almost identical to its appearance in this photo except for one key element. Gambling was voted in in the '80s, and today most of the buildings in town have been gutted and turned into one continuous casino space inside. It's a sad example of how a town can die from too little money - or too much. Pole Town?It's amazing that those decidedly odd light poles at the entrance to the Teller Hotel have survived all these years later, although the further one in the 1942 Picture is missing it's globe. +70Below is the same view from October of 2012. Casinos or mines?Ya gotta mine something, might as well be tourist pockets, right? (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Missoula: 1942
... "Missoula, Montana." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. The turntable ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/23/2021 - 11:39am -

April 1942. "Missoula, Montana." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. The turntable is still thereBut the buildings have gone. https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8761404,-113.9892682,3a,60y,244.79h,95.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1ReWcT0iuv0JuXq_HnvBYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 TurntableThe roundhouse is gone, so now we can see the turntable. However, it was not housed or sheltered. It was an open air table, like almost all of them were. Three C's DeploymentMy dad was in this area a few years earlier with the Civilian Conservation Corps. I suspect it looked pretty much the same when he was out there. Changed, but not totally differentThis Street View is taken from what is now Interstate 90, also called MT-200. The main body of the train station is still on the other side of the tracks but the house sheltering the turntable is gone. At left the cupola atop the Missoula County government building is still visible. The roundhouse is gone - - but the turntable is still there and in use. Round? Yes. House? Nope. Poor trains, nary a roof over their heads. Spare tires?There are several piles of large rings in the foreground, to the left of the locomotive barns. Are those spare tires for the drive wheels? The view from Waterworks HillSurviving buildings include the former Atlantic Hotel (including its wall sign), the former Northern Pacific Railroad Depot, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and the Missoula County Courthouse. Vachon took this picture from "Waterworks Hill," which is getting a major upgrade (including its own parking lot) for the benefit of others using the spot to look over the City, or as a trailhead. A bunch of balloons?Nice view of the now-gone roundhouse. Everything here is fairly recognizable except for the odd looking load in this gondola. Anybody know what this is? And there is the oddly proportioned caboose next to the gon. [The load of logs is behind the gondola. - Dave] The Paint on the Building ...The Atlantic Hotel and Coca Cola signs painted on the side of building located at 519 N. Higgins Ave are both still there. Missoula StationMissoula Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, as the Northern Pacific Railroad Depot. Near the depot is the preserved Northern Pacific #1356 4-6-0 steam locomotive. If you know, you knowEvery time I hear or read the words "Missoula Montana" I think of that scene in Twin Peaks where Ray Wise (as Leland Palmer) is in the process of murdering Sheryl Lee (as Maddy Ferguson, his niece) and he shoves her into a mirror bellowing "You're Going Back ... to Missoula ... MONTANAAAAAAA!" (The Gallery, John Vachon, Landscapes, Railroads)
Tattoo II: 1941
... Norfolk, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pick up ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/24/2020 - 5:12pm -

March 1941. "West Main Street. Norfolk, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pick up your feetI'd bet more than one sailor on leave made a face plant on that sidewalk. Compact AfternoonA quick lunch, followed by getting that tattoo and a loan, then a haircut before dinner, all in the space of six storefronts. Can't beat the efficiency! Hot DogI'd love to see that light lit up at night. LOVE the Hot Dog SignThat sign tickles me to no end! In the words of the Three Stooges, Hot Dog, it's the Cat's Meow! I'd Swear That Guy In The Hatlooks just like The Kingfish! One LeftThe only building that remains is the tall light gray one all the way down at the far right, past the tops of the parked cars. Everything else is long gone. Just a short walk from a long pierNothing identifiable in this picture remains today, aside from West Main Street itself. There wasn't much of West Main Street in Norfolk then, or now. Main Street becomes East Main Street when it reaches Granby in the next block or so, and behind Vachon was the end of West Main Street. Now, West Main Street leads to the Nauticus museum and entertainment complex and the pier where the U.S.S. Wisconsin is permanently docked. It's a Navy townSo I suspect that Coleman is not the community's only inker. Now Hear ThisThree Light Cruisers approaching off the port bow. All hands on deck and prepare to be boarded. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Blowing Smoke: 1943
... cigarette advertisement at Times Square." Photograph by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Ames Billiard ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 1:35pm -

February 1943. "New York. Camel cigarette advertisement at Times Square." Photograph by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Ames Billiard AcademyRight behind the Camel sign was Ames pool room, where parts of "The Hustler" were filmed with Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason in 1960. Douglas Leigh Inc.Douglas Leigh, the man who designed this and other advertising spectaculars, was 28 when he arrived in New York from Alabama with $9 in his pocket. He developed a multimillion-dollar business designing and erecting breathtaking signs. Leigh created the Super Suds detergent sign with 3,000 large "floating" soap bubbles per minute. A 120-foot Pepsi-Cola waterfall, the Bromo-Seltzer sign with actual effervescence and the Old Gold cigarettes sign with 4,100 light bulbs were all Leigh creations. His giant Camel sign that puffed out real smoke rings lasted for 26 years on Broadway and was copied in 22 cities. He was also the brains behind the 25-foot A&P coffee cup that let off real steam. -- From Leigh's 1999 New York Times obituary Where are my smokes?I just love the two women in the corner digging through their purses... What might they be looking for in 1943? Money? Ticket to a show? And the short white socks... Scotty, beam me to NYC, 1943 please! What's in a name?"Costlier tobaccos," sounds like today's cigarettes! Mixed MediaI adore these adverts where the object does something -- smoke or steam, movement, three-dimensional objects etc. Signs of the TimesAh yes, the sign, the Hotel Claridge and Times Square during the war years. I remember them so well, along with Toffenetti's Restaurant, any Longchamps or Childs NY outlet, the Woodstock Hotel and, when my family was flush, the Hotel Taft and the Roxy Theater. Camels were hard to come by for civilians during the war. My dad resorted to rolling his own using Model smoking tobacco and one of those hand-operated machines. All those bulbs!I would love to see a picture of this sign at nighttime. With all those lightbulbs, I bet you could see it from the moon. Very LifelikeDoes it cough and wheeze? OverlapI wonder what the neon over the top of the words "Costlier Tobacco" would say when lit? It looks like it can be turned on and off to make different slogans. Shorpy window peepers.I just love how many Shorpy images have someone looking out a window! The hotel window above the M in Camel has a shadowy face and a hand holding the curtain back. [That's Ima Lamp. Not much of a talker, but she really lit up a room. - Dave] Big smokeWhen I was about 12 or 13 years old in 1952, I went with my siblings, stepfather and mother on a trip to New York City and walked directly beneath the sign. I was amazed at how large it was. The tube blowing the "smoke" was probably a good 2 to 3 feet across. That scale doesn't show up well in photos. What a dumpNo one's noticed Bette Davis crossing the street? Slower BurningOne of the neon sign slogans apparently was "Slower Burning" http://www.si.edu/opa/insideresearch/photo_pages/V17_TimesSquare_smokeri... And "I'd walk a mile for a Camel" http://www.panoramio.com/photo/19461756 I'd Walk a MileBoth my parents smoked Camels. My dad switched to cigars around 1960, he died in 1963. My mom smoked 'em until she died in 1985. My mom told me that during the war she had to smoke a cheap brand called Marvels because Camels were hard to come by. Apparently cigarettes weren't rationed, but most of the cigarette production was shipped to our troops. Nicotine NostalgiaMy old German father rolled his own cigarettes which he smoked six days a week. However . . . Camels on Sundays! Remember the Leave it to Beaver episode where Beaver & Larry Mondello climb up on a big sign? I think it was steaming tea. When I was a kid......my mom told me that there were 20 guys in a room behind the sign smoking cigarettes. At the appointed time, they would all exhale and blow their smoke through the hole. T'was trueMost of the cigarette production during WWII went to troops overseas. It's the wrong brand, but many should remember the marketing cry, "Lucky Strike Green Went to War." Today's familiar Lucky Strike pack came into being in stores as Green was shipped off to far-flung battlegrounds. Regarding that steamy Camel sign: My brother and I often sidled by it in the 50s, and would wait for the "smoke" to puff out at traffic. I think we thought it was smoke, not steam. I've often wondered if such friendly advertising contributed to my 20 year habit and my brother's 35 year habit. Alas. The Camel SignIt's interesting, I found a number of images of this billboard online. The structure of the puffing billboard remained the same, just the smoker was repainted over and over again. 1941(?) 1943 1944 1945 (film of billboard in action. Opens in your media player) 1964 1965 Time to Go"Lucky Strike Green has gone to war". There was an untold story behind that, which has been told (about ten years ago) in a book called The Father of Spin. The CEO of whichever company made Luckies contacted Edward S. Bernays in 1932 because he had a problem. He wanted more women to smoke his cigarettes, but they told him they wouldn't buy Luckies because the green clashed with their clothing. Bernays suggested changing the package color, but the exec wouldn't hear of it. So Bernays set about influencing public opinion to make green a "fashionable" color. He organized an elaborate clandestine PR campaign (Bernays more or less invented PR), to get tastemakers to glom on to the green idea. It worked in the sense that green temporarily became a fashionable color that year, but it didn't move the sales of Luckies by much, and certainly not in a sustainable manner. If you know that story, it doesn't take much to connect the dots and see that the war was the perfect excuse to get rid of the offending green. Never mind that many folks at the time expressed outrage at a tobacco company's crass claim of "sacrifice," when many were sacrificing much more than a package design. (The Gallery, John Vachon, NYC)
Aberdeen: 1940
... settled by Easterners." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Be it ever so humble. There's no place like ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2021 - 9:08am -

November 1940. "Residential section of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This is one of the few Dakota towns with plenty of trees. They were brought here when the town was first settled by Easterners." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Be it ever so humble.There's no place like 1310 N Main St. ShadowsThere, in the street, is that the talented Mr. Vachon's head between the trees? I see no arm to the head, but I don't know what kind of camera he was using. Get to know your new neighbors.I wonder if they could get the house any closer to the other. Holy Smokes. For 1940 South Dakota quite an upscale looking new home under construction - note the two car garage, which would have been very rare at the time ... must have been built for an affluent pillar of the Aberdeen community. Economy of meansYessir, we built that house with a carpenter, a brickmason and a draft horse! A Problem Shared is a Problem HalvedMaybe, maybe not. These close neighbors, 1310 and 1314 N. Main Street, today share a concrete driveway. Lawn maintenance disputes along the property line were deftly avoided by such an arrangement, but one must wonder how many "parking wars" there have been over the years. And let us hope they've worked out an agreeable snow removal plan! Well, we could speculate for days, but wouldn't it be a hoot if one of the current residents would happen to join us and share a tale or two? Too close for comfortThe new house is mighty close to its neighbor. Hope the occupants of both got along. I need to travel more.I have been to nearly all the fifty states, but have so far missed both Dakotas. This looks nothing like I imagined. Hope they've seen itIf I were the current owner of this house I would be mindblown to see this photo, and would have a large copy of it hanging within. I say this with confidence because my house was built in 1925 and I have a photo of it under construction that I found in the photo archive of our city's library. And it isn't nearly as nice as this photo. BTW, I'm sure there is a very good reason for the pattern of gaps in the roof during construction but I don't know enough about roofing to even hazard a guess. Tree shadow tentaclesracing toward the homes. Most likely the reason that made photographer to stop and click at that moment. Anyone else wonder about the diagonal sheathing?I wondered about the reason for applying the sheathing boards on the newer house on the diagonal, as it would seem to entail extra work. Apparently it was a simple way to brace the studs of a "balloon frame" house better than a horizontal orientation would do, and easier than fitting angled 2x4 braces between the studs. My dad could have told me that, but I found this on the Interwebs: https://oldstructures.nyc/2016/02/29/historic-structural-detail-diagonal... A tip o' the hatto J W Wright who must have spent the good part of a day on Google Maps finding 1310 N. Main Street. Nice neighborhoodLook at that beautiful lumber! Wonder if they owned the house next door? Very attractive house and neighborhood. LintelsHey fellas. If you got any of them rabbeted lintels set, rip 'em out. Roof GapsMy guess the reason for the roof sheathing gaps is that it gives the carpenters a place to "stand" while placing the the subsequent boards higher up. To fill the gaps, "toe boards" could be nailed on top of the sheathing to provide a way to prevent sliding off the roof. Today, builders use plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) for exterior wall and roof sheathing. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Nice Tie: 1941
... will be displaced." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Honest six ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/12/2020 - 1:56pm -

June 1941. "Surveyors at work in Martin County, Indiana, where naval ammunition depot is being constructed on 42,000 acre tract. 160 families will be displaced." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Honest six packNot a gym rat, I'll wager. Tell that RodmanPlumb that rod if you want an accurate reading. On MY crew, you wouldn't last a week! Not so buffThat sledge he is holding weighs at least 10 pounds. If he has had this job for a while i would expect his forearms to be more Popeyesque. Getting preparedWe've seen several Vachon photos of workers who were building another large ammunition plant, in Radford, Virginia. This while the U.S. was still officially staying out of World War II. Despite strong opposition to involvement, the Roosevelt administration was taking increasingly specific steps, most visibly Lend Lease and Selective Service registration. Photographing military preparedness was surely a stretch of the Farm Security Administration's remit, which likely explains the caption emphasizing displacement of rural families. Within a year things morphed into the Office of War Information and Vachon was working there. The facility in Indiana is still operating. I spent several years in Bloomington and never realized that the world's third largest naval installation was 35 miles away and nowhere near an ocean. High-speed CraneThe Crane Naval Depot still exists along with the town of Crane about 35 miles south of Bloomington, the home of Indiana University. Besides Martin County, parts of the property extends into two other counties. If it has anything to do with electronic warfare, they do it at Crane. Not to put to fine a point on itThat birdhouse will be displaced. Oh c'monYou missed "Honest Abs"? Shame! (The Gallery, John Vachon, Railroads)
Lunch Beer Candy: 1940
... in Lexington, Kentucky." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/12/2022 - 9:06pm -

November 1940. "Corner store in Lexington, Kentucky." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still standing, but ...Hard to believe, but this building and the present structure at this site are one and the same. It was heavily "modernized" in the mid-20th century, probably after a fire. Now a popular neighborhood bar. I've been in there many times. [Amazing! - Dave] History in the basementThis reminds me of a neat example of how buildings evolve. A couple of years ago the owners of the bar did a major interior remodel that involved removing the floor, exposing the unfinished basement and original stone foundation. The electric water heater was oddly located along the outside basement wall, far from the kitchen or any other plumbing. Taking a look at the 1940 photo, it totally makes sense: the water heater would have been originally gas-fired and vented through the now-gone chimney. When the building was reconstructed and the heater replaced with an electric unit they probably saw no need to go to the expense of relocating it to a more logical place (which, in fact, the new owners finally did in their 2019 remodel). Make mine a [root] beer floatI'm glad Steve Lexington knows the history of this building. John Vachon captured so much here, from the texture of the brick streets to the swarm of power and phone lines overhead. The building in the 1940 photo has lots of charm; but I also like the musicians' mural on the building now. And I really like the 1940 guy walking around the corner -- from his aviator's cap with the earflaps secured to the knickers without boots or even knee-high socks. He is a fashion slave to no one. Mystery Solved --Is that Amelia Earhart popping in for some lunch? Beer? Candy? Oertles '92 - My Dad's Choice.Back in the '50s we lived in Louisville. My dad, descended from a line of brewers, only kept Oertles '92 in the house. He said it tasted like the beers his grandfather brewed. All I know is that it was the first beer that I tasted as a young child. I always got one sip anytime dad poured himself a cold one. One stop shopLunch, Beer, Candy - - My three basic food groups! (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Look Downward Angle: 1941
... in Chicago at 9:37. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bombs ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/05/2020 - 11:57am -

July 1941. No caption here, "here" being somewhere in Chicago at 9:37. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Bombs Away!I feel like I should be holding a water balloon out of this window while deciding who my target will be. Punmeister-pieceAlthough the header here presents a pun-perfect literary allusion, best to be careful about crying Wolfe. Yipes!I suffer, like many, from an extreme fear of heights. Pictures like this in print and on TV literally cause my palms to sweat. Yes, I know it's not really a dangerous situation, but tell that to my phobia. Ice AwayMy mom used to tell a story about my uncle and her tossing ice cubes out a second story window while their parents were entertaining business clients in another room of their hotel suite. This all stopped when a policeman knocked on the door. Really irritated since he got hit with a bucket of ice cubes. It's the kind of picture I would takeI'm going to guess what prompted John Vachon to take this photograph: there are four sets of two men walking towards a mutual intersection point. Behind three of the pairs of men there is a single man. Vachon snapped this photo just before the man at the bottom disappeared under the building's ledge. It has more impact if you imagine it in motion. I would also bet there wasn't much other foot traffic, which made this near collision more noticeable. Nine. Thirty-seven.I'm loving the reference to Look Homeward, Angel -- a book that I (and most) consider Thomas Wolfe's greatest work. Incidentally (considering the time that JV took the photo), TW died on September 15, 1938, at age 37 (two-plus weeks shy of his 38th birthday). My own father (a pilot, not a writer) was born almost exactly 30 years after Thomas Wolfe, in October 1930. He died on September 13, 1968, at age 37 (a month before his 38th birthday). (The Gallery, Chicago, John Vachon)
The Big Store: 1942
... County, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. ... This picture is what it felt like. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/17/2021 - 3:00pm -

February 1942. "Norwood, Carver County, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. America's Rebate CapitalNorwood and Young America merged in 1997. If that sounds familiar, it's probably because you've mailed rebate coupons to Young America, MN. Today: The Big Empty Lot. All rightNorwood merged with neighboring town Young America in 1997. I found this interesting: In 1973, the Dile Corporation moved to Young America, and changed its name to Young America Corporation. It is one of the town's largest employers, processing rebate, coupon, and other marketing programs for businesses. It receives a great deal of mail, enough that this small town has over 20 ZIP codes. A main one is 55555. 20 zip codes for a town with ~1500 residents! Still there The building to the right just might be the Winter Saloon, built in 1890 The Big StoreWhen I saw this photo, all I could think if was the 1941 Marx Bros. movie "The Big Store". Even though it was 20 years before my time, one of my favorite childhood movies. Brrrr --Everything about this photo looks cold. A fine February day in Minnesota. Fancy GroceriesI wonder what qualifies as "Fancy Groceries" in 1942 Minnesota. I went to CanadaOnce in December. This picture is what it felt like. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Mad Men: 1943
... York, New York. Madison Avenue on a rainy day." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. So evocative ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/16/2014 - 10:19am -

March 1943. "New York, New York. Madison Avenue on a rainy day." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. So evocativeYou can smell the wet wool and hear the tires on the asphalt. Somewhere a short subway ride away, my parents were busy being toddlers. Date with the wrecker's ballBuilt in 1913, the 23-story Union Carbide & Carbon building was on the southwest corner of Madison Avenue and 42nd Street. In this picture the photographer is on the northwest corner of Madison and 42nd and the view is diagonally across the intersection. Union Carbide vacated the building in the 1970's when it moved to an office park in suburban Connecticut. The "Carbon" had vanished from its name sometime earlier. The building was renamed the Madison Plaza Building and housed a variety of tenants until its demolition in 2001. Today the much larger PriceWaterhouseCoopers Building occupies the site. Union Carbide and Carbon Buildingnot the famous skyscraper in Chicago, but the more modest one in New York City. The Union Carbide and Carbon Building at 30 East 42nd Street: (The Gallery, John Vachon, NYC)
Four O'Clock Shadow: 1941
... getting out at 4 p.m." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Made this crossing many times I used to work ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/11/2020 - 11:54am -

March 1941. "Newport News, Virginia. Shipyard employees getting out at 4 p.m." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Made this crossing many timesI used to work NNSYDDC back in 1985-'87 and made this crossing many times, but the trolley was long gone by then. I'm sure with WWII right around the corner, that rush crowd would have been like human soup. [WW2 and the U.S. Government's Emergency Shipbuilding Program were already well underway by March 1941, which is why John Vachon was assigned to take these photos. - Dave] Those leaping Rams on their hoodsIdentify two Dodges, the one on the left practically new from 1940 and the one on the right from the mid-'30s with its still fabric roof center. The middle car is just a Chevrolet. In one hourthese men will be removing the dreaded five o'clock shadow. (Was it the Gillette Blue Blades jingle that I can't get out of my head?) (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Streetcars)
A Late Start: 1940
... Cavalier County, North Dakota." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Evolving Automotive Design Though this ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/02/2012 - 5:33pm -

October 1940. "Oldest Sauer boy cranking family car. Cavalier County, North Dakota." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Evolving Automotive Design Though this handsome big sedan was likely a model from about 1928-32, it sure looked very different from the "new" 1940 cars; nowadays a ten or twelve year old car much more closely resembles the 2012 models. The Car1928-29 Dodge Victory Six. SpinmeisterLooks like that kid knows what he's doing, as he appears to be pulling on that crank instead of pushing -- one of two precautions necessary to avoid a broken arm/wrist should the engine kick back. The other precaution was to grasp the crank so as to keep the thumb on the same side of the handle as the fingers. Incidentally, emergency cranks are still supplied with small marine diesel engines. At least one model, made in Japan, carries a warning label: "Adult males only! Women and children not allowed!" The trunkNow I know why they call it that. My oh myit really is flat in North Dakota, I think I can see Moose Jaw across the border. Watchful dogHe's keeping an eye on any oncoming traffic. A Late Start: 1940There are 14 other photos of the family that were taken by John Vachon, but none gave the first names of any of the family members. My research indicates clearly that the father in the truck was Peter Sauer, and the son was Clarence Sauer. Clarence died in Cavalier County is 2006. I talked to the widow of one of Clarence's brothers. She didn't know about the photos. She is going to get me in touch with one of Clarence's sisters, who is in at least one of the other photos. [The number of photos is at least 25, including many not in this gallery that don't have captions. For example, three other photos of this car. - Dave] Sauer is a familiar name.....I grew up with a family of Sauers who lived around and in the towns of Carpio and Foxholm North Dakota. I wonder if they are related to the Sauer pictured in this photograph? (The Gallery, John Vachon, Rural America)
Porksicle: 1940
... loan from the Farm Security Administration." Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Body shop "My Pig has Been in an accident ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/05/2019 - 6:46pm -

October 1940. "Cooperative cold storage lockers in Casselton, North Dakota, where farmers bring their own butchered pigs. Next year butchering will be done here. This co-op received a $4,500 loan from the Farm Security Administration." Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Body shop"My Pig has Been in an accident and I need a new Quarter Panel" On his day offWho knew that Ferris Bueller moonlighted as a butcher? Pyrofax Gas1960's Pyrofax Gas Company Advertising Salt & Pepper Shaker. And look here for the Pyrofax Gas Cook Book, with more than sixty of the best recipes submitted by "PROFAX" Gas Users from all over the country. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Sky Chief: 1942
... and grain elevator." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Die and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2022 - 1:22pm -

May 1942. "Gothenburg, Nebraska. Gas station and grain elevator." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Die and pay taxes Taxes paid ... twenty-two cents on one tank and twenty cents on the other. Today that wouldn't pay the taxes on the taxes on the taxes. After Inflation Adjustment20 cents is $3.45 today. So until very recently, gas was relatively cheap today. Razed the roofsIt's gone, now. From 2008: Not goneI don't think it is completely gone. If you swing the google pic around, there is a Sinclair station where the old Texaco was. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Railroads, Small Towns)
St. Louis: 1940
... of Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. St. Louis ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2011 - 10:44am -

May 1940. "Fountain in front of Union Station, St. Louis, Missouri." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. St. Louis FountainThe fountain is named "Meeting of the Waters" and was created by the noted Swedish sculptor Carl Milles in 1936. Meeting of the Waters FountainThe fountain is in Aloe Plaza, directly across from Union Station (behind the photographer). Sixty-eight years later, it's still there and just as beautiful. More information here. Union StationWe used to play in the Columbus fountain at Union Station and the waterfalls in Meridian Hill Park. My granma would sit and talk to the ladies. Peculiar thing, no matter where we went, my granma knew somebody. It's a wedding. Mazel tov!The artist's original title for this fountain was "The Wedding of the Waters." However, prominent St. Louis citizens/politicians thought that the use of the word "wedding" was inappropriate for such pagan images (mermaids & mermen). Thus the "official" name was changed to "The Meeting of the Waters." It's still one of my favorite spots to take photos. Ummm, those girls aren't there anymore, though. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, St. Louis)
Hotel Fontenelle: 1938
... of Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gone by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2020 - 1:18pm -

November 1938. "Hotel Fontenelle, social center of Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Gone by 1983It is now a parking lot next to the Hruska Federal Courthouse. Hotel FontenelleI've always had a soft spot for that place. Too Upscale?I wonder if the Hotel Fontenelle was too pricey for John Vachon's budget? We might not get a view from a window in this hotel looking out over the city. The seven storey vertical neon sign would have been quite a sight at night. Neon tube maintenance would not be a job for someone with vertigo. The ladder on the right side of the sign provided access to the full height of the sign. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Omaha)
Kewpee Panorama: 1940
... Harbor, Michigan." This composite of two photos taken by John Vachon features "Kewpee Hamburgs" ( last seen here ) on the left; the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/28/2019 - 10:44am -

July 1940. "Brick house on main street of Benton Harbor, Michigan." This composite of two photos taken by John Vachon features "Kewpee Hamburgs" (last seen here) on the left; the previously unseen portion on the right stars a Texaco station and body shop. View full size. Kewpee is gone, house is gone but Jesse B remainsKewpee lunch stood at 261 E Main. That building past the lot with the Texaco sign remains but somewhat modified but you can still see where the stair to the second floor over the garage was once was. PleasantvilleI spent two weeks in Benton Harbor on a business trip 15 or 20 years ago. It was a beautiful little city. The last house on the blockThis reminds of neighborhoods today that are gradually taken over by commercial development. Kewpee HamburgsAll you need to know about Kewpee Hamburgs. https://enchantedamerica.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/kewpee-restaurant-lime... One more survivor.The shadow on the Texaco lot in the Vachon photo matches the roof line of the building at right in the current view. Sign Painter – Discount for VolumeNoticed that two different businesses, Kewpee Hamburgs and White’s Auto Body, have signs painted by the same guy. Signature trademarks are identical fonts and the beginning letter of every word is a different color from the following letters. (Panoramas, Eateries & Bars, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Fresh Tracks: 1941
... Hibbing, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. How to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/24/2020 - 2:21pm -

August 1941. "Moving railroad track in the Mahoning pit. Hibbing, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. How to make tracksPrepare an even subgrade 12 or more inches below what you intend to be the final position for the tops of your rails. Lay ties evenly spaced along projected line of track. Lay rails atop those ties and spike them to the ties. Move a drop bottom gondola or hopper along those rails dropping about six inches of crushed rock ballast, gravel, or in this case mining overburden. This is the stage you see photographed, with some material dropped out of sight between ties and some atop each tie. Tamp material evenly beneath and between ties and add more to fill between ties and level. Creepy SleepersThose railroad ties look like they came straight from some Salvador Dali painting! What in the world are they made from? Mud? Sand? Meatloaf?!? Iron ManAlmost eight years ago, we saw another photo from the visit by John Vachon in August 1941 to this open pit iron mine near Hibbing: Iron Man: 1941. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Mining, Railroads)
Frozen Motors: 1942
... Montana. Used car lot." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Zero degrees ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2021 - 11:38am -

March 1942. "Lewistown, Montana. Used car lot." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Zero degreesand six volt batteries, what can go wrong? At least they're all stickshift and can be push started. VintageLove that a 1942 used car lot includes a tractor, road work equipment, farm implements, and an honest-to-God pre-horseless-carriage wagon. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
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