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Beer for Rent: 1943
... 90." View full size. Medium format nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. Borne's I know the Borne ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/17/2008 - 1:38am -

March 1943. "Raceland, Louisiana. U.S. Highway 90." View full size. Medium format nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. Borne'sI know the Borne family...it's amazing what Shorpy turns up. SignsI own a sign company and would love to have those old signs in my shop! Raceland I'm from Raceland and would love to have a copy of this photo. I have one of the old bridge that crosses Bayou Lafourche. JBoogawa@yahoo.com I'm also interested in any old photos of Raceland. Contact me. I want the signs!The signs shown here are awesome! Can I please have them ALL? WowWhat a difference 66 years makes! I travel the entire stretch of Hwy. 90 between Lafayette and New Orleans almost on a weekly basis for work and still had to study this photo for about 30 minutes trying to pinpoint where this was taken. Parking During WartimeInteresting parking regulations in that town. I see two cars parked parallel with the curb facing the opposite way of traffic, one parked diagonally nose in, and one parked perpendicular to the curb, tail in. (That last one could have a driver and be pulling into this "main street" to make a turn). But they do at least have one regulation. You can't park near the bridge. If you come to that town, you need to know, that is the one and only rule they seem to have. Great titlesOne thing I love about this website is the witty headers, like this one's ~ "Beer for Rent"! Does the same person come up with all of those headers? [He does! - Dave] (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
Berrien County: 1940
... ornament.) View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Big Pile of What? What is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:11am -

July 1940. Migrant camp at a fruit-packing plant in Berrien County, Michigan. (On the car: yet another Shell Oil license-plate ornament.) View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Big Pile of What?What is the big pile behind the clothesline on the right? Rocks? Wood? Coal? Construction debris? [Coalpile for the cannery? In what seems to be two grades (below). Or maybe ballast for the train tracks. - Dave] The girl...Her face looks like she's approaching 30, but she can't be more than 10-12 years old. What is the source of this image?My client is interested in finding out about this image. Is the woman in front the mother of the baby? [The photos are from the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information prints & photographs collection at the Library of Congress. No identities were recorded for this particular series. - tterrace] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Kids)
Just Got In: 1940
... bus from West Radford." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Long ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2020 - 1:17pm -

December 1940. Radford, Virginia. "Influx of construction workers to build Hercules Powder Plant -- new arrivals in town. They've come by bus from West Radford." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Long commute?How far is West Radford from Radford? I could only find information on the latter. [Wikipedia has an entry for West Radford.- Dave] That indicates West Radford and Radford are in the same town. So why does the photo indicate these men just arrived, with luggage, apparently by bus? The autosThe car on the right is a 1939 Ford Deluxe and the next one appears to be a 1936 Packard 120 three-window coupe. I Saw What He DidThat be a carpenter's toolbox with a large square sticking through the top. Trust me -- I'm a carpenter! Good luck, sonWondering if the woman in the car is related to the man looking into the camera. No hat no jobCan't be taken seriously at that time. Even the carpenter knew --You don't carry a heavy box by it's its handle. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, WW2)
Dancing in the Dark: 1940
... passersby with "Beer and Dancing." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Hamm's, the beer refreshing I remember ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/19/2019 - 10:59am -

November 1940. "Pierre, South Dakota, on a cold night." Home of the Dome, luring passersby with "Beer and Dancing." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Hamm's, the beer refreshingI remember these commercials with trippy cartoon bears from Chicago TV in the late 70s. The B&W commercials from the 50s are very similar, as it turns out. Beer -- AND dancing, I'm going in here!! Question for ShorypitesCan someone tell me if there is a practical purpose for those buttresses at the bottom of the doorway to the store next to The Dome, or are they just cosmetic? [Pedestrian collision prevention. - Dave] Thanks. BrrrrrrrrrrrYou can feel the icy wind that carved it's its presence in the snow at the curb. At least I act like I knowAnd booths! We all know what goes on in those! Beer indeedPierre rhymes with beer. All puns intended. A frigid night in Pierre. Not much going on.Hey, it's 20 below zero. Why not stumble into the Dome and have ... a cold beer! Hamm's, the beer "from the land of sky blue waters". I remember the commercials as a kid, with the bear and the intentionally Native American beat with the tom-toms. Look upThe fancy Corinthian columns at The Dome's entrance are a nifty touch, although a trifle out of balance with the sturdy dentil molding adorning both that building and the one beside it. Perhaps it was to distract from the fact that your nose just froze and fell off your face. I'd like to danceWith someone warm. Uh Am BrrrThat's how your order sounds when your lips are frozen ... A Hamm's Beer is how your order sounds when you can feel your lips again. I know this. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Daytime on Elm Street: 1940
... seems to have been baby-friendly. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Memories ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/23/2011 - 9:40pm -

November 1940. "Lunchroom. Aberdeen, South Dakota." Our second look at Peterson's, which seems to have been baby-friendly. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. MemoriesMy dad grew up there and could be inside. They used to pour their coffee onto the saucer and sip it until it cooled. They also would play a round of dice (yahtzee) against the waitress for free coffee. Here's looking at you, kid.The middle-aged waitress (with the red fingernail polish and beehive coiffure) probably said, "Hon, please park the Cadillac-sized perambulator outside. I'm tryin' to work here." Freddy KruegerOr maybe that's his daddy. Baby Sez"Hey creep, get away from my wheels. Oh yeah, and Howard Hughes wants his coat and hat back." There is a baby insidebut is it THE baby? Requirements have changedCompared to 1940, my grandkids seem to require an enormous amount of gear to to go anywhere. A minivan is needed to haul the load. I went to Vietnam in 1968 with less stuff than one toddler needs today. Polite society The difference between now & then is the monster truck pram would be forced into the diner & baby left strapped in whilst a mobile phone conversation was had. Rats!Looks like "lefty" got the kid, shouldn't have had that second cup. Empty stroller?The baby can clearly be seen in the window, but the man enjoying his cigarette sure looks as if he is looking at a baby. Mystery Solved!Well there's the baby! Looking out the window at the guy with the Chesterfield in his hand who's leaving. I knew she wouldn't leave the baby outside. Probably just not enough room inside Peterson's for that baby carriage Just like my grandpappy, he saidAshton Kuchter's grandpere about to rob a baby carriage. Wait, I have that backwards. Now in plain viewis the baby, likely, in the restaurant interior. It was "sort of" there in the first photo, but here, I think, is proof of baby's safety, on a lap, looking at the carriage. Ah, there's the childThe baby is indeed with the mother inside, eying the man through the window. Perhapsthe man's cigarette is an Old Gold from the lovely display in the window. Wish I could find somewhere to get dinner for a quarter. Fashions stayThe man's outfit is interesting in that he could wear it anywhere today and nobody would give him a second look. Any of the women's clothes would be a different story! La Fendrichin the window to the right. Fine cigars. Nifty history here. Fashion and utilityA hat and jacket combo that will go out of fashion in twenty years or so, but a pram of multi-tasking. Remove the straps on the bottom and the pram becomes a side to side rocker for fussy babies who don't want to be in a noisy diner. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
Nebraska Noir: 1940
... capitol in background." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Another ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/29/2019 - 3:15pm -

November 1940. "Lincoln, Nebraska. State capitol in background." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Another Picture from a Hotel WindowIt appears that Mr. Vachon took this picture from a room at the Capital Hotel (still standing, but now a YMCA). Below him is 11th Street. The Barker's shoe store was on O Street. https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6NF_Capital_Hotel_Lincoln_NE (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Lady Day: 1954
... of her career and the end of her life. 35mm negative by John Vachon for Look magazine. (Caption updated thanks to our knowledgeable ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/06/2019 - 11:10pm -

Billie Holiday, with Teddy Wilson at the piano and Milt Hinton on bass, at the Newport Jazz Festival in July 1954, five years from the close of her career and the end of her life. 35mm negative by John Vachon for Look magazine. (Caption updated thanks to our knowledgeable commenters.) View full size. Is it Art Ford's Jazz Party?With Vinnie Burke on bass and Mal Waldron on piano? [Vinnie Burke was white. - Dave] And the musicians are...Teddy Wilson, piano Milt Hinton, string bass Pin down thisWhat was she singing? BassistMaybe Milt Hinton At the pianoLooks like Teddy Wilson. SidemenYes, that is Teddy Wilson on piano and Milt Hinton on bass. IncredibleThat is an astonishing photo in that kind of lighting. You would be pressed to improve on it today. "Comes Love"Verve Records, 1957. Teddy's TalentI was lucky enough to see and hear Teddy Wilson in the George Hotel in Edinburgh in (I think) 1985. His talent was undiminished in the 50-odd years since his recordings with the Benny Goodman Trio, Quartet etc. A true great of jazz who helped make Lady Day great too! I can identify her mic.Looks like an Astatic T-3. Oh man!Talk about the sound of mid-century American jazz. I hear "Comes Love" at least once a month on the radio station that I listen to. Y'know, Billie was reincarnated as a contemporary jazz singer named Madeleine Peyroux. Add: jsmakbkr nailed the show. The mic setup is exactly the same so the venue is Newport Casino. First Newport Jazz Festival, July 18, 1954According to Donald Clarke's biography of Ms. Holiday, "Wishing on the Moon," the first-ever Newport Jazz Festival was the first time in many years that she had performed with Teddy Wilson, and the last. Her performance was on July 18, 1954. A different photograph of her performing that evening appeared in Metronome magazine for September 1954. Although the photo is of a poorer quality than this one, the dress looks like a match. [Good job! - Dave] SLEUTHINGNew to the "group". Impressive detective work. Color photo from the same eventIf this photo is indeed from the first Newport Jazz Festival on July 18, 1954, then this color photo (from the collection of Michael Steinman) shows Teddy Wilson (the pianist) & Billie Holiday on that same evening and in color. Billie!I was but a boy of 7 or 8 years old. This was before TV came to our home; there was radio! We had the occasional house party. The rugs were rolled up; the only 24 hour radio station in our city was tuned in and the dancing commenced. Billie Holiday was a frequently heard voice fronting various famous instrumentalists. I was a Billie fan long before she was to become the icon of more recent times. (The Gallery, John Vachon, LOOK, Music)
Porch Swinger: 1941
... Portsmouth, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I really ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2020 - 3:32pm -

March 1941. "Front porch of rooming house. Portsmouth, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I really digthe pin at her collar. Sweater GirlsDuring the 1940s, young women were crazy about sweaters -- the reasoning for which the irrepressible Bob Hope claimed was a mystery he'd like to unravel. Call a spade a spadeNot gonna lie: I'm deeply impressed with the lady's collar pin. (I wanted to say I dig it but Karaboo was too quick on the draw.) Props to her for being original and witty. Cute outfit too. [Swing dude is another colorful accessory. - Dave] Red CrossWhat is the significance of a Red Cross symbol in the window of a rooming house? Medical care available inside? Up close, personalViewed closer, this photo almost speaks. I want to know more. Dig Your Ownhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Silver-Tone-Shovel-Pin-Brooch-Gravedigger-Goth-... CinematicLooks almost like a movie still. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
The Scenic Route: 1941
... Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. From the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2020 - 11:41am -

June 1941. "Railroad. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. From the Bloomfield BridgeThis picture was taken from the Bloomfield Bridge looking west to Pittsburgh and Penn station. The tall smokestack in the upper center exists today and was the boiler house for Pittsburgh Brewing Company (Iron City Beer). The church on the ridge to the upper right is now the Church Brew Works Brewery. Only three of the tracks remain. The East Busway now occupies the area where the tracks are to the left. The passenger cars in the picture are being stored and staged for trains at Penn Station. Where are the locomotives?I have scoured this photo looking for a locomotive but I do not see one. Hope there are no passengers in those railcars! Looks RealThis actual photo looks like it could be a diorama for a model train layout. If that was the case they did a really great job of "simulating" the smoke and haze in the distance. Choo-choocough, cough! Except for the smoke----it looks like a REALLY model train set Scenic!What a great scene! Coal pollution aside, this really makes me want to lay some track ... Train SetWith all the coal smoke, a black and grey model train set would look really neat. Not Exactly a View of ParadiseIt looks to me like those trains are heading out to collect more of the damned! (The Gallery, Factories, John Vachon, Pittsburgh, Railroads)
Shadowland: 1940
... railway, Chicago, Illinois." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. 53 W Van ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:46am -

July 1940. "Under the elevated railway, Chicago, Illinois." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. 53 W Van BurenIf the Chicago Daily Tribune from June 2, 1942, is accurate, this place was at 53 West Van Buren. The building's long gone by now (I certainly don't remember anything like it), but it would have been under what is now the Library/State/Van Buren Stop. +77My research corresponds to that of Talkendo - Maple Leaf Candies & Grill was located at 53 W. Van Buren. Below is the same view from June of 2017. (The Gallery, Chicago, John Vachon, Railroads)
No Trespassing: 1939
... on the top of a hill behind the town." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/31/2020 - 4:04pm -

May 1939. "Grave. Kempton, West Virginia. The cemetery is on the top of a hill behind the town." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Photographer could not care less,i think, if that was a fence or not. Just a beautiful abstract composition. I wonderIs that fence there to keep something out or to keep something in? Blair WitchI thought the black cat was scary: tail kinked, forepaw raised, face in hissy mode. But this grave scene is terribly unsettling, out there in the country. The sharpened sticks also put me in mind of jungle mantraps, holes in the ground in the middle of trails. I’m afraid my nightmare shot of the year from Shorpy has no humans in it this year. Get in or get outwally has asked a question that I myself often ask when I roam cemeteries: Is the fence/gate there to keep folks in, or out? Either way, that may be the loneliest, most isolated grave I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few lonely, isolated graves. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Coal Miner's Son: 1939
... Virginia. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon, Farm Security Administration. Interesting... Interesting. I did ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2007 - 9:40pm -

May 1939. Coal miner's son in Kempton, West Virginia. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon, Farm Security Administration. Interesting...Interesting. I did not know there was a Kempton in WV. There is a Kempton, in Garrett County, MD, just over the WV line. Small mining town, where my Dad was born. Not much left there these days, although a lot of the miner's families get together every year for the Kempton Reunion. Kempton, WVKempton straddles the state line between West Virginia and Maryland. The company store was in Maryland, but the post office was in West Virginia, making it a West Virginia town. My dad was a fire boss in the Kempton mine in the mid 1940's. KemptonMy Great Grandfather was an Engineer at at the mine (or so I'm told). He lived in Kempton. His name was (Irvin?) Nine. My Grandmother was raised there. Her name was Jessie Fay Nine. She married William Paul Hinebaugh. I think the company store was on the WVA side as Maryland had outlawed Company Stores. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, Mining)
National Market: 1942
... of Butte, Montana." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/12/2022 - 1:19pm -

April 1942. "Grocery store in copper mining center of Butte, Montana." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. That's Not RainMy grandfather contributed to the staging of this picture. The open window of the truck and the mostly dry street suggest the localized wet area of the sidewalk in front of the grocery store is the result of it recently being washed down with a hose, as opposed to being the remnant of a rainstorm. At the time this picture was taken, my grandfather worked for the Butte Water Company, nice to see his handiwork preserved for posterity. 307 North Main StreetAn article in the Montana Standard gives the address, and informs us that this whole block was demolished in 1970 and is now a parking lot. https://mtstandard.com/news/local/in-uptown-butte-even-the-parking-lots-... The Good, the Bad and the UglyThe good: The exact location of this scene can be identified very easily thanks to the address on the truck's door - 307 North Main Street. The bad: Literally everything in the photo is gone. The ugly: It's a parking lot now. Well, at least with some trees next to it. Better than nothing. Long Gone?I did a search for the address of this building (I got it off the truck). In the photo, it seems to me anyway, this is on a slight incline. The google.map shows this location also on an incline, but sadly it appears these two buildings are long gone. (?). Anyway - new here - I love losing myself in wonder with the help of these photos and the commentary so many members post here. That's my jamThere appears to be a wide selection of jams, jellies, and preserves arranged on the groaning shelves of the New National Market. I hope they have Damson Plum. Visit ButteI think anyone who likes Shorpy would love to spend some time in Butte. I usually go for the Montana Folk Festival, which is free and is spread out around old Uptown—perfect for exploring. [I've been to Butte, which is arranged around an enormous ore pit. Whose name would seem to suggest itself. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Mac, Bud and Pal: 1943
... Making time for a cuppa joe. Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Red Top ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/01/2017 - 3:01pm -

March 1943. Pearlington, Mississippi (vicinity). "Truck drivers at a highway coffee stop on U.S. Highway 90." Making time for a cuppa joe. Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Red Top Safety MatchMade in U.S.A. by the Diamond Match Co. I know this movie!The TV Guide blurb goes something like this: "An unsuspecting truck driver gets more than he bargained for when he picks up an escaped convict at a roadside diner" ResemblanceThe guy on the left could have been a stand in for film star Robert Mitchum. [I was thinking a Tyrone Power/Victor Mature cross. -tterrace] That Catsup Bottle...has fought me to a draw. Nothing like it on Google images, but blowing up the label I see a "G" just off the top center. That suggested an 'X&G' brand name, and by substituting for X starting with 'A', I eventually found a "P&G Catsup" that was distributed in that area at that time. There's a good chance that's what it is, but no confirming pictures on the Internet that I can find. That guy on the left.........actually looks alot like a young Robert Ryan. BTW....There's a crab on the wall! The Guy On The Left...The guy on the left looks to me like a Ryan Gosling in profile. And I noticed....the middle guy wearing a tie, and hats for all three. Well, this was the '40s, after all. I agree with jodaddyk...Robert Mitchum! Early Brad PittVERY early. C'mon you guys!That's CLEARLY a young Robert Ryan on the left! Hubba-hubba!The guy on the left also caught my eye. To me, he's a blonde Aidan Turner (the UK version, not the US one). ::swoon:: (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon)
Next?
... shop." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Mr. Tombstone I thought that this had to be a scene ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:38am -

November 1937. "Street scene, Washington, D.C. Proprietor of a tombstone shop." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Mr. TombstoneI thought that this had to be a scene from a movie, such a strong photograph. I bit of Lee Marvin about the guy too. A Radio CharacterFor some reason this picture reminds me of the character Digby O'Dell "the friendly undertaker" from the old "Life of Riley" radio show (and the original TV version, starring Jackie Gleason). "Digger (as Riley called him) was always given lines like "Business is a little dead tonight," which sounds innocuous enough unless you hear actor John Brown deliver the line in with his own inflections and emphasis. Then it became comedy gold. Tombstone shopIf ever a guy was born for his profession here he is, what a great photo. I love the shadows and the whole eerie feeling to it. Graveyard ShiftI love this photo. Beautiful composition. The man looks wise - I don't think you'd find him as creepy if he was working in a grocery or a haberdashery. Those in the death professions suffer from the worst stigma. Alright nobody move!Who stole my finial? (The Gallery, D.C., John Vachon)
Curve Inn: 1942
... 'er up with Hyde Park! Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Union County ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2021 - 5:52pm -

February 1942. "Union County, Missouri. Roadhouse." Fill 'er up with Hyde Park! Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Union CountyUnion is the county seat of Franklin County, Missouri. I haven't found evidence of the existence of a Union County in Missouri. What a great film noir settingCan't you just see Mitchum and Sterling Hayden talking over a deal at the bar when Lizabeth Scott bangs open the screen door and sashays past? Curbside sudsIt's a kind of a dream, really ... a tall glass pump that dispenses beer. None for the driver, of course. FallflatOnce brewed in Omaha, it was a cheap beer to purchase by the case of returnable bottles in Nebraska. We drank a lot of it in college, and dubbed it Fallflat, just because we thought it was a cool name with an innuendo. But both Falstaff and Storz Triumph fit our low end beer budgets very well then. Rectilinear ironyThe highway might curve here, but the only curvilinear objects in the scene aside from three of the letters painted on the building are the pump globes and the beer sign. The edifice itself is aggressively dedicated to sharp corners. Work of ArtBeautifully photographed and use of light, expertly exposed and developed to capture all that dark detail in the background. The brooding, stormy sky against the white building creates sublime poetry. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Gas Stations, John Vachon)
Jim's Place: 1942
... station and roadhouse." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. As Ma would ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/27/2021 - 7:56pm -

February 1942. "Union County, Illinois. Gas station and roadhouse." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. As Ma would say --She was born in the twenties, and when we were driving around the Boston area by the shipyard Ma would point out places that looked like this and say, from her younger days, "It's a real honky-tonk" (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Truckin': 1939
... Minneapolis, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... shiny, but still. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/18/2020 - 6:50pm -

September 1939. "Driver entering cab of truck which has just been cleaned and checked over in garage preparatory to next trip. Minneapolis, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Refrigerated trailersApparently this company — Werner — is not related to the Werner Transportation company that exists today. The 1930s Werner company is associated with the first refrigerated trailers. Harry Werner, who owned the company, prompted a golf buddy of his to build the first refrigerator units to mount to semitrailers. Which led to the formation of the Thermo-King company that still exists today. No ShuteyeIt would be difficult to crawl in the back and take a nap in that tractor. Hey look me overIn addition to that truck, I bet that handsome driver gets "checked over" a lot when he's on the road. The 1st Kenworth COE The depicted tractor is the D-89-H model, possibly the first COE (cab over engine) in the history of Kenworth Trucks. Just cleaned?I hope the driver or his employer didn't pay much for the cleaning. Granted, the truck is far from new and shiny, but still. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
The Cherry Pickers: 1940
... Berrien County, Michigan." Medium format negative by John Vachon. View full size. The concept of family This was still at a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/17/2020 - 12:55pm -

July 1940. "Migrant fruit worker and sons living in rear of truck during cherry picking season. Berrien County, Michigan." Medium format negative by John Vachon. View full size. The concept of familyThis was still at a time when the concept of family went beyond your station in life. Getting married meant raising children and continuing the heritage that you inherited. Today people not only need a reason to marry, they need to plan children as they would buying a house. We have been taught, 'if you can't afford them. don't have them', and yet the standard for being able to afford children continues to climb. These people's priorities would seem backward to many 'enlightened' people of our time. But I see brave, hardworking people who want to raise offspring that will learn the same kind of values, and carry on what made this country great to begin with. DismalThis is one of the saddest pictures on Shorpy. The cramped space, the unsmiling faces all around, the two tiny beds. The bruise on the face of the boy with the eye squint. The father’s long, unfocussed gaze. And where’s Mom? The Mounds BarDuring WWII Peter Paul was almost exclusively producing Mounds for the army, instead of civilians. Because the United States military regarded chocolate as both a morale boost and high-energy treat for personnel, Peter Paul was supplying 5 million Mounds bars to the U.S. army during WWII. That's why the Naugatuck Daily News in july, 1945 wrote: "German General Found With Peter Paul Mounds.” Read the story "How Armenian Immigrants Built an American Candy Empire." (The Gallery, Great Depression, John Vachon, Kids)
Seed and Feed: 1942
... View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, Farm Security Administration. Oranges This week I bought ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/17/2011 - 9:47am -

"Seed and Feed store in Lincoln, Nebraska." Another view of the Grand Grocery farm store in 1942. "The apples, oranges and grapefruit are surplus commodities" sold at very low prices. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, Farm Security Administration. OrangesThis week I bought oranges. I got 3 Florida navels for $2.00. Sudan GrassI had to look up "Sudan Grass." Apparently it's a type of sorghum used for fodder. It would fit with the feed store side of the business. Feed and Seed: 1942In 1942 we would have had five acres of sudan on our farm. It was used for livestock feed. It would grow to 6+ feet tall and my teenage buddies and I had a great place to play hide and seek. If dad let the milk cows in to graze the stalks they could be a real challenge for a little kid to find and drive to the barn. Sudan GrassWe had a field of sudan grass -- probably about 5 acres, maybe a little more--on our farm in Oklahoma, right around 1960. We used it for a handful of cows and many, many hogs. It was truly a great place to play. The pigs beat paths through the tall, tall grass, which turned the field into a giant maze. And the sudan grass grew so thick, it even absorbed sound. Thanks for the memories. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Transportation Inc.: 1943
... Alabama. Local delivery truck driver." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. One of our ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/18/2013 - 7:43pm -

March 1943. "Montgomery, Alabama. Local delivery truck driver." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. One of our home front heroes.Truck drivers like this gentleman, train crews, ship/boat/barge crews and airline crews kept the goods and the people rolling during the war. Couldn't have won the war without them. King of All Truck DriversWe've seen many shots of truck drivers on here, but this guy absolutely rules. Not only does he have the badges going on, but they're pinned to some sort of Napoleonic-era quasi-military forage cap. The gold braid over the brim puts him over the top. If you see this guy coming up behind you, you'd best get the hell out of his way! Once upon a timeWe were a trim country. Look Him UpIn the dictionary under "teamster" you'll probably see his picture. Seen any sharks?He looks like a young Robert Shaw. Greyhound hat pinon the left. Was this an expression of solidarity with fellow drivers, or maybe a previous employer? Found this vintage Greyhound driver's hat on Etsy, very similar to what this guy is wearing. Hat PinThe hat pin above his left ear is his Chauffeur's License Hat Pin. The pins were unique to each state that issued them. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Montgomery)
Fresh Up: 1937
... as well as one cool cat. Medium-format nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Eagle Series The car is a 1933 Chevrolet ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/13/2013 - 10:08am -

September 1937. "Icehouse. Rosslyn, Virginia." Just across the Potomac from Washington, the home of beer, wine and 7-Up from 7 to 7, as well as one cool cat. Medium-format nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Eagle SeriesThe car is a 1933 Chevrolet Eagle Series CA but usually known as the Master Series. The entire car was redesigned and the windshield no longer opened up, the window sills had buttons for locking the doors, the rear spare tire was standard, and the wheelbase was now 110 inches. Based on what looks like a single side window with wind vent and the hard top, the Chevy is likely an Eagle Series Sport Coupe like the photos below. AmpersandsNever seen ampersands like these. These also reflect the 7s elsewhere in the photo. Package DealHave a little wine, have a little beer ... then we'll generally haul you home! GopherBefore that dirt pile causes serious damage, someone needs to call CLAR 275 to have it hauled in the general direction of away. They are still in businessBut now they are strictly movers as Henderson's Moving Services. Years AgoAlong the Hudson River there were HUGE icehouses to keep New York City supplied with ice. It was a very big business - ice houses the size of a football field! They are all gone now. That pile of "dirt"Is coal. Hi'ya doll !Q: What is in the second-floor window under "ICE"? It looks like a little toy stroller, but that seems odd. Lucky 7I count fourteen 7s in this photo. Under ICEThat looks to me like an old toolbox. The kind that is open on the top and just has a long handle that runs the length of the box. Under IceIt appears to be a tool box/carrier for an electrician, plumber, etc. Another cool catpeers out from beneath the porch, to the right of the door underneath the 'I" of Ice! I could look at the details of this marvelous photo for hours. And thanks to JellyBelly for identifying the current iteration of Henderson's!! (The Gallery, Cats, D.C., John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Danger Zone: 1938
November 1938. "Danger Zone, Omaha." Another of John Vachon's postcards from Nebraska, which before becoming the Cornhusker State ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2017 - 9:26am -

November 1938. "Danger Zone, Omaha." Another of John Vachon's postcards from Nebraska, which before becoming the Cornhusker State was Quirky Signage Capital of the Midwest. The message conveyed here is probably not exactly what Hoffmann Mortuary had in mind. 35mm nitrate negative. View full size. Good intentionsOf course they mean that the *sign* is courtesy of Hoffmann, but instead it looks like the mortuary created a "danger zone" to drum up business! INVISIBLE ICY PATCH Courtesy HOFFMANN MORTUARY or SLIPPERY SIDEWALK Courtesy HOFFMANN MORTUARY etc, etc We tried to warn you...Step right up, view our selection of beautiful asphalt roofing shingles, and YOU can become an amputee just like Officer Friendly! Disarmed and DangerousMr. Safety looks to have only one arm. Hoffman Mortuary is more dangerous than we first believed! RoofiesThe building in the background is part of a lumberyard or roofing business, showing samples of the available shingles. How pretty that must have looked in real life - ugh! Mortuary HumorCustomer: "How's business?" Undertaker: "Dead." Hoffmann Mortuary:we'll be the last ones to let you down! (The Gallery, John Vachon, Omaha)
Seedlings: 1940
... Michigan. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Adorable. What beautiful children. (I have a ... wouldn't try to run away. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon, Kids) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/29/2008 - 9:52pm -

July 1940. Children of migrant agricultural workers in Berrien County, Michigan. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the FSA. Adorable.What beautiful children. (I have a feeling, however, that the scamp on the left has a "present" for his mother in the pocket of those overalls...) Thank God for little girls! Yes, The PocketDo you think it might be a pet mouse, by chance? It appears that he is having to hold it in; even marbles wouldn't try to run away. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon, Kids)
Rocky: 1954
... Rocky Graziano in New York in 1954, photographed by John Vachon and Phillip Harrington for the Look magazine article "The Fight of My ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/22/2013 - 12:10pm -

Middleweight boxing champion Rocky Graziano in New York in 1954, photographed by John Vachon and Phillip Harrington for the Look magazine article "The Fight of My Life." View full size. Rocky Who?I'm sure I won't be the first to post this, but the fellow in the picture looks like Rocky Graziano, not Marciano. [THANK YOU II. - Dave] Wrong RockThe gentleman in the photo is former middleweight champ Rocky Graziano aka Thomas Rocco Barbella. [THANK YOU. - Dave] Rock Don't Do It!Rocky, step away from the ledge! We know that the pants don't flatter your torso, but they aren't "that" hideous and tomorrow is another day! Somebody Up There Likes RockyPaul Newman portrayed him in the 1956 biopic Somebody Up There Likes Me. Nylon SocksI notice that Rocky G. seems to have favored the sheer footwear with Italian style shoes as seen on Mickey Rourke in the 1984 film, "Pope of Greenwich Village". I'll have to see that unforgettable film again and have another look. Car IDCan anyone give me a make and year for that 1930-ish black sedan, the one parked in front of the Hudson Hornet (or is it a Hudson Commodore, hard for me to tell)? East 10th Street?That appears to be 770 Broadway in the distance (center of photograph, top edge). Is he sitting on the roof of 229 East 10th Street? Possible Car ID@Lost World: The car in front of the Hudson looks to me like a '33 Chevy. East 10th st?I'd sure like to know the location also. I grew up in the city and met Rocky in the 60s by Kips Bay where he had a pizza joint. 2 fellow classmates were going at it in the pizzeria and being a big mouth 17 yr old I asked him if he wanted to fight also. Of course I had a big SMILE when I said that! Lived on the east sideIn the 70's he was frequently seen on the upper east side (2nd & 63rd St). I'd see him walking a small dog on my way to work at Sloan Kettering. I doubt that's where the photo was taken. D A N seems to have a sharp eye.This looks like the shorter building across the street. View Larger Map (The Gallery, John Vachon, LOOK, NYC, Sports)
Lunchbox Brigade: 1941
... States Steel) waiting for the bus." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. No longer there. The store was at Fourth ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/16/2020 - 12:11pm -

January 1941. Ambridge, Pennsylvania. "Employees of American Bridge Company (United States Steel) waiting for the bus." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. No longer there.The store was at Fourth Street and Park Road. Drink Tom TuckerThe smiling face on the soda sign at right is in great juxtaposition to the man at center with obvious anger issues. Tom Tucker was (and is) a unique mint-ginger ale that billed itself as a Southern drink, although it was made in Pittsburgh. I'll take a dozenCandy cigars, that is. Robert De Niro Guy in the middle: "Are ya lookin' at me???!!" Never heard of this drink.Had to look,it up. Lot of details in this picture. Thanks! Candy, cigars, and taxidermy, tooI note the stuffed squirrels in the window. Also, the proprietor may have been Janko Manojlovic (1881-1947), who is buried in Aliquippa: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/191784899/janko-manojlovic 4th Street and Park RoadManojlovic Candy and Cigars, according to Ambridge Memories. Long gone, now just a parking lot. I've been there.I'm a longtime Shorpy fan, but this may be the first time I've seen a photo, and known that I've stood on the spot. Old Ambridge High School (demolished in 2008) also stood at the intersection of Fourth Street and Park Road. Searching for the name Manojlovic in Ambridge, I stumbled upon this interesting want ad from the Pittsburgh Press, 1936: "German, Hungarian, Bohemian, Polish only need apply." (The Gallery, Ambridge, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Farm Boy: 1938
... One-hundred percent organic. Medium-format negative by John Vachon. View full size. Reality check Studying a picture like this ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/19/2013 - 10:44am -

October 1938. "Young farmer of Jefferson County, Kansas." One-hundred percent organic. Medium-format negative by John Vachon. View full size. Reality checkStudying a picture like this should teach us all not to feel sorry for ourselves. Salt of the EarthHe and millions like him, over several generations, had a big part to play in building our country into what it is today. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon, Kitchens etc.)
Chick Magnet: 1942
... , crawling on the kitchen floor." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Modern Times ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/23/2021 - 11:09am -

April 1942. "Hamilton, Montana. Son of Ted Barkhoefer, crawling on the kitchen floor." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Modern TimesTaylor Tot stroller and Sunbeam MixMaster. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, Kitchens etc.)
Anytown, USA: 1941
... at 282 Anystreet. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Shiny ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/20/2020 - 5:07pm -

August 1941. "House in Elgin, Illinois." The residence at 282 Anystreet. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ShinyThat house is so bright and clean, the neighbors must've felt like their own house needed a new paint job. The grubbier house looks cozier, though. Ward!!!Call Wally and the Beaver -- it's dinnertime. Boys!! Radial Wave ShadeBy night this house would have been illuminated by a clear incandescent light bulb, likely 200 watts back then. This light fixture is supported by a span wire, and it appears that it could be lowered for servicing by a cable/pulley system from a nearby pole. This was common in the days of carbon arc streetlights, which needed frequent servicing. The wavy deflector was known as a radial wave shade. AnglesWas this once a church? IdyllicAlmost perfect. A beautiful home with a beautiful yard on a beautiful street. It's so ... American. Carpenter GothicIt just needs the people from Grant Wood's painting. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Small Towns)
Tankar Gas: 1937
... tropics, where snow dusts the painted palms. Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Love the billboards I found the billboards ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/20/2013 - 11:47am -

December 1937. "Gas station in Minneapolis." The Minnesota tropics, where snow dusts the painted palms. Photo by John Vachon. View full size. Love the billboardsI found the billboards very interesting. I grew up 40 miles north of Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Journal or Sunday Journal was published until 1939 when it merged with the Minneapolis Star to become the Minneapolis Star-Journal. Other mergers took place and today it's the Star Tribune. The American Weekly was a Sunday Supplement, published by Hearst, inserted into the Sunday Journal. It was published until 1966. The Russell-Miller Milling Company at this time made Occident Flour and was headquartered in Minneapolis. In the early 1950's it become part of the Peavey Co., which in turn was bought by ConAgra in 1982. Awesome trailerHorace T. Water is correct, this is a 37 Ford (Tudor sedan). I have seen trailers like this, but was under the assumption that they were new "retro" designs, not actual period trailers. I found out that somebody is now making fiberglass reproductions. The Gold Medal SignIt turns out you can see it in Street View, from 3rd Street at Washington: Re Frost shieldsHard to tell from the ad davidk provided (or even if that model is what I'm about to describe), but in the mid-30s rectangular defrosters went on the market that were held on the window interior by suction cups. These had exposed thin wires not unlike today's embedded rear window defosters that were electrified either by the car's system or by 6-volt batteries. The ones in the Ford appear to be smaller than what I'm familiar with. Tag Along1937 Ford with a Mullins Red Cap trailer. Frost shieldsThe application of frost shields used to be mandatory in Winnipeg on the windshield (unless the car had a defroster), rear window and front-row side windows from November 1 through March 31. The ad below from my hometown paper, the Free Press, is from 1952. There is still a company in Manitoba that manufactures them for use in construction vehicles, helicopters and outbuildings. Plus 76?After spending far too much time digging, I can offer what might be (approximately) the present-day view, with about 80-90% confidence: View Larger Map The "Gold Medal Flour" sign that's barely visible on the left of the 1937 photograph is a big clue to the location. It's not visible from the Street View above due to new construction - but if you back out to the 45 degree view and head about two blocks southeast and one block northeast, you'll see it. It's also hard to tell from the sometimes-grainy Street View magnifications, but I'm fairly certain that the most of the brickwork is the same as 1937, although they did brick in the upstairs area. [For the depot shed to be on the left as in the 1937 photo, I think we'd need to be a block or two west of 5th Avenue, around 3rd and Washington. The 1940 map below shows the outline of the gas station office facing 3rd, which was a major thoroughfare crossing the Mississippi. - Dave] [I won't dispute your map, but I have trouble seeing how the Gold Medal Flour sign would be both visible and aligned as it is in the 1937 photo if the camera was that far west. There are also some features of the brickwork, including the distinctive offset about 12 feet up on the left edge, that make me go "hmmm."] [The sign, atop a six-story flour mill, is visible from most of downtown Minneapolis. Also, our photo was taken from the second floor as opposed to Google's ground-level Street View. Plus that building at 5th and Washington doesn't look anything like the one in our view, in addition to being set back much farther from the curb. It's three stories tall as opposed to the two-story building in the 1937 photo. - Dave] [I concede. I found a 1937 aerial photo of the area (see below), and the corner of Third and Washington looks far more likely to be the spot than the corner at Fifth. When I'm looking for a historical spot like this, I try not to make any assumptions - such as "in the past 70+ years, they didn't brick in the open second story" or "they didn't build an addition" or "there was no third story hiding behind the billboards" or "that train depot never extended past Fourth Avenue." Now that I have photographic evidence, I'm fine with admitting I was wrong.] [You can tell there's no third floor just by looking at the photo. The cornice is at the bottom of the billboard. Plus you can see there's nothing behind them through the latticework between them. And in any case they're not tall enough to hide a third floor. - Dave] [I realize I'm now beating a dead horse, but your last comment makes it sound unreasonable to think there's a third floor. What I see through the latticework is a brick wall (red oval). That wall appears to be supported by a substantial concrete column (green oval) - either that, or this is an Escherian building. That leaves about 10-12 feet of space to be a "third floor" (cyan oval). With some added brick and a few layers of paint, there is no reason this edifice could not resemble what's currently at the corner of Fifth and Washington. (Note that I am not arguing that it is that location (I agree it's at Third), I am simply pointing out that it is perfectly reasonable to think that there is - or could be - a third floor here.)] OOOH!Free dishes! Thanks davidkI was just about to ask if anyone knew what that rectangle was on the driver's side window. I think Dave is correct.The Milwaukee Road train shed ends at 5th Avenue South and Washington. Gold Medal Flour is at about 700 West River Parkway. The gas station would have to be at 3rd or maybe 4th Avenue South. This area on either side of Washington Avenue from Hennepin to 11th Avenue was known as the Gateway district. About 40 blocks were cleared for urban renewal in the 50s and 60s. Only in the last 10 years has the sea of parking lots started to fill in. One modern convenienceBased on the bare bulb visible through the dirty window, I'm thinking it's not the Ritz Carlton; but somebody in that building has a mighty fine radio antenna on the roof... a fairly long dipole, likely to receive AM broadcasts. Cut-RateTankar was apparently a low-price chain headquartered in Minneapolis. Some of the stations had old tank cars as part of the architecture. F.A.P. May Be The Key.The street sign on the left may hold a cryptic key to the puzzle. The sign post clearly indicates one roadway, but at the bottom, facing the camera is a small sign with "F.A.P." or Federal Aid Primary. That sign indicates this road was receiving Federal money as a primary route and would have to be a fairly substantial route. F.A.S. signs for Federal Aid Secondary are sometimes also seen on smaller routes or further out on primary routes that receive less Federal maintenance money. I know nothing about this area, but I hope that little sign now gives you the intersection. [The sign is pointing you to it -- F.A.P. 92B is to the right. - Dave] TrainshedWhat may be confusing you is that the Milwaukee Depot Trainshed has been shortened and there are cross streets there now that were not there when the photo was taken at which time it was a active depot. [The cross streets are the same. This is Third Avenue crossing Washington, in a view seen here two years ago. The clock tower still stands. - Dave] Re re Frost shieldsNo electricity involved, Don Struke. The classic frost shield is a rectangle of plastic stuck by adhesive at its perimeter to the auto glass. You put them on the inside of the window, and the vacuum created between the plastic shield and the glass kept the window free from condensation and frost. I’ve heard of a fancier kind made of glass with a rubber gasket, but no one I knew used these. Once when my dad was in the Southern states with his Canadian frost shields on, a gas attendant asked him if it was bullet-proof glass. Re: TrainshedThe trainshed always ended at 5th Avenue, but the yard continued to Chicago Avenue where a large viaduct took the tracks across Washington. If you look at the aerial photo in Splunge's comment, you can see that the shed ends at 5th, but only Portland Avenue crosses the yard. Perhaps a chimney?I thought the "substantial concrete column (green oval)" that Splunge mentioned was a chimney for a heater or fireplace in the gas station's office below. BTW, I don't have any horses to be concerned about, but I do enjoy the friendly banter and explanations offered. Sometimes it's very helpful to see something from another's viewpoint. Thanx to all that have commented! TrailerIsn't anybody going to mention that fantastic, streamlined trailer? Homemade or manufactured and its got to belong to that Mark Trail looking guy puffin' on his pipe. [See the very first comment below. - tterrace] Miller millingI would expect nothing else. Along withthe previous busy comments in the scene, note the worst job of bricklaying behind the palm trees, and the Tax Paid sign, AND Glueks Beer on Tap. 3rd and WashingtonThe train shed is the tip-off. If the Google street view were from second story rather than - uh - street level, you could then see the Gold Medal Sign. BTW, the Gold Medal sign has been moved around a bit since 1937 due to a fire at the "A" Mill and restoration of the Mill Ruins Museum. Tax? Which?I'm still bewildered by the sign "TAX PAID 5 FOR 85" I've arrived at no meaningful interpretation for that. Somebody help me out, please. 3rd and WashingtonThis confirms that it was on 3rd and Washington. No doubt that is the Tankar building in a sea of parked cars. How it survived "urban renewal" and the rest of the buildings didn't is beyond me. TankarLooks like they redid the palm tree mural in the 1940s. The photo below is from the Zalusky Collection. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
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