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Co-op: 1941
1941. Grain elevators in Caldwell, Idaho. Photo by Russell Lee. View full size. One of these things is not like the other... ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 09/08/2011 - 11:44am -

1941. Grain elevators in Caldwell, Idaho. Photo by Russell Lee. View full size. One of these things is not like the other......one of these things just doesn't belong. (I always think of that Sesame Street song when one odd duck stands out in any situation.) But seriously, is there a reason one grain elevator would be painted red, standing among six silver ones? Is this the one where they stored wheat instead of corn or something? Curious. ElevatorsThey probably haven't finished painting yet!! Of course!Thanks, George! The silver ones DO look new and shiny, now that you mention it... (The Gallery, Agriculture, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Family Farmers: 1936
... Dickens, Iowa, owned by lawyer." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Lila Mae ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/28/2014 - 6:39pm -

December 1936. "William Helmke, wife, baby, and brother live in one-room shack on ninety-acre farm near Dickens, Iowa, owned by lawyer." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Lila Mae HelmkeHer obituary. Some of Lee's gear?On the table at the left appears to be a filter, camera bag, and a Kodak Panatomic film pack box, maybe 3-1/4 x 4-1/4? [Yes; Panatomic, like its successor Panatomic-X, was noted for its extremely fine grain. This negative is indeed 3-1/4 x 4-1/4. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Agriculture, Cats, Kids, Russell Lee)
Au Gone: 1940
... in Ouray County." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Au naturel ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/19/2020 - 9:05am -

September 1940. "Abandoned gold mill along Million Dollar Highway immediately south of Ouray, Colorado, in Ouray County." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Au naturelBest title of a post yet, Dave. Pure gold. [ ♥ ♥ ♥ - Dave] Au shucksJennyPennifer beat me to it. I logged in just to say it's a great title, Dave. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Landscapes, Mining, Russell Lee)
Official Ouray: 1940
... Hall. Ouray, Colorado." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still there ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/25/2020 - 4:35pm -

September 1940. "Walsh Library and City Hall. Ouray, Colorado." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still therebut the fire department has moved. Ouray City Hall: 1974City Hall was rebuilt after it burned down in January 1950, and looked quite different in 1974! According to Wikipedia a restoration effort in 1976 as part of the city of Ouray Centennial failed, but another restoration effort succeeded in 1988. So the 1988 building is still there, but not the 1900 building. [The frame and foundation of the 1900 building are the basis of the current structure with its restored facade. - Dave] (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Enzer's: 1938
... East Side, New York City." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Scuderia ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/30/2012 - 10:33am -

January 1938. "Front of livery stable, East Side, New York City." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ScuderiaCool! I always wanted to see the Ferrari stable. Oh, wait - it says EnzER. Oh well. Before Taxis and TaxiI believe this where Louie De Palma got his first job. Indeed if you carefully zoom in on the opened door you may see him lurking. Pint-sized passagewayIs that short door where the Shetland ponies go in and out? One of the last?I'm surprised there were livery stables in NYC as late as 1938. Then - livery stable, now - livery stableOn the east side of Manhattan today, you will find a number of livery stables still in operation. They house the horses that give carriage rides around the city. Does anyone know the srteet this 1938 photo was taken on? Low BridgeInteresting door on the right. High enough to let people or hay in, but low enough to keep horses from straying. location of stableI think it was 611 East 11th Street. The next picture taken by Lee shows another stable with a gas tank in view. Those tanks were on East 12th and Avenue D. NYC stablesMy family has been in the NYC horse drawn carriage business since 1981. To the comment below about today's carriage stables: actually, there are four carriage stables in Manhattan in 2012, and they are all on the west side -- 37th, 38th, 48th, and 52nd Streets, all west of 10th Ave. The stable on 38th Street still has the old doors with the smaller door for people to go in and out without opening the double doors. As for hay, in the old days it was winched up to the top floor or hay loft with a pulley system from the sidewalk; it is still done this way at the 38th & 48th Street stables; the others use elevators. To Banderboy - there has never not been livery stables in Manhattan; the carriages that continue to ply their trade at Central Park and around town have been continuously in business since the Park was opened in the 1850s, and of course, there were always liveries before that time. Additionally, the 'fruit man' and other horse and wagon businesses were common enough in NYC right into the 1950s. (The Gallery, Horses, NYC, Russell Lee)
Our Treasures: 1941
... Fourth of July parade." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Vale Oregon ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/09/2020 - 1:58pm -

July 4, 1941. Vale, Oregon. "One of the floats in the Fourth of July parade." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Vale OregonThe parade had arrived at North Main and "A" Street, looking north. Treasures indeedWhat a unique and creative idea for a Fourth of July float ... darling tykes spilling out of a treasure chest. Just weeks before Pearl Harbor and America's entrance into WWII. And the little guy with his back to the camera, holding the lid, seeming to embody every American virtue with his strength and watchfulness. This picture makes my chest hurt and I think I have something in my eye. C.M. CRANDALL ATTORNEY AT LAWBorn in Illinois in 1861, admitted to practice in 1896, and working 52 weeks a year in 1939 (according to the 1940 census), the lawyer responsible for the gold-leafed second-floor window shingle would have turned 80 in 1941. According to a 1916 news article in the local Malheur Enterprise, "Mr. Crandall is a gifted orator and is ever ready with a gilt edge impromptu speech on most any occasion." FlagCan anybody identify that flag? Onward Christian SoldiersThe flag is called the Christian Flag. See the Wikipedia entry for more information. (The Gallery, July 4, Kids, Patriotic, Russell Lee)
Swimmers of '42
... Idaho. Dressing after swimming." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Impressive ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/13/2016 - 12:46pm -

July 1942. "Rupert, Idaho. Dressing after swimming." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. ImpressiveHow fit all these guys are! The 'swimming pool' leaves much to be desired, but who cares? A Second Right Foot?Follow me here...I see his his right arm, between his jeaned legs, tying his left shoe. But do I also see another socked right foot over his arm? This is not some cheapy-creepy 1950's post-nuke grade-B sci-fi movie, so what gives? [Left foot with shoe being tied, right foot with just a sock, right shoe waiting to be put on. -tterrace] Yea, but my eyes still see right trousered leg connected to right shoe. It's all perspective, I suppose. Still bizarre looking. I suspectthey are swimming in one of the many irrigation canals in and around Rupert, probably frowned upon by local officials. Woman swimmerWhen I was these boys' age, more than 25 years later, most pool or lake activity with other kids was about horsing around, but also swimming. Most adults did a lot of standing around in the water, chatting and cooling off (and relieving themselves too, I am sure). So when a serious swimmer of the adult woman variety appeared -- and there was always the rare grown-up lady who would snap on her bathing cap then cut out far away into the water -- you would stand aside with respect, as I'm sure these lads are doing. (I do acknowledge that they are in line for the ingenious diving board.) Those feet I would suspect that the foot anomaly is explained as a wet bathing suit wrapped in a towel. [No, that's his foot in a sock, as tterrace explained below. - Dave] Check the oilThat's no swimming pool. That's a grease pit! Longevity at 86.I was born July 10, 1942 and I'm still going strong. These 12 boys are around 12 years old so I'm just curious what the chances are that any of them are still with us today at about 86. Hopefully 1 or 2. No sign of sunburn among'emWe swam a lot when I was about that age, mostly in pools and sometimes the lake. It didn't take long for my fair skin to get a case of sunburn, so if I didn't wear a T-shirt, I'd be in bad shape after a couple of hours. Seems like I'd spend my summers with varying degrees of blistered shoulders, red ears and cheeks, and, of course, a red neck (which some might argue is more of a trait). These days, my dermatologist loves me! (The Gallery, Bicycles, Kids, Russell Lee, Swimming)
Rice Rocket: 1938
... Crowley, Louisiana. View full size. 35mm negative by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. Tiger in his tank? So was there a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/03/2008 - 4:53pm -

October 1938. Preparations for the National Rice Festival in Crowley, Louisiana. View full size. 35mm negative by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. Tiger in his tank?So was there a purpose for the "gas tank" on bicycles like this, or were they just supposed to make it look more like a motorcycle? Did they double as a canteen for long rides? My sister's bike has a "tank" of sorts, only the top/front end of it has 2 small lights in it. It's hard to tell from the lighting, but I guess the one above might be wider at the front than it is in the back, so it could hold lights. (The Gallery, Kids, Russell Lee)
Feeling Hot Hot Hot
... View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. LOL Love the titles you come ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 9:48pm -

1939 or 1940. "Square-dance orchestra during intermission; notice sweated shirt of host." McIntosh County, Oklahoma. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. LOLLove the titles you come up with! Love it!This one is such a great storytelling picture. Might be my favorite you've had posted here (and I love a LOT of them). (The Gallery, Music, Rural America, Russell Lee, Sports)
Poultry Xing: 1937
... Aftermath of the Ohio River Valley flood. Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Extension ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/14/2013 - 5:43pm -

February 1937. "During the flood, cows and chickens were moved to the highest ground possible. Near Cache, Illinois." Aftermath of the Ohio River Valley flood. Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Extension line?Anyone notice the telephone tap in the background? I can't come up with the correct name if there is one, but could the phone company put in a temp drop to this area? Payphone on the guard rail? Empty NestThe cow, the tracks and the rails have flown the coop. I cannot pinpoint the exact spot, but it is somewhere along this road. Icy!They must have had a warm spell for the flooding--certainly a fair amount of ice (although it seems light for February in Illinois). cars IDL to R:Dodge 4 cylinder, Ford V8 model 40, 1933-1934. Parked On the left it looks like a 1924-1925 Dodge is parked. In the background is a 1934 Ford 5-Window-Coupe with the passenger door ajar along with a stick or other object holding it open. Is this the photographer's car with maybe a monopod or tripod in the door? According to the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the "Stop, Look, and Listen" sign was first used by the Reading Railroad in 1884. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Fires, Floods etc., Railroads, Russell Lee)
The Coasters: 1941
... Ballroom in Chicago." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee. View full size. Kalorama roller skate ushers I respected these ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/04/2018 - 8:37pm -

April 1941. "Instructors in roller skating at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee. View full size. Kalorama roller skate ushersI respected these guys. They could outskate anybody. Sometimes at half time they would show you their skills. If they asked you to leave, you left, no sass. Nobody wants to be banned from the roller rink. Kids being KidsA bunch of dead-serious middle-aged men on roller skates - and two kids doing what comes naturally! I love this picture. Kids These Days!Just like now Counting down.By the looks of the poster at the upper left, it appears as though Count Basie will be "Stompin' at the Savoy" soon. (The Gallery, Chicago, Russell Lee)
Working Lunch: 1939
... "Oilfield workers eating lunch." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Dejeuner sur ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2017 - 10:08pm -

April 1939. Kilgore, Texas. "Oilfield workers eating lunch." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Dejeuner sur le fumierThis scene makes lunch at my desk look utterly epicurean. ObservationsEating the same thing (fried chicken?) and sharing a bottle of milk -- Mom packed their lunch. The gloves are off!Only clean exposed parts. I can only imagine trying to eat otherwise. (The Gallery, Mining, Russell Lee)
Dubya: 1939
... watermelon center." View full size. 35mm negative by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. Watermelon? Thanks for the laugh, I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/15/2008 - 11:21am -

May 1939. "Statue to the watermelon. Weatherford, Texas, watermelon center." View full size. 35mm negative by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. Watermelon?Thanks for the laugh, I needed that. Watermelon? This is the worst "statue" I've ever seen, and I teach kindergarten! The shape is more of a cucumber, or maybe Jolly Green Giant dropping. And it appears to be falling apart. This one has been fun. DubyaDubya is for watermelon, or Weatherford, or maybe "fiasco" (I think we might have been better off with this thing in the Oval Office the last few years). I usually prefer black and white photography, but this is one shot I'd like to see in color, for the huge green tin melon. Looks like this wasn't its first year in service. And I love the Victorian Frontier architecture of the commercial block in the background. Weatherford SquareGratuitous and ill-informed swipes at contemporary politicians aside, Weatherford has been and continues to be a somewhat surprising center of power-politics in Texas. Among other notables, Weatherford has been home to the last southern Civil War veteran elected Governor and to Jim Wright. The building in the background is still there, and if you search Shorpy for more photos of Weatherford, you are likely to find a shot of the county courthouse that this shot was taken from in front of or perhaps from on its steps. Parker County is now known more for its peaches, and the new (last few years) boom coming from the Barnett Shale natural gas field. WeatherfordI don't know how to submit photos to Shorpy or I would because there is a photo of the courthouse from the same source as the rest of the photos of Weatherford. One of many beautiful old time Texas courthouses. Mary and LarryWeatherford is the birthplace of Broadway legend Mary Martin and her son, actor Larry Hagman. Ain't there no moreGreat shot! Too bad they took it down. I've done a little bit of moseying around Weatherford and found this spot; its in the dead-center of town, on College Avenue. What a wonderful invention Google Maps is; I can travel to places I'll never actually go to and poke around at my leisure. Weatherford has a lot of charm and they'd be wise to add a little bit of chuckle-fun by putting that watermelon back where it belongs. View Larger Map (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
High Tension: 1941
... the Fourth of July celebration at Vale, Oregon." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Noise Payette ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/19/2018 - 1:38pm -

July 1941. "Kids' tug-of-war at the Fourth of July celebration at Vale, Oregon." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Noise Payette Lumber Company Vale is close to Idaho where we find said lumber company. [Is Noise near Boise? - Dave] Stupid spell check;) Boys Will Be BoysBoise will be Noise. Still a big dealThe high fence (with barbed wire at the top) suggests this occurred in Vale's rodeo arena. For over a century Vale has hosted a four-day rodeo that concludes on July 4, complete with parades, concessions and races. It just occurred to me:In a mêlée or a scrum, don't mix barefoot/stocking with boots. That could hurt the footwearwise challenged participants. (The Gallery, July 4, Kids, Russell Lee, Small Towns, Sports)
Plaza Garage: 1939
... and garage in Gonzales, Texas." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Little ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/21/2018 - 12:08pm -

November 1939. "Hotel and garage in Gonzales, Texas." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Little RemainsThe hotel is gone, though the sides are still there. The Plaza Garage survives with some remodeling. On the plazaHmm, let me guess: The Plaza Garage and the Plaza Hotel face the town's plaza, right? Do I get a prize? Somebody is going to name those cars. The one with the truck bed is awful cute! Note the three digit phone number. How many telephones in Gonzales in 1939? So what happened to the Plaza?Aww, c'mon. What always happens to Shorpy hotels. It burned down. In January 1966. http://www.gonzalesinquirer.com/stories/this-month-in-gonzales-county-hi... Correct me if I'm wrongThere's a sign on the wall of the building to the left of the gas pump. It looks like it says "Credit Cards." Credit cards in a town the size of Gonzales, Texas ... in 1939? [Gas station credit cards were nothing unusual in 1939. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Not by Bread Alone: 1941
... of Chicago." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. Study in Contrasts Classical ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:42am -

April 1941. "Abandoned building, South Side of Chicago." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. Study in ContrastsClassical architectural order vs. decay and disorder; spiritual needs vs. beer n' burgers. Great shot! [Not to mention "Lubrication." - Dave] (The Gallery, Chicago, Russell Lee)
Second City: 1941
... in Chicago, Illinois." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 1940 Pontiac ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/10/2020 - 3:53pm -

April 1941. "Old brownstone houses now occupied by Negroes in Chicago, Illinois." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 1940 PontiacSilver Streak Sedan. Can't tell if it's a six or an eight cylinder. Still a pretty new car. Hat TricksNo matter where you look, in any photograph up to around 1960 or so, every man wore a hat. They not only 'completed the look', but signified the economic station. Here we see one billed ball-cap, one beret, but only one gent with none at all. Everyone else is wearing some version of a fedora. I think it was Jack Kennedy who killed the hat, so to speak. He often refused to wear one and the rest of the fashion-conscious followed suit. End of an era. Million-dollar homesCan't tell where exactly in Chicago this pic was taken, but if on the north side, and they still stand, those brownstones could easily be over a million dollars these days. My mom in law lives in a highrise at North and Clark, and the brownstones in the neighborhood are ungodly expensive. [This was the Southside Chicago district known today as Bronzeville. - Dave] Romancing the StoneMr. Lee may have been using 'brownstone' as a synonym of townhouse, but these were most likely Chicago Greystones. Greystones were made from Bedford limestone mined in nearby deposits in Indiana. (The Gallery, Chicago, Kids, Russell Lee)
San Juan Federation: 1940
... Silverton, Colorado." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. We found a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2020 - 2:04pm -

September 1940. "Miners' union hall. Silverton, Colorado." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. We found a survivor, but not the restaurant next door. Still serving!I had a beer there in 2002, there weren’t many miners left, but it was very congenial. At the cornerIt looks too big, too heavy duty, to be a ledger press. Given the location, I suspect that it is used to crush ore samples for assay. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Mining, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Rooms for Batching: 1940
... buildings in Phoenix, Arizona." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Admin. View full size. Call it what you like, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2018 - 1:25pm -

May 1940. "One of the oldest residential buildings in Phoenix, Arizona." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Admin. View full size. Call it what you like, there still used for the same thing today. Sorry, couldn't help it. [This might be a good opportunity to investigate the difference between "there" and "they're." - Dave] Car IDL-R: Model A Ford 1930-1931; Model T Ford 1926-1927; Chevrolet 6, 1929-1930. The "look" of these covered a two year span. Pride of the Dusty DesertNext picture, we hope: One of the oldest car washes in Phoenix, Arizona. Code for transient?If I was doing any "Batching" in 1940 I think this place would be pretty far down the list. Depending on the financial resources available of course. That old clincher rim touring car parked out front looks like its had the crud scraped off with a push broom. Might be an indication of the class of clientele. [This was a rooming house for bachelors; to live alone as a single man was "batching it." - Dave] (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Western Lights: 1940
... Behold the Urban Saguaro. Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size. Divided That light standard feels both kitschy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/26/2018 - 8:11am -

May 1940. "Cactus light standard in front of hotel in Phoenix, Arizona." Behold the Urban Saguaro. Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size. DividedThat light standard feels both kitschy and clever at the same time ... and I'm unsure which feeling is going to win out. A 2015 article details the modern-day woes of the Westward Ho. Westward HoThe hotel has been converted to senior and disabled residences. The houses are gone, replaced by a parking lot. Contrary to many rumors, this wasn't the hotel at the opening of "Psycho". That beautiful '40 Ford Deluxein the foreground appears to have a sad case of neglected whitewalls. Within a couple of years people would gain a new appreciation for the value of tires. Grand Canyon Stateis the slogan across the bottom of that beautiful blue-on-white 1940 Arizona license plate. 1940 was the first year Arizona used that slogan on its plates, a practice which has continued every year right up to the present. Shorpy Vehicle Identification ImperativeLeft to right: 1940 Ford Deluxe 4dr sedan, 1939/40 Dodge pickup (although there seems to be some kind of custom framework in place of a pickup bed), 1938 Oldsmobile coupe, 1938 Ford standard 4dr sedan. Westward HoMy father, Robert W. Lamb, worked in the Westward Ho office as a humble filing clerk before being drafted into WWII. I remember sleeping on sheets with "Westward Ho" stitched in red when I was 3-4 years old. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee)
Magic Show: 1938
... watching magician at state fair." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the FSA. View full size. She doesn't buy it The girl in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/21/2012 - 11:36pm -

November 1938. Donaldsonville, Louisiana. "Group of people watching magician at state fair." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the FSA. View full size. She doesn't buy itThe girl in the checked dress with her arms folded doesn't look very impressed with said magician. Dad seems thrilled, however. Sensory OverloadThis picture just goes to show how over-stimulated we are in 2012. Look at this group--from the little babies to the older folks, every set of eyes is glued to the magician. If you took this photo nowadays, half the people would be looking elsewhere (probably down at phones), babies would be crawling up their mothers' legs, kids running away, etc. Great people pictureThis picture just makes me happy -- it has adults looking like kids, kids looking like adults, and everyone showing wonder, or at least attention. The Magician's ArtMisdirection is the key to most magic. Keeping your audience looking away from where the actual manipulation is happening is what makes it all work. This one certainly has almost every eye glued to one spot, except for the dark haired young lady with bangs. I wonder if she has spotted something under the backdrop, or in the wings that he does not want her to see? Perhaps when she gets home she will tell her brother, "I know how he did that trick!" Absolute AweI think the girl with folded arms is in absolute awe of our magician. What amazes me in particular though is that she looks like a younger version of the woman next to the woman in glasses. Like a mini-me expression of awe,and they both have their arms crossed. (The Gallery, Kids, Russell Lee)
Twenty Questions: 1940
... at 'play party' in McIntosh County, Oklahoma." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Child's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/23/2018 - 5:45pm -

February 1940. "Farm boys at 'play party' in McIntosh County, Oklahoma." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Child's playEveryone, children to adults, sang and did the movements to children's games (Skip to My Loo, Pop Goes the Weasel) at a play party: The churches disapproved of dancing and of the fiddle, but the play parties didn’t seem so worldly. “Some family would let the children all come in and play games. And you had to call it games because dancing was sinful,” Ritchie explains. “It was called ‘going to the plays,’ and so it got to be called a ‘play party’—a party where people played. - PBS Captive kittenThe boy on the left appears to be explaining how Harry Frees posed his animals. One Of 20 QuestionsWhat color is the guys leather jacket? Doesn't seem dark enough to be black, and too shiny to be brown. I want it to be red, like Dean's Rebel Without A Cause jacket. Two hard workersThe boys on the right look to be hard workers by the condition for their hands. (The Gallery, Cats, Kids, Russell Lee)
Red Robin: 1941
... longer? View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. The calm before the storm I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/08/2008 - 11:07am -

"Cold drinks on the Fourth of July" at the Red Robin Coffee Shop in Vale, Oregon. The year was 1941. Can we stay just a little longer? View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. The calm before the stormI wonder what they were all thinking, here. I'd bet at least some of them were wondering if it would be the last peaceful Independence Day for a while. Chances are, the two young men at the table were somewhere in the Pacific by the time the next Fourth of July came around. Certainly everyone in the picture had their lives change considerably. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, July 4, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Parlor Garden: 1937
... worked in the mines before they were abandoned." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Remembrance ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/15/2015 - 3:21pm -

May 1937. "Mrs. Herman Perry in her home at Mansfield, Michigan. She is the wife of an old-time iron miner who worked in the mines before they were abandoned." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Remembrance Card?I'm guessing that is a remembrance card under the baby photo on the wall. Re: The same age?!I, too, was amazed to see that this old woman with the bun and thick ankles and granny shoes is the same age as my dear wife. When I pointed this out to her, I was lucky to escape with just a mild chiding. Patterns Galore!Patterns Galore! Yet, we imagine these old photos depict a less complicated time. Interior DesignI think she would have gotten along very well with the Tuttles of Minnesota. Yoopers are tough!Marie Perry died in 1955. She has a link on Findagrave. There's a link on there to her husband, Herman, who lived to age 90. Tomato plants?Are those tomato plants in tin cans outside the curtains? And can identify a Christmas cactus, mother in law tongue and a poor ivy in the window? There's a lily but I can't identify it...amaryllis ? CurtainsWhat my cats would do to those curtains. An excellent homemakerEverything neatly in place, and what a green thumb she has. The same age?!This woman in the picture and I are roughly the same age now( but I would've' sworn she was in her mid-late sixties here) I have had the same bafflement in looking at old pictures of my grandmother in the same time era (late 30's) when she was even younger than me-and she also looked about 10 years older! (those buns,frumpy dresses and odd shoes REALLY didn't help, sorry ladies) Grannies Didn't Wear Spike HeelsMy long-departed grandmother wore such shoes for at least the 30 years I knew her. Her preferred brand was Natural Bridge, which presumably afforded good arch support. Standing 5'10" and weighing in at around 210 lbs., she was obviously not a candidate for platform wedgies. Under today's relaxed standards, women of a certain age seem to favor something by Reebok or Nike with their mall-walker suits. Certainly, even fashion doyennes among the over-60 crowd seem to abjure Jimmy Choos. Such informality would not have done for Granny, however. She belonged to the generation that donned gloves, hat, and furs to go out for the mail. Home EntertainmentNearly hidden behind the potted plant is a brand new 1937 model year Zenith 5-S-127 radio. These were about $40 new, but due to their attractive cabinets and big black dial, are considerably more valuable today. Radio valueI was surprised to find that by Purchasing Power, or Standard of Living adjustment, $40 in 1937 would be worth $649 in 2014, while one like this recently sold on eBay for $650. Pretty well at par! (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Smallville: 1937
... on a two-dog day. Another example of prolific shooter Russell Lee's work. Medium-format negative for the Resettlement Administration. View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/13/2012 - 11:50am -

August 1937. "Houses in Winton, Minnesota -- lumber bust town." A two-house town, on a two-dog day. Another example of prolific shooter Russell Lee's work. Medium-format negative for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Oops, I GoofedAfter reading the comments by mdemming and RadioMattM. I rechecked myself. I originally looked at the Historic Aerials 1939 Topo map which only showed a single line for the railroad. However, I have now looked at Topo maps for other years. On the Historic Aerials 1986 Topo map, it shows the double track railroad lines. The only diagonal street crossing was at where Main Street bisects East and West 3rd Avenues. In this new Google Map view, the first house stood at where the liquor store is now located. The second house in the original photo is still standing, adjacent to the liquor store. RadioMattM, the shadows now match up in both the modern street view and the 1937 photo. I apologize for my previous error. JellyBelly PS: Regarding the Winton depot, it was moved from it's original location. Which by logic would have been at 3rd and Main. https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Winton,+Minn&hl=en&ll=47.927425,-91.80057... What It Looks Like TodayAfter consulting a Topo map dated 1939. This is the location of that photo. The dirt road to the left is the old right of way for the railroad. Also, note the light pole on the left. My experience from years of research have proven that utility pole lines very rarely change. Even after a railroad line or public road has been abandoned. The pole lines will still remain. Well maybe notIf you go here http://www.historicaerials.com/ and type in Winton Minnesota you can see where the railroad is and it is about a block north of either map location. If you zoom out of street view you can see where the line used to go. Rail lines even when abandon and pulled up leave tell tail signs. Especially when you have done many years of research on old rail lines like I have. Smallville TodayThis might be the spot: http://goo.gl/maps/0lzA9 The angled gravel drive in the foreground appears to follow the old railbed, and looks like the only place where the railroad might have crossed a street at an angle. Alas, our two handsome little houses are not there. From west to east, the old railbed appears to angle into town along Amazon Drive, then straightens out at West Street between 2nd and 3rd. From there it proceeds to the depot on Lake Street, now the home of Fat Chicken Feed Store. The significance of utility pole lines"My experience from years of research have proven that utility pole lines very rarely change." JellyBelly, thank you for mentioning that - it's extremely interesting. Yet another example of useful information just kind of casually passed on by a Shorpy member. What a wonderful site. Do you think the pole lines stay the same because once utility easements are established changing them is difficult? My very limited experience with utility easements in San Diego was that getting the utility company to abandon one was essentially impossible even decades after they'd quit using it. If you are rightthe road heads due north, meaning the wall facing the tracks faces due south -- but it is in a shadow. A agree that the hill in the background looks right, and the mention of the pole is plausible, but I just can't figure out the shadow. Dog on the line.Russell Lee is more than simply prolific. He's one of the great American artists of the 20th century. What an eye! This photo is so rich in capturing the 1937 moment in far northern Minnesota. (The Gallery, Dogs, Railroads, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Texas Laundress: 1939
... workers, near Harlingen, Texas." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ... He had no idea what I was talking about. (The Gallery, Russell Lee) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/14/2012 - 12:18pm -

February 1939. "Twelve-year-old girl who keeps house in a trailer for her three brothers who are migrant workers, near Harlingen, Texas." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Determination!She is priceless! Obsolete washerI recall going into a hardware store in the late 1960's; I asked if they had any scrubbing boards - I thought one would come in handy the odd time. I was serious. I recall my mother using one while leaning over our old claw and ball footed bathtub. Socks were often the toughest clothing to get clean. The guy looked at me like I had 7 heads. He had no idea what I was talking about. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Picnic in the Park: 1942
... in city park." Medium format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Plenty Of Wood ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/09/2016 - 9:57pm -

July 1942. "Klamath Falls, Oregon. Picnickers in city park." Medium format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Plenty Of WoodTo make tables and benches. It looks as though this table is fresh wood. A fine place to dine! I live about 3 miles from where this picture was taken.This is Moore park on Lakeshore drive. Yes it's still there and used quite a bit by various groups for corporate functions. Great place to be on a hot summers day. Saddle ShoesIt appears to be a family of saddle shoes. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Dance Palace: 1942
... on Sunset Boulevard. Medium format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. My parents met ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/18/2017 - 4:31pm -

April 1942. "Hollywood, California. Sign and ticket window of a large dance palace." The Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Boulevard. Medium format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. My parents met at a dance herein the early 1950s, and the rest is history. As they still say from time to time, "Neither one of us was wearing our glasses that night!" A mere shadow of its former self CBS Columbia SquareI think the CBS building behind the theatre is even more interesting. (The Gallery, Los Angeles, Russell Lee)
Drugstore Noir: 1940
... scene at the fiesta in Santa Fe, New Mexico." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Manhole cover ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/04/2014 - 6:09pm -

July 1940. "Street scene at the fiesta in Santa Fe, New Mexico." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Manhole coverI think the manhole cover in the 1940 Shorpy photo is the same manhole cover of on the southeast corner of the Santa Fe Plaza shown in the Google Maps street view link below: http://bit.ly/JUMJEu Yes, Santa Fe - Stowe's Drug StoreFrom the Wednesday, September 5, 1934, Santa Fe New Mexican. Stowe's Drug Store, located on the SW corner of the Plaza. Santa Fe?I lived for many years in Santa Fe, New Mexico and I doubt VERY HIGHLY that there has ever been that type of archetecture in that city. [Yes, Santa Fe. And the word is "architecture." - Dave] Just making comment according to my experience from having lived in Santa Fe. I see little need in you making "nasty" about my spelling, Dave... Getting a bit burned out, are we? [VERY HIGHLY. -Dave] I don't care! It isn't Santa Fe. You said on Facebook that it probably isn't Taos, but Santa Fe. That means you don't really know, now do you? [Scroll up. -Dave] No questionThe building in the picture no longer exists as it burned in 1946 and was eventually replaced by the building that now houses Ortega's. The new building retains the 'bevel' in the corner seen here. One clincher is to go to street view and see the manhole cover in the same place. cf. Hammett, 'Santa Fe, A walk through time'. This reference contains a photo showing the identical brickwork above the entrance, as well as the information given above. Just SayingNow that we've settled on Santa Fe as the location. Am I wrong or is this photo not in focus? [Motion blur from camera and subject movement due to slow shutter speed. -tterrace] Santa Fe has changed a few timesThe adobe-covered Santa Fe we know today is mostly a deliberate 20th-century creation inspired by a citizens' movement in the 1910s or so. If you peruse photos from a hundred years ago, you'll see Santa Fe looked like any other Western town of the era with buildings like this drugstore on every corner. We would consider the styles quaint today, but at the time they were derided as cookie-cutter architecture that could have come from anywhere and didn't honor New Mexico's history. Laws were actually passed around then requiring new and renovated buildings to adopt a pueblo-like adobe (usually stucco in reality) facade. In fact, pretty much any adobe-style building in central Santa Fe that was built before the 1920s now looks nothing like its original appearance. I've seen older buildings under renovation near the Plaza, and it's always jarring when the stucco comes down to reveal briefly a Victorian brick facade underneath! It's the Claire Hotel buildingYes, this is Santa Fe, New Mexico. If you want to see a good shot of the building as it was, here's a link to our online catalog. The previous poster is correct; the building burned in 1946, and the replacement building is much smaller and less notable than the historic one. (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Getting Serious: 1940
... Angelo Fat Stock Show." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Doctor ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/28/2018 - 7:06pm -

March 1940. "Young Texas couple at the Junior Chamber of Commerce dance during the San Angelo Fat Stock Show." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Doctor KildareLooks like a young Richard Chamberlain to me. He must be newHe's still got that showroom shine. The KingMy guess is they both think that he looks a lot like Elvis. Not ElvisTo the poster who commented that they "both think he looks a lot like Elvis" -- Elvis was five years old when this photo was shot. [Which EVERYBODY ALREADY KNOWS. - Dave] (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
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