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Klassy Kamp: 1914
... Victrola and waterborne equivalent of a Coke machine. The Arlington Bottling sign on the boat advertises "Ginger Ale, Sarsaparilla, Lemon ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2014 - 2:59pm -

Washington, D.C. (vicinity), 1914. "Summer camps on the Potomac. Klassy Kamp." I think there's probably enough going on in this one picture for a 10-part Ken Burns documentary. Note the Victrola and waterborne equivalent of a Coke machine. The Arlington Bottling sign on the boat advertises "Ginger Ale, Sarsaparilla, Lemon Soda." National Photo glass negative. View full size. Mixed MediaAmerican flags, Japanese paper lanterns, today's newspaper, and an iPod a Victrola -- Not just Klassy, but Kosmopolitan! Evening Music Washington Post, Aug 29, 1915 Society "Klassy Kamp" on the Potomac was the scene of a pleasant entertainment last Sunday evening, many guests being from Washington and from other camps on the river. The music was the feature of the evening. Messrs. Winnie, Lester, Dudley, Lawrence, Reynolds, Powell and Grimm played guitars and mandolins, after which Messrs, Harry Gillman and Donald Libbey rendered several Hawaiian selections. Supper was served before midnight. BottlesSeveral of the rustic fenceposts have an empty bottle in front of them ... has anyone any idea of the purpose or significance of these carefully positioned bottles? [Decorations. - Dave] Summer eveningsAnything to escape the heat of the city in summer. That these people were willing to brave the giant mosquitoes of the tidal flats, some as large as pheasants, is a testament to the stifling heat in the days before air-conditioning. We slept on the porch when I was a kid, and that was in the 60's. More kool kampsPotomac river camps in 1917. Note the fanciful names. Click image for more. Re: Summer eveningsThis wouldn't be the tidal Potomac. It looks to be the west bank on the Virginia side where the GW Parkway is now, and upriver from the Aqueduct Bridge. Mabel W.I've never seen a canoe important enough to garner a name before. I hope Mabel felt honored. How to spot someone not of our eraThe man in the chaise longue exhibits one of the differences between people now and then: wearing lace-up leather shoes in a casual outdoor setting. No canvas kicks in Kamp Klassy. Wildlife How Wonderful!Notice the man in the far back, center... the one with the sailor's cap and in all white. He is so dashing! What a Beautiful picture! Alternate PerspectiveWell, I just can't get my head around this being on the West bank. Correct me if I'm wrong, but to me it seems we're looking at Rosslyn and Georgetown from the shores of what is now Roosevelt Island. Back then, long after the Mason family abandoned the island, it was used by various groups as a recreational site. Seems possible to me that this was an excursion by the Analstan Boat Club, or something of that ilk. Love the shot! I was born in Georgetown, (when Georgetown was the "slums") and I truly enjoy the looks back to a calmer, saner time. [These camps were on the Virginia shore of the Potomac. - Dave] The Newspaper is from June 28, 1914The Sunday Magazine from the Baltimore Sun for June 28th, 1914. With the image entitled "The Tenderfoot" by W. Herbert on the front. Our couple is choosing from one of several titillating articles from that day, such as "Learning A-B-C's at Seventy", "The Woman Who Found Happiness", "Blowing Yourself", "Rozzy, Christmas Angel", "Famous American Duels", and "The Bonehead's Baedeker". And closing out the back page, Canthrox! Looking at the papers strewn on the groundThe paper the couple bought was actually the Washington Evening Star of June 28, 1914. (The "Sunday Magazine" insert was also in the Baltimore Sun). The image of the woman on the section below their feet is the newly engaged Miss Mary Morris McCauley (to Lt Herbert S. Howard, USN) , and the male image on the paper on the right is an ad from the M. Stein & Co half-price, summer clearance clothing sale at 8th and F streets! (The Gallery, Camping, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
Our Man in Havana: 1938
... Batista, Cuba's Dictator, as they chatted informally at Arlington while waiting for the arrival of President Roosevelt for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 1:03pm -

November 11, 1938. "No doubt armies were discussed when this picture was made today. Maj. General Malin Craig, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, and Col. Fulgencio Batista, Cuba's Dictator, as they chatted informally at Arlington while waiting for the arrival of President Roosevelt for the Armistice Day ceremonies there." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Banana RepublicBatista and his giant cap and pudgy piggy fingers and jackbooted trotters are right out of a Looney Tunes short! Where's Bugs Bunny when you need him? Oversize MeBatista must have watched Disney and other animated comics on TV daily! What, No Cuban Cigar?Check out that insane cigarette holder attached to his thumb! Military IssueMilitary issue footwear must be different for generals than the rank and file. Or this could be the forerunner for Hawkeye and the M*A*S*H 4077th. Perforated wingtips and designer sox? SpursNote the spurs on General Batista's boots.......absolutely essential for riding in a limousine. Plus, couldn't he have found an ashtray instead of flicking his cigarette ashes on the floor? What's with the shoesWere those wing tips standard army issue, even for major generals, in those days? Re: What's with the shoes>> Were those wing tips standard Army issue, even for major generals, in those days? There is no "standard Army issue" for officers. They have to buy their own clothes and shoes. Three commentsAre those wingtips and socks on General Craig regulation? Why do they call them "uniforms" anyhow? Did anyone think to offer the dictator an ash tray? Looks like he considered using his glove but settled on the floor. The body language and personal space issues in this photo could keep a Psychology 101 class busy for a couple of weeks. Shoes and socksWhoa! Check out Gen. Craig's shoes and socks! Don't know exactly what that style would be called. It's neither a wingtip nor a cap toe, but some sort of combination. And patterned socks, too. Take note military historians and reenactors! No Army issue for officersis correct, but there were (in my day, the 1960s) uniform requirements. Officers got a uniform allowance ($200 when I went on active duty in 1963) and bought their own uniform and kit, which had to to conform with the uniform standards. Service dress shoes were plain toe, black. Socks were plain black also. Not as sharp as General Craig, but uniform! Viva Che,¡Viva la Revolucion! General Officer UniformsAt that time (and maybe still) general officers could design their own uniforms; hence, Patton's get up and Ike's custom made waist-length jacket, which was eventually adopted by the Army as standard. Craig apparently had a "shoe thing." Daffy DuckIt's funny that the first commenter mentioned Looney Tunes, as my first reaction upon seeing Batista was to think of Daffy Duck. UniformityGenerals in the 1930s were free to design their own uniforms. You'll notice the almost comical Patton look, MacArthur's crushed hat, and the Ike jacket were very individual. Generals would have tailors make their uniforms and a wide variety of looks resulted. Not sure when the practice ended but such individuality goes back to the birth of uniforms in the British Army. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Politics)
Auto-Railer: 1935
... Dominion obtained one of the Evan units from the defunct Arlington and Fairfax and converted it to a maintenance vehicle. ... Job That Washington, D.C. job may have been on the Arlington & Fairfax trolley line, which replaced its electric cars with ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/28/2014 - 7:29am -

        ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 26, 1935 (AP) -- Negotiations have been started by the Evans Products Co. of Detroit for the purchase of the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Railway, which was recently sold at auction here. The company manufactures buses and trucks that operate either on rails or on the highway, and it is understood the concern plans to operate 100 passenger and freight units between Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis. ... The "auto railer" consists of front and rear steel pilot railroad wheels attached to a conventional type of bus or truck. The pilot wheels are raised for operation over highways but can be let down when the vehicle reaches the tracks. The vehicle runs on its own tires over the rails with the pilot wheels guiding it along the track. 1935. Washington, D.C., or vicinity. "Streamline Bus and Car, Evans Motor." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Are any extant?If so, what a novel and attractive project for a guest house/lake/mountain house conversion. Let me beYou can stand there all day and have your picture taken, for all I care, but this headlight is really something interesting. SafetyPresumably you can retract the wheels and drive off the tracks when a real train comes along too. Washington and Old DominionThe Washington and Old Dominion obtained one of the Evan units from the defunct Arlington and Fairfax and converted it to a maintenance vehicle. Kickin' the TiresSir, I advise you NOT to kick THAT tire. Evans Auto-railer in actionI recalled seeing an old clip of this machine in action, and here it is. I believe that the scenes were taken along the Grand Trunk Western Jackson Subdivision which ran from Pontiac to Jackson, MI. The branch was abandoned in 1975. 1935 fashionBroad lapels, rolled up trousers, hats and no belly fat! [Those are real cuffs. -tterrace] Not a Bump in a CarloadFairmont Railway Motors (now Harsco Rail) is often given credit for coming up with the road-rail technology that created "hi-railers" (they spell it "HY-RAIL") in the 1940s, but the various versions of the Evans product had already been in production for years. The car-like one below was known as the M2. Their largest Auto-Railer (below) was only one of over a dozen diverse products they made for the war effort during WWII. Modern TravelerEveryone has done such a good job on the history of auto-railer that I am left to guess at the signage behind the gentlemen. TRIAL “Modern Traveler” ROAD RAIL COACH BODY? Love the Art Deco font. [SUPERIOR "Modern Traveler." Also: CHEVROLET CHASSIS, TIMKEN AXLES / GOODRICH & UNITED STATES TIRES. The "Modern Traveler" was a streamlined bus body made by Superior Motor Coach Co. of Lima, Ohio. - Dave] C-Span connectionEvans Products was founded by John Steptoe Evans, whose grandson John D. Evans was a co-founder of C-Span. Evans Products started out building wood products; first, a wooden block that allowed easy loading of autos on railcars, then cedar separators for the plates in a car battery. John S. Evans set a record in 1928 by flying around the world in 28 days. Gramps' good jobI knew my grandfather worked for a company called Evans so I emailed my dad this link. here was his reply: "Yes, this is the same Evans Products. More than that, your grandpa spent a couple of his years at that time driving one of these for the Company when we lived in Detroit. He would be gone for weeks at a time. First, he worked in a small city, Paris, Illinois, and later was transferred to Washington, DC. It always sounded like a good idea to me. It was equipped with both railway wheels and rubber tires, with a mechanism to lower the rubber tires or raise the railway wheels, so they could use the seldom-used rail lines like street-car tracks. Of course the rail lines fought them and tried to scare the public about potential collisions. In the end, the politicians voted against it ... but your grandpa was part of it." Alas, he's not in the photo, but what a pleasure to see a glimpse of his world. Thanks, Shorpy! Gramps' JobThat Washington, D.C. job may have been on the Arlington & Fairfax trolley line, which replaced its electric cars with Evans Autorailers. I think they wanted to drive them across the Potomic River without using the D.C. streetcar tracks. One of those later wound up on the Chicago, South Shore & South Bend RR in 1955, with a platform on the roof for working on the overhead wires in East Chicago, Ind. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Railroads)
Four Belles: 1923
... appears in any of these photos. The shots marked as "Arlington Beach" (e.g. this one ) were taken on the Virginia side of the ... altered all through this period and through WW II. Arlington Beach was an amusement park that sat adjacent to the old Hoover ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2012 - 10:43am -

May 23, 1923. Washington, D.C. "Shrine relay team at Potomac bathing beach." View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Tidal BasinWith what appears to be the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Building in the background, this photo locates the old "Potomac Bathing Beach" pretty much right where the Jefferson Memorial is today. Bobbed Hair reduxOn the contrary, I think bobbed hair is most attractive and prefer women with such short hair. Of course, it is all just a matter of personal taste. Bobbed HairPlease, dear God, don't let that bobbed hairstyle, or whatever it's called, come back into vogue. It does little for an attractive woman, and it makes the a plain woman look hideous. Locating the BeachesDigging around, I've been able to dig up some info about the two beaches mentioned here in these photos. The Potomac bathing beach was established in 1914 more or less at the site of the Jefferson Memorial, and lasted until 1925. It replaced an earlier beach on the opposite side of the Tidal Basin that I don't believe appears in any of these photos. The shots marked as "Arlington Beach" (e.g. this one) were taken on the Virginia side of the river. I haven't been able to pin down the location of this one exactly, because for one thing that entire strip of the shore was drastically altered all through this period and through WW II. Arlington Beach was an amusement park that sat adjacent to the old Hoover Airport which National replaced. From what I can tell, that would put it in or next to the Pentagon north parking lot. Columbia Island was then being created from the dredging that gave East and West Potomac Park their current shape. That would put this picture just west of where the Columbia Island Marina is today. [More on the old D.C. bathing beaches here. - Dave] Grandma's BobMy grandmother had hair down to or past her hips most of her post-adolescent life. She cut it twice ever, once when she was very old (and the trims that followed that), and wanted hair that was easier to care for, and once when she was 19, when she bobbed it. I asked, "Why did you bob your hair?" She answered, "Because my mother expressly forbade it." Another Grandma's BobMy grandmother's hair was never cut as a child. In her teen years (the 1920s), she got a bob, put away her long skirts and sleeves, and became a flapper - to the horror of her Victorian father. She wore her hair short the rest of her life. That's Florence SkaddingOn the far left. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports, Swimming)
Machine Shop: 1917
... coast who died Saturday at his home, 1052 N. Nelson st., Arlington, will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Free Methodist Church, Prince ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 4:47pm -

1917. "C.W. Hecox, instructor in machine shop, D.C. public schools. Supervising manufacture of practice shells for Navy at McKinley training school." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative, Library of Congress. View full size. Very FarkableThis has tremendous Fark potential. How long before it gets Farked? Secret scienceThey had finally assembled their first satellite, but would have to wait quite a while before someone invented the rocket. How many times do I have to tell you?Do not wear stripes with plaid! Potential ouchiesOK, this is my first comment as a long time Shorpy lurker. I'm a NC programmer at present, was a toolmaker for many years, machinist before that, and a plain old machine operator before that. I did the usual high school machine shop classes in 1973-1976. I made a cannon or two, a couple of vises, but no pipes. That said, IMHO this guy is looking for trouble. He's not wearing safety glasses, he's got a ring on, he's wearing a necktie (tucked in though), long sleeves, and last but not least, he's wearing a striped coat with checkered pants! Granted, it's 1917; OSHA is nowhere in sight. The teacher isn't much better: no safety glasses, long sleeves, necktie (again, tucked in), and he's stopping the lathe from floating away. At least their hair is short and out of harms way. This picture makes me cringe just looking at it. I wouldn't mind having the lathe though. The cageThe four basket-weave hatches give access to the commutator (this was a DC motor) and the brushes. A belt-drive from the end away from the camera led down to the gearbox (the rectangular shape that the motor is sitting on.) When I commenced my apprenticeship in 1964, the workshop had one of these old-timers. It wasn't used very often, preference being given to the more modern lathes at the time. On a side note, Occupational Health & Safety in those days consisted of the boss saying "Be careful!" That was from an era when "common sense" was also an acceptable term. BHK in Australia "Hix" Hecox Bicyclist Collides With a Carriage Mr. C.W. Hecox, a bicyclist, while riding up the hill through the north side of the capitol grounds last evening, ran into a one-horse surrey with a gentleman and three ladies on it. Mr. Hecox was riding fast and did not see the approaching vehicle until the horse reared on his hind feet. It was impossible for the rider to stop until he struck the horse. The bicycle was damaged. Mr. Hecox arose from the ground and said that he was not hurt, but after the carriage left he fainted, but soon revived and rode off. Washington Post, Jul 27, 1893 Public Schools of Washington Seen in Classrooms and Recreation Hours ... Prof. Clarence W. Hecox, of Tech, is a motorcycle enthusiast. According to several of his fellow pedagogues, he is so devoted to his machine that he wears motorcycle clothing - leggings, bloomers, and all. He is frequently mudspotted from head to foot. ... Washington Post, Feb 15, 1914 Hecox, Master Coach, Is One of the Old-Timers at Rowing Game Teddy Roosevelt and his famous cavalcade of roughriders were whooping it up in Cuba and Spain and the United States were locked in a grueling struggle for possession of the island just off the Florida coast, when a young fellow by the name of Clarence W. Hecox first conceived the idea of introduced rowing in the public high schools. He was an officer of the Columbia Athletic Club, one of Washington's most popular sporting fraternities, and a great believer in physical culture. The idea was frowned upon. The cost of launching a shell and outfitting a crew was prohibitive, but "Hix" persisted in his efforts and they were finally crowned with success. That was back in 1898. The first boatload was recruited at Central High School. The boys failed to startle the world with their rowing, but Hecox was well satisfied with the venture. Rowing has long since been abandoned by the schoolboys. ... From 1913, when he first went with the Analostan Club, His has sent 27 winning eight-oared crews to the starting line. His junior eights have carried off the honors in the last 11 Southern Rowing Association regattas, enough to stamp the gray-haired veteran one of the most proficient coaches in the East. ... Washington Post, Aug 16, 1933 C.W. Hecox, School Coach, Dead at 79 Funeral services for Clarence Wirt Hecox, 79, retired District public school teacher and coast who died Saturday at his home, 1052 N. Nelson st., Arlington, will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Free Methodist Church, Prince and Lee sts., Alexandria. Burial will be in the Glenwood Cemetery, Washington. Mr. Hecox, who had been ill for several years, retired in 1941 after more than 30 years of teaching machine shop with applied mathematics, and coaching football, baseball, and other sports. A half century ago, he coached rowing at various local boat clubs and championed the sport in public schools. Several of his pupils in the sport won honors in the collegiate world. Mr. Hecox, most of whose teaching years were spent at McKinley and Central high schools, was born in Niagara County, New York, and came to Washington about 60 years ago. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Geneva Johnston Hecox, and a nephew, Lemuel W. Owen, of Chicago. Washington Post, Jan 2, 1951 Apparently, as Hix neared retirement he spent a lot of time weeding his garden and decided to apply his shop skills to the problem: Patent for a weed puller. Dozens more articles about Hecox are in the Washington Post archives, mostly concerning his days coaching crew teams. Working in a machine shopWorking in a machine shop wearing a loose sleeved jacket and a tie... thats what I call an accident waiting to happen. Does anyone know what the big ball/cage on top of the lathe is? Hecox researchI guess our stanton_square's delving into the Washington Post archives disclosed nothing about the years C.W. spent in Hollywood under the name of Boris Karloff, enacting mad doctor scenes just like this. Inside the sphereMy guess would be an electric motor. Shop Safety.I entered the Henry Ford Trade School in 1936 at age 14. The wearing of safety glasses and ear protection in our factories started, if I remember correctly, in the late 1950s. We can not fault the lack of safety equipment in 1917 any more than fault them for not using a modern lathe. Set the Wayback Machine I've been retired for sixteen years, not long in the scheme of things industrial, but I remember working on the same lathe and others like it, though mostly Italian imports by then. The coveted machines were the Brown and Sharps, as they had the most precise gear-boxes. Most old school tool makers were leery of the new CNC machines, they felt that the computer took the human element out of machining. I guess the old leather belt machinists felt the same way. (The Gallery, D.C., Education, Schools, Harris + Ewing, WWI)
Ice Men: 1941
... to know. Fuzzy Memory I lived in Fairlington in Arlington from age 2 thru 5. My distant memory may be deceiving me but I seem ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/26/2013 - 10:53am -

December 1941. Washington, D.C. "Diners in Washington Hot Shoppes restaurant." An exciting night of ice skating awaits, or has just concluded. Medium format nitrate negative by John Collier. View full size. Close to HomeLived in a small garden apartment complex just up Yuma Street from where this Hot Shoppe was located. It had a drive-in as well. Good to know that the 'Ice Palace' building has not been altered that badly over the years, hope WMAL [ABC] stay there for a long time. There used to be a Mercury dealer on the other side of Yuma Street from this restaurant. Celebrity look-alikesThe guy at the left front of the table looks like a young version of the blond half of the Siegfried and Roy (Las Vegas and white tigers) act. The guy reflected in the glass block mirror (sitting with a girl) looks like a young Jimmy Stewart. The plates of food look like burgers and fries. mirror. mirrorI love the woman in the mirror who is checking out the photographer. Poor plants.Those stringy philodendrons need some tender loving care! Material for Future NostalgiaSoon this prosaic scene will be remembered with some poignancy should either of these young men end up at Guadalcanal or Anzio or Omaha Beach. In Vietnam, I found myself recalling fondly such odd moments as spaghetti day in my elementary school's cafeteria or the day Suzie Egan smiled at me for no good reason. The recollection of an evening's skating, followed by a burger with a friend, and all the while nobody's shooting at you ... priceless! Re: BottleThe same type of bottle is seen at Girls' Night Out: 1941 but also lacking a view of the label. I too would guess ketchup but have been unable to find anything similar on the intertubes. I'm also curious what was in the bowl with the metal lid. Relish? Sugar? [Another Hot Shoppe shot shows that bowl seemingly immediately before or after use. - tterrace] Nice Collar Flipon the blonde guy. The Army will straighten him out. Across from the Ice PalaceCould this be the Hot Shoppe across Connecticut Ave. from the Ice Palace? (approx 4400 block) In 1941, we ate dinner there before going skating with the Washington Figure Skating Club. Full dinner was either 66 or 88 cents depending on whether you got dessert. Note the coin box on the wall for the jukebox. The Marriotts thought their choice of music was superior to what the diners might choose. After WW2, what had been the Ice Palace became the studios for Channel 7. The Hot ShoppesI remember when the Hot Shoppes operated the restaurants on the NY State Thruway. It didn't matter what time of day or night you went there, there would be someone mopping the floor with some smelly ammonia based liquid. What's in the bottle?I'm not quite old enough to remember what it might hold, but any idea what's in the shapely bottle closer to our diner on the right? At first I thought it might be some long-forgotten beverage, but it appears to have rings in the glass neck, so maybe it's ketchup. Or a Hot Shoppe special topping? But where's the label? Inquiring, somewhat younger, minds want to know. Fuzzy MemoryI lived in Fairlington in Arlington from age 2 thru 5. My distant memory may be deceiving me but I seem to remember there was a Hot Shoppes in the Shirlington Shopping Center not far away. My mother went shopping in Shirlington a lot and I can picture myself as a young tyke eating there on occasion. Same booths and table setups. Anyway, Hot Shoppes is gone but last I knew Shirlington lives on. Chevy Chase Ice PalaceWhere the Ice Men cameth from... Before or afterIt appears that both men have their trousers cuffs rolled up. Easier to skate with not so much material in the way Sooooo, I would assume it is an after skate snack. Apres Skate?Seeing the young men's cuffs rolled up that they had already had their "skate." I used to do the same, as a kid, when I roller-skated around the neighborhood - and, of course, one cuff rolled up when riding my bike. Sugar, sugarI'm fairly certain the bowl with the metal lid is a sugar bowl. (This was before sugar came in little packets.) The hinged lid allowed one to level the teaspoon before removing it and prevented spills on the way to the coffee cup. Sugar cubes were also sometimes used at places like this and often stuck together in the bowl. When I was a kid we would sometimes stick our fingers in the sugar bowl (yuck!) and grab one or two cubes to suck on. Condiment ChoicesThat condiment bottle does look like ketchup, which wasn't always blood-red, according to oldsters in the know. Some ketchup was more orangey-red before artificial coloring became widespread. My maternal grandmother used to make her own ketchup when we had a particularly good tomato crop. I remember it being acidic and tangy and quite runny, not so sweet like the corn-syrup laden goo sold today. She canned it with a paraffin wax seal and served it right out of the jar with a spoon. Right beside it was her homemade chow-chow sauce, another tomato-based condiment that contained finely-chopped onions and hot peppers, vinegar, and salt. Both of my grandmothers made chow-chow, maternal "Mimi" made it soupy and paternal "Mamaw" made it chunky. "Ankle Beaters"What they called it in the 50's when you wore your jeans like that. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, John Collier)
Old Money: 1915
... audience invariably joined in.” Next time I visit Arlington National Cemetery, I'll pay my respects to jolly Mr. Taft! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 1:27pm -

Washington circa 1915. "Miss Louise Lester, in charge of mutilation of old money at Treasury Dept." View full size. National Photo Company glass negative. $5 million per dayThe following is from a caption for a similar photo of the same apparatus. Miss Lester was one of a committee of three which supervised the daily destruction at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Washington Post Jun 2 1912 U.S. Officials Destroy $5,000,000 Daily in Worn out Currency The money at the rate of nearly $5,000,000 is thrown into the receptacle at the bottom of the picture. Under this is the machine that cuts up the old bills into tiny bits. Later the mass is mixed with a solution that takes out all coloring matter, and the pulp is then sold to manufacturers of cardboard and paper pulp novelties. The woman in the picture is Miss Louise Lester, the only one of her sex to ever serve on this committee. She was recently appointed by President Taft from Maryland. Messy JobHow did she stay so neat and clean in such a messy environment? Wish I knew more about the process such as what the wash tub was for and why the use of water. Filthy LucreInteresting occupation! I wonder what exactly the process would be for money "mutilation." And I wonder if Miss Louise ever dipped into that big bin of moolah! WheeAnd Miss Louise looks thrilled to be doing her job!! Mutilation?!Oh man, I guess I would have the same expression if I was in charge of "mutilation of old money"!! That place looks like a bomb shelter. [I think the technical term was maceration, although "mutilation" seems to be what's written on the negative label. Someone at the LOC transcribed it as "metalation." Tomayto, tomahto. - Dave] FinallySomeone with a messier desk than mine! Louise Lester's Later Life of LeisureLarcenous Louise Lester later loaned her bother Larry a half-million dollars, leaving a little left for her lonely lesbian lover, Lottie. Louise and Larry learned of a leaky log house in a lower latitude and linked up there to live a life of leisure studying literature and laughingly learning to play the lyre. Lottie was left behind, later to have a lobotomy. [And after they died, they both went straight to ... - Dave] Ahem....From the looks of it, "Old Money" had to endure a great deal of torture before it was ultimately mutilated into submission! - Kathleen OMG, She's a ...Serial Killer! As in mutilator of serially numbered currency! Get it?? Yes? Taft ROCKED the White House. Responsible for the cherry trees along the Tidal Basin AND appointing the first female money mutilator! The only President to also have served as Chief Justice. A faithful husband and doting father. Roosevelt's troubleshooter who helped supervise the Panama Canal construction. And a merry 350 pounds, with an infectious chuckle! His biographer described Taft's famous laugh this way: “It was by all odds the most infectious chuckle in the history of politics. It started with a silent trembling of Taft's ample stomach. The next sign was a pause in the reading of his speech, and the spread of a slow grin across his face. Then came a kind of gulp which seemed to escape without his being aware that the climax was near. Laughter followed hard on the chuckle itself, and the audience invariably joined in.” Next time I visit Arlington National Cemetery, I'll pay my respects to jolly Mr. Taft! Community ChestI wonder what filled Miss Lester's blouse on the way to work. An off dayThe photo must have been taken on an off day. Miss. Lester said in an interview that "While my work is somewhat 'messy' it is interesting and does not grow monotonous. It's really fun!" http://fultonhistory.com/Process%20small/Newspapers/Oswego%20Palladium/O... Yikes.No, no. No. Nothing in this room says, "fun." Fun and this room, not in the same world. I've really never seen a more depressing situation. Even macerating old money could be done in a far less depressing room. Yikes. (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Natl Photo)
Abe Cohen: 1922
... 71, senior member of the firm of Abe Cohen & Son, Arlington, Va., manufacturers of commercial laundry machines, died yesterday at ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 2:16am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Abe Cohen." Probably not Abe himself, but you never know. This is just the kind of malevolent-looking contraption that keeps Stephen King in business. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Wet rugsOne of my cousins owned a dry cleaning business, and they had the same contraption. It was used to dry wet rugs. You would be surprised just how heavy a wet rug is! Anyone who has operated one of these drying racks can tell you that they aren't all that "heavy duty." The wheel goes up and down with the rack. This means that when you raise the lower rack, the wheel is "over your head" (a real back breaker). The upper rack is stationary. Goodbye, Mr BondSo many weird devices on Shorpy bring those classic words to mind. Actually, I believe the wheel raises the upper rack. One reason to adjust it would be to bring it within reach - of Mr Cohen or his employees, his wife, or his zombie. It certainly could be used to stretch something, but I'll cast my vote for drying rack. Perhaps it was used at a hospital for drying linens, like those we see ... drying. Lots of overbuilt equipment in old hospitals - see any movie about shuttered mental institutions. Also, one-offs then and now were likely to be built out of whatever was at hand - perhaps pipes and a crank were just available and easily cobbled together. Ink JetI think that’s what the inside of my printer looks like. Rug washing and dryingI read an article in the local newspaper about the oldest laundry and dry cleaner in my hometown. Back in the day, besides providing a laundry service for clothing, the company also washed rugs and hung them in the attic to dry. This looks like a drying rack for area rugs (no wall to wall back in the day) with a height adjustment. OY!This looks like something in the oral surgeon's office my mother tricked me into "visiting" in the early 1950s. My mouth still hurts. OverbuiltThe bottom rack appears to move up and down with the turn of the handle. Why is this thing so overbuilt, was it used to stretch fabric? Abe needed a broom.Looks to my eye like a drying rack. Abe could have used a rake as well. Noodles? Lasagna?I would guess Abe made his own pasta and air dried it on this contraption. To the Rack!It's almost definitely a fabric stretcher. The ratchet on the hand wheel is directed to pull the lower rack down away from the upper one. I find the chain wrapped around the rafter to be more sinister. WMPWeird mysterious photo, the kind I like. Stretcher / Drier?Yeah, it seems to me like it's intended to keep something under tension as it dries. Not only is there a rack (as in a linear gear) and pinion arrangement to move the lower rods, but there's also a large toothed cog. It doesn't engage the rack (there's a smaller pinion for that), but there's a movable pawl that engages the cog to lock the whole arrangement in the desired position. Based on the size of the crank wheel and the pawl arrangement and everything else, this looked like some serious muscle was used. I'm wondering if the fabric mats (?) hanging in the back may have been the sort of object dried here. [Below, another view of the drying rack. The top half telescopes down into the bottom half. - Dave] Abe Cohen's Stage Namewas Ron Popeil! Anyone can clearly see that this is an early version of the "Bamboo Steamer!" Maker of MachineryWashington Post, August 22, 1949. Abe Cohen, 71, Dies; Maker of Machinery Abraham (Abe) Cohen, 71, senior member of the firm of Abe Cohen & Son, Arlington, Va., manufacturers of commercial laundry machines, died yesterday at Garfield Hospital after seven weeks' illness. Funeral services will be held at his home, 1437 Geranium st. nw. Burial will follow in the Washington Hebrew Congregation Cemetery. Well known in the United States and Canada, he had been associated with the laundry business for 50 years, and a member of the firm that bears his name for the past two decades. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America at an early age. Cohen was a member of St. Johns Lodge No. 11 of the F.A.A.M., Almas Temple of the A.A.O.M.A., a 32nd-degree member of the Scottish Rite, the Washington Lodge No. 15 of the B.P.O.E. and the Rosslyn Business Men's Association. Surviving are a son, Moritz. A. Cohen sr., two grandchildren, Moritz A. Cohen jr. and Virginia Louise Cohen, and 10 nieces and nephews, all of Washington. Curiosity Killing the CatWell Dave, are you gonna tell us what this creation is or not? Do you think its fair to put that out there with nary a clue or explanation? Is there a prize for figuring out why it was created? Why is the name "Abe Cohen" used in the title? Is that a steering wheel that can be driven in different directions? Why does it have wheels? What are the blankets for? Is it used with the chains wrapped up there in the rafters? What do you know about this that you are not telling? Inquiring minds want (and need) to know. Don't just leave us hanging. ?????I don`t know what it`s for, but the top half retracts into the bottom. It's not overbuiltIf you're going to drip-dry eight woollen blankets (which is probably what this is for) you need something made out of steam pipe. Its similar to the drying racks in the laundry of Berrington Hall, a country house in Herefordshire in England (see pic). You fill them up with clothes and slide them in on rails on either side of a special drying furnace. Mind you - it would be a good place to hide a body too (but Miss Marple would know where to look). Severely overengineeredThis is an extendable clothes drying rack. The top half can be extended by a rack-and-pinion system. The rack gear can be seen on the vertical tubes in the middle. The ratchet wheel behind the hand wheel prevents the upper half from crashing down again. I have a hunch that Abe Cohen may have been a pipe fitter, looking to branch out. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Carrying-In Boy: 1911
... available. His oldest brother, Bradley Kidd, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on March 13, 1952. Rob Kidd I have a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2012 - 9:47am -

June 1911."Carrying-in" boy in Alexandria Glass Factory, Alexandria, Virginia. Works on day shift one week and night shift next week. Photograph and caption by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. Rob KiddOn the Library of Congress record for this photo there's a note that says on the back of the caption card someone has written "Rob Kidd?" So this might have been the boy's name. This is one of my favourite Hine photos, I think that the weary expression on the boy's face is exactly what Lewis Hine wanted to capture and bring to the public. Serious workBet these guys didn't go home after work and play on their PS2's and Wii's. Rob KiddThis is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. Thanks to a previous comment, I have identified the boy as Robert Ellis Kidd, born in Virginia about 1898. In the 1910 census, he is living in Alexandria, and everyone in his immediate family, except him, is listed as working at the glass factory. In the 1920 census, he is living with his widowed father and four brothers in Baltimore. In the 1930 census, now listed as Ellis Kidd, he is living in Amherst, Virginia, with his wife and 3-year-old daughter, both named Mary, and he is working for a lumber company. From that date on, he does not appear in any of the online records that are commonly available. His oldest brother, Bradley Kidd, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on March 13, 1952. Rob KiddI have a correction to make. The Ellis Kidd I found in the 1930 census in Amherst, VA, is not Rob, after all. I later found Robert Ellis Kidd in the 1930 census in Alexandria, and he's married with five children. I am still looking for more information. Mr. Manning - more on Robert Ellis KiddMr Manning - Your request from the Fairfax Genealogical Society was referred to the VA Room, where I am a volunteer. Obviously you have found a descendent of Mr. Kidd's. I was able to ascertain through his WWI registration (dated Sept. 11, 1918) that he was born September 29, 1898, Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia. It states that his occupation was a brakeman for the R.F. & P.R.R. -- the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. His height was short; Build - medium, Eyes blue and color of hair Light Brown. His nearest relative at the time was Joseph M. Kidd, 17 N. Highland Ave., Baltimore, MD. Hope this helps. If you should need to get a copy of the WWI registration, please contact the Virginia Room at the Fairfax City Regional Library - 703-293-6227 and press 6. Kathe Gunther Volunteer researcher Virginia Room Robb Kidd againJoe Manning again, of the Lewis Hine Project. I found one of Robert Kidd's daughters, and she is living with her 101-year-old mother, who was Robert's wife. Amazing. They've never seen the photo. Robert died in 1960. Wow!Thank you for posting this incredible photo! I googled myself and have now found your collection--a true treasure. Rob KiddThis is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. I interviewed Robert Kidd's daughter. She sent me several photos of him as an older man. You can see the photos and the interview at www.morningsonmaplestreet.com/robertkidd1.html Re: Rob KiddWow. Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Manning. I appreciate your work as much as I do Dave's. I'm glad you were able to connect with the family and provide them with this picture. How amazing that his wife is still alive! Rob KiddThis is Joe Manning, who wrote the story about Rob Kidd. The link to that story has been changed. It is now: http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/robert-kidd-page-one/ (The Gallery, Factories, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Havana Harbor: 1904
... already been removed from the USS Maine and hauled off to Arlington. A paean to the hosts It's a continual source of enjoyment ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2013 - 11:03am -

Havana, Cuba, circa 1904. "Harbor and Muelle Luz (Light Pier)." Note shipwreck at right. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Is that the Maine?Seems a little small, but the time would be right. Note shipwreck at right. The "Maine?" Remember the Maine!If I am not mistaken, the shipwreck you see is the remains of the USS Maine, which was destroyed in Havana Harbor in 1898. The wreckage remained there until 1910-11 when it was finally refloated, investigated, and sank again outside of the harbor. The wreckage was re-discovered in 2000. There are archival photos of the wreck still in the harbor and this seems to match up with those photos. MastLooks as if one of the masts has already been removed from the USS Maine and hauled off to Arlington. A paean to the hosts It's a continual source of enjoyment to visit this site. I also marvel at the clarity of the photos presented. You guys do a truly fantastic job. British Naval PresenceThere is a surprisingly strong British naval presence in this photo. Four warships are anchored out, at least two of them obviously flying the White Ensign (the 4-funneled cruiser on the left, which might be Cressy or Diadem class, and the barquentine-rigged gunboat in the center). Each of these ships has a consort anchored exactly forward of her that looks like it's probably part of the same squadron, even though these are too far away for me to see flags. (Those of you with better software might try zooming in more). The change to 4 funnels in British cruisers was very recent indeed in 1904. The Diadems (first with this layout) were commissioned between 1898 and 1903, while the Cressy's were commissioned between 1901 and 1904. Was there unrest in Cuba in 1904? Did the British send these ships with an eye towards gunboat diplomacy? Or was it merely a courtesy visit? It WAS SmallWe forget how big Navy ships got in the 20th century. The Maine was only 324 feet long, about the size of a WWII destroyer escort. And it was only 6600 tons. There are plenty of private yachts that size. Hotel Santander ?I think the Centro Balear (1885) is now the Hotel Santander on Luz Street in old Havana. The shipwreck is gone and the kiosks are gone. Royal Navy visitFrom the Times newspaper, Mar 13 1903: 'The North America and West Indies Squadron left Kingston, Jamaica, yesterday for Havana.' Maine MastFollowing up on jnewp's comment, the foremast of the Maine is at the U.S. Naval Academy. USS MaineThe Maine and her sister Texas were technically not battleships. They were classified as second class battleships but were from an earlier design than what we know as battleships. Texas fought in the Spanish-American war at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, but was woefully undergunned with virtually no armor. Although "REMEMBER THE MAINE" was a patriotic catch phrase used to garner support for the war, it was determined recently after observing the wreck that the explosion was internal, caused by a coal bunker fire adjacent to a powder magazine. Steamship VueltabajoThe S.S. VUELTABAJO was was a steel-hulled twin screw steamship built in 1893 at Glasgow, Scotland. At the time of the photo she was plying the Gulf of Mexico in the lumber trade: carrying mahogany, cedar and other tropical hardwoods from Mexican ports to veneer plants and sawmills in Mobile, Alabama. With a crew size of about 20, she had additional berthing for 20 passengers. In 1904 The Official Railway Guide advertised monthly sailings from Mobile to Campeche, Frontera, Tabasco and Laguna. She sank January 29, 1912 near Vera Cruz, Mexico. The tram is just as interestingI like the ships in this photo, but I like the tram more. It's one of 110 cars built in 1900/01 by Jackson & Sharp of Wilmington, Delaware for the Havana Electric Railway Company. Havana was one of the relatively few tramway systems in the world that used twin trolley wires and poles. These cars were solidly built, and remained in service with minimal modifications until the HER tram system was abandoned in 1952. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Havana, Streetcars)
The Busy Corner: 1934
... monkeys! I remember Kann's. There was also one in Arlington (where the GMU Law School is located now). I was fascinated as a kid ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2014 - 9:45am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1934. "Kann's Department Store." Pennsylvania Avenue at Eighth Street. National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size. A Mammoth Establishment Washington Post, Oct 25, 1911 Kann Store 18 Years Old. From Modest Beginning, Firm Has Grown to Mammoth Establishment. Eighteen years ago this month a small store was opened on Pennsylvania avenue, near Eighth street, by the firm of S. Kann, Sons & Co. Today that store is housed in a large building that covers nearly the whole of the square between Pennsylvania avenue and D street, and Seventh and Eighth streets northwest. This week the firm celebrates its eighteenth birthday. ... S. Kann, Sons & Co has faithfully adhered to its maxim, early adopted," Always the Best of Everything for the Least Money." as is illustrated by the present "Birthday Sale." Its conscientious dealing with the public, and great care to satisfy the patrons have caused the growth of the enterprise until the three-story building of the beginning has been swallowed up in its mammoth one of today. Everyone of the 49 departments of the store, it is said, has striven to outdo all former records in value-giving for this sale, and the well-equipped delivery department with its ten automobiles and fifteen large wagons will no doubt feel the endeavor has been crowned with success. Kann's monkeys!I remember Kann's. There was also one in Arlington (where the GMU Law School is located now). I was fascinated as a kid with the glassed-in display with REAL MONKEYS. MagicThis is one of those magical images that make me feel (and wish!) I could just step into the photo, and stroll that sidewalk. I can almost hear the street sounds. I remember Kann's in the 1970sThe neighborhood had gone to seed and they slapped some hideous aluminum facade on the building to make it look contemporary. Then it burned down in a suspicious fire. Shame they couldn't save it like they did the Hotel Washington. A couple of brand-new FordsTwo brand-new 1933 or 34 Ford sedans (or a sedan and a Victoria) parked in the row to the right. A sad endI remember the end of Kahn's. In the 1960's the entire block of buildings had been encased in a modern slipcover blotting out the original facades. In the late 1970's the long empty building caught fire, probably arson. As the building was razed and the blackened and melted facade was removed the "Busy Corner" sign was revealed, still intact. The night it burnedI was working at DC Fire Department the night it burned. It started in the rear on the 8th. street side to the left of the picture. When we went in there was heavy smoke in the rear on the third floor. We tried pulling the hanging ceiling and found another ceiling of plaster and lathes, we pulled that ceiling and found another of ornamental tin, the fire was in the ceilings and there were three ceilings as the building had one placed over the other each time it was renovated. It was impossible to pull the 3 ceilings fast enough to keep ahead of the fire , and we merely chased it down the 8th. st,as it gained momentum to the Market Space side , then to the 7th. st side where it finally was put out with massive amounts of water. The building was actually many buildings all hooked together over the years. Much of the building could have been saved it was not destroyed, but I suppose it was monetarily unfeasible since it was closed anyway. I have heard the facade was saved, but I have no idea what they did with it. My mother's favorite place to shop, we always waited for her to finish her shopping at 4 o'clock and meet her on the Market Space entrance.I always enjoyed going to Kann's at Christmas for their toy train layout, and seeing their mechanical people in the Busy Corner , corner. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
The Rest of the Store(s)
... Strosniders still has thriving locations in Bethesda (Arlington Road & Bradley) and Potomac Village. Woodmoor Supermarket ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/18/2013 - 6:13pm -

Continuation of the scene last glimpsed here, with the Acme supermarket at right. Silver Spring, Maryland, circa 1948. "Acme Market. Four Corners -- Woodmoor Shopping Center, Colesville Pike and Old Bladensburg Road. Schreier & Patterson, architects." Photo by Theodor Horydczak. View full size. Three grocery stores?This second photo appears to have a DCS (?) Supermarket at the far left end, another small, unsigned grocery store in the middle, with two men standing in front, plus our Acme Supermarket on the right. Did that small plaza really have three places selling food items? If so, at least parking was probably always available nearby for each. FinsThe Cadillac on the right is gorgeous. And at least its owner washes it! 1949 CadillacThe Cadillac on the right is a new 1949 Series 61 coupe, so it must be late 1948 or spring 1949. '49 is fineGreat looking '49 Cadillac fastback -- a car is a car, but that is a RIDE! Blast from the PastHave been exchanging email with my sibs over the Acme photos. We grew up in the Four Corners area, ca. 1947--1962 for me. We used to walk past the Acme twice a day, along what was then University Boulevard, to and from St. Bernadette's school (right or to the east). The "Hardware-Auto Supplies" was (by the fifties) Strosnider's Hardware. I don't remember what most of the other merchants became, but.... The "Groceries" became a savings and loan, where I had my first savings account (which paid more interest--4%--in the mid-fifties than you can get now!). The dark area to the left of "Groceries" was an arcade. Through the arcade on the left was a barber shop and a realty office. On the right was a stair up to the second level, which housed the library, where I spent many an hour. (In later years, the library relocated all the way to the left of the strip.) Also on the right of the arcade was a TV repair shop, where I had many a tube tested. Bowled ThereThere was a bowling alley downstairs at Woodmoor. It was duckpins of course; even after Fontana's opened around the corner I don't think there were tenpins in that neighborhood until the mid 60's. Dr. Thibodeaux had his office there for a long time, too. The Most PowerfulCar in the lot sits proudly by itself! The 1949 Cadillac, in a world still being propelled by flat head six and straight eight puddle jumpers with a maximum horsepower of maybe 120, the brand new 160 horsepower overhead valve V-8 sitting in the second year of the 1948 body, is the wave of the future and the 50's! With its four-speed Hydra-Matic, it can literally peel out of the lot and leave any of the other cars in its dust! When the accelerator is floored, the rear end squats down and the front end rises up with it beautiful hood goddess leading the way! Still there and much improved The one thing you can not do now is park your Caddy on the shoulder of what is now University Blvd. Also the center of the photo is what is under the Woodmoor sign today. And if that Hardware store would later be Strosnider's Hardware they live on in downtown Silver Spring. The Arcade is still there it leads to a parking lot in the back. The modern viewI'm pretty sure this is the correct view, today. Interesting to see the contours of the buildings maintained when they built the 2nd floor. View Larger Map Even More WoodmoorWoodmoor Shopping Center was developed by Standen and Chester Keller who later developed Beltway Plaza and what would be known as Hechinger Plaza. The flagpole rises over the area's first Post Office, which moved to larger nearby quarters in August 1961. To its left was the Woodmoor Bakery. A bakery fire in the '60s leveled part of the strip, but second story offices were added during reconstruction. In addition to their hardware store, Strosnider's also originally ran the 5 & 10, but Strosnider son-in-law Larry Olsen would assume the business; moving it into the old P.O. site. The original 5 & 10 site then became China House Restaurant. Only phase one of the shopping center is visible in this photo. In the '50s, the strip expanded northward (left) bringing a Peoples Drug Store, Liquor and Gift Stores, the Woodmoor Lanes, a Suburban Trust bank and a larger Montgomery County Library. The downstairs duckpin alley that Lewisdale John remembers closed suddenly and was replaced for a while by Slot Car Racing. Ultimately, the cozy cellar became the permanent home of the Silver Spring Stage players. Instant recognitionI recognized Woodmoor instantly, for in spite of many changes of stores the buildings look very much as they did forty years ago, modulo some careful renovation. The florist on the corner (which I think, from this shot, replaced part of the Acme) still even has its original neon sign on the roof. Woodmoor DeliThe store with the Groceries sign is the old Woodmoor Deli. It was run by two WWII vets - one of which sported a tattoo of a Hula girl captioned New Guinea 1944. I bought my first six pack of beer there long before I should have been allowed to. That Cadillacmay be a '48. All of the Caddy pics I can find online show only the '48s with a single backup light, although some '48s also had two. [1948 Cadillacs had three chrome "whiskers" under each taillamp. - Dave] The 1948 Series 61 Sedanet didn't: note also the single backup light. 2 grocery stores and a deliThere was the Acme Supermarket, the Federal Market and in between (where you see the Groceries sign) was the Woodmoor Deli. The Deli was owned and operated by two WWIi vets - Fred and George I believe. George was a big man and sported a faded tattoo of a Hula Girl captioned "new Guinean 1943). I bought my first 6 pack in that Deli and though it was not my name, George called me "Marty" for years due to a name printed on an old uniform shirt I wore while pumping gas at the ESSO. BowlingThe basement duckpin lanes at Woodmoor didn't have automatic machines, but pin spotters who jumped down and reset the pins manually. Fontana's at University and Carroll had two levels - one tenpin and one duckpin; went to many a birthday party there. In addition to Silver Spring, Strosniders still has thriving locations in Bethesda (Arlington Road & Bradley) and Potomac Village. Woodmoor SupermarketI lived in the neighborhood behind the Woodmoor Shopping Center, on St. Lawrence Street, for just over a year in the mid 2000s. I bought a ton of wine at the Woodmoor Supermarket/Beer and Wine store. While my wine was usually of the boxed variety, that little store had an impressive beer and wine selection back then. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Stores & Markets, Theodor Horydczak)
Miss Dead Letter: 1916
... Clara Nelson died on May 12, 1963, and she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on May 17, 1963 beside her parents. A photo of her ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/29/2012 - 2:12pm -

1916. Washington, D.C. "Miss Clara R.A. Nelson, Dead Letter Office." Another peek behind the scenes at the P.O. Remember, folks: If you must send cash in the mail, include a valid return address, otherwise Clara here ends up with a stack of orphaned $2 bills. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Fashionable?By today's standards, those are some runaway eyebrows! The Marx SisterThere is a strong resemblance to Groucho. Check out the eyebrows. Familiar lookThose are some bodacious eyebrows -- reminds me of my relations. Makes for a good startto the Christmas party fund! One for you, three for meThink there's a video cam in the room recording her every move? Waifs and StraysPresumably, the majority of the monies that didn't make it were never claimed by their owners. I imagine the problem was exacerbated by the growth of mail order businesses at that time, with huge sums passing through your mail system. A large amount of cash must have stopped at the desks of Misses Nelsons in all major cities. Does anyone know what happened to those unclaimed monies? Did they simply head for the Treasury's coffers? Ah humanity!Bartleby worked in this office, and it was bad enough even before Miss Clara showed up and took charge of the money. ... "Dead letters! does it not sound like dead men? Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters and sorting them for the flames? For by the cartload they are annually burned. ... A bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it was meant for, perhaps, moulders in the grave; a bank-note sent in swiftest charity: - he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more; pardon for those who died despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who died stifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands of life, these letters speed to death." Large NotesWhat I wouldn't give for that stack of bills! That's a treasure nowadays. 46 years old and singleOur Miss Nelson was born in Detroit in November 1870 to Halvor Nelson (b Norway 1840) and Miranda S Wilson (b Geneva NY 1842, d 31 Jan 1923). She had a brother, the quaintly named Justus C. Nelson (b 1880 Washington DC). Unfortunately I can't find any more information on our note counter (at least not without paying for it!) Big BillsThese appear to be the $2 and $5 bills that are showing. They don't make 'em like they used to! $2 BillsA lot of people are surprised at the existence of $2 bills. I've heard they are (or at any rate were) commonly found around race tracks. Very convenient for your basic $2 bet. Clara NelsonClara graduated from the Spencerian Business School (corner Ninth and D streets N.W.) in 1886. She was mentioned in the Washington Post several times, first starting in 1894 when she was listed as organist for Mount Vernon Commandary. From 1913 to 1923 she was associated with the Sunshine Home of Washington, eventually rising to the position of vice-president and superintendent. Apparently still alive in 1952, she is mentioned in the obituary of her brother, Halvor G. Nelson. I cannot find her obituary nor any information on her employment at the Dead Letter Office. I am loving the Postal Theme on Shorpy, especially since we are fortunate to have our own retired postal worker to aid as curator. Perhaps there might someday be a 'Postal' tag? Remarkable Resemblance!Sister Mary Clara used to punch my head for miscounting in 1953 when I was in first grade and looked just like this lady. I am certain they're related and were in a conspiracy to count things and punch little boys! She dressed her very best that day Miss Nelson wore her satin blouse and her velveteen jacket --nice workmanship on those cuffs -- on the day she knew her picture would be taken. The top buttonhole is the only one she ever used on the much-beloved jacket. I wonder what colors these were. The ruffle is a wonderfully revealing feminine touch. Her hair is put up with care. She knew she wasn't naturally pretty, but she liked to feel pretty, as any woman does, and I think she rose to the occasion that day. Bravo, Miss Nelson! And then there'sMaude. HUGE SUM of CASH$2 and $5 doesn't seem like much, these days. Keep in mind that those bills could be exchanged for gold or silver coins in 1916. A 5 dollar gold piece of that era contains almost 1/4 oz of gold -- and is worth about $385 bucks today! That stack represents a HUGE amount of money. RestingClara Nelson died on May 12, 1963, and she was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on May 17, 1963 beside her parents. A photo of her tombstone can be found here. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Tree House: 1923
... in storage at the Agriculture's Experimental Farm in Arlington, Virginia. In 1940 the Farm was transferred to the Army for part of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2011 - 10:45am -

Washington, D.C., 1923. All it says here is "Dept. of Agriculture." Back when the place was run by the Keebler Elves. National Photo Company. View full size. Noble Redwood Tree HouseMore photos here: This was the General Noble Redwood Tree House – a 50-foot section of a 2,000 year-old giant sequoia tree. This idea was conceived as an impressive government exhibit for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The tree was cut in the General Grant National Park – which is now Kings Canyon National Park in California. A team of twenty cutters worked for seven days, fifty feet above the ground, to cut the 26-foot diameter tree. Workers then hollowed out the stump, and cut the tree into some 2-3 dozen sections, which would be reassembled on the site of the exposition – complete with an interior circular staircase! In 1894 the tree was moved again to the grounds of the Agriculture Building, on the Mall in Washington, DC. It was then that the structure was made waterproof with the addition of a peaked roof and four dormer windows, and covered with redwood shingles. The tree house remained on the mall until 1932, when it was placed in storage at the Agriculture's Experimental Farm in Arlington, Virginia. In 1940 the Farm was transferred to the Army for part of the Pentagon grounds, and the tree was likely burned at that time. Early LOTR StyleI think that's where Gandalf used to live. He eventually had to move out because of all the carpenter ants (his "Jedi tricks" had no deterrent effect upon them). Nowadays he's in a Tampa condo. Jefferson Drive at 12th StreetTo the right is the Department of Agriculture to the left is the Freer Gallery. Between them is 12th Street SW, a service road and tunnel under the Mall. I crossed the Mall, 100 feet from there yesterday morning. The tree house is gone but the two buildings are still there. Tree FarkFarked again! Original TIFF?I've searched high and low for the higher-res source file of this image on the library of congress site and elsewhere and I can't find it for the life of me. Could anyone point me in the right direction? [It's here.] (The Gallery, Curiosities, D.C., Farked, Natl Photo)
Window Shopping: 1943
June 1943. Arlington, Virginia. "Ordering clothes from a mail order house at Idaho Hall, Arlington Farms, a residence for women who work for the U.S. government for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/25/2016 - 12:40pm -

June 1943. Arlington, Virginia. "Ordering clothes from a mail order house at Idaho Hall, Arlington Farms, a residence for women who work for the U.S. government for the duration of the war." Photo by Esther Bubley. View full size. Hope they have overnight shippingThe poor girl literally doesn't have a thing to wear and she certainly cannot go to work like that. The old vintage chenille robe hanging on the curtain rod was the norm in the forties. I don't think girls even wear slips anymore but nowadays that would pass for a dress. As for catalogs, what boy doesn't remember looking at the ladies' underwear pictures in Sears and Wards mail order selections when Mom wasn't looking? It was a rite of passage. Perhaps Madame would be interestedin something from the "Rosie the Riveter" collection? IronicIronic that Spiegel, Sears, and Montgomery Wards were close to today's Amazon business model of ordering at home. Growing up it was also fun to thumb through the pages of mail order catalogs. If only they had managed to hang on until Jeff Bezos and the internet had shown up. Window shoppingLooks like she should also be shopping for drapes Drapes and bedspreadThe photo reminds me of my two years spent at the Barbizon Hotel for Women in NYC. Every few months our so, the staff changed out our drapes and bedspreads in patterns very much like seen in the picture. DéshabilléA glance at the date of the photo explains the lady's state of undress. It's probably in the 90s, with humidity to match. Until mid-20th Century, when air conditioning began to proliferate, personnel assigned to Her Britannic Majesty's Embassy in Washington drew the same hardship allowance as they would in Calcutta or Freetown. (The Gallery, D.C., Esther Bubley, WW2)
Lotion Locker: 1943
June 1943. "Arlington, Virginia. Mirrors over the dressing table conceal a cabinet which gives girls extra space for their cosmetics, etc., at Arlington Farms, a residence for women who work in the government for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/23/2019 - 12:34pm -

June 1943. "Arlington, Virginia. Mirrors over the dressing table conceal a cabinet which gives girls extra space for their cosmetics, etc., at Arlington Farms, a residence for women who work in the government for the duration of the war." Medium-format negative by Esther Bubley for the Office of War Information. View full size. Fashion IconThat Charlie McCarthy dressed to the nines for even the simplest occasion. Bed, Bath & BeyondA novel idea. They installed a bathroom medicine cabinet above the dressing table. Lest anyone get ideasNot one, not two, but three pictures of the loved one. And matches for the cigarettes, because being away from him is hard. Well done, fair lady. Love that sweater, too. Nothing says "warmth" like even a thinner layer of wool like that. Souper SetupI want to ask the question everyone is wondering about: what is a can of Campbell's Vegetable soup doing among the lotions and cosmetics? BreakfastGrape-Nuts in the vanity mirror? Re: BreakfastThere's probably a bottle of milk outside on the window ledge, too. Critic of a historical photoWonder what people would say 80 years from now if they could see the inside of your homes today. We are so quick about others. All and sundrySoup and cereal cheek-by-jowl with your bath salts and talcum powder? Mmmkay. Also is that three different fellows whose pictures are prominently displayed on the dressing table, or three views of the same guy? Inquiring minds want to know. Meanwhile we'll slather on a layer of Pacquins to keep those hands white as milk. Vanity FareHaving lived in some very small efficiency (studio) apartments, I am not surprised to see food in the vanity cabinet. Servicemen PicturesFive of my great-uncles (all brothers) were in World War II. I have pictures of each of them in uniform in those cardboard flip-frames just like the ones here. My great-grandmother kept them on her mantel for years, long after the war was over. (The Gallery, D.C., Esther Bubley, WW2)
Come Play With Us: 1925
Arlington, Virginia, circa 1925. "Happy Walker Orchestra." On certain moonless ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/04/2011 - 10:02pm -

Arlington, Virginia, circa 1925. "Happy Walker Orchestra." On certain moonless nights, the old porters say, you can still hear them going at it. View full size. ZonkedThat trumpet player looks like he has finished a large measure of bathtub gin and is thinking, "If I just sit here very still, I won't fall off of this chair. Ohhhh, I think I'm gonna be sick." Mellophone on the floorOn the floor next to the trumpet player is an E-flat mellophone. I had to play the school's horn when I was in 5th and 6th grades. There was always gum in the mouthpiece, thanks to the girl who played it in the high school band (it was a small school), Bass SaxThat big bass sax reminds me of the Basil Fomeen band which played in the Congo Room at the Carlton Hotel in DC in the 1950s. The ONK! ONK! of that sax was characteristic. Unfortunately the band was well beyond its prime and was pretty terrible ... but they were in LIVE!! HiFi on the Continental FM Network (funded by Maj Edwin Armstrong of FM fame). It seems that the Carlton has become the St Regis Hotel at 16th and K. Michael Scott!Is that Steve Carell with the violin? The CountCount Dracula on Piano. Which one is Happy Walker, is he the Undertaker with the Violin? Nino SaxLooks like our reedman's slinging a Sopranino Saxophone; the straight one standing up next to the oboe. B-flat and C sopranos saxes are about the same length as a standard B-flat clarinet; the standing straight saxophone is noticeably shorter, so odds are it's a sopranino. The tiny horn slung on the stand to the player's left might be a curved version of the Sopranino as well, but might just be a B-flat curved soprano. Hard to tell from the angle. When Adolphe Sax invented the horn in the late 1830's (the first saxophone patent was filed about 1841) he described and built a family of saxophones ranging from the high end sopranino all the way down to contrabass. Outside the alto saxophone, marching band music and a few orchestral composers, for years nobody much took saxophone very seriously; it really took American jazz to make it a broadly recognized and respected instrument. In the Teens and 1920s the entire saxophone family came into vogue, though outlying family members like the sopranino tended to be treated as novelty instruments. Re the comment above - that's not a Bass sax, it's a mere Baritone. Bass saxophones are ginormous: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_saxophone#Gallery Not that a Baritone can't honk -- boy can they!! Lots of bands in the '20's deployed the Bass Saxophone where a tuba would normally be used - they occupy the same subterranean sonic territory. Spit and PolishLooks like they all stopped at the shoeshine stand on the way to the ballroom. StrangeThe fellow standing isn't Happy Walker; the fellow on trumpet at the left doesn't really look like Walker, where is Walker? And they've lost the bass player? A mystery for the ages, I suppose. OK everyone, smile and blink your eyes!Thanks to T.K. Torch for the interesting history on the instruments! I never knew where the saxophone got its name, until now! I don't know that much about photography, but wouldn't the weird eyes have come from the shutter speed being a bit slow? [The "zombie look" characteristic of flashlight photos comes from the subjects' eyes being both open and closed during a magnesium-powder exposure, where the shutter, not being synchronized with the flash, is opened before the charge is ignited and closed after it goes out. - Dave] Thanks for the explanation! That tall violinist is pretty handsome, despite the "zombie look"! Altogether now,Silk lapels and socks, striped vests and hair parted in the middle, a one and a two ! Busy sax manI wonder if he got a bigger cut than the others? That's a lot of instruments to play (and to maintain!) What a difference two years makesThe boys in the band have changed remarkably from the 1923 photo posted a couple days ago. In fact I don't think it's the same guys at all. Could it be that we're looking a 2 different bands here: the Happy Walker Orchestra and Happy Walker's Madrillion Society Orchestra? Take my life, but please don't take my banjo!Which is what the face of the banjo player, and corresponding grip on his instrument, seems to be saying. And the look on the trumpet player's face. Jeb70 seems to have hit the nail on the head. And the sax player bears a slight resemblance to Adrian Rollini, who was one of the kings of the bass sax for most of the 1920s. (The Gallery, D.C., Music, Natl Photo)
The Silent Army: 1925
May 26, 1925. "Gen. Pershing at Arlington National Cemetery." Standing watch: masts for the Navy's wireless ... looks different because when they become worn at Arlington headstones are replaced if they are damaged or if the writing on them ... it seems that H. G. Well's tripod invaders are marching on Arlington as we watch. Normal Accoutrements Lest the casual viewer ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/25/2015 - 2:26pm -

May 26, 1925. "Gen. Pershing at Arlington National Cemetery." Standing watch: masts for the Navy's wireless station, built in 1912 at Fort Myer. View full size. Notice the spurs"Black Jack Pershing on a dancing horse was waiting in the wings . . ." goes the brilliant Tom Russell song. Orville ThomasWisconson Pvt 343 Infantry 86 Division Died Sept 30 1918 interred 4/23/1920 Section 18 Grave 119 His current gravestone looks different because when they become worn at Arlington headstones are replaced if they are damaged or if the writing on them becomes illegible. At one time, gravestones were discarded in landfills. The cemetery ended that practice because Washington area residents were plucking the stones and using them for patios, driveways and other home improvement projects. Under the current disposal policy, headstones are to be ground up so the names cannot be recognized and then recycled. War of the Worlds?Unbeknownst to Black Jack, it seems that H. G. Well's tripod invaders are marching on Arlington as we watch. Normal AccoutrementsLest the casual viewer think that the General has a horse waiting just off camera, it should be pointed out that breeches, boots, and spurs were normal everyday wear for officers of all branches at that time, although long trousers and low-quarter shoes were optional when not in military formation with troops. Aviators were granted special permission to omit the spurs, since they might catch in a rudder cable and produce an unintended aerobatic result, often with serious consequences. One of the lucky ones...somewhatMy grandfather served in that war as a machine gunner with the 36th Division, 131st Machine Gun Battalion. He came from a little town in southwest Oklahoma (Doxie) that no longer exists. He wouldn't talk about his war experience at all except to say that as soon as they landed in Paris, General Pershing walked right in front of him while reviewing the division. My grandfather survived the war, but later suffered from severe PTSD/alcoholism as a result of his experiences. He later went to a hospital for 2-3 years in Oklahoma City, and when he got out, he never took another drop of alcohol again and slept like a baby. I often wondered if electro-shock therapy was in use by then to treat 'mental' patients. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, WWI)
Here Come the Bridesmaids: 1924
May 6, 1924. Arlington, Virginia. "Byars-Coontz wedding." The union of Miss Virginia Byars ... was interred not far from wherever this photo was taken in Arlington. See here . A somber occasion As my late mother would say, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/28/2016 - 12:52am -

May 6, 1924. Arlington, Virginia. "Byars-Coontz wedding." The union of Miss Virginia Byars to Lieut. Kenneth Lee Coontz, son of Admiral Robert Coontz. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Little boy lostPresumably the usher standing with arms crossed amidst encroaching bouquets. His outfit was not designed to bring a smile to his face. [He's most likely the ring bearer, and his feminine counterpart the flower girl. -tterrace] Can I go now?That little boy looks thrilled to be part of the festivities. Tragic end to the union?ADM Coontz served as the second Chief of Naval Operations. His son, the groom, died on active duty, apparently two years after this photo was taken, and was interred not far from wherever this photo was taken in Arlington. See here. A somber occasionAs my late mother would say, when taking a picture, "Would it kill you to smile?" Ghastly GarmentsIt's nice to know that bridesmaids dresses have always been useless once the wedding is over. And what's with the bride, who looks like she's trying to figure out a way to get out of the wedding? Virginia lived a long lifeUntil the age of 98. Groom & doomThe wedding earned an entire column of coverage in the May 7, 1924 New York Times. The matron of honor in this photo was the First Lady of Virginia and the flower girl, her daughter. The happy couple planned to move into the Wardman Park Hotel, home of many a Shorpy subject, to await the groom's return to service in the Pacific that fall. In its brief September 26, 1926 report on Lt. Coontz's death, the Times stated that it followed an illness of more than a year, and that he had undergone several major operations. The Associated Press had mentioned cancer. Son of the brideObituary here. (The Gallery, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo, Weddings)
Chain Bridge: 1865
... of the District of Columbia. The boundary line between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. is the high tide line on the Virginia ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 3:09pm -

View down the Chain Bridge over the Potomac near Washington circa 1865. Wet collodion glass plate negative by William Morris Smith. View full size. Re: Not a Chain BridgeThe pictured bridge is not of linked chain trusses, but its predecessor was. The earlier chain bridge was built about 1810 and collapsed in 1852. The new bridge retained the name of Chain Bridge, and to this day there is a Chain Bridge Road across the Potomac in Virginia. Click here for more info. BTW, what is that little shack on the right? An outhouse? Guard shack? The shack to the right...was for the guards. If memory serves, the Chain Bridge was the route Booth took from Washington after Lincoln's assassination. Chain BridgeWonderful texture in this image. The construction details are fascinating, especially the arches. That looks like a pedestrian walkway on the right side of the bridge. Perhaps the sand on the roadbed was to muffle the sound of horses hooves and the wheels of wagons and heavy artillery? Not a Chain BridgeThis is a wonderful wooden bridge but for sure not a "chain bridge". A typical chain bridge from about that time (1849) is in Budapest. In a chain bridge the links are stressed with tension not with pressure. S. H. Chain Bridge Guard ShackLooks like it is mounted on some type of pedestal so that it can be rotated. I am assuming the vertical opening on the side was for aiming a rifle through it while still providing some protection for the sentry. Bridge on the other side of town...On his way to Clinton, MD, J.W. Booth crossed the Anacostia River via the Navy Yard Bridge. More detail on Booth's route here - http://www.nps.gov/archive/foth/escapjwb.htm The shack to the rightEither that or a not-so-private privy...or a privy for privates. Goober Pea Booth EscapeTo quote 'The Life, Crime, and Capture of John Wilkes Booth' "Three grand pursuits wore organized: one reaching up the north bank of the Potomac toward Chain bridge, to prevent escape by that direction into Virginia, where Mosby, it was suspected, waited to hail the murderers; A second starting from Richmond, Va., northward, forming a broad advancing picket or skirmish line between the Blue Ridge and the broad sea-running streams; A third to scour the peninsula towards Point Lookout." Chain BridgeThe entire structure is actually within the limits of the District of Columbia. The boundary line between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. is the high tide line on the Virginia side. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Civil War, William Morris Smith)
Known But to God: 1943
... AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD May 1943. Arlington, Virginia. "Sailor and his girl at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by John Collier ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/30/2018 - 5:01am -

HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER KNOWN BUT TO GOD May 1943. Arlington, Virginia. "Sailor and his girl at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by John Collier for the Office of War Information. View full size. Out of uniformTwo issues this sailor will have with the shore patrol are folding his cuffs back and showing items carried in his breast pocket. His cigarettes are to be stowed in the top of his sock. Now If You Just Gaze Past And To Your RightStands a snippet view of the sprawling new Pentagon, built in a rather amazing 16 months and freshly dedicated a few months prior to the date on the Arlington photo The Past is a Different PlaceYou couldn't stand where they are standing anymore. It is roped off and under the control of the Army honor guard. All visitors are kept behind the ropes. How very young they look!LOC mentions the girl's name but not the sailor's name. Shorpy sports some excellent genealogy detectives--who can tell us more about Margaret Mary McCloskey? And maybe something about her sailor friend--even in general? Might he be newly graduated from basic at Norfolk, or on furlough? 5/31: alexinv, Thanks for the additional information! The sailor is no rookieHe's wearing the rank insignia of a Petty Officer 3rd Class, equivalent to an army corporal, so he's been in the navy for a while. Further research shows that the crescent moon rating insignia means he was a commissaryman, in other words, a cook. That rating and insignia is now obsolete, replaced by "culinary specialist", and an by insignia that looks very different. (The Gallery, D.C., John Collier, Patriotic, WW2)
Long Distance: 1921
... audio from the Nov. 11, 1921, Armistice Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, where Warren Harding spoke over the casket of the ... is the delicate machinery being installed beneath the Arlington Amphitheater which will amplify the President's voice one thousand ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/07/2015 - 1:57pm -

        Some of the "amplifying telephone" equipment that carried audio from the Nov. 11, 1921, Armistice Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, where Warren Harding spoke over the casket of the Unknown Soldier, to loudspeakers set up for the crowds outside as well as in New York and San Francisco. More here. November 1921. "This is the delicate machinery being installed beneath the Arlington Amphitheater which will amplify the President's voice one thousand billion times when he makes his address on Armistice Day in honor of America's Unknown Warrior." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. The Four Black BulbsUp on the ceiling in sockets, possibly they're used as some sort of a load? They're dark glass as to not cause unnecessary brightness in the space when in use. Early in my career I was working on a 1500 watt power supply that needed to be load tested. The resistors and parts to build the load would have been hundreds of dollars (a lot in 1980) Instead we bought 15 light sockets and 15 100 watt bulbs and wired them up to get a 1500 watt load. Cost was under $50. Seeing these bulbs on the ceiling brought back that memory. I also could be totally wrong. [I suspect they're red. - Dave] Nothing made of plastic to see hereThat equipment would still work now, almost 100 years later. [None of this would have been possible without plastics, chief among them the synthetic resin Bakelite. - Dave] 300 dBOne thousand billion! That's a lot of wattage from this cottage. Maybe someone else knows what that works out to in 'jigawatts'. Raised flooringThis is a very early example of raised flooring for cabling. AT&T began using raised floors in mid '80s. Secret Cellar I wonder what they use this space for today? Western ElectricThe tubes shown are Western Electric "tennis ball" types, probably 101D or 102D, but possibly also 104D or 205D. Any of which can be worth $1,000 today. Clearly what is shown is really just a preamp-level gain stage setup, any real power amps would have been bigger, and used different tubes. Zinc-plated, vacuum-tubed cultureHand me a Stone knife and another Bear skin, Carl. Rectifier TubesThese early hulks are quite interesting. This example was made by Westinghouse for license to Western Electric as seen on the decal. Amplification factorThe amplification factor of "one thousand billion" may not be as wild as it seems. A modern dynamic microphone only produces a couple of nanowatts of power. Dynamic and ribbon microphones were not yet available, but the condenser microphone had been invented by Bell Labs in 1916. While carbon microphones (used in telephones) had high power output, their audio quality was poor. If a condenser microphone was used, the stated amplification factor would translate to tens or at most hundreds of watts delivered to the loudspeakers. (Technology, The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Peewee Posse: 1936
... Thing It doesn't look like that now. As a "suburb" of Arlington, Texas, it's surrounded by a metropolitan area of millions of people. ... Still semi-rural While surrounded by the city of Arlington, Dalworthington Gardens itself it still somewhat semi-rural, but now ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/07/2013 - 9:36pm -

Summer 1936. "Dalworthington Gardens, Texas." Half-pints in ten-gallon hats in a "subsistence homestead project" established under the authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act. Photo by Arthur Rothstein. View full size. Paper MoonHad this been described as an establishing shot for the movie, "Paper Moon," I would have believed it. Where's Atticus?The two in the middle look like Jem & Scout from "To Kill A Mockingbird" Looks Like a LustronThe style of first full house visible on the left anticipates the Lustron house, which would not debut for another decade. I Can Tell You One ThingIt doesn't look like that now. As a "suburb" of Arlington, Texas, it's surrounded by a metropolitan area of millions of people. Oh myDo I miss those clouds and the prairie sky, it took me 5 years to learn to paint them in watercolor, then I moved to the coast, memories. Nice '36 PhotoMy parents were both out of the nineteen-teens and did that thing called "The Great Depression" as young adults. Finally, we get to see some rural kids who appear clean, well-fed and happy, albeit with government help. Still semi-ruralWhile surrounded by the city of Arlington, Dalworthington Gardens itself it still somewhat semi-rural, but now many of the homes are larger custom homes, along with some older homes, on lots an acre or larger. BarefootGrowing up in south Texas, these kids are doing what we always did. Walk everywhere, even over summer hot gravel barefoot. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Kids)
W.S.S.: 1917
... BRIDGE WHICH IN CONNECTING THE NATION’S CAPITAL WITH ARLINGTON SHA… and the bottom line ends with GREAT ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC Construction of the Arlington Memorial Bridge didn't begin until nearly 10 years after this photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 12:46pm -

Washington , D.C., circa 1917. "W.S.S. poster." (Aha. So that's what it is!) Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative, Library of Congress. View full size. Where this isI was able to make out some of the text on that mysterious cornerstone: UNION OF WASHINGTON O.G.A.S …. OF THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE WHICH IN CONNECTING THE NATION’S CAPITAL WITH ARLINGTON SHA… and the bottom line ends with GREAT ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC Construction of the Arlington Memorial Bridge didn't begin until nearly 10 years after this photo was taken, although plans for the bridge were made around 1901 or 1902. I would love to figure out the name of the theatre behind this billboard...that might provide a clue about the location. [From a 1902 article in the Washington Post: "It is the desire of the Stone Cutters' Association that the stone be placed on government property in some prominent location, preferably on Lafayette Square." A cavity in the stone contained Washington newspapers, a Grand Army badge and a copy of the Stone Cutters Journal. - Dave] Billboard BubblesThe billboards I see today appear to have much smoother surface than the one in the picture. It seems to have a lot of air bubbles. They must have a much better squeegee system now. Puzzle SolvedThat's the Belasco Theatre on Madison Place. http://cinematreasures.org/theater/7618/ Comedy is too easyShakespeare dropped his middle name when he started doing tragedies. War Savings StampsBillboard for War Savings Stamps to help the war effort. I still have my War Bond given to me by my parents from World War 2. Before BondsThat was a shorthand expression for "Buy War Savings Stamps." Either that, or Microsoft Windows Sharepoint Services is older than I thought. CornerstoneThat cornerstone is pretty interesting. It appears that it is dated as 1902 (MDCCCCII), yet the picture is dated 1917. I also notice that the cornerstone edges are protected by wood cornerguards as if it getting ready to be installed, yet the billboard latticework was cut out to accommodate the stone, implying it was there before the WSS! advertisement. War Savings Stampswere sold in both WW1 and WW2 to help finance the cost of the wars. They came in 10 and 25 cent denominations, and were aimed at school children. During WW1, the Boy Scouts were heavily involved in promoting and selling them. During WW2, you could paste them into special booklets and, when filled, the booklet could be redeemed for a $25 War Bond. I was very proud when I got that Bond, doing my kid bit to win the war. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Enter Front: 1935
... you can see the center rail. This is Rosslyn VA The Arlington Trust Co was on N. Moore St. and Lee Hwy. There was a circle on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/07/2014 - 12:10pm -

Washington, D.C., 1935. "Streamline streetcar, Capital Transit Co." The last word in modern mass transit. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Bar CarWhy the bars on the windows -- to keep you in, or keep them out? Not a PCCThis is one of a batch of 20 cars that were built during the time that the Presidents' Car Conference was developing the extremely successful PCC. It borrows many of the early PCC concepts, but ends up a bit awkward in comparison to the iconic PCC. There was one surviving example, 1053, which was lost in a fire at the National Capital Trolley Museum. A photo of the 1053 can be found here. Pre-PCC carNo. 1056 is one of 10 streetcars built by St. Louis Car Co. for Capital Transit in 1935, along with 10 similar cars from Brill. They had numerous advanced features intended to improve speed, acceleration and passenger comfort. They were precursors of the PCC streetcar design which would enter service in 1936. One car from this group, No. 1053, was preserved at the National Capital Trolley Museum at Wheaton, Md. until it was destroyed by fire in 2003. http://www.dctrolley.org/images/10532.jpg Those BarsThe bars (window guards) are to keep passengers' appendages and little siblings from being damaged because they stuck out too far. BarsThe bars are to keep stupid people's heads inside. Nothing like whacking your head on a pole or another trolley. Front or backI remember cars similar to these in Philadelphia in the '50's. Sometimes there was also an attendant at the back door who could take fares. When the 'enter back' sign was used, the driver didn't wait for all the fares to be collected. He took off as soon as he could close the doors. Still runningSan Francisco has 32 PCC cars running as part of F Line fleet of historic trolleys. They're painted in the colors of the systems that used them originally. Everything from Toronto to Mexico City. These 3 are wearing the liveries of Philadelphia (post-war), Los Angeles (Pacific Red Line), and the Los Angeles Railway. Power Source?The trolley is down; I see no centerline pick up between the rails. ¿Quien sabe? ...Lorenzo Running OverseasAnother San Francisco Muni PCC still running car is "Torpedo" No. 1014, preserved in Sydney, Australia by the Sydney Tramway Museum. It's shown here with another of our foreign cars, Nagasaki 1054. That's me on the left with my friend and fellow museum member Ben. Grand-Grandfather of Tatra-CarsThe Czechs have copied this style (More specifically, the design of the PCC car) as "Tatra T1". The descendants of this type (T2, T3) go today anywhere across Eastern Europe. In this sense that is the ancestor of the Tatra T3. Also interesting: power supply optionally by Pantgraph or inground slide No Wires in DCIt did have center rail or whatever its called (I'm no streetcar expert). DC didn't have overhead wires, by law. If you trace a line straight down from the S in "LOANS" you can see the center rail. This is Rosslyn VAThe Arlington Trust Co was on N. Moore St. and Lee Hwy. There was a circle on the Rosslyn end of Key Bridge and this is it. Streetcar Underground-to-Overhead PowerThe reason that DC streetcars appeared to run as “magic carpets” without the use of overhead wires is that they would use underground conduit current collection instead, with their poles retracted (lowered). Streetcar “conduit-powered” track consisted of 1) two steel wheel (running) rails (a type called "girder rails", readily identified with integral grooved inboard wheel-flangeway, and a special hot-rolled cross-section to minimize flexing and damaging of adjoining pavement); and 2) a pair of center slot rails which formed a track center slot, all mounted on 3) sub-surface cast-iron yokes, transversely buried below street level every few feet. Capital Traction (later DC Transit) had its streetcars as “hybrids” that could utilize either overhead trolley lines or below-surface conduit power, as required by DC’s ordinances within the local “federal district” (a large but rather jaggedly bound region of the central city). All lines had been equipped to operate in either power mode along its route: e.g. the Nº 70 Georgia Ave/7th St. Line, where the cars would run in street plough pick-up mode, from the wharves in SW DC (Maine Ave), along 7th St. to a point just north of U-Street/Florida Ave. NW (where 7th becomes Georgia Ave.). A signal light on a pole at street side indicated to the operator the stopping point for the changeover. Power would be turned off, and a “pit-man” would be charged with handling the street conduit changeover at a utility facility referred to as a “plough pit”, a rectangular cavity in the street and next to the track, where the pitman would open the square-shaped manhole cover and enter this pit, unplug the electric leads and detach the plough (plow) from beneath the car, and stow the plough away from the car (for re-deployment to another streetcar). The pitman finally would close the pit and extend the trolley pole (using the retractable rope and pole reel on the rear). Then the power would be restored. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Streetcars)
Enter Subway Slowly: 1904
... ramp from underground when traveling between Boylston and Arlington stops. There used to be a great site about the MTA/MBTA's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 12:54pm -

Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1904. "Descent into subway, Public Garden." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. SubwayspottingThis entrance was only used for a short period and was sealed in 1914. You can still see the ramp from underground when traveling between Boylston and Arlington stops. There used to be a great site about the MTA/MBTA's history, including abandoned stations and entrances; it's apparently disappeared but is preserved by the Wayback Machine. If you're a trainspotter like me you'll love it. [Below, the tunnel marked with the year 1895. - Dave] The old A LineThe car on the far right in the foreground is heading toward Park Street on what would become the old A branch of the Green Line. Current Boston commuters know the four lettered Green Line branches (B, C, D, and E), but until the early 70s the A branch ran with the B until splitting off at Comm Ave and Brighton Ave and then running through Oak Square, Newton Corner, and ending at Watertown Square. A tisket, a tasketWhat is the purpose of the wicker basket? The "wicker basket"It's a wooden bucket that most likely contained sand for traction on wet or snowy days so the trolleys could climb up grade and also for assisting in braking. [Interesting, but the basket is behind the bucket. - Dave] Ouch!That fence looks dangerous! ClewsA clue as to the date: The Helping Hand Society's fair at the Park Street Vestry on October 20, 21, 22. Amateur archivist alert! Green LineI used to take the T Green Line every day. I called it "The Nausea Express" ........for the way the train would speed-up slow down, speed-up slow-down. Basically, for those unfamiliar with Boston and the Green Line; imagine stuffing yourself into a tiny little subway car with a couple hundred of your closest friends and very little seating (with everyone standing about one nanometer apart), add a whole lot of funky smells and the high-pitched ear-piercing screech of grinding metal, shake and stir it all together (speed-up, slow-down), and you've got the Boston T's Green Line. Anyway. I loved living in Boston. It's a great place. I miss it - even the Green Line. (The Gallery, Boston, DPC, Streetcars)
The Woman in His House: 1920
... Self-Guide of Washington The Heart of the Nation. Arlington and Mt. Vernon. A Liberal Education for the Sight-seer" its ads ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 7:51pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "Crowds at Metropolitan Theatre, F Street N.W." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Lotta LookingI see Lotta Miles, the Kelly Springfield Tires lady, looking over the scene. Block is much the same todayFrom what I can see on Google maps, the theater is the only building that is gone on that block The other buildings look pretty much the same today as they did then. View Larger Map Personal appearanceMildred Harris Chaplin, the star of "The Woman in His House," made a personal appearance at the Metropolitan, which probably explains the crowd. Atlantic BuildingThe Atlantic Building, to the left of the theater, was a hotbed of music and art in the 1980s. "The Bootery Footwear" housed a carryout which featured the "bone fish sandwich," a big piece of fried fish, complete with bones, on a bun. Superproduction Premier Washington Post, October 10, 1920. At the Picture Houses. Metropolitan — "The Woman in His House." An event of particular importance in the picture world will be the first showing on any screen of Louis B. Mayer's superproduction, "The Woman in His House," at Crandall's Metropolitan for the entire week. An all-star cast headed by Mildred Harris Chaplin appears in the picture which is said to surpass the "Miracle Man" in heart appeal and has already been booked into a production house in Broadway where it will be shown at $2 prices. Lotta TalentThe young lady in the Kelly-Springfield ad is Miss Norma Shearer. It is ironic that the theater is showing a Louis B. Mayer film. In a few years Miss Shearer would become one of the superstars of MGM pictures. She would also marry Mayer's nephew Irving Thalberg. An article about the theatreAn article on the theatre: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7629 Not REALLY Still ThereFor better or for worse, these buildings remain as facades only. A clever compromise has been reached in DC that allows developers to construct modern office space that incorporates the facades of legacy structures such as these. No minced words for Mr. MintzIn the 1922 guide book “Historical Self-Guide of Washington The Heart of the Nation. Arlington and Mt. Vernon. A Liberal Education for the Sight-seer" its ads included “‘Mintz the Trunk Man, agent for Indestructo Custom Made Trunks’, who mixed low commerce with patriotic reverence and promised ‘IMMEDIATE repairs to your trunk or leather bag’ located ‘just around the corner from Ford’s Theatre where President Lincoln was shot’”. Along with trunks and suitcases he offered traveling bags "for the missionary, and leather novelties". Probably better not to question the juxtaposition of missionary and leather novelties. 930 F St NWHunh. 930 F St NW, next door to the theater, was the old home of the 930 Club, a well-known alternative-music venue where I saw many a band back in the 1980s. I think Nirvana was the last band I saw there, with Loop opening up. If you can imagine Nirvana in that tiny front room; yeah. It's no mystery where my hearing went. (The Gallery, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
Batista en Washington: 1938
... principles, attended Armistice Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, and wore a funny hat. 20 years to go In ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2012 - 6:18pm -

November 10, 1938. "Fulgencio Batista, the Cuban Army Sergeant who has risen to the heights of Caribbean Dictator, arrived in Washington today. This is the first time the Cuban Dictator has set foot outside his native land in 37 years. Gen. Malin Craig, the Army Chief of Staff, is shown with him as they pass the Capitol in a Cadillac." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. V-16 Show BoatWow. 1938 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Sedan with body by Fleetwood and the division's 16-cylinder flathead engine. A rare car that would be worth a fortune today. Presidential CadillacIt's a Monster! The Presidential limousine is a 1938 Cadillac with a V-16 motor and four-door convertible body by Fleetwood. Car on the right is a 1935 Cadillac. Appears to have G-Men riding on the running boards. The vehicle behind the Cadillac is a 1930 Buick sedan. The future of CubaIt is going to be grand. Our man running the country. It'll be like our little island country club. What could go wrong? Beware of big hatsWhat is it about dictators, fascists & communist soldiers, and others of their ilk that they tend to favor HUGE hats? El HombreWould you be surprised to discover "the man" worked in haberdashery as a tailor? Did he design that wicked hat too? Somehow I wish this was a movie still and the pies were coming next. Good Neighbor in a Funny HatFranklin Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy strengthened America's ties to Latin America by supporting "strong leaders" and providing military training and economic aid to the region at a time when the winds of war were brisk in Europe. Batista's 1938 visit pictured here was at the invitation of Undersecretary of State Sumner Welles. In Washington, Batista met with Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Roosevelt. Batista pledged to adhere to democratic principles, attended Armistice Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, and wore a funny hat. 20 years to goIn 1958, when I was in college, there was a big push to get students to sign petitions supporting Castro. I made the decision never to sign a petition unless I was certain of the proposal. So, I have never signed one. Batista was gone in 1959. JFK quoted"I believe that there is no country in the world including any and all the countries under colonial domination, where economic colonization, humiliation and exploitation were worse than in Cuba, in part owing to my country’s policies during the Batista regime. I approved the proclamation which Fidel Castro made in the Sierra Maestra, when he justifiably called for justice and especially yearned to rid Cuba of corruption. I will even go further: to some extent it is as though Batista was the incarnation of a number of sins on the part of the United States. Now we shall have to pay for those sins. In the matter of the Batista regime, I am in agreement with the first Cuban revolutionaries. That is perfectly clear." AwesomenessThe more I look at this picture, the more I love it. If somebody put a scene like this in a movie, it would be panned for exaggeration. I mean, you got Batista in the big-boy hat, the G-men in the fedoras on the running boards, the magnificent Caddy, all set against the Capitol building ... it's too perfectly '30s Warner Bros. Fantastic! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Fancy Cakes: 1920
Circa 1920. "Set pieces, Arlington Hotel." Including a polar pastry snowball iced with "Cook-Peary ... dating of this photo to 1920 may be in error. By 1920 The Arlington was no longer the Capitol's most opulent and trendy hotel. In 1912, ... other places to lay their heads when visiting D.C. and the Arlington would never again be the first-class establishment it had once been. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/01/2014 - 10:54am -

Circa 1920. "Set pieces, Arlington Hotel." Including a polar pastry snowball iced with "Cook-Peary 1909." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. No cupcake wars hereThese guys can show the Cake people on Food Network a thing or two. Cake Competition Rules1. All cakes must be presented floating in the air on ornate flowered stands. 2. No candles allowed. All cakes must have trophies as toppers. 3. All bakers must have mustaches. No exceptions or variations in mustache style. Wrong date, perhaps?I think the dating of this photo to 1920 may be in error. By 1920 The Arlington was no longer the Capitol's most opulent and trendy hotel. In 1912, the original Beaux Arts building (built in 1869) was demolished and it would be 1918 before a new, much more mundane building was built at a different location. By this point the world's elite had found other places to lay their heads when visiting D.C. and the Arlington would never again be the first-class establishment it had once been. In 1935, the building would be taken over by the Federal Government to become offices. I think the date internal to the photo is the correct one. The "Cook-Peary 1909" snowball certainly refers to the controversy between Frederick Cook and Robert Peary which erupted in 1909. Peary claimed to be the first man to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909. Cook claimed to have reached the North Pole in April of 1908, a year before Peary. Both men were highly respected explorers, but Peary had detailed logs of his trip while Cook had almost none (he claimed Peary had lost them) and so Peary's claims were upheld late in 1909. I suspect that the snowball cake was in some way a rather tongue-in-cheek reference to this little dust-up. Perhaps as a snowball fight? Beyond all that, the moustaches all four gentlemen sport would have been quite fashionable in 1909, but a bit out of date in 1920. (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., Natl Photo)
American National: 1918
... died yesterday at his home, 2400 Fort Scott Drive, Arlington, Va. He was 64 years old. Born here, Mr. Desio carried on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/23/2012 - 5:35pm -

Washington circa 1918. "American National Bank, F Street." Right next door to Harris & Ewing Photographers, who took so many of the photos (including this one) seen here on Shorpy. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Still There?Please tell me this wonderful building is still there! ["This wonderful building is still there!" - Dave] View Larger Map Victor E. Desio & Co. Desio & Co. will Remodel Dwelling Victor E. Desio & Co. have plans prepared by Julius Wenig, architect, for remodeling the three-story and cellar store building at 1309 F street northwest. The entire building, which is 26 feet wide by 82 feet deep, will be remodeled into two stores. The front will be of all glass show windows, marble base and copper trimming. The second and third floors will be fitted out for store and work rooms, and an electric elevator will be installed from the first to third floor. Metal ceilings and marble floors will be a feature on the first floor. When completed the work will represent an outlay of $8,000. Work will be started July 12, and Victor E. Desio & Co. will occupy the west store and Howard Deane the east store by September 1. Washington Post, Jul 9, 1916 Victor E. Desio Rites Arranged Here Tomorrow Victor E. Desio, retired jeweler, who for many years conducted business at 1309 F street Northwest, died yesterday at his home, 2400 Fort Scott Drive, Arlington, Va. He was 64 years old. Born here, Mr. Desio carried on the jewelry business founded by his father, the late Gerome Desio, in 1874. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and the Lido Civic Club. Washington Post, Jan 19, 1943 Not Entirely ThereThat wonderful steeple -- was this a cathedral of banking? -- is gone. Motorized bicycleCheck out the motorized bicycle at the far right. The more recent Schwinn Heavy Duty or the Worksman bikes look like that. Sidewalk sidecarCheck out the bike with the cargo sidecar in front of the bank! And what are those brass cans on the sidewalk? [Fire extinguishers. - Dave] Motor PlacementMotor is mounted on right front fork. AKA Baltimore Sun Bldg.Originally built for the Baltimore Sun newspaper. Alternate Shorpy view in 1924. Bank In Sun Building American National Acquires F Street Structure The American National Bank has bought the Baltimore Sun Building, the price it is understood, being between $210,000 and $225,000. The bank will remodel the interior of the building, and will take the entire two first floors for its bankroom, giving it one of the largest rooms, if not the largest in the city. The bank will move into its new building in September or October of the present year, the deed for the purchase of the big office building, one of the finest in the city, and one of the landmarks of F street, is consummated practically on the first birthday of the bank, its first year of existence having ended yesterday. The bank has been looking for a new location for some months, its present building on Fourteenth street not being large enough. ... The building was the first of the "tall buildings" erected in Washington, and when it was built, about twenty years ago, it was the handsomest business buildings in the city. It cost for the actual construction about $340,000. Washington Post, May 5, 1904 BicycleI see the bicycle, but having trouble locating the motor. Maybe he took it with him while he was shopping. Motor BikeI'll be. It looks like a Smith Motor Wheel. They were usually mounted at the rear of the bike. I've never seen one up front. Just like the one that the lovey Ms. Young has on her Bug. Dayton Motor BicycleThat's a very rare Dayton Motor Bicycle. The motor is indeed very similar to the Smith Motorwheel, but it was a version sold by the Davis Sewing Machine Company, makers of the Dayton brand at the time. The engine is in the middle of the front wheel. The patent is here. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Stores & Markets)
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