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Pat Crowe: 1921
... in police records under the name of Frank Roberts in Chicago, on July 5, 1890, when he was sentenced to eight years in Joliet prison ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/31/2012 - 8:20pm -

Pat Crowe, "former outlaw," in 1921. According to newspaper accounts of the day, Mr. Crowe's résumé included bank holdups, train robbery and kidnapping. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Pat Crowe 1859-1938Famed Bandit Dies, Aged 79 [From the Daily Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland. October 31, 1938.] Pat Crowe, the ex-convict who lectured in Hagerstown several years ago on the theme that "Crime Doesn't Pay," died Saturday in a New York hospital, aged 79. Crowe, once sought in a nationwide hunt as the kidnaper of Edward J. Cudahy, Jr., son of the millionaire meat packer, in Nebraska in the late nineties, was taken to the Harlem Hospital last Thursday after a heart attack in his furnished room. A man of many aliases, Crowe was one of the most colorful figures in American criminal history. Once the object of a manhunt with a price of $50,000 on his head, he later became a reformer and preached to sideshow crowds against the evils of crime. Jewel thief, train-robber, kidnaper and burglar, Crowe first appeared in police records under the name of Frank Roberts in Chicago, on July 5, 1890, when he was sentenced to eight years in Joliet prison for robbery. He sprang into notoriety in the kidnaping of meatpacking heir Cudahy in Omaha just before the turn of the century. A country-wide hue and cry went up for the capture of the perpetrator of the kidnaping. Posters throughout the nation screamed a then almost unheard of reward of $50,000 for his capture. Despite intensity of the search, Crowe eluded capture. He finally surrendered voluntarily in Butte, Montana. Although he admitted the crime, Crowe was acquitted on December 18, 1900. Crowe and his confederate, Jim Callahan, received $25,000 ransom for the return of the 16-year-old Cudahy heir unharmed. Crowe served time in many Mid-Western prisons, including a sentence in Missouri for train robbery. In 1906, after acquittal on a robbery charge, Crowe decided to mend his ways. He gave up his life as "an enemy of society," as he dubbed himself, and only once after that was arrested for any offense. That was about nine years ago on a wintry day when, broke and hungry, he was arrested for begging. He went to jail for five days. ================================ INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH OF PAT CROWE New York, October 31, 1938. -- Police today closed an investigation into the death of Pat Crowe, 79, old-time desperado who became an evangelist. He died Saturday in Harlem hospital, apparently of heart disease. Detectives said a fractured skull discovered in a post-mortem examination had been incurred when Crowe toppled over a banister and fell eight feet into a hallway during a heart seizure last week. SaddleInteresting...he appears to be on a M1904 McClellan military saddle. SaddleGood thing I checked comments first, funny enough I was going to remark on the McClellan too. Although my guess is they were fairly common around that time as refurbished/sale items from soldiers returning from duty. Perhaps not. I rode in one during a week of cavalry demos a few years ago, not so comfy for a female pelvis. (The Gallery, Horses, Natl Photo)
Gaston Street: 1939
... she was chilly. Or I'm just projecting October weather in Chicago onto her down in Savannah. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:46pm -

Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939. "312 Gaston Street West." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Whistler's MotherIsn't it odd that the adult in this picture would choose to just face the bottom of the porch and stare at the floorboards rather than look outward toward "where the action is" as the child did? The woman is even faced the same way as Whistler's Mother. I would have chosen the rocking chair on the left of the porch and looked forward toward the horizon which might be a bit more interesting (unless she enjoyed observing termites at work). WaitingI wondered that, too. I figure she might be waiting for someone to arrive in that direction since she and the child look dressed to go somewhere. Or she did not want the sun in her eyes. Or she wanted to put her feet up on the stool and for some reason the stool could not be easily moved. But I vote for waiting for someone to come by to get them. I get the feeling that the house is very orderly and neat inside. And that there is a tidy garden behind the wooden fence. PerhapsShe felt that she'd seen enough of what life can bring and the child has some hope for her future. Maybe that was the whole point of the photo, not just the house. Waiting for ...I also think they are waiting for someone to come down the road. Grandma looks to be facing to the west, which would explain the late afternoon sun. Maybe the big kids are almost ready to come home from school? Warm spot in the sunI think she wanted the warmth of the sun on her instead of sitting in the chair in the shade. It looks like she is wearing a cardigan, so maybe she was chilly. Or I'm just projecting October weather in Chicago onto her down in Savannah. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah)
Balcony Scene: 1925
... particularly lethal fires in the 40s and 50s, such as the Chicago Our Lady of Angels fire in 1958, led to much stricter building and fire ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2012 - 2:57pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1925. "Stoneleigh Court." Passers-by, frozen in time. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. One-Legged TrifectaThree one-legged ghosties in one pic. [There are at least four one-leggers.] A mere 57 year lifeKind of amazing at the lifespan some of these great masonry buildings had; short ones I mean. 57 years is just barely "broke in". A Beautiful BuildingHere's more information on this great building which is now sadly gone: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2618/lost-washington-stoneleigh... Beautiful Fire TrapsAlas, the razing of these beautiful masonry buildings had less to do with beauty and more to do with safety. A series of particularly lethal fires in the 40s and 50s, such as the Chicago Our Lady of Angels fire in 1958, led to much stricter building and fire codes being implimented in the US. For most buildings built before World War I, it wasn't financially feasible to retrofit the buildings to make them safe. Most were torn down to make way for safer, albeit uglier, structures. WeepyAlthough I didn't "join" immediately, I've been viewing Shorpy since the beginning. You would think I would be used to finding out that the buildings we are looking at are gone. Apparently not. When I saw this one, I set to packing and calling the moving company. Vonderbees caught me just in time, and I'm sitting here in tears. Sigh. Fire hazard, whatever, they always find an excuse. It was demolished in 1965Stoneleigh Court, completed in 1902, was home to many Washington notables over the years, including Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. The view above shows the corner of Connecticut Avenue on the right and L Street NW on the left. The Blake Building went up on the site in 1966 and maintained a little hint of the Stoneleigh Court appearance. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Captured German Plane
... this on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. This is supposedly a Ju87D This is supposedly a Ju87D from a ... 
 
Posted by rkoch - 07/27/2010 - 11:02am -

a capture German plane. The photo was taken by my Dad who was with Eyes of the 8th. View full size. re: Captured German PlaneThe plane your dad took a picture of appears to be a Ju-87D Stuka dive bomber. There's one of these very similar to this on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. This is supposedly a Ju87DThis is supposedly a Ju87D from a Nachtschlachtgruppe (Night ground attack group) in Luftflotte 4. The picture must be from 1945, indicated by the yellow ring on the engine and the yellow rudder. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, WW2)
High Roller: 1902
... Circa 1902. "Steel viaduct over Des Moines River, Iowa. Chicago & North Western Railway." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Photographic ... would blow this vital rail link to get goods from Chicago out to the West coast. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2015 - 10:51am -

Circa 1902. "Steel viaduct over Des Moines River, Iowa. Chicago & North Western Railway." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. The all-time train dodge!Just out of sight of the camera to the right Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern are looking for a kid that the train had knocked out of his Keds. Human DramaBridge came to be referred to as The Kate Shelley Bridge to honor her heroism in saving a train disaster. It has recently been joined by a new adjacent structure by Union Pacific. More photos.Union Pacific has a gallery about the bridge. Home Sweet Home!!Finally, an entry out my home county! This bridge is massive. Since we have been in remembrance of 9/11 for the last week I can tell you that security was tight around this bridge after the terrorist attacks on our country in 2001 for fear that terrorists would blow this vital rail link to get goods from Chicago out to the West coast. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads, W.H. Jackson)
Emporia Junction: 1943
... to "signalman" and "LarryDoyle". I lived by yards in Chicago and would occasionally see men at the end of trains throwing switches. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/06/2014 - 1:28pm -

March 1943. "Emporia, Kansas. Passing Emporia Junction switch tower as the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe train pulls into the yard." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Track DiagramTrack diagram for Emporia Junction tower along with a bit of history here. Mechanical Bits and BytesYou are looking at the 19th century's equivalent of a computer - mechanical style. That large building, or "tower" is the CPU. Inside, at the operators level upstairs, are several dozen 4 foot long levers - the equivalent of a keyboard for input. One or two of each of these levers is connected by a system of rods and levers, called piping, to control the position of a railroad switch or signal up to half a mile away. This piping can be seen running from the base of the tower, on supporting rollers parallel to the tracks. At the remote switch, the motion of one lever would set the position of the switch, and the second lever would control a locking mechanism to assure that the switch had thrown properly and to lock it in position so it wouldn't accidentally change position under a moving train. Downstairs in the tower was a system of vertical movable tappets, one for each lever, with a horizontal matrix of movable locking bars interfaced to the tappets. At the junctions of the tappets and locking bars there were notches cut into the tappets into which dogs on the locking bars could fit to lock or unlock the tappet. Dogs could be set as IF-THEN, OR, XOR, NOR, WHEN, and AND logic, to prevent setting up conflicting routes for train movements through the "interlocking" limits of the plant, and to allow the proper setting of signals to convey routing and speed information to the engineer of an approaching train. A Solid State computer- VERY solid! LarryDoyle states the case very well. One minor detail: not all mechanical interlocking machines had their locking vertically below the floor; some had a horizontal 'bed' behind the machine. This type of interlocking was known colloquially as an 'armstrong' plant - nothing to do with a Mr. (or Mrs.) Armstrong! I can speak from a very mild dose of experience - I am helping to restore such a tower in East Stroudsburg, PA. It is not connected to anything, but even so, my arms get tired. I love Jack Delano train photosThis is where my old head lays as I do miss the big steam days. Gosh, I’m working on a HO brass 4-8-4 Northern right now. I remember it well!When I was 18 I worked for British Rail as a conductor guard (as it was known back then) and I remember the tower and having to visit one on my training course. I also remember the old style signals you see in this photo. One of my tasks as a conductor guard trainee was to alight the tower when one of the signals failed and set off cap detonators on the tracks to warn the oncoming trains. I never had to do this, fortunately, since the signals were well maintained by the signalmen who religiously made sure they worked well all the time. Thanks for stirring such wonderful memories. Computer trains Many thanks to "signalman" and "LarryDoyle". I lived by yards in Chicago and would occasionally see men at the end of trains throwing switches. I thought that was how it was done, period. To see such a complex integrated system back in the forties....well, I never knew. Thanks once again to Shorpy and followers for this fascinating piece of historical knowledge. KansasHow evocative! I can almost feel the early spring wind blowing. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Road Tripping: 1952
... the photo is what Route 66 was like most of the way from Chicago to California - a two lane concrete and/or asphalt highway. The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/02/2014 - 3:09pm -

"6 Oct 1952. Clara & Grace at chenille & souvenir shop south of _______ ." We're back with Hubert and Grace on their road trip from Minnesota, the day before our previous photo was made at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Where are we now? 35mm Kodachrome by Hubert Tuttle; paint by Dr. Seuss. View full size. JCT ASince the Missouri DOT doesn't have money to pave roads anymore, they have lots of time to do things like scan all of the old state highway maps. The '48/'49 and '53 maps confirm that there was never a Route T near Phillipsburg. In '49, Route T went all the way from Montreal (Missouri) to Route 66, but by '53, part of it was replaced by Missouri 35. The south end of that Route T being in Laclede County precludes there being another Route T in Laclede County that isn't connected to it. My further guess would be that this is between Phillipsburg and Lebanon, because 1) the shadows say we are looking more or less north and 2) we can see the *backs* of signs that are advertising the wonders to be found to the south. I spent a little time with Google Street View looking for that hill, but nothing jumped out at me. It's possible that the hill was eased when I-44 went through - the interstate would be pretty much right where Clara and Grace are standing. How About This?Back then, the way to get from Minnesota to Eureka Springs, Arkansas was along Highway 65. Given that people in 1952 didn't travel as far in a day as we do, I'm going to guess this is around Sedalia, Missouri. Not as rare a name as I thoughtI had thought that Wiltfong was a very rare name that might provide a location clue, but an online search shows well over 100 people with that surname. While they're located all over the place, there are a number in Missouri, which ties in with a prior comment. Someplace to the north of Eureka Springs also would make sense given the way the trees have turned more in this picture. [What about "O. Wiltfong" -- are there hundreds of them? -Dave] [Edit: No O's that I could find. Probably wouldn't matter, as the O in this picture has likely been long since gathered to his/her ancestors.] [It does matter, if you're trying to figure out where this is. - Dave] Country Roads Back when I was a lad, American highway lanes were separated by a white line (broken or solid as appropriate), as shown here. Somewhere along the line, the white of those lines was replaced with yellow, and white was retained only for separating same-direction lanes on multiple-lane roads. Apparently this was a change I completely slept through, because I can't place the time when it took place. I wonder if anyone out there can pinpoint when this change occurred. The reason I'd like to know is that I find it irksome when "period" movies show yellow lines on putatively vintage roads (much like showing red/blue mailboxes in an era when they should be green), and I'd like to know at what portrayed period I can relax in this regard and, therefore, not feel an oppressing need to get a life. [That bugs me in period movies, too. The change from white to yellow began in 1971 when the Federal Highway Administration assumed responsibility for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Everything you ever wanted to know about it is in this document. -tterrace] I know where they are. Just outside of Hooterville. Oliver!Oliver Wiltfong, born in 1900, was living in Blue Springs, Missouri, in 1920. In 1940, he was in St. Louis. Perhaps Ollie ended up at this roadside oddity by the time this pic was taken. Route 66 Novelty MerchantThis is probably the home/business of Novelty Merchant Oliver U. Wiltfong in rural Lebanon area of Missouri. Oliver (and wife Jessie) lived in rural Lebanon, Laclede County, Missouri, for about 2 years prior to Oliver's death from brain cancer on May 6, 1949. They resided near Phillipsburg, a village of about 200 population southwest of Lebanon along U.S. Route 66 (now I-44). Postal address: Phillipsburg Rt I. Assuming Jessie remained living in Phillipsburg after Oliver's death, at the time this photo was taken in 1952 I would venture to say this is probably the family home on Route 66 near Phillipsburg. During the 1940/50s is was customary for folks living along Route 66 to sell novelties from their yards to passing travelers. [The old Route 66, now State Highway W, parallels I-44 near Lebanon, Missouri, the town whose name fills in the blank in our caption. Below is Oliver's death certificate; click to enlarge. His address is given as Phillipsburg Route T, presumably State Highway T in the vicinity of Phillipsburg. - Dave] [Dave - *Missouri T* is north of Lebanon. It runs south from Stoutland, MO to old Route 66 where it ends. Hence my conclusion the address on the Death Certificate is a U.S. Post Office mailing address (not a highway route). It's doubtful *Missouri T* ever ran all the way down to Phillipsburg, MO (unless since the 1940/50s the State renamed all the highways). Common sense says to me that since Oliver sold novelties he would locate on old Route 66 for maximum traveler traffic. Few travelers ventured off of Route 66 particularly in rural areas (except to visit major attractions). The building in the photo appears to be an old barn or shed dressed up a bit as a novelty shop by adding a false front and roof over hang. Notice the arched front vs. the pitched metal roof on the building; and, the double swinging barn type doors at the front of the building. During the early to late 1950s my family traveled Route 66 annually from California to Missouri on vacations to visit family living in Missouri. The highway shown in the photo is what Route 66 was like most of the way from Chicago to California - a two lane concrete and/or asphalt highway. The mail box with the name *O. Wiltfong* on it leads me to believe this is the property where Oliver and Jessie lived on old Route 66; and, that they converted an out building to a novelty shop. All of this leads me to believe the photo was taken at the Wiltfong residence (and novelty shop) on old Route 66 in Phillipsburg, MO southwest of Lebanon, MO. - SilverfoxCo ] (Minnesota Kodachromes, Travel & Vacation)
Dr. Clark: 1914
... of New York Infirmary, and Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. She took post-graduate work in London, Berlin and Vienna. She was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2012 - 1:26pm -

Washington, D.C., 1914. "Dr. Margaret V. Clark." Seen here possibly measuring something. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Context MissingWe know nothing of the context of the photo, so for all we know she could be an admirably modern doctor of 1914, indignantly demonstrating the pseudoscientific nonsense of the previous century. Grading on the CurveThe device she's using is for measuring curvature. The outer two pins are rigid and the center is spring loaded. The little indicator shows how much the pin is depressed. These are often calibrated to indicate the radius of a circular curve that would fit the three points. The big question is why she's measuring the curvature of the boy's skull. PhrenologyThe only thing she could be measuring is skull radius (at the point she's measuring). Be very stillI don't know what she is measuring but I believe it would be best to remain very still while she is doing it. My GuessMy guess is, she's practicing the pseudoscience of phrenology, which is odd for a "doctor" of her time since the practice had been pretty much discredited well before the end of the 19th century. Of course, she might also be a schoolmarm making sure the subject's hair fell within accepted limits. Making the GradeIn her home state of Iowa, Dr. Clark and Mrs. Mary T. Watts achieved notoriety by coming up with a supposedly objective formula for grading children based on certain physical attributes. According to a 1913 article in the Woman's Home Companion, her formula included a "cephalic index," measured this way: "multiply width of head by 100 and divide by length. . . . 80 to 85 cephalic heads are preferable." I wonder if her formula gave women extra credit if they took on the appearance of a founding father. Blue Book IowanFrom the 1914 Blue Book of Iowa Women: Dr. Margaret Vampel Clark of Waterloo was born at Pleasant Ridge, Lee county, Iowa. She is the daughter of John Christian Vampel and Clara Sandganger. She received her early education in the public and private schools, receiving her classical education in the University of Wisconsin. Her professional education was received at the Woman's Medical College of New York Infirmary, and Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. She took post-graduate work in London, Berlin and Vienna. She was ever an ambitious and conscientious student, and as a result is a woman of broad education, as well as having unusual professional knowledge and skill. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing, Kids)
Make It Stop: 1939
... were really jointly operated by three railroads. The Chicago & North Western, the Union Pacific, and the Southern Pacific. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2018 - 8:13am -

June 1939. West Carlin, Nevada. "Brakeman on the Union Pacific Challenger." Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. ChallengersThe Challenger passenger trains were really jointly operated by three railroads. The Chicago & North Western, the Union Pacific, and the Southern Pacific. The route through Carlin was off UP track, and onto the SP's. I spent some time in Carlin, not long after this shot was made, and I can tell you that the trains passing through town were almost certain to be the daily highlight to a young boy. Glad I like trains, I was. [Our brakeman is wearing a UP uniform. - Dave] What you write eventually was true. But, in the time of the photo, and during my youth, the shared track was owned by the Western Pacific, and only came under the UP's ownership when they absorbed the D&RGW, which had earlier gobbled up the WP. Of course, it all belongs to the UP now. I don't know the operating arrangement, but it could well be that the UP supplied through crews for the train. [Before Union Pacific acquired Southern Pacific in 1997, the two railroads operated separate tracks across northern Nevada. Between Weso, just east of Winnemucca, and Alazon, to the east of Elko, UP and SP operated dual trackage, with westbound traffic moving on one line and eastbound on the other. More on the Union Pacific Challenger. - Dave] The man takes pride in his work. Vest watch, creased trousers, shined shoes, with a shave. What is he holding in his left hand? First Transcontinental RailroadThis man is standing on the roadbed the Central Pacific built for the transcontinental railroad, which met the Union Pacific north of Salt Lake City. Southern Pacific acquired the Central Pacific through land leasing in 1885. Union Pacific purchased Southern in 1998. The thing in his left handThat container could be holding flares or railroad torpedoes. Flagging KitHe's holding a standard flagging kit, the larger diameter tube in the foreground holds fusees (flares to some), the smaller diameter tube on the far side holds the flag when not in use. Like many trainmen, he has wrapped a number of track torpedoes (explosive devices that make a very loud sound when a train rides over them, but don't damage the track or wheel) on the smaller tube to make them easy to get to. Challengers of Two TypesThe Union Pacific had both passenger trains and locomotives called Challengers. As far as I know, the two were not necessarily associated with each other. A Challenger (locomotive) might pull a Challenger (passenger train) over part of the trip. Length of serviceWould the three bars on his sleeve indicate the length of service on the UP? (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Railroads)
Behemoth: 1943
January 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The crew, with exception of the fireman, chat while ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2014 - 9:40am -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Chicago & North Western between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa. The crew, with exception of the fireman, chat while waiting for orders to pull out." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. It's a big one!Engine 3014, Class H 4-8-4, was built by Baldwin in September 1929 (Manufacturer's #61066). It was rebuilt on February 11, 1948, as Class H-1 and retired on May 13, 1953. That's that hatThe guy second from left is wearing the very functional Stormy Kromer hat. Still being made since 1903. UberbehemothThat's a pretty impressive looking photo, but a couple of years ago we visited the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, in Duluth, and saw the Mallet No. 227 that used to haul iron ore to Duluth and Twin Harbors. It's an articulated, 4-8-8-4 locomotive, similar to the Big Boy type built for Union Pacific. It's over 120' long and they have it set up so that every so often you can see how all of the component parts of the driving wheels worked together in harmony. It is truly a marvel of engineering. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Men's Furnishings: 1959
... look good. Used to make a trip to Carson Pirie Scott on Chicago’s State Street about every other week to buy a few while going to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2013 - 3:32pm -

Oct. 23, 1959. "Bloomingdale's. Hackensack, New Jersey. Men's shop. Raymond Loewy, client." Large-format negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. The more things change ...The suits on the mannequins are still very much in style today, as are the plaid shirts to their right. Even the hat on the mannequin has come back into style after many years in the wilderness (so to speak) thanks to hipsters. Ah! Room To Move Around!So much space! You can actually walk around without bumping into a rack or another shopper. Today's stores try to cram so much into so little space; it's a wonder clothes are on the floor being stepped on, not to mention other shoppers stepping on my toes. I remember stores like this: Robert Hall, Alexanders, Gertz etc. - they were a pleasure to shop in. Reminds MeOf Raleigh Haberdashers. Long gone and still fondly remembered. English tab collarsThe guy on the left is sporting an English style tab collar on his shirt. They were my favorites in the late 50s because no matter how badly I made my necktie knots, the tab collar always made them look good. Used to make a trip to Carson Pirie Scott on Chicago’s State Street about every other week to buy a few while going to school there in 1959/1960. These shirts are still available online. BloomiesBloomies were so well dressed in 1959, even their furniture wore bow ties. Loewy?What is the reference to industrial designer R. Loewy? [Gottscho-Schleisner was working on commission from Loewy. -tterrace] [Whose firm designed the interior seen here. - Dave] Everything looks goodexcept that the visual people buttoned the bottom button on the jacket on the mannequin on the left; always was and always will be a sartorial no-no. One can see the slight beginning of pulling through the hips that this will inevitably cause. Please don't do it. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner)
Grease: 1925
... Ohio; Atlantic City and Woodbridge, New Jersey, Charlotte, Chicago, Des Moines, Miami, Omaha, and Tacoma, plus Kansas City, Missouri; ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/22/2012 - 10:54am -

"Bob McDonough, Laurel race." On his ribbon: "Baltimore-Washington Speedway DRIVER. Inaugural Opening. Saturday July 11, 1925." View full size. Just look at those eyesHe's exhausted. He's dirty. His hands and feet are probably still shaking. He could've died this day, horrible and bloody. He might die in the next race. And he wouldn't have it any other way. Error on the boards.McDonough was initially declared the winner of the instant event, but after the scoring cards were checked Pete DePaolo was granted the win. Yum!Nothin' like a lime after a hot, dirty race! About those board tracks(Details adapted from my magazine article "Racing on Wood"): There were 24 board tracks in the U.S. from California to New Hampshire, ranging in size from a half mile to two, with seven in California (Beverly Hills on Wilshire Boulevard near today’s Rodeo Drive; Cotati, Culver City, Fresno and San Carlos, plus two circle tracks, Oakland and Playa del Rey); three in Pennsylvania at Altoona, Bridgeville and Uniontown; Akron and Cincinnati, Ohio; Atlantic City and Woodbridge, New Jersey, Charlotte, Chicago, Des Moines, Miami, Omaha, and Tacoma, plus Kansas City, Missouri; Laurel; Salem, New Hampshire; Sheepshead Bay in New York. Most were designed and constructed by a former self-titled world champion high-wheel bicycle racer, Englishman Jack Prince. Playa Del Ray was the first built, in 1910, and the last major board track race was at Woodbridge on 10/18/1931. Average track life was just four years. Not much was known about protecting wood without using slippery creosote and the stock market crash didn't help. Frank Lockhart did the fastest ride ever on the boards, a race qualifying lap of 147.229 mph in a Miller 91 on the mile and-a-half Atlantic City 45-degree banked track near Hammondton on May 7, 1927. BTW Laurel's track was banked 48 degrees. Bob cleaned up real goodHere's McDonough at Laurel on 10/24/1925 holding a funnel covered with a cloth strainer while his fuel tank is topped off. Below that is a self-explaining Laurel poster. Played byBears a strong resemblence to Paul Newman, who became noted for his sports car racing skills, primarily in Datsuns. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
The Traveler: 1939
... View full size. C&EI Hrm. Most likely the Chicago & Eastern Illinois tracks, though it might be a short line still in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2017 - 7:06pm -

January 1939. "Railroad tracks. Williamson County, Illinois." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. C&EIHrm. Most likely the Chicago & Eastern Illinois tracks, though it might be a short line still in use. (Rail faces are shiny not rusted, indicating current traffic; brush growing through the ballast and eroding ballast itself suggests maybe not a main line.) Spooky pictureNeighbors would be looking up the phone number for 911 these days if they seen that character. Proceed with cautionDangerous curve ahead where the Grim Reaper waits. Burlington RouteThe rather distinctive snaking of the track appears to go with a spot just a bit north of the Harrison-Bruce Sports Complex on the eastern outskirts of Herrin, on a CB&Q line that the town history says was built in 1906. Maybe Best EverThis may be my favorite Shorpy, artistically, since I have been a "member" with the one exception of the annual Christmas Party picture and the accompanying comments. Thank you, ~ ZeissMan Vanishing PointThis image perfectly portrays the rural midwestern landscape that has all but vanished except from my memories of growing up in northwest Indiana. My home area!I grew up in southern Illinois, one county over from Williamson. I can tell you that, especially in winter, these tracks (which run approximately parallel with old Route 13) and the landscape around them look exactly the same today. Bleak, but kind of beautiful. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Railroads)
Old Paint: 1920s
... many years ago. The photographer, Stadler, was based in Chicago. Where are you now, Nu-Enamel boys? View full size. Still With ... 
 
Posted by John.Debold - 12/15/2016 - 11:31pm -

        Car looking the worse for wear? "Paint it yourself for $50 with Nu-Enamel -- Only One Coat and Is Brushed On." I obtained this photo at a paper show at the Rothman Center at Fairleigh Dickinson University many years ago. The photographer, Stadler, was based in Chicago. Where are you now, Nu-Enamel boys? View full size. Still With Us. Sort Of.As seen here. Google image "Nu-Enamel" for a plethora of paint pics. The Coat of Indestructible BeautyFrom great state of Texas. Adjusted for Inflation$50 in 1925 is like $684.83 in 2015. $684 will buy you a paint job today but it'll be a low end one, probably not done with brushes though. Bring the kidsThe advert shows woman applying the paint, so their selling point was ease of use. Also they have a kids' play cupboard and little chairs in their showroom along with the pretty wicker chair and settee. And the place is spotless. So they were looking to a different market from the usual male automotive enthusiast. Illinois CorporationNU-Enamel Paint Co. was an Illinois Corporation. They sued Armstrong paints in 1938. Nu Enamel Paint Company wasa division of Reed-Union Company. They later made Nu Vinyl and Nu Finish "the once-a-year car polish". They sold off their paint division in 1969, and now make car care products. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Amarillo Yardmaster: 1943
... in both east and westbound moving along the system between Chicago and New York. There was always a saying in our home that when we ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 4:15pm -

March 1943. Yardmaster at Amarillo, Texas, railyard. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. paperless officeNotice how neat and arranged everything is? Bet he knew where everything he would need was .... and could get to it faster than someone today with the best of computers. Atlas ShruggedRead 'Atlas Shrugged' recently - this picture pretty much fits my imagination's. YardmasterSure brought back memories. My father was a yardmaster for the Erie Railroad in Meadville, Pa. in the 1950's and 60's. As a child I would go with my mother to pick him up after work and would go into the yard office. He was the westbound yardmaster and his clerk sat directly across from him at a two big desks. The phone was just like the one he had to stay in touch with the other offices along the system to Cleveland. They had a big pigeonhole system that the waybills for the freight cars were kept in when they would make up the order for the cars and their destinations in the length of cars pulled by the engines. The office was a busy place and they had three shifts each day on both the east and westbound sides of the division yard. He worked the midnight shift for almost twenty years as the yardmaster. During the night in our small town we could hear the trains pumping the cars in the process of making up the trains even though we were several miles from the train yard. There were numerous trains each night in both east and westbound moving along the system between Chicago and New York. There was always a saying in our home that when we would hear a train whistle we would say, "there goes a new pair of shoes." As long as the trains were moving Dad had a job and money to support us all. Both of my grandfathers worked all their lives for the Erie railroad. It's sad now when we visit Meadville and see that the yard just barely exists. The yard office that I remember as a child is no longer there. The new yard tower that he moved to in the late 60's is still there but doesn't appear to be functioning. Thanks for the picture and the thoughts it brought back. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Radio Highlights: 1957
... Brahms, and Bizet.” Washington Redskins versus Chicago Bears and Baltimore Colts versus Los Angeles Rams “Fact the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/02/2017 - 12:50pm -

December 1957. Washington, D.C. "Man with broadcast listings; woman tunes radio." The console set, seen earlier here, is evidently a portable, or maybe this is a two-radio household. News Photo Archive 35mm negative. View full size. Military family?That Turkish tray and the camel saddle could be found in the living room of almost any U.S. Army or Air Force family back in the '50s and '60s that had spent time in Germany. They sold those things by the thousands in base exchanges all over Germany. My wife and I, both military brats, both have the camel saddles our parents bought back then. Turkish DelightThis couple has visited Turkey - or loves Turkish accessories. The first photo had a Turkish tea tray mounted on the wall; this photo has a "camel saddle" seat. Radio/TV December 1, 1957: Cold War, Classics, Comedy, & SportsSome of the Washington, DC television programs that the newspaper Washington Star recommended for viewing for Sunday, December 1, 1957: WTOP “Red Telephone: A first look at the heart of this country’s powerful retaliatory striking force - the underground command post of the Strategic Air Command.” WRC “Omnibus: Composer Conductor Leonard Bernstein with highlights from the stage production of “Mary Stuart” and a narration of his musical tour through Israel.” WTOP “Conquest: Eric Sevareid narrates with his customary perception the story of a balloon ascent to over 100,000 feet, blood cell research, and deep ocean exploration.” WTOP “20th Century: Vertijets” examines the attempt to construct a plane that can take off and land without an airstrip and some of the weird airplanes that the Air Force has tested. Interesting Show.” WRC “Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour: features talent from Albania and Yugoslavia.” WRC “Dinah Shore Show: features Jimmy Durante and Italian film star Rossano Brazzi.” WTOP “Ed Sullivan Show: features Polly Bergen, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and as much rock and roll as any group should be expected to take, Sam Cook, Bobby Helms, and Ray and the Crickets.” Washington DC radio highlights included: “Invitation to Learning: David Hume’s Inquiry Into Human Understanding.” “Concert Hall: works by Haydn, Brahms, and Bizet.” Washington Redskins versus Chicago Bears and Baltimore Colts versus Los Angeles Rams “Fact the Facts: Belated kudos to the late Senator Joseph R. McCarthy - Developed in retrospect, how his Senate Investigating Committee instigated house cleaning in Government.” “Hillbilly Hit Parade: Don Owens plays top ten songs.” “Meet the Press: Guest Dr. Simon Rymo, chief scientist for the Air Force Ballistic Missile Organization.” “Leading Question: Basic Soviet foreign policy is discussed by Professors Buce C. Hopper and Robert C. Tucker.” Bursting your bubbleAngus, Hate to burst your bubble but these people were not world-travelers, just stylish. Those camel saddles and trays were extremely popular and were mass-produced right here in the U.S. of A. Antique malls are full of them. Also, I doubt they were a two-radio family. One of the popular pass-times for bored housewives was re-arranging the furniture. My mother used to get up and re-arrange the furniture in the middle of the night if she couldn't sleep. Not popular with my bare-footed dad the next day when he stubbed his toe on chairs that had mysteriously moved overnight. Better location for the pricey radioIt was blocking access to part of a bookcase and jutting out into the doorway between the living room and dining area in the previous photo. Newspaper radio logsOne can look up the radio programming for any day from 1930-1960 at this website: http://www.jjonz.us/RadioLogs/ And it may just be an artist with a similar technique, but that caricature looks like an Al Hirschfeld. Casual Friday?Because everybody lounged around the house in 1957 dressed it sport coats, skirts and high heels. (Technology, The Gallery, D.C., News Photo Archive)
Cow Town: 1943
... I assume) would be making a short stop on the way to Chicago on trip to promote buying War Bonds. My grandfather, a then-retired ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2012 - 6:07pm -

March 1943. "Hereford, Texas. Passing the depot on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad between Amarillo, Texas, and Clovis, New Mexico." Nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. It's Still ThereAlways good to see these old places survive. View Larger Map HerefordI've got personal photos taken from this same spot, only facing the other way to capture a nice view of the co-op elevator instead of the old depot. I'm not sure what my interest in the grain elevator was other than the huge "Hereford Grains" sign on the side of it. I wish I'd turned around and snapped a photo of the old depot to present you instead but the Google version is also okay. When I was in Hereford, a container train passed through town every 20 minutes all day and night long. It's a busy railroad town. It's also a busy feedlot town with all the aromatic scents that go with it. You folks on the east coast miss out on so many olfactory experiences that go with where your BigMac started from. CleanWhat I just love about these Jack Delano photos along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe line is how he makes everything look so CLEAN. Then and NowI really enjoy seeing then and now pictures. You should consider an album of them. We used to have one of those depotsThe Santa Fe RR runs through Chillicothe, Illinois. One of my earliest memories (summer 1944) is a visit to the train station there, an almost exact duplicate of the one in Hereford. My mother took me with her because Eddie Cantor (among other celebrities, I assume) would be making a short stop on the way to Chicago on trip to promote buying War Bonds. My grandfather, a then-retired conductor for the Santa Fe who had worked for some 40 years, often took me with him when he went to talk with some friends who still were still working at the station. When we moved back to Chillicothe, we lived 2 blocks from the depot. The sound of the trains lulled me to sleep many nights. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
George and Gracie: 1955
... it, Gracie said "George got it for me after he went to Chicago on a business trip. He had a brief affair and felt so guilty that he ... then Gracie said, "I hope George goes back to Chicago this year. I could really use a new car." Looking Ahead Who'd ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/17/2019 - 1:02pm -

Los Angeles, 1955. "Comedians George Burns and Gracie Allen." Color trans­parency for the Look magazine assignment "Fall TV Preview." View full size. George on MaryGarandFan's comment reminds me of a line I read in one of George's many autobiographies. Paraphrased, it went: "They say you're not supposed to speak ill of the dead. God, I wish Mary Livingstone was still alive." Gracie & MaryMary Livingstone went to Gracie's for tea one afternoon. The maid brought in a beautiful and ornate tea service. As Mary was admiring it, Gracie said "George got it for me after he went to Chicago on a business trip. He had a brief affair and felt so guilty that he purchased this tea service for me." Mary was aghast that Gracie would mention such private information. There was a long pause in the conversation, then Gracie said, "I hope George goes back to Chicago this year. I could really use a new car." Looking AheadWho'd have predicted he'd have another 41 years of entertaining ahead of him? She, lamentably, did not, dying a mere 9 years hence. She'd doubtless have been proud of the way he soldiered on after her passing, but I cannot help but wonder: did she get the new car? Sharp-Dressed ManGeorge Burns was always a snappy dresser, even by today's standards - beautiful, classy suits and ties. I would love to be able to dress like he did (does Tavelman's even exist anymore?). (Kodachromes, LOOK, TV)
Along the River: 1905
... the Northern Steamship Company between Buffalo, N.Y., and Chicago, Ill. The steamer called at Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Mackinac Island, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/12/2012 - 1:03pm -

Circa 1905. "Along the river at Buffalo, New York. Steamers North Land and City of Erie." 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Yacht-Like LinesAnother photo of the SS North Land tied up at Buffalo: 1905. Ludington Daily News, September 30, 1995. Early Great Lakes steamer was last word in elegance, until she almost went to war. By James L. Cabot. The 1895 season of navigation saw the debut of a new passenger steamer, the North Land. This vessel represented a standard of elegance that no longer exists. The North Land was built by the Globe Iron Works at Cleveland, Ohio. A steel steamer of 4,244 gross tons, she measured 376 feet in length and a beam of 44 feet. As no freight was carried, the North Land was fitted with staterooms for 500 passengers. Built by James J. Hill, the "Empire Builder," the North Land was operated by the Northern Steamship Company between Buffalo, N.Y., and Chicago, Ill. The steamer called at Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Mackinac Island, Harbor Springs, and Milwaukee, Wis. With her yacht-like lines and vividly white hull and cabins, the North Land truly was a beautiful ship. The steamer had three stacks when she entered service in 1895. In 1902 she was remodeled with new boilers, two stacks and an extra deck forward. … She last sailed in 1916; plans to operate the North Land in 1917 under lease to the Northern Michigan Transportation Company failed to materialize. In 1918 the North Land was acquired by the Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co., Ltd., of Lauzon, Quebec. The steamer was cut in two at Buffalo, bulkheaded and towed through the Welland And St. Lawrence canals. At Montreal Quebec, the two sections of ship were reattached. By the time the North Land reached Montreal, she was no longer needed for wartime service overseas. Plans to use the steamer as a troopship or a trans-Atlantic liner never materialized. The North Land lay idle at Montreal until she was scrapped in 1921, ending the career of a Great Lakes steamer that had once been considered the last word in elegance afloat. Small boat activitiesI'm intrigued by the three small flat-bottomed boats visible in this shot, all with square ends and propelled coracle-fashion by one oar over the stern. I'm guessing they're all engaged, or hoping to engage, in the same activity, and it's probably for cash rather than fun. Any ideas? An extinct businessGreat Lakes passenger liners - gone and largely forgotten. The final blow may have been the tragic Noronic fire in Sept., 1949 that killed 118. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Buffalo NY, DPC)
Behind the Gray Door: 1925
... only for thirty. Louis Armstrong had left in '22 for Chicago. I'm not sure of the exact location, but the stone and brick are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/12/2015 - 12:39pm -

New Orleans circa 1925. "View of a courtyard." Evidently the rear entrance to Club Firestone. Note the zigzag extension of the downspout under the patio flags. Nitrate negative by Arnold Genthe. View full size. Actually the VIP entrance.Trust me. You don't want to see the rear entrance. Firestone Tire Display StandThe sign over the porthole is half of a Firestone Tire Display Stand. The slogan beneath the company name reads "More Miles Per Dollar." The second window doesn't show any signs of another eyebrow sign ever having been attached above it. But if it did, it would have looked like this. Now do you see the face? It looks like it's crying. And here's a more modern version of the stand. Cour Intérieure Antoine's had been serving for eighty years, Galatoire's only for thirty. Louis Armstrong had left in '22 for Chicago. I'm not sure of the exact location, but the stone and brick are likely still in place, but no laundry hanging from the balcony. The Renowned Club FirestoneArt Gumm and His Rubber Band appearing nightly for your dining and dancing pleasure. DecrepitI am always amazed at old photos of New Orleans. The french colonial influence is often obvious, and I sometimes have the impression of looking at photos from a decrepit old village in France. This picture is no exception. The crooked pavement, the downspout, the old brick walls, shutters and door. This is so un-american. Small, cramped, dark, decrepit, on the decline ... Makes you wonder what that part of the world would look like if the french had clung onto Louisiana. (The Gallery, Arnold Genthe, New Orleans)
Peeps and Pup: 1900
... was a Dudley Walker who was advertising manager for the Chicago and Alton Railroad at the turn of the century. His house, designed ... *foot* negatives, built in order to photograph one of the Chicago and Alton's newest trains as one single shot as opposed to a series of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/09/2014 - 1:59pm -

Circa 1900. "C.S. Jackson group on Dudley Walker's porch." In addition to any Walkers present, this would include relatives of photographer and Detroit Publishing partner William Henry Jackson -- possibly the family of his son Clarence. And a puppy of uncertain lineage. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Goodness!We all look so casual and at ease. In dog yearsthis was 798 years ago. OK, now, look natural*everyone poses like mannequins at Bloomingdales* Dudley WalkerWhile there is no way to say "this was he," there was a Dudley Walker who was advertising manager for the Chicago and Alton Railroad at the turn of the century. His house, designed by architect Walter Burley Griffin, is at 1011 South Crest Street in Wheaton, Illinois. The floor plans (and a modern photo) are here. Its hard to tell from the photo above, but that certainly does look a lot like the house in the plans. Dudley Walker is probably most known (aside from his semi-historic ex-residence) for his involvement with the "Biggest Camera in the World," a monstrosity that took 8x4½ *foot* negatives, built in order to photograph one of the Chicago and Alton's newest trains as one single shot as opposed to a series of stitched images. (The Gallery, Dogs, DPC, W.H. Jackson)
Cuyahoga Lift Bridge: 1910
... and moves easily, are underground, like the ones on the Chicago River. This is a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge known as Baltimore ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/13/2018 - 10:36am -

Cleveland circa 1910. "Lift Bridge, Cuyahoga River." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Bascule BridgeThis is a bascule bridge. Often the counterweights, which offset the weight of the bridge itself so it balances and moves easily, are underground, like the ones on the Chicago River. This is a Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridgeknown as Baltimore & Ohio Bridge No. 464, built in 1907, which I believe still survives at Cleveland albeit unused other than as an icon of the industrial heritage of "The Flats." The steam barge in the distance is the Tempest, built 1876 by Duncan Robertson at Grand Haven, Michigan. It burned at Parry Sound, Ontario, on June 28, 1909. On the right is the Isabella J. Boyce, built by Burger & Burger at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in 1889. In use as a sand sucker at the time, it, too, burned off Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie, on June 1917. Since the Tempest was registered at Detroit until 1908 and the bridge built in 1907, I date the photograph to 1907-1908, probably 1907 soon after the completion of the structure. A beautiful dayIf you're not downwind of the mills. I am drawn to scenes like this because they show some of the conditions the working man endured in this time period. The industrial haze hanging low in the background meant that jobs were probably available. The steel industry was big in Cleveland. Corrigan-Mckinney, U.S. Steel, Cleveland Furnace Co. are some I can think of and there were a lot of jobs. Since the focus of this photograph is transportation it fits in with the background. Heavy industry grew where costs were low and for the steel industry transportation costs were a big factor. Both the importation of raw materials and shipping finished product. Here is a good example of an important water transportation corridor that fuels that haze and the railroads that needed to cross that corridor badly enough to spend the money to install a Sherzer rolling lift bridge. Now Who Do We Believe?Well. When I first saw this image the term bascule bridge popped into mind. But I am no expert on bridges. After seeing Willam Lafferty's and signalman's posts, I was a bit confused. So I turned to our famous online encyclopedia. The term is defined there as "a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or 'leaf', throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or double-leafed." At the bottom of the page the single leaf rolling lift type bridge is one of the illustrations. If you want to take a look for yourself, and decide what kind of bridge this is, go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bascule_bridge. Not BasculeThis is a Scherzer rolling lift bridge. The large circular arc segment is the support, and the bridge rolls on that arc as the bridge opens. The drive is at the center of the arc; a motor drives a small gear which rolls on the straight bar above the track level. A Scherzer is a type of BasculeA "rolling lift" bridge, sometimes called a Scherzer, is one of three distinct types of bascule bridge. Check it out on Wikipedia. No such thing as a dumb question?Would there be a right half of this bridge out of the frame, presumably already elevated when this picture was taken? How close do the segments of track have to come together to be a functional railroad bridge? Is it (was it) fairly precise and repeatable? (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cleveland, DPC, Railroads)
Frank Chance: 1910
Chicago Cubs first baseman Frank Chance. December 16, 1910. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 7:10pm -

Chicago Cubs first baseman Frank Chance. December 16, 1910. View full size. Gelatin silver print by Paul Thompson. Incorrect date?It's unlikely the photos of Evers and Chance (who knows where Tinkers was?) were taken in December. Both ballplayers are in uniforms, such as they were in those days, and they obviously were shot in a ballpark, probably in a dugout, judging from the wood in the background. But not in December. Major League baseball in the Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance era ended in September, and there were no winter leagues as there are now. So by December, these guys were back at their regular occupations, working in hardware stores or on the farm or whatever. Judging from their faces, whatever work they did was hard, and it was unlikely they were doing American Express commercials. [Most of these pictures were taken in December 1910 and January 1911 for American Tobacco Co. baseball card issues, including Gold Borders (T205) and Triple Folders (T202). - Dave] Baseball photosThese were part of a set of about two dozen pictures, most of them taken in December 1910 and January 1911, for American Tobacco Co. baseball cards. Still sounds unlikely to meStill sounds unlikely to me, Dave. Maybe the ballpllayers were shot during the season, and the cards issued in December to keep interest alive? In any case, extraordinary photos. Many thanks for posting them. The pictures were shot during the winter (which is why Christy Mathewson is wearing that big sweater) and the cards came out in the spring. If the Library of Congress and the photographer's caption info are to be believed. - Dave] 1911 Spalding GuideThese photos were also used in the 1911 Spalding Guide. (The Gallery, Paul Thompson, Sports)
South by Southwest: 1943
March 1943. Melrose, New Mexico. Chicago to California trip. "Santa Fe R.R. train." View full size. 4x5 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 7:50pm -

March 1943. Melrose, New Mexico. Chicago to California trip. "Santa Fe R.R. train." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Melrose v. McCurdyLove it when some obscure little place on the planet is featured on Shorpy that I've been to. Melrose was the high school team that in 1962 McCurdy HS beat for the NM state football championship. McCurdy was a small parochial school in Santa Cruz that had about 50 boys in the whole school. Not that Melrose was any metropolis. Luckily, we had a talented QB who pretty much carried us on his back, and who was also the biggest guy on the team. That, and we were a bunch of undersized, but quite ornery, animals on defense. I must have been the skinniest lineman to ever put on pads. I bet I wasn't over 145 lbs. Pure heaven it was for all of us getting to knock someone down and not get punished for it...rewarded, even. But we kept it on the field back in those days. Bunch of nice guys, actually. The Wayward WindMr. Delano captured the moment perfectly with this shot. Kinda reminds me of the Gogi Grant song "The Wayward Wind" In a lonely shack by a railroad track He spent his younger days And I guess the sound of the outward bound Made him a slave to his wand'rin ways. Keeping it on the FieldMost of us are still nice guys who keep it on the field. I just retired after 12 years of pro football. MOST ballplayers are nice guys who keep it on the field. Unfortunately we don't get a lot of press coverage. It goes to the handful of troublemakers that aren't nice guys. It's a shame really but please don't generalize all of us due to the sensationalism of today's news and the shenanigans of a few... (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Skating Masquerade: 1906
... … The Richardson Ball-Bearing Skate Company, of Chicago, has recently sold to Manager Louis Shouse, of the Kansas City ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 3:12pm -

Kansas City, Missouri, circa 1906. "Convention Hall." For four days only, a "Grand Skating Masquerade." 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. It was rebuilt in 90 days!The original Convention Hall that was built on 13th at Central Street in 1899 was destroyed by fire on April 4,1900. The Democratic National Convention was scheduled there over July 4. So this replacement "fireproof" structure was designed and built in 90 days using some parts of the old shell that were still sound. The convention was held as scheduled (with 16-year-old Harry Truman serving as a page boy) and nominated William Jennings Bryan. The Republican National Convention was held there in 1928 and nominated Herbert Hoover. The Convention Hall was demolished in 1936. Richardson Ball-Bearing Skates The Billboard, Oct 31, 1908. Skating Rink Notes and News By Earle Reynolds. … The Richardson Ball-Bearing Skate Company, of Chicago, has recently sold to Manager Louis Shouse, of the Kansas City Convention Hall, a large consignment of Richardson Ball-Bearing Rink Skates. Manager Shouse expects to open his big rink a few days after election. The Convention Hall will be artistically decorated and made into one of the finest rinks in the country. Manager Shouse is a past master in the amusement business and has been a successful rink manager for a number of years. He has played all the leading skating attractions in the country including Chas. L. Franks, Nellie Donegan, the Famous Rexos, and a number of others. He will play many P.E.R.S.A. [Professional Roller Skaters' Association] acts the coming season, in addition to running a series of national championship races. … Hardware Dealers' Magazine, 1904. Barney Allis PlazaI work across the street from this site. The building was demolished in 1936 and is now an underground parking garage with a park above. Barney Allis Plaza (as it is now known) has tennis courts, outside seating, fountains and hosts events throughout the year. Delightfully informativeThis simple posting of a convention center in KC is a classic example of how delightfully informative this website can be. Look at what we can learn: 1) site was rebuilt for the Demo convention of 1900 2) roller skating in this era was both personal recreation and professional shows ("Skating on Wood"?) 3) we get the chance to compare "before" and "after" views of our world - I like to use Google Maps to find a street view. This location was only about a mile east of the stockyards, which explains the industrial, and somewhat unclean surroundings. A present-day view shows substantial urban renewal - with a modern convention center. (The Gallery, DPC, Kansas City MO)
Knock Knock: 1943
... operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana. Locomotive coupled to caboose." Photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/07/2013 - 12:24pm -

January 1943. "Freight operations on the Indiana Harbor Belt railroad between Chicago, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana. Locomotive coupled to caboose." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. ThumperAh the bat... I worked for Penn Central railroad and can testify that even into the 70s, those bats were standard issue for train crews. Monsters Inc.The beast behind the door. The atmosphere is enhanced by the steam or smoke. Land Train"Candygram!" CNW 1300 series locomotivesA reasonable guess is we’re looking into the headlight of CNW 1381, one of over 300 class R-1's (4-6-0) built for the carrier by Baldwin and ALCO. Assuming the guess to be correct, Delano was probably riding with the crew of 1381 in interchange service between Proviso and Blue Island, taking Harbor traffic to, and CNW cars from the IHB. Apparently one running R-1 (CNW 1385) survives (recently restored) at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, Wisconsin. The Crawling EyePretty scary picture. It looks like a sci-fi movie from the '50s, with a one-eyed monster lurking in the door. 3 short blasts of the whistleSeeing how the smoke/steam is entering the caboose this train is/was/has making/made a reverse movement. Three short blasts of the whistle will let the crew and everyone else in the yard that she is about to make a reverse movement. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Sheetsville: 1941
... Pennsylvania Railroad's "Broad Way", used by their NYC to Chicago "Broad Way Limited" luxury passenger train. That train passed here on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/04/2017 - 1:59pm -

December 1941. "Factory workers' homes. Coatesville, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein, Office of War Information. View full size. Zillow info11 W 6th Ave, Coatesville, PA 19320 3 beds 1 bath 1,107 sqft Off Market Zestimate®: $68,197 Rent Zestimate®: $1,100 /mo Est. Refi Payment $266/mo 11 W 6th Ave, Coatesville, PA is a single family home that contains 1,107 sq ft and was built in 1900. It contains 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The Zestimate for this house is $68,197, which has increased by $3,327 in the last 30 days. The Rent Zestimate for this home is $1,100/mo. The property tax in 2017 was $27. The tax assessment in 2017 was $50,330. I'd bet a bundle... that this photo was taken on a Monday! A bundle of laundry, that is. Laundry day 76 years laterThe little store at the left is at Charles Street and West Fifth Avenue. The alley down the middle of Sheetsville is Spruce Street. It's still laundry day. A MondayMy mother ALWAYS did the laundry on a Monday. Broad WayThe 4 tracks you see are the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Broad Way", used by their NYC to Chicago "Broad Way Limited" luxury passenger train. That train passed here on the center rails. After passing Coatsville, the next stop would be Lancaster, PA. Around 1930, the newspapers would shorten the name to "Broadway", and the RR would follow. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Factories, Mining, Railroads)
Westbound Freight: 1943
... of War Information in March 1943, riding a freight from Chicago to California. Most of them were in black-and-white. He used a Graflex ... I hope we can see all of Jack's pictures he took from Chicago to LA (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 9:30am -

Santa Fe R.R. westbound freight stopping for water at Melrose, New Mexico. View full size. Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. This is one of about a thousand pictures Jack took for the Office of War Information in March 1943, riding a freight from Chicago to California. Most of them were in black-and-white. He used a Graflex Speed Graphic press camera that took 4x5 inch film. Jack DelanoI hope we can see all of Jack's pictures he took from Chicago to LA (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Broughton Street: 1905
... 2010. Transitional architecture anomaly After the Chicago Fire in 1870, the Chicago School of architecture, especially Louis Sullivan, pioneered new ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/09/2019 - 10:33am -

Circa 1905. "Broughton Street -- Savannah, Georgia." Starring the National Bank of Savannah, with the Bee Hive in a supporting role. 5x7 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Between Bull and Drayton streetsThe building with the balconies up front was refaced without windows in the upper floors and is now a jewelry store. +105Below is the same view from July of 2010. Transitional architecture anomalyAfter the Chicago Fire in 1870, the Chicago School of architecture, especially Louis Sullivan, pioneered new techniques using steel beams to build much taller, stronger buildings that began the era of skyscrapers. But most architects had no idea how such buildings should look, so they fell back on older styles, creating bizarre facades that look like Palladian Renaissance, just on steroids. It was an aesthetic mismatch of epic scale, the Woolworth Building in NYC being the most egregious and famous example. This explains the Savannah Bank building. However I am puzzled by the anachronistic Gothic Arch windows on the obviously older brick building next door. Could it have contained a church, or the office of a bishop? (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Savannah, Stores & Markets)
Bananamerica: 1942
... it while having a limeade. Split Decisions I'm from Chicago, and at the Dairy Queen my parents took my sister and I to sometimes ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/18/2017 - 4:17pm -

May 1942. Southington, Conn. "Dimitrios Giorgios, who came from Greece, runs a soda fountain. He wasn't here long before the country entered World War I and he joined up. A member of the American Legion, he is shown here making banana splits." Photo by Fenno Jacobs, Office of War Information. View full size. Banana SplitsIn 1942-1945, we dreamed of having a banana split. But the same price would buy seven kids a cone at 5 cents each. Trying to remember the flavorsSplits had three ice creams -- vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. But their toppings could be different depending on the region. I remember strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce, vanilla with pineapple and chocolate ice cream with strawberry sauce. Never really cared for the bananas, though the whipped cream and the cherry were nice. My mom watched me eat it while having a limeade. Split DecisionsI'm from Chicago, and at the Dairy Queen my parents took my sister and I to sometimes for a treat, the banana splits had three scoops of vanilla ice cream, and each scoop had a different topping each; hot fudge, strawberry sauce, and pineapples. My sister would eat the scoop with hot fudge, and being the oldest, I got the two remaining scoops with the fruit toppings. That was fine by me — she got the bananas. I never did like them. Family economyIt was a big deal for us just to go out for a cone instead of having my mom dig into the large pail, ice cream smearing her forearms, to dole out individual cones at home. A banana split at an ice cream joint would have been unthinkable, an impossible expense. Pig's DelightAround 1950 an ice cream shop in my neighborhood had a banana split called Pig's Delight. It was served in a wood container shaped like a trough and upon finishing the treat you were presented with a badge saying "I was a pig -- I finished the Pig's Delight." Days gone by indeed. War Rationing?Those bananas aren't "split", they're coin-sliced, and there isn't much banana in any of those dishes. Also, that looks like marshmallow cream on top instead of whipped cream. Is that some kind of rationing version of a banana split? (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Fenno Jacobs)
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