These are the Jive Bombers, A Navy jazz band. In this instance they are playing at a dance for CASU Operations sailors on Dec. 13, 1943 at the Jungle Inn near Sand Point, WA. CASU is an acronym for Carrier Service Unit. One of many snaps that I have of this somewhat wild night attended by my Mom & Dad.

Using some of the photos posted on Shorpy, reader Dale Caruso put together this touching audio slide show on child workers at the turn of the century. Thanks for sharing Dale.

Ad for C.H. (Charley) Gates Pure Food Market and the Market Corner located on Walnut St. in Des Moines, IA. Uncertain of actual date of this ad perhaps the early 20's or 30's. Charles Gates (1862-1944) was a long time resident and businessman in Des Moines. He raised five sons and a daughter with his first wife, Lottie Grace Watson Gates and a son and a daughter with his second wife, Martha Bradimus Callan Gates.

This ad may be of interest to other families who may have a family member who also ran one of the businesses mentioned in this ad: Paul Squires, Frank Stewart, Art Frye, Harvey Applegate.

Des Moines Fire Department, Des Moines, IA Samuel Wilcox (1855-1942) shown holding the fire horses in front of the fire department. Sam was a member of Comb. Company #9, Des Moines Fire Department. He was a fireman for 34 years. We are related.

Beer delivery to Joseph Straka Beer Hall, Milwaukee, WI. Photo taken in the 1890's. Man in apron, Joseph Straka. In doorway to the right Josephine Straka, his wife and one of their children. Assume the man standing near the front of the sidewalk is the wagon driver. This building still stands on Washington Street. The Strakas are my great grandparents, they lived in the upper story of this building.

I found this nicely preserved little picture while scanning photos from some old family albums. The print is emulsion mounted on cardboard. There's no date or any other information about when or where the photo was taken. The only clue as to identity is a rather shakily written note on the back: "Your mother as a little girl, Esther."

This is a class photo from Verdon, Nebraska. My grandmother Muriel is front row, second from the right.