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Hot Springs, Arkansas, circa 1908. "Army and Navy General Hospital." Closer to the camera on Reserve Avenue we have the Imperial Bath House and some helpful signage. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
The hospital was, I think, replaced in the 1950s by a V.A. facility that became the Arkansas Rehabilitation Center. I spent three months there in 1972 after becoming confined to a wheelchair. I was right out of the hospital. Lifted weights, learned to get into and out of cars, bathtubs, etc. Also learned to drive with hand controls. Then I went back to high school and finished. They had all sorts of vocational programs. I can't say I had a great time there, but it was a big turning point in my life.
looking at a man down a hole!
Interesting variation on those maypole-style telephone distribution rings we see so often in these pictures. Note the shadow on the roof.
These two sets of buildings are so different but each has their own appeal. The bath house really has that Turkish flavour about it although the stand alone structure with the lattice sidings seems to compete with the theme.
Maybe the fence signage was put there to take advantage of traffic coming up from that side street on your right.
Nothing like a firm foundation.
does it seem like there were a lot of businesses in the early 20th century which were both architecturally extreme and simultaneously named "Imperial"? The style of this bath house appears to be influenced by the Moorish/Empire Winchester Mystery school, a contemporary and bitter rival of the more popular and enduring Romanesque Rococo Curlicue Baroque style.
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