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VINTAGRAPH • WPA • WWII • YOU MEAN A WOMAN CAN OPEN IT?

Coke on the Water: 1942

July 1942. Washington, D.C. (vicinity). "Canoes and rowboats tied up at small refreshment barge on the west bank of the Potomac." Medium format negative by John Ferrell for the Office of War Information. View full size.

July 1942. Washington, D.C. (vicinity). "Canoes and rowboats tied up at small refreshment barge on the west bank of the Potomac." Medium format negative by John Ferrell for the Office of War Information. View full size.

 

Location

The location of this "coke" oasis is just above Key Bridge opposite Roosevelt Island. It is a short walk to the C & O Canal. The canoe rental was in Foggy Bottom, in Washington, DC. By the way, "coke" is known as "dope" in Appalachia and other places in the South.

Fakery

The walking beam is a wooden mock-up that has been attached to the roof. The smokestack and whistle have been likewise simulated.

Sidewheeler barge?

That device on top looks like a walking beam propulsion system, a very light basic one, next to the steam boiler stack. I wonder if anyone is familiar with whether that was a standard way to propel a small river barge in those days?

Deep Slurple

What about the "Hires in the sky"?

"Refreshment Barge"

A term not many people living out in the prairies would be familiar with.

Those weren't the good old days

Today's news anchors show more skin than these gals.

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