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September 1939. "Iowa state capitol, Des Moines." Medium format negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
Rath Packing Company was one of the largest meatpacking companies in the country in 1939, with facilities in 12 states. According to Wikipedia, the company's business declined for decades, then shut down in 1985. The Rath's Black Hawk Bacon brand is back though, another meatpacker owns the name and it is sold in your friendly neighborhood Walmart and on Amazon. Too bad it's not delivered in that gorgeous Rath's panel truck anymore.
Kozel's comment that much has changed is certainly true. But it isn't nearly as interesting or telling with the homogenized autos and trucks, the sterile open space or the buildings that could be anything.
The original photo has "grit," and I like it much more with building signage, yellow stop sign with reflectors and weeds.
I haven't seen a yellow stop sign in years. They used to be all over.
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