Concerning Chris's remark on the similarities between the Cincinnati and Brooklyn suspension bridges, they are both the product of the Roeblings (John and Washington). The Cincinnati bridge (1867) is a predecessor of the Brooklyn bridge (1883), is still in service, and currently being repaired and repainted. The deck is metal grating and "sings" when driven over. You can see the river through the deck, which is a thrill to ride a bicycle over.

http://www.roeblingbridge.com/historyb.html

and just maybe we will see my favorite Cincinnati business, Lunkenheimer Valve.

I grew up in Cincy in the 40s and 50s in Walnut Hills, Mount Auburn, and Hyde Park. Reader Jeff mentioned Eggleston Avenue. It was near the Mt. Adams Incline which I rode many times as a kid; what a view it had at night with the open summer cars.

He also mentioned Columbia Parkway which was an early day version of an expressway. When it reached downtown, its viaduct crossed Eggleston and you could always smell the spices being made at the Frank Tea and Spice Conpany down below. Columbia then became 5th Street which went to Fountain Square and Government Square in the heart of downtown.

Fechheimer Brothers was, and apparently still is, one of the major suppliers of postal uniforms. I note their home page says they've been in Cincy since 1842, and that in addition to their foreign plants maintain three stateside union operations, presumably to cater to the union-heavy trades.

Had already been around Cincy for 70 years when this pic was made.

I was a bit surprised to see that a whole cluster of buildings at the left are still there today. The huge warehouse with the two water towers (Tailors L.E. Hays etc.) has had a modern makeover, and the 5th Street/Columbia Parkway Viaduct now slides in just to the right of it. The Taft Museum and its back yard, part of a small enclave of wealthy residences, can be seen poking out from the left of the warehouse. The two buildings at the very left edge of the shot remain, sans smokestack. Aerial photo. The street coming towards us is 5th, and Eggleston is running left to right behind the Seeds building and Acorn Buggy.

When I was in high school we bought new band uniforms from Fechheimers. How funny that would come up after all these years!

I believe that white house with the tree-lined triangular yard (that looks like a small park) might be the home of William Howard Taft. It is the Taft Museum, today.

the Brooklyn Bridge? Sure has a similar design.

[Cincinnati's Roebling Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge were both designed by John Roebling. - Dave]

his seed.