MAY CONTAIN NUTS
HOME
Home

Search Shorpy

SEARCH TIP: Click the tags above a photo to find more of same:
Mandatory field.

Search results -- 30 results per page

The Vacationist: 1942
... size. Sketchy rig The only thing holding that boat on the car is the 35MPH speed limit. Gone Fishing Nicely ... "Special Deluxe Club Coupe". Proof There was a boat on there when we left. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cars, Trucks, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/30/2020 - 12:49am -

July 1942. "Oakridge, Oregon. Vacationist." Early version of the Family Campster. Medium format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Sketchy rigThe only thing holding that boat on the car is the 35MPH speed limit. Gone FishingNicely accessorized 1940 Chevrolet "Special Deluxe Club Coupe". ProofThere was a boat on there when we left. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Russell Lee, Travel & Vacation)
Good EAT Food: 1938
... a fish market. You buy from shops instead of right off the boat. I beg to differ I respectfully disagree with MaltedFalcon on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/17/2015 - 9:42pm -

January 1938. Washington, D.C. "Cafe on L Street." Where the only thing flakier than our delicious biscuits is the peeling paint! 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Price Gouging25-cents is way too much to pay for chitterlings. Especially if you can get a Fish Sandwich for a dime. Inscription on doorWhat is the writing that appears on the door? It looks Arabic. [1841. And indeed, they are Arabic numerals! -Dave] Questionable syntaxPut me immediately in mind of our trip to Kyoto, where we'd breakfast in a cafe called "Good Eat You". We'd joke about putting in a reservation for Donner: "Donner, party of five . . . party of four . . . party of three . . . " Making me hungryLiver & onions for a quarter?? Make it a double and add some mashed w/dark lumpy gravy and string beans. I'll be back tomorrow for the fried chicken! Panoramic viewA quick stitching and we get a better view of this old building full with character. Chincoteague oysters"1/2 dozen oysters 35 cents" ... nowadays a half-dozen Chincoteague oysters runs about $6. This was probably L Street in SE Washington, about 200 feet from the Anacostia River. When I was a kid my dad would stop by the wharf and buy fresh shucked oysters in big mason jars from the boats at water Street SW. Now it's turned into a fish market. You buy from shops instead of right off the boat. I beg to differI respectfully disagree with MaltedFalcon on the location of this photo. I don't believe this can be in SE because, well, L St. SE doesn't run past 17th St. (and never has). No, I think this has to be 1841 L St. NW. That seems to match the 1921 Baist atlas, which shows two frame structures with a narrow side yard to the east (which we see in the companion photo of the shoe store). Even though the photo above is from a later decade, it seems likely that the building in question has been there, slowly deteriorating, since well before 1921. 1957 Baist's Real Estate AtlasThe 1940 Boyd's City Directory shows 1841 L St. NW to be "Tate Louis restr", which would be a restaurant owned by Louis Tate. Also there by the same name in the classified section. Things were different by 1957, as shown by the Baist's Real Estate Atlas of that year. Street address 1841 is now assigned to the buildings in lots 937 and 1038. There's a gas station on the corner, with a building set back from the street, like the building with the "Independent" sign in the picture. 1845 L St. NW was a filling station in the 1940 Boyd's City Directory. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Russell Lee)
Harbor Springs: 1906
... Spray It appears that Julie Andrews just missed the boat. Which, if my very limited research is worth anything - and it may very ... to the Little Traverse Bay area in 1903. Lincoln Park Boat Line of Chicago acquired her about 1911, and she met her end on there on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2014 - 12:13pm -

Michigan circa 1906. "Harbor Springs and Harbor Point, Little Traverse Bay." Panorama made from two 8x10 inch glass negatives. View full size. Silver SprayIt appears that Julie Andrews just missed the boat. Which, if my very limited research is worth anything - and it may very well not be - is the steamer Silver Spray of the Little Traverse Bay Ferry Line. A rare treat...I spent many a summer here. This trip to the past is an unexpected treat. So, I meandered.......as I am wont to do into Harbor Springs street view and a whole lot of what you can see on Main Street in the picture from the 3-story brick building in the middle of image all the way to JE Stein Dry Goods still exist, although many of the facades have changed. But, what kills me is that gap between buildings up there to the right of the Central Drug Store 3 building set (all of which still exist)? Nature and architects abhor a vacuum: View Larger Map Bloomer GirlUS3679, originally named Bloomer Girl was built in 1894 as an excursion vessel. Under that name, she operated between Milwaukee and Frederick Pabst's Whitefish Bay Resort. Renamed Silver Spray, she was moved to the Little Traverse Bay area in 1903. Lincoln Park Boat Line of Chicago acquired her about 1911, and she met her end on there on Morgan Shoal, July 15, 1914. (Panoramas, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Stores & Markets)
Battleship: 1905
... - Dave] Rather Inefficient With all the time that boat spent underwater, they should have just built it as a submarine. (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 6:24pm -

October 22, 1900. "Russian warship Retvizan, day before launching, Cramp's shipyards, Philadelphia." This battleship had its ups and downs -- built for the Imperial Russian Navy, torpedoed during the Russo-Japanese War, refloated, then sunk, then raised, then commissioned in the Japanese Navy, then sunk again. Whew. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Cramp's style (sorry)From Philaplace (with 27 very nice images from late 1800s-1943)): The Cramp shipyard, founded in 1830 by William Cramp, actively participated in the modernization of the shipbuilding industry, from a craft mode of production focused around wooden sailing vessels to an industry centered around steam engines and iron and steel construction. At its height during World War II, it employed roughly 18,000. Teak BackingThis photo gives an extremely rare view of the wood backing through which heavy armor plate was attached on most armored ships before World War II. (The latest armored ships used concrete as the backing material). It was established in the Civil War period that a wooden backing helped to distribute the shock of a hit on the armor, and teak was selected by most navies as the best material. As armor technology evolved, the surface was case hardened by a number of different processes depending on what facility did the work. This surface was so hard and brittle it could accept no fasteners, and therefore, holes had to be cut part-way into the armor from the back and threaded rods inserted into them. The armor plates were hoisted into place with a crane, very carefully sliding the rods into corresponding holes in the backing and the ship's structural plating behind them. You can see the wooden planks -- that's the backing -- in way of the armor belt at the loaded waterline that hasn't yet been applied, and the holes already made to accept the rods. Once the armor was in place, washers and nuts had to be screwed onto the ends of the rods that would be showing inside the hull plating to hold the armor in place. Wikipedia says the armor belt was 9 inches thick and was US-made, but according to Krupp's process. XXVThose pesky 'Roman Numerals' again. Still can't understand why we stopped using them all the time; they're so clear and easy to understand. ArmorThe wood backing also acted the same way as a "splinter deck" absorbing the razor sharp steel splinters that would be propelled outward from the point of impact literally shredding anyone or thing in its path. Day before launching?How on earth would this ship be ready to launch the next day? There looks to be a whole lot of work remaining. There isn't even a superstructure yet, nor has the hull been finished being armored. They have a long day ahead of them! [A lot of that gets done after launching. - Dave] Rather InefficientWith all the time that boat spent underwater, they should have just built it as a submarine. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Philadelphia)
Pier 42: 1920
... to the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. The lapstrake boat lying on the sidewalk appears to be a double-ender with rowing seats, likely a ship's boat or lifeboat. It does not seem to be treated with the TLC due to a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/04/2015 - 6:36pm -

San Francisco circa 1920. "Nash motor truck on waterfront." The Pier 42 bulkhead building on the Embarcadero, with a truck evidently bound for San Diego. 5x7 inch glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. P.M.S.S.Co. Wagon The wagon in the background marked P.M.S.S.Co. likely belongs to the Pacific Mail Steamship Co. The lapstrake boat lying on the sidewalk appears to be a double-ender with rowing seats, likely a ship's boat or lifeboat. It does not seem to be treated with the TLC due to a riveted-lapstrake vessel. This Nash truck has many quaint features, including solid-rubber tires and brakes on the rear wheels only. The lack of doors is no surprise, as in those days many people believed it was safer to jump out of a motor vehicle if a collision was inevitable. Exported to GuatemalaKeyword searches suggest that San Diego Bella Vista was (and still is) a farming village or ranch in the La Flores Canton of Columba Costa Cuca, a municipal district in southwest Guatemala. I'm guessingthat it's a gorgeous red and black. Sound not heard The distinctive voice of the ah-uga horn is long gone but not forgotten. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin, San Francisco)
Oldsmobile Home: 1950s
... of the photo. The car is a 1957 Oldsmobile. Also note the boat in the building. 35mm color slide. View full size. Rocket 88 ... 
 
Posted by shawnv - 02/11/2012 - 12:28pm -

I don't know much about the photo other than it was taken in Holland, Michigan, at my great-grandpa's business where they made and installed cement septic tanks. You can see some toward the right of the photo. The car is a 1957 Oldsmobile. Also note the boat in the building. 35mm color slide. View full size. Rocket 88What a great shot. I've always been infatuated with those 1950's Oldsmobiles. My dad worked at a GM dealership in those days. Always wanted an Oldsy but could only afford a Chevy. Golden Rocket 88In 1957, Consumer Reports said this was the fastest car it had had ever tested with the exception of the Chrysler 300B! Especially impressive considering the inline-flathead puddle jumper of '47 which preceded it just ten years before! That's the base trim model, the Golden Rocket 88, but in '57 only, all came standard equipped with the same four barrel 277-horsepower engine--only the axle ratios were changed between the base 88 and 98 (this one has a 3.07). A triple-carb J-2 setup could be ordered for just about $49 which produced 300 horsepower, too! These engines matched to the superb Jetaway Hydra-Matic made these true factory hotrods! The little trailer is a treasure in its own right, and was probably an effortless load to pull. Side vent windowsIt was only a few years into the future when they did away with those side vent windows. They were absolutely great for flicking the ashes of your cigarette outside. Fortunately, I quit smoking years ago, so I only miss them in my memory. They don't make 'emLook at the curved front and rear window. The curves on the body. Hell, even that white and chrome stripe down the back that serves no purpose other than giving the car more class. They really don't make 'em like they used to. What about that trailer? It's just a box, but the boss said not to make it look like one. So they stayed up late, drew some extraneous lines, and made it look like a crock pot. Love the old carsNothing like the 50s cars; new superhighways, endless possibilities. Seemed like the Eisenhower optimism would go on forever, didn't it? My folks bought a 1956 Plymouth Belvedere. They paid $3,000 for it. Years later, my mother told me what a big expense that was for them. But hey, they were young then. Then and now.55 years later, the building and septic tanks are still there. I don't know who owns or operates the business, but it is a landmark not missed as you travel through the tulip city! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Mermaid on Skis: 1953
... it should recover I hope. I wonder if the electric boat ride through the botanical gardens is still there. Of course, the pool ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/17/2015 - 6:44pm -

February 1953. "Actress Esther Williams and cast of the film Easy to Love rehearsing and filming water skiing sequences at Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Florida." Ektachrome transparency by Phillip Harrington for the Look magazine assignment "Esther Williams: Mermaid on Skis." View full size. Busby BerkeleyThe spectacular skiing sequence was choreographed by Berkeley. Dixie CupsAs a Navy veteran I can truthfully say those Dixie Cup hats were a handful to keep on your head in any kind of wind. Most times we'd just take 'em off and stuff under our jersey. Wonder what kind of glue those skiers used? My Dad was thereDad was a performer and water ski instructor there at that time. It is hard to tell if he is in this image, but I will send him a link, and see what he thinks. Look out!Have seen many a clip of these Esther Williams scenes, but seeing this one static and close makes me think: My God, this is a watery train wreck waiting to happen! Over on the left, two guys have their lines crossed, skis are pointed in all directions, and everybody is pretty darn close together. How they filmed these things without ending up towing a tangled mass of ropes, bodies, and skis I cannot imagine. I've been there!!My parents and I were at Cypress Gardens in July or early August of 1953, when I was 7, and I can remember the wonder I felt at watching the girls skim over the water. I learned to water ski when I was about 13 or 14 and always wanted to be one of those girls. Never made it! But it sure was fun to watch them. Beautiful Lady, Good SportMs. Williams often found herself performing hazardous physical stunts that many of today's actresses might categorically refuse to do, such as being carried aloft on rickety platforms or clinging to a trapeze for precision dives into obstacle-strewn water. Nobody ever accused Esther Williams of not earning her paycheck. RecycledAfter struggling for years and then closing, Cypress Gardens has been recycled as Florida's Legoland. A major attraction at the timeCypress Gardens was THE premiere tourist attraction in Central Florida up until Walt Disney World opened. There was a short Indian Summer after that for the park but even after they built a straight shot 4 lane highway from US 27 to the park's front gate it suffered mightily after all the other attractions opened around Orlando and went through several different owners before giving up the ghost. With it now being a Legoland it should recover I hope. I wonder if the electric boat ride through the botanical gardens is still there. Of course, the pool shaped like Florida built for this movie was big in 60's when I lived around there. (LOOK, Movies, Phillip Harrington, Pretty Girls, Swimming)
Chili in Cleveland: 1905
... and includes exhibits and a very nice restored lake boat (ie a large freighter) to tour. Many ports on the Great Lakes have ... (lake freighter photos + artifacts), Duluth (a lake boat to tour), etc. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cleveland, DPC) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2016 - 8:53am -

Lake Erie circa 1905. "Freighters Chili & Wm. Castle Rhodes at Cleveland." After half a century of service that included a number of sinkings, groundings and collisions, the Chili (renamed the Sarnian in 1913) was scrapped in 1944. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. The ChiliFrom the Great Lakes Maritime Database there is a clearer view of the vessel's name on the wheelhouse. However, the name on the stern still looks like "CHILL" in that pic. also. [There's a period after the "I" -tterrace] It's "THE CHILL"The tail on the 2nd "L" is obscured by the ladder. [Chili. -tterrace] Another Great Lakes vessel databaseThere is at least one other large Great Lakes vessel database. This other one is at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) They appear to complement each other. Their entry for the Chili. The BGSU collection is open to researchers, and it is common for someone with interest in lake boats to spend a day or several days there. Additionally, the marine museum that was in Vermilion OH has moved to Toledo, and includes exhibits and a very nice restored lake boat (ie a large freighter) to tour. Many ports on the Great Lakes have worthwhile marine museums, such as Buffalo (Navy ships), Erie (primarily early sail history, and the Battle Of Lake Erie), Ashtabula + Fairport Lighthouse (lake freighter photos + artifacts), Duluth (a lake boat to tour), etc. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cleveland, DPC)
Noble Riggers: 1905
... a sense of growing importance.” Sadly, the last boat sailed in 1957. Does your mother still dress you? Can anyone fill ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/02/2018 - 2:25pm -

Detroit circa 1905. "Belle Isle ferry dock." A good place to pick up a yacht sail. The steamer Garland, seen earlier here. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Stove burnedThe giant Garland stove you remember was made of carved oak. It was moved from near Belle Isle to the state fairgrounds off 8 Mile in 1965. In 1974 it was disassembled and stored, but then was refurbished and returned to the fairgrounds in 1998. In Aug. 2011, it was struck by lightning and burned. Belle Isle from CanadaI grew up in Riverside (now Windsor) Ontario in the 1950s, and we lived on Esdras Place, just one block from the Detroit River. At the foot of Esdras there is a private park owned by the residents, and it looks directly across the river to Belle Isle. There were many kids on the block then, and that is where we learned to swim. There were picnics and parties held there though the summer. The Kodachrome photo was taken by my father in 1955, and shows residents swimming in the river, with Belle Isle on the far side. The freighter steaming past is the Ralph Budd, which had an interesting history. A sign in the 1906 photo indicates service to Bois Blanc, on June 7. It was also known as Bob-lo Island, downstream from Detroit. You can read more here. "Naming rights"existed even in 1880, when the Garland was built, reportedly the first electrically-lit vessel on the lakes. She was named for the most popular model manufactured by Detroit's Michigan Stove Company; in return, the vessel's owner, Captain John Horn, had his new craft festooned in nickle-plated decoration, courtesy of the stove manufacturer. Indeed, the odd-looking mass ahead of the funnel is an example of that handiwork, a garland with the letter "G" inside. When I was a kid a gigantic Garland stove, at least two stories tall, dominated the approach to Belle Isle at Detroit, built for Chicago's Columbian Exposition. For all I know, it's still there. The Garland endured quite awhile. Horner lost the vessel after the tragic accident involving mostly altar boys, referred to in the comments to Shorpy's original view of the ferry, when her builder, the Detroit Dry Dock Company, repossessed it. She continued in the Detroit-Sarnia service, renamed City of Sarnia in 1923, until removed from service in the early 1940s. She sank at the dock in 1945, and was dismantled in situ 1946-47. Giggle, Giggle!One can almost hear the gleeful titters of the little girls in their summer frocks and straw hats, about to embark on an exciting voyage to exotic and storied foreign climes. Well, maybe those lands are still in the US and just across the river, but when you're five or ten, opportunities like this take on exciting aspects out of all proportion to the way adults reckon these things. This is a view of the ferry dock at the foot of Woodward AvenueSure, you could travel a few miles down Jefferson Avenue and cross to the Island over a bridge, but for a dime you could cruise there in style on the Garland or its sister vessel, which began ferry service when Belle Isle opened in 1882. In their 1957 book Made in Detroit, Norman Beasley and George W. Stark describe the allure of the steamers: “All day long until late at night, the Belle Isle ferries traveled up and down the river. … The fare was ten cents, and if the passenger so chose he could ride all day long for his original dime. … In the dusk of evening, the ride back to the city was exhilarating. The lights in the scattered high towers gave dimensions to Detroit; the growing skyline gave a sense of growing importance.” Sadly, the last boat sailed in 1957. Does your mother still dress you?Can anyone fill me in on why that one boy seems to be wearing a doily on his shoulders? This is not something that I have seen before, and I am wondering if it is a common article of clothing. It occurs to me that his mother might have thrown that over his shoulders as a sort of shawl anticipating cooler temperatures out on the water. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? [Appears to be a kind of Fauntleroy suit. - tterrace] June 7, 1906?Possibly circa on or shortly before June 7, according to the displayed timetable. Can't make out what the two words to the left of "June 7" are. "Best Blues"? Bois BlancThe sign actually says "Bois Blanc" referring to another island in the Detroit River also known as Boblo Island. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Detroit Photos, DPC)
Vis-O-Matic: 1950
... wheel used to flip the Rolodex looks big enough to turn a boat! It must have been for show, because current Rolodexes use a much smaller ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/28/2008 - 3:58pm -

June 6, 1950. "Vis-O-Matic department store," a premonition of virtual retailing. One of at least 200 photographs taken by Bernard Hoffman at retail magnate Laurence Freiman's newfangled catalog store in Pembroke, Ontario. The cards were an index of merchandise on color slides viewed by customers on rear-projection screens. Life magazine image archive. View full size. Jaunty ChapeauI imagine it must have taken tons of pins to keep that hat on her head. Could also be contributing to the expression of tooth-grit pleasantry. Pembroke, Ont.Pembroke is such a sleepy little town. With a lot of history. It's hard to imagine that it had a store like this back then. ZoinksShe looks like she's been staring at the rear-projection screen a bit too long. Take a break, girlfriend. Whatta Rolodex!I've been a lurker here for a long time, so you don't know me. The wheel used to flip the Rolodex looks big enough to turn a boat! It must have been for show, because current Rolodexes use a much smaller knob. [The junior-size Cardineer rotary index that she's using is quite a bit bigger than a Rolodex. - Dave] Another first?Hey! Did they accidentally invent the scroll wheel? (Curiosities, LIFE, Stores & Markets)
Smokeboat: 1918
... have to be rebuilt. The steamer had been used as a reserve boat, and therefore, the loss to the traveling public is not great. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 3:37pm -

September 1918. "Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Co. fire at Washington docks." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. You all have it wrongIt's supposed to look like that. It's the Smoking Lounge. LITERALLY. A little dustingA bit of sweeping and it will look as good as new. BedframesJudging by the number of bedframes, this ship must have offered overnight accommodations - rather than just simple ferry service across the Chesapeake Bay. Since ships are usually near a ready supply of water, a sprinkler system would have been worthwhile. ButtsWas this a case of smoking in bed? Bad luckThis was the N&W steamboat NEWPORT NEWS, built in 1895. "Burned at Washington September [2,] 1918. Rebuilt at Baltimore and renamed Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Co. 'Midland' on November 11, 1919". Steamboat MIDLAND. "Rebuilt from old Norfolk & Washington Steamboat Company 'Newport News' in 1919 after burning of September 1918. Burned and lost at Washington in March 1924". [Google Books: Richard E. Prince, Seaboard Air Line Railway. Steam boats, locomotives, and history.] Mysterious Steamer Blaze Washington Post, Sep 3, 1918. Dock and Steamer Blaze Mysterious Officials of Norfolk & Washington Co. Puzzled by Fire. Officials of the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company are endeavoring to ascertain the origin of the mysterious fire which early yesterday badly damaged the steamer Newport News and destroyed the company's general offices, warehouse and dock and which for a time threatened the entire water front. "All we know about the fire is that it started in the linen room of the offices, and resulted in the loss of about $125,000," said William H. Callahan, traffic manager of the company, last night. "We consider it mysterious," he said, "because the fire originated in a part of the office where it could least be expected. The Newport News is our emergency ship, and is only used when either the Southland or Northland is out of commission. It could have been possible for some one to have intentionally set the office on fire, but I doubt if that was the case. The Newport News had been docked for some time, and there practically was no freight no board. The vital parts of the vessel are intact, and just as soon as we can secure the necessary labor, reconstruction work will begin. There will be no interruption of the passenger business." The fire was discovered by C.O. Abbott, night watchman, and clerk of the company. He said he was sitting in his office about 3:30 o'clock, when he smelled smoke, and walking to the back part of the building, discovered the flames pouring out of the linen room. He immediately turned in an alarm, but before the engines arrived, the whole building and the Newport News were on fire. A general alarm was sounded, and the firemen had great difficulty in extinguishing the blaze. Among the destroyed and damaged freight on the dock were several chasses, two automobiles, two airplane engines, bed springs and mattresses, thousands of bottles of soft drinks, 100 sacks of peanuts, fourteen barrels of tar, two marine engines and several tanks of carbonated water. All records of the company were locked in metal cases and were saved. Fifty barrels of oil, 75 barrels of tar and other government stores on the dock, awaiting shipment to the naval operating base at Hampton Roads, Va., were not damaged. The company's loss is entirely covered by insurance. The American Marine Engineer, September, 1918. Atlantic Coast Notes The work of raising and restoring the steamer Newport News, of the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company, which burned at her dock in Washington a short time ago, has been undertaken by the Merrit and Chapman Wrecking Company. It is stated that the hull and machinery are practically undamaged, but the entire super structure will have to be rebuilt. The steamer had been used as a reserve boat, and therefore, the loss to the traveling public is not great. InflationNow let me get this straight: the damage to the ship we see in the photo, plus that described in the contemporary article in the office building, warehouse, and dock, including customer cargoes awaiting shipment, is all going to be set right by only $125,000? Is there any way I can get some of those 1918 dollars? Sigh. No, I guess not. I'm SorryI’m afraid that this may void your warranty. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, D.C., Natl Photo)
The Zaca: 1950
... famous owner, seen at the railing at the far side of the boat. I have shared this pic (when I finally figured out who what I was looking ... the son of the famous figure. There is one person on the boat at the top right who is talking with the owner of the Zaca; I really want ... 
 
Posted by sayum13 - 04/19/2013 - 7:32pm -

I inherited this from a family friend who took it on the docks in Cannes, France in 1950. I'll leave a little of the mystery to the sleuths on Shorpy, as I had never heard of the Zaca and its famous owner, seen at the railing at the far side of the boat. I have shared this pic (when I finally figured out who what I was looking at) with the son of the famous figure. There is one person on the boat at the top right who is talking with the owner of the Zaca; I really want to know who it is - any ideas? famous? Fairly certain the Zaca is there for the film festival. View full size. [The only son of the "famous owner" is presumed to have died in 1970; is that who you shared it with? -tterrace] This is too easyBuilt in 1929 for one of the super-rich Crockers, Zaca was bought by Errol Flynn in 1945 and I think we can see the star aboard. Zaca is still afloat (unlike Errol Flynn), after a major rebuild, and in the warm waters of the Med. [As sayum13's caption mentions, that is the "famous owner" - who indeed is Flynn - on the boat. -tterrace] (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
The Jane Carlyn: 1944
... stands at the bow of his brand new 65' wooden shrimp boat. Capt. Styron had a fish house in Hobucken, N.C. beside the R.O. Mayo fish ... to St. Augustine, FL from North Carolina to pick up his boat and now he is taking his car and shiny new boat back home to NC. ... 
 
Posted by Brasscreek - 09/14/2013 - 12:52am -

The 'Jane Carlyn' is shown here freshly launched and leaving the Diesel Engine Sales Co. docks in St. Augustine, Florida. Roland Styron stands at the bow of his brand new 65' wooden shrimp boat. Capt. Styron had a fish house in Hobucken, N.C. beside the R.O. Mayo fish house and later operated a fleet of shrimp boats that travelled as far south as the Florida Keys. Diesel Engine Sales Co. (DESCO) was a the leading builder of shrimp boats in the US and built 2272 wooden fishing vessels between 1943 and 1982. Photo taken in 1944. View full size. The CarMy guess is he drove his car down to St. Augustine, FL from North Carolina to pick up his boat and now he is taking his car and shiny new boat back home to NC. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
GLEW: 1906
... Works to parties whose names are not given. The boat is now being fitted out at the Ecorse yard for use in the package freight ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 2:11pm -

Ecorse, Michigan, circa 1906. "Great Lakes Engineering Works." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Freighter Hill Sold AgainBuffalo Morning Express FREIGHTER HILL SOLD AGAIN Detroit, Sept. 11, 1906 -- The wooden package freighter Charles B. Hill, formerly the Anchor liner Delaware, has been sold by the Great Lakes Engineering Works to parties whose names are not given. The boat is now being fitted out at the Ecorse yard for use in the package freight trade between Buffalo and Lake Superior. The new owners already operate several boats in general. DepressingThis reminds me that cold weather and Winter are not far ahead. Great picture Charles B. Hill refitting"Wood package freighter arches cutdown, fitted out by GLEW and inspected." http://www2.boatnerd.com/glswr/GLEW-Appendices.pdf Travel insuranceon the S. J. Christian was collected in New York it seems. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10716FC3A5D1A7493C0AB178... New buildThat is a good size hull being built on the other ways. May be one of the Great Lakes freights GLEW built in 1906. Arch FramesIshadoff is right,the arch frames are cut down but not entirely removed. They're "capped" with iron work. The main supporting truss work still exists down below inside and against the hull sides and rooted to the keel fore and aft. The Hill looks like it could use some propeller repair also. The Conestoga, lying behind the Hill, was also an arch frame vessel. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
Baltimore, U.S.A.: 1943
... Did Not Live Long Torpedoed here in 1943 by a U boat. No casualties though. Charm City Love the picture. I cherish every ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2019 - 10:34am -

May 1943. "Baltimore, Maryland. Building the SS Frederick Douglass. More than 6,000 Negro shipyard workers are employed at the Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyards, where this Liberty ship is being rushed to completion. Douglass, the noted orator and abolitionist leader, worked as a ship caulker in the vicinity of this yard before he escaped from slavery. Smiling from porthole of the dockhouse is rivet heater Willie Smith." 4x5 inch nitrate negative by Roger Smith for the Office of War Information. View full size. Making America GreatRoger Smith's photographs of the Baltimore shipyards show the difficult and dangerous work on the homefront that made victory in WWII possible. Bravo to the hard-working people of Baltimore who continue to help make America great! United We StandThank you Shorpy for this wonderful picture of a true American citizen. I see you, Shorpy!Thank you for this terrific photo/commentary on recent news. Well done. Unusual libertiesWere taken at Fairfield, because they made riveted Liberty ships. The design was for a welded hull and a life of only five years, but there was a general lack of welders during this changeover period of ship design and fabrication. Fairfield riveted Liberty ships suffered none of the problems of the initial welded versions supposedly caused by brittle steel and not the welding quality. Whatever, they lasted a lot longer than five years; an historic photograph all right. https://www.ssjohnwbrown.org/blog/2015/1/16/adopt-a-rivet Did Not Live LongTorpedoed here in 1943 by a U boat. No casualties though. Charm CityLove the picture. I cherish every one you post from my hometown. And thanks to young Mr. Smith here for his contribution to the war effort. Being a rivet heater in a ship's hull seems like a tough way to make a living. EDIT: expanding on a previous comment....According to the National WWII Museum website the 70 on board when the Fredrick Douglass was torpedoed were rescued by the British ship Rathlin. The 70 consisted of 40 merchant seaman, 29 'armed guard' and one female stowaway. Unsung HeroNow, it's people like this who have made America great! (The Gallery, Baltimore, Boats & Bridges, Patriotic, WW2)
On the Ohio: 1905
... City The steamer Tell City, advertised on the wharf boat, sank in 1917. Her beautiful wheelhouse is on display at the Ohio River ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/05/2012 - 5:12pm -

The Ohio River circa 1905. "The levee -- Louisville, Kentucky." This barge was last seen here; the large barrel-like containers are hogsheads of tobacco. At left, the bow of the sternwheeler Georgia Lee in a continuation of this view. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Spirit of Kentucky?Nevermind the hogsheads of tobacco -- is that Kentucky Bourbon in the barrels all the way over on the right? Flapping flagNo official nine-stripe design ever existed as a US flag, ensign, or jack. In an enhanced version of the photograph, it is possible to see relatively clearly that the star field is made up of pairs of rows with eight stars in one row and an uncertain number in the other. The 1896-1908 official flag was current at the time of the photograph and had 45 stars in alternating rows of eight and seven. A ghost image of the star field is visible to our right of the obvious one, and the light and dark stripes both show narrow ghost strips of the opposite brightness. I'm fairly certain the flag's appearance is an artifact of the flag moving as the photograph was taken. It's flapping in 10 knot or so wind, and the relatively slow shutter speed caused the image to be blurred, giving the impression of only nine stripes. [Note this enlargement: it doesn't appear that any of the stripes are fully obscured, much less four of them. The slight blurring of the boy walking down center indicates an exposure time of no more than about 1/25th of a second, if that. - tterrace] Stars & Nine StripesThe paddlewheeler Glenmore appears to be flying a rather rare flag. Tell CityThe steamer Tell City, advertised on the wharf boat, sank in 1917. Her beautiful wheelhouse is on display at the Ohio River Museum, Marietta OH, next to the coal fired steam towboat W. P. Snyder Jr. Well worth the visit. Re: Stars & Nine StripesI believe it is what they used to call a Sea Captain's Flag, and the design dates back to the revolution. HogsheadsSo those are hogsheads. Mark Twain described Huckleberry Finn sleeping in a "hogshead." I always wondered exactly what one looked like. Looks roomy. Fly the flagInfo on 9 stripe flag here http://www.jeffbridgman.com/inventory/index.php?page=out&id=3 Very interesting, things I did not know, but hey I'm English so a bit out of my remit, one is never to young to learn though (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Louisville)
Onem, Jack and Jesse: 1917
... Wickes Hine. View full size. Algonquin A U Boat sank an American steamer called the Algonquin on 14-March-1917. This must ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2018 - 11:33am -

March 14, 1917. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. "Jack Ryan, 6 years old and Jesse Ryan, 10 years old. Onem Smith, 12 years old and lives at 1506 S. Robinson St. Onem said: 'I never have been in school in my life but I got a pretty good education - sellin' papers'." Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. AlgonquinA U Boat sank an American steamer called the Algonquin on 14-March-1917. This must be an afternoon paper. Congress passed the declaration of war on 06-April-1917. Thanks for another nice photo. Regards, Joe Thompson ;0) The paper saysAmerican Ship Shelled? at leastIn those days...he would have learned the correct way to spell from newspapers..not like today. DSS Admirationyes, mild and mellow to the last inch was an Admiration slogan AdmirationAnyone know what is in the "Admiration" boxes? Cigars? Homer O SmithPretty sure I've got the right one. Found in 1920 census with his mother Carrie 48, brother Wilbur 19, sister Lois A 16. Homer is an Assistant Pressman, brother is an agent for an express company, sister is a telephone operator. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine, OKC)
Parking Brake? Check.
Working on Catalina flying boat at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Base. August 1942. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/09/2007 - 6:12pm -

Working on Catalina flying boat at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Base. August 1942. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Howard Hollem. Parking break?What the person's looking into is probaly the throttle control cables for the engine to get the right setting for speed control. [Well you know that was a joke. Ha ha! It's a seaplane. And the thing that stops a wheel is, to get all technical-jargony, a brake, not a "break." - Dave] The PlaneIs a PBY Catalina. Catalina PBYThese planes are still in use as water bombers for firefighting. They were the long distance and endurance champs of the day when equipped with extra tanks. An interesting read on them is "The Sky Beyond" by Sir Gordon Taylor. OK, it's your turnHe appears to be buttoning-up the access panel after having successfully started the engine using the hand cranked inertia starter. The crank handle has been passed down to the next recruit. Probably a training exercise, all under the watchful eye of the old man in the back. (The Gallery, Aviation, Howard Hollem, WW2)
Role Model: 1924
... us to the Mainland," he says, "then when we arrived by boat and out of shape, we had to beat all comers on the West coast, again in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/25/2012 - 3:05pm -

August 7, 1924. "Warren Kealoha, Hawaiian Olympic swimmer, at Tidal Basin." Warren, closest to the camera, won the gold in the men's 100-meter backstroke in 1920 and 1924. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Kealoha Obit Washington Post, Sep 10, 1972 Olympic Champion Warren Kealoha Dies HONOLULU, Sep 9 (AP)--Warren D. Kealoha, 69, winner of gold medals in the 100-meter backstroke swimming event at the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, died Friday. Mr. Kealoha, then 16, introduced the alternating arms stroke in setting a world's record 1:14.8 in the backstroke event as the "baby" of the U.S. Olympic team in 1920 at Antwerp Belgium. Yell Them To SafetyI guess that lifeguard with the blow horn would have to undo his bow tie if he ever had to actually dive into the water to save someone. I think he would rather just yell them to safety. Help, HelpFunny seeing that hand sticking up out of water at the left. Warren KealohaWarren Kealoha retired from competition and became a successful rancher. About those days: "It wasn't easy for Hawaiians to get to the Olympics back in those days," Warren says, "or I might have had a chance at my third Olympics in 1928." Warren Kealoha had more trouble getting to his races than winning them. "We had to break a world record before they could afford to send us to the Mainland," he says, "then when we arrived by boat and out of shape, we had to beat all comers on the West coast, again in Chicago, and again in New York before we finally made the Olympic team." Some web pages indicate he swam against contemporary Johnny Weissmuller but the facts seems mixed. Washington Monument FallingDoesn't it look like the Washington Monument is leaning? [OMG. Not only that, but the entire horizon is tilting to the right! - Dave] (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports, Swimming)
Transportation Inc.: 1943
... Truck drivers like this gentleman, train crews, ship/boat/barge crews and airline crews kept the goods and the people rolling during ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/18/2013 - 7:43pm -

March 1943. "Montgomery, Alabama. Local delivery truck driver." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. One of our home front heroes.Truck drivers like this gentleman, train crews, ship/boat/barge crews and airline crews kept the goods and the people rolling during the war. Couldn't have won the war without them. King of All Truck DriversWe've seen many shots of truck drivers on here, but this guy absolutely rules. Not only does he have the badges going on, but they're pinned to some sort of Napoleonic-era quasi-military forage cap. The gold braid over the brim puts him over the top. If you see this guy coming up behind you, you'd best get the hell out of his way! Once upon a timeWe were a trim country. Look Him UpIn the dictionary under "teamster" you'll probably see his picture. Seen any sharks?He looks like a young Robert Shaw. Greyhound hat pinon the left. Was this an expression of solidarity with fellow drivers, or maybe a previous employer? Found this vintage Greyhound driver's hat on Etsy, very similar to what this guy is wearing. Hat PinThe hat pin above his left ear is his Chauffeur's License Hat Pin. The pins were unique to each state that issued them. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Montgomery)
State of New York: 1910
... River Today The two buildings on the right behind the boat are still there. The two large tanks in the distance are where the office ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/30/2012 - 2:45pm -

Cleveland, Ohio, ca. 1910. "Cuyahoga River from the viaduct." Sidewheeler State of New York at the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation Co. docks. View full size. Schlitz the Beer that Made Milwaukee Famous The Schlitz globe stirs the cockles of my heart. The brewery owned a number of retail outlets (taverns) in the Milwaukee area prior to prohibition, each adorned with a ribboned Schlitz globe atop the establishment. After prohibition the company divested itself of the bars. To the best of my knowledge the only remaining building with a globe houses a wonderful Serbian restaurant in the Bay View area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (The burek is outstanding.) The old Schlitz Brewery buildings now host trendy bars, retail and office space, lofts, etc. State of those White DressesMust have been quite a bit of laundering going on upon return home to wash out all that coal-burning steam engine soot, etc. Urban Planning Back in the DayNice how they leveled off the top of that slag heap to construct attractive river-view villas. From a 1900 mapI believe the photographer is on the viaduct crossing the river from the numeral "3". The domed buildings right of center are Union Depot. Today's Browns' Stadium is there now, or just behind them. The River TodayThe two buildings on the right behind the boat are still there. The two large tanks in the distance are where the office building that's being built (with the crane on top) today is. I used to work just east of the site of the two tanks, on the top of the hill and we used to gaze out the window towards the river all the time. It was all overgrown in the 80s and then cleared and used as an impound lot. Someone then bought the property, cleaned it up and created a legitimate parking lot out of it. In the process they uncovered and removed the stones of the foundations of the two storage tanks. I think they were Standard Oil tanks. Cleveland Browns stadium would be off to the right of the photo in the far distance, with the land not created yet, as it's built on landfill. Burp! Though be-fogged with coal smoke, Schlitz is still the beer that made Milwaukee famous. Apparently with a little help from Moxie, A drink that always tasted of ground up walnut hulls to me. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads)
Beached: 1942
... Hammer and Plug I'd have to guess there is a "Crew" boat nearby. The plug is known as a "Bung". The hammer is used to securely place the "Bung" into the "Bunghole" in the bilge of the boat, lest they sink and join Davey Jones Locker. Handsome While I know ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/11/2014 - 4:56pm -

July 1942. "U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. Rowing crew." The fourth installment of our Manly Midshipmen of Annapolis calendar, photographed by one Lieutenant Whitman for the Office of War Information. View full size. Uh ... no comment?Posted a day already and no one wants to touch this one with a 10 foot oar. (But I am wondering what the wooden mallet is for.) Hammer and PlugI'd have to guess there is a "Crew" boat nearby. The plug is known as a "Bung". The hammer is used to securely place the "Bung" into the "Bunghole" in the bilge of the boat, lest they sink and join Davey Jones Locker. HandsomeWhile I know there are more than one in here,there are some handsome rakes in this photo. Maybe add it to the Handsome Rakes tags? (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Lt. Whitman)
Trailer Life: 1950s
... From the picture I will infer that Jim also loved boat building, nuts, family and - especially - Lois. Redundant Lighting? ... 
 
Posted by Cazzorla - 09/27/2014 - 10:08am -

My good friend and former neighbor Jim and his wife Lois in their trailer home in the early 1950s, when he was stationed in Florida as a radioman in the Navy. He loved motorcycles, hot rods, music, cats, exotic birds, and most of all people. Talking to him was guaranteed to make you smile. Godspeed Jim! View full size. From the pictureI will infer that Jim also loved boat building, nuts, family and - especially - Lois. Redundant Lighting?I wonder what the plan was for the two lamps next to the wall sconces? Also, is that a waffle iron on the same shelf? It sure looks like the one we had, when I was a kid. What a contrastto the previous photo ("Little Girl Blue"); these folks really look comfortable with their arms around each other, laughing, leaning IN towards each other, surrounded by family photos etc, and yes - smoking cigarettes. TributeWhat a lovely tribute to your friend and neighbor. "Silent Butler"Note the "Silent Butler" on the right side of the ledge in back of the happy couple. This contraption looked like a small covered frying pan with a wooden handle. One simply dumped the contents of overflowing ash trays into the pan. The ashes and cigarette/cigar butts were hence kept out of sight--and smell--until the lady of the house was ready to discard the mess into the garbage. I have one of these relics packed away somewhere in our basement. Waffle iron?Nope, I think it's what you empty ashtrays into before throwing the butts away? Not to be indelicate, but it looks like a maternity outfit that she's wearing. My mom had some that were very similar. Am I right? Thank you, Cazzorla, for sharing this peek into your friend's lives. Everything about this trailer is perfect and I would have loved to have been invited over. Lois took pride in a tidy home, didn't she? Do you know if the trailer still exists? It's a dream! TrailerKstan, I agree, it looks like it was a great trailer. They sold it decades ago. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
High Water: 1903
... full size. Grand Picture Like a scene out of Show Boat. Wonderful If only we could know the cargo As a former merchant ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2016 - 5:24pm -

"Loading steamer Chalmette during high water, March 23, 1903, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Grand PictureLike a scene out of Show Boat. Wonderful If only we could know the cargoAs a former merchant seaman, I can't imagine lading a ship like that, much less navigating it on the Mississippi. Oh, if only we could know the contents. Cotton for sure, but letters to loved ones, heirlooms, fish and crabs and oysters, maybe some fruit. Much more romantic than a tug and integrated barge full of anhydrous ammonia. Spot, the dogOr spot the dog. Can you see it? I have a half-baked theory that dogs disappeared from city streets when automobiles became prevalent. I developed the theory from my unscientific study of Shorpy photos. One year later she was goneThe "Chalmette" was originally named "The City of Vicksburg", which was wrecked by a cyclone in the harbor of St. Louis. In 1898 she was rebuilt and renamed "The Chalmette". In her life on the river, she was the victim of many small accidents such as breaking of chains or timbers. Finally on July 12, 1904 she hit "a snag" and sank, taking with her her cargo valued at the time at $30,000. There were approximately 40 people on board at the time, but were no fatalities. http://www.louisianadigitallibrary.org/cdm/ref/collection/LWP/id/5042 Mean manual laborWhen I look at all those stevedores making a beeline over that gangway I come to think that container ships may be much more boring to look at than those paddle steamers of yore. But I guess they are much more fun to load and unload. CargoThe contents of the steamship may have been similar to the steamship Arabia's cargo - everything from pickles to dishes to prefab houses. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
Fire and Ice: 1900
... and cracking, paddlewheels thrashing, a fully loaded boat lurching this way and that as it forces its way through the ice, the steam ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 8:19pm -

Circa 1900. "Detroit River. Car ferry Michigan Central turning in ice." Our third look at one of these railcar transports. Detroit Publishing. View full size. Frost on Fire and IceBy Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. The Noise!Wow! What a photo. Can you imagine the noise! Ice grinding and cracking, paddlewheels thrashing, a fully loaded boat lurching this way and that as it forces its way through the ice, the steam engine hammering and, to top it all off, steam whistles shreaking in the cold, crisp air. Brace for ramming! My great-uncle Ole Julliesen owned a NY harbor tug in the 50s and 60s; as a treat my Uncle Johnny took my brother and me on a trip on the ''Leakin' Lena." We bested thick harbor ice and balky freighters for one whole day. I only appreciate now, decades later, the workload Ole must have carried, working the harbor 300 days a year, sixteen hours a day. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads)
Railroad Crossing: 1906
... sort of trade the Mary Bell was in. Is she a powered boat or a barge? A private houseboat or some sort of commercial floating ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/01/2013 - 10:50am -

The Mississippi River circa 1906. "Kansas City & Memphis Railway bridge at Memphis, Tennessee." Where you'll find the Mary Bell. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The scale of that!That is a very beautiful photo, but what really caught my eye was the sheer size of the bridge, compared to the tiny barge and the even smaller boats moored next to it. It's amazing! How wide is that river? And how deep? Solitary splendorIt's neat to see the bridge in solitary splendor. It was joined in 1917 by the Harahan railroad bridge 200 feet to the north, and in 1949 by the Memphis & Arkansas highway bridge about the same distance to the south. The three huge cantilever truss bridges make an impressive sight together, like a steampunk mountain range. Middle bridge nowI have driven across the I-55 bridge next door to this one many times. The lower Mississippi River is over a mile wide in many locations. At this point it is 2400 feet from bank to bank. The three bridges at this crossing are all about a mile long each. Corner HeadI'm wondering what sort of trade the Mary Bell was in. Is she a powered boat or a barge? A private houseboat or some sort of commercial floating market? What's the cupola for? The rectangular structure in the aft port corner looks to be the head (outhouse). Re: Corner HeadIt looks like a shantyboat. Cheaply built, non-powered houseboats for rivermen, lumbermen, millworkers. Usually made from whatever lumber could be found or scrounged. Shantyboat communities were common in river towns from the mid 19th to mid 20th centuries. The Mississippi RiverAt times during the spring, the width of the River can be over a mile. There was a town just on the west side of Memphis in the 1800s that kept flooding that it just became uninhabitable. During the hot summer days, we would go down to the river to catch a cool river breeze. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Memphis, Railroads)
Après-Launch: 1900
... Great Lakes and still happens from time to time, this ore boat was launched sideways. Very recently from the looks of things and all the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/26/2015 - 1:24pm -

Sept. 15, 1900. Wyandotte, Michigan. "Freighter Howard L. Shaw in the slip." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Landfill in TorontoThis freighter made it until 1969 when it was sunk a part of the Ontario Place Landfill in Toronto. Interesting DateMy grandfather was born 4 months earlier to the day, and served in the US Navy on the USS Olympia C-6, which pre-dates even this old gal. C'est le FrenchIt seems more like an 'Avant-launch' to me. By the looks of it it hasn't taken to the water yet. [Look again. - Dave] Don't omit the punctuationAnother example of the mysterious period at the end of non-sentences in signage. Seems to have flourished until about 1920 or so. By the way, that steam yacht in the background is lovely. I want!! Launched sidewaysAs was common on the Great Lakes and still happens from time to time, this ore boat was launched sideways. Very recently from the looks of things and all the water on the ground on the left side. Now most larger boats are built in a dry dock and it's just flooded. During WWII the Navy was aghast that they would propose launching submarines this way in Wisconsin, but they did, and it worked. There are some nice videos on Youtube of ships launched this way. Yeah what's up with that??Doghouse, I have been wondering about that punctuation thing for years -- around here there are old textile mills dating to around 1900 and many have the mystery period on their signage, e.g. "OFFICE." in large carved granite block letters above the entrance. Does anyone anyone anyone know why they would go to the trouble of carving a period there? I'm guessing it was simply the style, but I'd love to learn more about it. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
Trip Advisor: 1902
... story as to how they got there. Even with the small boat sometimes it's hard to get through. After a big storm there's always trees ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2011 - 11:12am -

1902. "Mr. Foster's office in Palm Beach." An outpost of the Ask Mr. Foster chain of travel agencies and souvenir shops started in Florida by Ward Foster in the 1880s. 8x10 glass negative by William Henry Jackson. View full size. Ocklawaha?Where the heck is Ocklawaha? I might buy a ticket just to find out. [It is both a town and a river. - Dave] Philip Morris ain't hereAt first glance, I thought the boy was dressed in a red bellhop uniform like those who used to page people with phone messages at hotels i.e. "Call for Philip Morris!" but on closer inspection he seems to be a messenger or junior assistant of some sort. Also, just think, 109 years ago, somebody cut some lily of the valley out of their garden in the morning and put them in a water glass on their desk and still today they convey the beauty and fragrance of nature, my mom's favorite flower. The posters, postcards, travel photos, etc. pictured would today get you on TV in the Antiques Roadshow and be worth a hefty sum too. Carry on. A room loaded with Shorpy fruitLook at those walls full of photos and those stacks of big brochures (or whatever travel agencies used then). One of the eye catchers for sure is the Ocklawaha Steamer Tickets sign (part of one was used for a window sign of some kind). A photo like this is why Google was invented, sort of, where I found some marvelous prose: St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers (Highways and Byways of Florida, 1918) Palatka is the starting-point of the Ocklawaha steamers. They go south twenty-five miles, then turn west and enter the old forests of the "dark crooked water," which is what the name of the stream means in English. The journey ends at Silver Springs, one hundred and ten miles farther on. Enthusiasts call the Ocklawaha "the sweetest water-lane in the world," and the voyage through this liquid silent forest aisle is full of weird interest. Certainly no trip to Florida is complete which does not include an outing on this romantic stream with its ever-changing scenes and its tonic air laden with the balsamic odors of the forest. The latter part of the Ocklawaha journey is made at night, and it is then that the river is seen most impressively after a fire of pine knots has been kindled in a big iron box on the top of the pilot-house. This blazes finely, and the light from the resinous yellow flames advances up the dark sinuosities of the stream in a manner that is enchantingly mysterious. The foliage which it touches is magically green, the festooning mosses are transformed to silvered garlands, the tree trunks turn to corrugated gold, and the black slimy stumps become jeweled pillars. When the fire dies down a little the distant scenery becomes indistinct and shadowy, and the great trees are pallid and ghostly. Then fresh knots are thrown in, the fire blazes up, and again the winding forest walls are brightly lighted amid the impenetrable surrounding mirk, while everything is reflected in the smooth water. Ocklawaha and Silver RiversAs a photographer I wish I could go back in time and visit this place. I live near the Ocklawaha and Silver Rivers. They haven't changed much since the old days. Here is the Ocklawaha River today. Here's the Silver River which starts at Silver Spring and flows into the Ocklawaha. I fell in love with these rivers about 12 years ago and started photographing the flora and fauna. There is a high concentration of wildlife on these two rivers including rhesus monkeys which in itself is an interesting story as to how they got there. Even with the small boat sometimes it's hard to get through. After a big storm there's always trees blocking the rivers and in the old days they must have had a crew working full time to keep the waterway clear. [One would be hard pressed to tell them apart. - Dave] Hand Painted Art for sale Ah, hand coloring a black and white photograph. That is a lost art these days. Very few, if any photographers have the time or patience to sit down with a picture and a large box of watercolor type paints with which to hand color a photograph. I used to do hand spotting of photos and that was hard enough matching the gray-tones to the photo. Now it is all computerized as displayed on Shorpy.com. We have some artists who excel at digitally colorizing photographs, such as Don W. Timeshift"Hedonism? Well! Certainly not, Sir!" (The Gallery, Florida, The Office, W.H. Jackson)
Queens of Comedy: 1919
... picture. The girl with the paddle could row my boat any day. I'll bet the other girls called her "Skinny". Original ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/30/2020 - 12:09pm -

        All of Washington is looking forward to the arrival of the famous Mack Sennett girls, who are due to reach this city in the near future, and who are to appear every day on the stage at one of the local theaters in conjunction with the much-heralded feature photoproduction "Yankee Doodle in Berlin." -- News item (Washington Post) Washington, D.C., circa 1919. "Mack Sennett girls." An assortment of the theatrical impresario's "bathing beauties," last seen here. National Photo Co. View full size. Timing is everythingI like the two overcoat-clad old gents pausing on their daily constitutional to take in all the glories of the Mack Sennett girls from afar. Nothing to reveal here.Revealing attire was not restricted to the silent screen, as seen easily in this publicity photo. The "Hayes Code" moral guidelines put an end this from 1934, much to the disappointment of untold numbers of fans. Miss DirectionThere must be three photographers trying to take their picture. The girl with the paddlecould row my boat any day. I'll bet the other girls called her "Skinny". Original Bathing Girls in PersonCan't be sure, but (left to right) the girls on the film ad look a lot like girls 6, 5, and 3 (Marvel Rea) in the photo. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo, Pretty Girls)
The Old Basin: 1906
... not sure if the lugger referred to pertains just to the boat or to the kid with the burlap sack. [The charcoal (and oyster) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 10:49am -

New Orleans circa 1906. "Charcoal lugger in the Old Basin." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. That's MY CigarThat kid kneeling on the right looks he really wants that cigar. Either that, or he just had it taken from him. Schr. Mabel E. Judlin from A History of Vancleave, Mississippi, by Ray L. Bellande. Miss Mabel Judlin was the namesake of another trading schooner, the Mabel E. Judlin. This vessel was constructed at Handsboro by Matteo Martinolich (1861-1934) in 1891, for J.L. Mestier & Company of New Orleans. The Mabel E. Judlin was 67 feet long, had a beam of 22 feet, and hold depth of 4 feet. Her sails were constructed by A. Gerdes & Brother of New Orleans. (The Biloxi Herald, May 2, 1891, p. 4, c. 2) The Mabel E. Judland (sic) was reputed to be the fastest schooner in the entire Gulf and Caribbean. She hauled charcoal from the banks of Bluff Creek when owned by James E. Lockard (1862-1951) of Vancleave. The fledging United Fruit Company used the Mabel E. Judland (sic) as a model for their shallow draft fruit boats. (Down South, July-August 1960, p. 9) What Catches My EyeThe schooner Mabel E Judlin is hardly the elegant sort of craft that Canadians think of when we think of schooners. The Bluenose would turn up her nose at this example of the type. What really catches my eye about this photo is the fellow, who can't be too far into his teens if he's even made it that far, with the sack over his back and his cigar at a jaunty angle. Looks like he could whup his weight in wildcats and not disturb the ash from that stogie. What's in a name?I'm still not sure if the lugger referred to pertains just to the boat or to the kid with the burlap sack. [The charcoal (and oyster) luggers are the boats. - Dave] (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
« first‹ prev…12 [13]14…next ›last »
Syndicate content  Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.