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Dolls: 1938
... full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. Library of Congress. Leering Dopeys... Shame! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/04/2008 - 5:59pm -

November 1938. Donaldsonville, Louisiana. "Young girl buying doll from concession manager at the state fair." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. Library of Congress. Leering Dopeys...Shame! Snow White would've had a few choice words... Standing TallThe manager must be petite; I think she'd be eye-to-eye with the little girl if she stepped down from her Coke crate. And standing on it didn't keep the mud off her spectator shoes, unfortunately. Dopey, Charlie, Snow.They're not dolls---they're chalkware figurines. Charlie McCarthyBeen a while since I've seen Edgar Bergen's alter ego. He was far bigger than Jeff Dunham is today. I don't think Charlie ever ran for president, while Jeff's curmudgeonly Walter has thrown his hat in the ring. http://www.jeffdunham.com/walter.php Details, details!At first I thought the tube device in the lower left was a radio then I decided the item in the manager's hand is a microphone and it appeared connected to what must be an amplifier to "bark" the dolls. Also the other character with monocle and Uncle Sam hat appears to be Charlie McCarthy of Edgar Bergen fame? (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Sports)
This Land: 1940
... Placer County, California." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The Year Before It'll be a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/19/2018 - 2:11pm -

December 1940. "Japanese fruit farmer and his son. Placer County, California." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The Year BeforeIt'll be a lot less pleasant for them in the US the following December. I'll say what we're all thinkingSoon to be sent to an internment camp, for no other reason than their ethnicity. Missing "Handsome Rakes" tagI can all but guarantee that young fella did just fine with the ladies. (And to think these poor guys were likely unjustly rounded up and sent to internment camps after Pearl Harbor) Who would have guessedThat in about a year their lives would be forever changed. References to Japanese communities in Placer CountyThe farm was probably somewhere along Interstate 80. japantownatlas.com mentions Japanese communities in Loomis (church), Penryn (several stores, Buddhist church, and hall), Newcastle (school), and Auburn (grocery and church). http://www.japantownatlas.com/map-placer.html "Located in the foothills east of Sacramento, the town of Penryn was once surrounded by rolling hills filled with peach, plum, and pear orchards. Japanese farmers leased or owned a substantial portion of the fruit ranches in this area, and the money they made in turn supported a local economy of Japanese businesses. https://www.asianamericanbooks.com/books/3524.htm This photo from the Library of Congress may be the same son at an Arts and Crafts desk. Note the cutout of a starlet above his desk and the framed photo on the desk. https://www.loc.gov/resource/fsa.8c00555/ I've gotten the impression that the Placer County area tended to produce fresh fruit for shipping to the rest of the U.S. Because it was on the Southern Pacific railroad on its way east, it would have been easier for them to ship fresh fruit than places further west. Canning and drying was more common at points west, such as the San Joaquin and Santa Clara valleys. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Russell Lee)
Toy Store: 1941
... transparency. Location unknown. View full size. Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information Collection. Corset Shop ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2007 - 11:52am -

Boys at toy store window with Hop Ching (Chinese checkers) display, Christmas 1941 or 1942. 35mm Kodachrome transparency. Location unknown. View full size. Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information Collection. Corset ShopThere's a reflection in the window of a sign reading "Corset Shop." Were there really stores that specialized in corsets? Yes, anonymous, of courseYes, anonymous, of course there were. Why wouldn't there be? We have plenty of lingerie stores, and corsets were a lot trickier (more customized). Think of it like a milliner's. ColorsDefinitely Kodachrome; look at the color retention after all these years. - Nick If they tried to sell that "Hop Ching" game today with the same cover art, they'd be in for a class-action law suit. Christmas StoryI half expected to see a Red Ryder BB Gun in the window (Christmas, Kids, Stores & Markets)
Bare Beach: 1939
... cabbages in truck to go to market, from small truck farm of man from North Carolina. Near Belle Glade, Florida." Bare Beach was an ... Lake Okeechobee. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Watermarked Love the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2014 - 2:44pm -

January 1939. "Packing cabbages in truck to go to market, from small truck farm of man from North Carolina. Near Belle Glade, Florida." Bare Beach was an agricultural outpost on the southern shore of Lake Okeechobee. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. WatermarkedLove the placing of the Shorpy logo here. Only the best!Shorpy cabbages Depression isn't over yetLook at the spare tire for the truck on the left, attached to its rear stake panel, resting at the left side of the truck. The cords are showing. And it's an artillery wheel. Someone's living on a shoestring. FordThe Joe Jones truck shown is a 1938 Ford 1/2 ton Commercial Car Platform-Stake body. This style of stake truck was introduced in 1937 on the same drop-center chassis as Ford cars. Notice how they had to build up the height of the stake bed in order to be at the same height as most loading docks. Standard features included the rear fenders, the gas fuel filler pipe integrated into the left rear fender, and the metal sign panels which were incorporated into the stake sides. The hinged sides of the stake bed were 29.5 inches high while the bed itself was 80 inches long and 62 inches wide. There were also steel skid strips on the wooden bed floor. When equipped with the 60 horsepower V-8 engine, the truck weighed 2,655 lbs and cost $615. If the truck came with the 85 hp V-8 it weighed 2,842 lbs and cost $625. With just a platform bed each model cost $15 less and weighed about 150 lbs less. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Florida, M.P. Wolcott)
Just Got In: 1940
... Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Long commute? How far is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2020 - 1:17pm -

December 1940. Radford, Virginia. "Influx of construction workers to build Hercules Powder Plant -- new arrivals in town. They've come by bus from West Radford." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Long commute?How far is West Radford from Radford? I could only find information on the latter. [Wikipedia has an entry for West Radford.- Dave] That indicates West Radford and Radford are in the same town. So why does the photo indicate these men just arrived, with luggage, apparently by bus? The autosThe car on the right is a 1939 Ford Deluxe and the next one appears to be a 1936 Packard 120 three-window coupe. I Saw What He DidThat be a carpenter's toolbox with a large square sticking through the top. Trust me -- I'm a carpenter! Good luck, sonWondering if the woman in the car is related to the man looking into the camera. No hat no jobCan't be taken seriously at that time. Even the carpenter knew --You don't carry a heavy box by it's its handle. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, WW2)
Made in the Shade: 1941
... Vale, Oregon. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The Forties.... ....when no ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/08/2008 - 12:41pm -

July 1941. Youngsters at the Fourth of July picnic in Vale, Oregon. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The Forties........when no one wore shorts. ShortsI dunno, check out the comic book -- the big blond guy with long hair (Samson?) is wearing shorts. Cotton ShirtsThat's an unusual shawl-collar shirt. Both boys' shirts are probably 100% cotton and look like they have been ironed. Note the sharp creases on comic book boy's shirt. Love those "white sidewall" haircuts! ComicWhat comic book are they reading? Yep, it's "Samson"James Lileks recently posted an unfortunately-drawn piece of cover art from the series. The hulking white girly-man in Spandex looks the same: http://lileks.com/institute/funny/07/65.html -- bloghwhoring @ http://indigestible.nightwares.com/ Crying over comicsI start crying when I think of the many comic books that I sold or threw away years ago. Adults hated them and couldn't get rid of them fast enough. Corrupting the youth of America! (The Gallery, July 4, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Quick Arrow: 1938
... Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. What I am seeing ... is a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/01/2019 - 4:44pm -

September 1938. "Buying groceries in community store. Tygart Valley, West Virginia." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. What I am seeing ...is a young Frank Sinatra and Bea Arthur. Soft soapNot sure what "The New Quick Arrow" is, but it's in the counter display with Oxydol and Rinso Blue which were laundry detergents, both of which my mother used. [Rinso Blue, introduced in the 1950s, was a detergent. The Rinso, Oxydol and Quick Arrow seen here are soaps. - Dave] Visit Our Beauty Counter --Where the beauty is behind the counter and no cosmetics are necessary. Though this woman is classically lovely, she does not possess that perfectly proportioned look that, to some, defines beauty. I wish more women today would embrace the features that make their faces uniquely appealing, rather than pursuing the extremes of either over-enhancing or attempting to hide features under so much makeup, or through elective surgery. Light Breadis what my grandmother called store bought bread as opposed to biscuits and cornbread which she cooked on a wood stove like God intended. The first sliced bread was announced on Friday, July 06, 1928 in the Chillicothe Constitution Tribune of Chillicothe, Missouri. And the town's nickname? Home of Sliced Bread. Growing up sliced bread was our common comparative. As in, X is better than sliced bread. He, SheHe: Looking to try his soft soap routine She: Looking to deter gent Tobacco counterI wasn't aware Kool cigarettes had been around that long. Guy better be careful, she's wearing a wedding ring. Great photo. (The Gallery, M.P. Wolcott, Stores & Markets)
Dot & Liz: 1939
... A resettlement project of the FSA A project of the Farm Security Administration to resettle impoverished tenant farmers. The gymnasium ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/12/2019 - 11:31am -

May 1939. "Dorothy Smith and Elizabeth Atkinson setting table in home economics room in school building. Ashwood Plantations, South Carolina." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. A resettlement project of the FSAA project of the Farm Security Administration to resettle impoverished tenant farmers. The gymnasium of this school still exists on Ashwood School road, along US 15 south of Bishopville, SC. https://scpictureproject.org/lee-county/lake-ashwood.html FootwearReally surprised that Dorothy is wearing a pair what looks to be an early version of Chuck Taylor style white high top sneakers. Although they had been on the market since around 1918, I didn't think these were foot ware wear of choice for young ladies back in the late 30s! Liz's choice of saddle shoes is not so surprising, since that style of shoe has come in and gone out fashion numerous time over the decades. Pre internet siteLiz Dot Nom Hitting all basesIt seems these women were taught to cook on different types of stoves (understandable, if it was an FSA program). At left you have a wood (or coal) stove, and to the right, a kerosene stove. These were briefly hailed throughout the South, as a way to cook in the summer months without heating up the entire house, but according to one source, they were abandoned en masse once gas or electric became available. Then in the foreground, while not part of the curriculum, there are two different types of cabinetry. Jane Powell advises those restoring a period kitchen: "Here is a magic question to ask of potential cabinetmakers: 'Can you make flush inset doors?' If the reply is some variation on 'nobody makes those anymore,' then keep looking." The sink cabinet has flush inset doors, while the cabinet in the foreground has the newer overlay doors, and a porcelain enamel countertop. The area under the sink is open because of an early 20th century superstition that proper sanitation required air flow around the sink plumbing. Small table and not much legroomat the table being set up. SneakersTwo girls in the Typing Pool post also are wearing sneakers. My guess is they probably has gym class that day. Ashwood Plantation SchoolFollow this link to read about the Ashwood Plantation Project, a program of FDR's New Deal. http://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/ashwood-plantation/ (The Gallery, Education, Schools, Kitchens etc., M.P. Wolcott)
Mullets: 1938
... 3¼ x 4¼ nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. Dangerous Man! Don't let those mullets get near ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2012 - 2:57pm -

January 1938. Bait seller in Key West, Florida. View full size. 3¼ x 4¼ nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. DangerousMan! Don't let those mullets get near your other leg! Later on... He became a barber of some renown. Greasy Mullet I've lived in Key West. The stores are pretty much gone, although the people look much the same. We used to go out onto the flats when the mullet would run and use wire trash baskets to scoop up hundreds of mullet. Oily and bony, they were cheap and plentiful, so, hell, we ate a lot of greasy mullet. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Florida, Stores & Markets)
Hanging Out: 1939
... Oregon. Medium-format negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The Lady Did Philip Seymour ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2009 - 10:22pm -

September 1939. "Mrs. Soper, FSA client, tells how it was when the family first came." Willow Creek area, Malheur County, Oregon. Medium-format negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. The LadyDid Philip Seymour Hoffman channel this woman while doing Scotty in Boogie Nights? The KidInteresting how the little kid mirrors her posture. Grandmother SoperThis is my grandmother Charity O. Spencer Soper. She was just shy of 36 years old in this picture, and had 10 children. My mother, Donna, was her 12th and last child. Looking for familyHi, I came across this picture and wondered if you know any family history? I'm researching mine and Soper is my maiden name. Contact me at fishfamily5@yahoo.com if you'd like to connect. (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Kids, Rural America)
String Section: c. 1939
... County, Oklahoma. Photograph by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration Office of War Information, c. 1939. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 09/08/2011 - 6:33pm -

The orchestra at a square dance in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. Photograph by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration Office of War Information, c. 1939. View full size. Red And GreenThis series of photos reminds me of old Warner Brothers cartoons from the early 30s, when Disney owned the exclusive rights to the tri-color process. Other cartoon makers either had to just use black and white, or the ugly duo-color process where everything was either green or red, with no blues or purples. Click HERE to view an example. AgreedThese colors do look a bit washed out, eh? I wonder what type of flash Mr. Lee used to light these particular scenes. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska Nice Socks...... on the guitar girl. RealityWell the colors have just aged poorly. It happens to the best of us. What I like about this picture is the reality of it. There's nothing fake about it. Kodachrome correctedThe original is fairly typical of how the earliest Kodachromes faded before processing changes resulted in the kind of color stability we've come to expect from the film. There's no way of knowing if my correction represents the original colors accurately, but it does seem a bit more life-like. (The Gallery, Music, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Ghost Horse II
... [intestinal blockage] due to poor feed. William Butler's farm near Anthon, Iowa. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. Ghost Horse Haunting. Absolutely haunting. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 9:33pm -

December 1936. Remains of horse that died of compaction [intestinal blockage] due to poor feed. William Butler's farm near Anthon, Iowa. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. Ghost HorseHaunting. Absolutely haunting. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Horses, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Terry's Coffee Shop: 1941
... format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Great name for a coffee shop ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/20/2021 - 9:53pm -

September 1941. "Transport truck in service station. Scottsbluff, Nebraska." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Great name for a coffee shopSeriously, who wouldn't get a fresh hot cup of coffee at Terry's? There's no way I could not stop there. I bet they serve pie. Make it blackberry, please. And the coffee? Freshly roasted and nicely balanced, no need for cream or sugar. The aroma from its piping hot vapors accompanies your every sip. Its effect is both becalming and uplifting, and the road ahead just seems easier after. Ah, yes, coffee at Terry's. And, yes, the tuna melt comes on sliced sourdough. We call it the Terry Special. Black coffee, blackberry pie, and a tuna melt on sourdough. Your favorites? What a coincidence! $0.189 in 1941 is worth $3.47 todayWhile 18.9 cents looks like a bargain for gas, it was a lot of coin in 1941. Look Ma!There's one of those "New 10 Wheelers" So Twin PeaksI bet Terry's was a lot like the Double R Diner. Any minute now, a Norma-esque (RIP Peggy Lipton) character is going to sashay into view, wearing an acetate apron and an enigmatic smile, brandishing a brimming pot of the scrumptious piping hot joe that had Agent Cooper captivated from the first sip. Make his pie (and mine) cherry. The owls are not what they seem! And here comes the log lady. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, M.P. Wolcott)
Porch Swinger: 1941
... Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I really dig the pin at her ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2020 - 3:32pm -

March 1941. "Front porch of rooming house. Portsmouth, Virginia." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I really digthe pin at her collar. Sweater GirlsDuring the 1940s, young women were crazy about sweaters -- the reasoning for which the irrepressible Bob Hope claimed was a mystery he'd like to unravel. Call a spade a spadeNot gonna lie: I'm deeply impressed with the lady's collar pin. (I wanted to say I dig it but Karaboo was too quick on the draw.) Props to her for being original and witty. Cute outfit too. [Swing dude is another colorful accessory. - Dave] Red CrossWhat is the significance of a Red Cross symbol in the window of a rooming house? Medical care available inside? Up close, personalViewed closer, this photo almost speaks. I want to know more. Dig Your Ownhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Silver-Tone-Shovel-Pin-Brooch-Gravedigger-Goth-... CinematicLooks almost like a movie still. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Striking Beauties: 1938
August 1938. "Girl fieldworkers at the King Farm on strike against 17-cents-an-hour wages. Morrisville, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pin close up I think this ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/18/2019 - 8:34pm -

August 1938. "Girl fieldworkers at the King Farm on strike against 17-cents-an-hour wages. Morrisville, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pin close upI think this is it. More like stricken beautiesWait, strike that remark. They Paid 25 Cents a BushelTo pick garlic in 1970. I was 12. An hour later, the farmer didn't get a bushel, and I walked an hour back home without a quarter. Value of Money17 cents an hour is about $3 an hour in today’s money. No wonder they were on strike. You couldn’t live on 17 cents an hour then, you can’t live on $3 an hour today. (The Gallery, Agriculture, John Vachon)
Nutbrowns Groceteria: 1939
... Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. 52 Miles to Mecca I love that sign.... ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 2:43pm -

February 1939. Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California. "Idle pea pickers discuss prospects for work." View full size. Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. 52 Miles to MeccaI love that sign.... Nutbrowns GroceteriaThe coupe at the extreme left is sporting whitewall tires, so at least someone had a little discretionary income to use on a luxury. I like to think that vehicle is red. Colorizing is looked down upon, but it would be great if there is a way of analyzing b/w prints to make a swag (sophisticated wild-a#$-guess) at such details. The GroceteriaOMG!! I got a Coke in there when I was a little kid! My parents had everything they owned piled in (and on) an old Hupmobile. When we crossed the line into California, my father stopped the car and my parents and my older brothers got out and kissed the ground. [Amazing! Click below to enlarge. - Dave] (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange, Small Towns)
Flag Day: 1941
... Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Paraphrasing Justice Potter ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2020 - 3:36pm -

June 1941. "Flag Day. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Paraphrasing Justice Potter StewartI shall not attempt further to define a great photograph ... but I know one when I see one. This is a great photo. Flag questionShouldn't the stars on the flag from 1941 be in a 6x8 grid, not offset rows as shown in the photo? [The 1912 executive order pertaining to 48-star flags specifies only that the stars be in six rows of eight stars each, "symmetrically arranged." And of course the flag makers could arrange the stars however they wanted. There are (or were) countless examples of flags with stars both staggered and gridded. - Dave] KudosJohn Vachon was a great talent. What an incredible picture! Timeless window screenI am reminded of all the places I've lived where I had one of those screens to insert in the window opening. They're still around. Would keep out the flies, but wouldn't be effective against the smoke from those mills. Fly the flag!And step out for a breath of fresh air. Flag --Looks like the US flag for 1890-1891 - 43 stars. Probably flew what he had. [This flag has 48 stars. - Dave] (The Gallery, Factories, John Vachon, Patriotic, Pittsburgh)
The Old Bus: 1937
... Dakota." Medium-format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. School's Wagon No ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2013 - 10:33am -

October 1937. "Old school bus. Williams County, North Dakota." Medium-format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. School's WagonNo question about it that this passenger wagon was owned by a school district. But I have to wonder if our concept of a school bus (stops in a string of places and takes groups of waiting children who live too far to walk, to their school) even existed in the horse drawn days. I have seen some pretty quick Amish horse carts trotting down the road (with retired race horses pulling them) in Indiana. But even so, those kids would have to get up pretty early in the morning if this thing went from one rural driveway to another, pulled only by a horse. KudosWonderful photograph! Very ingeniousI wonder if it was painted yellow... Looks like it was converted to a small dwelling of sorts (I doubt that chimney was part of the standard equipment offered in the Studebaker Brothers brochure of the early 1900s). I can see the windows were boarded up, but, with some imagination, you can see the general arrangement it once had: a long horse drawn wagon very similar to the classic Conestogas, but with flat sides and a roof. Probably it had a few seats, and no window glass at all. By the way, that would have been a very good antecedent for the original wood-bodied "station wagons". Ingenious, simple, practical, and an use for a horse drawn carriage I never imagined. Grand old lady of a busIf you look carefully you can see the faded label that clearly says in part __HOOLS. No doubt the county school system. But the windows aren't boarded up at all, looks like. Those boarded sides have hinges at the top, by the roof. The label was painted on those boards, so likely that's how the bus was when it was used. Probably the hinged sides could be propped open in warm weather. It is actually papered over outside with cardboard from boxes (half of the door covered over), probably to keep out the cold prairie winds. And yeah, I'd bet didn't have a stove or a pipe. Thanks for a look at a vehicle I'd never heard of--a horse-drawn schoolbus. Court decisionWell, one thing we know is that the driver didn't get paid when schools were closed by a flu epidemic. (The Gallery, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Leadville Castle: 1941
... Leadville, Colorado." Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Interior views ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/02/2014 - 5:20pm -

September 1941. "House in old mining town. Leadville, Colorado." Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Interior viewshttp://www.zillow.com/homedetails/815-Harrison-Ave-Leadville-CO-80461/89... The place has a beautiful Victorian interior. Happy To SeeThat the nifty chimney has made it through the years. Still Standing! Well, the house is still there. (Photo from 2012.) [It has the same nifty Band-Aid color scheme as our Comments box! -Dave] LeadvilleI've always wanted to visit Leadville. At an elevation of 10,152 feet, Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the US. It's a mining boom- (and bust-) town, with a 19th-century opera house and loads of Victorian houses like this one. LeadvilleBeautiful photograph. The clarity and detail are phenomenal. Nice find. (The Gallery, M.P. Wolcott, Mining)
Race Street: 1940
... Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania." Photo by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 1939 Nash four-door, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/06/2018 - 2:50pm -

August 1940. "Old houses on Race Street in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania." Photo by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. 1939 Nash four-door, either a Special or a Deluxe in front. Looks like a '36 Ford Tudor sedan behind it. Name ChangeIn 1954, Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk merged to become the Borough of Jim Thorpe. Now the lovely town of Jim Thorpe, PAThe stone row at 25-55 Race Street in Jim Thorpe appears very similar today, though there's no Google Street View. What's In That Name?The photo contains a small piece of the current town's naming history, that of Jim Thorpe, PA. Those wooden stairs lower left lead to the longtime headquarters of the Times-News, who's whose editor in the 1950s led the campaign to raise money and bring the remains of the legendary Jim Thorpe to Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, with subsequent renaming of the towns. It's now a bed-and-breakfast along the Stone Row. A town by any other nameThe town changed its name in 1954 from Mauch Chunk to Jim Thorpe, a story that has to rank as one of the most unusual in American history. (Mauch Chunk means Bear Place in the native Munsee-Lenape Native American language. B.O.W.If you ever read W.E.B. Griffin's "Brotherhood of War" series you'll see Mauch Chunk referenced a lot. Quite ContinentalHad I not seen the caption, I would have assumed this to be some small corner of Europe. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano)
Heavy Cream: 1940
... Son of worker weighing up milk at Mineral King cooperative farm. Accurate milk records of each cow are kept." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Knudsen Still dealing moo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/17/2018 - 1:50pm -

November 1940. "Tulare County, California. Son of worker weighing up milk at Mineral King cooperative farm. Accurate milk records of each cow are kept." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. KnudsenStill dealing moo juice in the Golden State, 78 years later. What's left of Mineral King Ranch 32 + 10 + 6 + 1 =The sums of numbers must have carried more weight back then. [Whatever that means. - Dave] To equal 58? Adding and subtractingI think it is 72(32+40) minus 14(6+8)= 58. The numbers are a bit hard to read. Milk Scale and calendar"Milk scales typically came in 10-pound increments (as the scale slide is pulled down with weight, the hand goes around three times) for 30 pounds maximum weight and 20 pounds (again, the hand goes around three times) for 60 pounds maximum weight." From https://www.farmcollector.com/farm-life/milk-scales-milk-tester The calendar is (most likely) from The Knudsen Milk Products Co. The earliest available city directory is dated 1957 when the company representative was Fred Olsson. I'm sure Fred could tell us who the young man might be. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Russell Lee)
With Both Barrels: 1937
... Dakota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Disgruntled pets Both of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2018 - 1:30pm -

September 1937. "Herman Gerling, farmer. Barrels on truck are for hauling spring water. Near Wheelock, North Dakota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Disgruntled petsBoth of Mr. Gerling's pets seem somewhat grumpy today. The dog seems jealous of the cat perhaps and the cat looks to have done a complete clawing of Herman's hand as well as perhaps shredding the driver's seat. Can't we all just get along? The water wagonMy dad told me about my west Texas great-grandfather, who owned two wagons. One was a general-purpose wagon, used the way one now uses a pickup truck. The other was a dedicated water wagon. It had more than two barrels. Once a week, he'd hitch up the team and drive to the stock tank. He had a pier that reached out to the middle of the tank, so he could draw water with the least amount of mud and cow feces. He would carry it, one bucket at a time, and dump it into the barrels in the wagon. Once back at the house, he'd unhitch the team, and the wagon would stay put for the rest of the week. My grandmother told me an abbreviated version of the same story, before she descended into dementia. She mentioned knowing, later in life, that the water was likely unsanitary, but, "The cows drank it." She said they also had barrels to catch rainwater running off the roof, but you couldn't depend on that. Model T Fords didn't figure into either version of the story. But my grandmother, who was born in 1911, did tell me she learned to drive in a Model T. In any case, this is a TT, the truck with a longer wheelbase. And that's a Montgomery Ward "hot shot" 6-volt battery, which according to lore, was used on the Model T when the bearings wore to the point where the magneto would no longer reliably supply the ignition. And I've found another Shorpy cat-dude. A truck named Ingenuity.I wonder what kind of body this truck had on it originally? It must not have been suitable for farm work whatever it was. Each time I look at this picture I see something else creatively engineered. From the wood firewall, the removable windshield for more comfortable summer driving, the battery box made of wood with the battery cable drooping over the side and next to it a wooden tool box. Looking at the left rear tire there must not be much oil left in the axle. The bodyThat TT truck may have never had a body. The basic body-less truck was available from Ford and you could build whatever you wanted. The seat looks like something salvaged from an old car. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Cats, Dogs, Rural America, Russell Lee)
The Dinette: 1941
... . Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Dinette Delights I bet I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/04/2019 - 11:36pm -

May 1941. "Main street of Childersburg, Alabama." And a close-up of the restaurant glimpsed earlier from above. Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Dinette DelightsI bet I could get a great slice of lemon icebox pie and a sweet tea at the Dinette. Why So Much Construction?The Delano pictures of Childersburg show a lot of new buildings going up in the main business district of time. The 30s-early 40s was not a time of heavy building in old southern downtowns, unless there is a military base nearby. So I took a look. A January 1939 tornado had taken a 100 yard swath out of Childersburg's business district. [The construction had to do with a new Dupont munitions factory. Jack Delano was in Childersburg to document the "boomtown activities" surrounding the construction of the nearby Alabama Army Ammunition Plant: "Photographs show main street. Construction of the town's first motion picture theatre, stores and bunk houses. Tent and trailer camps. Night scenes. Boomtown activities. Men filling in application for employment forms for Dupont Powder Plant. Dairy barn converted into three story bunk house for powder plant workers." - Dave] Cream and sugarEver since childhood, there haven't been too many two-word combinations that thrill me as much as "coffee shop" ... written or spoken, or even merely thought of, the words bring a tingle. Magical, the delicious aromas and scenes of comfort conjured by those words. From the same spot today.It is not obvious from the picture but if you move street-view around the corner and look down the block, you'll see the same 2 story building as see in the "Local traffic: 1941" image that shows this corner. Can anyone tell mehow could those weight machines make enough pennies to even pay for their construction? ["Weight machines"! - Dave] Dinette for someIn Alabama in 1941, how welcoming the coffee shop was depended a lot on what you looked like. Do You Weigh What You Should?The penny scale is a 1921 Mills Lollipop Scale, manufactured by the Mills Novelty Co. Chicago, Ill. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Jack Delano, Small Towns)
My Ears Are Burning: 1940
... of hot stove. Chamisal, New Mexico." Photo by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. View full size. On the Mend Cool patch on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/25/2020 - 4:33pm -

July 1940. "Spanish-American boy eating sweet corn which he has roasted on top of hot stove. Chamisal, New Mexico." Photo by Russell Lee, Farm Security Administration. View full size. On the MendCool patch on the inside of the boy’s pant leg. Very extensive, too, from just above the ankle to above the knee. And the basic serviceable sewing job looks like something I would do. Not what you’d call invisible stitching. Good EatsThis young man's family may not have much (search LOC and you'll find a picture of them) but he seems to be happy. More than likely about the sweet corn he is heating and eating. I remember eating corn this way as a kid, but I was not as lucky as this young man to be able to cook it myself. I was given the job of cleaning up, not cooking. Jarring seasonI wonder what's in the pressure cooker. Apricots maybe? Guessing from the jars that are already done? Are there that many apricot trees in NM? Roast 'n earsMy father (1898-1958) called them. (The Gallery, Kids, Kitchens etc., Rural America, Russell Lee)
Barroom Besties: 1940
... New Mexico." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Russell Lee migration Are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/24/2018 - 7:58pm -

June 1940. "Youngsters in a bar at Mogollon, New Mexico." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Russell Lee migrationAre these snowbirds down from Minnesota? Just in case —Can opener: Check Flashlight: Check Revolver: Check Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. PBRGood old days. Young people drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon without a hint of irony. Right on TimeMr. Loosetie appears to be wearing an Illinois "Ace" wristwatch. Very popular today among collectors. Ashtray?Apparently the floor. Old Colonel Quickie-MartLove his poster up on the wall. Barroom Safety CheckDuring my misspent youth I always looked at the ashtrays when going into a new bar. In a bar with heavy glass ashtrays you were less likely to get into a fight than bars that had those light aluminum trays. Owners not only know their clientèle's favorite drinks but also know if their customers are prone to picking up an ashtray and whacking someone over the head. In the lighter tray bars I always found a seat where could keep my back to a wall to avoid incoming in case I happened to disparage some customer's favorite ballplayer. A no-tray bar, especially one with sawdust on the floor (used to soak up the blood), was usually a no-talk zone until I became familiar with the customers. PS. To get better service in a busy new bar, leave a tip with each drink, and if the bartender is an man call him Ace or Chief. If a woman, say "Hello darlin'" with a slight Southern accent then go on with "Aren't you a sweet looking lady." Always worked for me. I seldom had to flag them down since they usually were watching me, and a nod and a raised glass got me a fresh drink. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Wyoming: 1940
... County, Wyoming." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Running On Empty It almost ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/29/2018 - 9:55am -

March 1940. "Highway U.S. 30. Sweetwater County, Wyoming." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Running On EmptyIt almost looks like the background of the cover of Jackson Browne's album. On a clear day you can see foreverCertainly looks like the middle of nowhere. Great spot to hitchhike if you have the time. Vanishing PointHere is a visual definition of "vanishing point" if ever I saw one... Just West of WamsutterLocation is just west of Wamsutter, Wyoming. The rocky high point on the right is Eagle Nest Butte. I-80 nowOnly a small sliver of U.S. 30 in the far western part of the county now. Route 30I rode US 30 for the first half of a cross-country motorcycle trip about 15 years ago. Although much of it is now Interstate, a lot remains secondary and just a joy to ride on. Middle of NowhereYears ago, on a motorcycle ride in eastern Oregon on US 395 between Burns and John Day, I found a similar spot. Stopped, looked around to make sure of a lack of fences, telephone or power poles, or any human structure. I took a picture and sent it to family overseas with the statement "This is the middle of nowhere." The above picture really does qualify, better than the one I took. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Landscapes)
A Friendly Game: 1938
... Reserve, Louisiana." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Hint of a Smile That guy ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 6:36pm -

September 1938. "Game of coon-can in store near Reserve, Louisiana." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Hint of a SmileThat guy fancies his chances. Reserve, LouisianaI grew up in Reserve in the 1950's and '60's. I'd love to get some old photos of Reserve pre-1960. Anyone out there got some? skippadeau@aol.com (The Gallery, Rural America, Russell Lee, Sports, Stores & Markets)
Archer Mercantile: 1937
... Montana." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Modest, isolated lives Many ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/23/2019 - 5:48pm -

November 1937. "Store building at Alger [i.e. Archer], Sheridan County, Montana." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Modest, isolated livesMany of the photos to be found on this website show a rural America of modest means in isolated environments. I suspect a Sear catalog was their only contact with the "outside" world. Perhaps WWII was as much a cultural change as an economic or political force. And this was life not long before many of us were born. Just wondering. WhitmarshCall me crazy, but I read nightmarish. And isn’t that Prince Albert in a can behind the door insulated with cardboard? Gone but also forgottenNeither Alger nor Archer appears on Google Maps, nor on the list of towns and ghost towns for Sheridan County: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_County,_Montana#Communities [Au contraire. -Dave] I believe that the metropolis of Archer MontanaIs fresh out of mercantile. And maybe a while before another shipment arrives. Gasoline PumpsThe early gasoline pump on the right being looked down upon by the modern version is classic. Out of businessNot every small town that gets shut down can blame it on Walmart. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Gas Stations, Russell Lee, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
The Boogie Woogie: 1940
... mail." From photos by Marion Post Wolcott documenting a Farm Security Administration camp for migrants working in Florida's vegetable fields ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/16/2013 - 6:55pm -

June 1940. "Some of the younger Osceola migratory camp members who have come to the Belle Glade post office for their mail." From photos by Marion Post Wolcott documenting a Farm Security Administration camp for migrants working in Florida's vegetable fields and tomato canneries. View full size. Needs another tagPretty Girls, to be specific. She's a real looker. [Done. - Dave] Times ChangeThis would be "Far-Out" 35 years later. Wind wings-Her 1930-31 Ford Model A Roadster once had them, as evidenced by the empty bracket at the base of her folded windshield; in this view the bracket looks something like an airplane propeller with two blades. My Model A Ford still has them in place, which secures the glass by compression of the screw holding the bracket. Hope someone, somewhere is still enjoying The Boogie Woogie car. Nice rat rod'30-'31 Ford roadster, missing its instrument cluster fascia and, no doubt, a few other things. Can't believe it looks so bad after only a few years, but car design had made huge advances since 1927, when the Model A was designed. Today, this would not be out of place in a hot rod show. There are actually custom car painters who specialize in adding what they call "patina," which means fake rust. Don't know why. Real rust is cheap enough, and easy to find. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Florida, M.P. Wolcott, Pretty Girls)
Family Farmers: 1939
October 1939. "Family of Fred Schmeeckle, Farm Security Administration borrower, on their dryland farm in Weld County, Colorado." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/11/2018 - 12:38pm -

October 1939. "Family of Fred Schmeeckle, Farm Security Administration borrower, on their dryland farm in Weld County, Colorado." Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the FSA. View full size. Schmeeckle familyFred Carl Schmeeckle was born in Eustis, NE, on Feb 28, 1887. He homesteaded in the Stoneham area of Weld County, CO, in 1910 and, on Jun 17, 1914, married Anna (or Anny) Louise Hanson, who was born in Norway on Sep 9, 1892. They had 5 children: Leonard H. Schmeeckle - Sep 1, 1915 - Aug 1, 1972 (age 61) Ruby Schmeeckle Patrick - Oct 3, 1919 - Sep 10, 2003 (age 83) Floyd Lester Schmeeckle - Dec 8, 1924 - Jan 28, 1997 (age 72) Glenn O'Neil Schmeeckle - Jun 13, 1927 - Apr 23, 1997 (age 69) Julius "Jay" Schmeeckle - Mar 23, 1931 - Sep 29, 2016 (age 85) Anna died on Dec 23, 1953, at age 61. Fred married again, to Christina Lee Carlson on Valentine's Day 1960, and retired from farming. He died in a nursing home in Sterling, CO, on Jul 29, 1975, at age 88. His second wife died 2 1/2 years later. Navy ManFloyd (far right) enlisted and served in the USS Lesuth in the Pacific Theatre. The Real McCoyDead ringer for Walter Brennan. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Arthur Rothstein, Bicycles, Cats, Kids)
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