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Generation Gap: 1937
... is three, the foot count nine. 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. This is one great photograph In ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 4:08pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "Courtyard at 1133-1135 Chartres Street." Young and old, hangin' with the laundry. The head count here is three, the foot count nine. 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. This is one great photographIn subject and composition. Good One!Is this a shoe of a camera-shy someone? Change of PerspectiveI thought this looked familiar. I'm not sure which I prefer. This one tends to draw me out to the arches across the street while the other draws my focus to the scene in this courtyard. Two good examples of what a minor change in location does to what catches one eye. Soniat House HotelAs mentioned in This thread the building is still there and is now the Soniat House Hotel. It still amazes me how the homes of New Orleans have survived. As a photographer I reallyAs a photographer I really like this shot. There is a very nice balance to the photo. I want to wander through the archway, across the street and into the courtyard in the distance, just to see what is there. The two legs sticking out in the distance are what draw me in that direction. I wonder how much of the interesting detail we see in this image would be lost if the image had been taken with a digital camera. You win!Rip Tragle, I missed that one. But I am still not sure if the two boys really have two feet each, let be it that I could count them! +75This address is now a wonderful hotel called the Soniat House. I stayed there back in Feb, 2012 and here is a shot of what I think is the same courtyard. Missing Socks - The Scourge of MankindI just knew there would be an odd number of white socks hanging on the line (five in this case). Porgy and BessOn seeing the photo I was immediately reminded of the early stage set renditions for "Porgy and Bess" as in the rendition below from the 1930s: StreetcarStanley: Stella!! (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Kids, New Orleans)
Tommies Place: 1937
... Savannah. Structure dates from ca. 1840." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Smoking Window Can someone tell ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:02am -

Chatham County, Georgia, circa 1937. "38 Price Street, Savannah. Structure dates from ca. 1840." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Smoking WindowCan someone tell me what the cigarette-like thing in the bottom window frame of the brick building is? It even appears to have smoke issuing from it! [It looks like an electrical insulator. The "smoke" is a wire moving in the breeze. - Dave] +73Below is the identical perspective from July of 2010. Tommie's PlaceWe believe this is the sandwich shop that Tommie Mary and Clifford B. Whittington operated in 1937 -- it looks exactly as she described it to us (her children) many years ago. They lived upstairs over the store. It's wonderful to find this piece of family history. The same or worse nowOver seventy years later, lessons on the hows and whys of apostrophe use still haven't permeated all segments of our society. Tommie is goneBut the building is still there. An army life for meBritish soldiers always welcome! SuperbExcept for the siding on the dormers and the signage, nothing is out of place. Very pleasant, tidy little building. Renovations and alterationsStill standing and, thankfully, retrofitted with period appropriate 6-over-6 sash in the basement and first floor windows to replace late Victorian 2-over-2. I love the way the stair begins on the neighbor's property -- evidence of a more casual and less litigious time. This place probably looked a lot different in 1840; the "cut" corner basement entry and existing siding are both likely to be later alterations. 12-Step ProgramA 1930s version of a breathalyzer. You got in and knocked back some brewskis and if you could make it down the flight of stairs successfully, you have established a rebuttable presumption of sobriety. Such beautiful lightingJohnston must have set up her camera and waited until just that sweet spot in the late afternoon to make this exposure. What a calm air of peace and gracefulness pervades it. That woman truly loved her work and her subjects. The humanity of the builders of her architectural "models" always shines through. It was also with a sigh of relief that I saw that this street sign was shot in Savannah. If a building was in Savannah in 1937, it's probably still there 70 years later (barring hurricane damage.) They know how to preserve their heritage. And, yes, this building and its brick companion are still with us, including the probably-unchanged standing-seam roof. That little scraggly treeis still holding on there. I'm always happy when I find the buildings are (mostly) still standing. View Larger Map Missing TreeWhere is the tree in the photo that 73+ posted? RungsWhat the purpose is for the ladder on the roof? Where did it lead to? Was it for climbing up to the top, or down from the dormers? Subtle changesI've just noticed that there is a very subtle difference between the original porch/steps and those shown in the more recent photo. The columns, for one, are slimmer today and the beams supporting the porch roof have a slightly different profile. At some time in the past renovations must have been made but at least the original style was retained. Well done, renovators, whoever you were. i used to live herei lived here from 2002 through 2005 while attending SCAD- we had the top portion of the house- not the garden level- so crazy!!!! Memories So many great memories from living here while attending SCAD between 2002-04. I always wondered about the history of the place - how exciting to have a glimpse of its past. Indoors, the original brick fireplaces are still intact, as are the wood floors. The top dormer bedroom windows had magical views of downtown Savannah at sunset! (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah, Stores & Markets)
Perpendiculator: 1938
... by Miss Nellis McMillan." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Boy is that ugly ... ... but it ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:06am -

1938. Pender County, North Carolina. "Sloop Point at Hampstead. House over 200 years old. Now occupied by Miss Nellis McMillan." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Boy is that ugly ...... but it sure looks a lot easier to build. So which is structurally better?You can go dizzy looking at the railing. However, which way is more structurally sound - this or the way we normally have it? Would the spondles lossen up easier this way since there is less resistance? Just curious. [We all know what curiosity about lossened spondles leads to. -Dave] WTF?!Is that linoleum over the old floor boards? Say that ain't so. You almost don't need to caption this.Her style is so distinctive. If you think about itthat's REALLY clever! TimelessI have seen a similar railing design in Art Deco buildings; wonderful and really simple. Almost perfect! Slippery slopeIt looks like they took a porch railing and cut it to fit the stairs. Makes me dizzy just looking at it. The fractured newel post doesn't encourage sliding down the banister, does it? What a find!A rare example of M.C. Escher's short career in carpentry. Sloop Point PlantationSloop Point Plantation is the oldest surviving structure in North Carolina, built in 1727. The McMillan name is mentioned here. On Flickr, the house as it was in 1950. Still more info here. Was restored in the 1990s. Privately owned. Darn, I forgot to bring my miter boxThis was built on the day the carpenter forgot to bring his miter box. Thanks Shorpy for my giving me a new word today, "spondles." I guess I need to go back to carpentry 101. I can't seem to find spondles in an online dictionary or on Wikipedia though. [Try "spindles." - Dave] Obviously installed bythe Three Stooges! Choir of anglesIt's great to see unusual architecture, at least compared to modern times, but it still looks incongruent. Gulp!That railing would not help at all to keep you from tumbling over the side. This place pioneeredthe "build ugly" movement. And in a lot of places they succeeded wildly. Tilt.Someone didn't have a mitre saw. I like it! No fence on table saw.Nobody had a protractor. Boom! Innovation. Vernacular VertigoWhat a stunning example of vernacular architecture. Amazingly it still stands today. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Poe House: 1930
... Allan Poe's mother's house." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. In the immortal words of Bette Davis ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:06am -

Richmond, Virginia, circa 1930. "Edgar Allan Poe's mother's house." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. In the immortal words of Bette Davis"What a dump!" This explains a lotNo wonder Edgar was so dark and haunting in his writings. Ghost of Poe?Look at the base of the water pump right of center. Interesting! It's No WonderComes as no surprise to me that Poe had Ravens at his chamber door. No mortals were tall enough. Let us not forget ...this photo was his grandmother's home, NOT his, [Erm, this is NOT his grandma's house. - Dave] and he was born in 1809, so by 1930 this grandmother's home may have been neglected for 121 years before [???] his birth. Look around you, even just at your own grandmother's home today and see if the place hasn't fallen into disrepair and decay and see if creeping slums have enveloped the area as in the case of my grandmother's dwelling. Many once-elegant and genteel neighborhoods, even from the 1940's have turned into wastelands, especially those next to run-down urban areas as in Detroit, Philly, Hartford and New Haven, Ct. Not all real estate escalates in value. Also, this is a back alley, not a front entrance, which is usually more attractive. Poe himself may have never imagined such a dump for his grandma. Here a Poe house, there a Poe housePoe moved around a lot, so it's not surprising that there are Poe houses in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. (The last is only a facade on a NYU Law School building). Boston had an Edgar Allan Poe Square and a house, but both vanished sometime after 1930. Richmond has a Poe Museum which advertises being "only blocks away from Poe's first Richmond home." Perhaps that's what Johnston photographed. It's gone too, as is the house of his foster family the Allans. Quoth CartmanMr. Garrison, why do Poe people smell like sour milk? More important questionAs most of us Shorpy viewers question, previous commentrs non withstanding, Does this structure still stand? I think more important than not, most Shorpy viewers look at this site to see the past, and almsot immediately we look to see if the structure still stands, and if any photography of current state exists. Poe Neglected StuccoI got to wondering what the back of this house might have looked like before the old whitewashed stucco crumbled away, and before the second floor chamber window got replaced by a door and landing, later removed. Here's a quick Photoshopped stab at it, but the door and windows could still use some new paint and putty, and that kitchen yard is a disgrace. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Richmond)
The Spring House: 1944
... Washington vicinity." 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston for the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:41pm -

Wilkes County, Georgia, circa 1944. "Spring house, Hill Plantation. Washington vicinity." 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston for the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South. View full size. Bubbling UpThere was a good article on springs in the NY Times about a month ago. Not Washington.Sorry but that tree on the left is a long leaf pine tree and it's straw is on top of the spring House. Long leaf pine didn't grow in Washington state or Washington DC then or now. Most are in North Carolina and it is an endangered species. [If only people would read the captions we put under the photos! The Washington in question is Washington, Georgia. - Dave] View Larger Map No half moonI'm just glad to see no half moon cut out of that door on the right! Cool storage in lieu of refrigeration seems to be the consensus. Springhouse memoriesI grew up next to my grandmother's house in South Carolina. In my time (and my father's) the house had indoor plumbing, but behind her house was a wellhouse featuring the classic round brick shaft sunk into the ground with a bucket and pulley mounted above on a crossbar. Down a gentle slope about 30 yards and into the woods was the foundations of a springhouse. My father remembered when it was standing, a smallish low-ceiling building with stone walls. Inside was a pipe coming out of the ground that trickled water into a basin that in turn flowed out of the structure through another pipe, the water flowing down to a small pond. There were built-in shelves inside and cross timbers with movable hooks to hang items. He recalled it was still used for long-term storage of foods like cured hams, but had been mostly superseded by a refrigerator and icebox up at the house. The well water was quite drinkable; by my day the well house had gone dry due to disuse and lack of maintenance, but Father remembered hauling up buckets of water for himself and his friends to drink when they didn't want to bother going inside. The house I grew up in was supplied with water from a well my father had sunk when he built our house; all you had to do is treat it to remove excessive iron (it turned china and clothes yellow) and it was ready to drink, bathe with, etc. Lively DialogueGirl on left: "Do you know Art?" Girl on right: "Art who?" Girl on left: "Art Tesian" Girl on right: "Oh sure, I know Artesian well!" Washington memoriesWhile traveling a few years ago I hopped off a Greyhound bus in Washington, GA. Later that night I ate dinner with the Mayor! It was a pretty small place. Young girlsBeautiful girls in a gorgeous picture. Makes me wonder what that shack was used for. [Something tells me it might be a spring house. - Dave] The old springhouseThe title of this post and the caption are two definite clues that this might be a spring house! As you might infer from the name, a spring house houses a spring or well. The shed keeps animals and birds out. The bigger ones, at least. Half the storyThe spring house only seems to take up the left side of the structure. Could the right, screened-in side be a chicken coop or, perhaps, just a shed for yard equipment? [You would probably not want chickens (and their byproducts) right next to your water supply, or food. - Dave] A Rural Privilege Some comments make me realize how lucky I am to live in an area of the country where the occasional spring house still survives. For those not so lucky, I suppose the concept of clean, cold and potable water bubbling out of the ground is inconceivable. Chillin in the Spring HouseI've been more than a few spring houses, and never saw one used as a drinking water supply. The ones I've seen housed a pool of cold spring water that was used to keep food from spoiling. I see bunniesThat adjacent room looks slightly more secure. So, I think maybe a place to keep produce that you wanted to keep cool. Love the cute little dress she's wearing with the velvet (?) bunnies on the pockets. SlatsMy guess, and the only spring house I've seen were in south Texas where water is important (if not rare) and heat plentiful, is that the enclosed part houses the well (closed to keep animals out as Ginny said). The part with the slatted sides, where the girl's are sitting, was probably the wash house, and the slats were there to allow a breeze to keep those working cool. VentilationIs the half-open part on the left the spring enclosure and the open-at-the-top part on the right cool storage? What an awesome use of natural resources. Around my place we have to drill deep into the ground for water. In W VaMy grandfather had an artesian well tapped into the side of the mountain that shot a good 20 feet horizontally before seeming to arc down. It fed a raspberry patch, a spring house, two large ponds and, finally, a creek with its overflow. My grandparents used the spring house to keep milk, eggs and butter cool before lugging them to the bottom of the hill to sell once a week. Part of the water was plumbed to the house (coldest showers I've EVER taken!) and then down the hill to the Ingole household in exchange for helping to tap the well to start with. The well was old when I was not even 10, and I'm nearly 60 now. The Well and IWhen I was little, my mother bought a farmhouse -- Ontario fieldstone, about 100 years old, then. We never actually moved in due to family circumstances so my mother rented it out and we would visit. The first visit we made, the well still hadn't been capped and a pump installed. They were drawing with a bucket from a hole in the floor of the well-house. I was just toddling, at that point and when my mother took her eye off me for a second, I made a beeline for the well-house. They little boy of the family caught me by the straps of my sundress just as I tipped over the edge of the well. A drowned chicken!My first year of marriage, we lived on an oyster farm, near Quilcene, Washington, along with my in-laws. Our water came from a spring, which originated up on a hill, and we had a spring house much like the one in this picture. One day, I went out to the spring house and was shocked to find that a chicken had fallen into the water and drowned, with its wings out and a horrifying look on its face. I walked down to the house with my heart pounding, and into my in-laws' house, looking like I had seen a ghost. My mother-in-law was very alarmed and asked me what was wrong. When I told her that there was a drowned chicken in the spring house, she said, "Oh, is that all" and went and fished out the dead chicken. They had it for dinner that night. I had a piece of toast for dinner. My hometownGreat find! I grew up in Washington, Georgia, and am restoring an old house here now. I am pretty familiar with the many old homes and plantations we have there, but never heard of the Hill Plantation. Lots of history here. Somewhat of a living time capsule, even today! Good news!I am pleased to report that the structure in the photo is still standing, in much the same condition as in the picture. It is in fact a spring house, located at our home in Wilkes County, Georgia. The left side contains an artesian well, and this section empties into the right side. The right side contains a long, narrow trough filled with water. The trough is deeper at one end than the other. People would put jugs in the water, and items in the jugs (e.g., butter, milk) to keep them cool. Live, fresh fish were someimes kept in it until they were ready to be eaten. The right side empties into a stream in a forest. Local lore has it that the water has mystical properties. I can't say for sure, but I can attest to the fact that the water is cool, clear, delicious, and abundant. Our house is probably located where it is because of this natural spring. We think we might know the women in the photo, and we're checking with them. I recognize the spring house!!The picture above is indeed a spring house on the Old Hill Place Plantation. We own it now!! Bought it from the original owners several years ago. The right side of the spring house was for refrigeration and the left side houses the spring head. It bubbles all the time! Right now I am researching the two little girls in the photo. I think I may be able to find out who they are! Thanks for finding this picture. Dave, are there any more of Frances' photos around of the Old Hill Place or Wilkes County? [Amazing! It sounds like a magical place. There are more photos here. - Dave] (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Hung Out to Dry: 1937
... Street." Potted plants and underpants. 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. No more clotheslines This appears ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/05/2014 - 3:59pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "Courtyard, 620-621 Gov. Nicholls Street." Potted plants and underpants. 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. No more clotheslinesThis appears to be the building in question - evidently the neighbourhood has gone upscale. ThreadbareThe term 'threadbare' is often used in literature. Now I have a stark visual display. Vesuvius StreetSlightly reminiscent of Pompeii, except parts of Pompeii are better preserved. Holy, holy, holyThe underwear, I mean. BreezyThose undergarments seem to be quite well ventilated. An interesting abodebut I don't think I'd want to live there, especially with the bad luck horseshoe. Blown outThe holes in those undershorts attest to the absolute power of New Orleans cuisine. In the days before building codesa lucky horseshoe would get you by. I hear the overtureBut I don't recognize it. Surely, an opera is about to break out. OvertureIt's the wrong state, but the overture would surely be Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess." The courtyard immediately reminded me of the set of the New York City Opera's production that I saw about 35 years ago. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans)
Gorey Manor: 1939
... the art of Edward Gorey. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. They check in But they don't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:45pm -

1939. "Driveway looking away from William A. Dawson House, Mobile, Alabama. Spring Hill vicinity. Structure dates to 1840." Channeling the art of Edward Gorey. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. They check inBut they don't check out! Ruh-roh!This looks like the start of nearly every episode of Scooby Doo. Beautiful!I REALLY like a tunnel of trees The dinosaur in the yardOkay, the stone birds in this photo have completely convinced me that birds did in fact evolve from dinosaurs. In fact, it looks like these two evolved just a little while ago. Birds look like turkey vulturesor buzzards as they would be called in Alabama. Not a very noble bird to select as gate guardians. Eagles? Ravens?Whatever those Goreyesque birds are, they look like they're sharing a joke. No way JoseYou couldnt pay me to walk down that road at night Flying contest"I'll race you the end of the lane" "You're on!" Colorization not necessaryNot knocking colorizing old photos but, in my opinion, this is a case where the black and white medium makes for a much more evocative and effective image. Beautiful, as well as creepy! Takes me homeI used to live near this home and passed by it almost daily. Not far offEdward Gorey's actual home (now a museum) on Cape Cod reveals a great deal about his life and art, and this scene reminds me of his garden. There's even a creepy 50-foot-tall magnolia tree. When Gomez met MorticiaWhat a setting for a nice romantic stroll, as long as you're a member of the Addams Family. Or the Munsters. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Mobile)
Old House: 1939
... Hunt Macon (Williams-Reid- Macon House near Airlie)." Frances Benjamin Johnston photo. View full size. Hall-and-parlor I think ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:01am -

1939. Halifax County, N.C. "Old house, Dr. Gideon Hunt Macon (Williams-Reid- Macon House near Airlie)." Frances Benjamin Johnston photo. View full size. Hall-and-parlorI think this is a Colonial Tidewater Hall-and-Parlor house. It's a British folk form. My guess is that the second story front gable deal is a later add-on. I'd bet that they went back and added the Neoclassical elements at the roof wall junction as the owner became more prosperous. I'm a geography geek. Sorry. Hibernating HouseI really like the way the house looks like it's sleeping; similar to the trees in the background that have lost their leaves and are dormant. Clllluck!Please tell me that's not a chicken hanging out the window! Another loss on the landscapeThis house has ben destroyed. Moment of silence, please. Helpcan anyone tell what the heck is hanging out of that first floor window? I have no clue. Cabin in the back?That log cabin in the back is interesting. Could be just storage, but it also could be a guest house or the original house on the property. Also, wondering what procuced the vapor trail in the sky straight above the porch. Typical country constructionThis type of house could be found all over the South not so long ago. It was an A frame with various addons and modifications and the general design was very common. It strongly resembles the house where my father was born in 1905. Remuddled "old house"Cultural geographer is spot on. I also detected updates to the "old house." The tin roof cannot possibly be original. At the time the photo was taken, I bet the house was 100 years old. The two chimneys certainly reflect a wealthier client, too. Pies on the windowsill... and pork up above. Was it common back then to leave hams hanging out the window? Tripartite constructionThe center pavilion is not an addition. This is a tripartite house, very popular in Virginia and NC ca. 1790s through the first quarter of the nineteenth century. It represents the last gasp of Palladianism in North America. The lack of any rear ell or addition suggests it was designed and built all of a piece. Unfortunately, it no longer survives, but other examples remain, such as Branch Grove also located in Halifax County (currently for sale by Preservation North Carolina, seen here). The Macon House also appears at p. 90 in Johnston and Thomas Tileston Waterman's Early Architecture of North Carolina. Waterman's photographs of it for the Historic American Buildings Survey can be seen here. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Dark Shadows: 1936
... tendril, the vines stake their claim. 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Turnkey The stairs could use a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 3:11pm -

Greene County, Georgia, circa 1936. "Ruined house, Penfield vicinity." A close-up of the decaying manse seen earlier here. Tendril by creeping tendril, the vines stake their claim. 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. TurnkeyThe stairs could use a little TLC, otherwise move in ready. Or not. Same House?The other house from the link looks completely different. The columns, woodwork etc. look different. Could this be the back of the original house? [This is the righthand facade of the same house. - Dave] No scraping required.The paint on this house, what there is left, is not peeling at all. The finish seems just to have worn off. Could this have been whitewashed? With just a few cobwebsthis could be the Munsters' home away from home. New Listing!I can just see the real estate listing on this one. "Charming handyman Special with loads of potential!" That poor house!It probably was a pretty house back in its day. WowTara sure went to hell after Rhett moved out. Drives Me NutsI'm always distressed when I see a once lovely home fall to ruin. If it was once worth building, it shouldn't ever go to waste. CreeptasticThe Addams family *Snap* *Snap* Slight differenceInteresting that there is a slight difference between the two photos. The previous photo shows 2nd floor window to the left of the balcony has both shutters. This view only shows one shutter. [As noted below, the two pictures are of different sides of the house. - Dave] If you had read my comment, you would see I didn't say it wasn't the same house. Between the two pictures, there is a difference in the second window from the right on the second floor. A shutter was removed between the taking of the two photos. [You are correct! - Dave] Building goneI actually live in Greene County, Georgia and travel through Penfield often. This old house is no longer standing. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Old Spanish Inn: 1937
... the De Mesa-Sanchez House. Safety negative, collection of Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Been there Traveling in remote ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:00am -

Circa 1937. "Spanish Inn, 43 George Street, St. Augustine, Florida. Dr. Chatelain's photographs. P.A. Wolfe, photographer." Also known as the De Mesa-Sanchez House. Safety negative, collection of Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Been thereTraveling in remote regions of the Southwest, I rented rooms not much better than this. Now it reminds me of my post-divorce days. Jail might seem more agreeable. Waiting RoomThis is a room just waiting to be restored! Love it!!! AmenitiesThe free breakfast included with this suite was one of the first to feature the now microscopic blueberry muffins. But back in the day, when this was shot, you needed two hands to lift them to your face. Hotelsdot com complaints department please. Yes, I will hold. Creepy, in a literal wayThis room makes me itch. It may look like a mess nowBut we're sending Norman over with a broom, Miss Samuels. Here's the bath if you'd care to freshen up ... Hello, Maid Service?We have a little problem up here in #13. Knock knock. HousekeepING!Yes, please. Do come in. Towels? Si, si. Life certainly was simpler then.You didn't have to worry about electric irons, air conditioning, indoor plumbing, elaborate ceiling fixtures, or vacuum the floors. I've been cozened so much by modern conveniences that I'd probably get heat rash staying in the Spanish Inn for more than one night. The photograph is gorgeous, though. What an eye! What an artist! What a woman! How wonderful it would be to have a large-scale retrospective of her work at the National Gallery. Improvements"Old Spanish Inn, 43 St. George Street. One of St. Augustine's oldest surviving buildings, it has been restored to resemble an early 18th-century inn in Spain. Nine rooms are furnished with authentic Spanish pieces brought from Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Granada, and Barcelona." In the latest MobilguideThis place was rated one Dangling Bulb. A bit sparse, butIf they have reliable wi-fi I'll take it. I can sleep in the rocker. Mod ConRemove the bulb, and 100 years fall away. If this is a placeYou pay to stay, I can't like it! Looks to beA smoking room. ShorpyvisionWhat a cool, retro-look mount for a Flat-Screen!! That would be a great way to study all the photos here on Shorpy. All the amenitiesOnly the top rated hotel rooms come with an ironing board although they usually also include a bed. Nice antique washstand though. MemoriesWhen my wife and I quit work in the early 1980s and returned to grad school in Pittsburgh we moved into a place a lot like this. She was not a happy camper. We traded home improvement labor for rent and greatly improved the row house which at one time had been a house of ill repute. The things the youthful will do. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Florida)
Knight House: 1928
... Taken on commission of Mrs. Devore of Chatham." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Whisked away How out of place ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:40pm -

Circa 1928. "Knight House, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Taken on commission of Mrs. Devore of Chatham." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Whisked awayHow out of place that new broom looks. A good sweeping would knock the place down. Lack of SupportI don't know if I would sit too long underneath that porch. It looks like it could fall at any minute. Architectural EntropyLooks as if a bird landing on that thing will bring it down onto their laps. "Patch job" is an understatement here. You know that list?The one you keep in your head of things that need doing around the house. Theirs must be a doozy. Get off that porch and fix that roof.On the other hand, it looks hot. Mind if I join you? Have any lemonade? Too tired for upkeepI know the feeling. I think after you've rebuilt the porch twice, redone the bathrooms, kitchens and repainted and fixed the screen porch three times, it's time to just put your feet up and relax. Absolute ProofI always thought Roy Underhill was reincarnated. The Kettles at homePa: Ma the roof is leaking. Ma: Well get up there and fix it. Pa: Can't Ma, it's raining Ma: Then fix it when the rain stops, Pa. Pa: Roof don't leak then, Ma. Tidying DownThey have a new broom, but I don't think that porch will hold up to a good vigorous sweeping. Cozy cottage for saleCozy cottage for sale. Very private. Brick driveway. Brick fireplace. Wooden porch. Natural climate control system. Perfect for do-it-yourselfer. Priced to move. Who's Afraid of Virginia's Roof?In the immortal words of Bette Davis as channeled by Liz Taylor -- "What a DUMP" Termite TerraceIf this house still exists, it has probably been restored and is worth a small fortune. Respect right anglesThis is their home BEFORE the Great Depression. Tumbledown BungalowShorpy Fans frequently wonder if depicted buildings still stand. There's no wonderment here. That house wasn't standing when it was standing. The Fine Art of RelaxationI think the literally kicked-back man here could give lessons in how to relax as if you hadn't a care in the world, much less a to-do list. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Pause ... Drink: 1939
... Yamacraw Village housing." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. "Confectionery" A ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:46pm -

Chatham County, Georgia, circa 1939. "Fahm Street, west side, Savannah. Row houses built about 1850. Torn down 1940 for Yamacraw Village housing." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. "Confectionery"A glorious word from my childhood. Beat him to itI can imagine Johnston grabbing this shot while Walker Evans stood by, patiently waiting for the shadows to clear. So long agoIn my mind, I can still hear the announcer's voice advising us to "Snap back with Stanback!" Thanks for another memory. Signs of distressIn addition to Coke and Nehi, we have Stanback ("for headache and neuralgia") and Swamp Root ("Kidney and Bladder Diuretic"). A Dr. Kilmer made Swamp Root in Binghamton, NY, along with Ocean Weed and any number of other priceless patent medicines. The company was in business there until the 40's. According to one web page, "Swamp Root contained Buchu leaves, Oil of Juniper, Oil of Birch, Colombo Root, Swamp-Sassafras, Balsam Copaiba, Balsam Tolu, Skullcap leaves, Venice Turpentine, Valerian Root, Rhubarb Root, Mandrake Root, Peppermint herb, Aloes, Cinnamon and sugar and contained approximately 9 to 10-1/2% alcohol." I think the last-named ingredient explains the huge pile of Swamp Root bottles I once found thrown over a bank behind a former parsonage not far from here. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah, Stores & Markets)
Liberty Street: 1937
... "Liberty Street cottages." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Under the bridge If 1010 Liberty ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 3:53pm -

New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1937. "Liberty Street cottages." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Under the bridgeIf 1010 Liberty still exists, it would just about be under the Pontchartrain Expressway. Shoe renewalNewly white, drying in the sun. Step to Rocking ChairEvery time I see small children in these photographs, it make me wish I could have had a nice long talk with the elderly person that child turned out to be. My grandfather died 27 years ago and was born about the time this kid was. What's in a name?When I close my eyes and envision a "cottage", this ain't it. I do like the wrought iron fence detail to the left, though. That's a healthy home!Having plenty of "Three Sixes," they never had to worry about colds or malaria. Ad nauseam: 666All you'd ever want to know about the 666 brand, here, here, here and here. (Scroll down to the comments.) Empty Shoes #5This may be really silly but I have been keeping track of the Johnston photos with orphan shoes. So far: 1. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8628?size=_original 2. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8615?size=_original 3. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8586?size=_original 4. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8559?size=_original (?) 5. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8783?size=_original Aye, 'tis a tough job, but somebody has to do it. He is only 73 years oldThis lonely little fellow could very well still be among us and wouldn't it be amazing if he could reveal himself? After the detective work done by all the viewers of tterrace's advertising photo (which ended up solving ALL the mysteries therein), I'm convinced that the intelligentsia of Shorpy fans can research and find out anything they put their minds to. This is a great photo, very inspirational potential for writing a little story. Thank you Shorpy for giving me a hobby. [Math check: More like 75. - Dave] Treme StreetThis was on North Liberty, which was renamed Treme Street. This corner is now vacant, and I think this Creole cottage is gone too. The building with the dormer was a church, now in horrible condition. I think it is due for renovation though. The house right next to it is very nice, and there are many great buildings nearby. Too many blighted ones too. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Kids, New Orleans)
Breake Farm: 1936
... Farm, Taylor's Crossroads." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Home Improvement Hope they don't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:45pm -

Nash County, North Carolina, 1936. "Breake Farm, Taylor's Crossroads." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Home ImprovementHope they don't need firewood since the axe is used to shim up the front porch. I screamThe house may be falling down, but it looks like the occupants at least enjoyed their ice cream! Home Sweet HomeI hope that house has been preserved and renovated but I would surely hesitate to use that fireplace with the shape it is in. The chimney looks like it is ready to collapse. Did anyone else notice the diamond shaped decoration built into it by the bricklayers? Nice touch. The weed growing on the chimney just below the upstairs window is a nice touch too. Dream HouseBroken window on the top floor, large porch, nice big fireplace and a happy old dog dozing in the dust. Am I the only person that would LOVE living here? It looks like heaven to me. Me like:doggie. Love this farmhouse but --I don't think I would feel safe on the porch, steps or anywhere in the house. Be a fun challenge to try to refurbish it to a safety standard. Love old farmhouses! The very definition of"Dilapidated" and "Ramshackle" Absolutely Love It!I too would love to live in this house. I wonder if it's still standing? It would be neat to see a current pic of it, if it is. If I were FidoI would move! It looks like that chimney could go at any moment. On second thought, maybe the dog is leaning against that pole to hold the whole thing up! Poverty"Mama, what do *poor* folks do who haven't got any nice cardboard to put in their windows?" Still Standing!This house is still standing, although quite dilapidated. But it is still standing though. Or at least as of 2011 it was. Although it has gotten alot greener over the years! (The Gallery, Dogs, F.B. Johnston, Rural America)
Bleak House: 1939
... house, Penfield vicinity." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Foreboding I wouldn't fancy going ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/20/2017 - 4:42pm -

Greene County, Georgia, circa 1939. "Ruined house, Penfield vicinity." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. ForebodingI wouldn't fancy going in there, something almost Hopperesque about it. Picturesque DecayThis photo has the look of an oil painting in which the artist has taken liberties with reality to create a mood. Can a camera do that? When it was newWhen I see on Shorpy these sorts of photos of once grand homes, I alway imagine the scene when the homes were new. The pleased architect is shaking hands with the proud new home owner, the carpenters and other tradesmen are packing up the last of their tools and look with satisfaction on the results of their craftsmanship. How sad they would be to see how it all turned out a few decades later. DynamicThis is fabulous, almost looks like HDR photography. I wonderWas it ever new? Another example of "Life After People"And I love that it has so many windows. Creepy but fascinatingCreepy but fascinating. Wish we knew more about this -- when was it built, why was it abandoned and how long did it last after this photo was taken? It looks like one good kick and the whole thing would collapse. And one spark would turn that rotten wood into an inferno. Somebody loved this homeNotice that the shutters are closed on every window but one, and somebody has propped up the back porch with cross boards. Maybe a son with little money but a land title, 50 years before this picture was taken? ForlornAlthough it's sad to see the state of this once beautiful house, it's also wonderful to know that the place was photographed so well before it disappeared completely. What a love this photographer had for her subjects. Yoknapatawpha reduxAnd another view of the Snopes ancestral homeplace. Tumbleweed!This looks almost identical to the mansion in the ghost town called Tumbleweed in the video game "Red Dead Redemption." (I looked really hard for a picture, I promise. Apparently I lack the googling skills.) This May be The Penfield Female Academy It's hard to be certain, but this appears to be the same building. Tell me that does not look like the portico on the right of the Shorpy building. If so, then the building, improbably, lived on into the 1970s at least. (I did not see it anywhere on google streetview, though I can't believe the building would be restored somewhat, then demolished.) Google also reveals that Mercer University unloaded the building on the then rapidly declining village of Penfield in 1874 -- the results of which are, alas, evident here. Re: When it was newMy sentiments exactly, Vintagemxr. In my case I can see one, or several, men of the household, taking leave of their family to serve in the Confederate army, then several years later (if our fictional Johnny Reb survived the war), returning to this scene of desolation and disrepair. Especially if Sherman and his guys had passed anywhere close by. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Pied-a-Terre: 1939
... on Fahm Street, West Side." 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. What! No lonely shoe? No dog? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:05am -

Savannah, Georgia, circa 1939. "Old house on Fahm Street, West Side." 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. What!No lonely shoe? No dog? A babyIs that a swaddled baby on the bed, seen through the open door? Notice that the screen door is tied open. A sewing machineThere is a nice sewing machine inside the door. I bet it hasn't been electrified either. A pillowLook closely, you can see the Fahmer's pillow on his bed. Pa Kettle could fix it.Say, you wouldn't happen to have an extra two-by-four and a can of paint layin' around, would ya? Curb AppealA paint job, a little landscaping and flip it for big bucks. The sewing machine tableLooks something like a treadle-operated Singer -- there's a flywheel but no treadle that I can see. B-52sThe original "love shack" -- "tin roof .. rusted!" Old Home has a New HomeThe sewing machine is a New Home, vintage circa 1910. (Thank you, AT, for the light-blasted detail pic!) It may or not be electrified; it may or not be both. A common trick was to either weld the pedal in a comfortable position and bolt the electric foot controller to it for a permanent conversion, or, if you wanted to use it either way, add stops to the pedal and attach the foot controller with a radiator hose clamp or the like. I have seen many examples of both. Some of the dual use versions are really ingenious. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah)
Fancy Drainpipe: 1937
... house, Columbus Square." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still Draining ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:05am -

Savannah, Georgia, circa 1937. "Davenport house, Columbus Square." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still Draininghttp://maps.google.com/maps?q=Davenport+House+Museum&near=324+E+State+St... Still SurvivingIt looks like that fancy drainpipe survives, as seen here on Google Street View. Hopefully the brick has been repointed since the photo was taken. View Larger Map InspirationIs this where Gene Simmons got his inspiration for his famous platform Dragon Boots from the "Destroyer" album? Well...Fancy, yes. Also butt ugly. Even a drainpipe was important. Love it. Great times when even a drainpipe was given such a level of details. Love the fish head! I wonder if it was specially crafted for this building or if they were mass produced. Absolutely still there. How ironic. My husband and I just took a trolley tour of Savannah on 9/9/10 and these downspouts are most certainly still on this beautiful home. Our tour guide mentioned that these downspouts are supposed to represent dolphins as dolphins are a sign good luck and prosperity, but apparently the designer had never seen a dolphin! Savannah IronworkingThe great thing about Savannah is that a lot of this kind of stuff is still around. The wrought iron fencing, gates, railings, and downspout decorations like this one are so important to the historical character of the city that there's still people around who know how to repair and reproduce this stuff. Still There!I took pictures of these same awesome downspouts in Monterey Square in Savannah this past May! This corner as of April 2009Some new paint and grout, otherwise no worse for the wear Dolphin DrainpipesWhile these drainpipes don't look like real dolphins, they do bear a stunning resemblance to heraldic dolphins including the ones that are on the insignia worn by submariners in the US Navy. From last monthFrom last month (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Piscatorial Downspouts, Savannah)
Welcome to Florida: 1936
... on your way out! Another cheery dispatch from the lens of Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. NAGPRA This kind of thing is one ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/25/2013 - 11:01am -

St. Johns County, Florida, circa 1936. "Fountain of Youth, Indian Burial Ground, St. Augustine." Be sure to stop by the gift shop on your way out! Another cheery dispatch from the lens of Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. NAGPRAThis kind of thing is one of the reasons Congress passed the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Fountain of Youthlooks like it's turned into a tourist trap http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/ Fountain of Youth?Well, that seems to be a bit of false advertising. I must say the archealogists did a neat job here. Looks like they may be still uncovering some more towards the bottom of the picture. Interesting. Is this site still in existence or were the remains shipped off to some museum basement? Dying to get inAnother great photo example of people just dying to get into the picture. I wonderI would not imagine the Indians would enjoy this rather crude display of their ancestors. This comes under the category: is nothing sacred? Not the Only OneI remember a burial ground that looked uncannily like this one near Salina, Kansas in the late 1950s. It has since closed. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Florida)
Drish House: 1939
... house, later used as public school." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Death Lights in the Tower This ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/02/2013 - 5:50pm -

1939. Tuscaloosa, Alabama. "Drish House, 23rd Avenue & 18th. Brick and stucco built with slave labor ca. 1825-1832. Originally a plantation house, later used as public school." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Death Lights in the TowerThis ghost story fits well with the old mansion. Kathryn Tucker tells the tale with great southern charm. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gcPl-0OUKo Here is a wonderful picture of the home still in its splendor from a 1911 picture. Here it isView Larger Map No RespectAlso used as an auto parts warehouse during the depression, among other things. See this. Immortalized by Walker Evansas the "Tuscaloosa Wrecking Company" in a series of photographs taken in 1936. Here are six of them at the Metropolitan Museum. +82Below is the same view from February of 2021. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Alabama Gothic: 1939
... but it has good bones. Possibly under the porch. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Demolished? In using my fledgling ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/09/2018 - 7:45pm -

1939. "Knight House, Greensboro vicinity, Hale County, Alabama. Gothic Revival two-story frame built c. 1840." A little dilapidated, but it has good bones. Possibly under the porch. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Demolished?In using my fledgling Internet research skills, I think this is the Wemyss-Knight house and no longer extant? It does appear that there were several Knight homes in the Greensboro area photographed by Johnston. I wonder if it was still inhabited at the time of the photo- cot on the porch, the rocking chair and other chairs suggest so but the crude bars on the shutters are depressing and that side porch sure looks like it wants to crumble away. Unless I am mistaken there are two difference widths of the boards in the siding suggesting possible repairs at some point? The barge boards also look remarkably well kept for a 90 y.o. home- replaced at some point? Beautiful bones, though- American Gothic vernacular had a unique charm. IntricateSo many wonderful little details that just sing. The gable trim, the finials, those amazingly steep roof pitches. A real gem when it was new; hope [wish?] it was still there. The name makes you think it just might be still charming folks today. The WagonIt would take a lot of work and a lot of money, but that could be a beautiful house. But no matter how much work I put into it, the wagon would stay exactly as is. Appealing Paint for American GothicBeautiful Carpenter Gothic. Brick around on a good 75% of the foundation, and shutters can be repaired. Just needs some paint. Paint? Painting a Victorian house is done the same way today as it was in the 1800s and in the 1930s. The clapboards have to be scraped and sanded. Then, painting is done by a guy on a ladder with a brush. No roller and definitely no sprayer. The estimates for painting my 1902 Eastlake Style were between $24,000 and $30,000. The Depression probably saw a bunch of houses with peeling paint. The pitchWow what a great house, as posted previously. I would have to hire out the roofing project though, that roof is steep!!! Not to mention trying to flash the chimney right in the middle of those valleys. Lightning rod reactanceThe spiraling of the lightning rod ground wire was a bad idea. It would produce inductive reactance that would likely cause the lightning current to flash over to an alternate path. But in those days people seem more concern with decorative flair than operational efficacy. Would love to see what was in the attic. Flush SidingIn response to Dee's musings about the exterior of this fascinating house, the siding is original and has not been repaired. The front facade uses flush siding (tongue and groove, just like a wood floor) which was popular in the early and mid-19th century. The intent was to resemble more expensive masonry construction, at least when viewed from a distance. The more common and less expensive clapboard siding was used on the secondary elevations. The bargeboard has survived because the design is less elaborate than many of the era and shed water better than designs with lots of scrolls and complexity. (The Gallery, Bizarre, F.B. Johnston)
Hanging Out: 1937
... Laundry day in the Quarter. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Southern hospitality 1133 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 4:36pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "1133-1135 Chartres Street." Laundry day in the Quarter. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Southern hospitality1133 Chartres (pronounced "charters" in New Orleans) St. is now the Soniat House hotel. Say "Cheesy"All trying to pose nonchalantly and not really succeeding. Also, none of them looking directly at the camera. One wonders if this was what the photographer wanted. Finally, there seems to be a definite demarcation between the sexes! Also known asRed Beans and Rice day. That's Monday to the rest of the world. BonjourMes chers amis. Laissez rouler les bon temps. The Kindness of StrangersSorry, it's impossible for me to look at these back door French Quarter pics and not think of "Streetcar." They must have built the sets from these stills. (If it wasn't shot on location). (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans)
Royal Furniture: 1937
... and an ectoplasmic dog. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The grocery building The building ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 4:37pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "842 Royal Street, Sign." Among the highlights: interesting period signage, a ghost pedestrian and an ectoplasmic dog. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The grocery buildingThe building on the right was (at least in 2008) unchanged except the grocery store was gone. Gentrified!Still recognizable. She GhostA woman out walking her dog! Love to have that Pepsi Cola sign in that condition today The HandsThere are hands of a person leaning on the light pole, at the rear of the car! Tram tracksRoyal Street appears to have an active tram line, whereas the track in the other street (didn't they have street signs in that era?) is interrupted. Old LadyThere is a sweet ol' granny on the balcony looking down and around. She wasn't looking at the camera so I wondering what was catching her attention. And there is another lady but a total blur on the right side. You can tell she was wearing black pumps and walking her dog. 842 Royal StreetCool shop there now - Papier Plume. They sell fine writing supplies, hand made stationery paper, sealing wax and the like. Just seems appropriate. Every Bottle Sterilized Hey Dave, its time to change the E Pluribus Pablum heading. The Coca Cola claim should work for a while. DoorwaysIf you were a shop-keep in the South, one of your duties was to stand in the doorway to greet your customers. American Picker c. 1937Ohhh, wouldn't you love to get your hands on some of that 1937 New Orleans bric-a-brac? Most shops like this today have had their inventories picked over by professional pickers an pricing is generally informed by E-Bay and the like. Not many great deals to be found in retail shops anymore. Moxie-lessDarn, no sign of Moxie (rare in the South), but I like the RC Cola signs everywhere, not to mention a surprisingly modern-looking 7-Up logo. I'd like to try some Double Cola though. They still make it, although according to Wikipedia it's only sold locally in Indiana these days, and I suspect at specialty soda shops around the country who order it in. I want to go to the grocery store.I am taken by the thought of a Syrian-Greek & Italian grocery store. I bet in 1937 some very interesting, and heated, political discussions could go on there. I love Shorpy and tell everybody about it. It is the next best thing to having an actual time machine. And in reality probably better, the dream is always better than the reality. Not so old While Gran-mere seems happy to watch from above, I am certain she has left us by now, whilst most of the products advertised are still available. I still enjoy Lusianne, (the new spelling), a coffee and chicory blend that is mellower than straight coffee. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans, Stores & Markets)
Labatut: 1938
... Labatut and Pugh families, still living here." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. It's still there And you can ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:42pm -

Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, 1938. "Labatut. New Roads vicinity, built by Don Evariste de Barra, Spanish grandee, 1800. His descendants, the Labatut and Pugh families, still living here." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. It's still thereAnd you can see it here. Spooky!When I was in seventh grade, I made a poster for a Halloween party. The house in it looked eerily like this. TwilightLooks like a good place for vampires to hang out during the day! SomewhereThe dog, the chicken, the orphan shoe. I know they're there somewhere, I just can't find them. Jedi HouseWhen 138 years old look this good we will not! LabatutI've looked all over the internet for a translation of Labatut ... as far as I can tell, it means "hidden away." Can someone let me know if I am right? I am so in love with FBJ's work, I can't wait to load Shorpy every day to see if there is something new from her archives! [It's a family name. According to the caption, the Labatuts are descendants of Don Evariste. - Dave] Obviously a loving restoration, except....couldn't Tom get some help whitewashing that picket fence after Aunt Polly told him to do it? Beyond that, the house (in 1938) looked abandoned, what with a few of the windows being broken. Quite a beauty now, however. Right on the leveeAfter picking through Google maps and street view, I noticed that the house is right across the road from the Mississippi River levee. I wonder how many floods this house has endured over the past 210 years. Hail yes!Try and imagine the racket when a hailstorm collided with the galvanized roofing on the original home! If the walls could talkThank you Minot for the additional info on Labatuts. Really interesting then and now. This house has seen alot of history! It must've been built well. Any ghost stories? Looks worthy of being registered as a historical site. Running water, in the rainy seasonTo the right of the house is the foundation formerly holding a wooden cistern. These were common South Louisiana plantation houses of that era; they collected rainwater from the roof. (Rainwater was preferred to water from the muddy Mississippi which had to be let settle.) Most of the old cisterns are long gone; an exception is the San Francisco Plantation between Baton Rouge and New Orleans which has a beautiful pair of cisterns rebuilt in the original style. I'm so happythat the house is still there and is being restored. Thanks Minot, for the info. Family TiesI'm a Labatut. My grandfather grew up in this house. I haven't seen it in a long time. Good to see it restored. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
The Birds: 1938
... Martin Parish, Louisiana." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Re: The Birds II I was referring ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/10/2014 - 4:04pm -

1938. "Lady of the Lake, St. Martinville vicinity, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Re: The Birds III was referring to the bird behind the car tire. It's marked like the guineas we have around here. Looks too small to be a turkey. Where'd the chicken come from in your close-up? I can't find it in the big picture. The BirdsWhat are they, exactly? The one on the far right has nice striped plumage, maybe black and white. A Lady Amherst pheasant? We sold their feathers in the fly tying section of the sporting goods store I used to work in. The BirdsWell, a couple of them, anyway. Gobble?Turkeys, aren't they? Look closelyThere is a third bird. Third BirdThe hood ornament/radiator cap? Shim, shim ... more shimsLooks as if every part of this structure is being shimmed up and re-shimmed. Never-ending battle with gravity. Car IDHudson What birds where?I may regret this later if I FIND THEM, BUT I SEE NO BIRDS AND RESENT WASTING MY TIME LOOKING FOR THEM, WHEN I COULD BE ADMIRING THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE MAGNIFICENT COMPOSITION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH! Sorry to yell, but I accidentaqlly hit the capslock in my enthusiasm. Please circle the bords for us dummies!i Oh.Knew I would find them after I expressed my frustration. I won't give it away if others want to play the game. Duh. I give upPerhaps it's my aging eyes but I can't seem to find a third bird. [There are actually four -- two turkeys, a pelican and the radiator cap hood ornament. - Dave] Look at that staircase stringer!Not a single knot in the entire length. The quality of wood has certainly deteriorated over the years! Re: The BirdsThe one under the car looks a lot like a guinea from here. [In the immortal words of Robert Young, it could well be. - Dave] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, F.B. Johnston)
The Thin Manse: 1936
... Farm, Tarboro vicinity." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The Thin Manse Great play on ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:44pm -

1936. Edgecombe County, North Carolina. "J.F. Dozier Farm, Tarboro vicinity." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The Thin ManseGreat play on words Dave. You've outdone yourself. Yes it isa bit tweaked, squeezed and peaked! Odd columnsI wonder why they thought lack of symmetry in the spacing of the porch columns was a good thing, design-wise? [The columns line up with the door, which is off-center. - Dave] Preserved!This is the Wilkinson-Dozier House (c. 1825). It has been beautifully preserved. More photos. Wilkinson-Dozier HouseBuilt by Joshua Wilkinson between 1816 and 1826. This Federal style home with a double tiered portico was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Earl RobersonMy cousin Earl, who died recently, was the owner of this house. Here is a picture of him (seated) at my family reunion a few years ago. His house is across a few fields from mine. More photos. Le Mince Manse, en couleurThe Twilight World of Shorpyville version. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Uneeda Baby: 1937
... Momma's balcony scene. 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. A closer look The house on Dumaine in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 3:55pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "Dumaine Street at Bourbon." Momma's balcony scene. 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. A closer lookThe house on Dumaine in the 21st century. Step Right UpThe steps in front of the doors look as though they were designed to be picked up and carried. In the new photo posted here they look to have been replaced with brick and cement. Any Shorpsters in NO know about the steps? Now the Biscuit Palace Guest Househttp://www.biscuitpalace.com/ Happily, the old Uneeda Biscuit sign remains. Building There, Baby Gone.View Larger Map The oval thingsTerra-cotta foundation ventilators. Lots of em in New Orleans. Stoops, Not StepsI am a Shorpster from New Orleans, and the wooden stoops are attached to the buildings. Some have been replaced with cement analogs over the years, but are still called stoops. I have stood where that lady is standing, a friend of mine owns that guest house. StoopsInteresting that the popular New York-ism "stoop" should be used in New Orleans. The word originally comes from the Dutch "stoep," meaning small front porch or steps. Oval VentsThose grilles are usually cast iron. Before and after KatrinaThis is an area I have spent a lot of time in over the years and the Uneeda sign is one of the best examples of old painted advertising in the French Quarter. Unfortunately as with many things in New Orleans, Katrina wasn't kind to it, but it is still there. I am posting one picture I took in 2003 and another I took in 2006. You can see there was damage to the building and unfortunately, some really crappy reconstruction of the damage. Stoops on the BanquetteA lot of the stoops throughout the city are still in use today and many more are wooden. Some people replace them with brick or cement for aesthetic preferences. The sidewalks are referred to as banquettes in New Orleans. The character Santa Battaglia mentions in "A Confederacy of Dunces" of how in the summer in her childhood the family would often spend all evening on the banquette until midnight when the house finally cooled down enough for them to sleep. In many areas of the city, family and friends still spend evening chatting, drinking, and resting on their stoops or in kitchen chairs on the banquette. The oval vents are still prolific throughout the city and help release hot air trapped under the houses but are horrible when the winter wind blows through. The roof over-hangs that jut out over the sidewalks are referred to as "abat-vents" (a-bah-vonts) creole french for "windbreakers" They helped direct the breeze into the house and kept rain out. Three days ago!I shot this just this week. Biscuit PalaceMy wife and I rented the room that leads to the balcony that that woman is standing on. http://www.biscuit-palace.com/ This Property Is CondemnedI was watching the movie "This Property Is Condemned" with Natalie Wood and Robert Redford, and caught sight of this building. I was kind of excited to recognize a landmark that you all had presented in the site. [You have a sharp eye (and memory). - Dave] (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Kids, New Orleans)
Dark Passage: 1937
... River in the late 1850s. 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. And here it is today ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:02am -

Chatham County, Georgia, circa 1937. "Stoddard's Lower Range from Factory [Factors] Walk, River Street, Savannah." Passage through the cotton warehouses built by John Stoddard on the bluffs above the Savannah River in the late 1850s. 8x10 inch safety negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. And here it is todayView Larger Map ClassyI like it. Even utilitarian columns had some class. It's Factors WalkThat strip is called Factors Walk, after the cotton factors (brokers) of the era Dark Passage: 1937: Still the same.I don't spend much time near the river anymore due to the tourist influx, but I can assure you it is almost still the same. You can walk through to the other side and stand below Factors Row. Whenever I get to go home it is nice to see things have stayed the same. +73Below is the same perspective of the Drayton Street Ramp from July of 2010. The top of the passage was created by the construction in 1887 of the Old Cotton Exchange Building utilizing air rights above the ramp (the Cotton Exchange Building fronts on Bay Street). The left side of the passage was enclosed some time ago. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Factories, Savannah)
Royal Castle: 1937
... residence of A. Fern. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Royal and Barracks The 1300 over ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2014 - 3:42pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "1300 Royal Street." Longtime residence of A. Fern. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Royal and BarracksThe 1300 over the door at left is on Royal and 641 is on Barracks Street. This house looks much better now. View Larger Map What is it?What's the contraption on the upper porch? Something to rock a baby? Lese majesteDespite its shabbiness, the place has a sort of grandeur, a touch of mystery of the type that could kindle literary inspiration. The current image looks like a comfortable, refurbished building. Yet, if we compare the angle at which the old photo was taken and the street view, the latter is - at least in my opinion - definitely inferior. No thanksAll the years I've been coming to Shorpy every day and I've really never felt this before -- what a dump! The New Orleans Fern FamilyLikely relatives of the famous Boston branch of this fine old family, whose offspring are seen everywhere. Not quite DesireBut I swear I can see Blanche DuBois gazing out from yonder windows. Perfect locationThree blocks to the Old Mint, four blocks to Frenchmen Street and the best traditional New Orleans Jazz. At the edge of the Marigny, headed down river toward the Bywater. The quiet end of the Quarter. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Kids, New Orleans)
Cooking Class: c. 1899
... at the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va. Photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston, c. 1899. View full size. Cooking class Sure glad ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 09/08/2011 - 9:53pm -

Ten women in a cooking class at the Hampton Institute in Hampton, Va. Photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston, c. 1899. View full size. Cooking classSure glad that I don't have to get gussied up to cook! CooksPerhaps it's not so gussied-up when you are the "help" They look so good, though --They look so good, though -- their aprons are spotless! You can see all the tiny details of lace . . . I could never cook in such beautiful clothes. How about some perspective How about some perspective here. These women are barely a generation out of the fields. They are dressed well (for the period) and are being taught a trade that their mothers and grandmothers could only have dreamed about. Being the "help" would seem to be a pretty fair leap from being a slave, given the times. Social change of that magnitude doesn't happen overnight. Not the "Help"?I don't see any indication that the young women in this picture were being trained as household cooks. The aprons and caps are simply the school uniforms. They are all black because VA schools were segregated at the time. [The Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, started out as a Negro college. These girls were in the domestic service program, training to be maids, laundresses and housekeepers. Which were the main employment opportunities for black women at the time. - Dave] (The Gallery, Education, Schools, F.B. Johnston)
Open House: 1938
... to the ground in 1952. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The best part is the weed growing ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:44pm -

1938. Iberville Parish, Louisiana. "Belle Grove. Vicinity of White Castle. Greek Revival mansion of 75 rooms. Built 1857 by John Andrews, who sold it to Stone Ware. Occupied by Ware family until circa 1913." What was left of Belle Grove, reputedly the largest plantation house in the South, burned to the ground in 1952. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The best partis the weed growing out of the chimney. InsideDid she ever photograph the inside of these homes? Granted, in many cases it may not have been safe, but other than the one photo with the odd door at the top of the staircase (and a couple others around that time, iirc), I don't think we've ever seen inside any of these homes. I would so love to go poking around in some of these! It was a beautiful house. For the curious, there are more photos and information about the house here: http://www.bellegrove.net/ AmazedI'm always curious at what point a person or family walks away from a house, especially a mansion. When does it go from livable to abandoned? Strange CoincidenceI took a cross country car trip and stopped in at White Castle to look at the old Belle Grove plantation just yesterday. The adjacent fields still grow sugar, but the house is completely gone, replaced by dozens of brick tract homes. Oven SafeStone Ware! It has a solid ceramic sound to it. House envyReminds me of Nottoway Plantation, also in White Castle. Nottoway was built in 1859 for John Hampton Randolph. Beautiful MelancholyOh, what I would give to have had the opportunity to poke through this incredible home before it's demise! Something about this magnificent photo....got me wanting to see if there were other pictures of the place. Not many, but found a few here (thanks, Mary!). Such a sad story behind it, really. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
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