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Table for One: 1939
... Broad Street Cemetery." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Full Inscription Sacred To the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/29/2013 - 5:57pm -

Circa 1939. "Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. Stone monuments and brick vaults in Colonial Park, formerly South Broad Street Cemetery." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Full InscriptionSacred To the memory of Asiel H. Mordecai Who died 13 Feby 1842 Aged 22 years, 6 months & 11 days Stranger, if by chance or feeling led, Upon this hallowed earth thy footsteps tread, Turn from the contem plation of the sod, And think on him whose spirit rests with God. (That poem can be found on a number of 19th century tombstones, particularly in New England. The usual wording is "contemplation of this sod".) Tombstone inscriptionAs best as I could figure, it says by line: Sacred To the memory of -?NAME?- Who died 18 July(?)-1812 Aged 22 years 6 months 11 days (unknown word) if by chance or fading bed(?) Upon this hallowed saint thy footsteps tread. Turn from the condem nation of the soul(?) But think of him whose spirit rests with God (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah)
Full House: 1938
... Carolina. Norwell, tenant." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Creating your own village Not ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2017 - 9:47am -

1938. "Andrews Log House, Rutherford County, North Carolina. Norwell, tenant." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Creating your own villageNot certain about which one is "Mama", though I'm guessing it's the standing woman holding a baby. This family makes me think of my Aunt Zella and Uncle Clark who (while living in a half dug-out near Kim, Colorado) had 16 (!) children by about the time this photo was taken, though some did not survive childhood. It was a very different time back then (as we are routinely reminded on Shorpy). Old log homeThat home has some age on it, even then. The hand-hewn logs give that away. It was old enough to have reached the point where these old log homes were covered with clapboards to look more modern. I'm sure Mark Bowe and the "Barnwood Builders" would love to get their hands on this one, if it still survives. On the positive sideThey look like they're getting enough food. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Beauty Cafe: 1937
... Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Weak masonry? The two porcelain ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/26/2016 - 12:14am -

1937. "Tavern, Calhoun Street, Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Weak masonry?The two porcelain knobs supporting the electrical service drop at upper left have come loose, and ditto the rain gutter above. When the gutter finally falls, it will fall on the wires, creating an electrocution hazard. I presume all of these were secured with lead anchors, but I've read somewhere that stucco over 19th century brick is an indication that inferior brick was used in the first place. I can't look at this without knowing the electrician who secured those knobs used a star drill. I've never used one, and I don't even want to think about the huge amount of labor involved. The electrician who trained me in the mid-90s told me he started out using one, before electric hammer-drills became common, and he started in 1970. Here is a picture of my grandfather's star drill, which was in a box of tools that my dad recently gave me. 85 Calhoun St, and still extant. The Arch BuildingIt's still standing and in use. http://www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/architecture/70070/ (The Gallery, Charleston, Eateries & Bars, F.B. Johnston)
Hollywood Residential: 1938
... owner Robert Davidson." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Holly Bend I went to see if I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2014 - 3:48pm -

1938. "Hollywood. Caldwell vicinity, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Structure dates to 1800; original owner Robert Davidson." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Holly BendI went to see if I could challenge myself by tracking the place down - it was stunningly easy. The name of the house if Holly Bend, and its on the National Register of Historic places. Here is a website with more information than you could possibly hope to plow through on the place. A beach house?All that sand piled up near the shrubs and steps. Looks like wind blown sand off the beach maybe. ShutteringDoes anyone know why the window shutters on the second floor have adjustable louvers while those on the first floor are solid. I've seen this before in other Shorpy photos. Is it a security issue perhaps? (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Small Dwelling: 1939
... dwelling, Houston and State streets." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Potted Tenement or not, someone ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 2:46pm -

Savannah, Georgia. 1939 or 1944. "Davenport tenement, small dwelling, Houston and State streets." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. PottedTenement or not, someone has gone to some effort to beautify their living space with these nicely kept plants. Take these broken wingsLiving in a place and time where shutters are for decoration only, I find these hard-used disreputable ones delightful. The tiny but lavishly verdant porch pleases me, too. That chimney's getting ready to drop a brick or two into the fireplace, though. I can't approve of that. Neat as a pinThis is obviously a poorer part of town. The house probably dates almost to colonial times. That metal roof has more years left in it than the house it covers. The chimney looks too big for the house it's on. But check out the porch. No money is no excuse for dirt. I've noticed this in modern projects, where house after house is a filthy wreck, and all the sudden, there's a house spotlessly clean with flowers all around the small yard. The lady of this house cared, with flowers to catch the most sunlight and the place neat as a pin inside too, I'll bet. You've got to love the brick sidewalk and cut stone curbing; also from the dim past. Bloom where you are planted!This may be the site of the current Green Palm Inn B & B. That would be the larger structure to which the disheveled cottage is attached. The Inn has similar chimney and window placements. It is using the site of the cottage as a bricked parking area. The house is 1880s era, apparently built to lodge sea captains, according to the Green Palm web site. View Larger Map House snoopingThe homemade gate is quite charming, too, although the porch underpinnings look suspect. The broken window with the curtain rod (?) sticking out imply that maybe all is not well inside, either. Or is that the Savannah A/C system? But take a good look at the siding. Although probably whitewashed, it looks to be pretty much all clear boards (no knots) with the exception of some repairs/replacements. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Savannah)
Give Me Liberty: 1935
... Henry and Dolly Madison." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still there! Now disputed whether ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/03/2018 - 10:51am -

1935. "Scotchtown, Chiswell Lane, Beaverdam, Hanover County, Virginia. Structure dates to 1698. Related names: Miss Sally Taylor. Built by a Scotsman named Chiswell. Once the home of Patrick Henry and Dolly Madison." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still there!Now disputed whether Dolley Madison ever lived there. Have nice trip, see you next fallSomething very unfinished-looking about stairs with no handrails. I'm sure it was common, but the combination of no handrails and no lights seems like an accident waiting to happen. When it's built by a Scotsman Jerkinhead roof detailWhen roofs were thatched in England and Europe the tip of the gable was lopped off to weave the thatch around the corner. This building is a sort of homage to that look as it is mostly decorative. The term has been dropped from most dictionaries. Half-hipped roof.I would have called it a half-hipped roof. And it did have some functional properties in some areas. It did reduce the wind loads on large exposed gables. As some people had to find out the hard way when they replaced the half hip by a full gable to more usable space and lighting in the attic during remodeling. And their new full gable caved in during a storm. (The Gallery, Cats, F.B. Johnston)
Rear Windows: 1937
... Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Summer Kitchen? I imagine the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/13/2017 - 5:58pm -

1937. "Legges House (rear), 101 East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Summer Kitchen?I imagine the second floor was the "summer kitchen" at least in 1937 when the picture was taken, but given what appears to be an old fireplace on the OUTSIDE at the base of the chimney (note soot inside the recess), this must have once been part of a larger structure at one time, perhaps another house by itself? Still there!Although it has been fixed up a bit... VinesThose vines aren't doing the masonry any favors, and it looks to be in tough shape already. My wife's family had a very pretty ivy-covered chimney. I was shocked at the condition of the brickwork, when I pulled the ivy off. The foliage holds moisture in the mortar, and that, combined with the New England winters, is a Bad Thing. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
A Small Deposit: 1936
... curiously draped display. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Curiously draped display Probably ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/09/2013 - 3:22pm -

Florida circa 1936. "Watkins House, 52 St. George Street, St. Augustine." Keeping company with the Rogolino Dress Shop and its curiously draped display. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Curiously draped displayProbably to protect displayed items from exposure to the Florida sun, especially during peak times, which is what appears to be the case. Perhaps that dress behind the sheet is a big-ticket item? That would also explain the deep setback to the windowed area. Casa Rodriguez The dress shop is gone, but the "Watkins House" is still there, only now it's known by its original name, Casa Rodriguez. It was built in 1762, just a couple years before St. Augustine celebrated its 200th Birthday. The city, founded in 1565, just celebrated Number 448 on September 8th. Here's a screen shot of today's street view: Amber filmMany clothing stores in days of yore used a heavy plastic film hung inside the display case to protect goods from fading. An added advantage to the storekeeper was that one had to go inside to ascertain the actual color of the item, and once in the store ... well, we know the answer to that one. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Florida, Stores & Markets)
Curtain Time: 1939
... of Mr. Peepers' better half. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Indoor/outdoor plumbing Looks ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/10/2017 - 5:38am -

1939. "Montebaro House, Salem & Greene Sts., Selma, Dallas County, Alabama. Structure dates to ca. 1827. Said to be oldest frame house in Selma. Birthplace of P. Hal Sims." Now revealed to be the residence of Mr. Peepers' better half. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Indoor/outdoor plumbingLooks like the upstairs washroom is supplied water via the piping network bolted to the outside of the house. Perhaps the owners didn't want to tear up their ceilings installing a water supply, which means there is probably no access to sewer or septic either. I assume waste water was tossed out the window in the grand old fashion. Miller TimeThe living curtain shading the porch is hops (Humulus lupulus). ETA: Oops! KAP is correct of course, it's kudzu. I should never try to identify plants with a beer in my hand. Kudzu not HopsThe vines on the porch are Kudzu, the scourge of the South. I don't think Hops will grow in south Alabama. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Hangin' on the Porch: 1937
... & 20 Wentworth Street." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still there But hard to see for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2013 - 6:28pm -

1937. Charleston, South Carolina. "18 & 20 Wentworth Street." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still thereBut hard to see for all the trees. It's had some modifications to the stairs and there are no more porches. View Larger Map Here's a recent pictureThis area, Ansonborough, while originally settled very early in the 18th century, was nearly completely burned in a fire in the mid 1830s, and the row houses that you see represent a different architecture than is present in a lot of the surrounding area of town. It later went through a horrible downfall to full fledged slum status and, in the 60-70s and the Historical Charleston Foundation actually ended up buying most of the properties and renovating them, later selling them to people interested in the revitalization of the area. Like so many homes in downtown Charleston, both still exist in relatively unchanged appearance. 18 Wentworth just sold for $1.3 million a month ago, so as you can see, the area boomeranged in a relatively short time and is now considered a little jewel of a neighborhood next to the tourist district. The parking is horrible though! Here's a sharper picture. (The Gallery, Charleston, F.B. Johnston)
Shabby Greek: 1939
... makes a third story on top." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Home Sweet Home Rosemount still ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/20/2014 - 11:50am -

1939. "Rosemount, Forkland vicinity, Greene County, Alabama. Structure dates to 1832. Designed and built by Allen Glover for his son William. Two-story Greek Revival frame house with columns. Ballroom makes a third story on top." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Home Sweet HomeRosemount still stands. It was restored by a new owner in the mid-1970s, and was on the local home tour at least one year. Another new owner started a very ambitious restoration about 10 years ago, which was interrupted by the 2008 recession. I understand work continues, but at a slower pace. You can find more information about the house here. About two miles northwest of Rosemount is another plantation home, Thornhill. The current owner is a direct descendent of the original owner. In fact, Greene County has a large number of surviving antebellum homes, and an annual tour of homes (October 11 - 12 this year). Joshua trees? Those spiny plants in front of the porch look like Joshua trees. Curious to see them in Alabama. [They're yuccas, common ornamentals in the South, often crossed with the egg-carton tulip. - Dave] YuccasYears ago, yuccas were planted around many old homesteads and graveyards in my area. You can still see some in well kept cemeteries, but in abandoned ones they've gotten out of control, in some cases overrunning entire plots and concealing or overturning headstones. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Texas Ten-Step: 1939
... the contraption on the porch. 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The contraption on the porch It ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/05/2017 - 1:42pm -

Mobile, Alabama, 1939. " 'Texas,' ca. 1846 addition to Waring House built by Edmund Dargan, 110 Church Street." (Also seen here.) Note the contraption on the porch. 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. The contraption on the porchIt looks very much like a band saw, with the saw missing. Mr. Kepler's Porch SawJudging by what looks like upper idler and lower drive wheels, a table and an adjustable blade guide/post, I'd say the contraption is a band saw (minus a blade). Curiously, instead of a heavy metal framework, it seems to be almost bolted onto a wooden post behind it. According the 1940 Census, the tenant Mr. Kepler was a carpenter, which puts some teeth into my observation (if not onto the saw). MulleinThe plant at the bottom of the stairs is a species of Verbascum, commonly known as mullein or velvet leaf. An import from Europe, it's now a common weed in the U.S., and is supposed to have medicinal properties. The ContraptionDefinitely a bandsaw. The spare blades are hanging on the pipes above and to the side. Not OSHA approved! Brand Name ComingJust from a quick scan of vintage bandsaws on Google Images, I'm pretty sure that a Shorpy member of the American Bandsaw Collectors' Society (there must be one!) will be able to name the brand from the distinctive spokes of the drive and idler wheels. BandsawThe bandsaw is a 18" Parks Ball Bearing Machine Co., from around 1904. http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=5314 http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=4902 (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Mobile)
Granny's House: 1939
... Dallas County, Alabama. Porch with colonnettes." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Naunce nuance Those are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/14/2014 - 10:01pm -

1939. "Purnell House, Jeff Davis Street, Selma, Dallas County, Alabama. Porch with colonnettes." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Naunce nuanceThose are pilasters, to be more accurate. A collonette is usually a set of free-standing smaller decorative columns. My dream house!Looks like it needs some restoration, but I LOVE it! Now, I hope no one posts that it was bulldozed or burned! Someone quick!!Donate a dump truck load of fill dirt and a Bobcat! I'm afraid the next rain is going to wash out the exposed water pipe and sidewalk precariously perched. Better Days PastIt is a shame what old age, and the Great Depression can do to the ability to maintain a home. Architectural nuanceThe author of the original caption was indeed subtle in his or her appreciation of classical architecture. Though the most obvious porch features are the free-standing columns in front, the column-like details that abut the façade itself are indeed called colonnettes, and are far from common in comparison with the columns themselves. Granny or her architect understood that the devil is in the details and called out all the imps of hell on this one! Renamed J.L. Chestnut Jr. BoulevardSelma Votes To Rename Street Selma votes to rename Jeff Davis street The Associated Press • January 14, 2009 SELMA, Ala. (AP) — The Selma City Council has voted to change Jeff Davis Avenue to J.L. Chestnut Jr. Boulevard in honor of the late civil rights attorney. The council voted 6-3 on Tuesday to rename the street currently named after Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Chestnut, the city's first black lawyer, defended prominent figures in the civil rights movement. He died Sept. 30 at the age of 77. The street renamed in honor of Chestnut runs for about two miles. Copyright © 1997- 2008 The Advertiser Co. Not quite colonnettesIn my experience, the half-round architectural features attached to the wall of the house at the inside corners of the porch are called engaged columns, and the vertical strips at the far corners of the house are called pilasters (or perhaps in this case, pilaster strips). None of these features, including the freestanding columns at the front of the porch, quite measures up to the rigorous standards expected of trained architects using the Classical orders, but they're not bad for a simple Greek Revival house like this one. 741 Jeff Davis AvenueAccording to Google this is 741 Jefferson Davis Avenue (not street) today. I had a witty comment to go with the picture but it was probably unfit to publish. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Tenement Beautiful: 1921
... Better Hovels & Gardens . Gelatin silver print by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Three generations of exhibition ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/21/2014 - 2:40pm -

        Before Urban Renewal, there was the Hyacinth Window Box. March 1921. "City Gardens Club of New York exhibit at the International Flower Show, Grand Central Palace." From the Home Improvement issue of Better Hovels & Gardens. Gelatin silver print by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Three generations of exhibition hallsGrand Central Palace was not related to Grand Central Terminal even though it was located just a short distance away. It was New York's main exhibition hall from its opening in 1911 until the early 1950's, when it was demolished and a high-rise built on the site. The New York Coliseum on Columbus Circle then became the city's exhibition hall, a status it held until the Javits Convention Center opened in the 1980's. Now the Javits Center itself is becoming obsolete, being too small for today's mega-conventions, but there are no real plans to replace it. Odd couplesMr. and Mrs. Ungar told their boy to stay away from that Madison kid next door. ClotheslineWhy is a clothesline in a narrow-lot yard always taken to be a sign of squalor? It's simply a feature of high-density housing. Magic flowersThat's amazing! If planting flowers can pick up your garbage, straighten your shutters and paint them, and dry your laundry with neither electric dryer nor clothesline, I guess I should get planting! (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, NYC)
Pillars of the Community: 1939
... Madison County, Alabama." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Demolished 1952 More on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/16/2013 - 6:26pm -

1939. "Wade House. Huntsville vicinity, Madison County, Alabama." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Demolished 1952More on the history of this house can be found starting on page 38 of this edition of Historic Huntsville Quarterly. EEEK!There is something hanging out of the second story window on the end by the chimney. At first I thought it was a rag stuffed into a missing pane, but when I zoomed in it appears to have a face. Looks like a papier mache halloween mask or a scary doll. [I'm going with your first guess, but I think it's a pillow. -tterrace] Engineer Comment DesiredThe evenly spaced voids in the brick work makes me think that is where scaffolding supports were during construction. Would love some construction insight on that. Brick vents The evenly spaced holes are air vents to reduce moisture between the brick facia and the wooden structure. At times weep vents are at the bottom of walls and floor separation. These vents also reduce air pressure during higher winds that can actually cause the wall to "blow out". EEEK! My guess is a wasp nest.... Facade?The gaps in the brickwork might have anchored a facade, possibly lath to support stucco. In working on our brick and block house, we find many little blocks of wood that were embedded in the brick while it was being laid, to provide anchorage for lath and moldings. Mostly in the interior, but some on the exterior. Putlog HolesI think that Downer is correct - the small dark holes in the brickwork of both stories are left over from the insertion of wooden scaffolding to construct the brick walls. These holes are aptly known as "putlog holes," because that is where the builders put the "logs." Putlog holes were meant to be filled with bricks once the walls were finished, but often enough they were not. This occured in traditional brick construction both in Europe and in the United States. Too poor to plaster, too proud to whitewash.It seems the holes correspond to the placement of iron hinges for blinds and floor joists. I'd say it's an unfinished project judging by the lack of plaster. Antebellum WYSIWYG architecture?Seems to be a lot of front for not so much house. A little insight.Upon reading the article that mechmike talked about we can see that the holes likely held something decorative because when the article was written the bricks were still discolored from being covered. Here is a quote from the article below. "a series of holes and discoloration on the front brick wall strongly support the removal of a more formal treatment, including simple pilasters at the corners of the facade. Photograph by Alex Bush fo r HABS, 1935" They holes are also definitely not air vents between the brick facia and the wooden structure like Poikaa suggested since this structure is solid brick with no wooden structure behind them. Here is a quote from the article about that. "It was a massive structure of solid brick, two tall stories above a raised basement". House HistoryMy grandmother's grandmother (Maggie Wade)grew up in this house... it was built by my great-great-great-great-grandfather David Wade in 1814 after he came to Madison County from Bedford Co. VA. My grandmother remembers going there around 1925, she said there were turkeys and chickens wandering around the kitchen. It was located on Bob Wade Ln off the Parkway in North Huntsville, there a brick ranch house there now but the smokehouse still remains. After the house was demolished the bricks went on to be reused in the Lary House on Echols Avenue (recently demolished by the Propst Family) as well as the Spencer house next door to Leroy Pope's house on Echols Avenue in Huntsville. Second story windowI believe the "thing" on the second story window is either a wasp or hornets nest. More scary to me than a Halloween mask or scary doll. [Here's a closer look. -tterrace] Unfinished dreams...Brick columns were not as unusual as we may think; except, they would have been finished with a layer of stucco in most cases - not all. The holes present on the brick façade would have been used to insert the pegs of a lath system designed to support some other formal system: it could have been a series of pilaster sided by bays of stucco, for instance. Whatever it was (but it must've been something), it seems to never have been installed, however - since there are no traces of any of it... anywhere. The stoop at the front door was either never finished, or removed for some unknown reason. It all seems to add up once one reads the article present in the Huntsville History Collection (link available in another comment). It clearly states that Mr. Wade seems to have run into some kind of financial predicament before he could finish the house. In spite of the house having been started in ca. 1820 (land purchased in 1817), by 1857 (the year he drafted his will) the house was still unfinished; it is clear that is was occupied by his heirs, though. This could be the simple case of a dream left unfinished – that's all. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Approximately Appomattox: 1935
... house, Appomattox vicinity." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. My dream house! I was going to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 3:04pm -

1935. Appomattox County, Virginia. "Unidentified house, Appomattox vicinity." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. My dream house!I was going to say that it was my dream house, before I saw Larc's comment with the picture. I thought the house would be long gone. It made my day to see that someone appreciated it enough to save it! It looks a little better nowBuilt about 1855, it's the Peers House, where Lee's army fired their last shot before surrendering. George Peers, clerk of court for Appomattox County, rented the house and lived there at the time. He finally bought it in 1870. The house was restored in 1954. [Just in the nick of time, I'd say. Excellent detective work! - Dave] (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Gas Giant: 1937
... Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still Energetic! Building is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/14/2017 - 3:32pm -

        An old-school gasworks (back in the days before the widespread use of natural gas) where coal was heated to produce "city gas" or "illuminating gas," which was so poisonously toxic that people inhaled it to commit suicide ("taking the gas pipe"). The tank-like structure, called a gasometer or gas holder, telescoped up and down depending on how much gas was inside, its weight serving to pressurize the system and push gas through the lines. 1937. "Charlotte Street Gas Works, Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still Energetic!Building is still there, now an electric substation: No Smoking!I hope the tank was maintained to a higher standard than the adjoining brick building appears to be! Toxic for decadesThese coal gas plants (sometimes called 'manufactured gas' plants) were so noxious that many former locations are still toxic sites decades after being shut down, now needing extensive decontamination. I watched one such site being rehabilitated in Marin County for use as affordable housing. The process took over a year and required the removal of 28,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil. Gas HoldersThe plant I worked in had ten gas holders of varying sizes to store argon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and a few other gases. Several were still in use into the late 1970s. They Don't Tear Anything Down in CharlestonLooks like part of the building is still there. (The Gallery, Charleston, F.B. Johnston, Industry & Public Works)
Little England: 1935
... County, Virginia." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Spectacular renovation This ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/02/2018 - 9:33am -

1935. "Little England, Bena vicinity, Gloucester County, Virginia." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Spectacular renovationThis historic place apparently has been incredibly restored and is in private hands. A 2016 story in Coastal Virginia Magazine shows the beautiful interiors: http://www.coastalvirginiamag.com/April-2016/Little-England-Plantation/ Looking better nowLittle England is located at 8075 Little England Road in Hayes, Virginia, across the York River from Yorktown. It was built in 1716, reputedly from plans drawn by Christopher Wren. The Georgian house was restored about 4 years after this 1935 photo was taken. With an addition in 1954, it now has 27 rooms including 15 bedrooms, with 10 full and 2 half baths. A pool has been added. Land is more than 58 acres. Still there, lookin' good!https://www.littleenglandfarm.com/farm/ Still There Impressive restoration, minus the old front door and porch add-on is gone. One thing you could see in the old photo is the fantastic brick laying of a quality build. https://www.littleenglandfarm.com/farm/ QaaaaatIt must really be a home; there is one. The house was restored a few years later, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The current owners did wonderful things to the interior a couple of years ago. (The Gallery, Cats, F.B. Johnston)
Hearth to Hearth: 1935
... Nashville vicinity. Structure dates to 1766." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Firewall Why three chimneys? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:06am -

Ca. 1935-1938. Nash County, North Carolina. "Tories Tavern, Nashville vicinity. Structure dates to 1766." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. FirewallWhy three chimneys? ArchitectureA plan drawing of the Tavern. Is that Electricity I spy, coming down the pole (convenient tree?) between the two closer chimneys, and heading into the window casing via porcelain tube insulators? Or might it be a radio antenna. Certainly one lead goes up the pole on a standoff insulator and the other seems to be a ground wire. The winds were blowing through the trees - I can imagine the colors of the day, the sounds, the scents of the land coming across the breezeway -- oh for a "Total Environment Recorder"! Make fires much?Would you like a house with those fireplaces? Safety FirstEach tavern patron had to pass a field sobriety test by successfully exiting this place without breaking their neck. Fire Placehttp://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/bh033206201 "The building was moved back when highway construction encroached on the property in 1953. Local tradition attributed the structure as being a former Revolution era tavern, but the home's estimated construction date produced arguments against using the moniker 'Tories Tavern' in reference to the home. The structure burned down in 1968." Three Chimneys, No WaitingEvery old house has a story all its own, especially if it's been added on to over the years, decades, and sometimes centuries. There can be tantalizing external hints, as on this structure of mysterious utility, but only a stroll inside can begin to clarify things. I once knew a man whose house had five connected basements, each of the additional four considerably larger than its predecessor, and each with its own roof at ground level. (He was a dedicated model railroader) Dram-shop logic You didn't want all your customers trying to crowd around one small fireplace in the dead of winter, so you spread the warmth amongst three fire pits. Much safer than coal braziers at each drunken table. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Rural America)
Traveler's Rest: 1938
... a roadside guest house." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Simple & Charming Looks as if ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2017 - 10:48pm -

1938. "Traveller's Rest, Louisburg vicinity, Franklin County, North Carolina. Farm of A.T. Wilson; a roadside guest house." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Simple & CharmingLooks as if they used a mill stone for the front step. Recycling at is best. Back then no one had to be told to reuse & repurpose things, it just came naturally to them Amenities?I bet the wifi is always going down at this guest house. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Rural America)
Sleeping Rooms: 1939
... ROOMS and SLEEPING ROOMS." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Church to the left, Conception to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2017 - 11:27am -

1939. "Forsyth House, 112 S. Conception Street, Mobile, Alabama." The sign: "FURNISHED LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING ROOMS and SLEEPING ROOMS." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Church to the left, Conception to the rightThat would put it right here, except it's gone. There's a hydrant in the same location. Tinder boxBetter sleep with your shoes on. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Mobile)
Spooky Stair: 1936
... Chatelain's photographs, P.A. Wolfe, photographer." From Frances Benjamin Johnston's work for the Carnegie Survey of Architecture of the South. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2014 - 1:24pm -

Circa 1936. "Ximenez-Fatio House, St. Augustine, Florida. Dr. Chatelain's photographs, P.A. Wolfe, photographer." From Frances Benjamin Johnston's work for the Carnegie Survey of Architecture of the South. View full size. Not so spooky nowThree years after this photo, the Ximinez-Fatio House was bought and restored by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. They still operate it as a museum today. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Florida)
Shirley Plantation: 1932
... Carter where it still is." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. LCD or Plasma? Dang! I had no ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 4:45pm -

1932. "Shirley, Charles City County, Virginia. House dates from circa 1650. In 1660 granted to Col. Edward Hill, member of the House of Burgesses. In 1723 thru marriage of the eldest daughter to John Carter, it passed to Carter where it still is." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. LCD or Plasma?Dang! I had no idea they had big screen tv's back then! Faux finishes, or just dingy?You'd think someone on the 'ol plantation would have sent a worker down to the hardware store and pick up a few gallons of off white paint and spruce up the joint. It's only been 200 years since the last coat was applied. DetailsI love the details of the door and moldings. But I have a few probably stupid questions. How do the door mechanics work? I see no knob or anything else to activate the latch. I see something shaped a bit like a cloverleaf on the lower right of the latch housing, but it doesn't appear to be a functional part of the design. Or is that the knob and my eyes are playing tricks? What is the dish in the center of the mantel? Is the partition on the right side of the fireplace there to hide firewood? If not, what is it's purpose? Finally, I guess the eyehook on the right side of the fireplace is supposed to hold the poker, but I'm not sure. Arsenic and Old LaceThe smoke/patina/discoloration (and the oversize portraits) kinda give it the look of a "room" made of painted stage flats. I've been an actor for 35 years; that looks like a number of different stages I've been on. "Shirley"When I was a kid, Route 11 through the Shenandoah Valley was called the Shirley Highway. Any connection? Cracked!The interior decorator for this room could have used a little guidance in "proportions" as the two oval portraits of the women are too large for that wall while the fireplace mantel decor is a bit too small. Also I see three cracked surfaces, the mirror, the silhouette and the marble fireplace framing. Strange that the photographer is not visible in the mirror reflection, but there does appear to be some sort of demon beneath the dining room chair reflected therein. [The camera isn't perpendicular to the mirror, so we wouldn't expect to see any reflection of the photographer. - Dave] HatersThis was taken in 1932 people. Its a beautiful place now. I go there often. There are knobs on the door, but they are very small. Details and DentilsShirley Plantation was the first plantation in America. This house actually dates from about 1725. Most homes and furniture from this period through the Federal (home/furniture) period are based on design books from England. The fireplace and most the room looks like it is perfectly proportioned and right out of a builders book. I'm amazed that the dentil crown molding was in such good shape. Could be wood but more likely plaster castings. The "cloverleaf" on the rim lock (door latch) worked the mechanism. Later these were replaced by small knobs. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Bath House: 1936
... St. Thomas' Church at Bath." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Whitfield's Curse Evangelist ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/22/2019 - 7:11pm -

1936. Beaufort County, North Carolina. "Rectory of St. Thomas' Church at Bath." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Whitfield's CurseEvangelist George Whitfield was so frustrated by the people of Bath refusing to come under the conviction of God that he went to the edge of town, took off his shoes and knocked the dust from his feet. He then cursed the town, saying that it would never grow past the small village that it was and would be forgotten by men and nations alike. Bath never grew past a small village and while the rest of North Carolina thrived and prospered, much of Bath remains the same today as it was 250 years ago. LathQuite the pile stored under the extension, behind the chimney. Still there!Bath historic district: Still thereThis house is at 200 South Main Street in Bath. The front porch has been downsized, probably to conform with original construction. St. Thomas Episcopal Church was built in 1734 and is the oldest remaining church building in North Carolina. The current rector doesn't live in the old rectory, but it is apparently still owned by the church. Paint? What's that?I can never get over how many Depression era pictures show buildings that haven't seen paint in a long, long time. It's all the more striking because mixing linseed oil and white lead wasn't as expensive as today's paints. We might say that's what "Depression" means. Crawling around old housesI drove up from New Bern with a friend of mine a few years ago, and they let us look around the old rectory. It's still in fine shape, like many of the other buildings in Bath. Just a great little town. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Glascock House: 1939
... Built 1844 for John Glascock of Virginia." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still there The building is still ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/26/2013 - 7:53pm -

1939. "Glascock House, 1109 21st Ave., Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Built 1844 for John Glascock of Virginia." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Still thereThe building is still there today, housing a real estate appraisal company: View Larger Map (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Bladensfield: 1932
... Richmond County, Virginia." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Sadly Destroyed by fire in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/09/2014 - 3:06pm -

Circa 1932. "Bladensfield, Warsaw vicinity, Richmond County, Virginia." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. SadlyDestroyed by fire in November 1996. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Toma Hund: 1935
... Germanic sounding name. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Not as German as you'd think ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 11:07am -

Charles City County, Virginia, circa 1935. "Toma Hund, Barrett's Ferry vicinity." Gambrel roof, double-decker portico and a curiously Germanic sounding name. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Not as German as you'd think"Tomahund" is probably from the Powhatan language, an extinct member of the Algonquian family. In the 19th century it was common to break up house and plantation names not of Anglo-Irish origin into phrases. "Tomahund" became "Toma Hund", "Miramar" became "Mira Mar", "Bellevue" became "Belle Vue". I suppose they thought it sounded high class. AbbreviationsIt could be that "Toma Hund" is an abbreviation: In that part of Virginia it was common to name plantations "Hundreds". For example, one well known plantation in the 19th century in that area was named, "Bermuda Hundred". Maybe the real name of the place in the photo is "Toma Hundred." [A quick google shows that "Tomahund" is a much-used place name in Tidewater Virginia. -Dave] What a houseI want that pie safe - I guess it's a pie safe leaning against the house by the side porch. I'd love to have that screen door, too. ScreensNice to see someone actually had screens on their windows and porch. Lost HistoryEvery time I see pictures like this of a house which was outstanding in its day but has gone to ruin makes me sad to think of the history which has been lost. Are there any records or family pictures of the people who were born, raised, or died here? What was life like when this house and its occupants were in their heyday? Why was the property not kept up? Was it because of the Depression that the house went without repair? So many questions which will probably remain unanswered. [For a lot of these places, things started going downhill when the slaves got better jobs. -Dave] Long gone?I can't find anything other than brief mention of Toma Hund in local history and I haven't seen this house, although Charles City is pretty sprawled out. It would be neat to find it if it still exists though. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Berry Hill: 1935
... a hospital by Continental Army in 1781." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Looks very much the same, today. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/25/2013 - 9:09pm -

Pittsylvania County, Virginia, circa 1935. "Berry Hill, Danville vicinity. Related names: Mrs. Simms. Built in three units -- in 1776, in 1812, and in 1850 -- by the Perkins family. The later building was done under the direction of Maj. Wilson, who married Peter Perkins' granddaughter. Used as a hospital by Continental Army in 1781." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Looks very much the same, today.At least according to Victorian Villa More information can be found there about this important historic location. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
The Lion Bridge: 1936
... Augustine." Where the gulls are. 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Totally Restored in 2011 The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/23/2013 - 10:42am -

St. Johns County, Florida, circa 1936. "Lion Bridge, St. Augustine." Where the gulls are. 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Totally Restored in 2011 The Bridge of Lions connects St. Augustine with Anastasia Island across the Intercoastal Waterway. When completed in 1927 it was immediately hailed as a work of art and a landmark for the ancient city. Huge marble lions for the bridge's approaches were carved in Florence, Italy and donated by local philanthropist, Dr. Andrew Anderson before his death in 1924. By the 1990s the 1,545ft long bridge was in very poor condition and had been named to the list of Top 10 Endangered Historic Sites in America. In an amazing feat of cooperation between preservationists, engineers, the City and the State of Florida, the bridge was renovated/rebuilt in its original location, using as much of the original bridge as possible. This required building a temporary bridge adjacent to the site which was torn down when the "new" bridge opened 2 years ago. For the past 86 years no visit to St. Augustine has been complete unless you've walked across this marvel. One of The LionsTwo lions guard the approach to the bridge in Downtown St. Augustine. Here's the one on the north side. The lions were taken away for safe keeping during the bridge renovation. I'm not certain they've been returned yet but the plan was always to do so. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, F.B. Johnston, Florida)
Home Office: 1938
... grew up in the years after the Revolutionary War. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Smith Furnace AKA Vesuvius Furnace ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/12/2014 - 1:41pm -

1938. "Smith Furnace, office, Lincoln County, North Carolina." A relic of the charcoal-iron industry, with its forges and furnaces, that grew up in the years after the Revolutionary War. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Smith Furnace AKA Vesuvius FurnaceHome to General Joseph Graham of the Revolutionary War, and located on Vesuvius Furnace Road, in Denver, North Carolina. Today its an event center known as Vesuvius Vineyards. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, The Office)
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