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Fort McAllister: 1865
1865. "Savannah, Georgia (vicinity). Interior of Fort McAllister." Wet-plate glass negative, left half of stereo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2011 - 8:25pm -

1865. "Savannah, Georgia (vicinity). Interior of Fort McAllister." Wet-plate glass negative, left half of stereo pair, by Sam A. Cooley. View full size. I love all the photographson this site, but the ones from the Civil War era never fail to blow me away. Wheel barrelsLooks like the wheel barrels took a direct hit (wheels came off). [Back then, they were called "wheelbarrows." - Dave] (The Gallery, Civil War, Sam Cooley, Savannah)
Let's Build a Bomber: 1942
... in Seattle complete assembly and fitting operations on the interior of a fuselage section for a new B-17F (Flying Fortress) bomber. About ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/27/2014 - 10:02am -

December 1942. "Production of B-17 heavy bomber. A skilled team of men and women workers at the Boeing plant in Seattle complete assembly and fitting operations on the interior of a fuselage section for a new B-17F (Flying Fortress) bomber. About half of the workers at the Boeing plant are women." Photo by Andreas Feininger for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Flying Model-TA year or so ago I took a ride in the B-17 "Sentimental Journey". After reading all my life about how rugged these heavy bombers were I was amazed at how primitive they were. Patchwork pieces of aluminum riveted to the sides to try to protect the waist gunners from incoming machine guns. Aluminum skin you could dent with your finger. Control cables running exposed throughout. I have a new respect for all those airmen who flew these planes. Of course nothing could mask the sound and smell of those four big radial engines and the rattle and vibration as the ship took to the air. Priceless experience! Tools of warI can't identify the conventional hand drill shown, but the angle drill is a Sioux, produced by the Albertson Machine Co. in Sioux City, Iowa. Call the QA GuysSome isn't quite right with this part. (The Gallery, Andreas Feininger, Aviation, Factories, WW2)
A More Perfect Union: 1908
... damage to many of the finer architectural features of the interior. When that failed the building was abandoned. By the early eighties it ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2016 - 12:30pm -

Circa 1908. "New Pennsylvania [Union] Station, Washington, D.C." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. So many travel choicesGreat photo showing three modes of transportation (besides the train, of course). The old horse drawn cabs on the left of the photo, the new automobile cabs on the far right, and the electric trolley. What a wonderful era for travel. Lots of timeWe seem to be looking almost due North, across Columbus Circle. Judging from the shadows, it's early morning, probably late Spring or early Summer. Long layover 'till quarter to four! Union StationThis photo of D.H. Burnham's magnificent building was probably taken from the north end of the roof of the then-new Senate Office Building (later the Old Senate Office Building, now the Russell Senate Office Building), designed by Carrere and Hastings of New York and built in 1903 to 1908. I spent 10 years in there, working for the Armed Services Committee, on the south (Constitution Avenue) side of the building. The Committee's restored hearing rooms are wonderful examples of American Beaux-Arts at its most lavish. I Was ThereNot in 1908, but two years ago, and it is still one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever had the privilege to wander in. Even the façade looks similar to then. Saved From RuinLooking at it now, it's hard to believe such a grand building came close ruin. The station was converted into a visitors center in the mid-seventies, which caused a lot of damage to many of the finer architectural features of the interior. When that failed the building was abandoned. By the early eighties it was a rat-infested mess with significant damage. The federal government could have easily walked away and let it fall into a state beyond repair. Fortunately, Congress authorized the purchase of the building and ponied up the cash to turn it into what it is today, which is magnificent. (The Gallery, D.C., DPC, Railroads, Streetcars)
City Point: 1864
... shingle are today. And of course the lath and plaster interior wall. It was always being told in history class that so many of the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/23/2009 - 10:29am -

Circa 1864. "City Point, Virginia (vicinity). Building used as a stable." Wet-plate glass negative, photographer unknown. View full size. City Point realtyBreezy open-plan ranch with brick fireplace. Lots of potential. Perfect for the gentleman farmer or even a starter home for the perfect couple. Overlooks the battlefield. Many amenities. Must see. Modern but rusticLooking at the photo shows some interesting items. Someone has figured out how to bale hay; putting it in a compact and controlled form. Most farmers until the thirties would put up hay by stacking it loosely and and putting it in a hay mow for later use. The roof when looked at closely was made from machine made wooden shingles, they appeared to have a number of rounded tabs and don't appear to be single tab shingles. They appear to be multiple tab units and then nailed down similar to how asphalt shingle are today. And of course the lath and plaster interior wall. It was always being told in history class that so many of the homes didn't have plaster in America that I assumed the only rich people had plaster and not a home that appears to be a small unassuming house. (The Gallery, Civil War, Horses)
Christmas Story: 1920
... billboard, the light at the top of the water tower, the interior of a train station and a street lamp. Perfect Setting for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/24/2012 - 1:13pm -

A circa 1920 Nativity scene labeled "Calvo, Miss." Note the light bulb. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Merry Christmas, all!When I first looked at this picture, I perceived the topmost lightbulb as an animal's eye, and I wondered how a rabbit or whatever got into the manger scene! Anyway, Merry Christmas! Radio bulbGrowing up we always called little round bulbs like this one that, as they were used to light the dial on our radio and my grandfather kept some in a little box to replace burned out ones. The inside itself of the big radio was interesting too, with its warm glowing vacuum tubes. Itty bitty bulbsAnother use was in various components of our 1940s-era electric train set, like an illuminated billboard, the light at the top of the water tower, the interior of a train station and a street lamp. PerfectSetting for wishing the whole Shorpy Family the very best of the Holiday Season and to enjoy the Best Christmas ever! Away in a MangerIt looks as though the toddler Jesus should be proclaiming, "Ta Da". (The Gallery, Christmas, Natl Photo)
Man of Steel: 1942
May 1942. "Denver, Colorado. Interior of a shipbuilding plant, showing workman who previously assembled ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/24/2015 - 11:48am -

May 1942. "Denver, Colorado. Interior of a shipbuilding plant, showing workman who previously assembled incubator parts and amusement park devices, now working on hulls and decks of escort vessels. He and his co-workers will be invited to Mare Island, 1,300 miles away, to help launch the ships they are building." 4x5 nitrate negative for the Office of War Information. View full size. Mare IslandDuring World War II Mare Island Naval Shipyard turned out scores of ships and submarines, assembling new destroyer escorts with prefabricated sections brought in from as far away as Colorado. Warships damaged in battle were also repaired and refitted in the base's drydocks. By the end of the war, Mare Island had produced 17 submarines, four submarine tenders, 31 destroyer escorts, 33 small craft and more than 300 landing craft. Am I Missing Something?First, that looks like a hell on earth place to work. Second, is that some sort of furnace or heater on the right? It looks to have a door for loading in coal or some sort of fuel. It has ducts coming from it ending in the work space but it doesn't seem to be the normal combustion chamber / heat exchanger arrangement. It doesn't have a chimney, it looks like all the combustion byproducts are vented into the work area. Not to mention all the tanks of explosive gases near by, some right next to the "heater". Grandad's blacksmith shopThat looks a lot like my grandad's blacksmith shop - where he fixed everything except the crack of dawn and a broken heart. Old school weldingThere are several Oxy/acetylene rigs in that shop. I bet the big boiler/heater setup vents out through that brick wall. Coolest rig is that auto/roller welding unit just in front of the guy on the right. The deal there is the torch is on rollers that they move along the joint of the steel plates aligned underneath it. Makes it much easier to weld a straight long joint between two plates. Not sure if that would have been manually moved or driven by an electric motor (with some kind of speed control). Anyway, that's doing it old school and a pro could make a joint stronger than the base metal. (The Gallery, Factories, WW2)
Crown Restaurant: 1904
... then later converted into a movie-theater. The original interior, shown in this old photograph, had 3 balconies. It was demolished in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/22/2014 - 11:09am -

"Superior Street, Duluth, 1904." Last glimpsed here, five years in the future. The latest installment of Minnesota Monochromes. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. The Lyceum Theater of DuluthThe "Lyceum" was built in 1892 for live theater shows, then later converted into a movie-theater. The original interior, shown in this old photograph, had 3 balconies. It was demolished in 1963. (High resolution version of this photograph is available here.) Trapahagen & Fitzpatrick -- architects of The LyceumBy the way... the architectural firm of Trapahagen & Fitpatrick designed The Lyceum. (Their name is visible in this photograph -- high on a building about a block away). Traphagen & FitzpatrickIt amazing what you can learn if you do a little poking around in Shorpy images. I would have never known that Mr. Traphagen designed the Moana Hotel on Waikiki Beach, and they he hailed from Duluth. I have strolled past that hotel and had a few drinks on its veranda overlooking the beach. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_G._Traphagen "Minnesota Monochromes"Oh, Dave, you are too funny! This Minnesota Monochrome is an interesting contrast to the Minnesota Kodachromes. Thank you, Dave, tterrace, and all the Shorpyites for another year of outstanding photos, in-depth commentary and research, clever captions, great groaning puns, and good spirits! Happy holidays! (The Gallery, DPC, Duluth, Eateries & Bars, Stores & Markets)
Deconstructed: 1906
... is another photo of the earthquake ravaged building and an interior shot from after the renovations here . The "Jewelers' ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/05/2017 - 2:31pm -

"Looking up Post Street from Kearney." Aftermath of the April 18, 1906, San Francisco earthquake and fire. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Fire Fighting Equipment?On the right side, it looks to me like a burned out piece of fire fighting equipment, maybe a towed pump on wheels? It's Kearny Street, not Kearney StreetVery common mistake. Shreve Building still standsInteresting piece here from the sfgate.com site - Shreve & Co., a high-end jeweler, just moved out in 2015, to be replacd by Harry Winston, another high-end jeweler. Shreve & Co. (now just down the block at 150 Post St.) moved into their namesake building in March of 1906 - yes, a month before the earthquake. Missing windowsWhy did the windows fall out? [The buildings were gutted by the fire; windows had wooden frames and burned. -tterrace] Horse-Drawn Steam Fire-EngineA week after the conflagration, when people began to return to San Francisco, Los Angeles Times reporter Harry C. Carr—mistaking Post Street for California Street, and using dumb as a synonym for mute—wrote in the April 26 issue: In the June 2, 1906 edition of Fire and Water Engineering, A. J. Coffee (a fire appliance manufacturer in Oakland) observed that the San Francisco Fire Department had 56 steamers, nine hook and ladder trucks, nine chemical engines, one combination chemical and hose wagon, four turret-batteries, some 120,000 feet of hose, and a force of 500 "brave and skilled men." He went on to note that: Approximately 38,000 feet of hose were burned. Engines valued at $13,500 were destroyed (including one that was in the repair shop and could not be hauled out since its wheels had been removed). Old No. 12 engine—Old Betsy—in use in the department for 30 years, was burned on the corner of Post and Kearny streets, where she was abandoned since she had no horses. Her remains stand there now among the ruins and tell the story more vividly than words can portray of the utter helplessness of the San Francisco firemen in this terrible calamity. Too much praise cannot be given the fire department of the efficient manner in which it worked at the off-set, when the fire alarm service was immediately destroyed. The men went out bravely to fight a dozen or more fires, all of which took the proportions of conflagrations almost immediately, and the firemen succeeded in extinguishing several bad fires that were not in the burned district. After their work was finished at these fires, the firemen took up their hose and apparatus and went to work on large fires in the different parts of the city. They did splendid work, until the city water supply gave out, and there is no doubt that, if water had been plentiful, there would be a different story to tell of San Francisco today. According to the San Francisco Municipal Reports for the Fiscal Year 1905-6, Ending June 30, 1906, the city lost only three engines, and one— a 1872 Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine, 2d size, No. 390, assigned to Relief Company No. 3—was about the right age (34 years old) as the one A. J. Coffee mentioned (30 years in service). The boiler banding, the gauge mounting, and some other clues suggest that wreck in the main photo may be a Amoskeag engine: This image, dated April 20, 1906 and taken from a stereo view card, was titled A fire engine caught and crushed by a falling wall, Post St., San Francisco Disaster, U. S. A. The spring like thing draped on the wheel is the wire reinforcement that was left after the rubber suction hose (seen in the drawing above) burned away. This last photo shows recovery efforts with much of the rubble cleaned away and non-salvageable items removed from the remains of the engine: Jewelers' BuildingNot only did Shreve & Company occupy the building in the background, the building in the foreground, which remarkably still exists, is the firm's new home at 150 Post Street. Even more interesting is that old publications, such as "The Jewelers' Circular" from November 30, 1921, indicate that the 150 Post Street address used to be called the "Jewelers' Building." The Crocker and Langley San Francisco City Directories (SFCD) also confirm this coincidence, and they show numerous professionals in the jewelry making and allied trades as tenants. The 1908 Crocker and Langley SFCD entry for Shreve indicates that they were not able to reopen in their new building until March of 1909 (see below). There is another photo of the earthquake ravaged building and an interior shot from after the renovations here. The "Jewelers' Building" apparently had another name before the earthquake, but I cannot read the wording on the sign above the door. See the photo below to have a closer look. (The Gallery, DPC, Fires, Floods etc., San Francisco)
Ship-Shapers: 1905
... South Chicago circa 1905. "Steamer William E. Corey , interior of hold." An inside look at the bulk freighter seen earlier here . ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/27/2013 - 9:33am -

South Chicago circa 1905. "Steamer William E. Corey, interior of hold." An inside look at the bulk freighter seen earlier here. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. RidgetownNow a breakwall at Port Credit, Ontario, after an interesting career. Fess Up!Who else read the ship's name as "Wile E. Coyote?" Good workmanshipConsidering the steamer spent many decades in service, and even today functions as a breakwater, I'd say these workmen did a terrific job. The William E. Corey... "I may not be functioning now but at least in my latter years I do perform a viable function in life very well." I hope I do as well as the Steamer William E. Corey when I am 108. View Larger Map (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Chicago, DPC)
Suppertime: 1939
... is a really pretty dress, compared to the threadbare cabin interior. [Like a lot of the ladies in these photos, she might have ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/02/2018 - 4:27pm -

February 1939. "Corpus Christi, Texas. Wife of war veteran living in shantytown on Nueces Bay." The lady last seen here. Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Taking it all for grantedThe next time I start complaining about something, I'll try to remember this family. CriminyWhat an awful and complete mess and what a horrible way to live. These folks would probably be considered "homeless" today and even have less than this hovel to live in. ClothingShe's got a good dress for such an occasion. Neatness countsFlour everywhere except on her dress and hands. Overdressed?That is a really pretty dress, compared to the threadbare cabin interior. [Like a lot of the ladies in these photos, she might have donned her Sunday best for Mr. Government Photographer, as well as for you and me. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., Russell Lee)
The Old Neighborhood: 1904
... of the end pavilions.         The interior, stark and simpler than most, is characterized by shallow arches, a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/24/2017 - 3:59pm -

Circa 1904. "Pennsylvania Avenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Quite the Monopoly-- on a complete change for modern visitors. Nothing left of this view landward from near the famed Boardwalk up Pennsylvania Avenue to the intersection with Pacific and beyond. There is still a church at the corner but it's a newer build. The once genteel neighborhood of homes, boarding houses and hotels disappeared and what's left is a canyon between self-parking structures for the casinos. The 100 Block of Pennsylvania AvenueAs recently as 1981 the NY Times described the Holmhurst Hotel as one the architectural gems worth seeing in Atlantic City:         The largest extant frame hotel in Atlantic City -- the Holmhurst, at 121 Pennsylvania Avenue -- is one of the few architectural links with the 19th century along the Boardwalk. The five-story clapboard structure has a two-story porch along its front and two-story oriel windows at the end of the central section and at the outside corners of the end pavilions.         The interior, stark and simpler than most, is characterized by shallow arches, a wide staircase and rooms with their original frame doors topped by transoms. Unfortunately, the whole area today is naught but boring building blocks and parking structures: Weathervanes and Lightning RodsAdorn nearly every one of these exquisite homes. (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC)
1973 Pontiac Grand Am
... was a 1973 Grand Am 4 dr in Admiralty Blue with a black interior. 400 V-8, 2 bbl, automatic transmission. But it was regarded as cool ... 
 
Posted by gnfd143 - 01/04/2013 - 7:47pm -

73 Grand Am. On Wellesley Island New York.1974.The nose of the car was made of soft rubbery stuff. The TV ads showed how you could crush it with a baseball bat and it would bounce back in shape. Unfortunately on its best day it only got 16 mpg highway. Kodakchrome 35mm slide. View full size. 1973 Grand Am!My parents had 3 cars in the early 1970's - when I was first driving. The newest was a 1973 Grand Am 4 dr in Admiralty Blue with a black interior. 400 V-8, 2 bbl, automatic transmission. But it was regarded as cool by my friends and the girls in my high school, so it was a huge plus to be driving. My parents kept the car until after I had graduated from college, then as an 8 year old 120k+ mile car they gave it to me to use in Madison where I was attending graduate school. It lasted to about 127K and then the increasingly frequent repairs made it infeasible to keep. I ended up selling it for $400, which was about the going rate for a set of the Rally II mag wheels it had. The next time I saw the car it was in the parking lot of a west side shopping mall, the Rally II wheels were gone (replaced with plain steel wheels and no hubcaps) and there was a massive Metallica sticker in the rear window along with other indications of its desecration. Nostalgic bubble popped! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Standard Upholstery: 1926
... up. Furniture reupholstered and repaired. Draperies and Interior Decorating. Sufficient unto the day Is the stuffing thereof. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/13/2014 - 8:22pm -

Washington, D.C. "Industrial exposition, 1926. Standard Upholstery Co." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. AsisReminds me of second-hand stores of the 1950s. I can almost smell the mildew - wait, maybe that's coming from the negative. Dome Fuel truck IDWhite Furniture of a Better Kind Washington Post, February 25, 1926. Exposition to Show Big Range of Products Washington-made products, ranging from candy to motor trucks, will be on exhibition at the second annual industrial exposition of the Washington Chamber of Commerce, to be held in the Washington Auditorium, March 4 to 13. “The exposition is planned to give Washingtonians further reasons for civic pride,” Martin A Leese, president, said yesterday. “It should surprise any resident of this community who visits the exposition to see the number of food products, household appliances, wearing apparel and office fixtures which are made in this city.” Washington Post, January 21, 1924. Standard Upholstery Store 2810-12 14th St. “Furniture of a Better Kind” Overstuffed Furniture, Made to Order, 3-Piece Suite $125 up. Furniture reupholstered and repaired. Draperies and Interior Decorating. Sufficient unto the dayIs the stuffing thereof. Who, exactly, determines that furniture is over stuffed, as opposed to "sufficiently stuffed" or even "scantily stuffed?" Probably once a term of art in the upholstery trade, appropriated for vulgar use much in the way that the rubrics "stainless steel appliances," "granite countertops," and "open concept" have become indispensable narrative terms without which no home improvement TV show can long survive. [The term "overstuffed" simply refers to furniture in which the frame is completely covered with padding and fabric, as opposed to, for example, an armchair with upholstered seat and back, but with wooden arms and/or legs. -tterrace] And now I know! Decorating trendI have never seen that style of upholstering before, with the tops of the cushions a lively print and the rest of the couch solid velvet. It looks untidy now, but it may have been more practical in the days before sturdy synthetic fibers to have the sitting surface made from a more durable fabric than velvet. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Bacchus Dance: 1909
... whose father was one of the founders of the famous interior decoration firm of Herter Brothers. Five Grecian Urns Am I the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/07/2013 - 10:58am -

Edwardian-Bohemian New York circa 1909. "Bacchus Dance -- Miss Grace Walters, Mrs. A.S. Burden, Miss M.R. White, Alfred Hester, Mrs. James B. Eustis, Miss Martha White." 8x10 glass negative, Bain News Service. View full size. It was at this very momentAlbert suddenly realized he was the luckiest man in all of Manhattan. Here's Mrs. Eustis that day, apparently stealing away to powder her nose. Beaux Arts BacchanalThe photo documents a benefit bazaar and Greek pageant held on May 4, 1909, at the Manhattan Trade School for Girls, at 209 East Twenty-third Street. The entertainments included this bacchanal, inspired by a similar performance held several weeks earlier at the Architectural League. The New York Times reported that, "in most cases the feet and ankles of the dancers were entirely bare, allowing the grace and simplicity of old Greece to appear with some modifications to meet modern taste." The modern bacchantes in the photo have tastefully left their stockings on. Bacchus, wearing a flame red wig and beard, was played by the important New York painter and muralist Albert Herter (1871-1950), whose father was one of the founders of the famous interior decoration firm of Herter Brothers. Five Grecian UrnsAm I the only one having Music Man flashbacks here? (The Gallery, Dance, G.G. Bain)
Carrel of the Belles: 1953
... 24, 1953. "Towson, Maryland. Goucher College, Library interior III. Moore & Hutchins, client." Acetate negative by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/22/2016 - 8:53pm -

April 24, 1953. "Towson, Maryland. Goucher College, Library interior III. Moore & Hutchins, client." Acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. Analytical Chemistry, Volume 2I had to look inside one of those books, so I picked one at random. Nine inch floor tilesPopular for decades and most likely these are green. The lighting looks perfect for reading and staying awake. In Praise of BooksWhen I was in the university back in the late 1960's, the study 'carrels' were a very important part of my education. They were quiet, surrounded by books and not internet no social media no nothing other that the 'mind books study' and the thing that still stays with me….the smell of a book. This day and age of media with Ibooks is sooo sterile and I still prefer a printed book over the e version…why? I still to this date look to buying a book and flip its pages to smell…yes smell. To my there is nothing like the smell of the print and paper of a book to engage me to the print of all things. (The Gallery, Baltimore, Education, Schools, Gottscho-Schleisner)
In for Overhaul: 1942
... was required to be drained, cleanout plugs removed and the interior of the boiler washed out with high pressure water jets. Certain ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2014 - 10:17am -

December 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. In the Chicago & North Western locomotive repair shops." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Overhaulin'How often did these locomotives have to be overhauled or rebuilt? I am thinking in terms of automobiles, which need an engine overhaul at 100,000 to 200,000 miles. (My mind is stuck on the 1960s cars.) But locomotives -- what determined their timeframe? Also I live near the Union Pacific rail yards in Roseville, California, and I can hear when a diesel needs repair. Talk about LOUD. Overhaul CyclesSteam locomotives required a lot of time in the shops. Inspections were made daily and small repairs and adjustments were made daily to keep the engines in proper tuneup. All of this could be done while keeping the engine hot. Every 31 days the fire was put out and the boiler was required to be drained, cleanout plugs removed and the interior of the boiler washed out with high pressure water jets. Certain appliance had to be removed, disassembled, cleaned, and reinstalled. Every 92 days additional inspections were required, and other work, primarily air components, were removed and rebuilt. There was also a one year cycle for certain other repairs. But the big one every 5 years, as shown in this photo, concerned major boiler work, and disassembly of the running gear. It could take an engine out of service for a couple weeks. The engine was lifted off its wheels, and every component that could be removed was disassembled, inspected, tested, and completely rebuilt as necessary. In the foreground we see a cylinder liner in left foreground, and the stack casting on the right. A portable machine was set up in front of the cylinders for re-boring the casting to receive new liners. Boilers had their superheaters removed and all flues taken out. Inspectors climbed inside and cleaned out accumulated scale, and carefully examined inside and out for hints of excessive corrosion or cracking. If necessary complete boilers could be removed from the running gear and frames, and major boiler repairs made. Very labor intensive and expensive, so the railroads were more than happy to switch to diesel electric locomotives when they became available. Thanks LarryDoyleGood info on locomotives! How they worked on the inside was always a mystery to me. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
River Traffic: 1898
... was pretty new at the time. From a 1960s report for the Interior Department, addressing both:         ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/23/2019 - 12:09pm -

The Mississippi River circa 1898. "Winona, Minnesota. The levee below the bridge." At left, the sternwheeler Lafayette Lamb. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photgraphic Company. View full size. Answered my own questionThe Winona Bridge had a swing span “The bridge was built from the Wisconsin shore across the back channel to Island 72, now known as Latsch Island, across the main channel to the Winona shore. In the middle of the channel, a huge stone pylon was built up from the riverbed, and a steel and wood beam span was built on top of it. This section of bridge was designed to pivot on that center support, swinging parallel to the shore to allow steamboats, barges and log rafts to pass unimpeded. A tender's shack stood at the pivot point to shelter the rail roadman, who set the machinery in motion to swing the bridge closed when a train approached. At 363 feet, its swinging span -- the "draw" -- was the longest in the world.” https://www.winonadailynews.com/special-section/pieces-of-the-past/thurs... Bridge Over Troubled WaterTwo bridges can be seen in this photo. One had been around for more than 25 years. The other, much bigger, was pretty new at the time. From a 1960s report for the Interior Department, addressing both:         Although a railroad bridge connected Winona to the Wisconsin shore as early as 1871, the city had no direct highway access for another two decades. Teamsters made do with a ferry that carried them over the Main Channel to Latsch Island; there they disembarked onto a long wooden trestle that spanned the North Channel and the river's remaining expanse. In 1892, the ferry finally gave way to Bridge #5930, Steel, cantilever, through-truss design, the span was a municipally financed project designed to make Winona the main trade center for its Wisconsin neighbors. To retire the construction debt, the city administered the new "High Wagon Bridge" as a toll crossing. By the 1930s, auto traffic was making the now "old" high bridge obsolete, with its zigzag connection to an older North Channel wagon bridge a serious impediment. A new span was designed and survives today about a quarter mile up river from the bridges seen in the photo above. Ironically, an updated form of the original North Channel wagon bridge survives for non-motorized traffic. Full stop?Why do you suppose they put a period after "Lamb"? [Period signage. - Dave] Period signage. Nice.I think Dave would be absolutely miserable if confined to a language where all words have only one meaning. Clouds? Sky?Just realized that the sky has clouds. Was this shot with panchromatic film? [This wasn't shot with any kind of film. It's a glass plate negative. - Dave] (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads)
All the Allens: 1937
... in cut-over areas. Dilapidated log cabins and shacks; interior details. Poor families; Bohemian farm families. Few scenes in town. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/29/2014 - 12:41pm -

        Black River Falls (vicinity), Wisconsin. April-June 1937. Photographs show families who live on small farms in cut-over areas. Dilapidated log cabins and shacks; interior details. Poor families; Bohemian farm families. Few scenes in town. June 1937. "Ray Allen family near Black River Falls, Wisconsin." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Bug ScreensDuring the depression bug screens were such a precious commodity that people used to tether their dog to the front door to make sure nobody would steal it while they were away and that wild animals couldn't tear it. They didn't have HVAC in those days and the houses were often improperly shaded so the kitchen could make the heat unbearable in the summer and open windows and doors would bring in bugs. This house has screen doors without any tears and this couple has obviously kept their children bathed and kempt under very difficult circumstances. Seven kids!Oldest daughter looks about 13, Mom & Dad look like they might be 30. Mom looks mighty proud of her brood! Good-lookin' mobI say, if all those children are that lady's, then I would say she has weathered the years well. They all look healthy and I hope life improved for them. I also hope there was a lot of love in that family. (The Gallery, Kids, Russell Lee)
Bond Building: 1907
... the windows are most likely anchored to the unfinished interior. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/02/2019 - 12:55pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1907. "Bond Building, Fourteenth Street and New York Avenue N.W." 8x10 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection. View full size. Still there, looking goodhttps://goo.gl/maps/Txsepb1bfREV7t4DA Inside StraightWhat do you suppose is anchoring the inside end of those beams from which the window washers' scaffold is hanging? Window Washer BeamsProbably secured with "lotsa" sandbags and a long lever arm. No window washing going onLooks more likely that the building is under construction or perhaps renovation. Under ConstructionThose can't be window washers on the building on the far right. There are no windows on their level. My guess is they're installing windows. The building appears to be under construction based on all the materials out in front and the clean stone edifice. The support beams protruding from the windows are most likely anchored to the unfinished interior. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Silver Place: 1939
... was reduced last month to $175,000. Lovely photos of the interior here: ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/08/2019 - 9:19pm -

        The Solomon Siler House in Pike County, Alabama. May 1939. "Old home in Alabama built about 1850 called 'Silver Place,' owned by Mr. Frazier, now rented by two families." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Solomon Siler HouseHere are some more views, including interiors -- https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.al0705.photos/?sp=1 Cat On a Hot Tin RoofBig Daddy may not have made his move on this place yet in 1939, but it looks like they might still be able to stage a garden party at the house now. Once someone gets out a coat or paint or two on the circa 1845 family manse. Near Orion, Alabama. For SaleThis house is for sale, as it happens. The price was reduced last month to $175,000. Lovely photos of the interior here: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5843-County-Road-7714-Troy-AL-36081/1... Fascinating to compare room by room with the 1935 photos linked by jtkirkland. A tricky bit of carpentryOne thing that catches my eye is how the 4 large, square pillars become more narrow at the top, giving an illusion of greater height. Here's a view from the 2nd floor. (The Gallery, Dogs, Kids, M.P. Wolcott, Small Towns)
Pair of Sixes: 1919
Washington, D.C., 1919. "Snelling Motor Co., interior." Two used American Sixes. National Photo Company Collection glass ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 12:00am -

Washington, D.C., 1919. "Snelling Motor Co., interior." Two used American Sixes. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Early MarketingNot sure showcasing pans under the cars catching leaked oil is the best marketing strategy. No drips=no oilThese early automobiles all dribbled a bit. The only time they don't drip is if they don't have any oil in them. American SixA good example of the "assembled cars" that were popular during this era -- engine and other components purchased from various suppliers and put together in Plainfield, New Jersey. The racecar driver Louis Chevrolet was billed as the firm's chief engineer. The parent company, American Motors, had no connection to the American Motors formed in the 1950s. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Star Drug: 1946
... "Star Drug, business on Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, New York. Interior to rear. Jose A. Fernandez, client." Jergens Lotion, just 79 cents a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/25/2015 - 11:51am -

Jan. 16, 1946. "Star Drug, business on Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, New York. Interior to rear. Jose A. Fernandez, client." Jergens Lotion, just 79 cents a (glass) bottle. Large-format acetate negative by Gottscho-Schleisner. View full size. What's in those drawersThose drawers behind the counter near the cash register held the condoms. Don't ask how I know -- I just do. Different times. Back wallThose bottles on the back wall suggest "potions" more than "drugs". Thank you Margaret SangerCompletely hidden and never mentioned was standard practice in making rubber goods (condoms) or womb supporters (diaphragms) available, as it was illegal to distribute any form of contraceptive until 1965 when the Supreme Court struck down the Comstock Law of 1873. [It was illegal in Connecticut, not New York. - Dave] Check Out"Check Out" the size of that cash register on the right. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Arcade Pants Parlors: 1900
... Ohio, circa 1900. "The Arcade Building, Superior Avenue." (Interior view here .) Ground-floor tenants include the Hat Box, Arcade Pants ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/03/2017 - 9:28am -

Cleveland, Ohio, circa 1900. "The Arcade Building, Superior Avenue." (Interior view here.) Ground-floor tenants include the Hat Box, Arcade Pants Parlors and, next door, a Misfit Clothing Parlor (a.k.a. Fitwell Clothing) and Chisholm's Boot Shop. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Cleveland's Cable CarsIf you look closely you can see there are streetcar trolley wires erected over cable car tracks. By 1890 electric streetcars were becoming the standard for urban transit, but in Cleveland in that year cable car service started on two streets: Superior and Payne. The cable service lasted only ten years, and electric streetcars started running on Superior at the time of this photograph. There is more information about Cleveland's cable cars and transit history here. Wut?"Fitwell Clothing" on the sign and "Misfit Clothing" on the awning; any idea what that's about? [In the clothing trade of the time, "misfit clothing parlor" was a common appellation for a store or portion of a store that sold what we would today call "irregulars." -tterrace] Thank'ee kindly! The Arcade Building todayThe Arcade Building is now a Hyatt Regency hotel. Here is a modern glamour photo from Hyatt. (The Gallery, Cleveland, Stores & Markets)
Binary Banking: 1905
... section of this area that clearly shows the location and interior floor plan of the two banks in the structure. Bank Alley to the left ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/16/2016 - 3:19pm -

Cincinnati circa 1905. "Lafayette and Franklin Banks, Third Street." With a painter and a window-washer in supporting roles. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Located at 124 East Third StreetAn old Cincinnati City Directory lists the Franklin Bank at 124 E. Third St. Just about everything on Third Street has been replaced with new modern buildings. Here is an old map section of this area that clearly shows the location and interior floor plan of the two banks in the structure. Bank Alley to the left of the bank appears to have been renamed "Berning (Bank) Alley" on the map and the alley still exists on Google maps today and it is now called Berning Place. Everything shown from Berning Alley to the corner of 3rd and Main is now a parking garage. Perilous Window Washer & The Banking ChickenBefore anyone complains that there is no window washer, I had to look long and hard to find him. He is death-defyingly way up in the top of the picture. Also, I'm sure it's not a chicken in the middle of downtown Cincinnati but, that sure looks like one at the bank's door. Perhaps she puts all her eggs in one bank. [I think the "chicken" is a boot jack. -tterrace] How fascinatingthat there was a scenery painting studio in the second floor of the bank building, with all that great daylight from the glass dome. TTerrace, I think that the "chicken" is actually a boot scraper, to get mud and horse dookey off before going indoors. A boot jack is to help remove your boot from your foot. [You're probably right. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Cincinnati Photos, DPC)
The Old Woman: 1935
October 1935. "Interior of a home of prospective resettlement client. Brown County, Indiana." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 12:40pm -

October 1935. "Interior of a home of prospective resettlement client. Brown County, Indiana." The old woman seen with her husband in an earlier post today. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Theodor Jung for the FSA. Compositional MasterpieceIn a style reminscent of Walker Evans. The foreground still-life and the woman's Whistler's-Mother profile are brilliant. She is fading along with her possessions into the past. (The Gallery, Great Depression, Rural America, Theodor Jung)
Washington Masonic Memorial: 1923
... write-up about the temple (complete with photos of the interior)on the "Roadside America" website at: ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2013 - 3:09am -

Nov. 1, 1923. "Dedication, George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia." In a year that was probably the zenith of Freemasonry in the United States, and saw a giant national Masonic gathering in the capital, President Coolidge on this day used a silver trowel to spread mortar for the laying of the cornerstone of what is today one of metro Washington's best known traffic landmarks. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. The Finished ProductAttached is a view of the finished product, taken from the same general vantage point. As another poster very correctly noted, this temple is "a bit weird" to a non-Mason. There's a great write-up about the temple (complete with photos of the interior)on the "Roadside America" website at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/13718 Masonic ViewNinety years later, the memorial is a neat (if a bit weird to a non-Mason) place to visit. I went there in January with locals who'd never set foot in the place despite having spent the last thirty years in DC. Comparing the background views, the train station is all but unchanged (though now supplemented with the larger Metro station behind it), but I can't match a single structure in Old Town between the old image and my new one. Not even the church steeples (which I'd expect to have been there in 1923). Shuter's Hill - Fort EllsworthIt was occupied in Oct 1861 by the 44th NY Reg't, which was commanded by Col Elmer Ellsworth, the first Union officer to be killed in the war when he was shot by a hotel proprietor after taking down the Confederate national flag from the hotel roof. The photo looks east toward Alexandria and the Potomac river. King Street is at the center. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Catalina Island: 1965
... familiar. Just read about one for sale a month ago. Nice interior shots in a couple of links: ... 
 
Posted by rsyung - 08/17/2015 - 10:07am -

My sister and me, riding away on rental bikes on California's Catalina Island in June 1965. Kodachrome slide by Dad. View full size. Paper thin metalI had a Multipla in the late 70s. Like the Tardis it was somehow bigger on the inside than it was on the outside. Alas it was made of paper thin metal and once the bottoms of the doors had rusted they became extra bendy allowing the front doors to pop open even easier. Security? Just prise the door handle off the front door and open the lock with a pair of pliers. They are of course now collector's items (because most have completely rusted away). My Sister and MeSubjects of non-finite verbs, verbs not carrying tense (riding), take a subject in the objective case. The rule comes down from Latin indirect statement, probably. Fiat 600 MultiplaProduced from 1956 to 1966. Judging by the taillight design and rsyung's year, I'd venture to say this is a '56. In the photo below, in the side views, the front looks like the back and vice versa. And what about that crazy door arrangement! Top speed of 57 mph, 0-50 in 43 seconds (ahem), and 32 miles to the gallon. Sat 6 people on a 79" wheelbase. And we thought Chrysler invented the minivan. MultiplaThese things were rare even in the brief period when the 500 and 600 sedans flourished...the whole lot quickly vanished from American roads due to their pathetic spare parts supply here. There was one in my high school's parking lot, owned by identical twins who lived in the boondocks and carpooled a full load of people from their neighborhood. With five or six teenagers aboard, the vehicle presented an oddly military appearance...there was no alternative to all hands sitting rigidly upright, like a half-track load of Wehrmacht. Whoever got to sit with the spare tire could hardly walk on debarkation. As an incidental feature, the car gave them numerous days off; the lifespan of its drive axles seemed to be about two weeks. More 600I thought the vehicle looked familiar. Just read about one for sale a month ago. Nice interior shots in a couple of links: http://bringatrailer.com/2015/07/10/original-taxi-equipment-1960-fiat-60... http://bringatrailer.com/2011/10/11/bring-your-amici-1958-fiat-600-multi... Bring a FiatBeen visiting this site for years but never created a login until I saw links to Bring a Trailer. Been on that site for years and it is the only reason the first thing I noticed in this pic is the Fiat. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Near Belle Glade: 1939
... Keys built in the 1920s, and they had a clerestory and the interior of the buildings without air conditioning were surprisingly ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/26/2021 - 5:20pm -

January 1939. "Migratory laborers' camp. Single-room cabin costs $2.50, double room $4 per week. Water hauled, 55 cents for 55-gallon tank. Toilet for about 150 people. Near Belle Glade, Florida." Photo by Marion Post Wolcott, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Shed ToppersAre the angular features on the roof a lighting and ventilation feature like a clerestory? I have been to the old railroad camp buildings on Pigeon Key in the Florida Keys built in the 1920s, and they had a clerestory and the interior of the buildings without air conditioning were surprisingly comfortable. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Florida, Kids, M.P. Wolcott)
X-Troop: 1865
1865. "Petersburg, Virginia. Interior view of Fort Sedgwick." This scout's Indian name: Sitting Duck. Wet ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/08/2014 - 3:39pm -

1865. "Petersburg, Virginia. Interior view of Fort Sedgwick." This scout's Indian name: Sitting Duck. Wet plate glass negative. View full size. If This Were Star Trek..............he'd be wearing a red shirt. Trench warfare and mobilization of troops by rail.The two great "contributions" of the Civil War to modern warfare. (The Gallery, Civil War)
Team Players: 1937
... NFL team to integrate, after having been warned by Sec. of Interior Udall to hire black players or face retribution. (The Gallery, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/10/2013 - 10:02am -

Sept. 11, 1937. Washington, D.C. "George Marshall, owner of the Washington Redskins, talks it over with some of his players, left to right: Wayne Millner, tackle, end; Charlie Malone, end; Vic Carroll, tackle; George Marshall and Bill Young, tackle; Ed Michaels, guard; Jim Garber, tackle." View full size. They looked different thenSo did soldiers and other such icons of manliness. More human and less machine. Slim PickinsPick any three of those guys and you would have one modern NFL lineman Lucky GeorgeGeorge Marshall made it big in the laundry business, then bought the Redskins - but perhaps his greatest accomplishment was being the long time (off&on) lover of silent film icon Louise Brooks - probably one of the most beautiful, talented, and interesting women of the 20th century. Owner MarshallGeorge did a great job of keeping the Redskins segregated. In 1962 they became the last NFL team to integrate, after having been warned by Sec. of Interior Udall to hire black players or face retribution. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Sports)
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