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Greene County: 1941
... View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Dignity! I saw scenes like this in the late 40s, after the war, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 9:38pm -

May 1941. Going to town on a Saturday afternoon in Greene County, Georgia. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. Dignity!I saw scenes like this in the late 40s, after the war, in North and South Carolina. No seat belts; no air bags; no back rest, although the two ladies do appear to be sitting on a coat for a bit of cushioning. See the piece of wood sticking out just above the rear axle? It's a place to hang a lantern at night. Going to TownThis is one of 70 photographs in the "Bound for Glory" exhibit now showing at The Grace Museum in Abilene TX. The exhibit depicts color photographs taken during the years 1940-44 during a government-sponsored project to document in pictures Americsn urban life in the post-Depression era. It was a fantastic exhibit! Will be available here through mid-January. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Rural America)
Routing the Rails: 1943
... Yard, Chicago, Ill." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Past blasting ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/15/2016 - 11:40pm -

April 1943. "Switchman throwing a switch at the Chicago & North Western RR's Proviso Yard, Chicago, Ill." 4x5 inch Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Past blastingOldtimers here will fondly recall one of the earliest Shorpy conundrums: The Mystery of the Yellow Rails. Pants cuffsNotice that the Switchman has his pants cuffs bound up in 'leggings' or taped at the top of his boots to keep him from tripping or catching his cuffs on protruding metal parts on the cars or other equipment he comes into contact with. Yellow railsThe yellow paint indicated rails unsafe due to excessive separation under load: "Areas marked with only white paint are less serious and are intended to flag the defect for further inspection within 30 days. Places marked with yellow paint or both white and yellow paint indicate serious gauging problems that need immediate corrective action. As stated earlier, the standard American track gauge is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. The white paint marks indicate that the gauge of the track under load is up to 4 feet, 10 inches, while the yellow paint designates loaded track gauge that exceeds 4 feet, 11 inches, or 2.5 inches wider than normal. Track this wide presents a high risk of derailment. ..." from: https://books.google.com/books?id=6zB-co8PLiYC&lpg=PA35&ots=yvvKc_oL0X&q... (copyright respected - above quoted as fair use) (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Chicago, Jack Delano, Railroads)
On the Waterfront: 1941
... View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. The Boat Looks like they're careening the boat at pierside. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 12:03pm -

December 1941. Along the waterfront of Christiansted, Saint Croix, in the Virgin Islands. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano. The BoatLooks like they're careening the boat at pierside. That's when they expose the hull by leaning it to one side to clear it of marine growth. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Boats & Bridges, Jack Delano)
Drugstore Dishes: 1941
... Investment Pharmacy, Washington, D.C." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Cunning ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/16/2019 - 6:39pm -

July 1941. "Negro dishwasher. Investment Pharmacy, Washington, D.C." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Cunning creamersWhen my sister and I were nine or ten years old, in the '60s, our mother worked at Wolfie's in Fort Lauderdale. A time or two we waited after school for her shift to end, and got to sit in a booth and help fill the little individual coffee creamers just like the ones this young man is washing. As I recall they were clear glass instead of porcelain, but it was their heft, which belied the tiny size, that I loved. SunkI’m not sure which is dirtier, the sink or the dishes. I joined the Navy to see the World But upon reporting to my first duty station in the middle of the desert (NOTS China Lake, CA) this was my first job in the Navy. Thankfully there was only one way to go after this ... up. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Jack Delano, Kitchens etc.)
Atlanta Empress: 1941
... County, Georgia." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the FSA. View full size. What does she see? Oh, I want to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/07/2018 - 12:39pm -

April 1941. "Mrs. Lemuel Smith, wife of Farm Security Administration borrower, preparing the afternoon meal on her farm in Carroll County, Georgia." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the FSA. View full size. What does she see?Oh, I want to hug this child! Little AngelAt least that is what she looks like. That little girl's expression, the lighting by the photographer -- the whole scene could have been painted by Norman Rockwell. When's Lunch?Homemade biscuits keeping warm on the stove and percolated coffee? It also looks like she might be whipping up some scrambled eggs in that skillet, which sounds pretty good too! Also-that little one looks positively angelic! What a great photo. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Kids, Kitchens etc.)
Family History: 1941
... Conservation Corps camp." Medium format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Eyes have it No doubt about the relation. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/21/2019 - 6:24pm -

November 1941. "Mrs. Edgar Jones and her son, Farm Security Administration clients near Woodville, Georgia. Her son works at the Civilian Conservation Corps camp." Medium format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Eyes have itNo doubt about the relation. Same eyes, nose bridge and blank stare. I wonder what kind of things made these two laugh. Now there's something you don't see every dayA tendentious matchbox. Everything old is new again.What goes around, comes around. People are copying the look of their walls by putting shiplap siding in their homes again. In their case it's boxcar siding applied shiplap style. Family photos and the prized Seth Thomas -type clock shares pride of place on the mantle with other life necessities. The vases might have been a wedding gift. Note also the photo to the right of the chimney. A final momento of a deceased family member in the casket in the parlor. Wonder if the netting around the casket was to keep flies off the body a practical necessity in the south. Hope that the magazines nailed to the left side of the chimney doesn't mean that there's a chamber pot in the vicinity. Talky productsThe matchbox reminded me of a box of toothpicks I once saw in a Publix. As I recall, on the back of the box was a blunt statement to the effect that these toothpicks were not a product of ill-treated foreign labor but were proudly made in the U.S.A. by happy, well-paid folks. It's been 50 years, so I won't swear I remember that correctly. More vivid in my memory, from the same shopping trip, is seeing a fresh whole coconut wrapped in a flyer produced by Jay Ward, of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame. It described the many inventive things one could do with a whole fresh coconut. Hilarious! I bought the coconut for the wrapper, and left the toothpicks on the shelf. They were just too indignant for me. Triple Crossing?Looks like there may be a postcard view of Richmond's railroad landmark Triple Crossing in the lower right corner of the multi-picture frame. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crossing The Eternal FlameInteresting things to look at in this one. The kerosene lamp stands out to me. Seems odd it would be lit at 3:37pm or is it a tribute to the funeral photo next to it? Gibson GirlsSurprised to see that Charles Dana Gibson's 1903 "The Weaker Sex" has evaded comment. You might not see it every day, but it does get around. Tendentious? moreThe USA also had a prohibition on import on white phosphorus matches during this time frame. Apparently import/export wars are not a new thing. Beautiful ClockMade by Sessions: Two thingsTwo things that stand out to me is the Diamond Matches the kind I still buy today. Hard to believe they are still in business and a post mortem photo next to the oil lamp. RepurposedYou can tell that the mantle mantel shelf is an old door because of the notches for hinges. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Rural America)
Robert Hill: 1943
... and Santa Fe Railroad." Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Wonderful portrait ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/25/2009 - 1:57am -

March 1943. "Topeka, Kansas. Robert L. Hill, steel car repairer and rivet driver, at the car shops of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad." Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Wonderful portraitI'd echo allie's sentiments. Mr. Hill's handsome, dignified face and bearing reveal something about his character, at a time when many of his countrymen regarded him as a second-class citizen. I hope this image has been copied to a more stable and durable medium, for posterity, than the nitrate it was captured on. [These images have all been copied and preserved by digitization. - Dave] CastingSamuel L. Jackson will play him in the movie. What a portrait!I hope Mr. Hill's grandchildren have copy of this photograph. It is such a beautiful image of this gentleman. My grandfather was a welder, but passed away before I was born. The only photos I have of him are of a frail old man. I would love a photo of him in his prime, like this one. RivetingI love this man's face. It's a face of courage and a proud dignity. I would have liked to have known him. Robert L. Hillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_L._Hill Same name, born 1892 in Arkansas, fled to Kansas and worked in a meat plant in Topeka..... Could this be Robert Jr.? Heck, if he is 51 this is Robert Sr.! Robert Hill -- 1940 US CensusRobert Hill, born about 1900 in Arkansas, was married to a Mattie (born about 1903, in Arkansas). Five children, two boys named Wilson (age 17, born in Kansas) and Earl (13, born in Kansas), and two daughters, Viola (age 21, born Arkansas), and Georgia (age 19, born in Kansas). There's an infant named Winifred, age 2 months, listed in the household. Her relationship is not stated, but as she's listed directly under Viola, it's probably her daughter, making her Robert's granddaughter. They lived at 608 East 18th Street in Topeka, and owned their own home (value $1,200). Robert earned $1,728 in 1939 ($28,000-$29,000 adjusted for inflation to 2013 dollars), making him by far the best paid man on his census page. Employer is listed as the Santa Fe Railroad, of course, his occupation "Machine Labor". (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Charlton Street: 1941
... Charlton Street, Savannah, Georgia." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/23/2018 - 3:36pm -

April 1941. "Row of houses on East Charlton Street, Savannah, Georgia." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still looking good Curb AppealAll I can say is WOW! A truly beautiful revival. That Google Street View provides a powerful argument for renovating rather than razing neighborhoods. Thanks for posting. It had better look goodEstimated value of this address is $790,000. Beautiful property, though, and I'd bet we're not the only ones glad it was spared from the wrecking ball. One other interesting thing about this district is that it indicates that the area is not "hollowed out" in the way that older neighborhoods in Detroit, Gary, and Chicago are. In those cities, you see tons of vacant lots where houses ought to be; it would be interesting to learn that didn't happen in Savannah. [Savannah, like Charleston and New Orleans, is rather famously well-preserved. - Dave] (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Savannah)
A Bird in the Pan: 1943
... a hill of beans, and thou. Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Thought ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/22/2017 - 1:40pm -

January 1943. "Chicago, Illinois. In the kitchen of one of the Fred Harvey restaurants at Union Station." A tray of turkeys, a hill of beans, and thou. Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Thought bubblesThey're fashioned out of copper. Aluminium, I believeEither way, I'd guess those pans are the survivors of a larger "stash", much of which made trips over Berlin and Tokyo. Look how battered a lot of them are, and the insides as well. They've been well used and well loved. I would bet those cooks knew their business--they had to compete both with the excellent cooks on dining cars, and also the excellent restaurants train passengers knew were in the Loop. Sad to say, Union Station is all fast food now. It's still a beautiful building--my wife and I have gone there a few times, including on our honeymoon--but it's a shell of what it used to be. (The Gallery, Chicago, Eateries & Bars, Jack Delano, Kitchens etc.)
I Enjoy Being a Girl: 1941
... kitchen near Burlington, Vermont." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Is it Itt? ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/29/2019 - 10:30am -

August 1941. "Scene in farmhouse kitchen near Burlington, Vermont." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Is it Itt?I'm not sure what's lurking in the shadows behind the subjects -- plant, animal, vegetable, mineral, or Cousin Itt -- but whatever it is, it's out of control. We had milk glasses like that But my mom smoked Pall Malls and Lucky Strikes. Camels were too strong, she would say. Paper MoonThe haircut and era brings to mind the proverbial scene left on the cutting room floor of a younger sister of Tatum O'Neal in "Paper Moon". (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Kids)
Stares & Stripes: 1941
... near Fort Bragg, North Carolina." Acetate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Santa's elf What in the world kind of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/10/2018 - 12:29pm -

March 1941. "Part of the exhibit of the traveling show 'crime museum' near Fort Bragg, North Carolina." Acetate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Santa's elfWhat in the world kind of pants is that woman wearing? Meager EntertainmentWe often refer to the "good old days" as being a kinder, simpler time. It was also a meager time in almost every aspect of life. Crazy LeggingsThose are palazzo pants. The style was worn by a few trend-setting actresses in the 1920s through 1940s, then resurfaced as a major trend in the '60s. Wearing them is a bit like wearing two tents around your legs. (The Gallery, Bizarre, Jack Delano)
Fanny Parrott: 1941
... Siloam, Greene County, Georgia." Medium format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Calendars indicate 1943 The insurance ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/11/2018 - 9:58pm -

May 1941. "Mrs. Fanny Parrott, wife of former slave near Siloam, Greene County, Georgia." Medium format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. Calendars indicate 1943The insurance calendar appears to be dated 1943 and the Watkins calendar indicates January 1st is a Friday which is 1943. [The insurance calendar is for February 1940. The Watkins calendar is from 1937. And on the left we have a 1941 almanac. - Dave] Watkins productsI see she has a Watkins calendar. Watkins Products (seasonings and extracts, soaps and detergents, cough and cold remedies, liniment, etc.) were sold by traveling salesmen. I can remember the Watkins man stopping by my grandparents' house in East Texas, when I was spending summers there in the 1960s. Founded in 1868, Watkins is still around today. Stand CorrectedThe zoom in on the calendar really helped. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Portraits)
Night Train: 1943
... & Santa Fe yard at night." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. 2-10-2 "Santa Fe Type" The Santa ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/07/2013 - 3:46pm -

March 1943. "Barstow, California. A view of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe yard at night." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano. View full size. 2-10-2 "Santa Fe Type"The Santa Fe steam locomotive 1691 in the photo, is one of the earliest examples of a locomotive type which was named after the railroad. They descend from the 2-10-0 "Decapod" type, to which the Santa Fe added a one axle "trailing truck" under the cab in 1903, for better tracking on the steep and curvy Raton Pass grade in Colorado and New Mexico. This begot one of the most popular wheel arrangements in America for heavy freight service. Maybe We'll Steam AgainThere's a group up at the University of Minnesota working with some 501c3 organization refitting a Baldwin to run on Biomass. They think they can get better emissions, efficiency, and power than diesel once they get it right. Even got themselves a website: http://www.csrail.org/. It would be awfully neat if we could see these kinds of things again! That Odd TenderThat slopeback tender behind the first loco was uniquely used on the Santa Fe, and was not original equipment on that particular engine. It came originally attached to one of the 2-10-10-2 mallets used to push trains over Cajon Pass. Built early in the century, they were the world's largest locomotives in their day, yet proved so impractical and labor intensive that they were short lived, like most behemoth locomotives produced in that era. They were scrapped in the 1930's, and MAY have been (I don't have my Santa Fe books handy, so don't quote me on it) converted into two 2-10-0 types. Engines died, but tenders, especially practical designs like the slopeback, lived on until the very end of steam. Whale, not slopeThat type of tender was known on the Santa Fe as a whaleback. Slopeback tenders were typically used with switch engines not road power - though, as always, there were exceptions. The biggest problems Santa Fe had with the 2-10-10-2s were with their jointed boilers. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Crossing Guard: 1943
... Seligman, Arizona, and Needles, California." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. How in the world can you tell this is a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/12/2014 - 5:05pm -

March 1943. "Topock, Arizona (vicinity). Military sentry stationed at a bridge over the Colorado River along the Santa Fe Railroad between Seligman, Arizona, and Needles, California." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. How in the worldcan you tell this is a shotgun? What software are you using to blow up this picture? [Distinctive profile. -tterrace] He Means BusinessSomething you don't often see in pictures. The guard is armed with a pump shotgun, probably either a Model 1897 or a Model 12. Most often you'll see soldiers on guard duty armed with an M1 or occasionally with M1903. There may have been other guards here armed with rifles to deter saboteurs at a distance, but this guy is ready for close-in defense. Sentry duty shotgunI think the guard is armed with a pump action shotgun. I've read that shotguns were often used on various guard and protection details during the war. Red Rock BridgeThis is Santa Fe's Red Rock Bridge, completed in 1890, and due to be replaced with a new bridge just two years after this photo was made. This then became the US 66 bridge for another 20 years. More here. Hot DutyThe last time I was in Needles, the temerature was 119 degrees. I felt like I was going to die walking between my air conditioned car and the air conditioned gas station. This is not the place where you want to be standing outside in battle fatigues and a steel helmet. This poor soldier may have screwed up somewhere else in order to draw this grueling duty. 6 Rails Across the BridgeWhy 6 rails across the bridge? Gantlet track. There is double track on each side of the bridge, which was built when a single track was sufficient for the traffic on the line. Traffic increased to where it became necessary to double track the line, but as a cost savings the bridge, only wide enough for a single track, was retained. Rather than put switches at each end of the single track segment, the bridge was laid with gantlet track. The two rails of each of the tracks for each direction were merged together about 6" apart. Counting from the left, the first and fifth rails are for trains in the approaching direction. The second and sixth for trains moving away from the photographer (as in, the caboose seen beyond the bridge.) The two center rails are guard rails, as a safety measure common on all bridges in case of derailment. My Two PelletsCall me a scatterhead, but that barrel looks too thin to be a scattergun barrel. In other words, it's hard to gauge but it seems too thin to be a shotgun barrel. AFAIK sentry duty shotguns in WWII were 12 gauge. That barrel looks no bigger than a .410, if that. I think I figured it outIt's a .30 cal. Springfield shotgun. Light And DistanceI'm no expert in photography, but I'd say the reason the barrel looks so thin is because of the effect of light, background and distance on a cylindrical surface. I've seen this before on items much closer. By the way, the barrel has been shortened to 18 to 20 inches, just right for up close shooting. I don't know if this was factory done or done by an armorer in the field. After looking at it more, I'm also not sure it's a Model 12 or a '97. The forearm looks a little fat for those. Could be a Mossberg. [Here's a closeup. -tterrace] Three pumpsI can't find a record of any Mossberg shotgun being used by the US military in WW II, so the choices are: Winchester M1897, Winchester M12, Remington M31 The picture (on screen, at least) is too bad to tell for certain. If I had to guess I'd say it was the 1897. If it's possible to see the receiver and grip on a high quality print, one can tell for certain. The M1897 has an exposed hammer and a flatter, longer grip section than the M12 between the receiver and the top of the stock. The M12 and M31 are easy to tell apart. The Browning Auto 5 was also used, but the weapon in the picture is definitely not one of those. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Fayetteville: 1941
... start coming out at Fort Bragg." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Merry ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/25/2018 - 11:40am -

March 1941. "Traffic on the main street of Fayetteville, North Carolina at about five o'clock, when the workers start coming out at Fort Bragg." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Merry ChristmasChristmas won't be Christmas without another Dickey snap in front of the tree but I guess we'll muddle through somehow. A very merry Christmas to Shorpy and all the Shorpy-ites! I look forward to another year of excellent pictures and even more excellent comments. US 15 ASpecial routes of U.S. Route 15: U.S. Route 15 Alterboro–Creedmoor alternate route Existed 1936–1957 Established in 1936 as a renumbering of U.S. Route 401, from the South Carolina state line to Creedmoor, going through the cities of Laurinburg, Raeford, Fayetteville, Lillington, and Raleigh. In 1950, South Carolina discontinued the US 15A concurrency with US 15, but was not till 1953 when North Carolina followed and moved US 15A's southern terminus in Laurinburg. In 1957, US 15A was renumbered back to US 401. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Jack Delano, Stores & Markets)
Cornerman: 1943
... Group relaxing in his hutment." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. "Squared ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/04/2016 - 7:02pm -

July 1943. Greenville, South Carolina. "Air Service Command. Enlisted man of the 25th Service Group relaxing in his hutment." Medium-format negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. "Squared Away"That young Airman has his corner of the hut neat & tidy, or as they say in the Military "squared away". One thing that surprises me is that he appears to have 4 pairs of shoes. I wouldn't have thought they would have had that many pair in those days. America's "Greatest Generation", not many of them left these days. God bless them all. Two WordsPalmetto Bugs. My dad was stationed in the South at one point during WWII - the Palmetto Bugs were legendary. About Those ShoesOur airman is wearing a pair of Brogans, an ankle high boot that was regular issue to Army personnel at the time. He also has a standard pair of boots under his bunk on the left, along with a standard pair of Army issue low quarter shoes (on the right). In the middle is a pair of shoes only Air Corps members were allowed to wear, wing tips! Like all low quarter shoes, they were only worn with the Class A uniform or any other off post, non-combat uniform combination. Palmetto bugs?The south's euphemism for giant freaking cockroaches, and plenty of them! The windowsI find the configuration of the two open windows very intriguing, never having seen this kind of window opening before. I must presume that the slot & pin arrangement allows the window to be the most fully open for maximum airflow yet still giving some protection from unexpected rain (which frequently falls at night when cooler airs are more commonplace) allowing our airman to sleep as peacefully as possible. Very nice, great photo. BTW - are those two little glue pots on the shelf? [I think you're right. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Jack Delano, WW2)
Cats and Dolls: 1940
... FSA clients." Farm Security Administration photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Halloween in December I love the old black ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/16/2018 - 11:55am -

Dec. 1940. Portsmouth, Rhode Island. "Mrs. Botello and her sister, Portuguese FSA clients." Farm Security Administration photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Halloween in DecemberI love the old black cat head Halloween decorations on the mantle. I have a reproduction of one very similar to them on my own mantle! [That ledge over your fireplace is a mantel, not a "mantle." - Dave] Correct name?Since they are Portuguese, the surname is most likely Botelho. Botello or Botero?Could have sworn these were the original Botero Sisters! (The Gallery, Cats, Jack Delano, Kids)
Troop Train: 1943
... Topeka & Santa Fe between Belen and Gallup." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Long & ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/17/2014 - 6:55am -

March 1943. "Grants, New Mexico. Passing a troop train stopping for coal and water on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe between Belen and Gallup." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Long & grubby!I tried to count the number of cars, but I got to about 20 and gave up. That's a lot of train! I can't tell, but these might be mostly "heavy-weight" cars with 6 wheel trucks. I wonder, if they were double headed with 2 steam locomotives on the head end? These passenger cars were kept busy. There would have been a lot troops going in both directions; east to the European Theater and west to the Pacific Theater. I would imagine the cars arrived, were quickly cleaned and turned around with another load of military personnel in the other direction. Just about all troops and materiel moved by rail in WWII. Thanks to Jack Delano for another great railroad photo! Hell on WheelsBy all historical accounts, Troop Trains were hell on wheels for the soldiers inside them. The trains were typically packed to the gills with soldiers, and more often than not lacked air conditioning. Railroads pressed their older heavy-weight and light-weight stock into service for the soldiers, while the more modern streamlined rolling stock was used for passengers. To add insult to injury, so to speak, soldiers were flat out forbidden from leaving the trains until they reached their final destination. One account comes to mind, when FDR's son (while en route to a troop transport) and his train came to a stop outside Toccoa Georgia, while on the Central of Georgia Railway. The train needed to stop for a crew change, as well as to refill the water tank on the tender, and take on coal. What's more, the train had to wait for a following passenger train to overtake it. (Troop trains were considered "second class" trains, with passengers being "first class.") Toccoa's history museum recounts testimony from citizens that the train sat in the sweltering Georgia heat for close to three hours while the locomotive was serviced, and the passenger train overtook it. During that time, armed guards at the doors prevented anyone from leaving, or getting aboard. The soldiers themselves traded what little money they had to passengers out the windows, for sundry items like coca-colas, and water. This however was discouraged, with guards often shooing away the civilians. The civilians proved smarter than the guards might have expected, with groups taking up positions on either side of the train, so while one group might be run off, the second group continued on business as usual. Eventually, the guards themselves simply gave up, and allowed the trading to continue. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads, WW2)
Dr. Smock: 1941
... Union Point, Greene County, Georgia." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Medical ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/12/2018 - 11:09pm -

June 1941. "The V.D. clinic in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Medical procedureIs she drawing an amniotic fluid sample? I'm just curious about what may be going on. The bum not the bellyShe appears to be administering an intramuscular antibiotic to the -ahem- gluteal muscles, the rest of which are tastefully draped for modesty. Minutes with Venus, years with mercury.Penicillin was still some years off, and this was most likely treatment with an arsenical compound. Shots had to be given weekly for several months. The treatment stopped the spread of infectious syphilis but did not prevent late syphilis. The arsenicals were an improvement over the earlier mercury treatment, but still could have severe side-effects. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Medicine)
Freedom: 1941
... boy in Freedom, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Way back ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/23/2018 - 10:10am -

January 1941. "Little boy in Freedom, Pennsylvania." Medium format negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Way back when ...... there was such a thing as innocence in children above the age of six. What a happy (if a tad impish) smile this young man had, despite what must have been difficult economic circumstances. I hope he had a life as joyous as his countenance on this winter day. Breathe deep the gathering gloomJunior looks a little squirrelly from breathing those factory fumes. Infectious smileI have looked at this photo multiple times and am always struck by the 'happy go lucky' attitude the young man seems to have. Now I realize why I keep coming back to it. The pose and smile and general demeanor have Gene Kelly and Singin' in the Rain playing in my old head bone. In Technicolor. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Kids)
Where I'm Coming From: 1943
... en route to Clinton. Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Romance of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/24/2017 - 6:32pm -

January 1943. "Freight train operations on the Chicago and North Western Railroad between Chicago and Clinton, Iowa." Somewhere in Illinois between Cortland and Malta, en route to Clinton. Medium-format nitrate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Romance of the RailsWhat I wouldn't give for a ride in the caboose. BarnspottingI wonder if that's the Nadig Family Farm over there on the right? Small townsTrouble with these small towns is that they all look the same, and I live right in the area where this was taken. My guess is that we see Creston in the background. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Sign of the Cross: 1940
... Camden, North Carolina." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pie the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/30/2021 - 1:23pm -

July 1940. "Negroes from Florida and Georgia who travel by car and truck, following the potato crop northward. Migratory agricultural worker has his supper (a nickel pie and a glass of milk) at the railroad crossing at Camden, North Carolina." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pie the wayThe young fellow in the foreground looks as if he's posing for an advertisement. His pose, his face, the pie and the milk - - they combine to look as if they are tempting the viewer to indulge, although I'm unsure if the ad would be for milk or pie. By the way, that's a generous slice of pie for a nickel. [A "nickel pie" is an entire small pie, not a slice. - Dave] Locomotive TireThat heavy ring protecting the crossing signal is a worn out steam locomotive tire. Locomotive tires were heated with a circular gas burner to expand them, then shrunk onto the cast driver center. They tended to wear to a hollow tread contour rather than the correct slightly conical surface, which should have a specific fillet radius to the flange. Every time a locomotive spun its wheels, the tires were wearing out of contour. The tires could be turned a couple times, like brake disks or brake drums, but then were discarded to be melted down. This one escaped the furnace, and makes a nice seat, although usually too hot or too cold. Also interesting how little grade crossing signals have changed in 81 years. Model railroaders, take note! (The Gallery, Agriculture, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Philly Up: 1943
... Company service stations in Philadelphia." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Eveready Dodge ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/30/2017 - 5:03pm -

June 1943. "Miss Ruth Gusick, formerly a clerk in a drugstore, now works as a garage attendant at one of the Atlantic Refining Company service stations in Philadelphia." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Eveready Dodge Note the Paper Tag tucked under the hood for "Eveready Prestone Anti-Freeze." I recall seeing tags like this letting you know that the car had "Permanent" antifreeze and not alcohol that had to be removed seasonally. Based on the side rail chrome, it's a 1940. Dodgethat ram! From the visible trim looks like a '40. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Jack Delano, Philadelphia)
The Hills Have Holes: 1940
... ovens in background." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Left twix ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/31/2018 - 3:35pm -

September 1940. "House in near-deserted town of Tyler, Pennsylvania, showing abandoned coke ovens in background." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Left twix or right twixThe two chimneys lead me to believe this house is a "double" or "duplex" as we call them in the Midwest. Still trying to decide "twix" which side is optimum to live on. TodayThis blog post was from someone who visited the site. Interesting contrast between then and now. http://coalandcoke.blogspot.com/2015/01/tyler-coke-works-tyler-pa.html (The Gallery, Bizarre, Jack Delano, Mining, Small Towns)
Green: 1941
... of Cayey." Medium format Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. (The Gallery, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/06/2019 - 11:35am -

December 1941. "Cultivating tobacco at the Puerto Rico Reconstruction Administration experimental area, vicinity of Cayey." Medium format Kodachrome transparency by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Agriculture, Jack Delano, Puerto Rico)
Cloud Mountain: 1943
... where the railroad gets its rock for ballast." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Belen Harvey House ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/15/2013 - 8:14am -

March 1943. "Coming out of the mountains on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe between Vaughn and Belen, New Mexico, into the Rio Grande River Valley. In the distance is a quarry on the mountainside where the railroad gets its rock for ballast." Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Belen Harvey HouseBack up the track in Belen the ATSF depot still stands and is used by BNSF and Amtrak (though that segment is in danger of losing Amtrak service). Right next door is a Harvey House that now (thankfully is preserved as a museum). Those cattle guardswe referred to in Alberta as Texas Gates. Yep, that's what it isCattle grids similar to this are common in Australia. They stop movement of all animals, as animals won't step on something with a sharp top edge, or even a rounded top, such as pipe. Generally, about a 3" gap between the grid strips also provides a barrier, because animals are fearful of gaps where they put their feet. Grids built with spaced rail line are also used in Australia where strength is needed, such as a grid on a road used by heavy trucks. However, I've seen a grid where one of the narrow boards on the angled side section, fell down onto the grid - and 345 sheep walked out over the grid, in single file - as sheep do! Never knew about the double rail - thanks for that interesting info! Is this a cattle grid?I'm curious: I guess this wooden construction is built to hold back cattle or deer but how does it work? It looks like the iron strips make it hard for a large animal to cross, but I don't understand these wooden triangles. Wouldn't a straight fence be simpler? Can anyone shed some light on this? Inner railsThe inner set of rails over the trestle are a safety device, designed to make it less likely that train cars will overturn and plummet off the trestle in case of a derailment. The wheels on one side of a derailed car would be caught between the regular rail and the inner rail, with a bit of luck keeping the car upright. Inner rails are sometimes called Jordan rails. I'm not sure why, but presumably it is not related to the Hashemite Kingdom. Still ThereFound it. 20 miles southeast of Belen and we're looking south here. The track makes a short S-turn here and this is the middle of the S. You can see the eastbound curve up ahead. Looks single-track then but twin-tracks now. The quarry is still there but looks to have been abandoned long ago. EDIT: SouthEAST of Belen, not southwest. Sorry for any confusion! Other worldlyThis almost surreal photo showcases the mystical, mysterious side of the well-named Land of Enchantment. Cattle gateI believe we're looking at a cattle gate here. Barb-wire to either side of the tracks, barriers, and the funny looking treads on the road-bed. I've been told that cattle don't like to step on these "treads" and that's what keeps them on the other side of the gate. LocationThe bridge is the one at 34.457N 106.5038W http://binged.it/1b0hrrN Cattle guard...It appears to be a cattle guard, as I have always heard them called. They work because cattle are afraid to walk over the open grid they create. the triangles on the ends are just so the cattle don't walk around it, but it still give clearance for the train. A fence would mean the train would have to stop and open and close a gate each trip! I don't know if they work for deer or not, but rather doubt it given the deer's leaping ability. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Landscapes, Railroads)
The Gleaners: 1940
... digger on a farm near Caribou, Maine." Acetate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. At least we now know the front tractor plate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/25/2018 - 4:49pm -

October 1940. "Harvesting potatoes with a single-row tractor-drawn digger on a farm near Caribou, Maine." Acetate negative by Jack Delano. View full size. At least we now knowthe front tractor plate matches the rear, just in case the Maine Potato Police are checking. The registration is right up to date. Which I'm sure the tractor police would appreciate as well. The kid on the left with the basket appears to have wandered in from a Winslow Homer painting. Which is a nice effect. Bull GearsThis Farmall tractor, along with several others built by International Harvester, is a design that I particularly like. The rear axle high above the center axis of the wheels indicates a "bull gear" setup, where most of the gear reduction that gives the tractor it's its pulling power takes place at the end of the driveline, with a large "bull gear" driven by a small pinion gear. This design enables a relatively small engine to provide tremendous pulling power. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Jack Delano)
Down to Belen: 1943
... There is a drop of over 1600 feet in elevation." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Riding the yellow The 45 degree blade of the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/11/2013 - 4:04pm -

March 1943. "Belen, New Mexico. Going across the Rio Grande River Valley on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R.R. between Vaughn and Belen, New Mexico. There is a drop of over 1600 feet in elevation." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Riding the yellowThe 45 degree blade of the semaphore signal at the other end of the bridge is called an "Approach Signal", and means "Proceed prepared to stop at next signal." This tells the engineer of the train we are riding that we are closely following another train - sorta like seeing taillights ahead of you on the highway. Or, it may be telling us that we are going to meet another train at the next siding. Context sensitive. Still going downAs near as the Google car could get: View Larger Map (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Landscapes, Railroads)
Human Freaks: 1941
... Vermont." Next up: Boko the "Alligator Skin Boy." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. The Snow Sisters It looks like Elvira Snow ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/13/2019 - 5:20pm -

September 1941. "Freak Show at the State Fair in Rutland, Vermont." Next up: Boko the "Alligator Skin Boy." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. The Snow SistersIt looks like Elvira Snow on stage. She and her sister Jenny appeared in the film "Freaks" as "Zip and Pip," but generally performed professionally as "Pip and Flip." MicrocephalyThe name for the condition of Zip and Pip, otherwise called, less kindly, pinheads. The condition usually includes a smaller than average head, facial malformations, intellectual disability, and impaired speech. Why is there a woman tied to a crucifix? Seriously what the heck is going on with that? Another victim of "progress"Things people would pay to see in 1941 are proudly displayed for free today. Poor freaksFor me it was disgusting, but those were different times. Only yesterdayRemember when the tattooed lady was part of the freak show? Now it's free viewing when out in public. Mixed feelingsAs a kid, full of wonder, I wasn't allowed to see this attraction at the local fairs. It wasn't until the '80s, in Saratoga, NY, that I got to see my first. Appearing then was a guy nicknamed Popeye because he could pop his eyes out of their sockets, an alligator skinned woman, a "pretzel boy," so named because his limbs were twisted and malformed, and a "two-faced" man who had one side of his face swollen almost beyond recognition. I felt bad at the time, thinking what kind of person finds entertainment at looking at those so horribly afflicted? What was I doing? I had to reason with myself that at least these folks were able to earn a living. The pretzel boy himself stated as much onstage. He sold little Bibles afterward to make some more money. I know not what they had to endure each and every stop. I'm sure there weren't many like me. But they were performing and interacting with society. That's something. "Hey Rube"the announcer would yell, "Watch for pickpockets," and everyone would reach for their wallets indicating the exact location of their wallets to the pickpockets. Betty Williams“The genuine double bodied girl with four legs. Alive! Not in a bottle. Not a trick.” Appended to her torso was a parasitic twin consisting of two legs, an arm with three fingers, and a second arm which was only a single digit. (Photos available online.) She earned enough to buy her parents a farm and send all eleven of her siblings to college, but she died in 1955 at age 23 of a severe asthma attack. She would have been only nine years old at the time of this photograph. (The Gallery, Bizarre, Jack Delano, Kids)
White Plains: 1941
... flying the U.S. and Georgia colors, is attributed to Jack Delano although it bears the notation "Possibly photographed by Marion Post ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 12:00pm -

The caption for this 4x5 Kodachrome transparency is "Near White Plains, Georgia?" The circa 1941 photo, of a woman in front of a frame building flying the U.S. and Georgia colors, is attributed to Jack Delano although it bears the notation "Possibly photographed by Marion Post Wolcott." View full size. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Jack Delano, Rural America)
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