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Lincoln, Nebraska: 1942
"Seed and feed store in Lincoln, Nebraska." Our third view of the Grand Grocery from 1942. View full size. Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, OWI. Living, breathing Here it is folks, real life 66 years ago. ... Suites A little googling and someone said that a Lincoln phone book from 1938 gives the address as 1000 P Street. Well, here it ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 1:17pm -

"Seed and feed store in Lincoln, Nebraska." Our third view of the Grand Grocery from 1942. View full size. Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, OWI. Living, breathingHere it is folks, real life 66 years ago. I could gaze at an image like this for hours, wishing I could fall into it. In fact, if you don't hear from me after several days, it's because I'm over at the market squeezing the oranges. Now an Embassy SuitesA little googling and someone said that a Lincoln phone book from 1938 gives the address as 1000 P Street. Well, here it is: View Larger Map How sad, how sterile. We've really lost a feeling in our country. Sigh...I am fairly certain that no generation will look back to their childhood and wish they could go back more than the Baby Boomers!!! It was a time of innocence, more prosperity than the generations before and close family ties! It was a time of feeling safe and loved. It was a time of growth! I love my "electronic toys" that I have today, but I would actually love to go back to a time when I had to actually get my butt out of the chair and change the channels on the TV. When I would have to keep calling someone until their "busy signal" went off. Sigh...I love the present, but I cherish the past!!! I was lucky...I was born AFTER the terrible times in the 1930's and WWII. I was born in the time after war and poverty - a time when America was growing! Thanks for letting me wallow in my sentimentality! Absolutely love this site - it lets me remember where I came from. Thank you sooo much! Ah, yes the swell world of 1942No internet (No Shorpy!). No iPod. No computers. No Lasik. No Viagra. And for those of us who are not persons of pallor, well before Brown v. Board of Education, Rosa Parks and MLK. Rationing, a world war to be fought... I wouldn't go back there on a bet. Going backWith family in the Seattle area we have found it nice to cross Nebraska on old U.S. 30. It is relaxing and not much traffic and we get to see a lot of nice towns. Next weekNext week the family and I are flying to Kansas City, renting a car, and driving to Great Falls to visit my in-laws. Our first stop is Lincoln, to visit some work-friends and to see that amazing work of art, the capital. A lot of the old buildings are gone, but the people are just as nice. No remotes???That would indeed be a barbaric time in which to live!...There weren't even any TVs back in 1942. So, PattyAnne, you'd be getting up to change the dial on your radio. Maybe from "The Shadow" to "The Jack Benny Show". And PattyAnne (I don't mean to pick on you...really!) You were born AFTER war and poverty? When was that? I think the latter was certainly still there, even during the Eisenhower years. And as to war (assuming you are American) there was that little business in Korea, and then, that nastiness in Southeast Asia...etc. Fortunately, I was born in Canada. Had I been American, I would have been just old enough to be eligible for the draft before the end of the Vietnam War. I love the past too, but I think I'd like to just visit, not actually live there. As the poster who "Wouldn't go back there on a bet" observed, the past was not perfect. When people wish they lived in another time, they never seem to imagine themselves as out-ouf work and starving, as beaten down minorities, as fighting in a war, or as having an illness that was yet incurable. All this being said, I am a "person of pallor", so I too would love to stroll down that long-ago street and exchange some pleasantries with the locals. But I'd want to be back before the draft board found me. In '42, the War was not yet going too well for the Allies. I thank the ones who did go over there, many of whom never returned. They were fighting for the preservation of just such idyllic scenes. [Just on a technical note: There were a few thousand telvision sets in use, mostly in the Northeast, in 1942. - Dave] LincolnI think those folks in the pic are standing on the corner where the Embassy Suites is ... looking toward the point where the Google photo was taken. Same result, though, if you really want to embrace that whole "How sad, how sterile" stance. The building with the yellow awnings is now a multiplex theater. Re: Ah, yes the swell world of 1942I agree with the notion that it is of great nostalgia to look back at such times in history. But perhaps it is best to do just that, look back. I can't imagine the social norms of 1942 as I am merely 23 years of age, but I am willing to bet that there has been much progress made in the way of personal and individual freedoms - even if not stated in law. I'm also willing to bet that "minorities" of race, sexuality, gender, or whatever it may be would agree. I once asked my grandmother, born in 1921, if she could live in any time period of history which she would choose... she had many reasons for different places in time but she said as a woman, she would want to live in no time other than the present (or the future I'd say). I'm fine right here in 2008. Old Lincoln, 10th and P I've walked that street. A friend in college lived in an apartment upstairs of the corner building at the end of the block north of the Grand Grocery, the little building with the gap just south of it. A funny apartment in a funny little building. The apartment was one room wide but 4 or 5 rooms deep, because the building extended to the alley, half a block. And and unbelievably cozy apartment it was. Downstairs, a courtly gentleman from the British West Indies, I believe had a tailor shop. The thing I find so appealing about this picture is the people have the time to stop and chat with each other. No one is hurried and they seem to be enjoying themselves and each other in a way we've lost. Lincoln was much smaller then, about 90,000, and much closer to the farms around it than now, as can be seen. The modern hotel is--well, it's there. I watched them build it riding my bike home from work in the afternoons. It has an opulent but gaudy lobby. But, to be fair, the hotel was not the reason all those buildings except one are now gone. An ill-conceived downtown redevelopment plan in the late 80s led to the entire block being razed, the only one of many targeted to suffer that fate. An even uglier parking lot was there for several years before the city convinced the hotel magnate to put up the new hotel. And also, to be fair, I remember that more than half the buildings on that block were in really run down condition by 1989, several vacant. Fortunately, the redevelopment plan failed to ruin the rest of the downtown. The block was pretty much intact until 1989, though the Grand Grocery was long gone by then. I believe the Green Frog Lounge was in that building or just east of it. The gap you can see between the buildings on the right side between the building where my friend had his apartment was wider in my time there, with a 50's bar built back from the street that extended south to the alley where the power poles are. Otherwise the buildings are pretty much as I remember them. Around the block to the east was the best Mexican restaurant in town. Next to it was a business supply store whose elderly founder was so distressed at the loss of his building that he passed away. Next to that was Lincoln's best "hippie" store, Dirt Cheap. South of that was the Sam Lawrence Hotel, which my mother informed me that back in the 20s when she came to Lincoln on the train with her mother to go shopping, "Nice ladies didn't stay there." The only buildings left today as they were then are the one you can't see casting the shadow on the lower left side, which is the former post office, now condos. The other you can just see the top in the upper left side of the picture and used to be the Law School at the University of Nebraska. Everything else is gone or changed. Unlike the picture with the girl, the cars, and the office buildings, 12th Street looking north from N, which is nearly the same today, in this picture nearly everything has changed. But this one, with the people enjoying each other and the nice day, is in my opinion the most attractive of the 5 color shots Mr. Vachon took that day, all within this 5 block area. A tip of the hat to the kind poster who mentioned our exquisite state capitol building. Most states' capitols are worth a visit but ours is a real treasure with its grand rotunda, lofty tower, and beautiful interior finishing. I never tire of touring that wonderful building. If you don't see anything else in Lincoln, you should see that. Or for an excellent virtual tour, www.capitol.org Thanks Shorpy, for the wonderful trip down memory lane. It was different when I came here to the university in 1963, but much more like this picture than what it is now. I've only been in the new hotel once. These old pictures are treasures indeed. Lincoln, then and nowI'm always excited to see pictures taken in Nebraska, because, as a Nebraskan, the fact that our state is frequently ignored by the other 49 gives us a bit of an inferiority complex. Anyway, I've greatly enjoyed the grocery pictures from Lincoln, and find the comments prompted by this one to be very interesting. To start with the obvious, yes, the Embassay Suites is not very exciting, but I can think of much worse fates for an old part of town than having a higher-end hotel locate there. Here's a picture I snapped of it this afternoon. (I'm no tterrace, so bear with me). The people in the foreground of the 1942 picture are where the trees are in my picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27323798@N05/2718259429/ As Lee pointed out, there is a building casting a shadow in the 1942 picture that still exists today as high-end apartments. It would be directly to the left of the people in the foreground of the photo. This building is still looking pretty spiffy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27323798@N05/2718260985/ I also love the community feel of the 1942 picture, though I disagree with the statement that our country has "lost it" (I was born in the mid-1980s though, so maybe I just have no idea). After growing up in a town of 2,000 people, I feel that smaller towns and rural areas still have a lot of the things that so charm people from this picture present in real life (including old guys in bib overalls). It probably is true that urban areas are increasingly disconnected, but their huge size and the relative mobility of their residents makes this unsurprising. And in defense of the lack of non-carbound Nebraskans in this picture, I will mention that it was about 98 degrees when I took this picture at 5:15 tonight--not great weather for socializing outdoors! :) @CGW: I am visiting the state capitol on Monday before I move out of state. First time since 4th grade--I hope you enjoy it! Maybe we'll be on the same tour. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Lincoln: 1942
Lincoln, Nebraska. 1942. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. Turn around ... in all sorts of loud primary and secondary colors. Lincoln : 1942 The streets are lonely ; but the number of cars are no way, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/17/2011 - 9:44am -

Lincoln, Nebraska. 1942. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. Turn aroundThis shot makes you wonder what the girl looked like Where Did Everybody Go?Except for the one young lady, the streets are deserted! It's interesting that the cars are all shades of blue, black, white or gray, which isn't all that much different from what the color of cars have been for the last twenty years as well. I miss the way they looked in the early 70s, which was the only era in which autos came in all sorts of loud primary and secondary colors. Lincoln : 1942The streets are lonely ; but the number of cars are no way, less ! Are they Austin cars ? (Austin of England) Or might be Morris. [These are all American cars. - Dave] Re: VehiclesI think the second car from the right is a 1940 Chevrolet, not 1941. More than the girlYou can see 2 guys to the right of the girl, toward the 1st corner a guy with a blue shirt and hat is walking toward the parked cars, if you go to the right of him another guy looking down with a brown hat. Also at the next intersection it looks like a group of people are getting ready to cross the street VehiclesIt appears to me to be, from the left, a light-colored '41 Ford, then '41 Chrysler, '41 Chevrolet, '38 Buick, '41 Chevrolet, '39 Ford. For Idleracer, yo're right; cars have become more bland. The high spot was the mid '50s, when they even had tri-tone. (I had a '55 Roadmaster with orange-red top, light gray midsection and orange-red under the sweepspear . . ) VehiclesI think you're right, Dave. The photo was dark enough I didn't notice the separate parking lights, and did not recall the chrome stripe atop the headlight housing on my late uncle's '40 model . . . View is 13th South of N St. looking NorthI'll have to send you a picture of this scene today...probably one of the few places in Downtown Lincoln that look exactly the same. I couldn't figure out the location of the other picture posted of Lincoln..I think all the buildings in it have been razed. Cars are from all overThe first plate in the front is a beautiful 42 Kansas Sunflower plate from Brown County. The next behind is from Lincoln, Nebraska. I can only see a corner of the next one, but it looks like Hastings, Nebraska (14). The next plate up the street is Sedgwick County, Kansas. The last car up the street looks surprisingly like a 41 California plate, but I can't make it out well enough. Considering an A ration in 1942 was 3 gallons a week, they must have saved up their gas to all get into Lincoln? [There was no rationing yet in the Midwest. (Which why none of the cars have ration stickers on the windshields.) On May 15, 1942, gasoline rationing began in 17 Eastern states. The allotment was three gallons a week. It wasn't until December 2, 1942, that gasoline rationing was required in all states. - Dave] Gas RationingThanks. I'd forgotten that rationing didn't cover the non-Eastern states until almost 1943. My granedfather didn't have an A ration. He had a nearly unlimited ration. He was a vital war worker, working in the Southern Illinois oil fields. And a horse ate his soybean 1943 license plate. He backed the car up to the fence by the horse field and the horse ambled over and took a big bite out of it. He had to get a replacement. ChryslerThat's a '42 Chrysler. The '41 had a taller grille. +68As noted previously, this is 13th Street looking north from N Street. The girl and flags are gone and the curbs have been modified, but otherwise, the scene is virtually the same. I've attached a shot of the same perspective taken on March 22, 2010. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Patriotic)
Yard Man: 1942
... , somewhere in Grand Island, Nebraska, snapped by John Vachon for reasons unknown. Cinch up that tie and get back to work! View full ... Bluff, assuming he left on the 9th. He was working out of Lincoln for a while and seemed a bit dissatisfied with what he was being ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/08/2022 - 3:35pm -

May 1942. Yes, it's this guy again, somewhere in Grand Island, Nebraska, snapped by John Vachon for reasons unknown. Cinch up that tie and get back to work! View full size. Up to No GoodA loose tie and a jaunty hat ... I'd call him a young rake. New tagCheck the Tags above to see the new one added to Slender Man: Handsome Rakes. (Don’t make me explain the joke!) It's WoodyHarrelson with a rake. The Progress of the Slender ManThe Rake progresses. But why?Don't you just itch to know the back story of Dapper Dan and the rake? People people people, label your photos for those of us in the 21st century. Seems Like Old TinesI have that exact rake hanging on the tool wall in my garage. It is still quite usable. Vachon in Nebraska, May, 1942Based on Vachon’s letter to his wife of May 8, 1942, this could have been shot on a one-week trip to Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte, and Scott’s Bluff, assuming he left on the 9th. He was working out of Lincoln for a while and seemed a bit dissatisfied with what he was being expected to shoot. “Next week will work out OK, and produce, because I’ll be alone, but it won’t be what these boys [note: local FSA types, not Stryker back at FSA in D.C.] expect for me to get, and I fear for after I get back.” Vachon thought they were expecting “a picture of a cow and a farmer’s new barn.” I think we’ve seen here that John Vachon was looking for, and shooting, something else. Thank goodness. (John Vachon’s America, page 209) Scary gardener guyLike something from Stephen King. Don't hire him. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Handsome Rakes, John Vachon, Slender Man)
Coeducated: 1942
May 1942. Lincoln, Nebraska. "University of Nebraska during final exam and commencement ... their apartment." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Nice leg ... a social psychology textbook.) Keeping track of John Vachon Over past months on Shorpy, we've been following John Vachon as he ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/27/2021 - 1:03pm -

May 1942. Lincoln, Nebraska. "University of Nebraska during final exam and commencement week. Bob Aden studying with his wife in their apartment." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Nice leg makeupShe either bought the premium stuff or really had a good tan; silk stockings were NG by that time. Needed for the war effort. A better captionI don't know what this says about me, but my first thought for a new caption was "Bob Aden mansplaining the concept of in-group dynamics to his wife, Marion. Both are students at University of Nebraska." (I'm pretty sure that's a social psychology textbook.) Keeping track of John VachonOver past months on Shorpy, we've been following John Vachon as he moved around photographing military preparations and military environments during the lead-up to U.S. entry into World War II. Now the war is on and Vachon is assigned to the Office of War Information. Here he is in the farm belt, photographing university students, one an MBA candidate, the other a liberal-arts major. The connection to War Information? The Adens' lives, like almost everyone's, are about to change radically. Looking forward to following Vachon's further movements. (He stayed with OWI until it was shut down in 1943. He was drafted near the end of the war.) Apologies to Dali, a melting radio?Being a native Floridian my experience with radiators is minimal but I'm told they can get really hot. A few observationsIt must have been a nice day with the window cracked. Bob's shoes need a shine (the Navy will fix that) but otherwise the happy couple seem to be fairly comfortable. I note their own telephone which was a luxury not within the budget of your typical college students. Even a party line hookup cost more money than most students could afford. I am guessing that come graduation Bob will be off to the Navy per a comment on the previous discussion thread. Those Old PhonesCould weigh a ton. My grandmother had one (from the 30's) and holding that handset for longer than a few minutes would give her cramps. They were not all that good at fidelity either. Leg Makeup Did Exist.I was an urchin during WWII. My aunts did buy leg makeup in a bottle that to my untrained eye did look like the real thing. That sofa!My great aunt had a sofa with upholstery like that, and it's very unusual. The pile is almost wiry, yet you could push it from side to side with your hand. Strangest feeling upholstery ever. [It may have been some sort of scrunchy nylon. My grandparents had a swivel chair upholstered with the same stuff. - Dave] Domestic dreamyI'm crushing on the understated romance in this photo, since I'm sure Mr. Aden was covertly admiring Mrs. Aden's gorgeous gams, leg makeup or no leg makeup. (And I LOVE leg makeup ... I'm wearing Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs as we speak.) Another thing I love is Mrs. Aden's cute glass shelf and the charming little lay-abouts placed just so both there and on the sill beneath. And I want that Bakelite radio. Family CircusThe Family Circus comic book just peeking out in the magazine holder is perfect. I'm sure these adorable co-eds weren't reading it. Leaves me wondering, who was the Family Circus fan? [Comic book? - Dave] I stand corrected ... never heard of Family Circle mag, though Wikipedia says it continued to be published until 2019. (The Gallery, Education, Schools, John Vachon)
The Parlor Door: 1940
... parlor." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Flashback! ... this very moment in the den where I'm typing this. Lincoln on the wall And on the road: (The Gallery, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2019 - 1:43pm -

April 1940. "Home in Scranton, Iowa. Closing sliding door to little-used parlor." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Flashback!My parents had that print of the little girl watching the bird sing on their bedroom wall; I was convinced for years that it was someone they knew, but for some reason never asked them who she was. I'm too lazy to dig deeper, but it's apparently by Simon Glucklich; some web articles claim the child is blind. It really takes me back, I haven't seen that picture since probably 1966 when my folks split up. It never made it to our new home. Nostalgia is sometimes a physical reaction, for me. When someone says "it made my heart swell", that's the sensation I can have. Thanks for this one! Oh, my, that chairEvery one of my grandparents and great aunts or uncles had a velvet chair exactly like that one in their living room, complete with antimacassars. One of those imagesWhat I can see of this house looks so comfortable, so cozy, I just want to step into the photo. I'd put on a nice pair of slippers, maybe a cardigan sweater, grab a good book and sit down in the rocker for a nice quiet read. The only thing I'd have to add would be a dog to lie at my feet. Oh, and I might have to take up pipe smoking. Granny SquaresAbout 65 years ago my grandmother Julia crocheted that same afghan pattern. She made one each for me, my sibling and my cousins. I still keep it, proudly, and in wintertime curl up with it watching TV by the fireplace. It shows absolutely no wear or fading. Someday it will be passed along to my granddaughter Julia. I don't know what happened to the other six she made. My great-aunt's house!Which in 1970 had barely changed since 1920. Just like this: old pics on the wall, the wallpaper and gorgeous woodwork, the two-button light switches (some with mother-of-pearl circles on the buttons even), and area rugs that were just waiting to trip some unwary elderly person. Wish we had more of the picture on the left wall; might be some famous painting of Mary, but google could not find a match even after I did an image search (after mirroring the half we do have and pasting it together). Thank you! Made in the shadeI too noticed the print of the wee lass watching the bird on the branch. Very sweet. When we lived in a circa 1888 Italianate house in semi-rural Ohio for several years during the late '90s, we had pocket doors just like those, leading to a parlor only slightly larger than the one shown. We kept them open but I loved those doors and the room itself was charming. That's a lovely antimacassar set adorning/protecting the velvet armchair. But I must admit that I would never have been able to get used to so many bare lightbulbs. Not exactly an attractive design. It must have been blinding when the lights were on. Shades, please! And speaking of shades, that's a stunning floor lamp. The Secret ParlorMy grandparents had one, too. Not secret, really, but more like a room from an alternate-world version of their house, one that no one lived in, occupied only by silent furniture still in virtually the same state as when delivered by the store years before. As with most Italian-American families, everybody lived in the kitchen. The Porlar DoorIts correct name is a 'Pocket Door'. Flashback IIPerusing my living room walls as I write this, I see that the fine Lady of Scranton had good taste in artwork, although she called her's hers modern, while I call mine vintage!! Sliding DoorsMy grandparents, too. Updated with '60s-style glass panels. Now my parents live there. But they use the living room much more now. Courtesy of moving the TV set from the dining room to the living room. Edit. Thanks, Dave. That was the idea. Learned another thing today. ;-) Spring SongIs the title of the picture of the little girl and robin, by German painter Simon Glucklich (1863-1943). I grew up with the same picture and it hangs at this very moment in the den where I'm typing this. Lincoln on the wallAnd on the road: (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Buy War Bonds: 1942
May 1942. "Street corner in downtown Lincoln during University of Nebraska commencement week." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. The Nut House is no more Here is a photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/13/2023 - 12:51pm -

May 1942. "Street corner in downtown Lincoln during University of Nebraska commencement week." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. The Nut House is no moreHere is a photo with which to make a better comparison of the tall building behind the Buy War Bonds sign and the Street view below. If I'm correct we're at the intersection of 13th and O streets, looking north. The brick two-story structure on the corner has been replaced by a modern five-story and the Nut House did not survive the transition. Nuts! About war bondsUS Savings Bonds were first authorized in 1935. In April 1941, Series E were issued as Defense Bonds. As the billboard dramatically shows, they became War Bonds right after Pearl Harbor. Just as the goal of gasoline rationing was to save rubber, a major purpose of war bonds was to reduce inflation by taking money out of circulation during a time of full employment and rationing. War bonds paid a mere 2.9% interest after 10-year maturity. Only about one percent of matured savings bonds have not been redeemed, but that amounts to around $9 billion. We haven't stopped having wars since 1945, but the term "war bond" has never been used again. Stuart TheatreYes, this is looking at the northeast corner of 13th and "O" Streets. I used to walk by here all the time when I lived in Lincoln in the 1980s. The tall building in the background was built in 1929 and contained the exuberant Stuart Theatre. The theater was poorly renovated in the 1970s to cover up much of the original decor. It was still a great place to watch a movie, however. A couple of decades and a few owners later the theater was returned to its over-the-top interior and is now called the Rococo. To the left, on the west side of 13th Street, now sits a bank building designed by I.M. Pei that is shaped like an outline of the state of Nebraska. It was the first place I used an ATM! (The Gallery, John Vachon, Stores & Markets, WW2)
The Right Connections: 1942
... electrical engineering laboratory. University of Nebraska, Lincoln." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. It's a test Keep trying those plugs, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/12/2023 - 9:08am -

May 1942. "Jim Tillma, a senior in the engineering college, in the electrical engineering laboratory. University of Nebraska, Lincoln." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. It's a testKeep trying those plugs, Jim, until the lightbulb comes on. LampshadesOne has two bites out of it, the other is completely gone. I imagine it might have to do with a heavy plug in an upper row being pulled out, up and away. Rubber Soles, Jim!Based on the florid castings of those ancient Weston electrical meters, it wouldn't be surprising to learn that the patch panel was a castoff from some power plant or such, donated to the university to further higher education (and retire the fossilized switchgear). But hand-patching lines to loads, like we used to do for theatrical lighting circuits pre-solid state, isn't for the faint of heart, especially at some of those voltages! Rubber-soled footwear, please, and keep your left hand (the heart side) in your pants pocket, lad, if you're hoping to live long enough to earn that MSEE. (Technology, The Gallery, Education, Schools, John Vachon)
Eagle Fruit Store: 1942
Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel at 10th and P, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1942. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. View full size. Rode hard, put away wet The car on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/07/2011 - 4:01pm -

Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel at 10th and P, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1942. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. View full size. Rode hard, put away wetThe car on the right is a 1938 Studebaker -- the headlights are the "datestamp" -- looks like it's been a tough four years. i sure enjoyed this site. myi sure enjoyed this site. my daughter sent it to me. i am 73 so i really like looking at it. sami Eagle Fruit StoreWhat is the intersection? What is there now? It would be interesting to see a "then and now" contrast. [The intersection seems to be 10th and P. In the back you can see the Hotel Capital, which is still there, at the top left of the satellite photo below. - Dave] 10th & PBoomer's Printing Company is currently at 10th & P Street. Bottom left corner of the satellite aerial. The hotel was probably "Hotel Capitol" and not "Capital" since Lincoln is the capitol (ol ending) city of Nebraska. The hotel has been renovated and is now condominiums. Wish I could see the front of the old coffee shop, too! [Lincoln is the capital (ending in -al) of Nebraska. Capitol (ending in -ol) is the big building in the capital city where all the lawmakers meet. The hotel is the Capital (below). - Dave] +68This is indeed the corner of 10th and P Streets looking east. As noted by Lincolnite, Boomer's Printing now occupies the corner where the Eagle Fruit Store was in 1942. The earlier building was razed and replaced by a Trailways bus station which was subsequently replaced by Boomer's. This is the same view from the same perspective taken on March 23, 2010. It's difficult to see, but the Capital Hotel building is still visible as is the square white ornamentation on its corner which can be seen just above the green overhang in the 1942 view (it's obscured by trees in the 2010 shot). (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Whiskey Wine Brandy Gin: 1939
... in Gateway District, Minneapolis." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Motorola ... indeed a radio antenna, and here's another one on a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr. Maybe it was a Ford product. What an incredibly cool thing. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 6:13pm -

September 1939. "Liquor store in Gateway District, Minneapolis." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. MotorolaThe antenna: re: MotorolaThank you! I posted the photos on a classic car forum and someone speculated that it might be a Motorola, but I wasn't able to find anything on it myself. 32 Washington AvenueThe Minnesota Historical Society has Hughes Drugs at 32 Washington Avenue South. It was housed in a block of buildings which contained several addresses on the east side of Washington. [The address here is, as we can see, 38. Stores move, or can have more than one location. - Dave] MercBrand spankin' new '39 Mercury sitting front and center. First year for the new marque. 1939-2011 RIP September 1939It was the worst month in modern history of my country (Poland). However, nice to see such a pretty place, at the same time, but other side of the ocean. And this car, I always thaught, that body is postwar style. Not just a while before the WW II. Merc gizmoSo what is this? I speculated that it was a flashy antenna, but a cursory Google search didn't come up with anything like it. Merely decorative? Whatever, I love it. "Chicago Service"What is it? Blimey!Whiskey, wine, brandy, trusses, rubber goods AND cut-price drugs? Drugs, Booze ...What! No gambling? At least you can buy a truss. Today this enterprise would be run by the Government. HandsomeI can see where my PV 544 got his good looks. This could be the Toad's grandfather. HmmI wonder what they sell at this store? I'm kidding! Great photo -- I especially like seeing the film perforations. Drugs, trusses, rubber goodsOne-stop shopping! LettersSome signpainter was in business for a while after that job! Chicago ServiceDoes the cafe feature surly waiters? Or is that called "New York service"? Chicago ServiceThe regular daily train between Minneapolis and Chicago ran to a station just along here, which may be the origin of the cafeteria's name. Merc gizmo foundI finally found a match for the "gizmo" on the Mercury's roof. It is indeed a radio antenna, and here's another one on a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr. Maybe it was a Ford product. What an incredibly cool thing. [I just knew TT would find this. Several commenters opined the gizmo was a "scratch on the negative" (which would have been black lines, not white) or part of the sign behind the car. - Dave] Positively Second StreetAs best as I can tell, these addresses were on the northeast side of South Second Street (a block south of the Great Northern Railway station, which was at the foot of Hennepin Avenue). Vachon, a St. Paul native, would have known the area well. In the 1950s, as scorched-earth urban renewal was on its way for the Gateway, young University of Minnesota sociology students, led by Theodore Caplow, conducted groundbreaking field research in this area on the thousands who called the Gateway's cage hotels, missions and alleys their home. This spot is now on Gateway Greenway, a one-block auto-free path. Motorola AntennaHere's another, more elaborate version of the antenna on a '38 Plymouth in a photo taken in summer 2010. IgnoredThe antennaless car behind the Mercury is a 1939 Chevrolet that has an accessory hood ornament. This was the last year that you could obtain a rear mounted spare tire on a Chevy until the availability of "continental kits" in the 1950s. Chevrolet discontinued these last car models without modern trunks early in the model year. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Omaha Stakes: 1938
... diagonally along a row of parking meters." Photo by John Vachon for the FSA. View full size. All the same? Look closely, the ... greyhound was also the hood ornament that represented Lincoln automobiles. Now, a Lincoln is part of the Ford Motor Company, but a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2017 - 11:06am -

        We've updated this post from 2008, originally illustrated with a low-res catalog print, with this high-resolution scan made from the original negative. November 1938. Omaha, Nebraska. "Cars parked diagonally along a row of parking meters." Photo by John Vachon for the FSA. View full size. All the same?Look closely, the first seven cars are all different, two doors, four doors, at least two different coupes. Look at some of the color pictures from this time frame you will see many different colors also. [I think the point is that the first three or four cars are remarkably similar in appearance, superficially at least. They seem to be the same make. No doubt the car experts out there can ID them. - Dave] ArrowsThe parking lines becoming arrows on the sidewalk pointing to which car goes with which meter ... great! CarsI think this is the first picture of this type that I've seen from the 30s where all of the cars look very late model. It isn't just the cars in front, the ones in the background are new looking as well, no model A's, or T's. I'm not a car expert, but I think you get what I mean. The closest three carsAre all 1936 Fords. The leaping greyhound hood ornament on the first car was a popular accessory of the era. The fourth car down appears to be a 1937 Packard. Beyond that it gets difficult to tell. The coupe with the sidemounted spare (the fifth car down) might be a Buick. Japanese Flag?Fifth parking meter down has a short flagpole beside it which appears to be flying a Japanese flag. Japanese FlagSeems to me the flag is not flying next to the parking meter but on a car parked behind the meter. Maybe there is some kind of meeting going on, judging from all the late model, official-looking, cars parked in a row. That in fact may have been the real subject of this photo. [The "real subject" is "cars parked diagonally." - Dave] POVA similar picture today would show a mass of silvery/light gold colored 4 door econoboxes. Fifty years from now a viewer would be hard pressed to discern one from another. Carbon CopiesSo everyone had the exact same car back then? ColorYou can get a car in any color you want, as long as it's black. Hood OrnamentThe leaping greyhound was also the hood ornament that represented Lincoln automobiles. Now, a Lincoln is part of the Ford Motor Company, but a Lincoln is not a Ford and vice versa. "Japanese" FlagThat's no Japanese flag -- it's a flag indicating a bus route. They still have the same design in Omaha today except they are metal now. There are ones with blue dots and green dots as well. Corner of 16th and DodgeThe location of the Woolworth's is now the spot where the First National Bank Tower stands and the Metropolitan Drug Store is its parking garage. The only building on that corner still standing would be the one from where the picture is taken. Movie on the marqueePretty sure the movie playing in the theater in the background is THE ARKANSAS TRAVELER, starring Bob Burns and Fay Bainter (names on middle row)! The 5th car down is indeed a BuickIt's a 1938 Club Coupe. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Omaha)
Marbles: 1940
... marbles. Woodbine, Iowa." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Looking ... by the nation's best-known transcontinental route (the Lincoln Highway, US 30). Six months later a severe storm known as the Armistice ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:00pm -

May 1940. "Boys playing marbles. Woodbine, Iowa." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Looking BackMove this picture's date up 10 years and place it in a Deep South state, and that could be me on the bicycle. In fact, I had a bike and a jacket just like the boy on the right. And I did play marbles. Re: My Brother, The ChampionIn our neigborhood the big marbles were called "Log Rollers". Dubs, aggiesclunkers, cats eyes, and I've forgotten the other 50 names for marbles, do children play marbles any more? Playing marbles on Memory LaneWow does this bring back some memories, for many of us I would imagine. I wonder if anyone can identify the make of that bicycle. The Edge of ProsperityIn May 1940, Woodbine's future was bright; it was the centerpiece of Iowa's apple-growing business (then second in the nation), and was bisected by the nation's best-known transcontinental route (the Lincoln Highway, US 30). Six months later a severe storm known as the Armistice Day Blizzard devastated Iowa's orchards. Arriving in the warmth of fall, before tender new growth in the apple trees had a chance to "harden off," the blizzard blackened and killed all but the oldest trees. Highway 30 would bypass downtown Woodbine on the east, and Interstate 80 would bypass US 30 on the south, but the bricked-streets of the old Lincoln Highway remain preserved on County Highway L16 (and Lincoln Way Street) in Woodbine. Woodbine's annual Applefest survives. Lost My MarblesGood marble players only bought marbles one time. You could tell a good shooter by the way he aimed and addressed the circle. In my neighborhood we had two or three that would need to keep a sock attached to their belt to hold the marbles that they knocked out of the circle. Brings back memoriesI spent many hours playing marbles and riding my bike as a youngster. Didn't have to worry about some slug coming around trying to sell us dope and junk back then. Times were a lot more carefree for a kid. For funsies or for keepsThis picture brought the memories flooding back since it was a common pastime when I was a kid. Every kid knew exactly what marbles were his and when we did not want to lose any, we would play for "funsies" which meant when the game was over, we each took all ours back. Playing for keeps was serious business and losing a favorite marble was a personal tragedy. Sometimes you could win that coveted one back in a future session. We also played what we called a "Polish" version of marbles (it was my yard and I'm Polish) wherein we had to shoot the marbles into a hole in the dirt with our fingers and the last one to get the last marble in would win the whole lot, a real bonanza. Those were great days. SteeliesI remember my older brother used "Steelies or Ball Bearings" and would crack my marbles or chip them so bad that you couldn't use anymore. Those were the days. Now bannedWow, I spent so many recess and lunch periods playing marbles as a kid back in the 70's. It was THE schoolyard game. We played the "polish" version, though to us that was the only game we knew. Imagine my dismay when I found out that marbles have now been banned from school yards around here as some teachers view it as "gambling;" how sad is it that kids will never know the rush of winning his opponents marbles or the disappointment of losing his. My Brother, The ChampionI remember being very proud of my brother because he was the best marble player in our school. I remember they used to draw a circle (girls weren't allowed to play). There were certain marbles that were more valuable than others. There were also some big ones called Aggies, I think. I RememberWe played in Brooklyn, NY as late as the early seventies. Re: SteeliesSteelies were a no no. You could not use them. If you tried it was bad news for you. SkullyI missed out on the marbles generation(s), but sure loved Skully. I-am-the-killer-diller-of-this-game! Marbles in 1947In Farmington, Michigan, in 1947, rarest marbles were the crystal-clear ones in various colors - we called them "peeries," and any large-size marbles were called "boulders." A peerie boulder was the most valued marble of all. You could win one by making a tough shot - say shooting between two marbles, spaced an inch apart, at a distance and hitting the target marble behind them. At recess, we'd try our skill at various such challenges which were set up on the ground, side-by-side, like the midway at a carnival. Grandma raised my dad here He was born in 1932, and lived in Woodbine until he shipped out with the Marines in 1950. Even as a kid in the 1970s I remember her cafe on the main drag, right across from the five-and-dime. I can also remember the artillery pieces on the street corners that were placed as memorials to our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines. I miss that place and those times almost as much as I miss my grandma. (The Gallery, Bicycles, John Vachon, Kids, Small Towns)
Night Life: 1940
November 1940. "Lincoln, Nebraska." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Good Times Rollin' With the exception ... Another exquisitely haunting (and Hopper-esque) shot by Vachon, master of composition and light. It's cold outside? I know ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/15/2019 - 12:27pm -

November 1940. "Lincoln, Nebraska." Acetate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Good Times Rollin'With the exception of the Ford (second from right), all of the cars photographed here are practically new. One has to wonder if a similar present-day scene would reflect a comparable degree of apparent prosperity. Where drama meets detachmentAnother exquisitely haunting (and Hopper-esque) shot by Vachon, master of composition and light. It's cold outside?I know it was late Fall when he shot this area, likely cold and wet, but seems like compared to other government photogs of the time, an awful lot of his were just shot out his hotel room windows. [John Vachon shot more than 11,000 exposures for the FSA. Less than one percent were "out his hotel room windows." - Dave] Trouble with a capital "T"... and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for Pool! The first big step on the road to the depths of degradation -- at least according to Professor Harold Hill! What a terrific picture. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Grand Grocery: 1942
1942. Grand Grocery in Lincoln, Nebraska. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Alternate version shows a different view. 12 Ounces? It's ... I found some ads for these penny-apiece oranges in the Lincoln newspapers from 1942. They were described as "commodity surplus" and as ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/11/2007 - 9:45pm -

1942. Grand Grocery in Lincoln, Nebraska. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. Alternate version shows a different view. 12 Ounces?It's amazing how much we as a society have come to consume--both in terms of foodstuffs and material goods. I don't think you could purchase only 12 ounces of a soft drink today even if you wanted to. It's the behemoth 44 ouncer or nothing!! TatersInflation sucks!! Potatoes, 4 cents a pound?? [Something tells me that potatoes today are probably even cheaper, adjusted for inflation. Class? - Dave] TatersPotatoes at 4 cents a pound in 1942 would cost about 50 cents a pound in 2007 according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota. They have a neat calculator that lets one compare prices back to 1913. The link below will take you to the site. http://www.minneapolisfed.org/research/data/us/calc/index.cfm [Thanks. So how much do potatoes cost now? - Dave] Why the potatoes?Ok first of all, why are the potatoes the only thing in discussion? Also, why is there a picture of a lady under the sign that says quality meat, how old are rice crispies, and does it say weiner over the red cross on the door? ANSWERS: 1. That's the Old Dutch Cleanser lady, the Dutch Cleanser people having supplied the signs (probably for free). 2. Rice Krispies: Wikipedia says 1928. 3. It says Weiners on the glass for the same reason it says Oranges and Grapefruit on the glass. - Dave OhOh,...thankyou. Pepsi-ColaPepsi-Cola hits the spot! 12 full ounces, that's a lot! Twice as much for a nickel, too! Pepsi-cola is the drink for you! Pepsi ColaThe Pepsi jingle - "twice as much for a nickel too" - was a bit of a double edged sword for them. It stated that the drink was a bargain but also indicated that it was cheaper to make - presumably by using corn syrup rather than real sugar which of course doesn't give the same taste. The cost issue tended to appeal to people on the lower economic side. In Quebec it wasn't uncommon for French-Canadians to refer to themselves as "Pepsis" or for that term to have been used as a derogative by Anglophones. Pepsi JingleInterestingly, don't the lyrics imply that the competition (Coca Cola?) only sold 6 ounces for the same price? [Yes. - Dave] Potatoes now cost about .99Potatoes now cost about 99 cents a pound for Idaho baking potatoes, though it depends on the store and the season. 25 cents a poundA local store here in Joplin, Missouri has Russet potatoes $4.99 for a 20-pound bag. Translated, 25 cents a pound. InflationMy taters are 59 cents a pound at the grocery store today. On sale they would run about 39 cents. So for 1942 = 3¢ a pound. Not bad! OrangesThis is the type of place my grandparents went to all the time. Amidst the oranges, what are those redder things? I'm hoping/assuming those aren't rotten oranges, but I don't think rotten oranges turn red, but green to black. I can't figure those out. [Maybe this is why they're a penny apiece. Eww. - Dave] CopenhagenNote the Copenhagen sign under the left window. That's the same logo they still use. Yech!Maybe i'll have an apple instead... Mary?i do believe i see the face of the Virgin in those oranges. either that or a man with a machinegun. Blood OrangesThose could have been blood oranges that had the peelings removed. They are common and we have them here in California. They are delicious. Re: Blood OrangesOn the NewspaperArchive site I found some ads for these penny-apiece oranges in the Lincoln newspapers from 1942. They were described as "commodity surplus" and as "juice oranges - very thin skins." Basically they seem to have been giving them away as part of a program run by the Surplus Marketing Administration. Oranges Aren't some of them just wrapped in red tissue paper? 7UpAlong with Pepsi, there is also the 7Up sign below it. The name was chosen as a way to indicate more for the money, the pitch being that you got an extra ounce(7 instead of 6) compared to Coke for your 5c. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Big Cop: 1938
October 1938. "Policeman, Lincoln, Nebraska." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. The Addams ... west, doing what was known as "O Street time"--standing on Lincoln's main street in the downtown business district, not so much to direct ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/29/2010 - 8:49pm -

October 1938. "Policeman, Lincoln, Nebraska." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. The Addams FamilyUncle Fester on patrol. Negative, I know ...But he looks like a lot of present day and women on the street just coming out of McDonald's. You don't see as many people this large prior to about 1950 or 60. That's one large man judging by his head and back! Whoa! They don't wear hats anymoreRemember when cops wore hats? In some cities it was required that they wore their hat when dealing with the public. Nowadays, it's no hat, a buzzcut or a shaved head, and wraparound shades. Next frame: death stare.I wonder if the clicking noise made him turn around. I'm sure of one thingThis cop would never have needed to use a taser, even if he had one. Now I get itMy son once described the back of my head and neck as "looking like a package of hot dogs". Although this officer's is not quite that extreme, I can now see what he meant. Tor JohnsonHis day job. Nick on O StreetThat would be Officer Nick Nichols, at 11th & O streets, looking west, doing what was known as "O Street time"--standing on Lincoln's main street in the downtown business district, not so much to direct traffic as to portray a visible police presence. Gold's department store on the SW corner to his left is easily identified today, as is City Hall--the former Post Office and Federal courthouse, also extant today, and still under municipal care a block further west on the north side between 10th and 9th. I would peg this photo as about 1942. [As noted in the caption, the picture was taken in October 1938. Below, more of John Vachon's Lincoln photos, including the officer's other side. - Dave] Inspires respectA look back at the good old days when they hired police officers whose mere size and presence inspired respect. I doubt many young punks disrespected this officer to his face like they do nowadays. I love this photoI know nothing about the photographer, John Vachon, but this shot made me take a look at his work here Shorpy, and I'm glad I did. My favorites (like this one) seem to have this something casual or playful about them, while still being formally well-composed. (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Good American Food: 1942
... Palace Cafe. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now, good ... unless people really wanted to press on more hours to Lincoln or Omaha. One reason for Grand Island tourists in 1942 In 1905, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/19/2022 - 12:51pm -

May 1942. "Grand Island, Nebraska." Home of the "homey" Palace Cafe. Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Now, good ol' American marketing.Lots of building still there, but that monster in the center is gone. On the horns of a dilemmaI'm drawn to the courteous service and homey atmosphere at the New Palace -- not to mention the modern rest rooms and reasonable prices -- but then at Caredis I am welcome "just as I am" and am invited to inspect their ... something. Whatever it is, I'd like to check it out. Since I'm so welcome. In other news, the woman walking away from the camera on the far right-hand side of the photo instantly struck me as resembling Loretta, the female assassin who walks towards Robert Redford a/k/a Johnny Hooker in the alleyway in The Sting. Loretta wasn't wearing a headscarf, but still. Gives me chills just thinking about it. Both the Palace Cafe and Caredis Cafehave large signs directed at "tourists" ... what made Grand Island, Nebraska a tourist hot spot in 1942? What tourists?Both cafes seem to be catering to tourists. I wonder how big the hospitality business was in Grand Island 5 months into WWII. The Palace Cafe looks like it was a movie house in a past life, what with that sidewalk canopy/marquee and the vertical signage. Superb (Again)Vachon wasn't one of the photographers I learned about back when that was my field of study. But I'm going to make up for lost time. These Shorpy sharings induced me to buy a couple of his books. I eagerly await their arrival. Rare bird sighting!Photographer Vachon, perhaps by chance, captured the ultra-rare auto seen here in the closest parking space on the right-hand side. The famed Borden Dairy firm decided, in the mid 1920s, to branch into another industry, and thus was born Borden's Eagle Automobiles, Inc. There was just one model, shown here: the Borden's Eagle Condensed Special. Unfortunately, the demand for such a truncated car just wasn't enough to justify the investment and the venture was unsuccessful, folding after just two years. MystifiedWhat would have been un-American food and service in the middle of 1942 in the middle of Nebraska? Somehow I doubt that the Caredis Cafe next door is offering moussaka instead of mac and cheese, bifteki instead of burgers or baklava instead of apple pie. But the cooled air and the 24/7 might be a thorn in the side of the New Palace Cafe. [In the 1920s and '30s, any American restaurant with "Palace" in its name was very likely a chop suey joint serving Chinese food. Grand Island's original Palace Cafe, whose owner Saburo Shindo was Japanese, was one of them. - Dave] CuisineNo sushi or weinerschnitzel. Evolution of transportationFrom right hand corner: Walking-bicycling-Model T Ford-Model A Ford-current Chevrolet. But seriously --It's a Ford Model T from the last few years of its' run, 1925 or so to '27. Comparing it in size with the brand-new '42 Chevy across the street shows just how much the "low-priced 3" American cars had grown already. TouristsConstruction started on the nearby Cornhusker Ordnance Plant in March 1942. Thousands moved there to work at the plant, making Grand Island a boom-town with a shortage of housing. Suspect "tourist" in this sense would mean "out of towner". Why tourists?Grand Island would have been a good day's drive east from Denver in the 1940s. It was probably a natural stopping point unless people really wanted to press on more hours to Lincoln or Omaha. One reason for Grand Island tourists in 1942In 1905, in a tiny rental home at 622 W. Division Street in Grand Island (in "Railroad town") a child was born to a recently-married couple with special Shorpy-cred: Uneeda Biscuits Co. salesman William Fonda, and his wife Herberta. The baby was named Henry. The Fonda family's stay in Grand Island was brief; the next year, the threesome moved east to Omaha, where Henry was raised and developed an interest in theatre. Fifteen months before this picture was taken, Henry was nominated for an Oscar for playing Tom Joad in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." He didn't win then, but would win one eventually. AAF Base, Grand IslandMy late father was an engine mechanic on the big WWII bombers (B-17, B-24, B-29). He spent essentially the entirety of his service at the AAF bases in Fort Hayes, Kansas, and Grand Island, Nebraska. Anyone who's ever spent time near a military base knows there are always lots of "tourists." (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Hop In: 1937
... photo from a batch of 35mm negatives taken by John Vachon in the fall of 1937 in Annapolis, Maryland, and Newport News, Virginia. ... up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II, among other cars. It’s a rare ‘most beautiful cars ever’ ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/06/2012 - 5:39am -

Uncaptioned photo from a batch of 35mm negatives taken by John Vachon in the fall of 1937 in Annapolis, Maryland, and Newport News, Virginia. The car, a Cord convertible, would be worth around a zillion bucks today. View full size. Suped-upAh, the Cord convertible. In "Anybody Can Do Anything," a sequel to "The Egg and I," Betty MacDonald writes about the cream-colored Cord convertible her brother owned, and how the family would go for rides on weekends until they couldn't afford the gas. Then the Cord became part of an intricate series of trades that I think ended up with him acquiring a house. I found this interesting, from Wikipedia: Supercharging was made available on the 1937 812 model. Supercharged 812 models were distinguished from the normally aspirated 812s by the brilliant chrome-plated external exhaust pipes mounted on each side of the hood and grill. With supercharging, horsepower was raised to 170. It was too late to save Cord, but the contraction "Suped" (referring its supercharged engine) lived on in American lexicon as the hot-rodding phrase "Suped-Up." [To be taken with a grain of salt. The expression is "souped up" -- for which Webster's gives an entirely different derivation. - Dave] A Gazillion Equals $75,0001937 Cord 812 Convertible Must be that "new math"It seems that $75K only gets you the original steel body, with all mechanicals replaced with modern equipment. A complete original will go well into 7 figures. There's a nice original yellow '37 here in my hometown that I see at the post office or court house now and again, owned by a local retired grocer (who owns more than 60 cars of similar caliber). Another pricey car I see frequently is a '37 Auburn boattail convertible used as a daily driver by a retired auto dealer. (I'd hate to see his insurance bill). Our smirking driver here is no more attractive than the grocer's daughter whom I dated in high school, with a face too high a price to pay daily for a chance to inherit even that collection. $185kThere is a nicely restored '37 Cord Phaeton currently in Hemmings for $185k. http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/cord/810/1412757.html Thought balloon"That's right, my car is better than yours." Of course,it's not a doozy! Tom Mix had oneA nice supercharged 37 went for 130k at last fall's auction in Hershey. I believe it was a former AACA winner from the 70's, but still a 90+ point car on the CCCA scale. Tom Mix had one of these and it still exists and has been restored. Front Wheel DriveOne of the most important features of this car is the front wheel drive. It is one of the few front wheel drive American cars made before WWII that were produced in any appreciable quantity (1,146 in 1937). The Cord 812s with superchargers are even rarer (less than 200 built over two years). Cost in 1937 was $2,560. Prices today vary depending on condition, originality, presence of a supercharger, provenance, options, etc., but expect to pay $200,000 - $275,000 for a supercharged exampled in very good condition. InsuranceOldFogie wonders below about insurance premiums. One of my colleagues restored Studebakers. I asked him about insurance, and he said it was quite reasonable. The impression I got is that insurance companies figure collectors/restorers are good risks. Can any of you more knowledgeable guys/gals chime in on this? A first and a last.This car was noted for being an early front wheel drive vehicle but it was also one of the last cars to be designed entirely by one man. Gordon Buehrig was the designer's name. He was also responsible for Auburn's boat tail speedster and many other notable design concepts. And blinking headlamps, too.Aside from the front wheel drive, another innovation is the disappearing headlamps. Geo might have a point about insurance for collectors as good risks. I pay $56 a month, full coverage, for a fleet of vintage Jaguars and one vintage Cadillac (no accidents, ever). Most I know pay far more for a single car. But I'm betting insurance on a real classic *driven as a daily driver* would be considerably higher than for one infrequently driven (a point my insurance agent checks annually with odometer readings). Quotes for my insurance varied by a factor of 20. Timeless beauty The 810/812 series Cords replaced the disastrous L29s. Errett Lobban Cord wanted a car bearing his name. Front wheel drive. On the cheap. Thus, it was decided the straight eight Auburn motor would be used in order to save the R and D costs associated with a new engine. The result was that the normal front to rear sequence of engine, transmission and differential was simply reversed in the L29. From the front it became differential, transmission, and the very long straight eight. The car was engineered by the one and only Harry Miller, and design was under the supervision of Auburn chief designer Al Leamy. Industrial designer Brooks Stevens worked up a stunning one off L29. Functionally the cars were a disaster, as the long wheelbase put very little weight over the front drive wheels. Uphill movement, especially in the rain, became hazardous because there was so little traction. The wheels would slip, and frequently ignore any attempt at turning. The model lasted two years, I believe. By the time the beautiful Buehrig ‘coffin nose’ masterpiece came to market, engineered and designed to perfection, it was too late. The depression pretty much did the car and the Auburn, Cord Duesenberg Company in. I understand Cord was in England settled in for the long haul, as the Securities and Exchange folk wanted to talk with him. Buehrig eventually ended up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II, among other cars. It’s a rare ‘most beautiful cars ever’ list one will see that doesn’t include the Cord 810/812s. They’re timeless. InsuranceCollector Car insurance is pretty reasonably priced (compared to the value of the vehicle). It's generally based upon very limited street usage, with severe limits to the number of miles that the car can be driven. Unfortunately, things like Cords tend to mostly be trailer queens these days, with the majority of their miles put on during tours before or after car shows. (Thus speaketh the car show judge) Old Car InsuranceTo chime in on this subject, most collectable and antique vehicles (25 yrs. old and older) are insured by companies that specialize in this coverage. They agree on a stated value, and limit annual mileage to 2500 miles (this may vary depending on the insurer). This coverage will not allow the vehicle to be a daily driver, just what would be considered normal driving to car shows, swap meets, cruise nights, and the occasional spin around town. Because of these restrictions, the cost of insurance is very reasonable. As OldFogie noted, driving one of these classics "every day" is a different story. You would have to find a mainstream company to agree to a stated value and then pay through the nose, I'm sure! So he was an artistRE: "Buehrig eventually ended up at Ford, where he had a hand in designing the lovely 56 Lincoln Mark II" -- interesting point I did not know. I liked that Lincoln, and only that Lincoln. It seemed rather out in left field compared to Ford's other production. His hand in it explains that anomaly. Stars with CordsThere's a much circulated Internet photo of the happily-married Hollywood stars Joan Blondell & Dick Powell in their Cord convertible, taken about 1937 looking both glamorous & prosperous. Also, cowboy star Tom Mix met his untimely demise speeding through Arizona while driving his Cord convertible in 1940, when an unsecured heavy metal suitcase slammed into the back of his head. TM's restored car survives and was recently featured in an Antique Automobile Club magazine article. Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg FestivalBorn in Motown, having a father that loved autos and then living in South Bend, Indiana from 1970-79 afforded my family the opportunity to visit Auburn during the Labor Day weekend "Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Festival" in its infancy in the early 70s when I was about 10 or 11. My dad's territory (he was a salesman for Belknap Hardware, a Louisville-based hardware wholesaler) was northern Indiana and SW Michigan and had heard through the grapevine about a classic car festival and auction at Auburn High School. We were off! The museum is a wonderful tribute to art deco architecture and for anyone passing through Fort Wayne or with an appreciation for the classics, this is a must see. Though I would highly recommend attending during the Labor Day weekend. Studebaker was but a distant memory for South Bend even in the 70s. We moved back to Detroit in the 80s and visited Auburn during the festival a few times since. It has grown considerably in size and attendance and a few years ago went through tough times with the auctioneer being accused of not paying sellers after their vehicles sold. Auburn is where dad taught his daughter true appreciation for--and identification of--the classics. My favorite is indeed the Auburn Boattail Speedster! Invitation to the pastIt's as if this lady is beckoning us to come back in time and take a ride in this classic car. The chrome is pristine, the paint glows. The leather is soft and supple. The finely tuned engine purrs with restrained power. Take a ride and relish an era before plastics and electronics rob us of the soul of the machine. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Kiewel Beer: 1940
... "Grand Forks, North Dakota." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A ... different look from the others. I haven't clue alas, [Lincoln Zephyr?] but now I gotta find out. What is it? Anywhere, U.S.A. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/16/2011 - 11:45am -

October 1940. "Grand Forks, North Dakota." 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A different use for grainInstead of selling beer, that location is home to a bakery. The Dotty Dunn hat store was at 17 N. 3rd Street. It, the bar and the dry cleaners are all gone, even the cut rate store to the left. The only building that survives is the one to the extreme right. Which appears to have a barber shop. BTW, Dotty Dunn Hats was a chain store operation. View Larger Map BarrenOnce again, like the Chicago photo, few people and an angle chosen that makes it seem that you're looking down on a detailed area of a really cool O-gauge layout. Perhaps that's what Vachon was trying to capture. Bull City Boy has a great question, what is that automobile? A totally different look from the others. I haven't clue alas, [Lincoln Zephyr?] but now I gotta find out. What is it? Anywhere, U.S.A.Nostalgic picture which is so similar to the small town in which I grew up but on the East Coast. Our businesses on Main Street (with the same kind of diagonal parking before meters) were Carroll Cut Rate, Adam's Hats,Gene's Bar featuring Rheingold beer, Pete's Barber Shop and Bashura's Shoe Repair. I used to love the fumes in the shoemakers and cleaners, both now deemed very lethal, i.e. shoe polish, glues, leather-tanning chemicals and carbon tetrachloride. We also had a Hart's Five and Dime and a First National grocery. Kind of neat to think that whether you grew up in the East or Midwest, the small town Main Streets were so similar. Brew NotesAs a side note, Kiewel's Beer was brewed in Little Falls, Minnesota, while Heileman's Old Style (hanging sign over the tavern door) was brewed in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Interior HingesSo, is no one going to identify the autos, especially the fourth from the left? P.S. I've been away for five weeks. Glad to be back and I'll be catching up with Shorpy as best I can. Inflation$1.98 in 1940 would be about $32 today. Not a bad price for a man's hat. Cars ID'dFrom left, 1940 Chevy with deluxe rear center guard. 1937-38 Chrysler 1937 Nash 1939 Chrysler? 1940 Oldsmobile Comments welcome. The vehicle 4th from the left is a 1939 Ford Deluxe 2 door sedan. Better later than never. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Seed and Feed: 1942
"Seed and Feed store in Lincoln, Nebraska." Another view of the Grand Grocery farm store in 1942. "The ... View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, Farm Security Administration. Oranges This week I bought ... sound. Thanks for the memories. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Stores & Markets) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/17/2011 - 9:47am -

"Seed and Feed store in Lincoln, Nebraska." Another view of the Grand Grocery farm store in 1942. "The apples, oranges and grapefruit are surplus commodities" sold at very low prices. View full size. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon, Farm Security Administration. OrangesThis week I bought oranges. I got 3 Florida navels for $2.00. Sudan GrassI had to look up "Sudan Grass." Apparently it's a type of sorghum used for fodder. It would fit with the feed store side of the business. Feed and Seed: 1942In 1942 we would have had five acres of sudan on our farm. It was used for livestock feed. It would grow to 6+ feet tall and my teenage buddies and I had a great place to play hide and seek. If dad let the milk cows in to graze the stalks they could be a real challenge for a little kid to find and drive to the barn. Sudan GrassWe had a field of sudan grass -- probably about 5 acres, maybe a little more--on our farm in Oklahoma, right around 1960. We used it for a handful of cows and many, many hogs. It was truly a great place to play. The pigs beat paths through the tall, tall grass, which turned the field into a giant maze. And the sudan grass grew so thick, it even absorbed sound. Thanks for the memories. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Finals Week: 1942
May 1942. Lincoln, Nebraska. "University of Nebraska during final exam and commencement ... Arts college." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. 6 feet ... in the library. (The Gallery, Education, Schools, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/27/2021 - 12:56pm -

May 1942. Lincoln, Nebraska. "University of Nebraska during final exam and commencement week. Bob Aden (at the second table) studying in the library. He is working toward a master's degree in Business Administration; his wife is in the university's Liberal Arts college." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. 6 feetSocially Distanced. Social distancing,1942 style. Good ventilation, too. Add tattoos, piercings, a different style of clothing and surgical masks, and presto, you have a fast forward to 2021. Café chairsI associate that type of chair more with a café in France than I do with a library in Nebraska. I love the way everyone (except for the gals at the very back) has his or her head down, busy reading or writing. And there’s a spartan cleanness to the landscape, without the plugs and cords and apparatus mess and distraction of electronic devices. And that wife would bethe former Marion Cramer of Galesburg, Illinois. After Robert's stint in the Navy at Pearl Harbor the couple would return to his home town, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1946, where he would become president of the South Dakota Oil Company and she of the Sioux Falls Mental Health Association. The couple had two children. Mrs. Aden died in 1971. Bob would marry Kaye Hyde in September 1971, and she passed in 1999. Mr. Aden died in 2003 at the age of 84. Here is the first Mrs. Aden. You could never doze off ... in one of those chairs. Perfectly designed for napless hours in the library. (The Gallery, Education, Schools, John Vachon)
Nebraska Noir: 1940
November 1940. "Lincoln, Nebraska. State capitol in background." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Another ... https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6NF_Capital_Hotel_Lincoln_NE (The Gallery, John Vachon) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/29/2019 - 3:15pm -

November 1940. "Lincoln, Nebraska. State capitol in background." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Another Picture from a Hotel WindowIt appears that Mr. Vachon took this picture from a room at the Capital Hotel (still standing, but now a YMCA). Below him is 11th Street. The Barker's shoe store was on O Street. https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6NF_Capital_Hotel_Lincoln_NE (The Gallery, John Vachon)
Ninth Street: 1940
... Iowa." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Quiet Street Scenes I love ... fitted inside the white text. US 30 passes through town. Lincoln Street is likely the original Lincoln Highway. Nowadays the utility ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 10:39am -

May 1940. "Residential street in Woodbine, Iowa." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. Quiet Street ScenesI love quiet street views like this and also the city shot that is next. It places you as a pedestrian on the same street. This shot has a calm old-fashioned quality I really like, and I appreciate the chance to see an "average" street where people like my grandparents lived their lives. WoodbineNinth Street is not very long. This might be at Ely Street. It's hard to read the sign turned away from the camera. The Ninth Street sign is a great example of button copy, where smaller round reflectors would be fitted inside the white text. US 30 passes through town. Lincoln Street is likely the original Lincoln Highway. Nowadays the utility pole and signs would be behind the curb. I'm not sure what to make of that sidewalk. Ninth Street House for SaleAccording to Zillow there's a house for sale on Ninth Street in Woodbine for $57,000. That's a bargain by Connecticut standards except it's for sale by HUD suggesting it's a foreclosure situation with the house being in unknown condition. Might be ElyI futzed with the levels and curves in Photoshop, but I don't have enough pixels. Can we get a zoom? Odd, but the sun looks like it's coming from behind and to our left, which would make that direction South (if it's high noon), but 9th St. runs East-West. We don't know if the sign was just pushed and twisted a little or a lot. Google Earth's images of Woodbine are fairly good res. [Look again. The lady is walking along Ely (or whatever) Street. Ninth is perpendicular to the shadow cast by the pole. The left edge of the Ely sign is closer than the right (the ST half is pointing away from us). - Dave] Iowa HousesThis past summer my I had to go back to Iowa to sell my father's house. It was an absolutely charming craftsman (built in shelves & other wood details, original beveled glass in several windows & exterior doors, etc.), hip roof, porch), 2 bedroom, in fine shape and sold for $39K. The same house where I live now, Ithaca, NY, would be at least 150+ K more. It's possible to get a very nice house in Iowa for very little money. 901 ElyI can't make out the house number for the house on the corner, but it sure looks like this house that's for sale, at 901 Ely Street, Woodbine IA 51579, which is at the corner of Ely and Ninth. http://www.zillow.com/Gallery.htm?zpid=2146016195 And when you go to Google Maps, you can see the faint outline of the diagonal sidewalk, from the house to the corner. The house has a pending sale, listed at $24,900. A house with a little unknown history. Sign in the YardDid you notice the small sign in the yard? Along the sidewalk, left of the tree trunk. Wonder what it says. Room for rent? Sewing? Laundry?
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