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The Cardigan Cowboy: 1941
... at the Quarter Circle U, Brewster-Arnold Ranch Co. Birney, Montana." Our second visit with this sweater-wearing wrangler. Photo by Marion ... bitting. It can be hot as blazes -- or not -- in Montana summers, so the straw hat is cooler than the felt style hats. (The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2015 - 12:04pm -

August 1941. "Cowboy and horse at the Quarter Circle U, Brewster-Arnold Ranch Co. Birney, Montana." Our second visit with this sweater-wearing wrangler. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A Horse NamedBlasé. Handsome RakesTime to add the tag to this guy, because he is one. Sure, not in the iron worker way, but rather in the ranch hand way! [Done. - Dave] UnbridledInteresting that the horse is not wearing a bridle, but rather a halter. The bridle has a bit, which goes in the horse's mouth, and is used to control the animal. A halter is generally used only to lead them. Somebody more horse savvy than I am might be able to shed light on this. Hackamore not halterThe horse is not wearing a halter, but a hackamore bridle. The nosepiece is called a bosal. These are more common in California and Texas -- in the old California style, the young horses are worked in the hackamore, slowly transitioning to the large and heavy spade-style bitting. It can be hot as blazes -- or not -- in Montana summers, so the straw hat is cooler than the felt style hats. (The Gallery, Handsome Rakes, Horses, M.P. Wolcott)
On the Road: 1936
... Evans and family of Lemmon, South Dakota, near Missoula, Montana, Highway 10. Leaving the grasshopper-ridden and drought-stricken area ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/22/2012 - 7:43am -

July 1936. "Vernon Evans and family of Lemmon, South Dakota, near Missoula, Montana, Highway 10. Leaving the grasshopper-ridden and drought-stricken area for a new start in Oregon and Washington. Make about 200 miles a day in Model T Ford." Our second glimpse of these travelers, last seen here. Medium-format negative by Arthur Rothstein, Resettlement Administration. View full size. Re: SeinfeldesqueI thought Vernon's hair in the previous shot might have been caught with a gust of prairie wind, but this makes it seem more like a style choice! TrunkIt's hard to tell for sure, but it looks like the suitcase is resting on the running board, and tied with a wire to the door handle. Once it's affixed like that, how would the driver open the door to get out without interfering with the wire? Younger hereThey look really young in this picture, much younger than in the previously-posted picture, even though the pictures were all taken in the same session. It would be interesting to read a day-to-day journal of what happened in that Model T between SD and OR. Utility Pole Don't believe I've ever seen a square one made of wood. Clarence Vernon EvansTook me a little while to find our Vernon because his first name is Clarence. His wife is Flora. By 1940 he was working for the railroad and they had a daughter Ester Violet. He died in North Dakota 20 April 1998. Flora must have returned to Lemmon South Dakota where she died 23 Sept 2008. Five adults and 200 miles a daywas a lot of hard driving in a Model T Ford. As durable as these cars were, I’m sure these folks made it to their destination. This particular car looks like a 1923-1925 model. Driver's door not neededWith Model T and Model A Fords, it was no big deal if the driver's door didn't open. The first Ts had a "dummy" door (looked like a door, but didn't open), and the driver just slid over (the front seat pair was very narrow, anyhow, only about 44"). In sedans, the front seats could be tilted forward to allow entry to the rear. All five passengers could easily have entered and exited this car through the passenger-side door, leaving the driver's side running board free to carry luggage. Note the absence of hood sides on this car, must have made maintenance quicker and easier, even if it left the hood to flap in the wind. Driver's side doorBack in the day, it wasn't uncommon for people to use the passenger side door to enter/exit vehicles more often than not. If you were the driver you would enter on the passenger side, since it was the side adjacent to the curb, and then just slide over on the bench seat to get behind the wheel. It was considered "unsafe" enter/exit a vehicle from the street side where all the traffic was. That's why you'll see stuff blocking the driver's side door in old traveling photos. I had a 1950 Ford F1 Pickup for years, and it only had a keyhole for unlocking the door on the passenger side, because that's the door you would enter/exit from. This is my aunt and uncleIf finding Vernon was difficult because his name was Clarence then you would have had a hell of a time finding him if you heard us call him Pete! That is all I ever knew him by except by Aunt Flora who always called him Vern. I grew up a mile from them. These photos pop up every so often and they gained quite a lot of attention from them over the years. Even made it on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt. Very kind couple who led a simple life with dash of "Grapes of Wrath"!! (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Frozen Motors: 1942
March 1942. "Lewistown, Montana. Used car lot." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/24/2021 - 11:38am -

March 1942. "Lewistown, Montana. Used car lot." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. Zero degreesand six volt batteries, what can go wrong? At least they're all stickshift and can be push started. VintageLove that a 1942 used car lot includes a tractor, road work equipment, farm implements, and an honest-to-God pre-horseless-carriage wagon. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Hotel Rainbow: 1941
... "Buildings on main street of ghost town. Judith Basin, Montana." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security ... View full size. Geyser MT It's Geyser, Montana. The bank building is still there. No Vacancy Except for Ghosts ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/14/2020 - 10:55am -

September 1941. "Buildings on main street of ghost town. Judith Basin, Montana." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Geyser MTIt's Geyser, Montana. The bank building is still there. No VacancyExcept for Ghosts and Spirits of the Night. VacancyThere's always room under the rainbow. First National BankA sturdy-looking brick building of fairly recent construction, but already an economy store, and then boarded-up windows. A sad, short life. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, M.P. Wolcott, Small Towns)
Blatz on Tap: 1939
Summer 1939. Butte, Montana. "Men lounging in front of the Arcade." 35mm negative by Arthur ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/20/2010 - 9:02pm -

Summer 1939. Butte, Montana. "Men lounging in front of the Arcade." 35mm negative by Arthur Rothstein, Resettlement Administration. View full size. Sock It To Me!Heh! Check out the socks on the guy in the lightest hat (5th from right) under the words "Butte Neon" -- now THAT is a bold choice in socks. It brings to mind Nathan Lane's character in "Birdcage" when he tried to look macho in a conservative suit, but he was wearing pink socks, saying: "Well, one does like to have a hint of color." "Where's the flood?"was heard more than 50 times already by the fellow under the "Butte Neon" sign by the time this photo was taken. "Wherever You Go...""I'm from Milwaukee, And I ought to know, It's 'Blatz', 'Blatz', 'Blatz' Beer, Wherever you go... Blatz is Milwaukee's finest beer!" (...or was that Schlitz?) HoseAh yes, the socks of yesteryear. The elastic threads at the top would get tired and the socks'd end up bunched under your heels. When you were miles from home, and walking. Blatz!OMG, my grandparents used to drink Blatz. What a name. TypesThe guy second from the left sure looks like W. C. Fields. Either that or Fred Mertz with a putty nose. To the right of him (under the B in Blatz) is a caricature of a French pickpocket or forger or out-of-work mime. And to our far left is an example of a college football player from the 20s who is now out of work and has lost weight. Tell me if you see Maggie comin'Second on the left has to be Jiggs. It's Modern!Not too many businesses advertise that way anymore. How many people today think about whether or not they are "modern"? Why do I remember this?I'm from Milwaukee And I oughta know That Blatz beer tastes great Wherever you go All Blatz is draft-brewed That's why you hear Blatz is Milwaukee's Finest beer! (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein)
Zaza: 1939
Summer 1939. "Amusements at carnival, Bozeman, Montana." Zaza in Bozeman -- has a certain ring to it, no? But we digress. Pony ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2010 - 11:00am -

Summer 1939. "Amusements at carnival, Bozeman, Montana." Zaza in Bozeman -- has a certain ring to it, no? But we digress. Pony up a dime or move along. 35mm negative by Arthur Rothstein, Resettlement Administration. View full size. Calling Preston Sturges!Barbra Stanwyck is in there dancing, and Henry Fonda just bought a ticket. Sturges had bounced around all over the country in his youth, and had seen what America looks like. Consider, if you will --I think Rod Serling is standing just off camera. Step right this way, boys.I find this photo fascinating - wish it were a bit larger. Zaza(?) is an interesting study, what with the furtive glance, the suggestion of small town mousiness coupled with a bit of a hard edge, the high collared cape and an impressive pair of mitts! Easy to imagine her gentleman friend being the slicked down barker or perhaps Bruno the Strongman. And that cowboy would do well to keep his hand on his wallet, lest it wanders off on its own. A classic shot that looks as though it might have been posed, but doubtless wasn't. Hats off to Arthur Rothstein. Little EgyptHurry, hurry, hurry!! Step right up and see Little Egypt do the dance of the pyramids. She walks, she talks, she crawls on her belly like a reptile. Just one thin dime, one tenth of a dollar, to discover the delights of Little Egypt. Gone, Baby, GoneThis is from a world that has so completely vanished in one lifetime that it boggles the mind. (I admit that I first imagined Bluto, Wimpy, Popeye and Olive Oyl inhabiting this scene.) ZazaLife magazine had an article about a Zaza in January of 1939. ZaZa the Female Freakhttp://www.sideshowworld.com/blowoffMlle.html Long Tall SallyWilly J. Jones ran the girlie revue the year we went to Canada. Long Tall Sally does a dance back in the alley, she wears a rose here, a rose there and a rose right where you're looking at young fellow and that ain't cigarette smoke coming out of your mouth! Hurry, Let's Go Now! We used to go in and catch an act while on break. Willy didn't like us doing that because he said that leaving the show when our break was over, people would see us and think the show was no good and we were walking out, making it harder to build a tip. this was in 1972? We played the Canadian Fair Circuit, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Red Deer, Prince Albert and a couple of others I can't remember. These old carnival photos are great! Life lessonsI love you, Shorpy. I never know what interesting things I will learn here! Following the link to the 1939 edition of Life, I was fascinated enough to look through the rest of the magazine. The Letters to the Editor debating the need for military buildup and the unlikelihood of an attack on America gave me chills. Had history classes put such a human face on past events, I might have been a more attentive student. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein)
Langley Field: 1942
... for this photo. Car headlights? It brings to mind the Montana cowboys photo seen previously on Shorpy. [Below, a glimpse of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 3:28pm -

May 1942. "Here's our mission." A combat crew receives final instructions just before taking off in a mighty YB-17 bomber from the bombardment squadron base at Langley Field, Virginia, nation's oldest air base. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Alfred Palmer for the Office of War Information. ShoesIs the second man from the right wearing wing-tip shoes? Looks like it to me. I know officers had to buy their own uniforms, so their uniforms weren't necessarily G.I., but wing-tips? Weren't there rules beyond the color specification of brown? Langley CrewI'm curious about how these fliers were illuminated for this photo. Car headlights? It brings to mind the Montana cowboys photo seen previously on Shorpy. [Below, a glimpse of Alfred Palmer's floodlight. - Dave] Stunning imageThe composition and lighting in this photo are beautiful. Pinks and brown shoesI agree, although I've heard that old school pilots (pre WW-II) would buy a pair of cowboy boots upon graduation from UPT. Seems like the flight engineer, or whoever has the greasy overalls, is wearing boots with undershot heels. FYI pinks is a term used for the tan twills used up to the 60's. They seemed to take on a pinkish cast in some light. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Alfred Palmer, Aviation, WW2)
Shoulda Been a Cowgirl: 1941
... U Ranch at Crow Indian fair. Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security ... before the storm A relaxing summer day on a ranch in Montana, but this atmosphere would evaporate in three months -- as would the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/04/2018 - 8:54pm -

August 1941. "Dudes from Quarter Circle U Ranch at Crow Indian fair. Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Calm before the stormA relaxing summer day on a ranch in Montana, but this atmosphere would evaporate in three months -- as would the "dude" revenue for such ranches for the next four years. Real Blue JeansThose are some vintage Levi's waist overalls right there! Coulda and woulda as wellBut then came the war and she ended up a machinist. They did it anyway.Fenced her in, that is. (The Gallery, M.P. Wolcott)
Pan-American: 1935
... on a bicycle back in the 1970s including a parts of Montana and Wyoming in 1976. Gee, I wonder why my knees hurt so much these ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/18/2015 - 7:32pm -

        Ready for international bicycle ride. Henry G. Slaughter of Washington, supported by those interested in publicizing the Inter-American Highway, prepares to leave for a trip which will carry him, if he is successful, down into the tropics through Central America to the Argentine. November 23, 1935. Washington, D.C. "Henry G. Slaughter." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. BustA blurb in the Loredo Times from Feb. 6, 1936 reported that Mr. Slaughter decided to abandon "the idea." He had written a friend that he had encountered delays in entering Guatemala on account of very strict laws of entry, and now that the rainy season had begun in that country he had decided to abandon the trip. By June 1936, however, The Carthage Watchman reported that Henry and his handlebar-based typewriter were about to make a second attempt. Foot HelpI have no idea what was available back in the day, but riding without at least toe clips makes it a lot harder when climbing. I logged many thousand miles on a bicycle back in the 1970s including a parts of Montana and Wyoming in 1976. Gee, I wonder why my knees hurt so much these days? If you look hardyou can see the revolution counter on the front fork and the pin to turn it on one of the spokes. I'll wager -I'll bet that he doffs his necktie before he reaches San Luis Obispo. [Which would have been a major detour on a trip from D.C. to Argentina. - Dave] Wobble InstabilityYou can pile any amount of stuff as high as you want on a bicycle so long as it doesn't flex under side forces. Otherwise the bike goes unstable. The front bag looks bad in this regard unless it's all rigid. Also it blocks his light from shining on the road, which in 1935 is surely all potholes. So I'd guess he didn't make it, unless he piled the front bag in the back and strapped it down. Incomplete PreparationThis guy isn't fully prepared for such a long trip and doesn't appear to understand what's cool. For example, he has no streamers coming out of his handlebars, and no playing cards rubbing against his spokes. Nor does he have a hub polisher on either wheel. Not to mention he's not wearing a bow tie and a houndstooth suit. Pure Amateur Hour. I bet he didn't make it. Story of EvolutionEarly nerd. Panama or BustHenry had just left San Antonio, Texas and bound for Panama a week after this photo, Methinks there are some inaccuracies abounding. See attached article from the San Antonio Light, published 30 November 1935. Not So Fast!Seems Henry did make it as far as Panama. May of 1936 had him in front of the US Capitol after a 3400 mile trip. He made the front page of the Erie County Independent. (NY) At that point he has a typewriter attached to his handlebars to ". . . type notes. . . " - I bet the paper was beat up by the bottom of the page. Pith Helmet and Linemans bootsJust like they use in the Tour de France. Wobble InstabilityForgive me for posting twice, but rhhardin's comment about Wobble Instability reminded me of the enormous front basket I had on my one speed J.C. Higgins nerd bike when I was a kid so I could deliver papers. It had so much weight forward, especially with a load of papers, that I had to be extremely careful making turns, and I dumped it more than once. I learned to hate that hill I had to climb halfway through my route, and envied those "rich kids" who had parents that could afford one of them "English racers". (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
On the Road: 1936
July 1936. "Drought refugees from Glendive, Montana, leaving for Washington state." View full size. Medium format ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 10:51am -

July 1936. "Drought refugees from Glendive, Montana, leaving for Washington state." View full size. Medium format nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein. 16-1616Cool plate. Hope they saved it. Dodge Brothers truck1920's model (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Great Depression)
Behind the Scenes: 1938
... chassis. Bargain Basement Are you sure this is not Montana? I see Butte. At least we are not seeing junk this time. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 10:38am -

September 1938. Westover, West Virginia. Marion Post Wolcott and her intrepid camera head downstairs: "Miner takes shower, which he built in the cellar of his home." View full size. Medium-format negative, Farm Security Administration. Who'll Hold the Camera?And the next photo shows Marion wedged under his chassis. Bargain BasementAre you sure this is not Montana? I see Butte. At least we are not seeing junk this time. Seriously, why put a shower downstairs? This has to be one of the oddest pictures you have unearthed yet. [Probably because there's no bathroom upstairs. - Dave] Basement ShowerMany miners, farmers and others who get very dirty at work have showers in the basement so that they don't spread the coal dust/dirt through the house. Basement ShowerMy grandfather built a shower in the basement of his family's farmhouse in New Martinsville, WV back in the 40's. Until the late fifties that was the only bathroom plumbing in the house. A two-tub sink and a full mirror, along with a medicine cabinet and shelf for towels stand beside it. It's still where we're instructed to go when we get dirty working 365 acres of land. This picture is every bit of familiar to me. Mining PhotosOne of the most extensive collections of Mining Photography and mining artifacts is located within the West Virginia State Archives and State Museum Collection at the Cultural Center in Charleston. I have compared the faces of miners in the hand-loading era with those of sailors in the sail era. They are strikingly similar. I guess the stress and strain of an extremely dangerous, and physically demanding job took its toll all who were there. [Was there something memorable about this face in particular? - Dave] (The Gallery, M.P. Wolcott, Mining)
The Buggy Company: 1903
... the photo on Shorpy, I watched an old Errol Flynn movie "Montana", and there was "Cuddles" playing his usual lovable self. For anyone ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 6:31pm -

Knoxville, Tennessee, circa 1903. Yet another view of that bustling commercial artery known as Gay Street, home to Broyles, McClellan & Lackey, dealers in Seeds, Fertilizers, Farm Machinery and Buggies, Harness and Horse Goods. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. You'd haftabust moves purtier 'n Fred Astaire to get across the street without brown shoes! Plus 108, minus a few buildingsApproximate present-day view of this shot. The buildings in the foreground are long gone, but several at the far end of the street are still present, in most of their former glory. (Note that the modern buildings look wider; that's just an artifact of the camera perspective.) SZ SakallApparently vacationed in Knoxville. Must be lunchtimebecause there is not a street sweeper in sight, and horse apples aplenty! Horse GoodsThat would be the stuff on the cobblestone? Aerial Viewhttp://binged.it/uSflYn Clearly the Payne and Brisco buildings are gone, however the next one with four sets of three windows still survives. The next two are uncertain from. There's a slender building that perhaps has had a new facade and perhaps the next part is just covered up with "New. Urban. Living" covering. Anyhow, the Bing "Birds Eye" view of many cities provides often provides a super image. Note in the upper-right corner arrows to rotate the view to see an area from the North, South, East and West. Yep - that's CuddlesTo JohnHoward - I had noticed the S.Z. Sakall look-alike but didn't comment as I didn't think other people would remember him (happy you did). Strange thing is that the same night I saw the photo on Shorpy, I watched an old Errol Flynn movie "Montana", and there was "Cuddles" playing his usual lovable self. For anyone not familiar with him, he played Rick's bartender in Casablanca. +112Below is the same view from July of 2015. (The Gallery, DPC, Horses, Knoxville, Stores & Markets)
Just Ridin' a Beaver
This was taken in Eastern Montana around 1927-29. Mary, my grandmother riding the beaver, was born in ... would be dead..... This photo would have been taken in Montana at a log cabin in the hills. These folks (and my father as well)would ... 
 
Posted by pcayer - 10/29/2007 - 10:53pm -

This was taken in Eastern Montana around 1927-29. Mary, my grandmother riding the beaver, was born in 1924. Not absolutely sure of her age in the photo. Aunt Del is hanging out hamming it for the photo. Could just see..playing "fetch" with the beaver. Not only would there be the wait for the poor thing to find the stick, you couldn't be sure how much of it you'd have left on his return. Is Bucky dead? (in theIs Bucky dead? (in the photo, I mean.) Yes, bucky would be dead.....This photo would have been taken in Montana at a log cabin in the hills. These folks (and my father as well)would have been trappers and cattle ranchers. The photo would be showing off the nice beaver pelt as well as the cute daughters. So, yes, I am sure "bucky" is dead. Beaver, both then and now, is used to make fine felt, particularly for hats and was in great demand in the 1920s. I decided to look at my post again, as my Aunt Del passed away today and oddly enough, her bother Bud died today as well. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Camp Flying Eagles: 1908
... there would be no Boy Scouts. Burnham wore a hat with a "Montana peak" we now know that as a campaign hat. B-P adopted this hat for it's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/27/2019 - 3:24pm -

Connecticut circa 1908. "A tepee, Wyndygoul -- Camp Flying Eagles." Camping on the estate of Ernest Thompson Seton, one of the founders of the Boy Scout movement. 8x10 glass negative, G.G. Bain Collection. View full size. Why Me!The Chief is probably thinking I could have been riding in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and my parents sent me here!!! O ConnecticutAt least in a certain demographic, certainly not. Sullen teenage boysLooking at the "chief" in the background there, I guess sullenness in teenagers is hardly new. ScoutingI was inclined to doubt you about "one of the founders," but of course you are correct. Scouting began in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell, Lieutenant General in the British Army, held the first Scouting encampment at Brownsea Island in England. Baden-Powell wrote the principles of Scouting in "Scouting for Boys" (London, 1908), based on his earlier military books, with influence and support of Frederick Russell Burnham (Chief of Scouts in British Africa), Seton of the Woodcraft Indians, Smith of the Boys' Brigade, and his publisher Pearson. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting I was a scout myself, from about age 7 to 16. Amplification.Burnham was an American born in Tivoli Minnesota. He taught Baden-Powell scout craft. Without Burnham there would be no Boy Scouts. Burnham wore a hat with a "Montana peak" we now know that as a campaign hat. B-P adopted this hat for it's practicality. The BSA was founded in 1910. We are coming up to the anniversary of our first 100 years. 35 years a Scout and still counting. Bored still todayAs a Boy Scout leader I see the same joyful bearing on my current crop of scouts. They miss their iPods and cellphones. (The Gallery, Boy Scouts, Camping, G.G. Bain, Native Americans, Sports)
Big Sky: 1939
... on Henry Sheffels' 6,000-acre wheat ranch. Cascade County, Montana." Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm ... this photo for a minute I realized that my father was in Montana with the CCC around this time. I believe he was near Missoula which ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/12/2017 - 2:53pm -

May 1939. "Grain elevators on Henry Sheffels' 6,000-acre wheat ranch. Cascade County, Montana." Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Civilian Conservation CorpsAfter looking at this photo for a minute I realized that my father was in Montana with the CCC around this time. I believe he was near Missoula which doesn't look that far away from this location. Where you can seeyour dog run away for three days. IronicScheffel means "bushel" in German. Good name for a wheat farmer, I think. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Arthur Rothstein, Railroads, Rural America)
Deadwood From Forest Hill: 1888
... and glass insulators (1904 began use in western SD/eastern montana)in the second picture. i wonder if your date is a bit out since the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/19/2014 - 10:29am -

Deadwood, South Dakota, from Forest Hill. View full size. Circa 1888 photograph by John C.H. Grabill. pollus telephonensisthere is a plethora of "pollus telephonensis" in both photos, complete with up to 24 lines and glass insulators (1904 began use in western SD/eastern montana)in the second picture. i wonder if your date is a bit out since the telephone didn't hit that area until after the turn of the century and individual telegraph lines didn't run to houses. mines didn't run gang lines. you'll also note a fair amount more tent activity in the 1880s. so, you might need to correct your date a bit -- that kind of miss is a bit sloppy. Shorpy's reply: The Deadwood views by Grabill are all from a well-documented series of photographs shot from 1887 to 1892 and are part of the Library of Congress archives. There are more here. As you can see at the bottom of the image, the photo has a copyright date of 1888. Read more on the Library of Congress site. "The one hundred and eighty-eight photographs sent by John C.H. Grabill to the Library of Congress for copyright protection between 1887 and 1892 are thought to be the largest surviving collection of this gifted, early Western photographer's work. Grabill's remarkably well-crafted, sepia-toned images capture the forces of western settlement in South Dakota and Wyoming and document its effects on the area's indigenous communities." Deadwood's Telephone ExchangeDeadwood had the first telephone exchange in the state of South Dakota. Established by Paul Rewman in March of 1878 ... More here: www.deadwood.net/info.htm So the 1888 date for this photo is certainly supportable. re: pollus telephonensisI think the commenter forgot about the earlier use of the telegraph, which also used wires and glass insulators. Shorpy's reply: Actually they are power lines. The commenter below emailed us to say: "Those are power lines from a small hydro-plant for one of the first electric winch systems in the mines -- and Deadwood effectively exploited it for town use as well. The churches also match to a company that shipped by way of rail from Chicago before selling out to Sears to provide kits. I stand corrected and a bit redfaced." So thanks, Tim, for the update. (The Gallery, Deadwood, John Grabill)
Con Carny: 1939
Summer 1939. Carnival at Bozeman, Montana. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/25/2008 - 10:34pm -

Summer 1939. Carnival at Bozeman, Montana. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. Four-Legged GirlThe poster on the right advertises "Betty Lou, Four Legged Girl" Here is Betty Lou's bio from www.thehumanmarvels.com and corroborated by several additional citations: "Betty Lou Williams was born Lillie B Williams in Albany, Georgia on January 10, 1932. She was the daughter of a poor farming family and the youngest of twelve children. She was also born attached at the side to a parasitic sibling that consisted of two legs, one tiny arm-like appendage and a more developed arm with three fingers. Despite the fact that the head of her twin was embedded deep within her abdomen, Betty Lou was a very healthy girl and doctors proclaimed that there was no reason she could not live a long and healthy life. She was originally discovered at the age of one by a professional showman named Dick Best. Best changed the name of the little girl to Betty Lou – perhaps in an attempt to promote the parasite as a male, a lie that was popular in parasitic twin displays – and he began to display the infant in his New York Museum. It was there that she drew the attention of Ripley. Working for Ripley, at the age of two, Betty Lou made an astounding $250 a week. As she grew into adulthood, she made over $1000 a week. With her earnings she purchased a 260 acre ranch for her parents and sent all eleven of her siblings to college. The jump in Betty Lou’s earnings was due in part to the fact that, as she matured, she developed into quite an attractive woman. Her beauty and generosity drew many male suitors and, at the age of twenty-three, she became engaged to one of her admirers. However the husband-to-be was little more than a heartbreaking thief. He left Betty Lou taking a great deal of money with him and, distraught over the breakup, Betty suffered a severe asthma attack at her home in Trenton, New Jersey. Betty Lou suffocated to death at the age of twenty-three." Photos of Betty Lou from childhood to adulthood can be found at: http://www.phreeque.com/bettie_lou_williams.html Goober Pea Dark's Pandemonium CarnivalThe very first thing I thought of when I saw this was "Something Wicked This Way Comes." Great story and a great photo. Popeye?Thank you, Gooberpea, for the info on Betty Lou. That's very interesting stuff! I do have a question though - are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is Popeye the Sailor also in the banner with Betty Lou? I wonder why? Advertising gimmick, perhaps? Step Right Up...Yes, Laura, Popeye appears to be shilling for Betty Lou, the Four-Legged Girl on the poster. It was (and is) common to use characters from popular comics to sell products – Popeye was at the peak of his popularity in 1939, so it makes sense that the carnival would use his image (unlicensed, I’m sure) to promote Betty Lou. It is interesting to see the barker with what appears to be a microphone at the entrance to ZaZa’s tent. There is a speaker mounted on the stanchion between ZaZa and Betty Lou’s posters. The barker is looking to his left, in apparent direct eye-contact with the gentleman in the black coat and hat. ZaZa’s poster depicts her in the nude – or nearly so, and the banner on the right says “exotic” something or another…wonder if she was a stripper or hootchie-coo dancer? The group of guys with their hand in their pockets seem to be on a bee-line for her tent. “Step right up and see the Enchantress of the East, the Amaaaazing ZaZa! She whirls, she twirls, she offers you all a peak at the pulchritude beneath her veils…” Betty LouFascinating! Thanks for posting the story, Goober Pea. I also find it interesting that the poster appears to depict her as extremely Caucasian. Maybe the farm boys don't pay to see an African-American woman with four legs? (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Sports)
Store Greeter: 1942
September 1942. "Park County, Montana. Oat harvest." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Office of ... to be quite a ways up? Who knew? In parts of Montana in the recent past, oats were grown in town and the reaper was pulled ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/18/2017 - 11:53am -

September 1942. "Park County, Montana. Oat harvest." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Milnut"Milnut" was (and still is, under the name "Milnot") "a compound of condensed skimmed milk and coconut oil made in imitation or semblance of condensed milk or cream." Precariously perchedAnd it appears to be quite a ways up? Who knew?In parts of Montana in the recent past, oats were grown in town and the reaper was pulled by teams of beagles! (The Gallery, Dogs, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Skeet's Cafe: 1942
August 1942. "Dillon, Montana. Street corner. Dillon is the trading center for a prosperous cattle ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/06/2013 - 11:55am -

August 1942. "Dillon, Montana. Street corner. Dillon is the trading center for a prosperous cattle and sheep country." The cafe seen earlier here. Medium-format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information. View full size. Same motorcycle in both pics?I see that there is a motorcycle parked in almost the same spot in both pics. I wonder if the owner worked in the building, or just ate lunch there a lot. [The two photos were taken the same day a relatively short time apart from one another. Lee had one camera loaded with black-and-white 120 roll film and another large-format camera capable of taking Kodachrome sheet film. - tterrace] Street view?I was curious to see if I could find this building on Google Street View, but... [See the link to the other photo in the caption; the comments to it include a Google street view. - tterrace] Check out them dungarees! Late '30s Harley-Davidson VLThe bike is likely a Harley VL, and it looks to be a later model (1935 or 1936) from the shape of the sheet metal. What is it?What is the extra red light fixture on the same pole as the corner street lamp for? Red light In the days before radios in police cars or officers on patrol carrying radios some police headquarters would turn on a light on the street and the officer would either contact or report to headquarters. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Motorcycles, Russell Lee)
Military Exercise: 1917
... man has a campaign hat (a.k.a. Smokey Bear hat) with the "Montana" peak; this was standard issue for Army and Marines until about 1942. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 11:05am -

1917 or 1918. "Military training." Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Flaps extended"Aviation cadets in the Army Signal Corps receive their first flying lesson." Badger, Badger, MushroomFlying Aces"Men, we don't have the budget for each of you to have your own Flying Machine. But the good news is, the enemy is easily fooled when we assume the flying position!" Campaign hatsNotice each man has a campaign hat (a.k.a. Smokey Bear hat) with the "Montana" peak; this was standard issue for Army and Marines until about 1942. These started becoming obsolete during World War I because they were incompatible with steel helmets. The French-origin "overseas" cap eventually replaced the campaign hat because it was flat and stored easily. And look at the guy in the front, just above the small tree and to the right; he looks like he either has really tight quads or had a wee bit too much booze at the dance hall last night! I see KP duty in his future...hee hee! "If we ever fight the Russians...""...you'll need to know how to dance like this." Jump School"Men, you will attend Jump School for ONE WEEK!" (Incredulous gasps, groans.) "Men! At the end of that week, all survivors will be issued PARACHUTES!" (Stunned silence.) Exercise or audition?Are they exercising or auditioning for the dance corps for the next revival of "Toodles"? Don't be in a hurry to grow upI like the (apparently) young boy just visible behind the big tree. This war will be over by the time he's old enough, but he'll be in time for the next one. Buns of SteelNice butts on the officers in the foreground. I guess those Buns Of Steel sessions really pay off. (The Gallery, Harris + Ewing, WWI)
Bathtime for Joey: 1943
... size. Epilogue: Joe, a lawyer, died in March 2000 in Montana. His dad, Hugh, died two years later. Lynn, a mother of eight, passed ... move in the seventies when she ran for the state Senate in Montana--and nearly won. If it had been after Watergate instead of before, she ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:01am -

December 1943. "Lynn Massman, wife of a second class petty officer studying in Washington, D.C., giving eight weeks old Joey his daily bath." The Massman family was the subject of dozens of photos shot by Esther Bubley for the Office of War Information. View full size. Epilogue: Joe, a lawyer, died in March 2000 in Montana. His dad, Hugh, died two years later. Lynn, a mother of eight, passed away in 1983 after a very active life. Click here for remarks by her son Bascomb. Any info on Lynn?When did she die? [In 1983 (see above). More on the Massmans in this thread. - Dave] Lynn MassmanLynn died before her sister Elaine passed away in 2001. Elaine's obituary. [Thanks, Joe. - Dave] Lynn's passingI'm Lynn's sixth child. Her fourth son. She died in 1983 of cancer. She would have made a great old lady. [Thanks for filling in the gaps. - Dave] More on LynnThe confusion could have been caused by her name change. When Lynn died she had not only remarried to Julius "Babe" Stoner, but she had taken to spelling her name Lyn. She made that move in the seventies when she ran for the state Senate in Montana--and nearly won. If it had been after Watergate instead of before, she probably would have won. Re: JoeyThe size of Joey at eight weeks doesn't surprise me. All three of my sons were also chunky at eight weeks. Their pediatrician instructed me to start my sons on baby cereal at two weeks with pureed fruits and vegetables. By around six weeks, I was instructed to add pureed beef roast or chicken into their cereal for dinner. Of course this was served in tiny amounts off of a baby spoon. My sons also slept through the night around six weeks of age. Now I have three strong teenage sons and not one of them has an allergy. Go figure! JoeyJust have to ask - are you sure that's an 8 WEEK old baby and not 8 MONTHS??? I'm sorry to question, but my baby is just about to turn 18 months next week and she was not anywhere near the size of Joey in this picture until 8 or 9 months, and she was 8 lb 2.5 oz at birth and has remained in the higher percentiles of weight & height to date! [Eight weeks seems to be correct. Joey was born in October 1943. - Dave] Joey MassmanThe Massmans are all big folks. Joe was 6 foot 2 and about 275 pounds before the cancer thinned him down in his last weeks. I'm 6'5 and 210. My daughters were both over 10 pounds at birth. I always say "Massman" is just another way of saying "big guy." (The Gallery, D.C., Esther Bubley, Kids, Massman, WW2)
Co-op Gas: 1941
... elevators in Minot, North Dakota, dude ranchers in Birney, Montana and a farm family in Laredo, and main street in Sheridan, Wyoming. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/13/2020 - 8:31pm -

August 1941. "Cooperative gas station in Minneapolis, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Co-Op Doo-WopThis photo has a very 1950s look to it. I suppose life, fashion, architecture and design in particular, took a break during the '40s while all efforts focused on WWII. Sometimes I wonder how different the 1950s would have been if the war had never taken place. I only know of co-ops in New York CityI thought co-ops were member owned apartments in the Big Apple. Well, they are. I didn't know about other co-op ventures, like this service station. By the way, if you look by the left shoulder of the attendant, you'll see Walker Mufflers for sale. I did a search on Walker exhaust and muffler systems, and by golly, they are still in business. The things you find out here -- Neon TowerI'd love to see a night photo of this Moderne gas station, since the tower has lots of neon tubing on it. There is some neon around the overhang as well. Canada has lots of Co-op gas stations, particularly on the Prairies and in the West. Here is a list of Co-op stations on Vancouver Island, with the Canadian term "gas bar" used. Fill it Up?Just think, most people under 40 or so have never had a person come out and fill up their tank at the gas station.* I remember the first time I had to do it myself. It was down south in 1976. We ended up with self-serve up north where I lived a few years later. [*Unless you live in New Jersey or Oregon. - Dave] TiresI remember when they came spiral-wrapped in brown paper. August 1941Four more months that pile of tires will be just a memory. All the rubber for the war effort among a host of other sacrifices by Americans and their families. Co-OpedThere was a Co-Op gas station in my home town in central Ohio in the 1950s and '60s. It was part of the Farm Bureau agricultural supplies center, which was run as a cooperative with local farmers. CO-OP ragtopWow! All the way from Virginia in a 1941 Buick convertible (rag top). Probably not many convertibles in Minneapolis due to the short top down season and long northern winters. Pre-war good times. Red River Co-opThe full name of the Co-op gas stations and supermarkets in Manitoba is Red River Co-op. Photos below are of Winnipeg, my hometown. The Virginian brideA plausible candidate for the driver of the car in the Minneapolis gas station in August 1941 with Virginia plates is photographer Post Wolcott. Before the war and rationing FSA photographers drove more than they hopped trains. We know Marion Post had wed Leon Oliver Wolcott by August because her colleague John Vachon reported the news to his wife Penny in a June 27, 1941 letter. Her groom was a deputy director of a section of the Department of Agriculture, and in her 1965 oral history she explained that her marriage came with two children and a farm. Her Smithsonian bio places the farm in Virginia. Before August 1941 was over, her car had reached grain elevators in Minot, North Dakota, dude ranchers in Birney, Montana and a farm family in Laredo, and main street in Sheridan, Wyoming. Massachusetts has a local option Attendant required to fill tank in the next town over. Yeah, it's weird. Since only the folks who live there are inexperienced at filling their own tanks. The rest of us come from places where we're trusted to manage on our own. It's a "safety" thing, I guess, like the stickers requiring you to turn off your cellphone while filling, which seem to have disappeared. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, M.P. Wolcott, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
TTerrace Terraces: 1979
... a little garden behind a little house in a little town in Montana, but I remember sitting out there on summer evenings eating baby ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 10/01/2011 - 3:18pm -

Actually, my father's terraces, and there he is at the upper right, at age 77 still taking care of this whole place. Pretty much everything you see here exclusive of the house is his doing. The basic grading had been done by the time my folks bought the place in 1941, but over the years he put in all the pathways, stairs, trees, bushes and other plantings, here as well as the other half of the property. This just most of the back yard, site of the orchard and vegetable gardens. He's preparing one of the three tiers of the latter for planting. I think those are strawberries already sprouting. Later there'd be beans, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and squash. The fruit trees include apples, peaches, plums, prunes, apricots, figs and cherries. The one in the center casting a shadow on the bank of pink-blossoming oxalis is an avocado that grew for decades before finally producing some finger-sized fruit. A row of blackberries follows the stairway, which is lined by amaryllis. When, at the age of 11, I incorporated the yard as the City of Penton, I named those pathways, left to right: Plum Blvd., Compost Rd. (because the compost heaps used to be there) and Garage Ave. (because that's where the stairs went). The square thing above the avocado tree is the platform of my observatory. This Kodachrome slide was at the end of the roll, hence the phantom image of a batch tag or something at the right edge. View full size. A Natural TalentYour father was gifted as a born landscape architect, although I'm pretty sure he didn't consider himself as such. There is so much to see here, so many facets of gardening are represented and so much hard work that must have taken many years to develop, not to mention the physical effort and time he put in to beautify and create this bountiful backyard. My parents and grandparents did similar cultivation of the earth's rewards, nothing as elaborate as yours, but I did not inherit their penchant for growing things. I wonder if youngsters today even realize that most of their food comes from seeds that require loving care, rain and sunshine to grow into delicious nourishment and/or beautiful flowers (food for the soul). Your father had to be extremely proud of his creation, it is quite magnificent. What a wonderful place!This would have been an awesome playground for an imaginative kid. When I was a kid in the '60s we had a playhouse in our back yard and we made little trails to ride our bikes to and from the "house." It was nowhere near as big as this, though. It was also pretty much barren since we lived in the Mojave Desert. Olde SchoolYour dad was very traditional: you have land, you till it and raise food on it. No square meter was wasted. Classic. It's a great insight into your father and what life must have been like growing up. You were very lucky, Sir. Your beautiful little churchI looked for it but didn't see it in this picture. Was it in another part of the yard, or am I not looking in the right spot? What nice place to grow up. Teensy churchThe area with the church is down the hill beyond the left edge of the picture. It'd be obscured by trees and bushes and probably be too small to make out anyway, being only 18 inches tall at most. Oh, and in my recital of vegetables in the garden, I forgot asparagus. Yuck. A gardening dadTterrace, I love your photos! This reminds me of my dad, who was 74 in 1979. He and my mom both grew up on Norway's Atlantic coast, and my dad was always torn between being a fisherman and being a gardener. So he did both. Our garden was just a little garden behind a little house in a little town in Montana, but I remember sitting out there on summer evenings eating baby carrots, pulled from the ground and washed off under the hose; the Norwegian gooseberries when they were ripe; the beets and turnips and rutabagas and parsnips and all of those things nobody eats anymore. And right next to the garden was his smoker for trout and perch and salmon. Wow. I didn't realize how much I missed it all. Tterrace, you rock!tterrace, my only childhood regret is not having a kid like you with such an active imagination living next door. Or down the road, in my case [I grew up in the country with the nearest neighbor about 1/4 mile away]. I like the idea of making the backyard an incorporated city, and naming the "streets". Were you the mayor of Penton, or was that your dad's job? Anyway, keep those hits coming. Always a treat waiting to see what you'll come up with next. Why the oxalis?What was the reason behind the cultivation of oxalis? (We classify that as a weed Down Under.) Was it just that your dad hadn't cleared those garden beds for crops? Wherefore Oxalis?bhk: My father used to cultivate the slopes of the orchard area by turning over the soil - by hand, with a shovel - each spring in order to control the weeds. A lot of work, especially as one's age advanced. Hell, I griped plenty as a teen when he talked me into helping out. So planting oxalis, and in another area dichondra, accomplished the same thing but without the back-breaking labor. And it looked pretty. Al-Thib: I appointed myself City Manager and Fire Chief, but Mayor and Police Chief were elective offices; Father usually Mayor and Mother Police Chief. There; that ought to reveal something about our family. We also voted in weekly taxes for a while, 10 cents/head, which we later applied to the purchase of a barbecue - er, grill - as seen in an earlier submission of mine. Oxalis againMy mother used to hate Oxalis because when the leaves/stems were tugged from the soil, invariably the bulk of the little bulbs were left behind to sprout again. Poor Mum would get very frustrated if we kids tried to help by pulling out the plants! Continuity As glorious as these stepped gardens are, the emotionally upsetting part is wondering, 'What happens to my life's work once I'm not there to do it?' One can only hope there is a Sancho Panza in the wings to give worth to our endeavours. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Bell, Bark and Saddle: 1939
... to mess hall. Quarter Circle U Ranch, Big Horn County, Montana." Medium format negative by Arfer Ruffstein. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/02/2018 - 10:50pm -

June 1939. "Entrance to mess hall. Quarter Circle U Ranch, Big Horn County, Montana." Medium format negative by Arfer Ruffstein. View full size. Where You Buried the BoneI've only been up about five minutes this morning and must thank you for the first laugh of the day. "Arfer Ruffstein". DipoleThat appears to be an off-center-fed dipole antenna, which suggests a ham radio setup. Feeding a dipole off-center matches its impedance to 50 ohm coax, which is way too much trouble for just a receiver. Oh, I see.So I guess that's Pyewacket the dog? Unique RoofComplete with wild growth. Rockin' out?Never been out west; is that a rock roof and Rock Hudson's giant boot lying in the yard? What's the weird wood?Never seen spiraling wood grain such as that in the pole (or barkless tree trunk?) holding the dinner bell. Anyone got a guess what kind of tree it is--or is from? Eucalyptus PoleThe bell is mounted on a pole made from a eucalyptus trunk. Like sycamore, the outer bark peels off as those trees grow. AntennaI would have guessed a 20m Dipole antenna. That, along with 40m, was a popular band but it doesn't look long enough or high enough for 40m. I'd be curious to know what wire is going to the antenna. It looks like some kind of coax. I wouldn't have thought coax would have been available to the average person at the time, the same for 300 ohm twin lead, but the feed line looks round. It also looks like other antennas are going on over the the left. My Greatgrandpappy Told Me."Yes son a nailed horseshoe on a building draws good luck but never nail it upside down because all the luck falls out if you do." True story. And yes aenthal that be a eucalyptus trunk disguised as a bell tower. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Dogs)
"Wrecking": 1939
... 1939. "Blacksmith shop now used for auto repair. Glendive, Montana." A strong horseshoe motif here, architecturally speaking, in addition ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/09/2017 - 10:20am -

June 1939. "Blacksmith shop now used for auto repair. Glendive, Montana." A strong horseshoe motif here, architecturally speaking, in addition to the giant pile of actual horseshoes. Roofline of alphabetical anvils by Wile E. Coyote. "Wrecking" by "Joe Balison," who seems to be a fan of quote marks. Medium format negative by "Arthur Rothstein" for the "Farm Security Administration." View full size. The vanishing blacksmithMy father-in-law was born and grew up in Glendive. His father ran a cartage business with mules and he would accompany him for deliveries in neighboring towns. He told me that he would arrive in a new place, and would stop and listen. The banging and clanging of the blacksmith could be heard anywhere and indicated the center of activity in town. He always headed for the noise. He joined the army in 1938, and when he returned after the war, all the blacksmith shops were gone or repurposed. This photo is an example of the change. Anvils $Today just one of those anvils would be worth close to $1000. [Those are plaster anvils. -Dave] "Before" the "philistine" "Joe Balison"From a happier time, the C.S. Johnston Blacksmith shop, without any quotation marks and with all anvils still on parapet. CrisafulliCrisafulli Inc., a metal fabricator and pump manufacturer, is in business in Glendive. With that name and location there has to be a connection! GlendiveThe town has the distinction of being the smallest of the 210 television markets in the United States, according to Nielsen. It has 4,370 TV homes, well behind #209, which is North Platte, Nebraska, at 14,370. truck ID1928-1929 Ford. The front doors are Ford car; the rest of the illfitting body aftermarket or salvaged from another make. Any takers?I would bet big money the letters on those anvils were once horseshoes. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Horses)
Cam Ham: 1937
... one of the grandsons of Mr. and Mrs. Baker. He lives in Montana. I talked to his wife. The family recently discovered this photo, plus ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2018 - 12:02am -

November 1937. "Mrs. John Baker and baby on steps of farm home. Divide County, North Dakota." Photo by Russell Lee for the FSA. View full size. Still joy breaks throughDespite the obvious signs of poverty and a truly hard life being depicted here, the beautiful baby in this photo is genuinely smiling at the wind in her hair and the photographer. Hope springs eternal. BadlandsNow I have a good idea why my mother would never, ever speak of her life on the prairie in Saskatchewan during the Depression. Hormel? Armour?Getting old isn't easy. I took a quick peek at the photo's title and immediately began searching for the "can ham", something I haven't seen in years. Only later, after searching futilely for the tasty treat's container, did I reread the title. Cute kid. Cutie PIEThat little one is a doll. DarwinismMy gosh, those steps leading off the porch are more terrifying than the porch itself. Talk about survival of the fittest -- I am in awe of these folks! Scary StairsThose crude stairs look dangerous. I hope the happy and well-cared for baby went on to live a more prosperous life. BrrrI'll bet that cabin was a cold place to winter in ND. Looks like a good wind would wipe it out. The John Baker family, Divide County, North DakotaThis is Joe Manning. I located one of the grandsons of Mr. and Mrs. Baker. He lives in Montana. I talked to his wife. The family recently discovered this photo, plus nine others taken by Russell Lee, and shared them with most of the other living descendants. She told me that the old house is still there. She said that she would tell her husband about my phone call, but that he may not have time to get back to me for several months. It's haying season! Good looking family1940 Census data suggests the mother is Rosa (about 47 in 1937) and the child is Lois (1). Additional family members photographed in the series by Russell Lee include children Clarence (16), Rose (11), Perry (9), Pearl (6), and Virginia (3). (The Gallery, Kids, Russell Lee)
Scandals of 1939
Summer 1939. "Girlie show at carnival. Bozeman, Montana." 35mm negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/20/2010 - 6:59pm -

Summer 1939. "Girlie show at carnival. Bozeman, Montana." 35mm negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. What an experienceAm I the only one who wonders what a girlie show in 1939 Bozeman might be like? Mad MenThe barker looks like Don Draper. If the writers ever see this picture they'll make it into a a flashback. FantasticThis is a great image on many levels. Just goes to show that for all of the fancy gear you can buy today, a great image has no regard for the tools. Mature ContentI suspect that the girlie show might well have consisted of a young lady putting on stockings in her undies. Anything else would be oh, soooo shocking! Boys meet GirlieGirlie shows were still happening in 1969 at the Hartford County Fair in Indiana. I know because my buddy and I who were 15 at the time (and probably looked about 12) managed to pass for 18 and get into the most wonderful exhibition of feminine charms that either of us had ever experienced! (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Sports)
Clicquot Club: 1913
... style with the billow pockets. Some of the hats are the Montana peak-style campaign hats, introduced in 1911. The canvas style ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2012 - 1:17pm -

"Boy Scouts, 1913." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Uniforms and accoutermentsThe blouses (or tunics) appear to be the M1909 spec. 1038 style with the billow pockets. Some of the hats are the Montana peak-style campaign hats, introduced in 1911. The canvas style leggings are the M1907 mounted. By 1913, the year this photo was taken, the M1912 had become the standard military uniform. The M1912, M1917, and M1918 would all serve through the Great War. The M1910 leggings, and both wool and leather puttees would become standard. The campaign hat would remain in service through 1916, but most would not travel with the doughboys to Europe due to the bulk packing necessary to preserve its shape while being shipped. As near as I can tell from the photo, the epulates [epaulets] have been removed from each uniform, which is how they were demilled for civilian use. Boy Scout ranksThe boy on the far right has the scroll of a second class scout on his left sleeve. The third boy from the left appears to have the fleur-de-lis of a tenderfoot on his left pocket flap. The tall boy with the white shirt open at the throat also appears to have a rank on his coat pocket, but I can't make it out. Can we get a closeup? Scout CoutureLove those garden-gnome hats. Scout Uniforms, Cont'dIn response to the observations made by the US Victory Museum, the uniforms worn by these boys were manufactured specifically for the Scouts starting in 1910 by Sigmund Eisner Co. of Red Bank, N.J. Although Eisner also manufactured for the military, these were not made-over uniforms, never had epaulets, and were stamped and labeled on the inside of the garment with the Boy Scout seal. The hat, based on the "boss of the plains" design, was manufactured and labeled for the Scouts also starting in 1910. This was the official headwear of the Scouts until 1948, when it was replaced by the garrison cap (which had been used from the early 1940's as alternate headwear). The Scouts did make use of the military M1907 leggings until about 1915, when they changed to the "improved" canvas leggings with a single zigzag lace in the front, and woolen puttees and finally long socks. (The Gallery, Boy Scouts, Harris + Ewing)
The Lonesome Road: 1941
August 1941. "Road with Homestead, Montana, and grain elevators on the horizon." Medium format negative by Marion ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/06/2019 - 7:01pm -

August 1941. "Road with Homestead, Montana, and grain elevators on the horizon." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Still a lonely placeSo isolated that even Google has not visited. The grain silos appear to be present (there is no "street view"). The road is "Homestead Rd"/County Route 350 you are looking eastward towards Homestead. I don't know where these folks shop for groceries -- the nearest town of any size, with stores, is Williston, North Dakota. Very isolated. [They shop here. -Dave] I can hear it nowAre we there yet? Where's the curve?The photo had to be taken looking east from Route 350 west of Homestead, but there's no curve in the road now. Two of the grain elevators are still there. Lonely RoadIndeed - hasn’t changed. Try the Great Basin - More nothing. Pole Pecker Trouble A woodpecker, on the pole nearest. Its mere presence disturbs the peace. What's That in the Road? A Head?Whatever it is must be about 12 miles away (The Gallery, Landscapes, M.P. Wolcott, Railroads)
Stewart's Castle: 1900
... 1893. The house was sold to Senator William A. Clark from Montana, who demolished it with the intention of building a new residence; ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 11:47am -

Washington circa 1900. "Stewart's Castle, Dupont Circle." The William Morris Stewart house on Massachusetts Avenue, designed by Adolph Cluss, shortly before it was demolished. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Stewart's CastleStewart’s Castle at 1913 Massachusetts Avenue was built in 1873 for California [actually Nevada] Senator William Morris Stewart, who made his fortune in gold mining. Despite architect Adolph Cluss's intentions to imitate the wealth and glamour of European nobility, the castle proved to be too much of a financial burden and was leased to the Chinese government from 1886 to 1893. The house was sold to Senator William A. Clark from Montana, who demolished it with the intention of building a new residence; however, the land remained vacant until he sold it in 1921, and a bank was subsequently erected on the site.                 -- Washington Places (University of Virginia) BurnedAccording to the New York Times of December 31, 1879, the house burned down. [The NYT article seems a bit confused. Iowa Circle (now called Logan Circle) was six blocks east of the Stewart house, which was on Dupont Circle at Massachusetts and Connecticut avenues. The residence, built in 1873, did indeed catch fire on the evening of December 30, 1879, but only the top floor was destroyed. - Dave] Say it ain't so!Why was this beautiful creation destroyed so soon? It is one of the finer examples of architecture you'll ever see. Does anyone know the story? Builded with Brick Builded With Brick Castle Stewart Being Restored to More Than Original Splendor Castle Stewart, built by the former Senator of that name from Nevada, on Dupont circle, when that now fine neighborhood was in its infancy, and burned some three years since, is being remodeled. The exterior will resume the imposing appearance possessed before the flames destroyed the upper story altogether, and ruined the plaster and woodwork of the interior. Mr. Robert I Fleming, the architect and builder, has the work in hand, and will make the restored mansion much handsomer that it ever was, and, what is more important, not liable to burn on such slight provocation, at least. The work, which is estimated to cost $25,000, is being done by Mrs. Stewart. In addition to the restoration, three dressing rooms, to be used in connection with the stage when private theatricals are to be given, are being erected; also a conservatory and a balcony on the Connecticut avenue front. Washington Post, Jan 18, 1883 Where's Herman?I keep thinking if I look at the photo long enough, I'll see Herman, Lily, Eddie, Grandpa or another member of the Munster family show up at one of the windows. If I'm really lucky, Gomez and Morticia Addams might be there for a visit as well. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
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