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Hello: 1939
... Merrill Farm Security Administration camp, Klamath County, Oregon." View full size. Medium format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange ... Administration's migratory labor camp at Merrill, Oregon. Which is of course in the United States. A few more below. - Dave] ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/25/2008 - 10:00am -

October 1939. "Young migrant mother has just finished washing. Merrill Farm Security Administration camp, Klamath County, Oregon." View full size. Medium format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the FSA. LovelyLovely picture. She's taking a little break after all her hard work. So NiceSuch a lovely smile and pose....immediately like the lady. Creepy!That's a creepy photo. Looks like a Soviet work camp on a good day. Can't be in the US. [This is one of more than 50 photos taken by Dorothea Lange at the Farm Security Administration's migratory labor camp at Merrill, Oregon. Which is of course in the United States. A few more below. - Dave] (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Portraits, Rural America)
Relative Pitch: 1971
... Lean on me This appears to have been taken at the Oregon Vortex or maybe the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot. A True Sign of Genius ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 09/29/2011 - 6:15pm -

Section 25B. The Tripod. Make note of any slope or other surface irregularity and adjust tripod legs to compensate. Be especially aware of this when setting up self-timer shots, because ... Well, you get the picture. We're on the garage driveway in August 1971: my brother, his wife, my mother, father and me. You may recall the locale and brother and sister-in-law's garb from another shot the same day. It's gotta be a Sunday or some other special occasion from the way we're all dolled up. Maybe we're going out to celebrate either Mother's or my birthday. Father, on the other hand, is here only four years older than I am now. My Kodachrome slide. It's all in the posingIf tterrace had stood next to his brother, and everyone made a little turn to the left, this would have lined-up quite nicely! I think anyway. (Gasp) Is that a pack o'smokes in tter's pocket? Ah, polyester.I wager there's not a natural fiber in that photo. Charming all the same. Fashionistas!I always enjoy pictures of your brother and sister-in-law. They totally rocked that '70s look! Lean on meThis appears to have been taken at the Oregon Vortex or maybe the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot. A True Sign of GeniusYour slant on things is always fun tterrace. Sister in law.She just never fit in with the rest of the family. Great ShotI always love when you post these pictures of your family from the '60s and '70s (when I came of age). Your sister in law seems very intriguing. She seems to disappear from the set though some time in the '80s. I am extremely curious as to what happened to her. I hope I'm not treading on delicate territory here. Sorry, no Photoshop in 1971But there is today. Straightens out nicely. Good looking group either way! I knew it.Typical left-leaning Californians. Don't worry about the tripodCrop it square and you've got an album cover. Were you all villains on Batman?Your photo looks to have been shot at a Dutch angle. It dependson your point of view. They're actually leaning right! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, tterrapix)
Rest Stop: 1936
... from Bowman, North Dakota, in Montana." En route to Oregon or Washington. Medium-format nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/17/2012 - 10:01am -

July 1936. "Drought refugees from Bowman, North Dakota, in Montana." En route to Oregon or Washington. Medium-format nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Seven kids in one car!I agree with you OTY. The despair these people must have known in their lives. Seven mouths to feed and bodies to clothe. I can't imagine. Is that a AAA Trip-Tik she's reading in the car? It sure looks like one. "I'm Bored"Along with the words in my comment title, here are some of the things my four kids said on our cross-country auto trips 45+ years ago. "He's touching me." "There's nothing to do." "I'm thirsty." "I'm hungry." "I need to use the bathroom." "Mary keeps looking at me." "I'm too hot." "He's taking up the whole back seat." "Are we there yet?" That is just a small fraction of the crabbing, even though we had books, toys, little cars, games, crayons, snacks and cold drinks in an ice chest and we slept in motels at night. Here I see SEVEN kids, not a sign of a toy in sight, everyone looks exhausted, hungry and tired and their treat will be water rationed by Dad. We cannot even imagine the despair in the lives of these people but I bet there was not one single peep from anyone about their discontent, despite the lack of Gameboys, Hot Wheels, snack-paks, cold beverages, iPods, auto TVs, etc. What strong character they had, even the tiniest of the group, and we are so spoiled. As if all this toil and trouble weren't enoughOne of the triplets has managed to bust himself an arm. Big sister, I am sure, is quite a help to Mother, who comforts the most recent addition to the family while checking a map. That rear tire could use some air but I'm guessing that's the least of Dad's worries right now. And whoever told him Montana's the place to go must not have seen this particular spot. Hanging water bags up front in the airflow helped lower their contents from hot to tepid, some times. Often it was useful to knock the dead bugs off before you drank, so some of them didn't join the water going into your mouth. The Canvas water bagworks on the principle of evaporation. The bag is slightly porous and the evaporation of the water that comes through the bag cools the water. It's out on the radiator to get lots of air. And I assume as a side benefit the cooler air passing around the bag may help cool the radiator. My Dad had one. Being born in 1889 I imagine he used them on trips. I believe the bag is still around in the house or garage somewhere. I'll have to look for it. Wade Water bagTo those of a certain age (like me), a familiar sight was what's sometimes called a "desert water bag" hanging in front of the radiator on passing cars. Here's a rare shot of one in actual use. I'd always assumed the water was strictly for the radiator, not human consumption. I'm Next!I drank from one of those until 1953. Nice cold water. We always carried it out west from Texas to California and back. It was the only thing that was cool on our '38 Pontiac in the summer. I wonder if he got to go to Disneyland when it opened in 1955? He seems to already be a fan of Mickey. Why did they have seven kids?Because there wasn't room for eight of them in the machine. My grandfather was about this man's age and always referred to any automobile as "the machine." I think that was rather common terminology for his generation. Brother!This shot just makes me puddle up! Wow, a family of nine.Let us hope they did all right. [Papa was evidently no idler. -Dave] The 2-Door Sedan Picturedis a 1927 Chevrolet Coach. The Coach was one of eight body styles available that year. It had a 171 cubic inch, overhead valve 4-cylinder engine and a 3-speed transmission. Chevrolet made just over 1,000,000 vehicles in 1927 and outsold Ford for the first time. Meryl Streep lookalikeThe oldest daughter looks like she was self-consciously reaching to take off her glasses before the photo was taken. (She also bears a striking resemblance to Meryl Streep.) She must have been miserable crammed in the back of that car with five younger siblings (assuming that the baby rode up front with Mama). Shoes for girls, barefoot boysInteresting to note that here we have a clear example of where the kids being barefoot is not an issue of poverty as we might have otherwise assumed. Seeing several barefoot boys in a cramped car in the Depression era would suggest parents too poor to provide shoes. But the fact that all the girls, even those younger than some of the boys, wear shoes proves that the boys are barefoot out of choice. Or perhaps because it was more socially acceptable or even expected for boys to run around that way but not for girls. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Great Depression, Kids)
Kingdom of Youth: 1918
... Due to the historic preservation laws here in Portland, Oregon, the tank had to be maintained, but not filled with water. The original ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 5:59pm -

Washington movie houses circa 1918. "Crandall's Theater, 9th & E Streets N.W." Now playing: Madge Kennedy and Tom Moore in "The Kingdom of Youth." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Fantastic PhotoThe building, signs, soldiers and cars all add up to a great shot for browsing. Haunting ViewI love the Gothic Revival upper windows of Crandall's Theater. Those mysterious arches and curves are very intriguing. Harry's JoyLots of entries in the index of Robert K. Headley's Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, D.C. for Harry Crandall, who opened his first theater, the Casino, in 1907. Shorpy's image is reproduced on p. 38 of Headley and identifies it as the Joy Theater (opened in 1913, "usually simply called Crandall's"); the caption also notes Tom Moore's "massive" Garden Theater to the right in the image, down 9th Street. The Joy was Harry Crandall's springboard to the top of the Washington movie ladder. He spent $25,000 to build the Joy in what had been a four-story building that housed a haberdashery.... The floor was red concrete and sloped to the front... so that it could be flooded every night after the theater closed; it was believed that a complete flooding would keep the theater absolutely sanitary. Seating about 450, the Joy was in operation only until 1924, when it was converted back into retail space. Madge KennedyHow exciting to see!!!!! I was friends with Madge a few years ago!!!!! [Madge died 21 years ago at age 96. She played Aunt Martha on "Leave It to Beaver." - Dave] Madge & TomThe stars of this early silent drama both had extraordinarily long careers in the business lasting into the television era. Madge Kennedy actually appears in an episode of "The Odd Couple" from 1972! How do we know that Irish-born actor Tom Moore owned that DC theater? [Good question. Theater impresario Tom Moore and actor Tom Moore seem to have been two different people, so I zapped that from the caption. - Dave] Black streetlightWhat is this object? Looks like a blacked-out streetlamp... [A fire alarm call box. The globes on these were usually red. - Dave] Let's All Go to the DentistAfter heading to the lobby to grab yourself a few snacks, make sure to check out the dentist located smack dab in the middle of all the fun. I guess if you were a dentist in 1918, you had to get your business somehow. But they don't need to worry, with "SODA" proudly displayed below the dentist's office, they'll be back. [Right next to "Dikeman's Orange Beverage." - Dave] Movie Palaces and Dental ParlorsNoticing the dentist between the movie theaters, remember that one of the greatest silent films, "Greed," is the story of a dentist -- who, like Washington's Dr. Fitzgerald, called his office a "dental parlor." It would be interesting to know if "Greed" played in either of these downtown theaters in 1924. Roof TanksSeveral years ago I worked in a nine-story warehouse built in 1899. It still had a large water tank on the roof that was for the fire sprinkler system. The tank was filled by huge pumps in the basement. Due to the historic preservation laws here in Portland, Oregon, the tank had to be maintained, but not filled with water. The original pipes and pumps were disconnected. The fire system had been upgraded in the late 1950's to a newer system and most of the old copper pipes were left in place. When the building was converted to condos a couple of years ago,they pulled out all of the old pipes and left the tank on the roof. Heads Up!Note the rooftop water tank above the Lansburgh & Bro sign. The penthouse of that building is devoted to that huge water bucket. I presume these would be filled with rainwater at no cost and supply buildings with non potable industrial water supplies. [Interesting theory -- but how would you fill a cistern on top of a building with rainwater? (Verrry slowly.) This water tank on top of the Lansburgh department store is either regular drinking water or a standpipe tank for firefighting. Back in the day, most buildings taller than six or seven stories had penthouse water tanks, and they're still a familiar sight on older apartment buildings in big cities like New York. A lot of modern office towers have them too, although they're usually concealed. - Dave] An early 80s ghostThis building lingered into the early 80s, though it was barely recognizable by then: The upper floors were sheared off in 1961, and a series of low-rent tenants moved in. One of the last was an adult book store / peep show. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
A Fork in the Railroad: 1943
... up and running. This is video of switching done on the Oregon Pacific Railroad taking a loaded reefer car into the Helico spur in Milwaukie Oregon. I would have expected that the AT&SF spring frog would have had ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2013 - 3:05pm -

March 1943. "Sumnerfield, Texas. Brakeman running back to his train on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad between Amarillo, Texas, and Clovis, New Mexico, as it is ready to start again, after having waited in a siding." Photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. FencesThere seems to be one too many fences, if they're to keep cows from straying. The same field fence ought to serve to protect the road and the tracks. Almost homeI'm a former Easterner, gone native to the desert Southwest thirty-some years ago. Driving I-40 from NC, one is choking with green. In west Texas things fully open up, and you finally see horizon all around. This was once the western edge of Dust Bowl country; to some it still looks desolate, but to me it looks like home is just up the road. Excellent clarificationsJack Delano's caption confused me, too, because of the switch being lined for the main track. The clarifications submitted by swaool and Larry Doyle paint a perfect picture of what is going on. Another thing that caught my eye is that the caboose is not yet clear of the fouling point, which explains in any case why the brakeman is running. I'm not a frequent commenter, but I do read what others say. There sure are a lot of knowledgeable people here at Shorpy! Same as it ever wasI've driven across a good deal of this country over the years, but never have I seen country as open and unobstructed to the horizon as west Texas and eastern New Mexico. You can drive for hours and just not really see anything other than fence posts for as far as the eye can see. I'm willing to bet that this view hasn't changed much in the past 70 years. Thanks to Delano and DoyleAnother great photo of the plains and trains by Delano and a wonderful explanation by LarryDoyle. The wait is just beginningMore likely that the brakeman (or flagman) has just lined the switch back after his train pulled into the siding. He's running to catch the caboose, as his train will pull down to the other end of the siding to wait for the opposing train, or to be run around by a faster train going the same direction. SummerfieldNot Sumnerfield. May be labeled Sumnerfield, but it's actually Summerfield, Castro County, Texas. Flat Pair Signals, againAnother exhibit of Santa Fe's Flat Pair signal system: Square blade semaphores with number plates, which every other railroad in North America considered an oxymoron. See post of 3/20/13, https://www.shorpy.com/node/14899. Also, note the frog (the point where the two rails intersect) at the bottom edge of the photo does not have flangeways, in either direction. This is a spring loaded frog - each wheel passing through pushes the interfering rail aside. The brakeman is running, not to get back to his train that has stopped, but rather to catch up to his train that is not going to stop, proceeding slowly away from him. The conductor is likely standing next to the photographer on the rear of the caboose, ready to "pull the air" and stop the train, but only if the brakeman stumbles. A rare picture of an everyday scene, repeated across the country thousands of times a day, every day, for over a century - Now, seen no more. Thanks, SHORPY, for posting this gem. The way it looks, nowGoogle now shows a six lane highway, a large Prairie Skyscraper just off to the right of the siding signals, and the overhead view shows a giant oval of track to service the grain elevator. View Larger Map A further bit of explanationOur train has "Train Orders" from the dispatcher (or, without specific orders we may just have the timetable showing where opposing scheduled trains are due) and must take this siding get out of the way for the opposing superior train. The engineer of our train and stops just short of the pictured switch o enter the siding. The front brakeman, also called the "headman", walks ahead of his engine, unlocks the switch ("turnout") to route the train into the siding, gives a hand signal to his engineer to "come ahead", and our train starts slowly ahead. He climbs aboard the engine as it passes by into the siding. The conductor in the caboose and the rear brakeman, also called "flagman", have copies of the same orders that the engine crew has. From this paperwork the flagman knows that there will be a meet with the opposing train, and that he must restore the switch for the main track to permit the other train to use the main track and proceed forward. The flagman and the conductor go out onto the rear platform of the caboose - the conductor stations himself at the "emergency brake valve" (in case the flagman stumbles) and the flagman stands on the bottom step of the caboose, on the OPPOSITE side of the track from the switchstand. Years of experience has taught him which side of the track every switchstand is located, and he knows that if gets off on the opposite side that he cannot inadvertantly throw the switch ahead of time and accidently derail his own caboose! The engineer knows exactly how long his train is. He has a list showing him the number of cars in the train and their lengths, and experience has taught him how far it is to every landmark, so he knows not only where his engine is, but also where his caboose is! He slows to a walking speed as the caboose approaches the switch. As soon as the caboose passes over the switch, the rear brakeman steps across the track, realigns the switch for the main route and locks it. He then runs ahead to catch up to his caboose, and at this moment Mr. Delano immortalized his image on film. When the engineer nears the other end of the siding, he stops and waits for the opposing train to pass. Then the proceedure is repeated and our train returns onto the main, and our rear brakeman makes another "dash" to catch up with his own caboose on the main track. (Note that on the Santa Fe with flat pair signals he need not realign the switch when it is marked with a letter "S", as in the photo, to indicate that it is a spring switch. The engineer may "run thru" the switch and it will re-align itself.) Amazing! All done safely without front end/rear end communication, nor communication with the opposing train. Hundreds or thousands of times every day across the continent. And, the dispatchers communication to our crew telling us all this was expected to happen was as simple as a Train Order stating, "EXA 567 WEST MEET EXA 2651 EAST AT MILBORN". From that simple statement, everyone else knew what his job was. -LD Switching switches and fencesThe letter "S" on the switch stand probably means "Spring", when a train exits that end of the siding, a Head (front end) Brakeman doesn't have to throw the switch, the train's wheel flanges do the job, and the spring pushes the points back in place. The extra fence on the left is probably to protect the railroad from wandering cattle on the side road, the field fence only protects from cattle out standing in their field. Another Delano grand slamAs already pointed out, the switch is definitely a ‘spring switch,’ so designated by the letter “S" on the stand. There are two ways to go through a switch: facing point and trailing point movement. The Delano train had approached the switch as a facing point move, so called because the train faces the switch points as it comes near. Even though the switch is spring loaded, that characteristic is of no benefit to the Delano crew as the switch springs keep the points lined for the main. Hence, the switch must be operated by hand for a route into the siding, and restored for the main by hand once clear. Were Delano headed in the opposite direction, from siding to main, the spring loaded benefit would come into play. Even though the switch is lined for the main, coming out of the siding the wheel flanges compress the point springs such that the switch provides a perfectly safe route to the main. In such a case, the movement constitutes a ‘trailing point’ move. Historically, main line switches were by rule required to be lined for the main once a train was clear of them. Today, in dark track warrant territory a crew can be granted permission to leave a switch ‘wrong’ by checking box 21 on their track warrant. Computer assisted train dispatching will force a line 19 on opposing authority for a different train, requiring it to stop short of the switch before hand operating it. Spring into actionFor those not lucky enough to get a locomotive ride and view a spring frog in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWIB2iF6ld4 Sorry about the shaky video...I only had a few seconds to get the camera up and running. This is video of switching done on the Oregon Pacific Railroad taking a loaded reefer car into the Helico spur in Milwaukie Oregon. I would have expected that the AT&SF spring frog would have had a larger gap for the main than what is shown to keep wear down. Spring frogs are one of the nicest things to operate over while on the main. My speeder on several runs have ran main-main over these at speed and they are just the smoothest thing. Such a pleasure compared to other regular frogs. Also, here is a photo from the L.A. area of an old Pacific Electric spring frog where the main line has the wide opening and the siding (to the left) has the closed side of the frog. (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Ford Woody: 1922
... product, the plywood industry was born around 1905-7 in Oregon although the Egyptians and Chinese had forms of it 3500 years back. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 11:11pm -

Washington, D.C., 1922. "J.C.L. Ritter -- Polli Food Products truck." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. What kind of headlights are those?Check out the car right behind the Model T. What kind of headlights are those? Looks like a modern LED lens. Could this be some kind of gas fired light? [You're seeing the pattern of the headlight lens. - tterrace] Vehicle ID'sL to R:Apperson Jackrabbit(note animal on radfiator core),Ford model TT (ton truck), Packard, unknown dump truck Lamp Covers?It's possible that those are protective lamp covers. Lots more rocks in the road and hard to find parts (no standardization of lamps yet, so probably needed to order to replace) created such a need. Of course, in many jurisdictions these days, covers over headlights aren't legal, although you still see them, but in some sort of plastic. More universally required these days are fenders and/or mudflaps, neither of which is on the Model T truck's rear wheels. Classic trucksI really like these old-fashioned cars and trucks. Hard to ride on, difficult to drive, but sturdy and resistent. Those wooden bodies lend them a certain look and feel I find really attractive. And they were very recyclable - once you wrecked the truck, you could use the remains of the body in the chimney. Yes, LensesYes, those are glass lenses on the Packard. Possibly from the Warner Lens Co. Here is a similar set on a Stutz. Heavy Load - UnloadedThis woody must have been for lightweight goods transport - eggs, bread, etc., since the weight of all that wood is a major load all by itself. Love the trim over the side window. Nothing personalCould these vehicles be destroyed by termites? (No offense to tterrace). Plywood?Seems they took advantage of a relatively new product, the plywood industry was born around 1905-7 in Oregon although the Egyptians and Chinese had forms of it 3500 years back. Note the TiresThe Ford is equipped with non-skid tires. If you don't believe me, you can read it for yourself: The words "NON-SKID" make up the siping (tread pattern). Carpentry and axleCarpentry and axle grease...Rapture! Ford Truck ChassisFord supplied the bare chassis, the dealer or the buyer supplied the body. Warner LensHere is a closeup of the Warner headlamp lens introduced in 1912. Production stopped sometime in the late teens. There is an ad for the lenses here: http://the-master-craftsman.blogspot.com/2010/12/patented-in-1912-two-wa... (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Union Station: 1908
... the best. I always have a layover in DC on my way back to Oregon and I actually look forward to it, unlike Chicago! Beautiful ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2012 - 2:57pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1908. "New Union Station." Idyllically uncongested. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Like Dulles Airport in 1964I remember it sitting in the middle of nowhere just like this. But unlike Dulles, which was built ahead of its time, Union Station was way overdue. It was part of the "Washington Improvement" which eliminated two existing depots [including one on the Mall] and many dangerous grade crossings. I recently found this website http://www.washingtonunionstation.com/about.html which is telling the whole story of Union Station. It is the dissertation of a gentleman named Bill Wright. I wonderif anyone heading to catch a train said, "Why'd they put it in the middle of nowhere!" Urban renewalThe foreground dramatically illustrates how the Union Station project was used to clear out the slums north of the U.S. Capitol. Then they had to decide what to do with the cleared land: one proposal would have put the Lincoln Memorial there. Today it's a park--though actually the emphasis seems more on parkING. Bottom leftAbove the horse. Are those two coats hanging on the poles? Probably wouldn't get away with that today. Oh my goodness!A poor title comment but I'm kind of speechless, perhaps because I've been through this station so many times; what a difference 100 years can make. For any who don't know, the finale of the movie Silver Streak was based on an actual crash into this station by a runaway 447,000 pound PRR locomotive pulling a passenger train. With brakes failed, it was headed for the Great Hall when fortunately the floor collapsed and the engine ended up in the basement. The sturdy GGI was soon back in service and no one was hurt. Gee, I wonder if Shorpy has any photos of that 1953 event?! Just openedI believe that this was just at the time that the station opened. First PRR train was in 1908. Missing PersonsJust realized that the statues on top of the columns at the front entrance had not yet been installed when this shot was taken (1974). Still awesome! I'm a frequent user of Amtrak and have seen the best and the worst of their stations. Washington in my book is the best of the best. I always have a layover in DC on my way back to Oregon and I actually look forward to it, unlike Chicago! Beautiful buildingInside and out. One of the highlights of my trip to DC a couple years ago was eating breakfast there. Looks so different without all the trees and surrounding buildings - and all those cabs and double-decker tour buses waiting out front. Almost Lost ItWhat's really amazing is how close we came to losing this wonderful building. By the early 1970's (when the building was only 60+ years old), it had become a dingy, leaking, dilapidated, rat-infested, sadly neglected dump that was very close, more than once, to being just bulldozed so we could put another dreadful soul-deadening government office building on the site, with what remained of the so-called "train station" buried under ground somewhere. Train travel in the USA is still a shadow of what it should be (the DC-Boston corridor being one small, very modest exception), but at least we have managed to save places like this, as well as Grand Central Terminal in NY City, and South Station in Boston, along with a few scattered others. Great photo! (The Gallery, D.C., DPC, Railroads, Streetcars)
Miriam Battista: 1922
... and daughter is renowned chef Amelia Hard of Portland Oregon (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/24/2012 - 9:48pm -

1922. Miriam Battista, child star of stage and screen, at age 10 in Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Ask the man who owns one!This lovely car with its porthole is a precursor to the 1955 Thunderbird, provides a luxurious backdrop for photographing the perky young child star -- who would be 97 this year! Is that a PX I see in the background? Interesting photo on several levels. Thanks, Dave! Miriam's OeuvreMiriam appeared in 18 films between 1920 and 1935. She died on Christmas day 1980 at age 68. Stephens Salient Six?I happened across a bound volume of the San Francisco Chronicle for May 1921. The Sunday paper always had a lavish "automobile" section with tours, car ads and testimonials. The 1921 Stephens Salient Six had overhead valves and bragged about running 600 miles on one 20 gal tank of gas - a respectable 30 mpg. They were equally proud of using "only" 4 quarts of oil on this trip - that's 150 miles per quart! No wonder busy highways were well blackened down the center of each lane. Miriam's rideIs a Stephens touring car. She doesn't "look like" a star ...She looks like an anonymous little girl that nobody (like me) ever heard of. Fame and celebrity are strange concepts; like bubbles inside of bubbles. Italy has stars that we'll never know or care about -- and so does every other country and culture. I hope that little Miriam enjoyed what she had while she had it because her name (and "fame") didn't survive the ravages of either time or American junk- culture. Battista ComingApparently the press releases at the time propagated a white lie exaggerating the innocent age of Miss Battista. Miriam Battista Coming An interesting theatrical event will occur at Loew's Columbia theater during the week, beginning Sunday, July 16, when Miriam Battista, the 8-year-old child star of Fannie Hurst's famous picture, "Humoresque," will appear in person several times daily during the entire week. Miss Battista's personal appearances will be made in connection with showings at the Columbia of "The Man From Home," and as is is her first visit to Washington, she plans to pay several calls to prominent government officials during the time she is here. Miss Battista, who is 8 years old, has appeared with Maude Adams on the stage in "A Kiss for Cinderella," and also in Ibsen's "A Doll's House." Washington Post, July 2, 1922 Sure looks like a PX in the backgroundIt sure looks like a post exchange in the background. Let's not forget, Washington D.C. was and still is very much a military town. On another note, this is an extraordinary photograph. The tonality is gorgeous with full detail throughout the range, despite the harsh noonday sunlight. That photographer knew what he was doing. BrakesNo front wheel brakes and just drum brakes on the rear wheels. I imagine these cars hardly stopped on a dime! Did the drum brakes serve as parking brakes as well? Is it a touring carOr a dual-cowl phaeton? [It could be both -- if this car had two windscreens. But it doesn't. So it's not a dual-cowl anything. - Dave] Miriam BattistaMiriam was not only a child star but the wife of the writer/photographer ?? Malone. He died in the 1940's. Her second husband was a director Lloyd Rosamond. Her brother, Willie Battista, was also a child star and performed with Helen Hayes. Miriam also is credited with theatre and television (Legend of Sleepy Hollow/Peyton Place) Miriam BattistaMiriam's first husband was Russell Malone(y) and daughter is renowned chef Amelia Hard of Portland Oregon (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
The Corner Store: 1932
... If true, pretty amazing. Corner stores Here in Oregon (Eugene) we still have corner groceries (there's one three blocks, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 10:58am -

Circa 1932. "United Food Stores." Whitman's Market at A and Sixth streets S.E. in Washington. National Photo Company safety film negative. View full size. The building's still standingView Larger Map And it looks like the neighborhood's doing well. It's a nondescript, but nicely preserved, residential home. And there's a rather nice building to the left of the address, if you're curious. Looks original, as does most of the area. In the Shorpy version, is that an action shot of a guy running out from between the buildings on the left? The legs seem blurred. I'm AskingWas the United Food Stores part of a food cooperative or an association of similar merchants that were part of a buying and/or advertising group? Beer for sale? 1926 was during Prohibition; I think the "ICE COLD BEER TO TAKE OUT" sign is a little blatant for the era... [Beer was legal during Prohibition, as long as it didn't contain more than a certain amount of alcohol. - Dave] This Old StoreYou can see the newer brickwork where the display window was, while the base for the window remains. Wish someone would tend to that weedy little side lot. BoxesAs a habitual watcher, when looking at stores, one always notices the old wooden crates used prior to corrugated cardboard boxes. I've often wondered when the latter began to push the former to obscurity. Behind the fence, just to the left of the basket is what appears to be a cardboard box cut in half. Am I right? Wrong? Everything old is new again?I miss the corner store. I wonder if environmental concerns and fuel savings might cause a turnaround soon, and small corner stores might again appear in neighborhoods? Sure, they wouldn't have the variety that supermarkets have, but I don't think I'd miss the giant parking lots, huge crowds of people, long lines at the cash register, etc. I also noticed the "public telephone" sign -- that's a reminder that public phones are fast going the way of the dodo bird. [You'd use a lot more fuel distributing X amount of food to 10 small stores than you would to one big store. - Dave] No longer a grocery todayI'm not savvy enough to put the google street view in, but there is a fantastic shot of the site there. What's interesting to note, what was in 1926 brick walkway, is today concrete, and what was concrete is now brick! WiredThe building is still there. Although it is now a private residence. The pole sticking up from the roof is for a radio antenna. Corner StoreWhile in elementary school back in the late 40's we had a little corner store in my Kansas town. The lady that ran the store was about 70 years old. She had all her penny candy in a big glass case where all the kids could see. Even if you had only a penny to spend she would treat that sale like it was the most important sale of the day. Each kid could take as much time as needed to select that very important piece of candy. If you purchased two or more pieces of candy she had these very small little sacks she placed your purchase in. Every child that came in her store was important and treated like a grown up customer. Corner BusinessesThis corner is a mere two blocks south of Stanton Square (map): I walk by it all the time. One can see many private homes in the neighborhood which bear the the architectural indicators of former corner businesses. Two clues are large display windows and a street-level entrance -- most buildings constructed as houses have a few steps up. I've searched all my usual sources in an attempt to find some information on Whitman's Market but, so far, to no avail. Capitol Hill is said to have the largest collection of surviving Victorian buildings in the country. Several corner grocery stores survive but now the most ubiquitous corner business in the neighborhood seems to be dry-cleaners -- a testament to the importance of a professional image for workers in the Federal City. The fence looks like the same one...If you look closely at the Google photo, the little fence surrounding the small side yard looks like the same one that was in the original. If true, pretty amazing. Corner storesHere in Oregon (Eugene) we still have corner groceries (there's one three blocks, another 7 blocks away from me). I was surprised at how many there were when I first moved here from California in 1979. Quite a few of them are natural food stores, many also have small delis. These are privately owned, not chains (7-11). Is this so unusual in the rest of the country? Cold Beer Next DoorI currently live in the first house to the right of the store. I knew that building used to be store, but was always amazed at how many stores were nearby. Eastern Market is two blocks away and a similar store that is still in operation on East Capitol is two blocks in the other direction. I do think the original fence is still there, as is the fence on the right. The staircases to the houses to the left of the store intrigue me. Those houses currently have cast iron staircases that are typical of other staircases on the Hill. I always thought those were original, but they seem to have wooden staircases in the photos. Those houses were built in the middle 1880s, so they were around 40 years old at the time of the photo. Do you think the wooden staircases were original? Cap Hill fixer-upperThis house is on the way to my son's day care and I walk by almost every day. It has not been maintained well by Capitol Hill standards. The stairs mentioned below were not actually replaced by nice cast iron stairs later. On closer inspection two are horrible metal knockoffs and the third is a hybrid wooden steps with a period handrail. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
School Shoes: 1921
... and will leave the greater LA area when I retire to Oregon -- to one of the cities for which we both pine. Via this post, I ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 2:10am -

Washington circa 1921. "Berberich's, Seventh Street." The Berberich store at 1116-1122 Seventh Street N.W., "Washington's most progressive shoe house." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. I <heart> DCThere's no question that the loss of these historical buildings is a tragedy. But, there are still many buildings like them all around DC. The city went through a period where many neighborhoods were more like slums and the houses were is such great disrepair that it would have been prohibitively expensive to renovate them. In fact, when tax relief for investors seeking to renovate houses in DC was enacted, we all eventually benefited. That's where the "live in the house for 2 years and pay no capital gains on the profit (up to a certain amount)" comes from. And to truly renovate a house like one of these in some cases required hollowing out the whole thing and starting from scratch. You could save the carved moldings, but many of the houses predate wiring, ducting, etc. And the roofs would be in bad shape allowing for water to get inside and the mold problem would be terrible. They almost tore down the Willard Hotel in the 80's for gosh sakes! It is one of the most beautiful architectural structures in the city! (Not to mention a very nice hotel.) And there is a "feel" to the city that you can only get by going there. These pictures, for me, are an enhancement. My father worked in the city for over 35 years--my parents met there. I was married there. The bustle of the traffic, the gravity of the stone granite federal buildings, the many different periods reflected in the architecture are a treat to the senses. Are there buildings that are basically ugly brick boxes? Yes. There are also interesting buildings from the 60's and 70's. Personally, I love the city in winter. Maybe because I was married there in the winter at St Dominic's and honeymooned at the Shoreham. But, it's not like New York or really any other city. For one thing, the buildings tend to be shorter -- especially in the Federal Triangle. And visiting the various museums is a real treat. There are parks here and there that kind of surprise you--beautiful parks. And the area by the zoo is old and beautiful. The college campuses are also gorgeous. There really is more than "seeing" DC. It is an experience. These pictures enhance my experience of the city. And while I mourn that many of these buildings are no longer there, there are plenty that will be there long after all of us are gone. Mme. BelleMme. Belle is not the first palmist to appear at Shorpy. We have previously seen signs for Mme. LaBey and a glimpse of Mme. Trent. 50c         MME. BELLE         50c Egyptian palmist, gives true advice in business, love, health, and family affairs. Confidential readings daily, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1124 7th st nw., between L and M sts. Advertisement, Washington Post, July 22, 1921 ManageableI miss the days when cities were manageable. When your neighborhood had the butcher, the baker, the shoe and clothing stores. You could walk to them, or take the trolley. I grew up in San Francisco in the late 1930s-40s, and these photos remind me so much of what was there. Of course in those days, there wasn't so much to buy, and we didn't "need" to buy so much. There's Nothing There Anymore ...Except "modernization" and general, all-round nothingness. One of the real downsides to visiting this website is that, although I've never been to Washington, D.C., I cannot think of any reason to ever want to go there. I feel like I'm seeing the best of it here -- and Google Maps is filling in the rest of the sad, sorry tale. Progressive ShoesAt last, a really progressive shoe purveyor, a welcome relief from the myriad reactionary footwear specialists! Lower left corner...I love these little glimpses - the man at the truck looking at the blur of a passing woman on the sidewalk! The "scientific" palmist the only window open with fluttering curtains, the flat top windows on the second floor and the arches on the third, in both buildings, and the sunburst iron railing design, et cetera. I wonder why so much of Washington, but still they are interesting! [Aren't they indeed. - Dave] Today, the Convention CenterView Larger Map Shoe Store Post OfficeThose were the best of times. One simply cannot find a good shoe store/post office anymore. Lovely buildingBerberich's may have been an everyday shoe emporium, but its building was delightful. It's amazing the detail that brick and stone masons of the day put into their art (and architecture) for simple, business buildings that were torn down later without a thought or a care. I liked the multitasking the photo reveals, too: Shoe store and postal station. Please note that Mme Bell was a "scientific" palm reader! Mme BellI wonder if "Mme Bell, Scientific Palmist," knew that her office sign would appear on Shorpy someday. What a marketing move!Go to the Post Office and see the latest in shoe wear. You know you can't tell your wife not to go to the Post Office! ManageableAnon sed: "I miss the days when cities were manageable. When your neighborhood had the butcher, the baker, the shoe and clothing stores." There are many of those smaller, manageable cities thriving still across our wide land. I share your sentiment and will leave the greater LA area when I retire to Oregon -- to one of the cities for which we both pine. Via this post, I consider the trout in streams neighboring that manageable city to have been formally warned. Berberich's The Fortieth Birthday of Berberich's Shoe House Started with Nine-Foot Front, Now Has 12,000 Square Feet Floor space. ... Just forty years ago Robert Berberich opened a small store at 1118 Seventh street northwest. This store was only nine feet wide and less than thirty deep. A large part of the business done at first was made-to-measure work. Mr Berberich, who was an expert shoemaker, fitted and sold to the best people of that period their boots. He soon gained a reputation for style and high quality work which has followed him even to this day. Although he is now retired and leading a quiet dignified life, he watches with much pleasure the prestige which his two sons, who have succeeded to the business, are enjoying, knowing that they are reaping the benefits of the lucrative business of which he was the father. From that small nine-foot front beginning the firm has grown until today it occupies 12,000 square feet of floor space of which 4,000 was recently added. The little nine-foot store was in a little frame building, but this was then one of the landmarks of the city, and was known as Berberich's - Seventh street being the busiest thoroughfare in Washington. Mr. Berberich was one of the pioneer merchants of this thoroughfare. Taking a just business pride, he soon outgrew his cramped quarters, and owing to this continually growing business he was forced to a larger more modern store. He then bought the property at 1138 Seventh Street, this being in 1877, only nine years after the business began. At the time Mr. Berberich purchased this place it was a small frame building, set on a steep bank. After bringing this down to street level, he built upon the site a three-store brick dwelling, 25 feet front, at that time considered a handsome modern building. Here with 1,500 square feet of floor space and his store fitted up in the best manner, his trade continued to expand. ... In 1902 the firm, which by this time included the two sons, Robert J. and Joseph A., purchased the property at 1116-1118-1120 Seventh street, of which the original store was a part. On this site was erected the handsome building which no adorns the neighborhood, and is the best appointed of the modern shoe stores in the city. This new store was fitted up in the most modern way, the best grade of oak being used for shelving with quartered oak and grill work decorate them in a proper manner. In the rear of the store are three of the largest mirrors in Washington, which take up the entire back wall and give the store the appearance of being several hundred feet deep. ... Only a few months ago they added the property adjoining them on the north, numbered 1222, to their store. This now gives them from 1116 to 1122, a total frontage of 60 feet. [Article goes on to detail the many brands of shoes carried by Berberich, many of them under exclusive contract for Washington: Buster Brown Blue Ribbon Shoes, La France Shoe, Selz "Royal Blue," Burt & Packard "Korrect Shape," and American Girl Shoe.] Washington Post, Sep 20, 1908 In 1927, Berberich's closed their store at 1116-18-20 Seventh street and relocated to Twelfth and F, northwest. [And filed for bankruptcy in 1931. - Dave] The Old MathIf this business opened 40 years before 1921, then it opened in 1881. In the article below, however, it states that "in 1877, only nine years after the business began." If the 1877 date is correct, than the company opened in 1868. Am I missing something here or do we have a case of "alternative" math? [You're missing something. The article is from 1908, not from 1921. - Dave] Robert Berberich and Son’s Shoe EmporiumThat’s my great-grandfather’s shoe business there. Amazing, what an incredible historical building and era… Carole (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Calvary Presbyterian: 1948
Portland, Oregon, 1948. "Calvary Presbyterian Church." Completed in 1882 and now known ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/13/2022 - 2:57pm -

Portland, Oregon, 1948. "Calvary Presbyterian Church." Completed in 1882 and now known simply as The Old Church. Acetate negative from the News Photo Archive. View full size. New lights in old lampsThe sign in front of the former Calvary Presbyterian Church identifies it now as The Old Church Concert Hall. Their website includes a virtual tour. In addition to having the 1948 exterior architectural elements, cresting and finials now run along the roof line, probably an original feature. Down SW Clay Street you can see another white, gothic-style church. I don't know what it was originally, but it is now identified as Portland Korean Church, permanently closed. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, News Photo Archive)
In the Beans: 1939
August 1939. "Marion County, Oregon, near West Stayton. Father and children came from Albany, Oregon, for a season's work in the beans." Photo by Dorothea Lange for the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/01/2015 - 8:32pm -

August 1939. "Marion County, Oregon, near West Stayton. Father and children came from Albany, Oregon, for a season's work in the beans." Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Actually, flour sack clothProbably Gold Medal. Who's who?Which one's Huck and which one's Tom? Bean thereI feel for this family. I spent two summers, age 13 and 14, working on a local truck farm picking all types of vegetables. Beans were the worst, since it seemed to take forever to fill a bushel basket. Those shirtsI'm wondering if the two boys' shirts are made from good old feed sack fabric. Number 2 sonProudly sporting his black eye earned while fighting in the Milagro war. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange)
Dead Ox Flat: 1939
... basement dugout home. Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon." View full size. Photograph by Dorothea Lange. Good Methodist ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 5:17pm -

October 1939. "Mrs. Hull, in one-room basement dugout home. Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon." View full size. Photograph by Dorothea Lange. Good MethodistAnd I'm willing to bet she sat at that piano every Saturday night, turned that hymnal to p. 239 and played "Nearer My God To Thee" thrice, singing all three verses as she played. Love that smile! Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska "Call for Philip Morr.....is"Handsome looking woman, did she smoke Philip Morris cigarettes? A couple of observations: If she is "Mrs" Hull, where is her wedding ring? And I found the lace pattern on her shoes to be quite interesting ... I don't believe I've ever seen shoes that lace like that. [Mrs. Hull, a Quaker, had a husband and a daughter. Wedding bands generally are not part of the Quaker wedding ceremony. - Dave] Re: Call for Philip MorrisThat's not the Philip Morris boy. It's a McCall's magazine cover. Handsome, indeedAnd since she's a Quaker and I belong to the Church of Christ, we're practically cousins! We could belt out every verse of "Nearer My God To Thee" and all the old hymns I used to sing with my grandparents as she played the trusty old piano behind her... And afterward I'll bet she'd serve coffee and the best pie in three counties. "Old" photosJust an aside ... This photo from 1939 is not really all that old; Mrs. Hull could still be very much alive and certainly if she had children they also might be alive. Now none of the comments below are what I'd call critical or rude, but they are, shall we say, poking more than a bit of fun at this subject. This raises for me some interesting questions about *old* photos and how we react to them and comment on them. This issue has occurred to me before when reading local news stories about people and events that on first glance feel so long ago, but really are not and concern people still very much alive and kickin' (who themselves read news stories and look at blogs). I love history, esp 'social history' and local history, and find it pertinent now and then to remind myself that what can feel like ancient history to some is just a handful of years ago to others... [You might want to check your math. She looks to be around 50 years old. Even if you say she's 40 in this 1939 photo, that would mean she'd be 108 now. - Dave] Those shoesThey're called "gillies" and are styled to look like they're missing the tongue. The first time I came across the term was in Harriett the Spy - Ole Golly's mother wore them. I like to watch the History Channel, but lately, it's all reruns. [And what about these shoes. - Dave] Dead Ox FlatMy grandmother was the schoolmarm at Dead Ox Flat at about that time. Most likely taught Mrs. Hull's children in a one-room schoolhouse. My lands!Quite handsome, and must have been quite a looker in her younger days. I love this site, thanks so much for devouring most of my recent spare time since I found it! (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Great Depression)
Dazey Boy: 1939
... going to feed the pigs. Homedale district, Malheur County, Oregon." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/05/2012 - 7:10pm -

October 1939. "Dazey farm. Seventeen year old boy going to feed the pigs. Homedale district, Malheur County, Oregon." Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Styles come and goIt took about 30 years for that wide belt with the buckle worn to the side to come back in style, but it most certainly did. You just knowThat WW2 is right around the corner, and insert tediously predictable comment here. Okay Shorpy GalsIt's your turn to comment. That must have hurtAlready lost half a thumbnail. Carrying PostureI'm not sure why, but when I was a 17 year old farm boy, I too carried heavy buckets the way this young man did. The bucket would rest against the back of my left leg and my right arm would be extended as a counterbalance. Unfortunately, I was not as photogenic as this fellow. Twenty years later:Kookie, Kookie (Lend me your comb) This would be Eugene Richard DazeyHe was my second cousin once removed. Born Feb. 21, 1922. It looks like he joined the Navy during WW2. He probably has living children. I wonder what they have to say about this picture. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange)
Pop Start: 1925
... named Cincinnati, and the only one that ever existed in Oregon was a community from 1844 - 1856 (renamed Eola). The scale on the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/17/2014 - 11:58pm -

Circa 1925. "Whistle Bottling Works." A peek behind the scenes at the Washington, D.C., bottling plant for Whistle orange soda. View full size. FlexoThis would appear to be some sort of cleaning solvent. The company (Flexo) is still in business today. Flexo Cleaning Products - Cleaning Chemicals, Equipment and Paper Products to Hospitality, Institutional and Industrial Customers. The company has been in business since 1918 and based in Canada. Kiefer bottling machinesSome info: I did find a listing: "KIEFER (KARL) MACHINE COMPANY Karl Kiefer Machine Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio). There is a Leader in Everything - Standing Out in its Field with Spectacular Splendor of Quality and Performance. Cincinnati: The Company, 1939. (This Item is available at the Cincinnati Historical Society Library) Karl Kiefer Machine Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio). Jar and Bottle Washing Machines. Cincinnati: The Company, 1910s-1920s. (This Item is available at the Cincinnati Historical Society Library) Karl Kiefer Machine Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio). Pressure Filling Machines. Cincinnati: The Company, 1910s-1920s. (This Item is available at the Cincinnati Historical Society Library)" From. He seems to be a dead guy "Karl 16 Apr 1931, Cincinnati, Hamilton Birth: 28 Jul 1868, Worms, Germany Age: 62 years 8 months 19 days Male- Married Address: 920 Lexington Ave Occupation: Manufacturer Cemetery: Cremetory Spouse: Adele W. Kieger Parents: S. Kiefer, Babette Rheinsteim"From. Such a nice clean placeit's making me thirsty, for something that's not Whistle orange soda. Clean as a whistleWhistle is still being produced...I just hope they've mopped the floor a few times since this photo was taken. Whistle stop.OK,that's it for me. I am swearing off Whistle right here right now! Board of HealthConsidering that this factory turned out something that the public ingested, today it wouldn't pass a third world health inspection. Not exactly hygenicLooks more like a machine shop than a food-processing facility. Laissez-faire capitalism at its best! Plenty of Ingredientsparked outside, for such a small bottling machine -- even if there were ten more of them outside the frame. Shortening? Maybe it's to lube the machinery. Can anybody id the tank car with "Capitol" on it? Oh?Note the machine on right from Cincinnati O. Not Ohio, not OH, just O. CaprecoThe tank car belonged to the Capitol Refining Company. The full reporting mark was CRWX. A photo of the company and its fleet of tank cars appeared on Shorpy here. Capitol Oil CompanyI hope washed out those oil tank cars before shipping ingredients for making orange soda pop. More Capitol RefiningThe Equipment Register of Oct.,1919 lists Capitol Refining Company, reporting marks "CRWX" with tank cars of 8,000 gals. capacity numbered 201-295 inclusive. Bills for repairs were to be sent to 745 William St., Buffalo, NY. Cincinnati + Weights + Belts + Hangers + Bulb + SprinklersAccording to the Geographic Names Information System, there are not any geographic places in Oklahoma named Cincinnati, and the only one that ever existed in Oregon was a community from 1844 - 1856 (renamed Eola). The scale on the hand built table would seem to be for sampling the weight of filled bottles. There is a different scale to the right. It may be for determining the weight of a liquid that comes out of the spout above the small platform on the left side of the scale. The Karl Kiefer Company machine is missing a drive belt on the right hand side. It's amazing how little ceiling hangers for pipes have changed in the last 90 years. I see only one small light bulb. It looks like there might have been a sprinkler system installed in the factory. See the photo below for what looks like a sprinkler head. There are at least two of these visible coming off the large pipe near the ceiling. Now I'm thirstyThere are some beautiful Whistle ads out there, this is just one. (The Gallery, D.C., Factories, Natl Photo, Railroads)
Church Street: 1911
... to that effect. It happened in the 1980s in Eugene, Oregon, I know. By the time we moved, they had begun to reopen the streets to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/18/2014 - 1:39pm -

Burlington, Vermont, circa 1911. "Church Street north from Bank Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Same scene todayChurch Street is a pedestrian mall. View Larger Map Sunday, Sept. 3The day of the Eagles excursion to Montreal. The LOC database dates the photo between 1910 and 1920. That would be either 1911 or 1916. Hence, I suppose, Dave’s “circa” in the caption. Church St. revisited..As a former resident, I found this particular photo quite enlightening. I worked at several bistros and bars on this street in the 80-90's, Leunig's in particular on the corner of Bank and Church. But the details here are incredible by use of the enlargement to pan in and out. So what is the deal with he ornamental light-right upper on the pulley system for lowering/raising? Oil-kerosene? Pretty unique as is the unknown trolley system, wow. Thanks Shorpy, will be ordering a few of these to take back to Vermont. Cheers! PS, more Vermont pics please??? Chips Hanson/Stowe [Carbon arc lamp. -tterrace] Where's the pool table?Those knickerbockers look like they're buckled BELOW the knee! Anyone here?Sometimes these pedestrian malls kill commerce in a downtown. Customers can't park near stores, or something to that effect. It happened in the 1980s in Eugene, Oregon, I know. By the time we moved, they had begun to reopen the streets to traffic. Street lights in the rainAnyone know how they kept the street lights working in rain? Looks like the connections weren't real weatherproof. Stanley SteamerI'm going to go out on a limb and say that is a 1909 Stanley parked at the curb. Not SureWhat the heck is corset parlor? You are surethis scene is from Down East by the Moxie sign on the store to the left. Stanley SteamerYippee!!! Too cool, the Stanley Steamer sitting at the curb definitely dates the photo before 1915; the Stanley was a pretty unusual sight even back then. [There's no reason an elderly Steamer couldn't be parked at the curb any time after 1915, unless they suddenly dematerialized when they got to be a few years old. - Dave] Great photoI already posted but this photo is packed with great detail of the Edwardian period of transition from old to modern --the stately matron on the left, but a frisky young girl running up the street (kids will always be kids; timeless) --the blocks of ice in the back of the ice wagon, --the quiet but powerful Stanley Steamer with the well dressed lady waiting patiently in the back seat (a "lady" would never drive) while we know that the Stanley had the pilot-light keeping the steam pressure up; starting a Stanley from cold was a 20-minute process --the streetcar conductor oozes presence and confidence --the streetlight-on-pulley to lower for maintenance. Too cool. Leunig's locationWe lived in South Burlington, VT for almost 30 years. Leunigs actually was at the corner of Church and College Streets. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Stores & Markets, Streetcars)
The Fake: 1957
... term Tiger Drug Store in Stillwater). Rah! Rah! II Oregon State Beavers! (Kodachromes, LOOK, Sports) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/24/2014 - 4:16pm -

"Athletes from various colleges demonstrating a variety of football moves." Who'll be the first to name that team? 35mm Kodachrome by Marvin E. Newman for the Look magazine assignment "1957 Football Forecast." View full size. rr3Syracuse ? I'll have a go The University of Illinois? Could It Be?Oklahoma State University? Unless It's a FakePrinceton. Rah! Rah! Sis boom bah!Syracuse it is. My GuessDear old UVa? Princeton -- Ivy League Champs in 1957Fred Tiley? Go Tigers!I agree, looks like Princeton to me. Rah! Rah!Princeton Tigers! More from PrincetonTiley in 1959--fullback Princeton Orange and BlackMany universities that use Orange and Black as their color scheme had a Princeton Grad running the early football program. For example, the Oklahoma State Cowboys were at one time the Tigers (thus leading to the long term Tiger Drug Store in Stillwater). Rah! Rah! IIOregon State Beavers! (Kodachromes, LOOK, Sports)
Public hanging
... a cigar box that was tossed into a dumpster in Portland, Oregon. I have no idea of the history. View full size. Maybe around ... 
 
Posted by William - 09/20/2011 - 8:51pm -

I found the negative in a cigar box that was tossed into a dumpster in Portland, Oregon. I have no idea of the history. View full size. Maybe around Denver?I googled the name, came up with very little except the name showing up twice in the undigized list of the Denver Public Library. There is a town in Colorado called Buena Vista. Newspaper article Chaffee County Times, Colorado In 1888, the first legal hanging was held in this area behind the courthouse. This was the hanging of Nicolo Feminella, who was convicted of the murder of a fellow miner. Some historyHere is a link to a story that mentions this event in passing: http://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&Ar... "In 1888, the first legal hanging was held in this area behind the courthouse. This was the hanging of Nicolo Feminella, who was convicted of the murder of a fellow miner. A lot of history has evolved in this area and in the old McGinnis Gym." Building on the old gym news story...The Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings are now a museum. http://www.buenavistaheritage.org/Page.aspx?PageID=2355 at the bottom of the page: The large room at the top of the stairs was once the heart of this venerable old building. This courtroom was the scene of many exciting cases. The fate of Nicolo Ferminello, an Italian accused of stabbing a man to death, was decided here. He was sentenced to die for his crime and his is Chaffee County's only "legal" hanging. He was hanged at the back of the jail complex. The room, which is now available for rental, has the original judge's bench and chair. notice the use of scare quotes around legal hanging... Big!Seems like an awfully big and heavy structure for a single hanging. Surely the forces sufficient to snap his neck would not have been anywhere near sufficient to need all those 2x8s, braces, and so on. Of course, lumber was cheap.... GallowsIt is a counter weight gallows. The condemned was led to the rope at ground level. A very heavy weight was released jerking him into the air. In this picture the man is being lowered by raising the weight out of the picture to the left. Some spectators are watching this. On the left side of the picture you can see the tought rope leading down to the weight. [Little known fact: only educated ropes were used for hangings.] Cigar box?You found this photo in a cigar box in a dumpster??? That's odd...that photo might be worth something. I would keep it and frame it, it's a piece of history. Another version of the history of this hanging...Source: coloradodefenders.us This was the 24th execution in Colorado: NICOLAI FEMENELLA (a.k.a. Mike George). August 23, 1888. Buena Vista (Chaffee County). W-W. Hanging/Broken neck. An Italian immigrant, Femenella was convicted of murdering Irishman William “Pat” Casey, who, like Femenella, was employed as a railroad section hand in the city of Granite. The murder resulted from a quarrel between several Irish and Italian immigrants about the men’s different ethnic heritages. After his conviction, Femenella began to claim that he killed in self-defense, a plea that may have saved him from the gallows had he originally used it at trial.387 Governor Alva Adams deferred the execution on three occasions. “According to prevalent opinion here Femenella has received more consideration than would be accorded to the majority of lifelong citizens in this community.”388 Approximately seventy-five people were admitted to the jail yard to witness the hanging, and a “large crowd” mingled outside the jail fence. He was hanged with rope left over from that ordered from a St. Louis company to hang Andrew Green (q.v.).389 (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Lost Dog: 1939
October 1939. "On U.S. 99 as it continues through Oregon. Lane County, Williamette Valley." Back in the day, this doggy sandwich ... Waymarked The location was Cottage Grove, Oregon. The local library has a file on the stand stating that it was built in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/04/2013 - 8:08pm -

October 1939. "On U.S. 99 as it continues through Oregon. Lane County, Williamette Valley." Back in the day, this doggy sandwich stand was quite fetching. Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Eclectic ArchitectureA lost part of Americana. Strange and wonderful roadside diners and shops designed to lure the wayward tourist into pausing in their travels. This place obviously went to the dogs; wonder what happened to it. Probably turned into pup tents. Reward??I wonder what that $5,000 Reward posting beneath the dog's head was all about. That was an incredible amount of money in those days. Reward PosterThis looks like the Southern Pacific reward poster issued to try to find the people responsible for the derailment & wreck of the "City of San Francisco" train. Reward PosterMy father, then a Western Pacific Special Agent in Elko, was part of the investigation. The case was never solved. http://www.outbacknevada.us/hickson/CitySF.html WaymarkedThe location was Cottage Grove, Oregon. The local library has a file on the stand stating that it was built in 1930, and it also had the following information. "It weighs approximately two ton and rests on a 6 foot by 13 foot platform. It is 11 feet high and the body of the dog is 18 feet long. It is designed to be equipped with electric refrigeration and electric stove". "George Ballew had charge of the construction work, it was wired by the Nelson Electric Shop, was Painted by Ren Sanford and has been photographed by the Shields studio". The former site is waymarked here. The history is also documented on this website with even a photo of the stand being transported on the back of a truck. (The Gallery, Dogs, Dorothea Lange, Eateries & Bars)
Drunken Ducks: 1925
... "Crazier than a peach orchard boar." My dad, born in in Oregon in 1909, often used this old-timey expression to describe obnoxious ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/30/2008 - 12:02pm -

Sept. 5, 1925. "Intoxicated ducks at 611 Yon.[?] Street." This one's a mystery to me. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Mystery Solved?It appears to be a scene of the aftermath from a prohibition-era raid. Note the remains of the barrel (hoops and staves) behind and to the right of the ducks. The one duck looks like it's getting a sip of the hooch that came from the busted barrel. Prohibition ViolatorsLooks like the cops busted up a speakeasy or a covert still the night before. The broken barrel is a good clue, and the ducks are drinking from the pool of whatever was in the barrel. And 1925 was in the middle of Prohibition. My grandfather tells tales about ducks and geese just gobbling up half-rotten berries and getting intoxicated off them back in Yugoslavia. A TheoryEither these two flappers were observed leaving their favorite quackeasy, or they were drinking from a puddle of hooch. Birds are often drunkWe had several fruit trees at one time, pears, apples, peaches and cherries, and when the fruit would fall on the ground and ferment in the hottest months of summer, some of the birds went nearly berserk to get ahold of the intoxicating sour mash on the ground. They could not even walk straight after indulging excessively and would even become lethargic (squirrels also). As kids, we found it quite amusing. Beer Baron"Where'd ya cop the hooch, rummy? Is some blind tiger jerking suds on the side?" "Um, yes?" Yon.[?]Yon. short for Yonkers, maybe? There is a Yonkers Avenue. [This is in or near Washington, D.C. "611 Yon" might be an erroneous transcription of "Kenyon." There was also a raid around this time at 607 I ("Eye") Street. - Dave] You Who?I'd guess that the address is U (You) Street in DC, on a block that has seen a good many more raids since 1925. (The 600 block of U is the western end of that fabled Washington street, and was near the old Griffith Stadium featured in several Shorpy photos.) [Brilliant! That must be it. - Dave] Guzzling it (eider)downOne of the funniest things I ever saw was a PBS documentary years ago of animals in Africa who couldn't get enough of fermented fruit available at a certain season: all of them - elephants, antelope, birds of all kinds, zebras, giraffes, you name it, were all staggering drunk. Eye Street HypothesisWhile respectfully not negating GlenJay's "You [U] street" hypothesis, I will throw this additional information into the mix. The following account of a moonshine raid is the nearest match I can find in the Post archives. The address of this incident, 607 I street, is curiously close in number to the photograph: #607 is two doors down from #611 and events in a rear alley could easily overlap the addresses. Additionally, I street is often spelled "EYE street," potentially being transcribed as "Yon." There remains, however, a date discrepancy of several days. Numerous explanations are possible: Simple transcription error. The National Photo photographer was tardy arriving at the scene and discovered the ducks on the 6th day of their bender. The date corresponds to the day the plate was developed. Also unknown to me is how often bootlegger raids occurred in D.C. at this time. Would every one be reported in the newspaper or only those with additional juicy details such as the offender ramming a police car? Raid On I Street Nets 70 Gallons Arrest Made; Burlingame Nabs Driver Ramming His Pursuing Car. Capt. Guy E. Burlingame and his "flying squadron" swooped down on the premises at 607 I street northwest yesterday, where they found more than 70 gallons of alleged "white whisky," 13 bags of mash and a complete outfit for making liquor. Anthony Consoli, 21 years old, who gave the above address, was taken to the Sixth precinct and charged with manufacturing and possession of liquor. Burlingame and several of his men escaped injury, except for a shaking up, when an automobile they were pursuing in an alley between Fourth and Fifth, near N street northwest, yesterday rammed the police car. John Carter, colored, of 93 L street northwest, driver of the car, was charged with transporting and illegal possession of twelve gallons of corn whisky. Washington Post, Sep 1, 1925 Ducks are Notorious PikersNever heard anyone say, "Drunk as a Duck." But Skunks are another matter. Fermented fruitAmarula, a cream cordial from South Africa, has a label with elephants and the marula fruit. Elephants and other animals enjoy getting tipsy from eating the fermented marula. Tipsy Fauna"Crazier than a peach orchard boar." My dad, born in in Oregon in 1909, often used this old-timey expression to describe obnoxious persons of either gender who could not hold their liquor, the inspiration being the wild pigs from the woods that would raid the orchards to feast on the fermented fruit under the trees. Since we owned a businessman's-lunch restaurant and bar in the hard-drinking 1950s, even our waitresses picked it up from him and started using it back in the kitchen where the customers couldn't hear them. (The Gallery, Animals, Natl Photo, New Year)
Full Service: 1940
... states where they still pump the gas for you. Residents of Oregon and New Jersey don't have self serve pumps even now. Of course the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/23/2012 - 10:59am -

May 1940. "Wiping off windshield at service station in Cairo, Illinois." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. PremlarAs a high school kid, I worked at a gas station for a couple years. We initially had the bow ties, but no caps. Then that sort of went by the wayside. We had one regular customer who ALWAYS wanted us to 'fill it up premlar'. I never was sure why. Did he want half a tank each of premium and regular? We just gave him premium and he was happy with that. KaroCairo is the southernmost town in Illinois. The folks I was working with there explained that I should pronounce the name the same as "Karo" syrup. Full serviceYou don't get that anymore. I worked the full service island at a Mobil station when I was in high school. Check under the hood for you ma'am? Left rear looks a little low. Ah, the days of sell-ups. I even got to pump Ethyl. WindshieldI wasn't around in 1940, but I am old enough to remember "full service." It always seemed that the pump jockey was able to clean off my windshield better than I ever could, even to this day. No streaks! Wonder what kind of magic solution they used in that pump spray bottle? Can I Get 50 cents Worth Please?I'll bet he has the chrome change dispenser on the front of his belt. Those things were murder on paint jobs back then if the guy wasn't careful. Don't ask me how I know. Memories of Dad and the gas stationThe stop for gas was a ritual that fascinated me. Loved ding-ding as the car drove over a sort of hose. Dad got out of the car, conferred with the attendant, and asked for a fill-up. The windows were cleaned, tires and oil checked, etc. Everything in place, we drove off. Me tooWorking at a gas station I pumped the gas, cleaned the windshield, checked the tire pressure, opened the hood, checked the oil and fan belt condition/tightness and filled the window washer tank if the auto was so equipped. Changing tires with an old manual bead-breaker was not my favorite job though. Who's Ethyl?!?!?My kids looked at me like I was crazy (shut UP!) when I said that my FJ Cruiser would only run on Ethyl. Glad someone else remembers the term! --Jim Full Service Gas still exists at no extra costThere are two states where they still pump the gas for you. Residents of Oregon and New Jersey don't have self serve pumps even now. Of course the people who pump the gas don't have sparkling white uniforms with caps, don't do it from globe top dispensers, never have any leaded gas on hand, let alone HiTest or Ethyl, and don't charge 26 cents a gallon any more. 1940 Plymouth?I think the instrument cluster matching what we can see of the posted car gauges is a 1940 Plymouth. [Wow! -tterrace] Sinclair Service AttendantGrowing up we had a Sinclair service station near us and I was always intrigued with the dinosaur logo they used. I see they are still in business but I haven't seen a service station in our area for years. My first real jobAround 1976,I hired on as a mechanic at a local Mobil gas station. I was taught to check under the hood, check the tires, wash the windshield and notify the customer if the oil was low or dirty, and steer them to an empty bay if we had one. The station did not allow self-serve, and this was about the time that self-serve was the majority. We were one of the last full serve stations for many miles. I made a whole $2.10 an hour doing tuneups, carb repair, engine overhauls, transmission overhauls, clutches, and I also used the old manual tire machine. In trade school, they required you to learn how to use the antique, because some of us would be hired at a shop that still used that as their primary tire changer. The reaosn I got the job was because I was fluent with the antique and impressed the boss that I could change a tire faster than he could (a 70 year old man with arthritis) (The Gallery, Gas Stations, John Vachon)
Two Forks: 1939
October 1939. "Hay forks. Northern Oregon farm. Morrow County, Oregon." View full size. Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2008 - 9:52pm -

October 1939. "Hay forks. Northern Oregon farm. Morrow County, Oregon." View full size. Medium-format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the FSA. True LoveAh, how sweet. Looks like true love. Very Arty!Look at how the rectangular frame at the upper right actually echoes the angle of the far left hay fork shadow...and if you removed that arrow shaped door "latch" on the door frame, the whole composition would change. American madeI'm willing to bet those pitchforks are made in the good old U.S. of A. Tools of the DevilMmong the many derogatory names we had for the implements of torture forced upon us on a beautiful summers afternoon, we also referred to these as 'Witch' forks. Pitching hay in a hot barn on a 90 degree day was only marginally better than stacking bales in the loft. You knew it had to be done, but still pined for that cool riverbank and a willow pole to fish with. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange, Handsome Rakes)
Federal Auto: 1917
... The Court Street Dairy Lunch still exists in Salem, Oregon. A luncheon based on dairy products must have been considered ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 10:18pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1917. "Federal Auto Supply Co., Pennsylvania Avenue." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. The legless beggarDid the photographer mean to make a social statement with this picture? Probably not, considering racial attitudes back then. But a legless black beggar one door away from a good hot 25-cent meal sure hit me between the eyes. Dairy LunchI always assumed, when I saw "dairy lunches" mentioned in old novels, that it meant the same thing in gentile circles that it does in Jewish ones -- that is, a restaurant that doesn't serve meat. Looking at this photo, I'm getting the idea that I might have been wrong about that. Either that or this is the craziest kosher restaurant ever! So what is a dairy lunch, anyway? [The "dairy lunch room" came to prominence in the late 19th century, offering fast food for white-collar workers. The name signified "not a saloon" as much as it did the contemporary fad for malteds, shakes and ice cream. Dairy bars found new popularity with the rise of the temperance movement and advent of Prohibition. A lot of these places were former taverns. - Dave] LunchBeen a while since I've had liver and onions for any meal let alone lunch. I'll spring for the small steak for man in need at the drug store. Any idea what the hose near the curb might have been for? Today's QueryAnyone know where I can get some hot rolls? InterchangeabilityHm. Ford Parts next door to Ford Lunch -- maybe I don't wanna know. Eh?477 would be right about where the Canadian Embassy is now. A Legless VeteranGiven the dating of the picture as "circa 1917" I think it's reasonable to suppose that the legless man might be a World War I veteran injured in the War. [He's an old man, so he would not be a WWI vet. - Dave] The Dairy Lunch todayThe Court Street Dairy Lunch still exists in Salem, Oregon. A luncheon based on dairy products must have been considered particularly healthsome. Re: Eh?Unless it was 477 Penn Ave SE, which would put it behind the capital about halfway to Eastern Market. Some surviving buildings in that neighborhood are reminiscent of these buildings. [This is 477 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest. - Dave] Dairy Lunch ReduxOh, of course! Duh! Thank you! To differentiate themselves from the "free lunch" offered by bars, as a respectable eating place. I suppose the "family lunch" places we've seen advertised in some photos had the same idea. Tire TrollopThat appears to be the Kelly Girl in the left door. An infamous ad from 1910 showed her sitting on a Kelly tire and exposing her ankles! It was a huge controversy. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Red Crown Gasoline: 1927
... At Bray, a dot on the map in Siskiyou County up near the Oregon line. Balanced gasoline Nebraska, 1921. Law & Order, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/23/2014 - 12:17pm -

Northern California circa 1927. "California State Automobile Association Official Mechanical, First Aid and Towing Service Station." Offering Emergency Road Service and Red Crown Gasoline. 6½x8½ inch glass negative originally from the Wyland Stanley collection of San Francisciana. View full size. DANCE!At Bray, a dot on the map in Siskiyou County up near the Oregon line. Balanced gasolineNebraska, 1921. Law & Order, Siskiyou County I believe that area is favored by the FBI for relocating newcomers into the Witness Protection Program. Car (formerly) IDJordan. The Jordan emblem has a small arrow head pointing down on a white background, qv. Fill 'er up? Those glass-cylinder pumps may have their charms, but it's worth considering that they made it unworkable for a motorist to say "Fill 'er up" because that would likely leave the fuel level in the glass somewhere between graduations, necessitating guesswork as to the quantity delivered -- as well as confusing matters for the next customer. And, of course, ordering fuel in even-money amounts (as opposed to by-the-gallon) was out of the question. [Or maybe not. Below, from TheOldMotor.com - Dave]         The measuring sticks inside started out with zero gallons at the very top, where the cylinder's overflow was set, and the numbers progressed by gallons to the bottom of the glass. The customer paid for the displaced gallons by reading the measuring stick on the inside of the cylinder. The cylinder was then topped off at zero for the next customer. At closing time, fuel in the cylinder was drained back into the underground tank. AAA / CAAHere in Canada, our affiliate with AAA is CAA, and I work for the Alberta CAA (Alberta Motor Association) formed in 1926. This is our 1926 tow truck, used in a lot of parades. Red Crown tire valve capsIn the early 1950s Red Crown service stations gave or sold red tire valve caps in the shape of their Red Crown. I really, really, really wanted two for my bicycle, unfortunately I could never find a service station that had them. One of life’s bitter disappointments. Red Crown Valve CapsNever too late to get some..... Those were the daysWhen gas stations were rigged liked sailboats. I am trying, unsuccessfully, to understand the purpose of the pole/pulley/cable rig on the side of the building, which apparently opens a second story window. [The pulley is exactly like those on the poles at the end of my mother's washlines, each of which extended from a window, one in the kitchen, one in the bedroom. -tterrace] Thanks, tterrace, makes sense to me now. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, W. Stanley)
Rent-a-Horse: 1865
... of hay... Why do I feel like I'm getting ready to play Oregon Trail? Northern Liberties Fire Co. Washington also had a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 6:02pm -

April 1865. Washington, D.C. "John C. Howard's stable on G Street between 6th and 7th, where John H. Surratt kept horses before leaving town on April 1." From photographs pertaining to the assassination of President Lincoln, April-July 1865. Wet plate glass negative, photographer unknown. View full size. Howard's RestaurantI'd be a little hesitant about ordering a steak. Archie's gangThat's a great brick arch. No other support except for brick and mortar. Good luck finding one of today's "masons" who could do that. So shiny and so new!What really excites and impresses me about this photo (and many others on this site) is how it allows me to "view" 1865 as being "new." Look at how bright that paint job on the arch is -- as if it were completed only yesterday! And that brickwork, too! Just mortared last week! Like many people, I'd always thought of "the past" as being faded, drab and brittle -- but not here; it's almost like stepping through a portal into the real past as opposed to the past we're left imagining. I realize that I'm merely restating a very worn-out cliche, but it's true in this case: no broken-down and crumbling cemeteries that leave us feeling creepy or faded Daguerreotypes that distance and alienate us from the subject; just a bright, shiny, new paint-job that reminds us that "life" is always ongoing and "in the present." This photo is wonderful. Thanks for posting it. Gone With the WindLooks like this location is now occupied by the Verizon Center. Yeah, times change, but ... Northern LibertiesThe sign on the hose cart identifies it as an import from Philadelphia. The industrial district of Northern Liberties supplied essential tools and weapons to the Union Army during the Civil War. The Northern Liberties Fire Bucket Company, established in 1821, was one of Philadelphia's first firefighting outfits. It was reorganized as the Northern Liberties Hose Company in 1828. Hose wagonThat shiny wagon, is it a hose wagon for fire fighting? Does it have anything to do with Lincoln's funeral? Is the name plate readable on blowup? So many questions! [It is a Northern Liberties hose cart. - Dave] I'll have two axles and four tons of hay...Why do I feel like I'm getting ready to play Oregon Trail? Northern Liberties Fire Co. Washington also had a Northern Liberties Fire Co. In 1840 the Northern Liberty Fire Company was organized. It was located at 8th & K Streets N.W. until 1856 when they moved to 6th Street and New York Ave. N.W. until they disbanded in 1858. On September 1, 1856 By-Laws and Regulations were adopted for the governing of the different volunteer companies. The following is quoted from those By-Laws: "Districts are hereby assigned to each of the fllowing companies, viz: Union, Franklin, Northern Liberties, Perseverance. Annacostia, and Columbia. And on the occurrence and during the continuance of a fire, it is made the duty of that company in whose district the fire shall occur, to exhibit their lanterns on their apparatus, and which shall be considered the rallying point for the standing committee. The Districts comprise the following sections of the city: For the Union, all that portion of the city lying in the First Ward. For the Franklin, the Second Ward and that part of the Seventh Ward between 10th Street west and the Potomac River, For the Northern Liberties, the Third and Fourth Wards north of the line of F Street. For the Perserverance, the Third and Fourth Wards south of the line of F Street, south and that part of the Seventh Ward lying between 10th and 4 1/2 Streets, west. for the Columbia, the Fifth Ward and that part of the Seventh Ward east of the line of 4 1/2 Street, west. For the Annacostia, the Sixth Ward. The apparatus was hand drawn, the horse was used in parades. (The Gallery, Civil War, D.C., Horses)
On the Road: 1936
... and drought-stricken area for a new start in Oregon and Washington. Make about 200 miles a day in Model T Ford." Our second ... 
 
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)
On the Road: 1939
... plant. Twenty-five year old itinerant, originally from Oregon. "On the road eight years, all over the country, every state in the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/30/2012 - 2:43pm -

February 1939. Calipatria, Imperial Valley. Car on siding across tracks from pea packing plant. Twenty-five year old itinerant, originally from Oregon. "On the road eight years, all over the country, every state in the union, back and forth, pick up a job here and there, traveling all the time." View full size. Medium format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. Travelin' ManNo doubt he had many interesting stories to tell his grandchildren. Travelin' mansaddest picture I've seen in along while Riding the RailsI didn't get "sadness" from this one, unlike some of the of the other photos . . . . I see a train with no grafitti and a time when you could still ride the rails . . . . I love reading the different perceptions from people, as I said in a prior post, we see what we see. Travelin' ManI thought this picture captured the image of men in the 1930s. Thanks for posting these awesome pictures. Helped me out a ton. Illusion of civilityRiding the rails was very much illegal and dangerous in many ways. My grandfather, who was a brakeman on the Southern RR in the 1930s, had a co-worker who was killed by a desperate rider who thought he was going to be kicked off the train. After that, Granddad carried a revolver in his overalls (against all company rules, of course) until times got safer after World War II. Fruit trampsMy dad who died last year at 99 traveled this way from time to time chasing the fruit harvest. They called themselves "fruit tramps" and worked all over the West. (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Great Depression, Railroads)
Market Street: 1904
... There are a few remaining buildings here in Portland, Oregon, which have faces carved into them. When did our buildings stop looking ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 1:01pm -

Philadelphia circa 1904. "Market Street from Eighth." City Hall's clock tower at the end of the street. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. At right is the StrawbridgeAt right is the Strawbridge & Clothier store, where the Philadelphia Inquirer is scheduled to be moving this summer, with its newsroom and business offices on the third floor. Cloak and SuitersIn the Garment Centered economy of NYC in the 1940 and 1950s, a "Cloak & Suiter" replaced the "Big Butter & Egg Man" as the lavish spender of the times. The colloquial nickname was "Cloakie." They were replaced in the 1990s by the "Dot Com People." What this street needsBecause of the crowds, what this street needs is a subway. Congestion is only going to get worse, especially when they actually start digging for one in a couple of years. Hank adds the following notes:A moment in transit history. The streetcar tracks must have been rebuilt about 5-10 year earlier, when cable cars were eliminated (note no slot), and would be torn up in another year or two for construction of the Market St subway, then restored. The top of the Reading Terminal building is just visible on the right (north) side of the street - that dark cornice seen in front of the City Hall tower. Strawbridge & Clothier, one of the three big department stores in Philly is on the right, between 8th and 9th Sts. They are still there but with a newer building. Wanamaker's was in the left side of the street, out of sight just before City Hall. Gimbels would be on the left nearby. I can't make out whether the signs on the extreme left edge of the picture are for Gimbels or for Snellenbergers, another department store. Even single-truck cars still appeared on busy market street! But most of the cars are what was then a standard design in Phila. Gazing outI love the faces sculpted into the facade, just at the left edge of the photo. There are a few remaining buildings here in Portland, Oregon, which have faces carved into them. When did our buildings stop looking back at us? Strawbridge'sStrawbridge's (formerly Strawbridge & Clothier) (The Gallery, DPC, Philadelphia, Streetcars)
Peacock Beverages: 1922
... I can get a variety called "Teddys Birch Beer" here in Oregon. It's not bad at all. More Birch Beer Birch beer has a distinct ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/17/2014 - 11:45pm -

February 1922. Washington, D.C. "Food show -- Peacock exhibit -- Mrs. Julian E. Carabillo." Hollyhocks, peacocks and hens at the Retail Grocers Protective Association exposition at Washington Convention Hall. View full size. Ginger and BirchThe ginger ale of the old days was made from real ginger (usually Jamaican) and was often used as a pharmaceutical to aid digestion, motion sickness and sore throats. It mixes well with all alcoholic beverages and the old 1940's popular "highball" was simply a shot of whiskey in a glass of ginger ale. Today it is possibly made from flavoring or extract depending on the manufacturer. Birch beer is made from the concentrated extracts of birch trees (bark and roots) and was also considered an herbal beverage. If you have lived in the northeast, New England, etc. birch beer was and still is readily available in several colors and varieties. It is especially good ice cold and served with hot pizza. Sparkling With Snap Washington Post, April 7, 1921. There is Health in Drinking Peacock. The best Jamaica ginger especially processed to bring out the true ginger flavor and water that has been properly carbonated, are skillfully combined to make Peacock Ginger Ale. That is why Peacock Ginger Ale is such a healthful and flavorful drink. As it pours from the bottle, sparkling with snap, Peacock even looks refreshing. Then when you taste it and find that is has just enough ginger to please the taste, you, too, will always say Peacock when buying ginger ale. Your grocer and druggist sells Peacock Ginger Ale in 15½-ounce bottles. Also ask for Peacock Root Beer, Birch Beer, Sarsaparilla and Lemon Soda. Weisbrod & Hess, Philadelphia. Hoyle & Martin, local representatives, Stewart Bldg., Washington, D.C. Party TimeI think Mrs Carabillo's smile indicates that she might have spiked her Peacock beverage with some sort of Prohibition Era intoxicant. Birch Beer?What was this, "Root's" weird uncle or something? I've never heard of birch beer before. I reckon you learn something new every day when you start out dumb enough! A beer with barkWell, you might call it "root beer's weird uncle" since it tastes somewhat similar. It's made with an oil processed from birch bark which accounts for its distinctive taste. I don't drink sodas these days, haven't for a long time actually, but eons ago in my childhood birch beer was a treat that I only had when we visited my grandmothers in suburban Philadelphia. The other such exclusive treat was Hires Root Beer. This is the brand I remember: http://www.daretogodutch.com/homepage.html Birch BeerI had never heard of it until I was a teenager in the mid 80's. My friend's mother asked a bunch of us if we'd like some Birch Beer. And I thought, a mother serving beer, how COOL! Re: Birch beer I can get a variety called "Teddys Birch Beer" here in Oregon. It's not bad at all. More Birch BeerBirch beer has a distinct wintergreen flavor. I have seen a photo somewhere (apparently not on Shorpy) of an old man tending a birch bark still in the N.C. Mountains. The Boylan Beverage Co. had a tasty (once you get used to it) birch beer that is sold here in the southeast. (The Gallery, Natl Photo)
Time and Tide: 1941
September 1941. "By the Pacific Ocean. Seaside, Oregon." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/18/2022 - 9:55pm -

September 1941. "By the Pacific Ocean. Seaside, Oregon." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Promenade HomeThese folks appear to be sitting on Seaside's Promenade in the only area with curved railings, the Turnaround. The Prom was built in 1921, so at 101 she looks good but has had some work: the railing cement looks different so it was renovated or replaced, and the lamps look old, but aren't the originals. Spread out!Social distancing, the early years. Edward Hopper was hereWas Ed coaching the photographer, or did this shot lodge itself in his mental trunk of painterly images? (The Gallery, Landscapes, Russell Lee)
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