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On Walden Pond: 1937
... dog stands and old beer cans. In the name of recreation, trees were felled on the eastern shore to make an addition to the present beach ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/14/2008 - 11:31am -

September 1937. Concord, Massachusetts. "At Walden Pond, haunt of Thoreau." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Edwin Locke for the Resettlement Administration. We wonder where Thoreau rented his swimsuits back in the day. WowLast time I was at Walden, it was a park and they didn't have any stores nearby. I loved going there to relax after working a night shift. I also love the sign stating you can get a Frappe since I moved to California I can only get milkshakes! I wish I could go back in time, because the store looks like it would be a fun place to go to. Walden PondFrom the Sports Illustrated archives. Oct. 28, 1957: Walden Pond, on whose wild shores and idle waters Henry David Thoreau lingered more than 100 years ago, has, like much of that early, innocent world, been changed by bulldozers, a trailer camp named Walden Breezes, hot dog stands and old beer cans. In the name of recreation, trees were felled on the eastern shore to make an addition to the present beach area, a slope was stripped and a concrete bathhouse and a paved road to the water were proposed. On weekends, Walden Pond resembles a rustic Coney Island. RoyalsWhat are royals? They sound tasty. WaldenI grew up in Concord and much of the "Coney Island" stuff was still there into the 1960s, albeit very much toned down. As you drove down Route 126, just past what used to be the town dump on the left, was the entrance to the Walden Breezes trailer park. Back in the 70s it was bought by the state, with the proviso that existing residents could stay there as long as they wanted. Just past the trailer park was the stand, or a similar looking successor, shown in the photo. It was much less gaudy in the early 60s. The bath house was an ugly cinder block structure down on the beach. If you go back to the late 1800s, there was a bandstand built out over the water and a horse racing track on the far side of the pond. Trains from Boston would stop there. At some point the bandstand burned and fell into the water. Frappes and milkshakesFor those who have never been to New England, a frappe is what everyone else in the U.S. calls a milkshake; but here, a milkshake is just that -- no ice cream involved. (The Gallery, Edwin Locke, Travel & Vacation)
Avenue Grand: 1920
... the elaborate brickwork on the right (seen through the trees) is still there, now a liquor store. View Larger Map ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 1:10pm -

Washington circa 1920. "Crandall's Avenue Grand," 645 Pennsylvania Avenue S.E. Now playing: "Dangerous to Men." National Photo Co. View full size. Dr. JJohn Barrymore in "Dr Jekyll & Mrs Hyde." I think I would enjoy that very much. There's so little to see in the movie theatres these days, except at Oscar time. I'm not a great fan of animation. It's not cinema, it's cartoons. Avenue Grand The Avenue Grand 8 Big Acts Each Week Pictures - Vaudeville 645 Pa. Ave S.E. Doors Open at 6:30 P.M. Washington Post, Sep 17, 1910 Buys the Avenue Grand Crandall Acquires Picture House in Pennsylvania Avenue Henry M. Crandall, one of Washington's pioneer motion picture exhibitors, has acquired the Avenue Grand motion picture establishment, in Pennsylvania avenue, between Sixth and seventh streets southeast, and will reopen the theater in about two weeks. The Avenue Grand is known as the largest motion picture theater here in a residential district. It has a seating capacity of more than 1,000, and is equipped with a balcony and a stage for straight theatrical productions. Washington Post, Mar 26, 1916 Crandall's Avenue Grand Reopens The reopening of the Avenue Grand under the management of Harry M. Crandall was welcomed by capacity audiences at all performances yesterday and Sunday. The theater has been thoroughly renovated and redecorated, and a gold screen and an efficient ventilation system has been installed. ... Washington Post, Apr 18, 1916 Viola Dana and Milton SillsHer career ended in 1929 when sound movies began; probably no coincidence. She died in 1987 at age 90. He survived the advent of sound but not his heart attack at age 48 in 1930. Dangerous to MenHey, they made a movie about the Drexel Women's Rifle Team! Old Movies for NewWhat's interesting is that while "Dangerous to Men" premiered in 1920, "Old Wives for New" came out in 1918. I wonder why it was showing a movie that had premiered two years prior? [Second-run showings are nothing new. - Dave] The shadow manDid anyone notice the shadowy guy in front of M.B. Flynn's Stoves? J. MuttsThe theater is gone, but the building with the elaborate brickwork on the right (seen through the trees) is still there, now a liquor store. View Larger Map Capitol HillRobert K. Headley's "Motion Picture Exhibition in Washington, D.C." has this info about the fate of the Avenue Grand: It was renamed the Capitol Hill between 1956 and 1970. Don King operated it in the sixties, refurbishing it in 1967, with unrealized plans to make it a cinematheque where patrons could eat. A fire in November 1970 gutted the building, and it was razed soon after. (The Gallery, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
Bell, Bark and Saddle: 1939
... trunk. Like sycamore, the outer bark peels off as those trees grow. Antenna I would have guessed a 20m Dipole antenna. That, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/02/2018 - 10:50pm -

June 1939. "Entrance to mess hall. Quarter Circle U Ranch, Big Horn County, Montana." Medium format negative by Arfer Ruffstein. View full size. Where You Buried the BoneI've only been up about five minutes this morning and must thank you for the first laugh of the day. "Arfer Ruffstein". DipoleThat appears to be an off-center-fed dipole antenna, which suggests a ham radio setup. Feeding a dipole off-center matches its impedance to 50 ohm coax, which is way too much trouble for just a receiver. Oh, I see.So I guess that's Pyewacket the dog? Unique RoofComplete with wild growth. Rockin' out?Never been out west; is that a rock roof and Rock Hudson's giant boot lying in the yard? What's the weird wood?Never seen spiraling wood grain such as that in the pole (or barkless tree trunk?) holding the dinner bell. Anyone got a guess what kind of tree it is--or is from? Eucalyptus PoleThe bell is mounted on a pole made from a eucalyptus trunk. Like sycamore, the outer bark peels off as those trees grow. AntennaI would have guessed a 20m Dipole antenna. That, along with 40m, was a popular band but it doesn't look long enough or high enough for 40m. I'd be curious to know what wire is going to the antenna. It looks like some kind of coax. I wouldn't have thought coax would have been available to the average person at the time, the same for 300 ohm twin lead, but the feed line looks round. It also looks like other antennas are going on over the the left. My Greatgrandpappy Told Me."Yes son a nailed horseshoe on a building draws good luck but never nail it upside down because all the luck falls out if you do." True story. And yes aenthal that be a eucalyptus trunk disguised as a bell tower. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Dogs)
The Clothesline Kid: 1939
... snapped in July due to the distinct lack of foliage on the trees. Row house? I don't think these are "row houses" but rather the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/23/2013 - 10:18am -

July 1939. "Washington, D.C. Backyards of row houses." Where Sonny looks kind of lonely. Large-format negative by David Myers (Moffat). View full size. Indoors Too?It appears that there must be screened in porches on these houses; a close look at the upper floor shows some clothes lines inside these porches with laundry on them. Anyone want to play?Besides what he's got tucked under his arm, there's a kiddie pedal car, and a toy dump truck on the horizon! Apartments?I think these were apartments, rather than row houses, because you can see separate porches for upstairs and downstairs units. We lived in for a while in an apartment in the 3400 block of Minnesota Avenue SE, with four units per building, and the backs looked somewhat like this. Must have been a bleach saleJust about everybody has been laundering nothing but "whites." Now, Mom did the whites one day and the colors the next but not everybody in the neighborhood was on the same schedule as Mom. Where?I'm curious where this photo was taken. Is it near RFK stadium? How many?How many women own a bag of clothespins - or have even put a load of laundry on a clothesline? The good old days? I imagine December thru March would be miserable. It's A Date?Hate to double post, but serious doubts about this pic being snapped in July due to the distinct lack of foliage on the trees. Row house?I don't think these are "row houses" but rather the four unit apartments that are everywhere in DC. Evidence of this is the four quarters of porches with the visible doors for what would be the upper right unit in each building. The stairs from the upper units descended to the center doorway on the first floor. That they were enclosed was a further bonus on snow days. An awning was also added to one of the porches. I grew up in Glover Park and there were many of these units farther up Benton St., NW near Stoddert Elementary. Betcha' It Was A MondayMom's schedule and the rest of our neighborhood was on Monday you washed everything, colored & whites. And yes captivated I have personal experiance that December through March were miserable since one of my chores after school was bringing in the laundry while my older sister folded. Mom's day of liberation came in the early 50's when Dad bought her a new electric washer and dryer. I missed the old washer for out went the wringer which was more of a toy to me than a tool. (The Gallery, D.C., David Myers, Kids)
Irving Place: 1905
... of the big ugly box of a building across the street, the trees and removal of the ivy is beautiful. View Larger Map ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 12:38pm -

New York circa 1905. "Washington Irving's home, Irving Place and East 17th Street." Where Rip Van Winkle meets Sleepy Hollow. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Hydrants high and lowA little trivia: This area was transforming from residential to manufacturing lofts at about this time. (The transformation never got much past 17th Street on Irving Place, though). For a period, the city ran two separate fire hydrant systems, one for everyday use, and a high pressure system for commercial areas that could push a lot more water into high-rise buildings. The short, fat fire hydrant in the foreground is the high-pressure system; the taller, skinny one in the background is the regular system. The high-pressure system went out of service in 1979, but the hydrants remained on the streets for decades, "downgraded to the simple duty of collecting parking ticket revenues for the city." You could still find them around Union Square into the 2000s. Creepy Face CloudThe cloud in the middle of the picture looks like a ghostly figure of a little girl just look closely is creepy you can see the head and hands!?! Elsie de Wolfe's PlaceAlthough Irving Place was named for Washington Irving, the long identification of this house at 122 E. 17th Street is apparently incorrect. The story seems to date from the 1890s, when the house was occupied by Elsie de Wolfe, the influential and very social interior designer, and her partner Elisabeth Marbury, a successful literary agent. Built in 1844, the house had once been the residence of an unrelated merchant named Edgar Irving, and Washington Irving lived in Tarrytown, not Manhattan, after his return from Spain in 1846. A 1994 New York Times article by Christopher Gray debunks this durable myth in killing detail. Whaddya KnowStill there. Along with much of the neighborhood. I was sure I'd hit Google Maps and see a '70s apartment complex or a parking garage. There oughta be a medal. Old and ImprovedI don't know that I have ever thought this on this site, but I actually think the scene looks better now! Aside from the addition of the big ugly box of a building across the street, the trees and removal of the ivy is beautiful. View Larger Map And let's not forget Washington Irving High SchoolStill a great NYC public high school! Famous alumnae include Claudette Colbert, the famous 1930's movie star, and Gertude Berg, of "The Goldbergs" TV show of the 1950's. Today, great kids and teachers. +107Below is the same view from April of 2012. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Beaucoup Bridges: 1938
... give me the same angle as Mr. Rothstein's photograph; but trees, foliage, and high guard rails block the view he had. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/10/2020 - 9:38am -

July 1938. "Looking north. Monongahela River, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Lots of RR history hereThe Wabash bridge was from a pretty-much stillborn attempt to produce a national rival to the PRR and NYC. To the right, on the near side of the river, there's the P&LE station, the current "Station Square". There are train sheds over the tracks from the station. Lower on the photo is a turntable and some engine terminal facilities. It looks like there are some gondolas collecting ash from locomotive servicing. Just above the turntable, I see a gondola with a bunch of containers, probably for "Less than carload" service. PRR had similar cars. The tall building that dominates is a warehouse for the P&LE. There are a number of passenger cars (coaches and baggage cars) in the yard. The only locomotive is mostly hidden by the Wabash Bridge, probably a switcher for the coach yard. On the other side of the river, next to the far end of the Smithfield Street (lenticular truss) bridge is the B&O station and its train sheds. There are some steel mills in the far distance on both sides of the river. The one on the near side has been covered in a bunch of previous Shorpy photos. I had to think... about Beaucoup Bridges for a moment before I appreciated the title. Looking EastThe building at center right and its P&LE RR sign on top are both still there. 82 years later --In an era where highway bridges are deemed obsolete and unsafe after 40-50 years, some credit should be given to the engineers who designed these structures. From foreground back: 1. Wabash Bridge -- Torn down in the 1970s and never replaced. 2. Smithfield Street Bridge -- In use from 1883 to present (more years than the Brooklyn Bridge). 3. Panhandle Bridge -- Carrying rail traffic (now the "T" light transit) since 1903. 4. Liberty Bridge -- Vehicle traffic from the south hills of Pittsburgh from 1928 to present. 5. South 10th Street (Philip Murray) Bridge -- Vehicular traffic from 1931 to present. The only true cable suspension bridge that still exists in the city where the Roeblings got their start. 6. Brady Street Bridge -- demolished in the 1970s and replaced by the Birmingham Bridge. Trains gave way to cars and trucksI tried every road on Google maps I thought would give me the same angle as Mr. Rothstein's photograph; but trees, foliage, and high guard rails block the view he had.
The Bossy Lamppost: 1943
... Florida closet now. Season ? With all the leafless trees and heavy clothing it's not likely a May-June scene. Traffic? What ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2013 - 4:18am -

New York, May-June 1943. "Many accidents are attributed to unpatrolled intersections in Harlem. Here schoolchildren are allowed to run across busy intersections unescorted." Photo by Gordon Parks for the OWI. View full size. Ashcan Alley nearby?The Ashcan Alley post had a can that seemed to have "4ST" painted on it. Given this was in Harlem, I had wondered if that meant 134th Street. Since the Bossy Lamppost shows Gordon Parks was shooting on 134th, I bet the Ashcan Alley is nearby. Could not find it, though, on Google Street View. [134th is the cross street. As noted below by timeandagain, we are looking north up Seventh Avenue. - Dave] 7th Ave. todayThis view is looking north on Seventh Avenue (now Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard) from W. 134th Street. View Larger Map Quiet SchoolAs a 29 year teacher, I don't think I've ever been to a Quiet School. A historic spot for a crossingOne street up, on the left, is The Big Apple, a bar and club opened in 1934, it was frequented by musicians and entertainers. Bessie Smith was there several times. Opposite it was a more famous club, Smalls' Paradise, which was eventually bought by Wilt Chamberlain. In the 1960s, it was openly a gay bar, but it had almost been that since the 1930,when it was a showbiz hangout. The upside-down apple sign was a landmark of sorts. Someone rescued it and put it up on eBay, but too much money was asked. It is rumored to be in someone's Florida closet now. Season ?With all the leafless trees and heavy clothing it's not likely a May-June scene. Traffic?What traffic? Looks kind of quiet on the road. So the kids probaly had a viable excuse. And the whole lot looks rather orderly. So I wonder whether there is not somebody "qualified" in the lead, masked by the lamppost, even there is nobody bringing up the rear. I wonder, too, how I survived my own childhood. No bicycle helmets, roaming around on my own, walking to school unattended (even to pre-school), and so on. (The Gallery, Gordon Parks, Kids, NYC)
Where's Waldo: 1964
... the Google street view from the overpass matches; those trees in the '64 shot have now grown so you can't see the tunnel from there. ... 
 
Posted by tterrace - 09/23/2011 - 1:48am -

October 1964. U.S. 101 above Sausalito, Calif., the Waldo Grade approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. Similarities after 44 years: same number of traffic lanes. Differences after 44 years: many more cars, but none of them have fins. My color slide with Montgomery Ward brand film. View full size. Chrysler or DeSotoCan you blow up that gray car on the left? At first I thought 1961 Chrysler but it looks a little like it has the 61 DeSoto's weird oval upper grille. [I was wondering the same thing. - Dave] TailfinsAbout 7½ years earlier you might have caught our brand-new, highly-finned, White-over-Turquoise '57 Chevy Bel Air along there as we trekked to SF from Novato to show Golden Gate Park etc. to my maternal grandmother visiting from Australia. It seemed that half of the time the GG Bridge towers were enshrouded in fog! Yep, a DeSotoChryslers didn't have that pattern of two-tone (sides one color, top different). [If I may interject: There's no two-toning on that car. And I'm pretty sure there were no 1961 DeSotos with the two-tone paint scheme you describe, either. - Dave] I should be able to identify the first car on the left, but I'm not sure -- the strake-fold above the rear wheels should be distinctive. After that: The aforesaid Desoto; Black '57 Chevy Nomad; VW Karmann Ghia convertible; '63 Chrysler; Pre-1950 Ford pickup; Another black '57 Chevy, this one a sedan; '52 or '53 Mercury. The black blob just before the curve is unidentifiable, at least by me. Going the other way: The blue pickup under the lamppost -- ?? Red '59 Chevy El Camino -- if you had that car now, you could sell it and buy a house; The others I can't do. I think the white car on the right is a brand-new Pontiac Le Mans. Regards, Ric Point Of Viewtterrace, were you standing on the Wolfback Ridge overpass when you took this? Waldo viewpointYep, the Google street view from the overpass matches; those trees in the '64 shot have now grown so you can't see the tunnel from there. BTW, I remember when that southbound bore was the only one, with both directions, four lanes undivided, going through. An exciting ride, especially on rainy winter nights. And noisy because those were the days when you were expected to violate the no-horn-blowing-in-tunnels stricture. Sometimes I even could pester my father into a beep or two. Fifty-NinerNoticed the '59 El Camino right away. I owned one for about four years but had to sell it in 2005. Dang I miss that thing. Nice Photo! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, tterrapix)
Scout Kar: 1918
... which suggests nothing except the surrounding earth, trees, grain fields, sky, etc., making an exact fac-simile of the cars now ... View full size. What car? All I see is a bunch of Trees. October 28, 1917 Slow news day in Oakland. Word of the day: ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/11/2014 - 7:38pm -

        America's first camouflaged automobile has been let loose, and is now on the war path. The inhabitants of the Pacific Coast from Seattle to San Diego swear they are "seeing things." A sheriff who has a record for pinching speeders is out after the camoufleurs who committed "camouflage" to prove that America's automobiles are as chameleon-like while on the war path as those in Europe. -- Oakland Tribune, Oct. 28, 1917         W.L. Hughson, of KisselKar fame upon the Pacific Coast, has donated the famous Kissel military scout car, recently used to blaze the "three nation run," to the government department having the new operations of "camouflage" in its charge. A committee of three prominent San Francisco artists will paint this car with color patches, which suggests nothing except the surrounding earth, trees, grain fields, sky, etc., making an exact fac-simile of the cars now being used by the allies along the various war fronts -- Motor West, Oct. 15, 1917 "Kissel Military Highway Scout Kar." From somewhere in the woodsy Pacific Northwest comes the "Scout Kar" last seen here, with 1918 Washington State dealer plates. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size. What car?All I see is a bunch of Trees. October 28, 1917Slow news day in Oakland. Word of the day:Camoufleurs. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chris Helin)
Gamble's Clipper: 1940
... on the pillar at right. Obviously, no living trees were around to mutilate, so lover-boy had to make do with this porch ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/21/2011 - 1:52am -

Fall 1940, somewhere in the Midwest. An uncaptioned shot by John Vachon with neighboring 35mm frames taken in Fargo, North Dakota, and Little Falls, Minnesota. We'll just wait for these kids to fill in the details. View full size. Nothing says "I Love You" quite like vandalism.Somebody's carved the classic initials in a valentine-heart on the pillar at right. Obviously, no living trees were around to mutilate, so lover-boy had to make do with this porch post. Years before the showHey Alice - I'm home!!! Wagons HoFor once it is not a Radio Flyer. Three Family HouseThe mailboxes indicate that three different families lived here. I know that when I was a toddler in Ct., our family rented out the finished basement with private entry of a two-story house, the landlord/owner lived on the first floor and another renting family lived on the second floor. The houses did not have to be huge, as in 1940 people did not expect luxury, just a roof over their head. Then when I was first married and moved to San Fran, Ca., my darlin' and I lived in a finished 3-room attic, so I did eventually come up in the world, from basement to attic. The end. Secret FortUnder the porch always made the best hideout. Technical talkHopefully those wires coming down from near the drainage downspout on the right and running thru the window screen frame are just antenna lead-ins. By this time most new radios came with built-in loop antennas good enough for local area stations. Also, if that's a ground line to what looks like a very large rebar there it wouldn't likely last very long due to surface corrosion increasing the resistance (and not at all unless it's into real soil - dried concrete and cement are good insulators). Vandalism?It may have been the homeowner who carved the heart and initials in the porch pillar. Or it may have been done by "lover-girl." (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids)
On Broadway: 1903
... only odd monument Visible at the left edge through the trees of Madison Square Park is the 1876 statute of William H. Seward by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/02/2013 - 3:03pm -

Circa 1903. "Flatiron Building, New York." Looking south down Broadway at this seminal skyscraper, with Fifth Avenue to the right. Also a nice view of the Albemarle Hotel and, at bottom, the obelisk of the Worth Memorial, resting place of Mexican-American War hero Major General William Jenkins Worth (and, incidentally, one of only two monuments serving as mausoleums in Manhattan). 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Things To ComeThe streets shown in this photo, except for some horse emissions and some circular street stains, are exceptionally clean. No Burger King or McD wrappers, Starbucks containers, lottery scratch offs, NY Post front pages or other detritus. One of only twoOne of only two monuments serving as mausoleums in Manhattan, the other being General Grant National Memorial, better known as Grant's Tomb. I'd like to put the pieces togetherLove it. .. This would make a great puzzle, full of rich details showing the hustle and bustle of city life 110 years ago. Not the only odd monumentVisible at the left edge through the trees of Madison Square Park is the 1876 statute of William H. Seward by Randolph Rogers. Seward served as New York's governor and later represented the state in the Senate, but of course is most famous for orchestrating the purchase of Alaska ("Seward's Folly") while Secretary of State. Soon after the statue's dedication, a rumor arose that sculptor Rogers saved money by adding Seward's head to an existing cast of a statue of Abraham Lincoln. He had been paid to do an entirely new statue. Rogers never confirmed or denied the rumor, but it's obvious that the statue's proportions are all wrong. The body is that of a tall man, which Seward definitely was not, and Seward's head is much too small for his(?) body. Today the Seward statute is overshadowed by Shake Shack, a large food kiosk where hipsters and trustafarians wait in hours-long lines for expensive hamburgers. Mystery objectWhat is this guy carrying? Can't be a TV antenna... Probably a dressmaker's dummyThe mystery object is probably (part of) a dressmaker's dummy. He's holding it almost upside down; the three legs would normally be sitting on the floor. There might be another section that goes on top of the part he has - see this picture from 1913. A tailor tries a dress-in-progress on a dummy like this to make sure it's shaping up correctly. It *might* be a bird cage, but the ones I've seen didn't usually have the main support pole running straight up the center like that. (The Gallery, DPC, Flatiron Building, NYC, Streetcars)
Nash Wash: 1955
... It does look more like summer with the full leaves on the trees. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery) ... 
 
Posted by AAAndrew - 10/05/2014 - 4:53pm -

In the spring of 1955, Bert and Iva's son George brought his new wife, Arax, and their 1948 Nash Ambassador home to 1022 S. 8th Street in Wausau, Wisconsin. Wonder if she also washed Bert's Hudson in the background? Kodachrome slide. Part of the Bert's Slides Collection. (Bert loved cars.) View full size. Bert's CarBert's car (behind the Nash) is actually a 1950 Plymouth, and it must be really late spring in Wausau for it to be warm enough to stand barefoot on wet concrete and smile about it. Car lineupThe car in the background might be a 1950 Plymouth. There is also a nice 1955 Ford Fairlane across the street. Made in WisconsinTwo beauties from a beautiful state! Thanks for the memoriesMy dad had one just like this, same color and all. He bought it brand new to drive us from Milwaukee to New Jersey, where we moved. There were no license plates, because in Wisconsin in those days you could paste your title in the back window until the plates arrived. This caused us to get stopped numerous times along the way, which took several days back then. The cars are goneBut the house still looks the same. View Larger Map Wausau, WII've been following this site since the beginning and was happy to see photos from Wausau, WI where I live. Can't wait to see more for the Bert's Slides Collection. Wonder whose Plymouth it was?Bert had a Hudson (another photo I'll upload soon). Don't know who's Plymouth it might be. Yeah, the house was exactly the same until they sold it just a few years ago. It hadn't been changed for more than 50 years. It still had the knob and tube wiring, push button light switches and no shower. It does look more like summer with the full leaves on the trees. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Danger Lurks: 1908
... America. Points of interest in this 8x10 glass plate: many trees camouflaging one ambush. Bain News Service. View full size. Cos ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/27/2019 - 3:24pm -

Cos Cob, Connecticut, circa 1908. "Owanoke Prospector's Camp -- Wyndygoul." Camping on the estate of writer-naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton, a founder of the Boy Scouts of America. Points of interest in this 8x10 glass plate: many trees camouflaging one ambush. Bain News Service. View full size. Cos Cob?Probably near a commuter line, today that tent would go for $2.5M. I see the ambushWhether it was staged or not I don't know, it was 1908 in Connecticut after all, and I thought we were pretty cool with the east coast Native Americans by this point. Cos Cob has changedIf that tent were still around in Cos Cob today it probably would sell for $250K. The low-rent district, it's not. Prospecting for whatin Greenwich CT? Investors? Hatchet JobThe two guys digging and chopping are wearing dress shoes, dress pants, and the guy with the ax (who looks a tad like Kirk Douglas in profile) is even wearing a tie. I realize that is pretty much the "dress code" of the era, but I could not see myself dressed like that on a camping trip. Shorts (and bug spray), T-shirt, sneakers would be best. The only person dressed comfortably seems to be the attacker lurking behind the tree. How times have changed! High Camp PicturesquenessI'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest we are looking at staged version of one of Seton's "games in Indian style." St. Nicholas, an Illustrated Magazine for Young Folks, Volume 39, January, 1912. The Birch-Bark Roll Camp A great many of our readers are familiar with the organization called “The Woodcraft Indians," or “Indian Scouts," originated by Ernst Thompson Seton, July 1, 1902, at Cos Cob, Connecticut. Mr. Seton established this camp with the main object, as he states in a letter to “Nature and Scientist," “To develop boys in the right direction mentally, morally, and physically by supplying wholesome, and especially outdoor, activities; aiming never to crush energy, but to direct it, believing that no boys are born bad. The bad ones are made by evil surroundings. Our mottos is ‘Manhood, not Scholarship, the object of Education.'" He tells us in “The BirchBark Roll," a hand-book of instructions for the woodcraft Indians (and this is practically another name for “Boy Scouts"), that "Sport is the great incentive to Outdoor Life; nature study is the intellectual side of sport." … In the movement Mr. Seton puts recreation first and education second, and depends chiefly upon these principles: camp life, self-government, pursuits and games in Indian style, honors by standards, personal decoration, heroic ideals, and picturesqueness in everything. Of this he says: “Very great importance should be attached to this. The effect of the picturesque is magical, and all the more subtle and irresistible because it is not, the face of it, reasonable. The charm of titles and gay costumes, of the beautiful ceremony, phrase, dance and song, is all utilized to make the camp attractive and inviting to the boys." (The Gallery, Boy Scouts, Camping, G.G. Bain, Native Americans)
Texas Gothic: 1939
... a motel nearby? Check out time Apparently, the trees are leafing the mansion. I wonder There is some lettering above ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/02/2018 - 10:51am -

November 1939. "Old mansion in Comanche, Texas." Boo, y'all! Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Oakland HeightsAs a native of Comanche, Texas, I can say for certain that the house was named Oakland Heights, and was built before 1887 by a man named Dexter Walcott. (The street which ran in front of the house is still named Walcott Avenue.) A man named F. M. Browne added the Victorian decorations and additional stories a few years after. It stood on one of the tallest points in the town, befitting its name. The house was a showpiece in its early years, but fell into ruin as the family died out. (By the time of this photo, it may have been already vacant.) It was torn down as a derelict in the 1950s and replaced by a ranch-style home which stands on the site today, using the original house's foundation. Oakland Heights also served as the model for the cover of Richard Brautigan's novel "The Hawkline Monster," according to cover artist Wendell Minor. DetailsA lot of gingerbread on this house. And the brickwork on the chimney is fantastic! Vacation plansIs there perhaps a motel nearby? Check out timeApparently, the trees are leafing the mansion. I wonderThere is some lettering above the entrance on the far right. Any chance of seeing a closeup? [OAKLAND HEIGHTS, maybe. Or OAKLAWN. - Dave] I recognize the house!This is the Texas residence known as the old Addams place. Inhabited by a family of very exotic yet loving souls, it’s their southern vacation villa for use in hurricane season. Pan-dimensional, all of the windows face south to take advantage of looming storms. Room with a viewI want to be in that fourth-story cupola, sitting in a swivel chair. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Needle's Eye: 1943
... messaging. On the other side of F Street, where the palm trees are is Santa Fe Park, which is in front of El Garces Hotel (Harvey House). There aren't as many palm trees today. We cross Front Street as it jogs around Santa Fe Park. Here we ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/01/2014 - 10:14am -

March 1943. Needles, California. "General view of street leading to depot of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad." Photo by Jack Delano. View full size. Cooling towersThe structures atop both hotels resembling inverse pagodas are cooling towers, as no decent hotel in a place like Needles could have done any business without some kind of comfort cooling. They may be water-cooled condensers for refrigerated systems, or they may be just plain old "swamp coolers"; it's impossible to tell from this evidence alone. From what I've seen and been told, the louvers on the sides were usually made of wood, probably cedar or cypress. The man straddling the foreground tower attests to the intensive maintenance that these systems required, while the tower in the background may have emanated the warm smell of colitas. The Joads, of course, drove past this place at night, after spending the searing hot desert afternoon immersed in the Colorado River, the poor man's air conditioning. Welcome to the Less ornate today.I am certain this is the location, with all the charm thoroughly removed: View Larger Map ID for CarsWe often hear it said that today's cars are not distinctive enough to ID. That was also true in the 30's, especially from the rear! To the right of the fellas on their way to the USO Club is a nice new 1941 Pontiac Streamliner "Torpedo" Four-Door Sedan. With a nice pair of non-factory fender skirts as well. To their left is a 1939 Ford Tudor. Can't tell if it is a Deluxe as we cannot see the right tail light - or lack thereof. Updated IDThe 1939 Ford is definitely a Tudor and not a De Luxe Tudor. The De Luxe models are easy to spot because the headlights are in the fenders, not between the fender and hood as shown here. The 1941 Pontiac is a De Luxe "Torpedo" Four Door Sedan and not a Streamliner. In addition to there being a definite break between the roof line and the trunk, the side trim on the De Luxe ends in a straight line, parallel to the ground, before the trunk begins. The Streamliner, which is a true fastback, has side trim which extends far beyond the trunk top, dips down towards the rear bumper, and follows the fender line. Also of note, the fender skirt shown on the Pontiac is a standard accessory that was shown in the Pontiac catalog. Photos of everything below. Needles Today...The soldiers in this picture were most likely stationed at the Needles Army post located between the Riverview Cemetery and what is now Needles Airport on the road going to Blythe. They would be going to the U.S.O. located inside the El Garces Hotel (Harvey House), which also serves as the passenger train station (it was completely refurbished in 2014 and serves as an Amtrak station and office space, although the only office space being used now is for the local city bus company). Most of the buildings in the picture are still around. Some are abandoned but available for reuse. We are looking south on F Street from Front Street, which jogs around Santa Fe Park via F and G Streets. Looking at the postcard here, the building on the left, at the corner of F and Front Streets is the Needles Point Pharmacy along with some other businesses. Beyond that (during wartime) there was a service station at the northeast corner of Broadway and F Street. Across the street from that is the Needles Theater (Cinema)/Masonic Lodge (the local Masons built it in 1929 as a dual purpose building). The theater closed down many years ago and the Masons no longer meet in Needles. However, the marquee still works and it can be rented for messaging. On the other side of F Street, where the palm trees are is Santa Fe Park, which is in front of El Garces Hotel (Harvey House). There aren't as many palm trees today. We cross Front Street as it jogs around Santa Fe Park. Here we see the Needles Point Liquor Store (complete with loyal customers at the front door) and then we see the Needles Eye Lunch. This is the Butler Building and it's all abandoned but it's serviceable. Beyond the Needles Eye Lunch we see a Shell Station and the northwest corner of F Street and Broadway. This is now where Needles Glass and Mirror do business. Across the street from that we see the Hotel California, which burned down in 1952. Today that site serves as the parking lot for the Frontier Phone Company. Beyond that is Robinson's Motor Inn (cottages) which is now Robinson's Apartments. (Three of the old 1930s motels became apartment complexes.) Needles Point Drug and Liquor Stores are now neighbors on Broadway to the southwest of this picture. The former site of the Needles Point Drug Store is now property of the Needles Unified School District. There are still other businesses in that building, including a beauty salon. The solid white line down the middle of the street is now a double yellow line. The crosswalk from the drug store to the park no longer exists. Only parallel parking is allowed on Needles streets today. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Eateries & Bars, Jack Delano, Railroads)
Fiesta Bawl: 1940
... are still Basque names carved into the white bark of aspen trees on the San Francisco peaks in Northern Arizona and I've had some ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 09/08/2011 - 8:37pm -

A Spanish-American fiesta in Taos, New Mexico. Photograph by Russell Lee, July, 1940. View full size. re: Spanish-AmericanSpanish-American is the term used by photographer Russell Lee. Spanish-American?Isn't this a Mexican-American fiesta, not Spanish-American? Re: Spanish-AmericanFamilies in New Mexico that can trace their ancestry back to the days of the Spanish Empire are very particular about being identified as Spanish-American. Fiesta BawlThe expression on the face of the girl in the plaid (?) skirt is worth the all the rest. Can't decide if she's empathising or disgusted. Basque HerdersMany Basque sheepherders worked and lived in the American Southwest around this time. There are still Basque names carved into the white bark of aspen trees on the San Francisco peaks in Northern Arizona and I've had some delicious rabbit in Basque restaurants in Reno. They were referred to as "Spanish" to differentiate them from Mexican immigrants. These folks in the photo may indeed be descendents of Spanish colonials in New Mexico - or maybe Basque sheepherders. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_diaspora Paso? Evidently 'La munaquita' isn't to happy with the celebration. Perhaps her friends can convince her to relax and enjoy. (The Gallery, Kids, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Road Tripping: 1952
... of Eureka Springs also would make sense given the way the trees have turned more in this picture. [What about "O. Wiltfong" -- are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/02/2014 - 3:09pm -

"6 Oct 1952. Clara & Grace at chenille & souvenir shop south of _______ ." We're back with Hubert and Grace on their road trip from Minnesota, the day before our previous photo was made at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Where are we now? 35mm Kodachrome by Hubert Tuttle; paint by Dr. Seuss. View full size. JCT ASince the Missouri DOT doesn't have money to pave roads anymore, they have lots of time to do things like scan all of the old state highway maps. The '48/'49 and '53 maps confirm that there was never a Route T near Phillipsburg. In '49, Route T went all the way from Montreal (Missouri) to Route 66, but by '53, part of it was replaced by Missouri 35. The south end of that Route T being in Laclede County precludes there being another Route T in Laclede County that isn't connected to it. My further guess would be that this is between Phillipsburg and Lebanon, because 1) the shadows say we are looking more or less north and 2) we can see the *backs* of signs that are advertising the wonders to be found to the south. I spent a little time with Google Street View looking for that hill, but nothing jumped out at me. It's possible that the hill was eased when I-44 went through - the interstate would be pretty much right where Clara and Grace are standing. How About This?Back then, the way to get from Minnesota to Eureka Springs, Arkansas was along Highway 65. Given that people in 1952 didn't travel as far in a day as we do, I'm going to guess this is around Sedalia, Missouri. Not as rare a name as I thoughtI had thought that Wiltfong was a very rare name that might provide a location clue, but an online search shows well over 100 people with that surname. While they're located all over the place, there are a number in Missouri, which ties in with a prior comment. Someplace to the north of Eureka Springs also would make sense given the way the trees have turned more in this picture. [What about "O. Wiltfong" -- are there hundreds of them? -Dave] [Edit: No O's that I could find. Probably wouldn't matter, as the O in this picture has likely been long since gathered to his/her ancestors.] [It does matter, if you're trying to figure out where this is. - Dave] Country Roads Back when I was a lad, American highway lanes were separated by a white line (broken or solid as appropriate), as shown here. Somewhere along the line, the white of those lines was replaced with yellow, and white was retained only for separating same-direction lanes on multiple-lane roads. Apparently this was a change I completely slept through, because I can't place the time when it took place. I wonder if anyone out there can pinpoint when this change occurred. The reason I'd like to know is that I find it irksome when "period" movies show yellow lines on putatively vintage roads (much like showing red/blue mailboxes in an era when they should be green), and I'd like to know at what portrayed period I can relax in this regard and, therefore, not feel an oppressing need to get a life. [That bugs me in period movies, too. The change from white to yellow began in 1971 when the Federal Highway Administration assumed responsibility for the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Everything you ever wanted to know about it is in this document. -tterrace] I know where they are. Just outside of Hooterville. Oliver!Oliver Wiltfong, born in 1900, was living in Blue Springs, Missouri, in 1920. In 1940, he was in St. Louis. Perhaps Ollie ended up at this roadside oddity by the time this pic was taken. Route 66 Novelty MerchantThis is probably the home/business of Novelty Merchant Oliver U. Wiltfong in rural Lebanon area of Missouri. Oliver (and wife Jessie) lived in rural Lebanon, Laclede County, Missouri, for about 2 years prior to Oliver's death from brain cancer on May 6, 1949. They resided near Phillipsburg, a village of about 200 population southwest of Lebanon along U.S. Route 66 (now I-44). Postal address: Phillipsburg Rt I. Assuming Jessie remained living in Phillipsburg after Oliver's death, at the time this photo was taken in 1952 I would venture to say this is probably the family home on Route 66 near Phillipsburg. During the 1940/50s is was customary for folks living along Route 66 to sell novelties from their yards to passing travelers. [The old Route 66, now State Highway W, parallels I-44 near Lebanon, Missouri, the town whose name fills in the blank in our caption. Below is Oliver's death certificate; click to enlarge. His address is given as Phillipsburg Route T, presumably State Highway T in the vicinity of Phillipsburg. - Dave] [Dave - *Missouri T* is north of Lebanon. It runs south from Stoutland, MO to old Route 66 where it ends. Hence my conclusion the address on the Death Certificate is a U.S. Post Office mailing address (not a highway route). It's doubtful *Missouri T* ever ran all the way down to Phillipsburg, MO (unless since the 1940/50s the State renamed all the highways). Common sense says to me that since Oliver sold novelties he would locate on old Route 66 for maximum traveler traffic. Few travelers ventured off of Route 66 particularly in rural areas (except to visit major attractions). The building in the photo appears to be an old barn or shed dressed up a bit as a novelty shop by adding a false front and roof over hang. Notice the arched front vs. the pitched metal roof on the building; and, the double swinging barn type doors at the front of the building. During the early to late 1950s my family traveled Route 66 annually from California to Missouri on vacations to visit family living in Missouri. The highway shown in the photo is what Route 66 was like most of the way from Chicago to California - a two lane concrete and/or asphalt highway. The mail box with the name *O. Wiltfong* on it leads me to believe this is the property where Oliver and Jessie lived on old Route 66; and, that they converted an out building to a novelty shop. All of this leads me to believe the photo was taken at the Wiltfong residence (and novelty shop) on old Route 66 in Phillipsburg, MO southwest of Lebanon, MO. - SilverfoxCo ] (Minnesota Kodachromes, Travel & Vacation)
Arlington Beach: 1925
... isn't moving... You can see that the leaves on the trees are blurry with movement, but the people on the Ferris Wheel are nice and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 10:41am -

Circa 1925. "Arlington Beach." An amusement park in the general vicinity of today's Pentagon, removed in 1929 to make way for an airport expansion. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Crank it up to 11From the looks on the faces of the patrons, that has got to be the world's most boring Ferris Wheel. Boring ferris wheelObviously the wheel has stopped. From the look of the guy on top, it has been a while. These days there would be an uproar over those two children alone. In the Good Old SummertimeI notice when looking at our old family pictures going back to these halcyon days that so many of them are taken at beaches, amusement parks and picnics and the people always wore a lot of white clothing and straw hats. Most apparently absent then was today's look of stress which seems to be ever present in many current candid shots. Was it because leisure time really made them carefree or because they were not so worried about being robbed, assaulted and pillaged as we are today? (And come on all you imaginative and inventive Shorpy commenters, this photo needs some commentary and story lines). I must say I relish the variety of writing styles by the brilliant viewers just as much as I enjoy the appealing photography. Don't just sit there, SAY something. Probably because it isn't moving...You can see that the leaves on the trees are blurry with movement, but the people on the Ferris Wheel are nice and clear. This would seem to indicate that it isn't moving, and a Ferris Wheel that isn't moving is a pretty boring place... 'Great Sound'Quite the sound system on the Gazebo floor... bet the kids loved it and the parents hated it? Warts and All Washington Post, Jul 26, 1925 Children With Warts to Compete at Outing The more warts the merrier it will be for the underpriviledged boys and girls who go on the Gospel Mission's outing at Arlington Beach park next Sunday. A handsome prize, donated by the park management, will be presented to the child showing the most of them. About 200 kiddies will go on the trip. John Newbold has donated four big vans with which to carry the children across the Highway bridge to the beach. Other conveyances will also be used. The run of the park will be given them when they get there. CC: GrandmaI was talking to my mother recently about her visit to the circus (Ringling Brothers) around 1934. My grandmother wouldn't let her have any cotton candy because "it was dirty." (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
Glen Echo: 1925
... American Beer Garden The outdoor atmosphere, the trees and the picnic tables hark back to the German-American beer gardens that ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2013 - 6:49pm -

1925. "Glen Echo Park Co." Picnic tables at the Montgomery County, Maryland, amusement park. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Picnic groveThis looks like the same area, near the bumper cars, where I waited for several hours around 1955 to meet Buffalo Bob from Howdy Doody. After the long wait we were rewarded with Buffalo Joe or some such name as Bob had a more pressing commitment. AmenLet's eat! Suitable attireI'm surprised to see so many men in suits. It doesn't look like a lot of people having fun. I wonder if was a company picnic. And of course, everyone at Glen Echo was white, and would be until 1960. The Cloche Hatsitting on the picnic hamper in the immediate foreground would look perfect on the bobbed haired flapper standing left of the tree! So GladThat Glen Echo still exists and that some of the rides have been restored so that everyone can enjoy them. This was out in the 'country' when this picture was taken and a street car line carried you to the Park from Georgetown. American Beer GardenThe outdoor atmosphere, the trees and the picnic tables hark back to the German-American beer gardens that were once common. However, based upon the somewhat sad to uninterested faces, like the man in left center, it's clear this is indeed during the less than Gemutlichkeit period of American Prohibition. Post more!I have fond memories of Glen Echo from my childhood. I can still see the airplane ride at the entrance to the park. Please post more pictures! And yes, it was all-white. Washington DC was, alas, much segregated until the mid-1960s. The Maryland suburbs weren't much better, and Virginia was simply shameful. I myself grew up listening to kids casually using the "n-" bomb. Still ThereThat area is still full of picnic tables. Although its no longer an amusement park, its still a great place to visit. The Bumper Car Pavilion is used for dancing (real dancing, like swing) in the spring and summer seasons and the glorious Spanish Ballroom from the 1930's (where my grandparents danced) holds dances all seasons. I've gone swing dancing there and it is magical. (The Gallery, Natl Photo)
Eat Apples: 1926
... Month . A whole lot of apples... from those tiny trees! A little later shot of that building I shot that building about ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 4:00pm -

Washington, D.C., 1926. "National Apple Week Association float at Pan American Union." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Boxwoods?Are those boxwoods on either end of the stairs? They are massive and well maintained! The future Little did these guys know that in three years they'd be standing on a corner selling those apples for a nickel each. Two ChangesThe Pan-American Union is now the Organization of American States (OAS). And National Apple Week is now National Apple Month. A whole lot of apples...from those tiny trees! A little later shot of that buildingI shot that building about 10 years ago while in DC. One More ChangeThe P.A.U. (now O.A.S.) has done a fine job. Now we have apples year-round thanks to Chile, Argentine and Brazil. Deja viewRDown and I had the same reaction to this photo! Eerie! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo)
Texas Tourists: 1920
... side of the car. Perfect for clearing the road of fallen trees I suppose. Kid cage! "Throw the kids in the cage, Maw, it's time ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/22/2013 - 9:10am -

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas, Texas." A second look at the auto-tourists seen here yesterday, and their modified Model T Ford. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Not Just a CageThe cage walls are bed springs. I'd bet they either fold down for sleeping or detach to be set up as cots. Cheap But Seldom CheerfulThe best feature of a Model T (aside from the admittedly low purchase price) was that almost anything one did to change it resulted in something better than that with which one started. Tin-Can Tourists Washington Post, August 21, 1921. Washington Is the Mecca of Open Air Auto Tourist Washington this season has been the mecca for the tin-can tourist. Where the tidal basin basks at night under the hush of the star-flecked sky, where the moonlight falls in soft spray on the banks of the Potomac, just east of the railroad bridge, the officials have designated a spot where the tin-can tourist may make his bed. There he is cushioned on tufted lawn far away from the hue and cry of the city, out of the canopy of heaven, but near enough at all times to be within reach of things that civilization demands. … The main attraction to touring in this fashion, all the tourists agree, is that it gives opportunity to study the country, its peoples and their ways. … All agree that the West is where they find the greatest hospitality. The East is not yet ready for the open-air tourist. For the most part, the tourists run well into age. That is, some of them are nearing the 80-year-old mark. Occasionally there are middle-aged couples, who have with them their children, and once in a while there is a young couple on their honeymoon. … MomShe still looks just as thrilled. [Waiting for someone to invent Four-Zone Climate Control. - Dave] Axe mountI just wanted to point out the slick axe mount on the side of the car. Perfect for clearing the road of fallen trees I suppose. Kid cage!"Throw the kids in the cage, Maw, it's time to shove off!" Noting safer for the lil ones than a wire mesh matress-padded compartment for travel. "With roll-down curtains, in case there's a change in the weather." Pop Up CamperVery practical bed arrangement. The beds fold up to keep the kids on board during travel and fold down outside the camper to make beds at night. Similar to a modern day tent camper. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Dogs, Harris + Ewing, Kids)
A Walk in the Woods: 1906
... I'm thinking at first glance that those are white birch trees from which the above titled soft drink used to be made on the East Coast. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 1:29pm -

Oriskany, New York, circa 1906. "Summit Park, path to boathouse." Continuing our tour of scenic Summit Park. Please do not feed the squirrels. View full size. Light blue eyesThis man's eyes seem to have no color at all. Too light. BTW, he really looks like Christopher Reeve. Remembering real birch beerAlthough I am not a botanist (or a Presbyterian) I'm thinking at first glance that those are white birch trees from which the above titled soft drink used to be made on the East Coast. It was my most favorite beverage when I was a kid and it came in three colors, dark brown, crystal and red, it was featured in our favorite Sicilian pizza restaurant as it really complemented Italian food like hot sausage and pepper grinders with its crisp, icy-cold, refreshing zing. The mere mention of it makes me want it all right now, so I will go and eat my yogurt and banana lunch, and use my imagination. Lucky me. A Light in the WoodsSprouting from the tree. A man and a mannequinThe boy looks plastic. A Gentle ReminderIf you are uploading pictures with your comments, please read and heed the instructions, highlighted in yellow, that appear right in front of your nose when you click "Upload an image." They mean what they say! Terrible Person That I Am... my immediate thought was "ventriloquist and dummy." (The Gallery, DPC)
Petworth: 1930
... from the image projected here. For one thing, the trees are now have had 80+ years to mature. But yes, it's a city, and yes, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/18/2018 - 11:23am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1930. "Rowhouses in Petworth." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Theodor Horydczak. View full size. I can just hear that man in the door"You boys better get down off there before you kill yourselves." Tightly packedI have often pondered what it would be like to live in some of the Shorpy neighborhoods/ houses. After looking at this picture all I can say is WOW! I cannot imagine what it would be like to live in this amount of densely packed row houses. Looking ESE from vicinity of 7th and IngrahamBetter description would be Brightwood Park. Photo taken from roof of Truesdell Elementary. The row of 6 houses and back yards in the foreground (with the man on the back yelling at the kids on the shed roof) are now demolished. It's now a parking lot for Truesdell. They would have been the 5200 block of 8th Street NW. The six houses across the street from those are still there today and are 5235 (on the left) to 5225 (on the right) 8th Street NW. In the far distance against the tree line is Hampshire Gardens between Emerson, Farragut, 3rd St and New Hampshire Avenue. The odd double gable just below Hampshire Gardens is the rear of a pair of houses at 5012 and 5014 Kansas Avenue. At the end of the treeline on the right is the tower at the Old Soldiers Home. My route to avoid trafficI drive down this section of 8th street many days each month to avoid traffic. To the comment about the density of the neighborhood made earlier, it remains the same today, but at ground level it certainly quite different from the image projected here. For one thing, the trees are now have had 80+ years to mature. But yes, it's a city, and yes, many people live in a city. Surprise! No landingStairs run straight into the entry door. That and no roof overhang above. By now I hope that those issues were addressed. (The Gallery, D.C., Kids, Theodor Horydczak)
Tank & Barrel: 1903
... 20th century. Southeast Texas provided its share of pine trees to the naval stores market, to the point that a town in Jasper County was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/02/2016 - 5:59pm -

1903. "Plant of the Consolidated Naval Stores Company, Pensacola, Florida. Resin and turpentine." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. WiredAny idea about the wires surrounding the tank? Lights? Lightning rods? Where are the signs? There should be about 100 "No Smoking" signs plastered all over the site. Wooden barrels (dry and aged, from appearance) filled with turpentine, or pitch, and heated in the sun and exuding all sorts of aromatics, the site is a fire hazard awaiting the match. Given that Florida is the "Lightning Capital of the World", I would suspect the conductors are for lightning dissipation. If the array had been a bit closer, I would have thought it might make a Farady Cage, which would be an excellent lightning protector. As it is, circling the top, and repeating the circle down the side of the tank multiple times, there is a conductor to ground close at hand for lightning to connect with surrounding the tank. Only question I have is that the diameter of the wire is so small, and would likely vaporize if it had to pass common lightning amperage. The lightning protection wires on a 100-year newer building(well, 90)in Atlanta at the 20th+ floor were almost the diameter of a large "Magic Marker" tube, a common office item for comparison. That shown appears to be common barbed wire, not the 'thumb size' of modern conductors. Sacrificial barrels on storage barn It appears the half-dozen or so barrels on the peak of the roof of the building in the background are decoys for lightning. Here in GA, we have decoy trailer parks for tornadoes to scatter, leaving the real ones untouched. I suspect both work just as well at their task. Roof BarrelsThose barrels on the ridge of the roof are water-filled, and very effective, immediate fire extinguishers. We saw these mounted on sawmills here until the 1960s. In the era of self-sufficiency, these were about state of the art. I think your sacrificial trailer parks are probably just a placebo for your community, but these barrels were very much on the front line of fire protection. [A lot of these rooftop barrels and pails were filled not with water but sand. - Dave] I suppose sand would be a better choice in some instances. But, I'd rather pump up water than lug up sand! Where there's pine, there's turpentineThe pine forests of the southern US were the main source for turpentine and "naval stores" during the late 19th and early 20th century. Southeast Texas provided its share of pine trees to the naval stores market, to the point that a town in Jasper County was named Wenasco [trade name for the Western Naval Stores Company]. Cheap railroad?Can anyone address the two parallel lines of wooden boards down the middle of the barrel storage area? An inexpensive "railroad" for carts carrying barrels, perhaps? Barrel trackThe barrels, owing to their shape, will self-center and roll the length of the 'track'. Thus no cart is necessary. So 'roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun' (as the song says). The barrel shape with a 'belly' also made them much easier to turn when on their sides because of the narrow contact patch one person could easily roll them around. Newer steel and plastic drums are primarily designed for handling with carts or lifts and depending on weight can take a couple people to get them to turn when rolling. (The Gallery, DPC, Florida, Pensacola, Railroads)
An Old-Fashioned Fourth
... and the old homes are still around, so who knows. Lots of trees. Takoma Park is often referred to as the Berkeley of the East. The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/10/2012 - 3:45pm -

July 4, 1922. Takoma Park neighborhood of Maryland and the District of Columbia. View full size. National Photo Company. Happy Fourth of July from Shorpy! Is there a Takoma Parker out there who knows where this house is? Happy Fourth to you guysHappy Fourth to you guys at Shorpy. [Thanks, Ron! - Dave] Takoma ParkI lived in Takoma Park until recently, and I think it will be difficult to place this house because most of the homes in the area are just like this. However, the area has not changed much at all and the old homes are still around, so who knows. Lots of trees. Takoma Park is often referred to as the Berkeley of the East. The lovable hippies who live there now aren't big on change. [The address on the house looks like 200. And everyone seems ready for a parade to go by, so it must have been a main thoroughfare. - Dave] 4th of July photoIn the 1930s-40s the parade route was along Carroll Avenue, through the business district, then across the DC line, along Carroll Street, then down 4th Street, NW to the historic Takoma Theater. So I suspect the house is somewhere along Carroll in Takoma Park, MD. (The Gallery, D.C., July 4, Kids, Natl Photo, Patriotic)
Last Stop: 1901
... to be 'a scene of ruin'.You can make out where some trees were felled in this photo but the damage has been repaired by the looks ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/31/2012 - 10:08am -

Circa 1901. "Bonaventure Cemetery. Savannah, Georgia." The locals say it's best not to travel alone here after sundown. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Come back at midnightThis is the "garden of good and evil" of John Berendt's famous book about Savannah. The iconic "Bird Girl" statue on the book's cover wouldn't have been found in Bonaventure Cemetery when this photo was taken, or indeed today. It wasn't installed until the 1930s, and after the book was published it was moved to a museum. Superstorm -116 yearsOn the night of October 29th 1896, a hurricane hit Savannah causing the cemetery to be 'a scene of ruin'.You can make out where some trees were felled in this photo but the damage has been repaired by the looks of things. Read more here http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F00C15FF385F1B738DDDA8... And The Angels SingBonaventure is a beautifully kept cemetery on the banks of the Savannah River on the outskirts on the city. It's something to see because of its natural setting, lush vegetation, and the variety of the architecture and design of the its many headstones and mausoleums. Well-know songwriter Johnny Mercer (1909-1976 writer of over 1500 song lyrics including 'Moon River' and 'Days of Wine and Roses'), a native of Savannah, is one of many buried there. The epitaph on his headstone is the title of one of the many pop standards he wrote: "And the Angels Sing." Fearless and FaithfulRobert Houston Anderson went to West Point and served in the US Army in New York and Washington Territory. He joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and saw action at the Battle of Fort McAllister, the defense of Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign. After the Civil War he was police chief of Savannah. My namesake citySavannah is known, to locals anyway, as the "Most Haunted City in America." Granted ghost tours are also big business, so it makes economic sense to keep that stature going, but having taken a tour myself, I must admit to being legitimately "wigged out." I think the scariest part was learning that a certain block of the city, apparently the most haunted region, was built over the unmarked graves of hundredss of slaves. If nothing else, great history lessons! (The Gallery, DPC, Savannah)
Washington Accessories: 1922
... well as the coping surrounding lot will be granite stucco. Trees on the property will be preserved in the development, lawns and shrubbery ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/04/2012 - 12:05pm -

"Filling station, 17th & L." The Washington Accessories Co. service station under construction at 1703 L Street N.W. in early 1922 next to the Stoneleigh Garage. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Old/NewIt's so interesting to see how new construction looked in the 20's. I live in an area that's growing like crazy and there's new buildings all around. I never thought about how exciting it must've been to live in a major city as it was being constructed. We're 25 miles form the core of our city (Dallas). It's amazing how much quality that went into a simple gas station. St. Matt'sThat dome in the background is St. Matthew's Catholic Church, now the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Washington. Another Beresford ProjectWashington Post Oct 9, 1921 Fine Gas and Oil Station for City Washington Accessories Co. to Build at Corner of 17th and L Streets Northwest. Will Be Largest in Capital A splendidly equipped gasoline and oil station and motor accessories business will be opened in the immediate future by the Washington Accessories Company on the large vacant property at the northwest corner of Seventeenth and L streets northwest. The company has been formed by W.T. Galliher, C.E. Galliher and Allan E. Walker, who also own a gasoline and accessory business at Tenth and E streets northwest. The new station will be the largest and most elaborate in the city, and will be well in keeping with the magnificent stations scattered throughout the middle West. The new company will occupy a large section of the square bounded by Connecticut avenue, DeSales street, Seventeenth street and L street. It is the aim of the company to make the side the most attractive gasoline station in the city. Wide driveways will provide quick and easy access and six large gasoline pumps and five oil pumps will make for rapid service. A two-story-and-cellar brick building will be erected to house the accessories department, after plans by Robert F. Beresford. The construction will be by the Allan E. Walker Investment Company. This building will face on L street. The building will have large plate glass show windows running two stories high and fronting both on L and Seventeenth street. The finish of the building as well as the coping surrounding lot will be granite stucco. Trees on the property will be preserved in the development, lawns and shrubbery adding to the attractiveness of the place. Edward E. Liphard, formerly manager of the Southern Auto Company, will be in charge. He is well known in the accessory fields. (The Gallery, D.C., Gas Stations, Natl Photo)
Avenue of Oaks: 1938
1938. "Boone Hall, avenue of trees, Mount Pleasant vicinity, Charleston County, South Carolina." 8x10 ... View Larger Map It's got moss appeal The trees to seem to be saying "Hurry, this way out!" Not much has changed ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/08/2014 - 11:39am -

1938. "Boone Hall, avenue of trees, Mount Pleasant vicinity, Charleston County, South Carolina." 8x10 negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Boone Hall Plantation & GardensA lovely place for anyone to visit, nowadays. View Larger Map It's got moss appealThe trees to seem to be saying "Hurry, this way out!" Not much has changedNot too much has changed in 75 years. Many young women will recognize Boone Hall as the location where "The Notebook" was filmed. Beautiful Boone HallIn addition to "The Notebook", mentioned above, the hugely popular mini series "North & South" was filmed at Boone Hall as well as "Queen", an Alex Haley work starring Halle Berry. Here's a shot from the same spot as the 1938 photo 74 years later. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Landscapes)
A Summer Place: 1910
... lake shore with a broad expanse of lawn and towering fir trees to provide ample shade and cooling breezes during the hottest hours of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/18/2014 - 12:38am -

Circa 1910. "Trembleau Hall. Port Kent, N.Y." Old-school rockers. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Bored son"Ma, when are we gonna DO something?!?" Looks like any typical kid today, one week into summer vacation! Yep...That's where I would be if forced to wear Victorian attire in a house without air conditioning. Good thing this kiddo is wearing his knickers! Interesting placement of electric lights.The lights are placed around the perimeter of the porch, rather than under the porch's roof. Wonder if this helped keep bugs away from people on the porch. Overall, a nice picture from a peaceful time. One can just hear the quiet in the picture. Dream houseThis is a bit bigger than I would need, but a scaled down version of this is the house I've always dreamed of having, complete with porch and rockers! Well Son,from the looks of this Report Card you're going to be repeating the fifth grade! Under the ShadeWhat a beautiful picture. American elms produce such a stately picture, to bad dutch elm disease got them. Some new types are now disease free producing much needed shade again. Where is it now?Trembleau Hall was a luxury hotel and casino in the 30s, from what I can find. I found a newspaper article from 1931 describing the hotel (SYracuse Herald, Morning Edition, August 2, 1931) (The text is not completely readable, so I transcribed it as best I could): Sports Hold Stage Center at Champlain Trembleau Hall is Scene of Activities in Many Fields Dividing line for two states and two nations, Lake Champlain is visited by thousands of Americans and Canadians during the summer months. It is one of the largest inland lakes, aside from the Great Lakes, on the continent. One of the most popular and most elaborate places are the lake shores is Trembleau Hall, which stands on a high bluff 65 feet above the level of the lake, commanding an expansive view of the historic waters and some of the loftiest peaks in the Adirondack Mountains in Vermont. It is located at Port Kent on Lake Champlain. An overnight ride from New York city and a day's trip from Albany and other points upstate, Trembleau Hall is but a five-minute walk from a steamboat landing, railroad station, post office and telegraph office. In addition to the hotel itself, Trembleau Hall includes a cottage for guests in addition to the 125 or more than can be accommodated at the hotel, a casino for open-air dining and dancing, a summer house overlooking the lake, and private automobile and boat liveries. The hotel sets back from the lake shore with a broad expanse of lawn and towering fir trees to provide ample shade and cooling breezes during the hottest hours of the day. The cottage, casino, and other outbuildings are located back of the hotel, surrounded by tennis courts, golf-putting course and other recreational facilities. In addition, guests are provided bridle paths into the woods for horseback riding, and one of the best fresh water beaches in the country along the shoreline in front of the hotel and surf-board riding. The fishing in shoals a short distance out in the lake is reported the best around the lake. (the last paragraph is unreadable...) I also found an obit for a lady who worked as a waitress there before she married in 1947. Based on her obit information, she came to the US after WWII, so the hotel was still around at least in ‘46 and early ‘47. Other than that, All I can find it a listing for it on this site (http://tupperlake.net/adkhotels.htm) of long gone Adirondack hotels. Who Says There Was Nothing To DoThis ad will give you all the exciting details! (The Gallery, DPC)
Chicago Beach: 1900
... View full size. Open windows? The bare trees and warm coats on the lads out front suggest it's a cold day - yet there ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/25/2017 - 8:01pm -

The Windy City circa 1900. "Chicago Beach Hotel, Hyde Park Boulevard." On the Lake Michigan Riviera. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Open windows?The bare trees and warm coats on the lads out front suggest it's a cold day - yet there are many open windows. I'm old enough to have stayed in old hotels with steam heat; I've also spent time Russia, staying in apartment buldings heated wtth steam. Theoretically, you could turn a valve on the radiators and shut off the steam, but frequently the valves were frozen from disuse. The only practical method of controlling the temperature in such situations is to open the windows. That's my guess as to what is going on here. Hyde in Plain SightWhat is the rocket-shaped item running the vertical length of the building, on the left side of the image, just "behind" the rounded corner of the building? Each floor has a "connection" to it. Enclosed circular staircase fire escape? Garbage chute? Laundry chute? Construction chute? Robert Goddard secret testing device? ArchitectHerman Webster Mudgett? Right the First TimeIt is indeed an enclosed circular fire escape staircase—or rather, slide—which could be used for nefarious purposes, as this article from the May 5, 1908 issue of The Chicago Daily Tribune attests: Fire escapeI recognized the fire escape right away. We had one added to our elementary school in 1958 or 1959, after that awful school fire in Chicago at Our Lady of the Angels. It made two on the second floor of our 1888 brick and wood school. The other was a straight slide. We thought the new spiral one was really cool. Other Crooked Goings OnI guess there was no tree too crooked to become a utility pole, back in the day. (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC)
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