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Dog Funeral: 1921
... for one Boots Snook, "dear old pal" of Mrs. Selma Snook of Washington. Today's funeral is for the recently departed Buster. Harris & ... well: "Born a Gentleman, Lived a Dog." 50 Washington Lovers of Animal Pay Tribute At Last Resting Place of Their ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/12/2009 - 11:47am -

October 7, 1921. "Dog funeral." Aspen Hill Cemetery, final resting place for one Boots Snook, "dear old pal" of Mrs. Selma Snook of Washington. Today's funeral is for the recently departed Buster. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Born a Dog, Lived a GentlemanI imagine many women can attest to the the opposite occurrence as well: "Born a Gentleman, Lived a Dog." 50 Washington Lovers of Animal Pay Tribute At Last Resting Place of Their Departed Pets In a wonderland Valhalla for pooches, "World Day for Animals" was celebrated in quiet fashion by a group of 50 Washington dog lovers yesterday. A mellow October sunlight flooded Aspen Hill Cemetery, where lie 2,700 "prominent" dogs, at peace with the world at last, far from the threat of onrushing automobiles, and presumably gnawing meaty bones as they growl in endless sleep. ... Owners of deceased pets haven't gotten around to holding religious services yet at burials, although Mrs. Selma Snook, of this city, has had formal burials with children acting as pallbearers for her five dogs, one of which, Buster, has this inscription on his monument: "Born a dog, lived a gentleman." Washington Post, Oct 5, 1936 Saying GoodbyeLooks like Mrs. Snook is comforting a relative or pal of the late Boots. Funny how dogs and their owners so often resemble each other. Mrs. Snook and the principal mourner have the same hair, although Mrs. Snook has tamed hers with a net. Discretionary incomeIt's nice to see that people squandered money on useless items for their pets 90 years ago too. I wonder if they were regretting spending money on a granite memorial for a dog eight years later in 1929 when "Black Thursday" rolled around. This is an interesting parallel between our consumption based society of the late 20th century with its childless power couples and their 4 legged "kids" and the boom-boom 1920's. So glad to see this!Truly man's best friends, treated with the honor they deserve. While I can't afford such elaborate stones, all my pets are buried with dignity. Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn has quite a few dog graves and a horse one as well! Mrs. Snook, to Boots II"If you don't stop chewing on the davenport you're next." And is that Aretha Franklin's hat? Hey!Discretionary income....if they earned it, they can spend it anyway THEY please. Maybe they should throw it down the entitlement rat hole. Sour grapes"Useless," "squandered," "regretting" -- I doubt these folks had ANY regrets about giving their pet a lavish burial. Would you rather spending be regulated? Hope you have a nice view from your porch, cranky old man. Boots HillAll dogs go to heaven. The date of the photographThe date of the photograph was October but the date on the tombstone says Boots died in April. Looks like a new grave so I was wondering what old Boots was doing between April and October. [Try reading the caption again. This is not Boots' funeral. - Dave] Marginal MemorialsIn 1921 the marginal tax rate for US taxpayers in the bottom bracket (taxable incomes up to $4,000) was 4%. The marginal rate for the top bracket (taxable incomes above $1 million) was 73%. By contrast, for tax year 2008 the lowest marginal rate is 10% for taxpayers with $16,050 taxable income, and the top rate is 35% for taxable incomes over $357,700. If Mrs. Snook was lucky enough to be a top-bracket type of gal with a million dollar income, she could take her $270,000 after-tax income and build a grand monument to ol' Boots. Today, any Leona Helmsley-ish dog lover would have $650,000 left after taxes on the same million dollars to take care of her pets' needs. Goober Pea It's my moneyAll of my pets have been buried at my parents' farm, joining their pets and some that belonged to my siblings. I don't regret the money spent at the vet, or for their food, or toys. Still taking petsThe Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery is still taking burials, though it has been buffeted about a bit recently from some changes of management. Note the spelling, BTW: for whatever reason, the official spelling is "Aspin", though "Aspen" seems to get used as often. It is now being run by the Montgomery County Humane Society. For a while it was run by PETA, which explains some of the curious memorials listed in the Find-a-grave listings. FISHcrimination!Why is it that dogs, cats, birds, even hamsters get solemn farewells with respectful burials but FISH just get flushed down the toilet? Aspin Hill lives onThe cemetery is still there. I used to belong to St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, right next door, when PETA owned it. Here's an article on all the tumult of its recent past. http://www.mchumane.org/aspinhillpetcemetery.shtml No FoolingI thought that maybe it was April 1 when I read the article about Aspen Hill Cemetery and Mr. J. C. Crist! That aside, I hope that the cemetery plot, the headstones and the funeral rites helped Ms. Snook deal with the loss of what MUST have been beloved pets. Could the money involved have been spent on hungry children, homeless pets, animal medical research, or a host of other worthy causes? Yes, but the choice was hers, and anyone who doesn't like it can deal with it by increasing their own contributions to worthy causes of their choice. Boy in the middle"Why wasn't I born a dog?" GratefulI cherish the time with, and have never regretted the money spent on my furry friends. I could not afford a place like the pet cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee, but there's a tiny fenced-in graveyard with a little wood marker for each of my lost friends. It overlooks the Piney River here in Tennessee. I think they must like it. Not kids, but friendsPets are loving, loyal, and would die for you. They deserve to be given a decent rest at the end of their lives. Or would you rather they were just thrown in the garbage? My parents held funerals for our two turtles and one goldfish that passed on when we were very small. The little creatures were buried in the yard, in small jewelry boxes. I don't spend much on my cat and when she goes, she will have a simple, good sendoff. I hope that's a long time ahead. There is a pet cemetery very like this one near me, and I'm amazed at how long some of the animals lived. They obviously brought a lot of happiness to their humans. Four-legged kidsDogs and cats don't get drunk when they're 13 and come home pregnant and strung out on meth (OK, animals with roaming privileges still come home pregnant, but at least you can simply give away their unwanted offspring without any red tape). And they don't forget about or ignore you when you've grown old and useless. We're not that fancyBut our departed pets are all buried on our property, with pretty stones for markers. Our life is blessedly child-free and our pets are family and treated as such during and after their lives. No Glue FactoryAn old farmer down here, a distant relative, buried all of his horses and mules and put up markers for some of them. He kept this up through the 50's or early 60's. That's a lot of digging. Sleeps with the fishesFor my fish, I always say a few respectful words before giving them the big flush. Besides, this method of disposal does use water, their natural element. We used to name them too, but when you have 90 neon Tetras, the attrition rate is just too great to keep up! Touch a nerve?Wow, look at all the comments from people defending their right to spend their money how they want. It's your money, do with it as you wish. Dogs are wonderful animals, but as much as they love you they are entirely dependent on you and can do nothing to support you in your old age. I hope the person comparing a dog to a 13 year old child coming home drunk never ever has to take care of a child. If you have a child behaving in that fashion, it is your fault. Ask Notwhat your dog can do for you, ask what you can do for your dog. Aspin HillThis is one of the oldest pet cemeteries in the nation. I did volunteer clean-up work there in the summer of 2002. There are still plots available, but some of the older areas are overgrown. It's near the intersection of Connecticut and Georgia avenues. The Snook plotI live just down the road from the Aspen Hill pet cemetery, and I visited it today. I found the Snook plot. It's still there, although it was quite overgrown. What I'm assuming to be Buster's headstone, the one to the right of Boots, has since toppled onto its face and has grown over with weeds. The current state of the plot. You can make out the supports for the corners of the plot. The third grave from the right is Boots. Also in the Snook plot are: Trixie Snook Born July 5 1913 Died July 12, 1922 Finest Friends I ever had sleeping side by side, I love and miss you all --Mrs. S. Snook" http://tinyurl.com/Trixie-Snook Snowball Snook Born April 18 1908 Died July 8, 1922 Dear beloved pet. True, Faithful unto death Loved her dearly. http://tinyurl.com/Snowball-Snook Not a good year for the Snook Family. More on Aspen Hill Pet CemeteryI keep a fairly detailed and reasonably "up to the minute" pages on the Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery. Right now, not much is happening with it, though the County has condemned almost the entire property, and unless the Humane Society -- which is incredibly strapped for cash -- can bring it up to code by March, the County may just seize the property, which is most excellently located for use by the Developers who so vastly fund elections in this County. It's sad, it's the last little slice of pre-urban Maryland in this part of the County. More on Aspen Hill, in general, may be found at http://www.aspenhillnet.net Regards, Old Aspen Hill EmployeeI worked after school and summers for the Aspen Hill Pet Cemetery when I was in high school. It was very well kept then, and a interesting and attractive place to visit. Although I moved away from the area many years ago I have periodically returned. It is sad to see how the majority of the grounds have become overgrown and poorly maintained. The people who owned and operated it then are both buried in the cemetery along with several other humans. Several police dogs who died in the line of duty are buried there, and were put to rest with full honors and gun salutes. The "HOOVER" monument marks pets of one time FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. There are dozens of cats buried at the "TIMMONS" monument. There is a section for birds. Several horses are burried there. Normally we hand dug the graves. For the horses the adjacent human cemetery did the digging with power equipment. Because of the location there has long been a chance/risk of the land being re-purposed for business. I you want to see the place I wouldn't wait too long. A little more SnookHere's some more information and more pictures of Mrs Snook's dog funerals and Aspin Hill https://petcemeterystories.net/2018/05/31/aspin-hill-cemetery-for-pet-an... (The Gallery, Dogs, Natl Photo)
Washington Merry-Go-Round: 1921
Washington, D.C., circa 1921. Thomas Circle and Luther Place Memorial Church. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/22/2012 - 7:17pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. Thomas Circle and Luther Place Memorial Church. View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Round and RoundI wish the circle had been that clear when I drove through on Tuesday afternoon! There was a mobius strip backup, with southbound traffic on Vermont and 14th gridlocked, so the circle wasn't moving, so traffic on 14th couldn't get north. Repeat unto infinity. I wish we'd had a streetcar to jump on. PlatformsAny clue to what the octagonal platforms were for? I first thought they were used for people to stand on while waiting to board a streetcar but that doesn't make sense since it passes right next to sidewalk on either side. Drew PearsonThere, I had to say it. [I'll bet you were the smartest boy in your class. Always raising your hand. - Dave] Actually, there was a smarter kid; kept correcting my spelling and stuff. Wonder what ever happened to him? PlatformsIf I had to guess, I would imagine they were for cops to stand on while directing traffic. Hanging OutWow! For six years I lived at 13th & Massachusetts Avenue NW. I use to walk the Circle daily to work at 14th & K. A great memory is my friend Yvette and I climbing the statue you see in the centre here and hanging out for a couple of hours watching traffic and chatting about life one Saturday at sunset. Great photo. Report CardActually, there was a smarter kid; kept correcting my spelling and stuff. Wonder what ever happened to him? Was his name Dave? Both you "boys" put my trivia knowledge to shame! I had to look that one up....which is a lot more common around here than my "real life"! Kathleen (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Natl Photo, Streetcars)
Washington Market: 1812-1912
New York, 1912. "Washington Market Centennial. With outside sheds removed by President McAneny. ... up and down. Here’s an 1893 photo of the Washington Market that gives the location as Washington & West Streets, between Vesey & Fulton Streets, which puts ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 11:02am -

New York, 1912. "Washington Market Centennial. With outside sheds removed by President McAneny. Also new window fronts affording light and air for interiors and the sidewalk restored to the public." View full size. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection. Very nice buildingThey don't make markets like this any more, the window fronts are great! Who is McAneny? Tilt-plane cameraYou can tell the camera was a tilt-plane one from the fact that all of the building’s vertical lines — as well as all of the other buildings’, too — are all straight up and down. Here’s an 1893 photo of the Washington Market that gives the location as Washington & West Streets, between Vesey & Fulton Streets, which puts it in the former World Trade Center site. George McanenyGeorge McAneny was the President of the Borough of Manhattan from 1909-1913 and then of the Board of Aldermen for New York, including a stint as acting mayor. He is often referred to as the "father of zoning" which makes sense given the caption of the photo. He ordered up something quite nice. (The Gallery, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Oysters Hot Waffles: 1920
... View Larger Map Gus Blechman Washington Post, Dec 5, 1965 Washington Storekeeper, Gus Blechman Gus Blechman, owner of Blechman's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/05/2022 - 5:21pm -

Circa 1920. "Herald, Seventh and H streets N.E." Continuing our culinary tour of the nation's capital, we present the New Olive Cafe, next door to H. Bennett, Barber, and Blechman's Fashion Shop. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. GoneThe building housing the Laundromat is still there, but the turreted building on the corner is long gone. [Wrong corner. See above. - Dave] View Larger Map Gus Blechman Washington Post, Dec 5, 1965 Washington Storekeeper, Gus Blechman Gus Blechman, owner of Blechman's Fashion Shop on H Street ne. until his retirement 20 years ago, died Saturday at his home, 4201 Cathedral ave. nw. He was 94. A Russian immigrant, he lived for several years in Richmond before coming to Washington in 1916. He was an H Street merchant for more than a half century. Mr. Blechman was a member of Adas Israel Synagogue. Surviving are his wife, Mary; three sons, Sylvan of 4000 Massachusetts ave. nw.; Nelson, of 5034 Reno rd. nw., and Milton, of 6410 Western ave., Chevy Chase; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren I'm amazedwhenever I look at photos of these beautiful old buildings and then go to Google Streetview and see what is there now. It seems these beautiful old buildings are, for the most part, replaced with sterile, ugly boxes, and the neighborhoods are trashy. Dave, thanks for these glimpses of a beautiful past. Blechman to McBride'sBlechman's store was at 700 H street which makes it the northeast corner of the intersection of 7th and H (note that H. Bennett next door is #702.) The "Fashion" store currently seen in Google streetview occupies the rebuilt McBride's building. A bay window of one of the brick row houses down the street appears to match a surviving structure as well. The McBride's chain shut its doors in 1986. View Larger Map Washington Post, Feb. 3, 1977 McBride's: High fashion, low prices made a family's success By Robert F Levey Come, and get it, gang. A plastic banana for 49 cents. A statue of Buddha for $19.99. Records and soap dishes and earrings and peanut brittle. When they call them McBride's Variety Departmental Stores, they mean variety. They also mean relatively low prices. That is the hallmark of a department store chain that has been a fixture in Northeast and Southeast Washington since 1918. While the "big boys" have chase the big incomes into the suburbs, McBride's has sought and established an image as "the city's black department store.: Except that it isn't black. Oh, the customers are, almost all of them. And all but a handful of the 250 employees are. And more than half the toy dolls have black faces. And all the background music is big-band soul. But the owners are whites named Blechman. A third generation of them runs the three McBride's stores as well as the family's two Kopy Kat women's clothing shops. If the last name sounds somewhat less than purebred Irish, Barry Blechman, the 40 year-old president of McBride's, offers this explanation: "People couldn't pronounce Blechman," he said. It rhymes with Fleckman. "So my grandfather decided to mix Murphy, his chief competitor, with Blechman. He came up with McBride's." Whatever you say, Grandpa. But let us not make light of Gus Blechman. He opened a five-and-dime in his own name in 1918 at 701 H St. NE [ sic, other newspaper reports list address as 700 H St ne.]. It prospered until 1945, when a fire leveled it But it reopened in 1949 as McBride's, and it has been the chain's flagship store ever since. Gus Blechman's three sons, Nelson, Milton and Sylvan, ran the McBride's chain from the '40s in the '60s. Since then, the torch has been in the hands of Barry Blechman; his brother Richard, 36, the executive vice president; and a cousin Arlen. Nelson remains chairman of the board, and Milton is treasurer. ... McBride's strong image as a "black" store was nailed down in the late '60s, in a television advertising campaign that featured a 6-year-old girl. She was black and smiling and winsome, and she revealed endlessly that "my mommy shops at McBride's." The store had a black following well before that, however. It emerged as the neighborhood around the H street store changed, in the middle '50s, from white to black. The image was nurtured when McBride's became the first store on the H street commercial strip to permit integrated seating at its lunch counter. But the '60s brought the seeds of trouble. "I started seeing the horror story on H Street," said Barry Blechman. "All the hate, with the underlying pride." Just after the 1967 riots in Detroit, "I looked out the store one day an realized, "This is a riot street." It became one the next April, of course. But the H Street McBride's suffered only a few broken windows. The fact that a security guard was standing in the front window with a shotgun had a lot to do with that, but Blechman likes to think that McBride's would not have been pillaged anyway. ... Thanks for this postGus Blechman was my grandfather. I've never seen this photo of his store as it once was. As a young boy in the '50s I worked in the H Street store during school breaks. By that time it had a facade similar to a Woolworths. Thank you for posting this. DatePlease check the date attributed to that Bob Levey column on McBride's...I don't think Levey was born when it claims it was written. [Oops. 1977, not 1918. Thank you! - Dave] Stafford's PharmacyPrior to Blechman's this building was home to Stafford's Pharmacy. Not sure the actual dates but Stafford's advertised this address circa 1906-1909. 1968 RiotsAs mentioned at the end of the quoted article, much of H Street and the neighborhood around it burned in the riots that followed Rev. King's assassination in 1968. It sounds as though this building was spared by the rioters. The ensuing exodus and economic downturn in the neighborhood and city likely left these shops without customers -- and must have led to the monstrosity that exists on that corner now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Washington,_D.C._riots On a brighter note, I live only a few blocks from here and am happy to see significant revitalization is finally happening. Lots of interesting restaurants and bars have sprung up, and a new streetcar line is being built. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Washington Crossing: 1911
Chicago circa 1911. "Under the tracks, Washington Boulevard, Chicago & North Western Railway station." 8x10 inch ... There, but -- Visible through the center "tunnel" for Washington Street is the Lake Street Elevated Railway (later Chicago Rapid ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/16/2018 - 8:40am -

Chicago circa 1911. "Under the tracks, Washington Boulevard, Chicago & North Western Railway station." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative. View full size. Still there today. Still There, but --Visible through the center "tunnel" for Washington Street is the Lake Street Elevated Railway (later Chicago Rapid Transit and Chicago Transit Authority) Market Street stub. It ran from Lake Street south along Market Street (now Wacker Drive) to Madison Street. The stub was removed circa 1948. The C&NW station is west of the Chicago River; the Market Street stub was between the station and the river. The view here is looking east, with the sun at our back; about 4:25 PM. I don't understand the captionWe're above the tracks. [Those are streetcar tracks. The train tracks are upstairs behind the windows, perpendicular to the street. - Dave] The view insideWe've visited the tracks upstairs a couple of times: Ghost Depot: 1911 The Train Shed: 1911 Still ThereAs MiseryLou posted, it's still there and I just crossed Washington walking to work a few minutes ago after de-training from a Metra/ former C&NW "scoot" -- you walk down the stairs to the lower concourse to exit from your left. (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Railroads, Streetcars)
Washington, D.C.: 1935
Washington tenements, Nov. 1935. View full size. Photo by Carl Mydans. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/07/2013 - 9:09pm -

Washington tenements, Nov. 1935. View full size. Photo by Carl Mydans. Great PhotoMy father would have been 10 years old in 1935. Looking carefully at the detail of this photo, one wonders if they had plumbing for bathrooms. It's obvious clothes dryers were not in this time period, hence all the clothes on clothes lines. It looks like wash basins were used for seating on the back porches. The problem with B&W photos, although it is nostalgic and it forces you to really look for detail, it makes most photos look "dirty" because you can't see any color. It also gives it a sad ambience. Most people in these older B&W photos are not smiling. Maybe it was the depression era. If these photos were in color, it would be a whole completely different feel. When I think of the early years, I NEVER think of them in my mind in color. Always B&W. I wish I knew how to colorize some of these....just for a different feel. [Here's a color photo from the same city, seven years later (1942). - Dave] Sleeping PorchesThe back alleys of DC looked radically different 40-90 years ago, in part because "sleeping porches" were common. In the absence of air-conditioning families would typically sleep on these porches in high summer. Rickety porches like these were torn down, better built ones were incorporated into the house with walls in the 60s-70s and are a noticeable feature in Georgetown if you know what to look for. TenementsIts amazing how this could be passed off as a modern apartment complex, only the cars and the dress style gives away the time period. Everything but the clotheslinesThe view out the window into my alley in D.C. is very similar. Not so much laundry, but rugs and towels hang from porches. It's cleaner, most of the rubbish is in cans. Instead of washtubs and baskets the porches and alley are cluttered with storage bins, grills, coolers, etc. Yes, my alley looks very similar. (The Gallery, Carl Mydans, D.C., Great Depression)
Smokestack Washington: 1921
Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Aerial view looking toward Capitol and Washington Monument." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View ... the Ellipse are landmarks that need no introduction (the Washington Monument, the Old Post Office, the Capitol, Bureau of Engraving, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 2:34pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1921. "Aerial view looking toward Capitol and Washington Monument." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. An Eclipse of the EllipseWhat puzzles me is the photographer's vantage point. No doubt it was from the corner of 18th and E Streets N.W., but was it from the roof of the Department of the Interior or a building that preceded it?? This photo looks to the east. The white building to the left is the headquarters of the American Red Cross. It's still there, but gone is the less-ornate wing to the right with its smokestack. I believe that building was one of the infamous "temporary" office buildings of First World War vintage that were ubiquitous features of DC landscape up until the late 1960s. The neighbor to the right is DAR Constitution Hall, which remains remarkably unchanged to this day. Across the street, of course, is the Ellipse, which you can think of as the "backyard" of the White House. Beyond the Ellipse are landmarks that need no introduction (the Washington Monument, the Old Post Office, the Capitol, Bureau of Engraving, etc.) Perhaps another reader can verify that the two smokestacks just left of center belong to a Pepco generator that powered street cars. Despite the haze, one can faintly see the arched roof of Union Station, appearing on the horizon to the far left. [There was a tall brick building behind Red Cross HQ. Click below to enlarge. - Dave] Ordnance OfficeBased on the bit of the 1919-1921 Baist Realty map below (click on it for a larger version), I would guess the photographer was on top of the Ordnance Office of the War Department. It is puzzling that the angle of the photo does suggest quite an elevation and the ordnance office doesn't appear to be a large building: perhaps there was some sort of observation tower on top of the building. The smokestacks in the distance are indeed the Potomac Electric Power Co. Plant at northeast corner of 14th &B streets N.W.: they are also visible in the background of this Shorpy photo. Also indicated on the map is the Frazee Potomac Laundry, seen here. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Rooftops of Washington: 1901
Washington, D.C., 1901. "View of 1st & Delaware N.W., New Jersey Avenue ... built on the remnants of rowhouses constructed by George Washington circa 1799. The original houses were burned by the British in 1814. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/06/2021 - 10:03am -

Washington, D.C., 1901. "View of 1st & Delaware N.W., New Jersey Avenue & North Capitol Street N.W., between B & C Streets, probably from Hotel Engel (C & New Jersey), showing rooftops of several buildings and U.S. Capitol in the background. See Z7-23 for fronts of these North Capitol St. bldgs." 5x7 inch glass negative, D.C. Street Survey Collection. View full size. Superb composition! Writing on the wallWhat's that written on the brick wall in the foreground? I don't mean JRC in white over to the right, but what appear to be large block letters more or less in the middle of the wall. I keep thinking I see the word PULL or FULL and then NE but just when I think I've got it, I don't. Engels we have heard on highThis is indeed the view SSE from the roof of the Hotel Engel at Indiana Avenue (aka C Street) & New Jersey Avenue NW. That's the west portico of the Capitol to the right. (Delaware Avenue is nowhere visible. That's an erroneous notation in the LOC photo caption.) The old Baltimore & Ohio rail station, soon to be demolished with the opening of Union Station, is across the street behind the photographer. The large building to the left is Hillman House, built on the remnants of rowhouses constructed by George Washington circa 1799. The original houses were burned by the British in 1814. The entire site is now part of Upper Senate Park. No structures visible here, apart from the Capitol, remain today. It Is WrittenI think I see the name EUGENE. It's you, EugeneThanks, Pelagius. That's it. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. (The Gallery, D.C., D.C. Street Survey)
The Kraken: 1942
July 1942. "Washington, D.C. -- Washington yacht basin." 4x5 inch acetate negative by John Collier for the ... size. Built in 1921 at New York for E. J. Otis of Washington The Kraken spent its entire life in the waters surrounding the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/10/2022 - 10:55am -

July 1942. "Washington, D.C. -- Washington yacht basin." 4x5 inch acetate negative by John Collier for the Office of War Information. View full size. Built in 1921 at New York for E. J. Otis of WashingtonThe Kraken spent its entire life in the waters surrounding the nation's capital, a 43-foot "bridge deck" power cruiser with a 100-bhp, 6-cylinder MEU Stearns gas engine. Its later owners, all of D.C., were Charles Benns and Nelson Nevius. Sold at a sheriff's sale in 1935; L. R. Kuldell of D.C. owned it until he sold it to Edgar Goff in 1944 who converted it to a fishing boat. Remarkably, it endured for almost another quarter century owned by Goff until removed from documentation in 1967. Shiver me timber!Having a raised deck like this yacht sure looks sweet. Trying to figure out the relationshipsNecktie is the Kraken owner or potential buyer and crouching teen is his son. As the cap on one implies, Sherwin Williams and his shirtless helper are painters. Black cap runs the engine and pilots the boat. But if they're about to paint the Kraken, why haven't they pulled her out of the water? They need to get a-cracken, cause that boat needs paint. I'm still considering alternate relationships and scenarios. New scenario: Black cap is the skipper of this tiny ship and crouching teen is his first mate. Sherwin Williams is actually a professor and shirtless helper is a wholesome farm boy from Horner's Corners, Kansas. Necktie is a millionaire, who's waiting for his wife to arrive with a surprising amount of luggage. The wife is bringing a movie star friend. They'll set sail for a three-hour tour. Know your meme!And plenty more where these came from. Ahoy !! Ye deadbeats. From the looks of the paint the new owner is just as much a flake as the previous one. Squatter has Rock and Roll HairHe's just 15 years too early. Bottoms UpHopefully they have already done the bottom. Then as now dry dock space at marinas has always been tight. The dock master would push you to get it done and back in the water. Once back in you could take your time scraping and painting above the water line. Repair CrewAll the young men are wearing work clothes, and the tools on the deck and visible seams suggest they've just replaced the canvas decking and are reinstalling the coaming rails. Since these are unpainted they're probably new as well. Wooden boats are, as Joseph Conrad once said, "like a lady's watch; always out of repair". Repair/RenovationIt looks like they are installing a new wood gunwale. There is an open paint can on the boat near the pier, so Doug may be correct about what is going on. Those guys definitely look like they have been doing some painting or caulking in those pants. Maybe they are just painting her above the waterline. It was wartime, sacrifices had to be made! IncidentThere was some drama the week before this photo was taken. Another captain accused the Kraken of cutting off his sailboat. Things escalated, and the yacht basin port master impounded both boats. Luckily, the owner knew a lawyer (in tie) who got a court order and forced the port master to release the Kraken. What a "do"Son, the rodents have made a nest on your head. Release the pompadourThat's some wild head of hair on the lad crouching on deck. RepairsIt appears that this yacht is getting a new foredeck splash fitted. There are tools on the deck and the lad on the front looks to be doing the work. The two gents in the dinghy have paint stains, likely Sherwin Williams, on their slacks. The retrofit will need to be painted when complete. There is also some missing gunwale to be replaced. Lyle Lovettis much older than I thought. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, D.C., John Collier)
After the Storm: 1913
Washington, D.C. "Storm damage. Between 1913 and 1918." Somewhere under all ... (mine) into an incoming toilet. I'm still laughing. Washington Torn by Electric Storm Here it is in the New York Times. ... toilet at twelve o'clock. Death & Ruin Washington Post, July 31 1913 Death and Ruin Spread Swiftly By ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 4:33pm -

Washington, D.C. "Storm damage. Between 1913 and 1918." Somewhere under all this rubble, I suspect, is a narrative waiting to be unearthed by a Shorpy history detective. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Incoming toilet, indeedTut, you gave me the laugh of my day, turning a gloomy disaster (mine) into an incoming toilet. I'm still laughing. Washington Torn by Electric StormHere it is in the New York Times. 1913!According to this caption on Flickr, the Saul store at 7th & L Streets was destroyed by a tornado on July 30, 1913. There's a small photo of the whole building here: http://www.bfsaul.com/history.html Heads up!Incoming toilet at twelve o'clock. Death & Ruin Washington Post, July 31 1913 Death and Ruin Spread Swiftly By Lightning, Wind and Hail ... The wind wrecked a three-story brick office building occupied by the B.F. Saul Company, real estate brokers, at Seventh and L streets northwest, and nineteen persons were carried down in the crash. W.E. Hilton, vice president of the real estate company, and Thos. B. Fealey, 65 years old, a tinner, were taken from the ruins dead. Half a dozen were taken to hospitals seriously injured and half a dozen more were treated for slight injuries. Last night the police were still digging in the ruins in the fear that other bodies might be recovered. ... Some of the injured: Thomas E. Allen, 35 years old, secretary of the real estate firm; perhaps fatally hurt: In Emergency Hospital. Miss Catherine McMahon, 23 years old, cashier of the real estate firm, of 1111 Rhode Island avenue northwest: in Casualty Hospital, suffering from internal injuries; is likely to die. Miss Catherine Breen, 25 years old, bookkeeper in the real estate office, of 435 Sixth street northwest; in Casualty Hospital, suffering from shock, contusions, and perhaps internal injuries; condition serious. Mrs. Ida Coplan, 35 years old, of 2017 Ninth street northwest, and her daughter Sadie, 12 years old; rescued from debris of real estate office and taken to Casualty Hospital: slightly injured. J. Wriley Jacobs, 28 years old, clerk in real estate office; pinned in debris, injured about legs and body; taken home. Miss Nellie E. Desmond, 22 years old, bookkeeper in real estate office; suffering from Shock. Albert J. Drury, 19 years old, 605 Florida avenue northwest; Edward H. Boblitz, 21 years old, 134 Barry place northwest; Harold Robinson, 18 years old, and Roy Humphrey, 18 years old, all escaped from the structure with minor injuries. ... The building in which all these people were at the mercy of the storm was a three-story brick structure on the northeast corner of Seventh and L streets, occupied on the ground floor as the office of the B.F. Saul Real Estate Company, with a little store on the same floor at the Eighth street side occupied by Thomas E. Casey, a tinner. The upper floors were used as lodge rooms. In the real estate office the force was placidly at work when the storm broke. There was no thought of danger until there came the sudden shriek of rending tin and the crash of splitting timbers and falling bricks. The wind had got a purchase under the roof and was lifting it away. Walter E. Hilton, the vice president of the concern, whose desk was about in the middle of the long room, shouted a warning, and some of those nearer the front made a rush for the door. They were hampered by the low railings and partitions that divided the room into separate departments. Edward H. Boblitz, a young runner, who was sitting on a bench, was the first to reach the door, which he swung open, to permit the egress of Hilton, who was half leading and half carrying Miss Nellie E. Desmond, one of the bookeepers, and the Misses Hilda and Emma Schutrumpf, young sisters who were employed in the place as stenographers and whose desks were close to Hilton's. As Hllton and the three girls got out, Boblitz reached over the counter to rescue Miss Katherine McMahon, the cashier. But just then the shifting roof pushed the front wall out into the street and the two side walls came down upon the dropping roof. Miss McMahon disappeared in the smother of debris, and Boblitz found himself practically unhurt, lying among the bricks and broken boards on the sidewalk. Behind him and all around him were piles of debris whence could be distinguished the screams of women and cries of men. It was then that Hilton was killed. Having dragged the three girls to safety through the raining bricks of the falling front wall he essayed to reenter the store, the front of which being of iron and stone, was still standing. Hilton was going in after more women. But just as he went through the door a beam dropped on him, breaking his neck. Down in the cellar, buried under tons and tons of tangled timbers and iron and brick, were Miss McMahon, the cashier; Miss Katherine Breen, one of the bookkeepers; Thomas E. Allen, secretary of the concern; J. Wriley Jacobs, the firm's insurance agent; Mrs. Ida Koplan and her 12-year-old daughter, Sadie, and Thomas Fealey, an aged carpenter, who had stepped into Casey's tinshop to get out of the rain. The rescue work started almost immediately. Policeman Jack, of the Second precinct, and a sergeant were half a block away when they heard the crash. The sergeant ran as rapidly as he could to the police station, a few squares away and Jack rushed to the fire alarm box at K street and turned in an alarm, which brought to the scene Deputy Chiefs Carrington and Keliher, with Nos. 6, 14, 2, and 7 Engine companies, and Nos. 4 and 1 trucks. The reserves of several precincts came and maintained fire lines to keep back the crowds. The first to be taken out of the wreckage were Mrs. Koplan and her daughter, who were freed from a mass of splintered timbers by Policeman Jack and a civilian named Waddington. Much bruised and shaken, but not badly hurt, they were carried across Seventh street to a clothing store, where Leon Cohen, one of the proprietors, and his wife had a narrow escape from the falling wall, which partly demolished the front of their store. The Cohens gave them clothing, after which they were placed in an ambulance and taken to Casualty Hospital. In the meantime, the firemen, led by Capt. Lanahan, of No. 6 engine, and Lieut. Steele, of No. 4 truck, were chopping and sawing timbers and shoveling away bricks and mortar dust in an effort to reach the imprisoned victims, whose cries could be heard now and then. In fifteen minutes the fireman had reached Miss McMahon and taken her out after Dr. Kelly had given her a hypodermic injection of morphine. Then Fealey was found – or what was left of him. He was dead when Dr. Kelly and the firemen, crawling through a tortuous tunnel of debris, reached his side. Heavy timbers had pinned him to the foundation wall crushing his body, and a beam of the roof truss had crushed his skull. By this time the debris at the L street side of the wreck had been removed so that the rescuers could utilize an ash hoist there. Dr. Kelly and four of the firemen on No. 4 truck company held Fealey's body in their arms, while the ash hoist slowly ascended to the street level, where the body was placed in a patrol wagon an sent to the morgue. It was not identified for several hours. An employe and a small son of T.J. Casey had a narrow escape from death when the building fell. The two had just driven to the curb in front of Casey's shop and had entered the building when they heard falling bricks and ran hurriedly out. The falling wall caught the horse and wagon, smashing the latter and instantly killing the horse. Thomas Fealey, who was in the shop when the young men entered, ran out with them, but paused to lock the door. This delay cost him his life. He was crushed just outside the door. The two youths escaped unhurt. By the time Capt. Beers, of No. 4 truck, and several of his men, directed from above by Deputy Chief Keliher had chopped their way to Miss Breen, and when Dr. Kelly, following the firemen, had reached her, he found Allen the secretary of the firm, pinned under some timbers close to her, and trying with his free hands, to make her position easier. Allen himself was in agony, and mortally injured. Dr. Kelly found that Allen's legs were so horribly torn and broken that they would have to be set and bandaged down there in the dark before he could be moved. So, cramped in the narrow space, the top of which might settle suddenly and crush all of them. Dr. Kelly bandaged the maimed legs and then he helped hold Allen while the ash hoist lifted him to the sidewalk. Miss Breen was hurried off to the Casualty Hospital and Dr. Carr, who had brought an ambulance from the Emergency, took Allen to his institution. The last man to be taken out of the debris was J. Wriley Jacobs, who having been in the rear of the office, had no chance to escape. Jacobs was pinned near Miss Breen and Allen, and he, too, was trying to help the young woman when the firemen found them. Jacobs was bruised about the legs and body, but the timbers and bricks about him had failed to press upon him with great weight. He was carried into W.T. Kerfoot, jr.'s drug store, opposite the wrecked building, and treated, preparatory to being removed to his home. Two hours or more had elapsed after the crash before the firemen and police were certain that the rescue work was complete. It was after they made a list of the persons taken out of the debris, and those who had escaped without the aid of rescuers, that they were certain. Washington Post, Aug 1, 1913 Injured Are Doing Well ... Miss Katherine Breen, the cashier of the Saul Company, is still in serious condition, but the physicians of the Casualty Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment, said last night that she is rallying well from the shock and is not regarded as in danger. She did not suffer fracture of any bones, and that the chief fear now is that she may have received some internal injury. Miss Katherine McMahon, the bookkeeper for the company, is at her home, 1111 Rhode Island avenue, and is rapidly recovering from the numerous contusions which she received. Mrs. Ida Koplan and her daughter, Miss Sadie, who were in the building when it collapsed, are said to be suffering merely from numerous contusions. Thomas E. Allen, secretary of the Saul company, is probably the most seriously injured of the victims. The physicians of the Emergency Hospital are still disturbed as to his condition, but say that unless infection sets in at the seat of the fracture to his lower limb, he should recover the use of the limb. Both bones in the lower leg were badly fractured. ... Note to SelfWhen fleeing a collapsing building, don't pause to lock the door. What a story! I'm glad the two Katherines and the other injured people pulled through. Looks like a bomb hit it!This photo looks like it could just as easily have been taking in London during The Blitz, or any of innumerable other cities subjected to aerial bombardment or artillery shelling in the last century. Great ReportingThat's a great piece of reporting! Not only are the facts presented clearly and in detail but it is exciting to read...I felt like I was on the scene. By comparison, today's news reporting is dull and uninformative. Craigslist 1.0Curb Alert: One lightly used leather settee, somewhat dusty but easily cleaned. Located at corner of 7th & L. Also two men's overcoats, doing some cleaning and they must go too. Come and get it! Policeman JackLove the moniker. Such an informal way to refer to an officer. I wonder if this was his beat? Crushed where he stoodThe collapse took place at Seventh and L across from where the Convention Center now stands. More excellent coverage can be found here. Mr. Fealy's life was crushed out where he stood. A pathetic incident was ... that the young clergyman ... who had rushed to the scene in an automobile in order to give aid to the injured, found that his own father ... was among the killed." And the posthumous rose delivery to the ailing wife -- whoa. (The Gallery, D.C., Fires, Floods etc., Harris + Ewing, Horses)
Lock, Stock & Barrel: 1942
... which at 50kw power would have come in well in greater Washington. Nice & Toasty I'll bet that's a warm bed to sleep in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/05/2023 - 1:48pm -

September 1942. "Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Sergeant George Camplair cleans his rifle regularly." Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. Best wishes, Sgt.Hopefully the Sgt. made it home safely and had a good, long life. "This is my rifle,... this is my gun." The immortal scene from Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket." PatchesIt won't be his mom complaining about oily patches on the bed, as might have happened to this young man https://www.shorpy.com/node/24096. Seems he has the warmest spot during winter months. What's taped to the inside of the drop-down radio lid?(And I'm sure someone out there knows what station it's tuned to.) [It's a girl! Hugging a pillow! - Dave] The Zenithappears to be tuned to 1090 kilocycles, WBAL in Baltimore, which at 50kw power would have come in well in greater Washington. Nice & ToastyI'll bet that's a warm bed to sleep in with that radiator right there. What is the purposeOf the large magnet, also sitting on the radiator? I hope the answer has something to do with attracting attractive women. J W Wright, thanks for the answer and the link. So, the Zenith Radio Wavemagnet is today what we call an antenna? I wasn't even for sure it was attached to the radio. Zenith "Wavemagnet"Click image for more information than you wanted: Aught-SixLooks like a WW1 surplus 30.06 rifle? Chutist Looks Vaguely FamiliarEschewing his sleigh, Santa parachuted into Vietnam so as not to grab unwanted attention. Sgt Camplair's radio attachment is, however, somewhat familiar. M1 GarandThe rifle is an M1 Garand, in 30.06, semiauto, fed by a 8 round clip. The fact that these new front line rifles were being issued stateside as early as 1942, rather than being reserved solely for the overseas theaters, shows the power of US industry. M1 GarandFor missing link - that is not a WWI surplus rifle. It is an M1 Garand. It is in .30-06. I've cleaned many of them. M1 Garand RifleThe rifle is actually an M1 Garand semi-automatic. Shoots 30/06 ammo out of 8 round clips. M1 IDIt is an M1 Garand. An unmistakable profile. The M1 replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the U.S. service rifle in 1936 and was itself replaced by the selective-fire M14 rifle on March 26, 1958. ShinyIt appears that the dark finish of the gas cylinder on Sergeant Camplair's M1 has worn off, exposing the stainless steel (can't tell for sure though). If so, it's odd that it would wear off so early in the conflict. Shiny bits on oneself is not a good thing in combat. He'd also better be careful in cleaning the bore so as not to damage the muzzle, as he might at the angle shown. The cleaning rod has to be in direct line with the bore. On a side note, it's great to see that fellow Shorpyites own M1s as well. Now if M2 ball ammo was readily available again... WW2 M1It has all the earmarks of a WW2 M1 Garand. I remember stripping them down followed by the reassembly process from ROTC training in 1963. It is definitely an M1 receiver by his left knee on the edge of the bunk. DownrangeU.S. ‘Rifle, .30 Caliber, M1’ AKA: M1 Garand, a .30-06 caliber, gas operated, magazine fed, semiautomatic rifle once described by General George S. Patton as "the greatest battle implement ever devised”. When the USA entered World War 2, mass production of the M1 rifle began at the Springfield armory and at the Winchester plant. During the war, both companies produced between them approximately 4 million M1 rifles, making them the most widely used semi-automatic rifle of World War 2. M1 Garand "stripping" for cleaning and inspection here. M-1 Garand semiautomatic shoulder weaponGen Patton called it the greatest combat weapon ever invented. I have one I bought from the CMP. Ping! (The Gallery, Jack Delano, WW2)
Washington Flyer: 1925
1925. Washington, D.C. "C.H. Milano, Ross School, 5-3/4. Plaza playground." View ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/31/2012 - 8:20pm -

1925. Washington, D.C. "C.H. Milano, Ross School, 5-3/4. Plaza playground." View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Ouch!No landing mattress? Thats gotta hurt! I wonder what the circle-triangle logo means on his hoodie? Yikes ...Looks like he's coming down on the pole. Scissors kick high jumpThat style of high jumping involves a running scissor kick of sorts. The jumper leads with his left leg off the ground and is in the middle of the "kick" and will come down on his feet. Hence no landing pad. The "modern" method we see used nowadays was invented by Dick Fosbury - not exactly sure when or where so I don't want to guess - but the style is still to this day called the "Fosbury Flop." LogoIt looks like an old YMCA logo - there's one on the former YMCA in Cortland, NY. The triangle was inscribed with "Mind / Spirit / Body" on the three sides. Landing SpotThere is a sandpit for him to land in. I remember high jumping in junior high (in the late '60's) and our landing site was just a sandpit. And, yeah, it wasn't as nice as a big foam pad. But since I could only high jump 4 feet or so, not too much damage was done. The FlopThe Fosbury Flop was invented circa 1968 to much derision, at least until Dick Fosbury of the University of Oregon won the Olympic gold medal. By the 1980 Olympics, the straddle was pretty much history. Pole VaultLanding in sand was also the norm for pole vaulters. I saw a photo of the 1948 Olympics, and sand was being used in the vault pit. Also, that was the last year for the bamboo pole. You can see from these world records from the 20's that the heights were fairly intimidating considering what you were going to hit on landing. I tried pole vaulting in high school. In the 60's we had sawdust which we fluffed up as best we could. Still hurt at 8 ft, so that was when I decided that the javelin was much more sane. 13'5" Frank Foss USA 1920 13'10-1/4" Ralph Spearow USA 1924 14'0" Sabin Carr USA 1927 Track & Field on FilmExtensive footage of track & field events from this era can be seen in the 1927 Buster Keaton movie "College." Keaton must become a jock to earn the respect of the woman he loves, and he tries about a dozen events -- including one involving a swinging ball that I think may no longer exist. In most cases, he (and the audience) watch a real athlete compete first, then Keaton tries to copy him and fails. The footage includes high jump, pole vault, hurdles, javelin throw, etc. The Plaza PlaygroundWas at Second and Massachusetts avenues Northeast, near Union Station. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports)
Let George Do It: 1942
... Hawaii. He continued as a cartographer with the Corps in Washington, D.C., from 1945 to 1979, when he retired. He moved from ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/28/2023 - 2:48pm -

September 1942. Fort Belvoir, Virginia. "Army Sgt. George Camplair on kitchen police duty." Last seen here, 10 years ago. Photo by Jack Delano, Office of War Information. View full size. Door Color ConventionsWould they have painted the area around the handle which also extends to the trim for avoiding dirty handprints, or is there another reason for doing that? Low light contrast for the 0300 KP arrivals, maybe? For crying out loudA sergeant peeling onions? Must have been as rare then as it has been during my time in another army. Well, at least now I know what "kitchen police duty" means. The Life of GeorgeFrom www.findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71018696/george-hans-camplair George Hans Camplair BIRTH 27 Jun 1919 Berlin, Germany DEATH 2 Dec 1999 (aged 80) McMinnville, Yamhill County, Oregon, USA News-Register, McMinnville, Oregon, December 4, 1999 A memorial service for George Hans Camplair of McMinnville will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Trinity Lutheran Church, McMinnville. Mr. Camplair died Dec. 2, 1999, in Willamette Valley Medical Center, McMinnville. He was 80. He was born June 27, 1919, in Berlin, Germany. He and Mary Jane McNutt were married in 1946. He worked with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II in Africa and Hawaii. He continued as a cartographer with the Corps in Washington, D.C., from 1945 to 1979, when he retired. He moved from Virginia to Portland in 1993 and had lived in McMinnville since 1994. Mr. Camplair was named Volunteer of the Year in 1998 by the Oregon Alliance of Senior and Health Services. He had worked as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Loaves and Fishes and the McMinnville chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He was a master gardener and worked many hours on landscaping projects as a member of the garden committee at Hillside Manor, McMinnville. He was a hike leader for McMinnville Senior Center. He belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church. Survivors include two sons, Christopher Camplair of Portland and George M. Camplair of Nashville, Tenn.; a daughter, Nancy Phelps of Portland; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1981; and a brother, Peter Camplair, in 1971. Memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity, McMinnville Chapter, 342 N.E. Third St., McMinnville, OR 97128. Arrangements are under the direction of Heritage Memorial, Portland. Who wore the apron in this family ?Sgt. Camplair (1919-1999) eventually made it out of the kitchen and got married in 1946: On a side note, it can be pointed out that as the family had actually emigrated from Germany - George was born in Berlin - fate might well have found him in another kitchen, peeling Zwiebeln for the Wehrmacht. SurpriseI do wonder that an NCO gets this kind of KP duty. Are there no privates? Peeling potatoesWhy bother doing it at all? I grew up in a household that peeled potatoes and carrots, but now I peel neither. I just wash them first, then move on to the rest of the prep without peeling. Even for mashed potatoes. There are nutrients and roughage in those skins – why waste time and food removing and tossing them? [Those are onions in the photo! - Dave] More on doorsI suspect Eventerguy is correct; I've seen similar black-painted areas on doors in other military structures, like these doors at Camp Reynolds on Angel Island. Makes me wonder if this was a standard military practice for high-traffic doors, or if each army post came up with the idea on their own. KP duty? I was this many years old when I learned KP duty was "kitchen police" and not "kitchen patrol" duty! Let George do it?Doesn't look like Bob Bailey to me. Probably very few would get that reference. TimelineThanks to Rochester for researching George Camplair's history. It really adds weight to an image to know a little more about the people in it. Interesting he was born in Berlin but was ultimately in the US Army. Not that was necessarily unusual, but worthy to note. Thanks also to Notcom for the 1946 news story on George's wedding to Mary McNutt. Probably the girl shown in the 'Sarge At Large' photo 10/20/23 (1942) (The Gallery, Jack Delano, Kitchens etc., WW2)
Washington Varsity: 1913
June 1913. Poughkeepsie, New York. "Washington Varsity 8." View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection. So ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 6:55pm -

June 1913. Poughkeepsie, New York. "Washington Varsity 8." View full size. George Grantham Bain Collection. So why do some of the rowers in these pictures (above, and also two men here) have bandaged abs ... chafing from where the oars hit? Intra-crew knife fights? RowingI was a rower in college, and it's very very difficult on the ribs, especially if your back isn't strong enough to handle the swing of the stroke properly. Strained rib muscles and fractured ribs were all too common -- I'm guessing that's why they would have the tape on, though it doesn't look like it would actually do much. Generally, the oar doesn't actually hit your abs as you finish the stroke, although maybe that was different back in 1913. I love all the pics you post of rowers, by the way! Underpants?Was it easier to row while wearing underpants? I've seen a few of these pictures and they all appear to be wearing their underwear! Or were these the early version of gym shorts? Regardless, they leave nothing to the imagination, eh? Location?Can anyone confirm where this photo was taken? That bridge in the background looks very much like the old train bridge that spans the Hudson River here in Poughkeepsie, NY. RowerW shirt guy is very attractive! PoughkeepsieThis is the railroad bridge over the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie. I rowed for Vassar College and know that spot well. Poughkeepsie AgainPoughkeepsie used to hold a regatta every year. Schools from all over the US would come to compete. I rowed for Marist College in Poughkeepsie in the early 1980's. Last Sunday the railroad bridge was reopened as a pedestrian walkway. They did a fantastic job of refurbishing the bridge and the views are incredible. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, G.G. Bain, Sports)
F Troop: 1928
Washington, D.C., circa 1928. "Barrister Building, F Street N.W." National ... Etched in stone No adjustable rates mortgages at the Washington Permanent Building Association - 6 percent cast in stone. Lots of ... The similarity of the Barrister Building and the Washington Permanent Building Association is more than coincidental: both were ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 4:43pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1928. "Barrister Building, F Street N.W." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Oh Henry!The Kids got a box of Oh Henry! bars. A whole box, he must be rich! Or he's selling them. [Or it's his pencil box. - Dave] I hadn't thought of that one, probably correct since they seem to be coming from or going to School. Etched in stoneNo adjustable rates mortgages at the Washington Permanent Building Association - 6 percent cast in stone. Lots of patent lawyers and the ever-present cigar store, too. QualityNice to see a Sign Shop that prides itself on workmanship. I see Jerry has opened his Restaurant up! Barrister BuildingInfo on the Barrister Building at Shorpy Post: Slush Hour: 1916. October 1970 (+42), Historical American Building Survey. Date QuestionHow firm is that 1928 date? All of the cars I can see have an angularity - especially the flat tops of the fenders - that looks more like the late teens/early Twenties. Of course, they could all just be older cars. [There are mid to late 1920s cars here, with 1928 District of Columbia license plates. Another clue is balloon tires and the number of cars with disc wheels. - Dave] The littlest flapperThe youngsters very nicely and expensively dressed! The little girl's outfit, with the cloche hat and knee-length coat and fur perfectly copies in scale those worn by the adult flappers of the day! In the backgroundThere is Smithsonian American Art Museum on the backstage. Modern view of the place [At the time, it was the Old Patent Office. - Dave] Six Per Cent Building The similarity of the Barrister Building and the Washington Permanent Building Association is more than coincidental: both were designed by architect Appleton P. Clark, Jr. Washington Post, May 11, 1907 M'Gowan Building Sold Washington Loan and Trust Dispose of Property for $26,000. The McGowan building, at 629 F street northwest was recently sold to the Washington Six Per Cent Building Association by the Washington Loan and Trust Company through the firm of Stone & Fairfax. It is understood that the price paid was $26,000. The Six Per Cent Building Association moved into the McGowan building not long ago under a lease. The property has frontage of twenty-six feet seven inches on F street, and its 120 feet deep, running back to an alley. For many years the Washington Six Per Cent Building Association occupied offices in the Second National Bank on Seventh street. It recently left those quarters to make room for the growing business of the bank. The building association is one of the oldest concerns of its kind in the city. It is thought that the building of the new union station will increase demand for property around Seventh and F streets. Stone & Fairfax have recently sold several buildings in this square. Washington Post, Aug 25 1912 The Washington Six Per Cent Building Association, to erect an office building at 629 F street northwest. A.P. Clarke, jr., architect, Melton Construction Company, builders. Cost $23,500. Washington Post, Apr 14, 1931 Capital Building Body 50 Years Old Small Group Here Organized Permanent Association in Early Part of 1881. By Thomas M. Cahell. The Washington Permanent Building Association is now 50 years old. Early in 1881 a small group of men met at Gustave Hartig's hardware store at Seventh and K streets northwest to discuss the formation of a building association, different from any then in operation in the District, in that it was to follow the permanent rather than serial plan. The permanent plan meant the continuation of business from year to year, instead of a series of periodical settlements as a serial association then operated. The permanent plan was adopted from Philadelphia, where all necessary information was obtained. After a few conferences at the Hartig store, a larger meeting was held at Dismer's Saengerbund Hall, where preliminaries for drafting a constitution were settled. On May 14 the first meeting of the association convened at German Hall, on Eleventh street, between F and G streets northwest. … The association's first office was above the German-American National Bank, at Seventh and F streets northwest, where Hecht's store now stands. In 1884 it occupied half of the first floor of the Pacific Building, now a part of the Hecht's store. Office hours were then from 3 to 5 p.m. In 1898 it moved to the Second National Bank Building, at 509 Seventh street northwest, occupying half of that building until March, 1907, when it acquired its first home, the McGowan Building at 629 F street northwest. At this time the minutes of the association were changed from German to English. In 1913 the association's building was razed for its present modern banking office on the site, its temporary headquarters being at 631 F street northwest during the construction period. Waiting for Il Duce.I expect it's just my fevered imagination but the balcony shown below just looks as if it's waiting for a suitable dictator to address the adoring masses. +88Below is the same view from May of 2016. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Kids, Natl Photo)
Window on Washington: 1939
An uncredited view of Washington, D.C., circa 1939. Who'll be the first to drop a pin on the map and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/26/2017 - 1:48pm -

An uncredited view of Washington, D.C., circa 1939. Who'll be the first to drop a pin on the map and tell us where this is? In the meantime, let's settle in and wait for Lars Thorwald to get home. 4x5 inch acetate negative. View full size. Settle down over there!Don't let Dave's oblique reference put a Burr under your saddle!!! "Virtually" the same view, today.Googlemap 3D https://goo.gl/maps/6QUTkm2E2352 Preview: Grace Under PressureI don't see Lisa anywhere. Not investigating, I take it. Nice view though. You wait for Lars.I'm waiting for Miss Torso. InterestingWhat, I wonder, is the oddly-shaped roof covering? [A turret, perhaps over a stairwell. - Dave] Burke ParkThis is taken from the roof or rear window of a building at 1121 12th Street NW, looking south across Burke Park at buildings on L Street. The statue pedestal visible is for Edmund Burke. John Nourse HouseThe building at far left appears to be the John Nourse House at 1107 Massachusetts Ave., NW. It was built c.1840 and is currently on the market with an asking price of $3.6M. Hambo's right!Based on the sight lines, the photo was taken from the southeast corner of the rooftop of the eight story building at 1125 12th St. NW. The odd-shaped corner of the brick building on the right is the northeast corner of the seven story building at 1116 12th St. NW. The elongated turret has been trimmed but the street-side peak still survives on the townhouse at 1113 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The buildings to the left, as well as those across the street are long gone. (The Gallery, D.C.)
March on Washington: 1963
... August 1963. "New York. Sidewalk sign outside the March on Washington headquarters building, 170 W. 130th Street." Photo by Werner Wolff ... was to become my wife 15 years later) headed from NYC to Washington with her grandfather, and had the incredible experience of hearing ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/24/2013 - 1:25pm -

August 1963. "New York. Sidewalk sign outside the March on Washington headquarters building, 170 W. 130th Street." Photo by Werner Wolff for U.S. News & World Report. View full size. How Can?How can marching around and making speeches create jobs? [By leading to passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically Title VII. - Dave] Memorable dateOn that date, the 18-year-old girl (who was to become my wife 15 years later) headed from NYC to Washington with her grandfather, and had the incredible experience of hearing Martin Luther King, Jr., give his "I Have a Dream" speech. In her memory (she died in 1984), I will be at the Lincoln Memorial this Wednesday. Calendar sync!90 years anniversary, and Wednesday is again 8/28! [Um... next Wednesday will be the 50th anniversary of the march. -tterrace] Uh - typo?!? Or short on coffee... Why Arbor Day is a terrific ideaBleak and uninviting in 1963, this block of West 130th looks immeasurably nicer today even though most of the buildings are largely unchanged on the outside. The big difference is that the formerly treeless block is now lined with sidewalk trees, a simple change that greatly softens 1963's stark appearance. No. 170 is still there, as are the buildings just past it with the interesting brownstone stoops. Several of the buildings across the street were torn down and there's now a paved parking area on their site. View Larger Map Bill Landau: thanks for your posting.Curious how a scant 5 lines can indicate a whole slice of other people's lives. Sorry for the loss of your wife: too soon, she was only 3 years older than me and it's now almost 30 years since she passed. I will be thinking of this posting on Wednesday. (NYC)
School for Secretaries: 1920
1920. "Washington School for Secretaries. Typing room." Note the Dictaphone in the ... 1920 appears to have been the opening year for the Washington School for Secretaries (click to enlarge) ... computer company bought the school the following year. Washington Secretarial Class of 1958-59 I am an honor graduate of the old ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/22/2012 - 9:31pm -

1920. "Washington School for Secretaries. Typing room." Note the Dictaphone in the middle. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Alice AdamsThis makes me think of the very depressing end of "Alice Adams" when she has to climb up the stairs to the secretarial school. Now I know why she didn't want to go. How many songs...Can you get on one of those Dictaphones? Also gives new meaning to the phrase ear-tubes. Joe from LI, NY Oh, the noise!My ears are ringing just thinking about how noisy this room must have been when class was in session. I also note that there is one lonely adding machine among all the typewriters. Open to Receive Students1920 appears to have been the opening year for the Washington School for Secretaries (click to enlarge) Home RowOh how I remember typing class in high school. The symbols were not on the typing keys and you would rely on that old pull-down in front of the class to know where you were, but at exam time the pull-down (like a window blind) would go up and if you didn't know where your home row was or the other letters you may as well leave the room. Aw ... yes, and that ol' typewriter song comes back to me as well! Ah, the memories - -of shaving the wax off used Dictaphone cylinders; learning to use the Comptometer (prehistoric adding machine); pounding away on those huge black baby buggies that posed as typewriters; hitting the lever of the work easel to keep the copy at eye level. Now guess how old I am. Yech. WorkhorsesI learned on an adding machine that didn't look that much newer than the model in the picture. And when my father started his business, my mother bought a second-hand (or third- or fourth-hand) typewriter to type his invoices that didn't look all that much younger than the ones here. I bet she's still got it. I loved my time at WSSI am a 1983 graduate of the WSS (Exec Sec/Admin Assist program) and really enjoyed my year in their program. The location was 2020 K Street at the time. Although we had electric typewriters, the classroom was set up just as it was in the 1920 picture above. 1968 WSS graduateI have been looking for info on WSS but never seemed to find anything. Glad I ran across this. I attended WSS when it was in the National Press Building. Was in class there at the time of the 1968 riots in D.C. Good memories and the beginning of a long secretarial career. Wonder if they still make female students wear hats and gloves? There you are!I am a 1975 graduate of WSS. I was very proud of my accomplishments and success at WSS. I have looked over the years for information about the school. When did it close and what happened to all of the equipment and pictures. I remember graduation dance. I Will Never Forget!!!!OMG!!!! What a wonderful experience I had in 1982. I attended WSS when it was on 2020 K St. What a shock to see that so many others still remember. Remington # 2, 6, 7Interesting to see this shot on Shorpy, as our theatre company is putting on a production which requires three vintage Remingtons (any of the above models) as they were all "understrike" machines -- the keys hit the paper under the roller rather then the front of the roller. This of course meant that you couldn't see what you were typing. My life as a props buyer this season has been pretty interesting trying to come up with them. I have found two, and need only one more. 1970 Graduate of the WSSThe WSS gave me a firm foundation on which to build my career in the business world. Excellent training! At the time I attended, the intense, one-year course was equivalent to a two-year associates degree in business administration at a community college. I shall always remember the hats, heals heels and gloves. Everyone in WDC knew you were a WSS student at one glance. I attended the school when it was in the National Press Building, a very exciting location and when it was still a privately owned school. I believe a computer company bought the school the following year. Washington Secretarial Class of 1958-59I am an honor graduate of the old WSS -- I could do shorthand at 140 and could type on a manual 85 wpm and on an electric easily over 100 wpm and those were 15 minute tests with two errors or less! I got a great job, made good money and still have these skills to this day. Our director, Adria Beaver Lynham, was one for the books. She made us toe the mark in every way -- we had to wear long line girdles, no "bedroom" hair, just totally professionals. Young ladies walked briskly down F Street -- there was to be no "strolling." Thanks for the memories! 1986 GraduateI'm so happy I found this! Very good memories. Memories of Secretarial SchoolI attended a secretarial school in 1963 in NYC and we were all a bit surprised to come to typing class the first day only to see that our typewriters had BLANK keyboards -- the best way to learn "touch" typing was just that -- NO peeking at the letters or numbers on the keyboard. Funny thinking back to those days but I learned to be a really good typist! Looking for Washington School for Secretaries AlumniI would love to talk to alumni of the venerable Washington School for Secretaries for The Washington Secretaries History Project. If you are interested in sharing your memories, please email me at washingtonsecretaries@gmail.com. Thank you. Lillian Cox (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, The Office)
Washington Water: 1935
July 1935. "Outside water supply, Washington, D.C. Only source of water supply winter and summer for many houses ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 10:42pm -

July 1935. "Outside water supply, Washington, D.C. Only source of water supply winter and summer for many houses in slum areas. In some places drainage is so poor that surplus water backs up in huge puddles." These municipal water taps (or pumps -- they have crank handles) appear in several photos from this series. I wonder if any survive. 35mm negative by Carl Mydans. View full size. Not such an ancient thingWhen I was 3 or 4 (in 1961 or 1962) my elderly farmer's wife babysitter in Benton Harbor, Michigan, had only an outside pump like this. And an outhouse, of course. Years later, when we visited them, their kids had moved them into a two storey frame house with indoor plumbing, nearby. Very uptown! Garden hoseI just really looked at this in full size, and see she's wearing stockings. Good Lord - stockings to go pump some water to wash the dishes after dinner. Sometimes I think people try so hard it's ... poignant. They survive!One of the Capitol Hill NE houses my wife and I (unsuccessfully) bid on had one. Red in color (didn't look to see if the paint was original or not), it still works and is now protected in a newer garage. It was one of the great features of the house. [Fascinating. Was it more like a pump or a faucet? What did the lettering say? I wonder if the crank operated a valve below ground level, as a safeguard against freeze damage. Questions, questions. - Dave] re: Garden HoseMy grandma wore those. She was a hardworking farm wife and her legs bore the evidence: varicose veins. The stockings (support hose) provided some therapeutic relief and cosmetic peace of mind. Speculation, but ...I think you nailed it Dave. I bet it also drained back to below grade, whenever it was shut off. Re: They survive!Because we didn't own the place, we didn't let the water run for longer than a second, but I got the impression that it operated more like a faucet based on the solid flow of water coming out. If I remember correctly, you moved the handle down and towards you. That moved the faucet head moved down and the water poured out. If you look at the image, you can see how the rectangular plate behind the faucet head is roughly the same size as the piece behind it. (I don't know the proper terminology.) You can see the empty squarish space above the faucet head and imagine how the metal faucet head would slide down to get where it is. I hadn't thought about freeze damage... we were all just so amazed by this cool piece of history. I can't remember what the pump said. I really wish I had kept the photos I took of it, but when we didn't get the house, I deleted them all. If you're interested, I can send you the address if you want to drop by and bug the new owner. Want the one in our yard?We renovated the garage behind our Southeast DC rowhouse last year and removed a non-functioning pump to make room (barely!) for our car. I've held on to the remains, but it may be time to send it to the dump. The lettering is partially illegible, but the word CLIMAX is printed clearly in a semicircle on top with words to the effect "C.M. KEMP MFG. CO. BALTO MD" below. I don't know how it worked, but I can see that about 2 feet of the pump was originally below grade. (The Gallery, Carl Mydans, D.C.)
Washington Wizard: 1925
... Evans, Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, K.K.K. parade, Washington." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/12/2014 - 1:10pm -

August 8, 1925. "Dr. H.W. Evans, Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, K.K.K. parade, Washington." National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Heritage of HateDuring my mother's childhood, the family had to pick up and move in the middle of the night several times because the Klan was on the way. My grandfather was a Cherokee married to a white woman. My mother, now 89 with a memory full of holes, still recalled one of those nights of terror just yesterday.She will never forget, nor should we. Evil passing for sillyToday some may be inclined to laugh at the silly costumes, especially the straw hats, but evil often goes unnoticed for being so commonplace. Listen Phil- - we really have to get together on these uniforms, people are beginning to talk. InterestingThat Indiana now boasts the highest number of Klan members, with Ohio not far behind. Boooo!What a disgrace to our history. We just hate them what ain't like usRead the wikipedia on this guy. He was a nasty piece of work. Symbols of horrorWhen I see images such as these, my daydreams of living in the '20s change to nightmares. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Washington Market: 1956
Part of Washington Market in 1956, looking north along Washington Street at Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan. The market, which began ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 8:36pm -

Part of Washington Market in 1956, looking north along Washington Street at Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan. The market, which began as an open-air bazaar in 1812, was renovated with the facade seen here in 1940 and razed in 1967 to make way for the World Trade Center. With more than 800 vendors, it was for many years the largest wholesale produce market in the United States. Photo by Fred Palumbo, New York World-Telegram & Sun. View full size. Twilight ZoneLooking at the picture (the way the people are stuck in time) and reading the text about being razed for the World Trade Center gave me a little "Twilight Zone" feeling. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, NYC, Stores & Markets)
Washington Masonic Memorial: 1923
Nov. 1, 1923. "Dedication, George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia." In a year that was probably ... laying of the cornerstone of what is today one of metro Washington's best known traffic landmarks. National Photo Company Collection ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2013 - 3:09am -

Nov. 1, 1923. "Dedication, George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia." In a year that was probably the zenith of Freemasonry in the United States, and saw a giant national Masonic gathering in the capital, President Coolidge on this day used a silver trowel to spread mortar for the laying of the cornerstone of what is today one of metro Washington's best known traffic landmarks. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. The Finished ProductAttached is a view of the finished product, taken from the same general vantage point. As another poster very correctly noted, this temple is "a bit weird" to a non-Mason. There's a great write-up about the temple (complete with photos of the interior)on the "Roadside America" website at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/13718 Masonic ViewNinety years later, the memorial is a neat (if a bit weird to a non-Mason) place to visit. I went there in January with locals who'd never set foot in the place despite having spent the last thirty years in DC. Comparing the background views, the train station is all but unchanged (though now supplemented with the larger Metro station behind it), but I can't match a single structure in Old Town between the old image and my new one. Not even the church steeples (which I'd expect to have been there in 1923). Shuter's Hill - Fort EllsworthIt was occupied in Oct 1861 by the 44th NY Reg't, which was commanded by Col Elmer Ellsworth, the first Union officer to be killed in the war when he was shot by a hotel proprietor after taking down the Confederate national flag from the hotel roof. The photo looks east toward Alexandria and the Potomac river. King Street is at the center. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo)
Redwater in Washington: 1917
Washington, D.C., circa 1917. "Indians: Redwater and group." My headdress was ... would have been a joint Cheyenne/Arapaho delegation to Washington to meet with President Wilson and discuss land claims - particularly ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/27/2019 - 3:25pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1917. "Indians: Redwater and group." My headdress was at the cleaners. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Just in TimeThe half-smiling fellow on our right has a pocket watch in his breast pocket, secured by a heavy chain with a decorative fob. I'd love to see that watch today! On the other hand (or foot) I think his moccasins would leave my wimpy feet screaming for mercy. Thaddeus Red WaterI believe the man in the middle is Thaddeus Red Water, seen here in his headdress. There is not much information about him on the Internet, except for this excerpt. Cheyenne/Arapaho DelegationThis would have been a joint Cheyenne/Arapaho delegation to Washington to meet with President Wilson and discuss land claims - particularly their claim to the western Black Hills. Thaddeus Red Water, as the excerpt linked by Book Reader notes, was a Carlisle student and a football star who learned English. It was customary for the emissaries from the reservation to where their best finery - often handed down from many generations - to meet their "Great Father" - while Red Water would have done his best to do the same as an intermediary and translator for the delegates. All but the man to Red Water's right have special trade/saddle blankets, and the two to his left are holding a piece of paper in their hands - probably a well prepared plea to read before the President. The men on his right would be the Arapaho leaders, and Cheyenne on his left. Head dresses are among the most misunderstood American Indian symbol. Only plains tribes wore them, and almost always only for ceremonial purposes. The Cheyenne and Arapaho were the most prevalent users of them (with the Sioux considered their "inventor), and they carried great significance for the wearer, as each feather represented a victory in battle or some other great accomplishment. One simply did not make a headdress, they were earned. After the 1920s, however, the absence of warfare changed things, and ceremonial pieces were created for special events and as gifts to visiting dignitaries. They also became common aspects of fairs and tribes around the country began to wear them in tourist-oriented "shows" further muddling America's notion of what they meant. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Native Americans)
Beer, Blood and Bones: 1917
Washington, D.C., circa 1917. "National Capital Brewery." The National Capital ... S.E. The company, which owned a number bars in downtown Washington, switched to making Carry's Ice Cream with the onset of Prohibition. ... fired!" A Big Brewing Establishment Washington Evening Star. July 25, 1891 A BIG BREWING ESTABLISHMENT ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 7:29am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1917. "National Capital Brewery." The National Capital Brewing Co. plant at 14th and D Streets S.E. The company, which owned a number bars in downtown Washington, switched to making Carry's Ice Cream with the onset of Prohibition. The brewery's boiler room furnace figured in a sensational murder case in 1912. National Photo Company glass negative. View full size. Popcorn's ready!Let's have the nitty grtitty details of the murder! I'll get the lightsYeah, I'd be interested in that info as well. Sounds intriguing. All goneIf the address is accurate, these structures are long gone. That area is mostly residential working-class now. A Relative CommentThat explains it!! Now I know why Beer, Ice Cream & Murder Mysteries are such favorites of mine! I am a great-great-granddaughter of Albert Carry. Thanks for the picture and history from my paternal relatives. [You're very welcome! Glad you found us. - Dave] Charred Bones, Bloodstain Near BoilersOctober 2, 1912. Gives a new meaning to "You're fired!" A Big Brewing EstablishmentWashington Evening Star. July 25, 1891 A BIG BREWING ESTABLISHMENT NATIONAL CAPITAL BREWERY A Business Enterprise That Has Been Very Successful in Washington IT IS A HOME PRODUCT ENTIRELY ORGANIZED AND OFFICERED BY LOCAL MEN AND EVERY SHARE OF ITS STOCK OWNED HERE A TRIP THROUGH ITS EXTENSIVE BUILDINGS. A brewery that turns out 100,000 barrels of first-class pure beer every year for local consumption solely is a big institution for any city, and yet Washington has recently had just such an addition made to its business enterprises in the National Capital Brewery. Organized by Washington men, officered by Washington men, and with every share of its stock owned here at home, it would seem to be a local enterprise first last and all the time. This business is the result of the combination of two of the oldest and most successful breweries in this part of the country, and that the new firm will be even more successful is a foregone conclusion. People who have had occasion recently to traverse D street southeast have noticed a splendid new building on the south side of the street between 13th and 14th streets. This is the new home of the National Capital Brewing Company, and it is by long odds one of the most substantial and imposing buildings of the sort to be found anywhere. Although it has been completed hardly more than a month, it has about it already that well-kept appearance and air of bustling activity that always denote prosperity following upon enterprise. This fine new building, standing as it does in a very desirable location for such a business, with almost an entire block of ground about it, is a five-story structure of brick with handsome stone trimmings and surrounded by a graceful cupola. It covers a plot of ground 94 by 136 feet, and owing to the unusual height of the several stories the building itself is quite as high as an ordinary seven or eight-story building. Attached to the main building are several roomy and substantial outbuildings, including an engine house, stable and cooperage shop, all pleasing in appearance and forming a handsome group. To make a good pure quality of beer for local use so that it can be drawn from wood and not adulterated with any chemical whatsoever in order to make of it a "beer that keeps well," this is the purpose of the National Capital Brewing Company. They do not make beer for shipment, and hence their beer is not treated with any salicylic acid or deleterious substances that are sometimes used with bottled beer to keep it clear and lively. Pure beer is generally considered a healthful drink. The president of the National Capital Brewing Company told a STAR reporter that any person with a proper interest in the matter might take the keys of the entire establishment at any time, go through it thoroughly, and if he found anything at all used in the making of their beer that was not pure and wholesome the company would give him $1,000. Beer drawn from the wood is almost certain to be a purer and better quality of beer than the bottled. The National Capital Brewing Company does not bottle. It serves its customers fresh every day with beer that has reached its prime in the immense cooling rooms of the brewery. F. H. Finley & Son, the bottlers, however, have a contract with the company for 20,000 barrels a year of their pale extra beer, and this they bottle and serve to customers in Washington. They get their beer early every morning, as needed, so that people who buy the bottled variety of the National Capital Company's beer are using beer that left the huge casks at the brewery that very day. J. F. Hermann & Son, Wm. H Brinkley and Jas. A Bailey also acts as agent for the company. A STAR reporter, accompanied by Mr. Albert Carry, president of the brewing company, recently made a complete inspection of the buildings of the brewery, spending several hours seeing how beer is manufactured from the time it comes in in the form of malt and the raw materials until it leaves the building a clear, cool, foaming beverage inclosed in stout kegs and casks. How much beer there is that leaves the building may be judged when the statement is made that the company uses 10,000 kegs and barrels of all sizes simply in supplying the Washington trade. Nine huge wagons and thirty big horses are used steadily in carrying beer from the brewery to the consumers. In truth this is no small business. But what strikes the visitor, be he a casual or an interested one, first and most forcibly of all is the absolute cleanliness and neatness that prevails everywhere. The walls and stairways, for the most part of stone and iron - for the building is fireproof throughout - and the floors are all of iron or concrete and immaculate. On all sides there is hot and cold running water, and indeed the wards of a hospital could scarcely be cleaner or more orderly than the various departments of this brewery. There are no secret chambers into which one may not go. Everything is open and above board, and the fact that the company has no objections to the beer consumer examining every branch of its manufacture is a pretty good sign that they know that everything is honest and fair. As a proof of this the company intends giving a public tour Tuesday, July 28, from 8 to 8 p.m., when everything will be in running order and everybody is invited to visit the brewery and inspect it thoroughly from cellar to roof. A handsome luncheon, consisting of all the delicacies of the season, will be spread. Everything will be free, and the National Capital Brewing Company intend to prove that they are as liberal in their hospitality as they are enterprising in their business. It is needless to say that beer will be plentiful and none need to go to bed thirsty Tuesday night. Connecting the main building with the engine house is a handsome arched gateway leading into the big court yard, where the wagons stand while they are being loaded. The entrance to the offices is through this gateway. The offices consist of a number of connecting rooms on the main floor in the northwest corner of the building. They are handsomely finished in oak, and are fitted with the most improved office furniture for the convenience of the officers of the company and the corps of bookkeepers and clerks required to transact such an immense volume of business. Opening from the main office and adjoining it is the ice machine room, containing an ice machine with a refrigerating capacity of fifty tons and an eighty-horse-power steam engine, used for grinding and mashing malt and for general hoisting purposes. The ice machine on that hot summer day was almost covered in with ice and snow, and in fact the temperature of the larger part of the brewery is kept down in the neighborhood of freezing point all the time. On the second floor is an immense refrigerating room, and separated from it by an iron door is a room for cleaning and automatically weighing malt, and arranged on the principle of a grain elevator is a store room for malt with a capacity of 20,000 tons. On the third floor is a great copper kettle holding 300 barrels of new boiling beer. The fourth floor is used for hot and cold water tanks and above is a tank for fire purposes. After boiling in the kettle for seven hours the beer is pumped up, strained and left to cool in a big tank under the roof, where a cool current of air blows constantly. To the rear and on the fourth floor is a big store room and a patent cooler. The beer from the tanks above runs down over coils and is cooled to 40 degrees. This and the rooms below are all 76x94 feet and feel like a cold day in midwinter. On the floor below is the fermenting room, and here the beer stays for two weeks in sixty-five tubs, each holding seventy barrels. After the beer is through fermenting it is piped down below into huge vats, each of a 240-barrel capacity, and here it stays in the rest casks for three or four months, beer four months old being about the best. On the floor below a little new beer is added to give the necessary foam, and after being given about three weeks to clarify it is sent by air pressure into the filling room, where it is run into barrels and kegs ready to be loaded onto the wagons. In neighboring rooms a dozen men are busy all the time cleaning, washing and scouring the kegs so there is no chance for any impurities to mar the flavor of the Golden Eagle and the Capuciner beers. The National Capital Brewery Company is a combination of the firms of Albert Carry, Robert Portner and the Robert Portner Brewing Company, the latter selling out the Washington branch of the business. The capital stock of the company is $500,000, all paid up. The company has been in operation since last November [1890], but has been supplying from its new brewery only since June. The officers of the company are as follows: Albert Carry, president; C. A. Strangmann, secretary and treasurer. Directors: Albert Carry, Robert Portner, John L. Vogt, John D. Bartlett, Charles Carry, C. A. Strangmann, Frank P.Madigan. Brewery AngleThis seems like an odd angle for a photo. Consulting the Baist Realty maps suggests that it was taken looking to the northeast from the top of the Buchanan Public School on E Street. The houses in the foreground are indicated by the small yellow homes on the alley (now Guetlet Court). The Buchanan school still survives as well as a few of the houses at the SE corner of the block. For comparison, today's satellite view is here. Where the brewery stood is now a Safeway. Thanks Stanton!I found a lecture about the Carry and Didden families, where George Didden cites the lot as "bounded by 13th Street, D Street, Kentucky Avenue and South Carolina Avenue." George should have consulted the Baist Realty map! The Ideal Spring TonicWashington Post, March 3, 1910 Too closeRegarding the upscale houses in the foreground: is that a garden right next to the outhouse? Mystery of the Brewery Brewery Mystery Involves Suicide and Disappearance. New Clew For Police. Confronted by a mystery involving the disappearance on September 17 of Arthur A. Webster, and the suicide on Sunday of Lennte L. Jette, the latter a former employee of the National Capital Brewing Company, and the former and habitue of the same place, the police last night were bending every effort to determine the facts in what they term a most extraordinary case. Webster, on the evening of his disappearance, told his wife he was going to the brewery, where Jett was employed as a fireman. That he did enter the brewery, and that there ensued a passage of words between him and Jett, is attested by a police witness. From that evening, until the present time nothing has been heard from Webster. His wife is firm in her conviction that he was murdered. Jett, on Sunday night, sent a bullet into his brain and died a suicide. The police, consequently, are seeking now to fathom the "mystery of the brewery." It is singular, the police reason, that one man, visiting the brewery, and following an alleged altercation, should suddenly vanish, and that within two weeks the other principal should suddenly and his life. A statement by an important witness, made yesterday to Capt. Mulhall at the Fifth precinct, following a succession of other unusual happenings at the brewery since Webster dropped out of sight, has, in the opinion of the relatives and others, gone a long way toward showing that he met with foul play. The witness is Michael J. Barrett, of 355 H street southwest, a helper in the boiler room at the brewery, who was on duty there the night of September 17, when Webster went there the last time. Their suspicions already aroused by Sunday's developments, the Fifth precinct police began their investigation all over again yesterday. Patrolman Kenney, whose post takes in the brewery, found Barrett at his home, and escorted him to the station to tell what he knew. Barrett no longer hesitated to talk freely about the events of Webster's last night in the boiler room. Last night he told a Post reporter what he had told Capt. Mulhall. "I will tell you just what I told the police," said he. "Webster had been coming to the brewery at night a long time. There was one man in the boiler room, Jett, who, I understood, did not like him. I knew this, and that, Tuesday morning about 2:30, when Webster came along, Jett was right there with me. Webster stopped in the doorway, as if waiting for an invitation to come in. I did not ask him in. But very soon Webster came on in uninvited, and when he got to me I said to him: 'You had better be careful. You know Jett does not think a whole lot of you.' Our men shift around from day to night duty, and a large part of the time Jett was not around after midnight, when Webster was in the habit of calling. "I noticed that Webster had been drinking. When he got to the rear of the room he drew a flask of whisky from a pocket and invited Jett and me to have a drink. We accepted, and I went back to my work. I was raking the ashes out of the furnace. Presently Webster and Jett disappeared from sight just around the corner of the end boiler. Soon I heard Webster say in loud tones something about an old quarrel between the two of them, and before long I heard more loud words. I could not catch all that was said for the occasional roaring of the furnaces. "The talking suddenly stopped, and Jett came from behind the boilers. About 15 or 20 minutes afterward I walked back behind the end boiler, and to my surprise found Webster either lying down or sitting on something very low behind No. 6. That is the number of the end boiler. I finally concluded that that drink I had had with him had knocked him out. I went back to work, at at 4 o'clock got ready to quit. I was relieved at that hour. Before leaving I said to Jett: 'Webster is lying back of No. 6.' Jett said nothing. Nor did I say any more to him." Tells of the Old Row. Asked who else was in the boiler room from 4 o'clock on, Barrett replied that there may not have been anybody there between 4 and 8 o'clock. "The watchman made his last round at 3 o'clock," said he. "The engineer sometimes drops in once or twice in those four hours, but he is not obliged to, and seldom does. He drops in oftener early in the night." Regarding the old quarrel between the two, Barrett said, "that occurred last spring in the street right in front of this brewery. Webster knocked Jett down with one blow of his fist. That was all there was to that, but it is well known about here that Jett never forgave nor forgot it, although he subsequently shook hands with Webster at Chesapeake Beach." The Wednesday after Webster disappeared, Barrett also dropped out of sight, but was found at his home. He reported that he was sick with chills and fever, and did not report for duty again until yesterday afternoon. De said the occurrences of Webster's last night at the brewery had absolutely nothing whatever to do with his absenting himself from work. On Sunday night, Jett committed suicide at his home, 627 Florence street northwest. He had left no note showing why he had planned to kill himself, but his family still suppose that he did so because he had been discharged from his employment. It was stated that the brewery that he was dismissed because on last Saturday afternoon he refused to work after quitting hour until another fireman came in to relieve him. Barrett's statement to Capt. Mulhall was more or less involuntary, and is generally credited. While officials of the brewery all ridicule the idea that the missing man was cremated in the furnace there, none denies that it could have occurred. The fires are never banked there except on Saturday night. All hours of the day and night, and particularly on toward 5 a.m., the hour for beginning of the day's work, the fires are kept raging. The boilers generally carry about 125 pounds of steam. They held that much last night as early as 9 o'clock, and more towards morning. Officials admitted that a human body might have been crammed into any one of the six furnaces by a strong man, and entirely cremated between 4 o'clock that morning, when Barrett left, and 8. The ashes of the dead would have been so mingled with the coal ashes that the difference could not have been detected by an ordinary process. The ashes of this brewery are all dumped on a lot only a few squares from the place. They are carried out every day, so that if Webster's is among them they are probably buried so deep that they can never be found. For all this, Webster may still be alive. Some time ago he spoke to his wife of quitting his work here and going to St. Louis, Mo., to accept a position his brother had promised to get him. It is certain that he had about $40 the morning he disappeared, and a few friends still cling to the hope that he availed of that opportunity to go there. His wife and mother both sent special delivery letters to his brother a few days after he went away, requesting him to let them know if Arthur appeared there. Neither has yet received a reply. Some of the men about the brewery also inclined to the belief that Webster went West. Joseph C. Carry, who was in charge of the brewery last night, invited the reporter to go through the place and talk with whomever he pleased about the case, and seemed anxious to see the mystery cleared up. The police say that Barrett's statement, though apparently truthful in every detail, is almost unsusceptible of proof. He alone, they say, really knows anything that bears directly on the point. Washington Post, Oct 1, 1912 The following day's newspaper contained an even longer article about the event, which by then was no longer a mystery. Two essential 'clews' had been developed: 1) blood stains on the bricks near the boiler, and 2) bone and tooth fragments raked from the ash pit at the brewery. Still unanswered in my mind, is why Webster frequented the brewery so late at night. It would seem he was simply a troublesome drunkard looking to get out of the house. Jett, on the other hand, was described as a quiet, friendly fellow. His friends report drastically altered behavior in the two weeks between the murder and his suicide - he was clearly very disturbed by the action that Webster provoked in him. After this tragedy, Albert Carry announced that the brewery would no longer be open for people to drop in and visit during the night. Navy Yard BreweryI live on E Street and recently discovered that this brewery used to be the Navy Yard Brewery owned by John Guethler as per this 1884 map. Brewhouse DesignBelow is a cross-section of a typical brewery of the era. The height of the brewery was dictated by the desire to harness gravity to do as much work as possible moving the liquids around. Although the plant did have a refrigeration unit, this was probably in one of the out-buildings, perhaps close to the smokestack since large steam engines would have powered the refrigeration. Considering the design below, the open windows at the peak of brewery would have been at the top of the stockhouse where the Baudelot cooler (or its equivalent) was located. This unit cooled the hot beer wort in preparation for fermentation. I imagine it was all a very aromatic operation. (click on diagram for larger version) National Capital Brewing CoMore here at pp. 108-112. New CarryAt least this solves the mystery of the "New Carry" at the theatre many slides ago, it was ice cream. [That was Carrie, not Carry. - Dave] I would have gotten away with it, too......if it hadn't been for those meddling kids and their talking Clydesdale! Antisocial SafewayI live two blocks from there. The Safeway where the brewery stood is among the worst grocery stores I have ever shopped at. But now this is no surprise. Clearly it's haunted and that's why the dairy products go sour by the time you get them home. Brewery AdJust curious about the source of that Brewery Ad. Washington Star? Thanks very much! [Washpost. - Dave] Grandmother and the CarrysMy grandmother Mildred Lithgow (1894-1990) used to tell of her best friend Louise Carry. Mildred was an only child and got along well with the large Carry family. Their families lived in an area called Philadelphia Row, which I guess was 12th and B, C or D Streets S.E. Louise would invite Mildred for outings to the Carrys' summer home in Suitland. The Carrys' groom would take them by carriage out Pennsylvania Avenue and stop and allow the horses a rest about half way up the hill. At their summer place, Red Gables, the kitchen had a large walk-in pantry with a beer tap. The children helped themselves to food and beer, as that was all there was to drink, and no one made a fuss. Mildred always fondly remembered the Carry family and the brewery and ice cream business. Hopefully some other stories will emerge. Shorpy has been a great discovery for me, growing up in Brookland. Thanks. Philadelphia RowPhiladelphia Row is in the 100 block (between A St. & Independence Ave.) of 11th street southeast, Washington D.C. The architectural style is patterned after the rowhouses of old Philadelphia. Charles Gefford built the row to comfort the homesickness of his wife for her native Philadelphia. Gefford teamed with builder Stephen Flanagan to construct the row of brick buildings in 1865-67. The potential destruction of Philadelphia Row during the freeway-building-craze of the 1960s is partly responsible for the formation of the Capitol Hill Historic District which has preserved much of the Victorian architecture of the neighborhood. View Larger Map The beer that built WashingtonAlbert Carry was my great-grandfather also; my grandmother was Louise ("Lou" or "Weesy") Carry, his youngest daughter. Capitol Hill was quite different at the turn of the last century, lots of green (in more ways than one), wonderful community teeming with work, new business, old businesses and people from all walks of life getting it done. My great-granddad ("Grospapa") came with coins in his pocket to help with the horses in a Cincinnati brewery and ended up the owner of one of the largest and most successful breweries in Washington, D.C. -- no inheritance, no handouts, just hard fair work for himself and those he hired. Many families along the Eastern Seaboard owe their start to Albert Carry, a German workaholic who knew a good product and appreciated those who helped him with the payback to become Americans. (The Gallery, D.C., Factories, Natl Photo)
Selznick Pictures: 1920
January 1920. Washington, D.C. "Selznick front, Thirteenth Street N.W." National Photo ... leader in the Art of Hair Dressing in America." The Washington salons of Hepner's Hair Emporium opened Jan 9, 1911. An image of ... this 1912 Shorpy Photo. Advertisement, Washington Post, Nov 5, 1913 New York       ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:59pm -

January 1920. Washington, D.C. "Selznick front, Thirteenth Street N.W." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. Hepner's Hair EmporiumWilliam Hepner: "the acknowledged leader in the Art of Hair Dressing in America." The Washington salons of Hepner's Hair Emporium opened Jan 9, 1911. An image of the original New York establishment of William Hepner's hair and skin salon was previously seen in this 1912 Shorpy Photo. Advertisement, Washington Post, Nov 5, 1913 New York       Washington       Atlantic City Special Display of the Latest Coiffeur Effects by William Hepner We are now showing in our windows a special display of the very latest coiffeurs, by William Hepner, the acknowledged leader in the Art of Hair Dressing in America. Every woman in Washington who keeps abreast of Fashion should see these new coiffeurs. Highest Quality Hair Goods All our hair goods are made from the finest quality of human hair, personally selected. Our experts make up the most attractive pieces, under the most sanitary conditions. Our great stock makes it possible for us to exactly match any shade of hair. We Offer Ideal Service in Scalp Treatment, Shampooing, Hair Dressing, Massage and Manicuring Here in our luxurious parlor, daft and cheerful workers, trained in our New York establishment, are ready to serve you. Special service in your own home when desired. Toupees made to order and fitted by experts. Hepner's Hair Emporium 525 13th St. 2 Doors Below F Select Pictures CorpSelect Pictures Corporation was not a happy place. It was created after future Paramount boss Adolph Zukor quietly bought half of Lewis Selznick's silent film company. Zukor apparently insisted on the title change, because he didn't want Selznick's name included. Zukor, however, cared more about his other film companies than for any Selznick, and in the production glut of 1923 let Select Pictures and Selznick go bankrupt. But Lewis's two college-age sons (Myron and David O.) learned. David of course would become a mogul to rival Zukor, while Myron, as talent agent, would avenge Zukor's treatment of their father. If you could run the interior shots of this business in the LOC's archive, it might be possible to tell if one of the workers was an 18-year-old David O. [I doubt any actual Selznicks worked here. - Dave] Who you gonna call?There seems to be a trans-dimensional portal forming around those two centre buildings. Tragedy awaitsThe actress Olive Thomas was soon to marry Mary Pickfords brother; and while on a trip to Paris with him died under mysterious circumstances. He was implicated in her death for a short time, but the truth of what happened has never been fully explained. Julius Garfinkle and Co. (Washingson~Paris)The company was established in 1905 and, by the 1930s, was the most fashionable ladies' store in Washington. The store was still in existence in the 1970s. They were located on the SE corner of F and 13th NW Streets. Quite a few dresses and accessories with the store label show up on EBay. Garfinkle's demiseI've always thought that the reason the store eventually went under is to be explained in an incident from my childhood. Once -- I must have been 2 or 3 -- my mother took me with her when she went shopping there. One of the salesladies commented on what a handsome grandson she had. My mother never set foot in the place again. Julius GarfinckelThe most interesting thing to me in this picture is the spelling of "Julius Garfinkle." At some time during his life, the great Washington retailer changed the spelling of his name from Garfinkle to Garfinckel. The store was always known as Garfinckel's during my lifetime. The flagship downtown store moved from 13th and F to the northwest corner of 14th and F in 1929. The building now houses offices and street-level retail. I give up.At first, I merely thought it was something wrong with the film. Then, I looked at the picture full size and realized that they were on display in not just one, but both of Garfinkle windows. They look like a bunch of haunted handkerchiefs that have come to life, and are saying "Boo" to all passing pedestrians. [Mold on the emulsion is responsible for the clothing display's alarming appearance. - Dave] Daft WorkersIn the Hepner's ad below it states "Here in our luxurious parlor, daft and cheerful workers" -- I believe the word should have been deft, not daft. Can you imagine a customer requesting one of Hepner's most daft workers to work on her hair? Garfinkle'sMy mother worked at Garfinkle's in the 1930s, and I remember her shopping there many times while I was growing up near DC. I'd have to wait around endlessly while she tried on dresses, but at least we ate lunch at the Hot Shoppe on 14th St, and went to the matinee at the Capitol or the Trans-Lux. Select PicturesThis was, according to news items in the old Washington Star, a booking and exhibitor relations office for the various movie theaters in the mid-Atlantic region. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Movies, Natl Photo)
Washington Winter: 1917
... January 1961 This reminds me of the scene in Washington on the evening before JFK was sworn in, in January 1961. I came down ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:18pm -

1917. The Capitol in the snow. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Shrouded MetaphorThe Capitol, our seat of government, shrouded in a mist as the spectre of a great war loomed on the horizon. Lovely Atmospherics!My title is my comment! BeautifulI'm studying US History in 8th grade and just learned about the Capitol Building! January 1961This reminds me of the scene in Washington on the evening before JFK was sworn in, in January 1961. I came down from New York by train to witness the inauguration with a buddy who was living in DC at the time. The entire East Coast was being inundated by a heavy 2-foot snowfall. When the train arrived at Union Station, traffic was at a virtual standstill and there were no cabs operating. Standing in front of the station, I was plotting my next move when a guy in a private car pulled up and asked where I was heading. I told him, "Way out to 15th and Connecticut." He said to hop in. Somehow he maneuvered his car out onto Pennsylvania Avenue and eventually we got to my destination after a very difficult drive. He at first refused any reward for his Good Samaritanship, but I insisted that he accept $10 for his trouble. He was obviously as much enthralled by the idea that John Kennedy was becoming the president as I was. GorgeousGorgeous shot; love the lamps and the way they frame the view. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Whitened Washington: 1918
Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Pennsylvania Avenue with snow." Everyone grab a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 5:30pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1918. "Pennsylvania Avenue with snow." Everyone grab a shovel and start digging! Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Deeper Than That TodayGood choice of photos for today, but that's nothing compared with what we are having today. Even the above ground sections of Metro rail shut down this afternoon because the snow was above the third rail. The trolleys in the photo were powered from a "plow" that contacted a hot rail in a slot under the street between the rails. They had problems in snow and ice, too. Heck, that's nothinYou shoulda been here for the blizzard of '09! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Streetcars)
Parting Glances: 1920
Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "729 12th St., Washington Times." Various shades of Twelfth Street. 8x6 inch glass negative, ... sense I suspect that the owner of 729 hired the same Washington housepainter that I did. Bicycle Brakes The bike leaning ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2023 - 3:25pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1920. "729 12th St., Washington Times." Various shades of Twelfth Street. 8x6 inch glass negative, National Photo Company Collection. View full size. Wall BetweenI would hazard a guess that there is a wall between the woman and young boy. If you follow the line between "painted" and "unpainted" you will see that the width between the windows is farther apart. Also the chimney above, and the two stores below suggest some sort of support wall that would have to go all the way up. MessengersBicycles, a motorcycle and a messenger office. Pure chance, or a cunning business plan? Cleveland MotorcycleThat's a production motorcycle from the Cleveland Motorcycle Co. Questions indeedIs that young blurry boy only wearing one roller skate? Is the other young child telling the headless phantom motorcycle rider to shush? Must say I love the "lace" and tassels on the Shade shop. Possible SlumlordAndrew Murray the builder doesn't take very good care of his property. Window on my WorldBuster Brown in the window above the deli seems to be looking at the motorcycle. Wondering if he is related to the woman in the window next to him, or if there is a wall between them and they are in different apartments. So many questions, so little timeAre the shutters seen on some of the buildings actually used? Or are they just decorative as are modern shutters are? Why don't the brick stone buildings have shutters? Is that some sort of prototype motorcycle? Are the people in the windows family members of the proprietors of the businesses below? Is the boy in front of the messenger service an employee? BTW, I just love photos like this; an honest and unfettered look into a past long gone. Ahead of the timesLike the bike propped against the building. Owner has his bars flipped and his seat laid back -- cutting edge! Tri-LevelWhat a mesmerizing photo; one can conjure up at least three scenarios that fit what we see here. The pride of the gentleman inside the Builder's office watching his son leave; the parting of two friends (or lovers); is the rider embarking on a grand adventure; who is the rider, really? The more you look the deeper the stories become. Olde photos are magic. Ghost RiderTenants checking out the ghost on the motorcyle seems to be the most likely scenario. The Phantom PhootSo what's that disembodied upside-down foot above the third floor windows of #731? Taken for a ride in another senseI suspect that the owner of 729 hired the same Washington housepainter that I did. Bicycle BrakesThe bike leaning against the Murray/McGregor office shows no evidence of brakes, coaster or hand. When did bicycles begin to have braking systems (other than putting your feet down)?....some Shorpyite out there knows..... King Cola, the Royal DrinkNot much you can find about this brand, except that it was sued to death by the Coca-Cola Company for its use of the word "cola." How did Pepsi ever survive the same predicament? [The defendant's sin was not the use of the word "cola" but rather its Spencerian-script logo (below), which was a frank imitation of the Coca-Cola trademark. Coca-Cola's legal blitzkrieg also took aim at Koke, Cold-Cola, Koca-Nola and Ko-Kola. - Dave] Dividing lineI love that only half of the building has been freshly painted. The other half - the builder's half does not instill confidence in his work. Looks like the kid on one roller skate leaped from his ghost position to where he is now. Boys and bikesYou can tell by his blurry foot that the driver is kickstarting his bike. This is an activity that always attracts kids. There's something irresistible about the roar of the engine. The little boy standing behind the bike is thinking, "Someday I'm gonna get me one of those..." I've seen this happen a million times. My Side versus Your SideIt is pretty clear that the owners of 729 and 731 have a different philosophy of exterior maintenance. What a geometrically precise paint line between them. One SkateI bet the other roller skate is on the ghost of a kid spinning just on front of the steps. The rider is a blur because he's trying to kick start the bike. Upstairs grumpy, and the two men are much more interested in the photographer. These are really neat old photos, I'm glad I found the web site. Honesty of Purpose Washington Post, April 8, 1911. Special Notices Announcement. The family of the late John McGregor, builder, of 729 Twelfth street northwest, desire to inform the public that the business will be carried on by his successor, Mr. Andrew Murray, who has been with Mr. McGregor for the past thirteen years. They trust that the same patronage extended to the late Mr. McGregror will continue to be shown to Mr. Murray. In reference to the above, I hope, by strict attention to business and the same honesty of purpose that characterized Mr. McGregror's work, to merit the confidence and patronage of his friends and the public generally. Respectfully, Andrew Murray, 729 Twelfth street northwest. Shannon & LuchsHoly cow! The Shannon & Luchs For Sale sign on 731 caught my eye. They were the dominant real estate company in Fairfax County, Virginia, when I was growing up there in the 1980s and '90s. I still remember their radio jingle: "It takes more than luck / it takes Shannon & Luchs." I had no idea they had this long a history. They seem to have been acquired by Polinger in 1993, but I know they were still going by the S&L name at least until the late '90s. Cleveland motorcycleThe motorcycle in the photo is a Cleveland A2, which was manufactured by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company, located in the Ohio city of the same name between 1915 and 1925. The A2 was powered by a 220cc two-stroke engine mounted transversely in the frame, with a worm drive to power the countershaft sprocket for final chain drive. The shaft exited the two-speed gearbox and extended past the rear downtube to drive the the magneto, hung just forward of the rear wheel. In 1920 the A2 grew larger, adding footboards, incorporated fuel/oil tank and wider fenders. The weight increased in 1921 with a larger fuel/oil tank and seat and a battery. To offset the additional weight, engine capacity was increased to 270cc. In 1923 a sportier model was offered - the Model E, which featured a battery and electric lights. Although the Cleveland looked flimsy compared to the big V-twins offered by other US manufacturers, their light weight (68 kg) and moderate power (3.5 bhp and 30 mph top speed) combined for easy riding. The main market of the A2 were students, women and businesses who employed couriers and light delivery riders. The low price ($150) was cheaper than comparative bikes offered by other manufacturers. The A2 was replaced in 1925 by the 350cc Model F. (The Gallery, Bicycles, D.C., Motorcycles, Natl Photo, Stores & Markets)
Whiskey Wine Brandy Gin: 1939
... but I wasn't able to find anything on it myself. 32 Washington Avenue The Minnesota Historical Society has Hughes Drugs at 32 Washington Avenue South. It was housed in a block of buildings which contained ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/14/2011 - 6:13pm -

September 1939. "Liquor store in Gateway District, Minneapolis." 35mm negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. MotorolaThe antenna: re: MotorolaThank you! I posted the photos on a classic car forum and someone speculated that it might be a Motorola, but I wasn't able to find anything on it myself. 32 Washington AvenueThe Minnesota Historical Society has Hughes Drugs at 32 Washington Avenue South. It was housed in a block of buildings which contained several addresses on the east side of Washington. [The address here is, as we can see, 38. Stores move, or can have more than one location. - Dave] MercBrand spankin' new '39 Mercury sitting front and center. First year for the new marque. 1939-2011 RIP September 1939It was the worst month in modern history of my country (Poland). However, nice to see such a pretty place, at the same time, but other side of the ocean. And this car, I always thaught, that body is postwar style. Not just a while before the WW II. Merc gizmoSo what is this? I speculated that it was a flashy antenna, but a cursory Google search didn't come up with anything like it. Merely decorative? Whatever, I love it. "Chicago Service"What is it? Blimey!Whiskey, wine, brandy, trusses, rubber goods AND cut-price drugs? Drugs, Booze ...What! No gambling? At least you can buy a truss. Today this enterprise would be run by the Government. HandsomeI can see where my PV 544 got his good looks. This could be the Toad's grandfather. HmmI wonder what they sell at this store? I'm kidding! Great photo -- I especially like seeing the film perforations. Drugs, trusses, rubber goodsOne-stop shopping! LettersSome signpainter was in business for a while after that job! Chicago ServiceDoes the cafe feature surly waiters? Or is that called "New York service"? Chicago ServiceThe regular daily train between Minneapolis and Chicago ran to a station just along here, which may be the origin of the cafeteria's name. Merc gizmo foundI finally found a match for the "gizmo" on the Mercury's roof. It is indeed a radio antenna, and here's another one on a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr. Maybe it was a Ford product. What an incredibly cool thing. [I just knew TT would find this. Several commenters opined the gizmo was a "scratch on the negative" (which would have been black lines, not white) or part of the sign behind the car. - Dave] Positively Second StreetAs best as I can tell, these addresses were on the northeast side of South Second Street (a block south of the Great Northern Railway station, which was at the foot of Hennepin Avenue). Vachon, a St. Paul native, would have known the area well. In the 1950s, as scorched-earth urban renewal was on its way for the Gateway, young University of Minnesota sociology students, led by Theodore Caplow, conducted groundbreaking field research in this area on the thousands who called the Gateway's cage hotels, missions and alleys their home. This spot is now on Gateway Greenway, a one-block auto-free path. Motorola AntennaHere's another, more elaborate version of the antenna on a '38 Plymouth in a photo taken in summer 2010. IgnoredThe antennaless car behind the Mercury is a 1939 Chevrolet that has an accessory hood ornament. This was the last year that you could obtain a rear mounted spare tire on a Chevy until the availability of "continental kits" in the 1950s. Chevrolet discontinued these last car models without modern trunks early in the model year. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Verified Lubrication: 1939
1939. "Service station in Washington, D.C." Continuing today's Essorama. 35mm nitrate negative by David ... his first restaurant, the “Sea Grill”, in downtown Washington, D.C. at 1207 E Street, N.W. in 1922." Molasses in January I ... grille of the '34s and the body resembled the 1936s. Washington Garage Filling Station Washington Post, September 24, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/27/2013 - 6:06pm -

1939. "Service station in Washington, D.C." Continuing today's Essorama. 35mm nitrate negative by David Myers. View full size. Sardine parkingMy assumption is that the customers did not park their own cars (just imagine what that would have been like), but that attendants jockeyed them around in order to cram as many in as possible. They would by management decree therefore be mindful of not dinging adjoining doors. UnexcelledI come for the parking, but I stay for the greasing! Something bigSeems to me most of those cars are jammed in there because something's going on nearby. The two women with the bags to the right of the pump jockies appear to be wrapping up a shopping trip. That 25 cents parking fee is a little over four bucks today. I parked on Wisconsin Avenue in D.C. a few weeks ago and it was a lot more than that! Looks Like a Toy From this AngleLooks like one of those tin lithograph service station toys with a really fabulous collection of toy cars. I want one. Door DingsImagine the door divots those big old swinging slabs of steel could make. My wife complains because I park the ol' Ford at the back of the Piggly Wiggly parking lot to avoid door dings from suburbanites in SUVs. She's in a snit because she has to walk a few extra yards to get her hummus and meatless meatballs or whatever nonsense she's feeding me these days. O'Donnell's Sea GrillFrom their website, "The O’Donnell’s story began over three quarter centuries ago when Tom O’Donnell opened his first restaurant, the “Sea Grill”, in downtown Washington, D.C. at 1207 E Street, N.W. in 1922." Molasses in JanuaryI wonder if those seven oil pump dispensers between the gas pumps are there year-round? I'd hate to be the grease monkey who has to pump four quarts of 90-weight when the temperature dips into the single digits as it can do in D.C.! As the saying goes, Slower 'n molasses in January! The location today and about that beerView Larger Map Also Senate Beer was brewed on land that now is part of the Kennedy Center and includes the Watergate Complex. Yeah that Watergate. Parking 25 centsGetting your car out from the back row -- $10!!! OnceI went to a filling station that didn't verify I was lubed properly -- once. Amazing how new all those cars areThe oldest one I see is the '30-'31 Ford. Rumble seat eraI suspect a few of these cars would have had rumble seats, probably the roadsters and coupes, because that would have been the likely time period. My older cousin had a hot rod about this vintage in which he would often take my sibs and me for a ride and that exterior seat was great fun for youngsters (up and down the very steepest hills of Ct.) although it probably wasn't so safe. Senate Beer & AleSenate was brewed in D.C. since the Civil War by the Christian Heurich Brewing Company. They survived Prohibition, but not their big national competitors like Pabst, Schlitz and Budweiser. They closed their doors in 1956. A rare early Esso signthat neon sign with the older type lettering is a real collectors item today. Verified LubricationYou know a joint is on the up and up if they verify the lubrication. It almost makes me want to go back in time to 1930s D.C. to find out exactly what that means. Verified lubricationis when you pump so much lube into the fitting that the boot ruptures and grease leaks down on the floor. Verified means . . . According to an ad in a 1951 edition of the Biloxi Daily Herald, "Standard VERIFIED Lubrication is a thorough, scientific lubrication procedure that gets the RIGHT amount of the RIGHT lubricant at the RIGHT place." It is "more than a 'grease job.'" Presumably, it also involves somebody verifying something, although you can't see that from the advertising copy. Suicide doors everywhere!It's amazing how many of the cars in this picture have rear-hinged "suicide doors" - not just for the rear doors of four-door sedans, but also the two-door coupe in front of the small hut. Two-door coupeThe two-door coupe in front of the small hut is a 1935 Chevrolet Master Coupe. 1935 was the only year that Chevrolets had rear hinged front doors, and it was only on the Master series. The Standard model had conventional front hinged doors and the styling was almost identical the 1934 models. The Masters had the front grille of the '34s and the body resembled the 1936s. Washington Garage Filling Station Washington Post, September 24, 1933. Washington Garage Firm Acquires Holdings. Washington Garage Parking Service is increasing its downtown parking space in the block bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and E streets northwest. It has leased for an indefinite period from C. Heurich, jr., Realty Co., 23,000 square feet of property in the block with frontages of 170 feet on Pennsylvania avenue and about 30 on Twelfth street. … The additional leases, according to company officials, will give it the largest parking lot in the South. They will continue to operate the garage service which caters to downtown hotel business. The company also operates a standard automobile service station at Twelfth and E streets northwest. C. Heurich, jr., Realty Co.That probably explains the Senate Beer billboard. Christian Heurich bought a great deal of land in Washington, DC and to this day various members of the family hold real estate throughout the city. Incidentally, his grandson Gary brought the brand back in the 80's as a microbrew. I still have a 6-pack. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., David Myers, Gas Stations)
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