Circa 1905. "Eastman Kodak Co., State Street factory and main office. Rochester, New York." Future home of the late lamented Kodachrome. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Washington, D.C., 1914. "Frank Mischa, sculptor." Co-star in a sort of meta-diorama. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1910. "Georgetown University football team, Healy Hall." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

1919. Washington, D.C., or vicinity. "Girl Scouts. Farmerette harvesting crops." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., 1919. "Snelling Motor Co., interior." Two used American Sixes. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1920. "Woodstock Apartments." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1915, another look at Main Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. Where the Shoe Hospital and Five Cents Savings Bank are mere steps apart. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Fall River, Massachusetts, circa 1920. "Main Street." Where Hustle meets Bustle. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1912. "Baltimore from the Emerson tower." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

January 1911. South Pittston, Pa. "Arthur Havard, a young (mule) driver. Shaft #6. Pennsylvania Coal Co." Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size.

As the world enters a new year and a new decade, I'm posed at the entry to our property in Larkspur, looking very small, appropriately enough. Later that year, I'll enter high school where I'll feel really small. But here, my home turf provides familiarity and a refuge from the looming uncertainties of the larger world Out There. The temperate Northern California winter has coaxed the daffodils, narcissus, sweet alyssum and flowering quince into bloom.

At the time, ours was the only house on our street, on which I'm standing; it was actually a concrete stairway. It lent its name to my sometimes-weekly newspaper, The Arch Street News. Though officially part of the town I'd incorporated our yard into, the front walk didn't have a name; other paths had such imaginative designations as "Garage Ave." and "Compost Rd." I appointed myself City Manager; Father held the ceremonial office of Mayor but, revealingly, Mother was Chief of Police.

Kodacolor negative by my brother. View full size.

January 1920. Washington, D.C. "Selznick front, Thirteenth Street N.W." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Washington, D.C., circa 1926. "Four Wheel Drive Auto Co., H Street N.E." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size.

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1910. "Woodward Avenue in winter attire." Rising in front of the church is one of the city's arc-lamp "moonlight towers." View full size.

Binghamton, New York, circa 1905. "Security Mutual Life Insurance building." Rising amid a web of wires. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size.