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French Quarter: 1956
Kodachrome taken by my dad in New Orleans in February 1956. View full size. Royal St and St Ann ... your picture, thanks!!! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by rsyung - 05/09/2014 - 10:54pm -

Kodachrome taken by my dad in New Orleans in February 1956. View full size. Royal St and St AnnLooking into the window of what is now a restaurant. View Larger Map Regal BeerCheap party beer in the late 60's early 70's. A case could be had for around $10. Left to Right'55 Chrysler, '49 Chevy, '53 or '54 Chevy, '48-'49 Cadillac, '53 Buick Super, '56 Buick Special, '53-'54 Chevy. Print of this photoHi - I would like to purchase a print of this photo. How can I do that? Thanks! [You can send a message to the member who submitted this photo by clicking on their name ("rysung") above the photo and then the Contact tab on their profile page. -tterrace] French Quarter: 1956 PictureHi @rsyung- I am looking for a copy of this picture, but your profile info is private. Can you please let me know how I can get a copy of your picture, thanks!!! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, New Orleans)
Hanging Out: 1937
New Orleans circa 1937. "1133-1135 Chartres Street." Laundry day in the ... hospitality 1133 Chartres (pronounced "charters" in New Orleans) St. is now the Soniat House hotel. Say "Cheesy" ... wasn't shot on location). (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 4:36pm -

New Orleans circa 1937. "1133-1135 Chartres Street." Laundry day in the Quarter. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Southern hospitality1133 Chartres (pronounced "charters" in New Orleans) St. is now the Soniat House hotel. Say "Cheesy"All trying to pose nonchalantly and not really succeeding. Also, none of them looking directly at the camera. One wonders if this was what the photographer wanted. Finally, there seems to be a definite demarcation between the sexes! Also known asRed Beans and Rice day. That's Monday to the rest of the world. BonjourMes chers amis. Laissez rouler les bon temps. The Kindness of StrangersSorry, it's impossible for me to look at these back door French Quarter pics and not think of "Streetcar." They must have built the sets from these stills. (If it wasn't shot on location). (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans)
Glad-U-Kum: 1910
April 1910. "Scottish Rite Cathedral, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... this was located in the famous Red Light district of New Orleans, Storyville. Red Light District Not quite. It's in the ... the Scottish Rite Temple in 1906. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 3:41pm -

April 1910. "Scottish Rite Cathedral, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Still activeLocated at 619 Carondelet Street, this building is still home to an active Scottish Rite body. Looks like the Shriners were meeting there in 1910. Still thereLooks pretty good for its age too. Stained glass window here. Greek ArchitectureLove the Ionic Order style of the capitals. Nice details on the cornice too. Glad-U-KumI'm assuming this was located in the famous Red Light district of New Orleans, Storyville. Red Light DistrictNot quite. It's in the Central Business District, a few blocks from the French Quarter. "The nickname Storyville was in reference to city alderman Sidney Story, who wrote the legislation setting up the district. It was bounded by Iberville, Basin, St. Louis, and N. Robertson streets. Most of this former district is now occupied by the Iberville Housing Projects, two blocks inland from the French Quarter." http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Storyville Transom?I'm glad to see the building is still there and the largest part of the stained-glass window is still intact, but I wonder why they would have taken out the transom! Ancestral home of First United Methodist ChurchThe structure was built in 1851, originally as the Carondelet Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes called "the Edward McGehee Church" in honor of Judge Edward McGehee, who donated the land and most of the funding to build it. The structure became the Scottish Rite Temple in 1906. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans)
Liberty Street: 1937
New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1937. "Liberty Street cottages." 8x10 inch ... blighted ones too. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Kids, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 3:53pm -

New Orleans, Louisiana, circa 1937. "Liberty Street cottages." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Under the bridgeIf 1010 Liberty still exists, it would just about be under the Pontchartrain Expressway. Shoe renewalNewly white, drying in the sun. Step to Rocking ChairEvery time I see small children in these photographs, it make me wish I could have had a nice long talk with the elderly person that child turned out to be. My grandfather died 27 years ago and was born about the time this kid was. What's in a name?When I close my eyes and envision a "cottage", this ain't it. I do like the wrought iron fence detail to the left, though. That's a healthy home!Having plenty of "Three Sixes," they never had to worry about colds or malaria. Ad nauseam: 666All you'd ever want to know about the 666 brand, here, here, here and here. (Scroll down to the comments.) Empty Shoes #5This may be really silly but I have been keeping track of the Johnston photos with orphan shoes. So far: 1. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8628?size=_original 2. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8615?size=_original 3. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8586?size=_original 4. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8559?size=_original (?) 5. https://www.shorpy.com/node/8783?size=_original Aye, 'tis a tough job, but somebody has to do it. He is only 73 years oldThis lonely little fellow could very well still be among us and wouldn't it be amazing if he could reveal himself? After the detective work done by all the viewers of tterrace's advertising photo (which ended up solving ALL the mysteries therein), I'm convinced that the intelligentsia of Shorpy fans can research and find out anything they put their minds to. This is a great photo, very inspirational potential for writing a little story. Thank you Shorpy for giving me a hobby. [Math check: More like 75. - Dave] Treme StreetThis was on North Liberty, which was renamed Treme Street. This corner is now vacant, and I think this Creole cottage is gone too. The building with the dormer was a church, now in horrible condition. I think it is due for renovation though. The house right next to it is very nice, and there are many great buildings nearby. Too many blighted ones too. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Kids, New Orleans)
Nite Club: 1938
... by the Jackson Brewing Company near Jackson Square in New Orleans. The bottles each had a joke or riddle printed under the cap. The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/04/2008 - 8:59am -

October 1938. "Porch of small Negro store near Jeanerette, Louisiana." 35mm negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Strong MedicineThe triple 6 brand has been around a long time, manufactured Florida's own Monticello Drug Company, now a division of Lee Pharmaceuticals. http://deuceofclubs.com/write/666.htm Two asides: Jax was a beer made in Louisiana The store behind them was Colored Only? [The sign says NITE CLUB Colored Only - Dave] Jax JokesJax beer was brewed by the Jackson Brewing Company near Jackson Square in New Orleans. The bottles each had a joke or riddle printed under the cap. The jokes weren't very funny - sort of like the Palooka Joe comics on bubblegum wrappers back in the day. Goober Pea 666My eye was drawn too to the 666. I spent a few hours just recently online finding out what this sign meant. Flannery O'Connor mentions a motorist seeing it on a Southern highway in "Wise Blood." And so it is by coincidence that I find out what she was referring to. Six Sixty SixThanks for the link to deuceofclubs and the info on 666 products. I had no idea such a thing existed. The site mentioned that 666 items can be found out west, but what about other parts of the country? If 666 cough medicine were on sale in the bigger college towns here on the East Coast, Monticello Drugs would be as big as Dr. Bronner's within three years. JaxWell, since we're on the subject, who else remembers the Jax Beer commercials done by Mike Nichols and Elaine May? "Jax! The beal jeer!" “Bartender, are you making fun of me?” I suppose it's fitting that some of our most vividly imprinted memories are of the commercials of our youth. Little GirlNote the little girl on the far right. SO adorable! Jax Beer CommercialsI loved them and wish I could get a copy. On our 4,548 mile road trip my 6-year-old grandson bought a beer in Idaho and named him Jaxie. Well that brought it up and I went through about five of them. At the end of the trip he was saying "rrr..rrr...rrr...Coolidge?" [Eh? Six years old? "Coolidge"?? Below: Commercials. - Dave] Goldcrest BeerThe box on top of the Jax is Goldcrest Beer, made by the Tennessee Brewery in Memphis. Went out of business in 1954. (The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Lane Mill: 1913
November 1913. New Orleans, Louisiana. "Group of workers in Lane Cotton Mill showing the youngest workers and typical of conditions in New Orleans. Violations of the law are rare." Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. ... in our family. Lane Cotton Mill I found a local (New Orleans) history column about the Mill. It lasted almost 100 years. Not ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/13/2012 - 3:43pm -

November 1913. New Orleans, Louisiana. "Group of workers in Lane Cotton Mill showing the youngest workers and typical of conditions in New Orleans. Violations of the law are rare." Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. American HistoryAgain, those young people look like they're having a good time. Those 1913 children and teenagers seem content with their lot. Very few of their peers probably objected. Just about nobody in their "crowd" went to or graduated from high school anyway. If one's parents hadn't finished high school it was a good bet they wouldn't either. Let's us give Lewis Hine his due, he did publicize their plight. Again, I remember historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's book "No Ordinary Times," in which she wrote that less than 25 percent of WWII draftees had finished high school. When that war ended, the US Congress, in order to keep the multi-millions of servicemen out of the labor market, passed a bill then referred to as the "GI Bill of Rights." Instead of becoming a stalling mechanism it became the great equalizer. It allowed millions of returning GIs to finish high school or go to college. This created a middle class that became the envy of the world. [The point Hine is making in this caption is that none of these kids was underage. - Dave] I understand that. My point is that these young people didn't have a shot at continuing their education. Those few dollars that they earned were needed at home. How young could you be?If none of these kids were underage, what was the minimum age at that time for mill work? Those boys in front seem 11-14 years old, tops. And like most kids everywhere, they do seem to be enjoying the photo op. [14 was the minimum age for mill work in Louisiana and several other states as of 1912. See this contemporary report. - tterrace] 14, and aging fastAround 1900, my step great grandfather was a subject in his mothers divorce. the decree stated that she would be responsible for his care until he reached the age of 14. A month after his birthday, his step father ordered him from the farm, as he was deemed "to light-weight to do farm work". Eventually he joined our family and provided shelter and sometimes food to many in our family. Lane Cotton MillI found a local (New Orleans) history column about the Mill. It lasted almost 100 years. Not bad. LaborLike just about everything else you could do, working in a cotton mill looks a lot more pleasant than working in a coal mine (goin' down, down, down...) They all look relatively happy and neatly dressed compared to some of the child labor seen here. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine, New Orleans)
Proteus: 1903
March 23, 1903. "S.S. Proteus . High water at New Orleans levee." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing ... I've encountered. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 4:40pm -

March 23, 1903. "S.S. Proteus. High water at New Orleans levee." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. S.S.Proteus FateProteus was lost in a collision off Cape Hatteras during WW1 LoadedI sure hope this is a picture of the Proteus unloading because sending those barrels and crates down that 45 degree ramp could be fun. Pushing those crates and barrels up such a steep ramp, not so much. I do see one rope set up for hoisting objects and people inside the ship for guiding it in the hatch. But mostly I see people pushing. No cranes to load this thing at all. This End UpI'm guessing those crated Singer Sewing Machines on the right were topheavy, considering nearly all of them are stacked upside-down. Funnely enoughIt wouldnt be much fun painting the funnel with soot from the boilers raining down all over you. Web of WiresWith utility poles of 11 crossarms and ten wires on each this NOLA (and the recent prior) waterfront scene must be a near-record for that sort of thing on Shorpy. If that's the old Jax Brewery in the background far left, then this isn't too far from where one of the tourist riverboats was docking in Aug 1985. After our group had eaten in one of the Jax establishments we arrived back at the nearby parking lot just it time to get blasted by its whistle/siren. Short of jet engines at airshows it was about the loudest sound I've encountered. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
Raft Warehouse: 1943
March 1943. "New Orleans, Louisiana. Loading a rubber raft onto a truck at the terminal of ... the war, especially as used on the Higgins built there in New Orleans. Canvas float I believe that is a Carley float --a kapok or ... a lot less comfortable over time. War Production New Orleans was a major center of war production in WWII including Higgins ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/20/2019 - 11:38am -

March 1943. "New Orleans, Louisiana. Loading a rubber raft onto a truck at the terminal of Associated Transport Company." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. "Do Not Paint"Well that explains why those things always looked so scruffy. I'm reading the book "Unbroken"about three downed B-24 fliers (eventually two) who floated in the Pacific for 47 days before being captured by the Japanese. They constantly had to fend off shark attacks. That raft with the floor suspended by ropes is for sharks, similar to browsing the butcher shop meat case. I doubt it was very popular with shipwreck survivors. 180,000At least that many Camel cigarettes. We see 3 stacks by 6 crates high = 18 x 10,000 cigs per crate. 500 PKGS CAMEL 20'sAt least they'll have plenty of cigs on the raft. (Now where's that dry match?) Smokes but no fireThat's a serious amount of cigarettes, in some serious crates back there - 500 packs of 20 smokes each! Probably a common raftbut it closely resembles the type used on PT Boats in the war, especially as used on the Higgins built there in New Orleans. Canvas floatI believe that is a Carley float --a kapok or cork ring covered with canvas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carley_float More on the raftI didn't know this before but looking at the raft in particular in detail made me do some research. Evidently the type is made from Balsa wood wrapped in canvas. It has a wood floor that suspends from the ropes. I supposed that's a bit more stable than the inflatable type though probably a lot less comfortable over time. War ProductionNew Orleans was a major center of war production in WWII including Higgins Boats landing craft and on the South Bank at Avondale, tug boats, destroyers and destroyer escorts. Perhaps the life rafts are headed for new ships under construction and the Camels to a more immediate use. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, John Vachon, New Orleans)
Angola Prison Farm: 1910
... can be seen at his grave memorial in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. The captain of the steamer on this day is my great grandfather Sam ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 2:31pm -

Louisiana circa 1910. "Sternwheeler America at Angola Landing, State Penitentiary farm, Mississippi River." 8x10 glass negative. View full size. Strapped onSo much to see here in this image. I love the buggy strapped to the front railing. Is this being transported or is this the Captain's mode of travel when dockside? The antlers on the ship's bell are a quirky touch. That is a lot of lumber and merchandise on and around the America. Come on lads, only 4 tons to go. EscapeI wonder how many attempted to escape over the years by simply getting someone on the dock to exchange clothes (willingly or unwillingly) and then casually boarding the steamer. O Brother, Where Art Thou?"Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?" State IssueI see only a few men with prison stripes. Most of them, including several who are actually working, are in street clothes and therefore unlikely to be actual Guests of the State. The other thing missing: any form of weaponry. I'd expect to see at least a few fellows standing guard over their charges, shotgun or rifle at the ready, a la "Cool Hand Luke." The AntlersAccording to the captain of the Delta Queen when I had the privilege of riding her on the Mississippi years ago, antlers were the traditional prerogative of the fastest vessel on the river (according to some arranged speed contest). And how about those two powerful searchlights on the bow? Re: The AntlersTrophy antlers are also seen on the river steamer Hoppin' Tom Dodsworth: Duquesne Incline: 1900. Coals to NewcastleEnormous cargo on the America but also there are two additional loads of wood on the barges on the left. Maybe there's a major construction project going on at the prison farm? Note the hogging trusses keeping the wooden barges from deforming under their loads. This must have been a common feature on Southern barges in this time frame because we've seen it before on Shorpy. The America is very ornate. Note the carving on top of the wheelhouse -- is it the Capitol dome? There's also Victorian gingerbread along the superstructure decks and ironwork on top of the funnels. Unlike some of the steamboats in photos of this period, she seems well maintained. CargoIt appears to me that the convicts are loading, not unloading, the America. I was thinking perhaps convicts worked in prison sawmills instead of stamping license plates back then. Steamer AmericaThis sternwheeler is the steamer America. It was owned by Captain LeVerrier Cooley. The bell at the front of this boat can be seen at his grave memorial in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans. The captain of the steamer on this day is my great grandfather Sam Cotton who is the portly gentlemen you see leaning halfway out of the pilot house. Pain and PerseveranceI work with my hands everyday. I can't imagine stevedoring raw lumber bare-handed. Perhaps the men work slowly and carefully together, mindful of each movement's ramifications. But, inevitably, their ungloved hands must be torn up (splinters, abrasions, chapping, cracking, blisters, reactive arthritis, tendonitis, fissures.) My fingertips burn just thinking about it. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC)
The Sentinel: 1942
New Orleans, July 1942. "Coast Guardsman standing watch over 78-foot torpedo ... signaling. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Howard Hollem, New Orleans, WW2) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 4:43pm -

New Orleans, July 1942. "Coast Guardsman standing watch over 78-foot torpedo boat. Continual watch is kept. Higgins Industries Inc." View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Howard Hollem for the Office of War Information. Higgins Torpedo BoatsBetter known as PT Boats. As in PT-109 and McHale's Navy. Sidearm by a strong armWhat composition, what contrast, what a subject. My XX chromosomes are signaling. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Howard Hollem, New Orleans, WW2)
Dufilho Pharmacy: 1936
New Orleans circa 1936. "Dufilho Pharmacy, 512 Chartres St." Plus bills of the ... Prescriptions filled elsewhere. It's now the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. View Larger Map Surprised ... see that this building still exists! Even knowing how well New Orleans hangs onto these vintage structures, it was in such rough shape 76 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/04/2012 - 1:12pm -

New Orleans circa 1936. "Dufilho Pharmacy, 512 Chartres St." Plus bills of the hand- and -board variety. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. more on EllaThere was also a famous movie based on the strip, starring Colleen Moore. 666 Colds FeverSounds kind of ominous. Think I'll just tough it out without the medicine, thank you. Ella Cinders!I was not familiar with Ella Cinders. It appears she was a long running syndicated comic strip. Famous enough to be hawking oil. Federal Theatre PosterThe WPA poster on the derelict building announces a production of the WPA Federal Theatre Playhouse at 2301 Tulane Avenue. "Art and Mrs. Bottle" was first produced in London in 1929, and in New York in 1930, starring Jane Cowl and the young Katherine Hepburn. Its author, I was surprised to find, was Benn Wolfe Levy (1900-1973), a British playwright who was married to the American actress Constance Cummings, and who later served in the House of Commons from 1945 to 1950 as the Labour Party Member for Eton and Slough. The Federal Theatre project also produced his 1932 comedy "The Devil Passes." [Poster available here. - Dave] Prescriptions filled elsewhere.It's now the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. View Larger Map SurprisedI was shocked to see that this building still exists! Even knowing how well New Orleans hangs onto these vintage structures, it was in such rough shape 76 years ago that I was sure it had been razed by now. Looks like a great restoration. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans, Stores & Markets)
The Old Basin: 1906
New Orleans circa 1906. "Charcoal lugger in the Old Basin." 8x10 inch dry plate ... (1861-1934) in 1891, for J.L. Mestier & Company of New Orleans. The Mabel E. Judlin was 67 feet long, had a beam of 22 feet, ... Her sails were constructed by A. Gerdes & Brother of New Orleans. (The Biloxi Herald, May 2, 1891, p. 4, c. 2) The Mabel E. Judland ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 10:49am -

New Orleans circa 1906. "Charcoal lugger in the Old Basin." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. That's MY CigarThat kid kneeling on the right looks he really wants that cigar. Either that, or he just had it taken from him. Schr. Mabel E. Judlin from A History of Vancleave, Mississippi, by Ray L. Bellande. Miss Mabel Judlin was the namesake of another trading schooner, the Mabel E. Judlin. This vessel was constructed at Handsboro by Matteo Martinolich (1861-1934) in 1891, for J.L. Mestier & Company of New Orleans. The Mabel E. Judlin was 67 feet long, had a beam of 22 feet, and hold depth of 4 feet. Her sails were constructed by A. Gerdes & Brother of New Orleans. (The Biloxi Herald, May 2, 1891, p. 4, c. 2) The Mabel E. Judland (sic) was reputed to be the fastest schooner in the entire Gulf and Caribbean. She hauled charcoal from the banks of Bluff Creek when owned by James E. Lockard (1862-1951) of Vancleave. The fledging United Fruit Company used the Mabel E. Judland (sic) as a model for their shallow draft fruit boats. (Down South, July-August 1960, p. 9) What Catches My EyeThe schooner Mabel E Judlin is hardly the elegant sort of craft that Canadians think of when we think of schooners. The Bluenose would turn up her nose at this example of the type. What really catches my eye about this photo is the fellow, who can't be too far into his teens if he's even made it that far, with the sack over his back and his cigar at a jaunty angle. Looks like he could whup his weight in wildcats and not disturb the ash from that stogie. What's in a name?I'm still not sure if the lugger referred to pertains just to the boat or to the kid with the burlap sack. [The charcoal (and oyster) luggers are the boats. - Dave] (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
Crate and Barrel: 1906
Circa 1906. "Dock conveyors, New Orleans." On the waterfront along the Mississippi. 8x10 inch glass ... Since Morgan operated a service between Havana and New Orleans at the time this photograph was taken, I suspect the contents of ... offend Temperance. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 2:01pm -

Circa 1906. "Dock conveyors, New Orleans." On the waterfront along the Mississippi. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. I'm just dying to knowWhat's in those crates and barrels! Any guesses? Machine Age at the docksWas impressed to note the labor saving conveyor belt moving those hand trucks efficiently along. Comparing the motion blur of people versus belt, that thing offered very little opportunity to rest one's back. Pretty nifty hoist assembly up above as well. Wonder how that worked? Gotta love those gears. Those barrels do look provocative, don't they? DetailsI noticed the conveyor also, I wonder what powers it? It appears that they are offloading the ship and the conveyor must be capable of running either direction. The man walking parallel to the conveyor (away from ship) has something stuck in his belt. It's not a radio and too large to be the butt of a pistol? [It's the handle of a longshoreman's hook. - Dave] Re: I'm just dying to knowIf this were an episode of The Simpsons, all those crates and barrels would be filled to the brim with hot pants. Fancy ApronThe hoist mentioned below, with all the pulleys, is not for handling cargo. The boom on the ship, with its base on the deck-house and its attendant lines rigged to the mast is doing that. Ships of this era were fully capable of loading and unloading themselves in even the most undeveloped port. The hoist raises and lowers the outboard ends of two aprons fixed to the pier. Thus the aprons (ramps) could be adjusted to any deck height or tidal condition. Only the apron with the moving belt is in use, and the power seems to be a mystery. A giant hamster-wheel out of view, perhaps. The belt does seem to be valuable enough to justify a long canvas cover to protect it from the weather when not in use. The vessel shownhere is the New York, built of iron in 1875 at Wilmington, Delaware, by Harlan & Hollingsworth for Charles Morgan's Morgan Steamship Company. She measured 283 feet in length, powered by the typical triple-expansion steam engine of the day. She was broken up in 1923. Charles Morgan instituted the first steamship line on the American East Coast in 1834. By the time of Morgan's death in 1877, he had amassed quite a transportation empire primarily based on Southern railroads, but of which the steamship company was a prime component. His heirs sold their holdings to C. P. Huntington, who merged them into the Southern Pacific in 1888, but the steamship operation remained known as the Morgan Line until wound up in 1941. Since Morgan operated a service between Havana and New Orleans at the time this photograph was taken, I suspect the contents of the barrels are either molasses or its potent by-product, rum. Nifty HoistThat's called a gantry, I'm sure it is used to lift the end of the bridge the conveyor is on. This allows for the transition of heights of decks of different ships and tidal changes, too. It hinges on the dock end. Not a walkie-talkieSign of the times. I did a double take on that hook handle, it looks so much like a walkie-talkie! *Click* "Hey Joe, tell the boys to stay off the conveyor if they wanna keep their shoes polished. There's a nasty surprise at the far end!" And let's hope there's nothing in those barrels that would offend Temperance. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
End of the Line: 1963
... standard gauge, 4' 8 1/2". Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New Orleans still run on 5' 2 1/2" track. Toronto, Canada, operates to this day ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/30/2013 - 9:44pm -

As a coda to the day's earlier Baltimore transit photos, we present "1963 -- Last streetcars in Balto." Kermy and friend, along with Car 7109, in a pair of off-brand color slides. Who can locate the intersection? View full size. Still in Servicefor the #15 bus route. View Larger Map Good find!Janbear: You're a fast Googler! I knew that bus stop as soon as I saw the picture - I used take the #15 on my way to high school! PCC streetcarThe most successful streetcar/trolley design in the US, PCC cars ran in at least 26 North American cities. I rode one every day to school as a kid in Pittsburgh in the mid '60s. Balto to FriscoThe City of San Francisco bought, refurbished, and operates vintage streetcars, including a restored PCC car painted in Baltimore Transit Company yellow. Better Than Carlin's Mountain SpeedwayThe 15 streetcar line was my life line as a preteen and teenager growing up in Baltimore. I used it to go downtown to see first run movies plus vaudeville at the Hippodrome (The Three Stooges & Herb Shriner are two acts I remember), the main Pratt Library and Ford's Theater (not the infamous one) where I saw a young Andy Griffith in "No Time For Sergeants." As a car-less teenager it was the route to and from various date destinations. Yes Virgina there were nice looking cool girls in the late 50's who would date car-less boys and ride a streetcar to go see a movie or a rock & roll show. We never called them concerts. Concerts were at the staid Lyric and R&R shows were at the Coliseum along with NBA & BAA Basketball and Tuesday Night Wrestling with Antonio Rocca and Gorgeous George. When my sister moved to the wilds of Overlea/Fullerton I would take the 15 Overlea down to where the streetcar bends (the topic of this pic) and walk a mile or so to her new house. The best part came when the streetcar would crest the hill at Brendan Ave and fly down the hill to the bottom at Herring run and they coast back up the hill towards Parkside as gravity would exert its influence and slow down the car. If the operator was an adventurous sort he would never apply the brake and if the car was loaded what passed for warp speed would be achieved and the car would rock side to side to the glee of youngsters and consternation of the older folk. Balto BroadBaltimore streetcars ran on a 5' 4 1/2 " track gauge, wider than most cities which used standard gauge, 4' 8 1/2". Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New Orleans still run on 5' 2 1/2" track. Toronto, Canada, operates to this day on a unique 4' 10 7/8". Denver and Los Angeles city cars ran on narrow gauge, 3' 6". You can read more about it here. TTC PCCThe Toronto Transit Commission, which still runs streetcars, had PCC cars in regular service until 1995. People called them red rockets. I lived 2 minutes from thereThe streetcar is about to turn right (south) onto Belair Road and in the picture is parallel to Overlea Ave. Blast from the past!That is indeed the end of the line point on Belair Road in Overlea for old #15, which was the last streetcar line removed from service in Baltimore (if my memory serves me correctly). In the bottom photo, the grey stone building on the right is the old location of Della Rosa's restaurant, which has relocated elsewhere. I lived about a mile south of there on Rosemont Avenue and rode this every day while I was going to Baltimore City College in the 60's. (Baltimore, Kermy Kodachromes, Streetcars)
Mrs. Foote: 1933
... after a series of adventures. From Australia to New Orleans was the next leg of the voyage that was to ultimately bring her to ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/07/2012 - 11:03am -

1933. "Mrs. Walter A. Foote, portrait with dog." Harris & Ewing. View full size. Beautiful shadows.Mrs. Foote's shadows on the wall are beautifully placed. But where's the dog's Gramophone? StandardsSo many nasty comments about women on this blog. Too bad -- I love it otherwise. And, yes, I am rather a homely broad myself. And if 80 years from now people are taking cheap shots at a picture of me on whatever blog equivalent is available by then ... well, actually, I will be dead and won't care. But still. I assume...... that Mrs. Foote is the one on the right? That DogOK, that dog had to be some movie actor dog. I think he is just way too cute and perfect. I'd steal him if I could! Yip.The doggie is completely adorable and I happen to think Mrs. Foote is a rather handsome woman. From another homely (old) broad. I get a weird vibe...that Mrs. Foote would have been an interesting gal to hang out with. Hear hear!Well I'm no "homely broad" just any average Joe and I agree, the number of misogynistic comments on Shorpy is as astounding as it is dull. Makes an otherwise brilliant blog a tad tiresome. And it's not about being politically correct chaps it just shows a lack of imagination. Mrs Foote's dog looks like it has more class than some commentators. Enjoy the show and leave the petulance on your desktop. [If only. - Dave] Shorpy GirlsI have made a few snarky comments about the appearance of some of the women on Shorpy. I really don't mean it as a personal insult to the (long dead) women themselves or as an insult to women in general. For me, it's the contrast of what women looked like before the modern cosmetics industry, before daily baths became the norm and especially before dentistry evolved to its current level. Sometimes, Shorpy makes me feel nostalgic for a simpler time. Many of the Shorpy women make me happy to be a modern man. Oh...And Mrs Foote looks like a young Donald Sutherland in drag. A diplomat's wife.I couldn't find anything about Mrs. Walter A Foote, but Google gives up the occasional factoid about Walter A. himself. Follow the leads through the URLs below if you'd like. Walter A. was born in Greeneville, Texas in 1887, served in the military during WW I and was appointed to the US diplomatic corps in or about 1921. His first job was in Port Said. (He was paid $3000--per year, it looks like.) He rose through the ranks, we can assume, and was eventually appointed Consul General to Indonesia. He was there in 1947, aged 60, when these Life photos http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=ffb8b49d78f10f41&q=%22Walt... were taken. Notice his hat. Still a Texas boy. Here are a couple of other references. http://www.archive.org/stream/registercontaini1922unit/registercontaini1... http://books.google.com/books?id=Nf1yXJfnakoC&pg=RA1-PA89&lpg=RA1-PA89&d... Cheers and enjoy! "Tiresome and Repetitive"For every comment on a woman's appearance on this site, there must be ten times as many complaining about those comments. And they all sound exactly the same. Talk about tedious. Margaret FooteWalter Ambrose Foote's obituary (Dec 1, 1954) lists his wife's name as Margaret. She must have been an adventurous soul to travel the world with her husband. I think she looks lovely. Below is an account of the Footes' escape from Java just in advance of the Japanese invasion: The wife of "Uncle Billy" Foote, who as a member of our foreign service has a longer career of service in those islands than any of his compatriots, Mrs. Foote left Batavia "just before the last." Leaving from Tjilatjap where the refugees sat up in a tin shack through a night that never seemed to end, waiting for a ship to sail, Mrs. Foote arrived in Australia after a series of adventures. From Australia to New Orleans was the next leg of the voyage that was to ultimately bring her to a "duration" home in the Capital. during the two months of her journeying, she had no word of her husband. Like Dr. van der Plas, he wanted to stay on in the indies, but officials convinced him that he could help them more by leaving and carrying on the struggle from "outside." After receiving word that it would be fatal to tarry and longer in Batavia, where he was Consul General, Mr. Foote got what remained of his staff together. That night they spend tearing up official papers and when morning came, and there would be no danger of it being used as a beacon light by Japanese bombers, a huge bonfire was started. Then came the trek to a port - driving along overgrown jungle roads to avoid the danger of parachutists who were clogging up the main roads. Two months later, his ship put in at San Francisco, and this was the first news either husband or wife had of each other. Now "Uncle Billy," as he has been affectionately known by officials in the Dutch East Indies for years, is again serving overseas. He will represent this country in dealings with the Netherland's officials in Australia. His wife has been kept busy attending auction sales - where she picked up all the furniture for her attractive apartment at the Dorchester. One does not bring back household goods from an invaded territory. English-born Mrs. Foote, who worked in New York for the Red Cross in the last war, is filling her hours with war activities. Working with the Dutch unit of the Red Cross as she is in Washington, is nothing new for the soft-spoken Mrs. Foote. For many months, she was a hard worker for numerous women's defense organizations in Batavia who had a chance to prove the effectiveness of their training under fire. "They were magnificent," accolades Mrs. Foote, as she tells story after story of their "extraordinary calm, cool bravery." Washington Post, Aug 2, 1942 And I'm sure......that you're just beautiful in every way yourself, Bill! Or at least as pretty as Mrs. Foote -- or, indeed, a young Donald Sutherland. I don't think anyone is taking these comments as a "personal insult." It's just tiresome and repetitive and kind of sad, and not, perhaps, of tremendous interest to others, to know whether a given lady pleases the eye of a particular modern male. Though I can't speak for anyone but myself, naturally. As you note, the ladies in question have usually lived out their lives -- happily and usefully, we all trust, and in times when gentlemen, whatever they thought of ladies' looks, declined to make crude remarks about them in public forums. (The Gallery, Dogs, Harris + Ewing, Portraits)
French Market: 1906
The Crescent City circa 1906. "The French Market, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. ... so for these poor horses and mules. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans, Stores & Markets, Streetcars) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 4:36pm -

The Crescent City circa 1906. "The French Market, New Orleans." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. On his last legsI wish I could step into this photo and buy some apples for the starving horse. Poor thing, he needs some TLC. Still there, 105 years laterGaric's is now a set of tourist shops, but dat buildin' still dere, dawlin'. View Larger Map Garlic's?At first, I was surprised to discover that today's practice of naming an establishment after the possessive form of a key ingredient apparently dates back a century. Then I realized it's Garic's, not Garlic's. The entire streetis covered with poo. Exhaust fumes have always been with us. The cart horsesIt seems a majority of the time we get horses in photos like this, the poor old beasts are rail-thin and beaten down. I always think of the children's story Black Beauty, and the terrible suffering he endured at the hands of men. BB got a happy ending, not so for these poor horses and mules. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans, Stores & Markets, Streetcars)
Smart Clothes: 1910
Canal Street in New Orleans circa 1910. Large building is the Maison Blanche department store. ... Luzianne Coffee sign on top of Williams' Pharmacy and the New Orleans Railway and Light Company station at right center. Once again, I ... View Larger Map (The Gallery, New Orleans, Stores & Markets, Streetcars) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/06/2014 - 2:08pm -

Canal Street in New Orleans circa 1910. Large building is the Maison Blanche department store. 8x10 inch glass negative, exposed about six minutes before this image, posted here three years ago. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. I had to do itLeapin' Lazard's, sorry. Glad=U=KumI count a total of 10 streetcars in less than two blocks. However, I wondered what the Glad=U=Kum sign was supposed to signify. So I did a Google search and once again, Shorpy comes up with the answer. Subtle differencesIt looks like this photo was taken the day after the first photo. Probably because the first photo was out of focus. Notice the awnings on the building in front of the department store are different, puddles have evaporated and the traffic officer is suddenly missing. [The other photo is not out of focus, the puddles are the same in each picture, and the same horse is at the curb in both photos. - Dave] WOWLots of incredibly detailed photos here on Shorpy, but this has to be one of the best. I especially like the Luzianne Coffee sign on top of Williams' Pharmacy and the New Orleans Railway and Light Company station at right center. Once again, I can almost hear some nascent jazz somewhere down the street. Are these women doing anything?Are these women handing leaflets out? The two women standing back to back look like they are wearing sashes and they all look like they are holding papers. What do you think?? Adler's still thereAdler's jewelry store is still open at this location, although they have expanded into the building lakeward. Adler's was founded in 1898, located at Royal and Iberville in the French Quarter. They moved to 1810 Canal street and to the present location in 1909 (putting a maximum age on the photo). The clock is a local landmark and still present, but without the pedestal - it's now supported by some steel beams from the overhang. Coleman E. Adler III currently runs the business started by his great grandfather. Most of the other buildings in the photo also remain. Adler's JewelersAppears to be in the same place. However, the clock in front of the store is no longer on a post. There's also a Mercedes where the horse and buggy were once parked: View Larger Map (The Gallery, New Orleans, Stores & Markets, Streetcars)
Grocery Run: 1940
... Mulatto I've met a number of persons of color from New Orleans over the years. Many are VERY proud of the term "Mulatto" and are ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/05/2011 - 7:51pm -

July 1940. Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. "Mulattoes returning from town with groceries and supplies near Melrose." Medium format negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Reversal of FortuneInterestingly, the poor woman is without a hat, but wearing stockings; the poor men are without stockings, but wearing hats. The M-word"Mulattoes" meaning Creoles of various and diverse racial proportions, apparently. Not PCMulatto - now that's a word that's not used very often anymore!! (and with good reason) Mail runLooks like they also picked up the post, from the newspapers and such in the kid's hand. That was probably one bumpy ride. Not only do the tires have no rubber rims, there are no springs, either! Louisiana CreoleCreoles in Louisiana are very proud of their heritage. There is a rather large community around Natchitoches consisting of a number of families that have lived there for generations. If your curious, it's pronounced approximately "nack-a-dish." Isn't always pejorativeAt various times mulatto has meant anything from mixed white/African heritage to Eurasian. Until 1930 it was an official US census entry. Now it's more PC to say someone is mixed race, but a few years from now that may be considered an insult. It's just a word, the use of which can be useful or hurtful. Mulatto I've met a number of persons of color from New Orleans over the years. Many are VERY proud of the term "Mulatto" and are even more proud if they have the correct racial mix to call themselves a "Quadroon." The good folks in the photo appear to be a mixture of mulattos and quadroons. My spirit is transported"Supplies" apparently includes a gallon of 'shine. "Nack-a-dish."I've long wondered how that was pronounced! You learn something new every day on Shorpy! (The Gallery, M.P. Wolcott)
Motive Power: 1926
... train service between New York, Washington, Atlanta and New Orleans." Alexandria, Virginia, circa 1926. "Southern R.R. Co. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/21/2016 - 3:05pm -

        "The Crescent Limited, ace of the Southern Railway System's passenger train service between New York, Washington, Atlanta and New Orleans." Alexandria, Virginia, circa 1926. "Southern R.R. Co. Crescent Limited locomotive." Previously seen here and here. National Photo glass negative. View full size. Man at the Throttle PoseFrom the time they were built, over a period from 1923 to 1926, the Southern Railway's class 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotives have been recognized as among the most beautiful steam locomotives ever. Painted green, with gold lettering and decoration. Despite the engineer's pose, this engine isn't going anywhere very fast or very soon. It's third drive wheel is chained to the rail. HorsepowerSteam locomotives are unbelievably powerful machines. Though, as DepotHack pointed out, tractive effort (the amount of pulling force a locomotive can deliver to the rail) is the more usual measure of a locomotives strength, if this 1923 design steam locomotive were to be put on a treadmill to measure her horsepower, she would probably measure at a peak approaching 2,000 horsepower at a speed of about 45 mph. By the end of WWII steam locomotives approaching 8,000 hp were being built routinely. By comparison, the diesel locomotives which replaced steamers in the decade following WWII were generally rated in the range of 1500 to 1750 hp each, which they could produce only up to 18 mph after which their hp curve dropped dramatically. This is why it took, usually, 4 diesels to replace each steam engine on the head of a train. So, you ask yourself, why were the railroads of that decade of transition so eager to replace steam with diesel power? Answer: Labor and availability. A steam engine (at that time) was cheaper to build, but far more expensive to run. This locomotivewas painted green, I'm waiting for the coloured version. PowerA more meaningful measure than horsepower would be "tractive effort" and in the case of this beautiful passenger engine, the tractive effort is 47,500 lbs. Pretty impressive for a high speed passenger engine with 73 inch drivers! All I can say, even in 2016, is --What an awesome piece of machinery, engineering and design, wow. Sister Engine is at the SmithsonianThe sister engine to this 4-6-2 engine is on display at the Smithsonian. It is numbered No. 1401 and was the engine used to bring FDR's body back to Washington from Warm Springs, GA. See more here. 6x6 tractionI wonder how many HPs was this machine able to produce. MemoriesShorpy does it again! Made me think of my brother and me sleeping on our grandmother's screened-in back porch in a feather bed. This was in the late 40's. The train tracks were about 100 yards away and several times during the night we would wake up to a passenger train just passing through. We could see the lights in the cars and even the people sitting or moving around. Maybe Then'Tractive Effort' could also be compared to Torque in a regular engine, say, gas or diesel. Regardless of nomenclature, a very powerful machine and designed well before computers were there to assist. And what's more --The tractive effort used to pull the weight of the locomotive and all those cars is concentrated at just six small points on the rails. Each no larger than a silver dollar. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Railroads)
Special Pleating: 1941
January 1941. "Old buildings in New Orleans." Custom Buttons and "Sandwiches of All Kind." Photo by Marion Post ... cars debut in 1946. MAgnolia 2239 Originally New Orleans used geographic telephone exchange names, such as ALgiers, GAlvez, ... as WHitehall and ATwood were introduced. The history of New Orleans telephone prefixes can be found here ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/15/2014 - 7:49pm -

January 1941. "Old buildings in New Orleans." Custom Buttons and "Sandwiches of All Kind." Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. Ladies!Ladies Invited, it says next to the entrance. Normally they aren't welcome? For such a small perimeterthe number of street lids is quite impressive! Bourbon Street and IbervilleEast corner to be precise. :) 1941 ChevroletIt's very shiny, two-tone and new but already has a dented passenger side rear fender, perhaps from navigating the narrow French Quarter streets. The car's worth repairing, especially since it will likely have to last at least until the post-war cars debut in 1946. MAgnolia 2239Originally New Orleans used geographic telephone exchange names, such as ALgiers, GAlvez, UPtown and CAnal. In the 1950s the two letter/four number configuration changed to two letter/five numbers, and new office names such as WHitehall and ATwood were introduced. The history of New Orleans telephone prefixes can be found here
Difficult Cases: 1941
January 1941. "Billboards on side of building in New Orleans, Louisiana." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott ... Motors The Mossy family still owns car dealerships in New Orleans. Mass ≠ Acceleration I went to a church with a similar ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/19/2019 - 4:13pm -

January 1941. "Billboards on side of building in New Orleans, Louisiana." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Difficult CasesI graduated from a parochial school, and evidently the nuns didn't have much of us. The patron saint of our class was St. Jude, patron of "hopeless cases". Must have worked, most of us turned out okay. Ralphie's Old Man"Some men are Baptists, others Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man." Mass × AccelerationI'm guessing the 11:30 Sunday Mass was the most popular. Only 45 minutes until the 12:15 means it was a quickie Mass. In Catholic terms that equates to popularity. The good old daysMass was in Latin. The priest faced the altar, which was against the wall. If you wanted to receive Communion you went to confession the night before and got up for one of the early masses. In those days those communing had to fast from midnight until after Mass. Most folks couldn't go until afternoon without eating or drinking anything so they either went to the early Mass or skipped Communion. The later masses were often well attended by those who chose to sleep in and or who wanted breakfast. The last scheduled service was usually High Mass. This one was sung and chanted, usually with a choir and one or more clergy assisting as deacons, clouds of incense and candles. It could easily last an hour and a half, unlike the "low mass" which was typically in and out in 45 minutes or less. When Catholics start waxing nostalgic for the good old days, Latin High Mass is often one of the things they are thinking of. +~78Looks like the streetlamp is still there, as well as some of the architecture. Mossy MotorsThe Mossy family still owns car dealerships in New Orleans. Mass ≠ Acceleration I went to a church with a similar set up of masses, but it didn't mean the mass was shorter: we had an upstairs church and a downstairs church with five priests and overlapping services. And six confessionals, no waiting (visiting priests). St. Jude & Mom were tight.If anyone in the family lost anything or were faced with an seemingly impossible problem her answer was always,"Say a Novena to Saint Jude. He solves most things." For those not in the know, a novena is nine days of prayer. The Saint Jude Novena is prayed to ask him to intercede on behalf of requests that seem especially dire. To me the odds were on her and St. Jude's side because after nine days a lost item usually shows up or the passage of time can make small problems out of big ones. This logic never sank in on her. To Mom's dying day St. Jude was the greatest problem solver. If there is a heaven where one can casually meet your favorite saints I'm sure Mom gave him a big hug and thanked him for that $5 he sent back to her in the 1940s. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, M.P. Wolcott, New Orleans)
Royal Street: 1901
... and Mobile's Mardi Gras -- is about 150 years older than New Orleans. In the late 1940s to the mid-'50s, when I was a kid in Mobile, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2012 - 5:58pm -

Mobile, Alabama, circa 1901. "Hotel Windsor and Royal Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Mystery GadgetTo me anyway. Lower left of the frame with what looks like a T-handle on the top and an atomizing bulb on the bottom? The Street of MobileAre these dirt streets, or just streets that are dirty? Hapless motormenIt's hard to believe that so many streetcars seen in these historic photos required the motorman to brave the elements on an open platform while the passengers are given the protection of the enclosed car. Of course that would be remedied in later years when completely enclosed cars were built. But one wonders why such a thoughtless design was ever conceived in the first place. The ThingAt the bottom left on the sidewalk, next to a post, a ball peen hammer is sitting in the top of a, well, I don't know quite what it is. Any ideas? Street curiositiesAnyone know what that contraption is that is sitting on the sidewalk bottom left? And directly across the street, into the alley, almost out of sight - looks like a woman begging for food. What is that contraption?Right above the Shorpy watermark, on the sidewalk. Oddest looking thing I've seen, besides my own reflection. Mobile Mardi GrasMardi Gras is celebrated along the Gulf Coast from west Florida to Texas. The City of Mobile -- and Mobile's Mardi Gras -- is about 150 years older than New Orleans. In the late 1940s to the mid-'50s, when I was a kid in Mobile, about 12 Mardi Gras parades were held over a two-week period in February. The parades would come down Dauphin Street toward Mobile Bay, turn right onto the stretch of Royal Street pictured above, come down two blocks, passing Conti Street, and then turn right on Government Street coming away from the Bay. As a kid, I would watch the parades come by on Dauphin Street and then cut over two blocks to Government and watch them come by again. Confetti, serpentine, tokens; mule-drawn floats, accompanied during the night parades by walking men holding aloft tall poles topped with v-shaped metal holders with burning limelight? magnesium? for illumination. On the extreme right of the photograph, where the hanging L&N awning is, was a corner of a new Sears & Roebuck store, which extended farther right. It had air conditioning, and doors that opened using an electric eye. I was fascinated by the electric eye, I think it planted a germ, I ended up in computers. It was a good place and time to be a boy, and a kid. Royal StreetApparently this is near Royal and Conti, but there has been so much built around there (Riverview Plaza, Hampton Inn, etc) that anything "old" has been obliterated. Royal was cut in half when the interstate was cut through. I've lived in Mobile for all of my 32 years and it's always nice to see what the old city looked like. Battle House ReduxSeen directly behind the dark hat of the man astride one of the mules (or horse, I can't tell) is the front of the Battle House hotel. It's the five-story building with a rectangular chimney rising from the hotel's southerly-side roof edge. The front and northerly side of the Battle House are shown here. It burned down in 1905. Tool KitThe mystery object at the lower left looks like it might be a portable tool kit for use in maintaining the nearby carbon arc lamp. (The Gallery, DPC, Mobile, Streetcars)
Young Nicholas: 1906
Circa 1906. "Oyster luggers at New Orleans." A continuation of the scene shown in the previous post . ... not see or know. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 5:25pm -

Circa 1906. "Oyster luggers at New Orleans." A continuation of the scene shown in the previous post. Random observation: The masts here remind me of violin bows. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Pommes de MerThose are sweet potatoes. Oystering is only done in the winter and in the summer oyster boats of whatever flavor would haul light freight when they could get the business. [Now that you mention it, they certainly do look like potatoes. - Dave] Greetings From Lugger LandingJust a few postcards from the same site. Tuber luggers?Looks like the boats are carrying some sort of potato-like vegetable. [Those are oysters. - Dave] An EpiphanyCould it be our fearless leader has learned the difference between an oyster and a sweet potato? [This may explain why no one likes my mashed potatoes. - Dave] Come Aboard!Please walk the plank first. re: Pommes de MerThis is what is so great about this site. There is always some one who will show you, or teach you something about the subject matter that you did not see or know. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans)
Terminal Station: 1910
New Orleans circa 1910. "Terminal Station, Canal Street." Demolished in 1956. ... certainly coincide with the time frame. According to New Orleans - A History of Three Great Public Utilities Paper read by Hon. Martin Behrman Mayor of New Orleans, La. before Convention of League of American Municipalities, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/06/2019 - 11:18pm -

New Orleans circa 1910. "Terminal Station, Canal Street." Demolished in 1956. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Invisible ManThis guy with the umbrella is an integral part of this image in my opinion, but I doubt it was planned. Maybe ? However, the ladies do not even have him in their radar. Why? My guess is, as it would be today, that women are not much into men that hide from the sun under an umbrella. It seems very odd to me that he is standing there on a nice sunny day acting like it's a bad thing. They did not know at this time that the sun can damage your skin and even kill you, so he seems kinda wimpy to me, and I'm figuring invisible to the ladies. I could easily be wrong, and this will sound like some macho b.s., but even in 2019 knowing what we all know the sun is capable of good or bad, Men do not hide from the elements when presented with unwanted heat. At least not ones that I know. As far as this building -- It is stunning to me. That arch is "on point". Really nice masonry work there. I wonder why it was torn down so soon? I would bet that one of your many amazing commenters will know the answer. I don't have time tonight to fall down that rabbit hole of research. Next thing you know, I will be watching videos on how to carve stone. CoveredI’m afraid I am one of those men who do hide from the elements when presented with unwanted heat. Never mind the heat, which runs against my Northern-boy default state of winter, but the sun has been terribly unkind to me. My dermatologist (who has cut five basal cell carcinomas out of my flesh this past decade) had me pegged when she asked if, at the start of every July, I got shoved outdoors by my mother to get burned in order to get "a good base" for the rest of the summer. So now I put sunscreen on my bald head every day, wear a hat if I'm out for extended periods, and stick to the shadows on sunny days. If being a heliophobe makes me "invisible to the ladies," so be it. Why it Was DemolishedThe station was razed in 1956 after passenger service was relocated to the new Union Terminal. After station and tracks were removed the ground was landscaped and the area was designated as the "Garden of the Americas. SadlyIt was terminal. Next Stop? Sin And Vice!Talk about a convenient location. For the first decade of its time serving NoLa this station was directly adjacent to the infamous Storyville district of legalized prostitution and gaming. You could walk out the door, turn right and be in one of the dozens of high class brothels in about 30 seconds. Gents: Don't forget your cash and your umbrella. Built to Stand ForeverMassive, solid structure for the Ages - at least until 1956. Up until 1954 most of the major rail lines had their own individual terminals. That was when Union Passenger Terminal was built and they all collected there. The old terminals were torn down after that. Not a clueI have no idea as to what that contraption next to the pole might be used for. Is it the "better mousetrap" we've been waiting for? Installation of fresh Water PipesThe view of fresh line, water pipes, certainly coincide with the time frame. According to New Orleans - A History of Three Great Public Utilities Paper read by Hon. Martin Behrman Mayor of New Orleans, La. before Convention of League of American Municipalities, Milwaukee, Wis., September 29, 1914 "The construction of the new system was commenced in 1905 and the completed system went into operation in February, 1909. Only three and a half years were consumed in the construction of a plant covering over five hundred (500) miles of streets with water ... By 1917 it is expected that all of the premises of the city will have been connected both with the water works and with the sewers, and vaults and cesspools will have been eliminated from the entire well built-up area of the city." With it being on Canal Street, and the picture being "circa 1910", it makes the case the photo could be from the end of 1908, to beginning of 1909, as Canal Street and the French Quarter would seem to have been in the initial, completed system. Terminally ChicThe man with the umbrella is fantastic. What a great entrance to a cool boutique hotel that would have made. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans, Railroads)
Inner Sanctum: 1937
New Orleans, 1937. "Courtyard entrance, 1133-1135 Chartres St." Seen here ... photos at their website. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/29/2013 - 12:54pm -

New Orleans, 1937. "Courtyard entrance, 1133-1135 Chartres St." Seen here from another courtyard. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Electric metersI would have known, without the caption, that this photo was not taken before 1934. The meter to the left of the arch is a General Electric I-20S, and the one to the right is a Westinghouse CS. Both are socket-base meters, which are still completely interchangeable with modern meters in modern sockets, although these early models can only handle 60 amps in most cases. The CS was introduced in 1933, supplanting an earlier Westinghouse socket design. It satisfied the desire of utilities for a convenient and weatherproof outdoor mounting, as the costs and headaches of indoor meters were becoming unbearable. The following year, the industry had a convention which standardized this and other socket mountings. Outdoor sockets were immediately adopted by many utilities, and became universal for new orders by the 1960s. Here is a photo of a CS from my personal collection. The serial number identifies it as a 1934 model. That would make a great cover photo......for the next Anne Rice novel. Rotting balconiesI remember visiting N.O. back in the late 80's and even then most of these once ornate balconies looked as they do in the picture. ( Pretty shaky) It's as if nary any maintenance was ever performed over the 100 plus years. At that time there were many in the French Qtr. that had temporary scaffolding underneath to help support them. A Good Bit of the Original Building is Still ThereNot a great shot on Google Maps, but good enough that you can tell some of the same architecture is still there today. You have to love the French Quarter, then and now. Soniat HouseI found this on the web. That's our roomMy wife and I stayed in that hotel about 20 years ago. Our room was the one just to the left of the entrance to the courtyard. This place has been updated considerably since we stayed there, judging from the photos at their website. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, New Orleans)
Night Rider: 1943
... (vicinity). "James Hall, truck driver, en route to New Orleans on U.S. Highway 90." Header placard: "Accidents Help the Axis." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/02/2017 - 12:40pm -

March 1943. Pearlington, Mississippi (vicinity). "James Hall, truck driver, en route to New Orleans on U.S. Highway 90." Header placard: "Accidents Help the Axis." Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information. View full size. They Pose by NightHis engine is warm and he has 60 lbs of air but his Mack's speedometer is at zero and it looks like he doesn't have any oil pressure and the battery is slightly discharging. [Not to mention the door is wide open. -Dave] That windshield wiper motor looks a lot like the pneumatically-operated "Air Push" devices found on locomotives. A slow wipeIs that cylindrical thing above the windshield a vacuum-power windshield wiper actuator? I hated the way the old vacuum wipers would slow or even stop when you opened the throttle wide. This would of course happen when you were accelerating to pass another vehicle, the exact moment when you need clear vision ! Another comment is that in those days, there were no seatbelts. That wiper motor could be a real problem if his head smacked into it in an accident! He Drives by NightLike the previous entry by Mr. Vachon, this photo has a very noir-ish atmosphere to it. Both photos chronicling the work of wartime truck drivers remind me of films like "They Drive by Night" and "Thieves' Highway". The FSA-OWI photographers really knew how to use shadow to great effect in their pictures. "Let us Marfak your car"So says the sticker partly visible on the left side of the dashboard. Once commonly displayed on Texaco service stations, it's seldom seen these days. http://www.brandlandusa.com/2010/01/23/marfak-lubrication/ Fast WipeWhen I was a little guy my dad had a '39 Chevy with vacuum wipers. Once, when descending a 9,000 mountain road in a very heavy rain he closed the throttle completely and the wipers ran so fast the blade came off. He cursed all the way down. Live WireThat spotlight must have gotten a lot of use for it to need repair with electrical tape. The tape looks like the old kind made of sticky black fabric (not the plastic kind used today). Spotlights were more common back in those days--even on cars. My Dad had one on the Nash Ambassador that he bought shortly after the end of WWII. Friction TapeThe proper name of the old-style sticky black fabric tape is "friction tape". It is still available. (Ref: 3M 1755) It's used as a protective overwrap to protect wire from sharp edges. Spotlight tapeThis is a terrific photo of things seldom seen anymore. But, the spotlight's taped wires may only be where the pigtail from the manufacturer joined with wires brought up from the ignition switch or other source of power. I still have a couple of rolls of friction tape and use the stuff now and then where some heat is involved. Not as good as it gets, but serviceable. The Fabric of our LifeThe cloth tape was known as Friction Tape, and was used on everything from electrical repairs to wrapping baseball bats. Not so long ago Back in the mid-70's I used to work on and drive a late-30's White. It was not very far removed from the truck in this picture. Except it didn't have pneumatics, but instead it was fully vacuum. You haven't lived driving a truck until you have driven with Vacuum/Mechanical brakes! The last daily driver I had with Vacuum wipers was a 1972 AMC Matador. Today my wife's 1962 Mercury Comet has vacuum wipers, so we occasionally still get the thrill of climbing a hill in the rain! Pneumatic or vacuum?I think Phare Pleigh is probably right that the wiper is air operated. It looks like the pneumatic king pin release found on many tractors today. Since the truck has air brakes it makes sense to use that system for other things. Also if the engine is a diesel there would be no vacuum. On the other hand, most trucks back then were still powered by gas engines. Even the Sherman tanks operating around the world at the time were gas powered. So it could be vacuum. Thanks to the ReadersI am always blown away by the depth and breadth of Shorpy readers' ( Shorpy-ites?) knowledge of antique vehicles and machinery. Model numbers, obscure manufacturer names, details about the internal mechanics, comparisons to similar models from that time -- you guys know it all! Thanks for sharing all that info. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
In the Driver's Seat: 1915
... early 1909 she ran this car to numerous victories at the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration, at one point even beating the famous Ralph ... five trophys. Not long after her stunning victories in New Orleans, and despite the fact that Mrs. Cuneo had been a member of theirs ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/29/2012 - 2:12pm -

At the wheel circa 1915. "NO CAPTION" is the caption here. Perhaps someone will recognize the insignia on the lady's uniform. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Joan Newton CuneoThe picture is of Mrs. Joan Newton Cuneo, sitting behind the wheel of her race car, a 1908 Knox Giant and dressed in a smartly styled driving suit. It appeared in the April 1910 issue of The Outing Magazine. Mrs. Cuneo was a socialite who purchased her first car - a steamer - and spent the next year mastering the art of driving, whereupon she bought a new White steamer. In 1905 she bought yet another new White and entered the Glidden Tour. By fall she was performing fast exhibition driving at Atlantic City and at the Fair in Poughkeepsie, where she ran against Barney Oldfield and set the women's record for the flying mile at 1 minute and 24 seconds. She bought her first gasoline-powered car in 1907 and continued participating in tour contests; by 1908 she was completing tours with perfect scores and for the Women's Motoring Club run to Philadelphia and back, the Lancia factory asked her to drive their famous Lancia Lampo. Other manufacturers began asking that she race in their vehicles, and she eventually settled on the big Knox Giant racer. In early 1909 she ran this car to numerous victories at the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration, at one point even beating the famous Ralph De Palma. She was named the National Amateur Champion and claimed five trophys. Not long after her stunning victories in New Orleans, and despite the fact that Mrs. Cuneo had been a member of theirs since 1905, the American Automobile Association (the organization that sponsored most of the big events) banned not just women drivers from their events, but women passengers as well. Many writers of the day felt it was because too many men drivers would stay away if they were consistently beaten by a woman. Joan Cuneo did not protest; she just more or less retired from racing. She bought a duplicate of the Knox Giant from the factory and continued to run non-AAA sponsored tours, and setting track records in exhibitions. In the March 1908 issue of Country Life in America she wrote an article titled "Why There Are So Few Women Automobilists" that is still quoted today in histories of early woman drivers. Possibly only one (two) comments here:Vrooom ! Vrooom ! Crossed flagsSignal Corps. Women were used to fill positions, did not serve overseas. Lots of Buttonsbut no Bows. Tanks a LotHow big were the gas tanks on those cars, anyway? They look to be about the size of a 55 gallon oil drum. Signal CorpsAs a boy, I polished my father's Signal Corps insignia enough to know them on sight. Fast WomanShe also became the fastest woman with a speed of 111.5 mph on the Long Island Motor Parkway while driving a Pope Hummer on April 17, 1911. This was over 1/2 a mile. She had her own song. O Mrs. Cuneo, O Mrs. Cuneo, The greatest woman driver that we know, She keeps a-going, she makes a showing, Does Mrs. Cuney-uney-uney-O There is a article about her here with additional details of her career and three more pictures in addition to the one below. Her Knox and a Pope Hummer are pictured below. Note: Comment corrected for photo that did not attach. http://dvalnews.com/view/full_story/7418695/article-Those-daring-young--... Two Knox, no PopeBoth pictures below are of the Knox Giant—you can spot the Knox emblem on the radiator in the top picture. Here's a photo of the Pope-Hartford, nicknamed the Hummer (no chain drive): (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Railyard Rollers: 1905
Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1905. "New Orleans supply yard, Union Naval Stores. Shipment of rosin and turpentine." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/08/2012 - 2:50pm -

Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1905. "New Orleans supply yard, Union Naval Stores. Shipment of rosin and turpentine." 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Can't get enough turpentine photos!The gum naval stores industry as practiced before WWII is now mostly forgotten, but was once a Really Big Deal in the longleaf pine belt that stretched from North Carolina to the Gulf coast of Texas. Sadly, most of the longleaf pines are gone now, and several species dependent on the pine forests-- for instance, the ivory-billed woodpecker-- are gone for good. Those barrels would have been made and filled with turpentine and rosin distilled in small batches at camps located way out in the piney woods, by men working under absolutely medieval conditions. The ones working to pay the company store were lucky compared to the ones who were convicts leased from local law enforcement. I've seen most of the more widely available turpentining images, but this is a new one on me-- thanks for running it, Dave. LunchtimeThere appears to be a lovely young lady bringing some lucky gentleman his lunch bucket, and much prestige from his comrades. Hard labourfor those guys. It looks hot after maybe some recent rain, the barrels sure look heavy and there's a few hours left yet. Looks like there's refreshments being bought over by the youngster on the right. Thanks for the info Thad, I never knew about turpentine's origin such as shown above. Even the Lionel Lines1950s model barrel loader was more mechanized than this. WWWaaa - ter boo-ooyyyBring the buck-buck-bucket here! I remember that song so well, I could hear it in my mind when I saw this detail. Never thought abut how rail cars wereloaded by hand before. The sunken rails, two men on a barrel, wooden rails to roll them on, all fascinating! Safety firstThe bridges over the rail trench are noticeably lacking proper railings. 1 safety demerit! Good, I'm starved.Here comes lunch! As far as the eye can seeJust how many hundreds of thousands of barrels of rosin and turpentine could possibly be needed? And for what purpose, painting? [Used in the manufacture of soap, paper, paint and varnish. More on the "naval stores" industry, and the origin of the term. - Dave] Turpentine Forests Washington Post, Sep 15, 1902. Turpentine Forests. Their Rapid Destruction Threatens the Ruin of a Great Industry. From the New York Commercial. The first organization of turpentine men, known as the Turpentine Operators and Factors' Association, which recently held its first annual convention in Jacksonville, Fla., was confronted by the question of complete annihilation of their business, due to the ruthless tapping of young trees and the rapid depletion of the pine forests. Ten years ago Norfolk, Va., was the great naval stores port of the United States, five years ago Charleston was the center of the industry, two years ago Savannah, and now Jacksonville, and next Tampa and then — what? Prof. Herty, of the United States Department of Forestry, has been called upon and was present at the convention. Newspapers in the South have presented able articles on this same subject for years, but the writer has seen young trees no thicker in diameter than eight inches boxed; once, twice, yes three times, so that a step ladder was used for the top boxing and the strip of bark left was insufficient to gather the sap to feed the tree. The life of a turpentine tree after the first boxing is about two years. That means that after the sap has been taken the third time the tree must either be cut for timber or it dies. A trip through the pine forests of Georgia and Florida will demonstrate the reckless manner in which the boxing has been done, and, worse still, where clearings have been made, no effort has been made to check the growth of scrub oak and saw palmetto which effectually choke the young pine rearing its head where its parent stood. Gradually the operators have been driven south, and to-day it is estimated that at least one hundred camps are located in Florida alone, and about fifty camps in Georgia. Nine hundred operators were at the convention. Each man has either bought or covered with options more or less pine forest, and in spite of his knowledge of what the future will bring is rapidly killing the goose with the golden egg. The end is near in the turpentine and rosin industry. A few more years will see a tremendous rise in these commodities, and no effort has yet been made to restore the depleted forests of Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, North Caroline, or Northwestern Florida. The "fat pine" is indigenous to these States, it grows rapidly, but is easily exterminated by the more sturdy plants which spring up in the forest clearings. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Railroads)
Just Us Girls: 1940
... these tots, on a roll of pictures taken in what looks like New Orleans. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Jazz ... a case of the Owlies. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, New Orleans) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/26/2011 - 1:00pm -

1940. No caption for these tots, on a roll of pictures taken in what looks like New Orleans. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon. View full size. Jazz HipsterGirl in glasses: "It's called Bebop. You've probably never heard of it." Precious and AdorableEach of these little girls (and one boy) possess individual traits that are endearing in their own uniqueness but they seem so serious for carefree kids under 5 yrs. of age. Only the smallest one in the back row, left side, seems about to break into a smile. Wonder if their photographer or caregiver threatened them to behave. Little "Harriet Potter" was way ahead of her time, a real trendsetter. Girl in GlassesSeems to have a case of the Owlies. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Kids, New Orleans)
Traveller: 1903
March 23, 1903. "High water at the New Orleans, Louisiana, levee, Mississippi River." 8x10 inch dry plate glass ... probably... mules. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans, Railroads) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/11/2021 - 11:53am -

March 23, 1903. "High water at the New Orleans, Louisiana, levee, Mississippi River." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. Liverpudlian LoadingFrom the Lloyd's Register of Shipping, 1903, Steamers: Traveller is captained by R.N. Donald; her homeport is Liverpool; built in 1880 by renown Charles Connell & Co. in Glasgow; she's 330' in length, with a 40' beam. It appears Traveller, high in the water, is preparing to take on lots and lots of sugar for baking goodies back in Old Blighty. And what's enclosed in those straw-lined crates? Whiskey? Molasses? Jazz musicians making their way to Paris in a rather roundabout and unorthodox manner? Whatsit?I wonder what that stuff in the elaborate packaging is? Also, how did they move those big packages before the advent of the forklift? I posted this here over a decade ago, so I may as well again.This is the Traveller, owned by Charente Steamship Company of London. Launched June 22, 1888, at Scotstoun, outside Glasgow, by Charles Connell & Co. Sold in 1919 to the Limerick Steamship Co. of Ireland, and renamed Inishboffin, it wrecked on Wulff Island, Gulf of Finland, on December 13, 1921. Refloated the following May, the vessel was broken up at Hamburg in 1923. Lift that baleHow did they move freight before forklifts? Stevedores, or longshoremen. Most of the heavy moving done was by human labor, filling up cargo nets with bundles of goods which were then loaded by the cranes on the ships. Lots of interesting thingsBut I noticed the horse cart. Basically the fact that some of these horses are probably... mules. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, New Orleans, Railroads)
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