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Gray Acres: 1937
October 1937. "Family of Joe Kramer, farmer near Williston, North Dakota." Photo by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2013 - 3:36pm -

October 1937. "Family of Joe Kramer, farmer near Williston, North Dakota." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Hope Joe got the mineral rights,if so, his heirs must be truly enjoying the current oil boom centered around Williston. Golly BeavRemember the episode where Beaver tried to cut his own hair? This must be where they sent him until it grew out. What a Difference 76 Years MakesToday in the oil boom town of Williston, this fella could make $100,000/year working in the oil fields. Previously on Shorpyhere: https://www.shorpy.com/node/15610 These would likely be Joe Kramer, age about 46, originally from Germany; his wife Emma, also about 46, originally from Michigan. The children are probably daughter Florence, aged about 9, Floyd (age 6) and Lawrence (11). Son Clarence (17) not shown. All living in Williams County, North Dakota, at the time of the 1940 U.S. Census. Count Our BlessingsWow, these parents look to be in their 60s! Yet are obviously much younger. Life must have been very difficult for this poor family, so typical of other vintage photos. Shorpy certainly does make us count our blessings and realize how fortunate we are now living in this 21 Century! Hunger-inspiringWonder if author Suzanne Collins saw this photo before writing "Hunger Games"... our girl on the end is the perfect inspiration for heroine Katniss, right down to the leather archer's wrist brace and defiant gleam in her eye. The girl's wrist bandIt isn't there for looks. Lee took another photo of the little girl inside the home, and the caption reads, "Daughter of farmer near Williston, North Dakota. Dwarfed arm probably due to infantile paralysis." (The Gallery, Great Depression, Russell Lee)
Leaning Out: 1937
August 1937. "Abandoned store building and old sidewalk on what was the main street. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/14/2015 - 3:39pm -

August 1937. "Abandoned store building and old sidewalk on what was the main street. Gemmel, Minnesota." Don't miss our big Fall Sale! Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Gemmell ghost townAccording to Wikipedia, a post office called Gemmell was established in 1905, and remained in operation until 1974. The community was named for W. H. Gemmell, a railroad official. It's in Koochiching County, central and very far north in Minnesota. For more history of Gemmell, see this article. Gemmel, MinnesotaYah, shure. Yu betcha. Home of the original Ole and "Leaner" Joke. Told by a tourist from Bahstan. Five milesDistance between Gemmell and Mizpah (https://www.shorpy.com/node/16833) along Highway 71. ShiftedOk I have to admit I laughed out loud seeing Shorpy at the bottom left, appropriately italicized. Bravo sir, bravo. Sadly todaythis represents the main street of many, many towns and villages in the province of Saskatchewan. GooglelessStreetview didn't even make it up there. (Sticks!) Chronic PaneI've never figured out how a building can lean that much without the windows breaking. Don't open both doors at onceThey might be the only thing holding it up! A Big BlowI wonder which way the prevailing winds blew in Gemmel, Minn. East to West or vice versa? (The Gallery, Great Depression, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
My Left Foot: 1937
September 1937. "Camp near Effie, Minnesota. Lumberjack washing his feet." Medium format ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/07/2010 - 3:08am -

September 1937. "Camp near Effie, Minnesota. Lumberjack washing his feet." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee. View full size. ShowerlessBack then you didn't wash all of yourself at once, you did it in parts! I still remember shivering in the morning in a cold bathroom. Standing at a sink with half of me exposed to the cold air, passing a soapy cold wash cloth over places meant to be kept warm, wishing I could just go back to sleep instead. Did each lumberjackhave his own bucket ?? Never mind, I don't want to know ! You can't fool me.He's making wine! A First for MeFinally, a Shorpy Photo that's in no way better in full size. There once was a woman who...Oh my, look at the flies! I remember those flies up in bog country. Church Key!No doubt used to open the scented bath salts. Lessons of WW1 Working in wet leaf litter and sopping sphagnum moss for ten hours a day could lead to trench foot. Keeping your feet clean and dry was paramount. It also helped keep down the stink! (The Gallery, Mining, Russell Lee)
Badlands: 1937
September 1937. "Old threshing machine on Herman Gerling's farm near Wheelock, North ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/24/2018 - 5:50pm -

September 1937. "Old threshing machine on Herman Gerling's farm near Wheelock, North Dakota. There have been no crops for eight years." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Lost prosperityMy great grandfather owned such a machine at about this time, and he'd enjoyed a fair amount of prosperity taking it to all of his neighbors. All that was gone after a few years of the Depression--the sale of his farm basically covered his debts and burial for him and his wife. This could be......the result of Rube Goldberg doing a tad bit too much acid. Junk I.D.The junk is the remains of a steam driven tractor, the likes of which would have pulled this thresher. Rage Against the Machine?I wonder if Gertrude lost her arm in this contraption, causing the family to abandon and/or destroy it. Very sad, in any event. High Plains TwisterThis doesn't look like normal deterioration due to neglect, it looks like a tornado rolled it a few times. A Lot More ThereNot just a threshing machine, which appears to fairly intact. There is a pretty substantial pile of random junk in front of it. A number of vehicle fenders, maybe an axle or two, a couple of fence posts, etc. Nice Piece of EquipmentBut I don't think it is going to work because the left handed throtlever is missing from the tamping wampole. Have I got a deal for you!This looks like something Mr Haney would have sold to Oliver Douglas. Woodn't I love to have it now?The thresher isn't a Case, because it's predominantly wood. Case extolled the virtues of a metal thresher early on. Having participated in a couple threshing bees at Five Points in Ohio, I'd love to have that one to take with me. I wonder if anyone can ID what model it is? B. F. Avery gas tractorThis is (was) a B. F. Avery gas tractor. Old video of one running: https://youtu.be/WwCPpijl7_s The fenders are from a car or truck, unrelated to the tractor. (Technology, The Gallery, Agriculture, Russell Lee)
Hanging Out: 1937
New Orleans circa 1937. "1133-1135 Chartres Street." Laundry day in the Quarter. 8x10 inch ... 
 
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)
Crossing Guard: 1937
San Francisco, 1937. "Don Lee Oldsmobile on Golden Gate Bridge with police officer." Whose ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/04/2015 - 8:16am -

San Francisco, 1937. "Don Lee Oldsmobile on Golden Gate Bridge with police officer." Whose cruiser we can see reflected in the bumper. 8x10 acetate negative, originally from the Wyland Stanley collection. View full size. Those streetlightsare just about the coolest thing I've ever seen. Also, there's a great article in the Hemmings Daily Blog today about Don Lee, his early coachbuilding company, and his connection to Harley Earl, who launched GM's Art and Colour section in 1927. Funhouse mirrorhttp://i.imgur.com/kEKA1k4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/BXZ2N3x.jpg Olds AsideThose lights and their supports are superb. Look like something from today's catalogs. Good design endures. Agree, the new 'boxes' don't work quite as well as those originals. Disappointing to say the least. Old copsI love old movies and I always wonder why all the cops in movies from the '30s and '40s seem to be 50 years old. Maybe because most were, judging from this photo. Bridge lights nowSometime before 1980, the original sodium vapor lamps were replaced with boxy units. The standards were retained, but I was bummed by the result. Watch this spaceJudging by the pile of dirt in the middle of the bridge deck and the casual (parked) stance of the subjects, San Francisco's signature span must have been in its final days of construction. I certainly remember the first time I drove over it upon my return from Vietnam some 45 years ago, but I've never appreciated the lights before. Thanks, fellow Shorpy buffs! Your Father's OldsmobileThe panel below the short '37 Olds grille was supposed to suggest front-wheel-drive -- engineering which at the time was limited to expensive exotics, race cars, and the innovative, high-priced Cord cars. In reality, it would have taken considerably more than a cleverly styled valance to take the Olds image -- or performance -- out of the realm of solid, stolid, and ho-hum. Lesser modelRepresenting the dealer is a six cylinder Olds. The up-scale 8 had a waffle pattern grill. Both engines were thankfully improved from the 1936 offering. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, Cars, Trucks, Buses, San Francisco, W. Stanley)
Trick or Treat: 1937
1937. Rowan County, N.C. "Maxwell Chambers house, Spencer vicinity. Structure ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 1:20pm -

1937. Rowan County, N.C. "Maxwell Chambers house, Spencer vicinity. Structure dates to ca. 1800-1810." Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. And it still exists!?Hard to believe unless this is a different Maxwell Chambers house. Heavily modified but the view with four upper windows looks the same. Our gangOK, If you want to join our gang you have to knock on the door and then count to 10 before you run away. A Closer LookBoo. Leave 'em aloneThis is the perfect haunted house, BETTER than anything the movies have depicted, since there appears to be several apparitions, reflections, shadows and forms showing up in several of the windows, even the one at ground level in the cellar. There is what looks like two large space alien eyes appearing over the broken slats in the shutter just to the right of the door and a womanly white shape in the window to the right of that. There is definitely something showing up in the left window, first floor and the second floor windows on the right. A ghost hunter told my daughter that they often appear as reflective, unexplainable, translucent orbs in photographs but I see none of those here. Still I feel this is a verifiable, ghost-occupied house of a happy family of spirits that just want to be left alone. Happy Halloween. Carnivale!Instantly reminded me of the kind of place Ben would have visited. I wonder ...Seeing a photo of a place like this always makes me wonder, what did it look like when it was brand new? who would have lived there? What happened to those people? Why did the house end up abandoned? (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston, Halloween)
Inner Sanctum: 1937
New Orleans, 1937. "Courtyard entrance, 1133-1135 Chartres St." Seen here from another ... 
 
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)
Park Here: 1937
July 1937. "Parking lot in Washington, D.C." Medium-format negative by Russell Lee ... got built on narrow right-of-way lots. Too bad there's no 1937 Street View to click on and see what the facade looked like. Roadster ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/03/2015 - 10:03pm -

July 1937. "Parking lot in Washington, D.C." Medium-format negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Convertible RoadsterVery interested to identify the convertible roadster parked next to the attendant's station. Has a suitcase luggage rack mounted on the rear. What a lovely automobile. Spite Wall or Spaghetti Factory?I was intrigued by the ghost of an old house on the wall at right, and then realized that the wall itself seems to be part of a two-story building that is not even as wide as the length of the cars parked next to it. The brick roof parapet appears to be on all three visible sides of the structure, and encloses chimneys and skylights. If it's actually part of the lower structure at the far right, that's a very unusual layout for an old American urban brick building, but such things sometimes got built on narrow right-of-way lots. Too bad there's no 1937 Street View to click on and see what the facade looked like. Roadster ID suggestion1931 Cadillac or LaSalle. Note two cowl vents and fender lamps, features of both Cadillac & its companion make LaSalle. Car Show77 years later, the cars in this parking lot could be the entries in a very nice vintage car show. Some beautiful vehicles here! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Russell Lee)
Happy, Happy: 1937
1937. Washington, D.C. "Elder Michaux, Happy News Cafe." The radio evangelist ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/12/2011 - 7:21pm -

1937. Washington, D.C. "Elder Michaux, Happy News Cafe." The radio evangelist and a young admirer at the Happy News, where indeed everyone is beaming with delight. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Happy Am IElder Lightfoot Solomon Michaux is one of the few people on Shorpy (excepting movie stars & past-presidents) for which there is surviving video on the web. Here he is with his choir singing "Happy Am I." While obviously a very happy man indeed, he was also pragmatic: "This text will not be preached, until the collection has been reached." Bonus: I love that syncopated clapping. What a wonderfulphotograph. What would our country be like today if we could just maintain such attitudes? Thanks to Stanton Square for the very enjoyable video. Happy I AmDuring the Depression people needed to be uplifted in more ways than one. Happy I am! Elder MichauxAfter watching the video, I gotta say the guy is smooth. And his services were characterized by high production values! Pioneer broadcasterTime Magazine - June 11, 1934...devotional exercises, interspersed with a rollicking theme hymn called "Happy Am I," have become familiar to many a U. S. radio listener during the past year. Broadcast from Washington over the CBS network every Saturday night, the Church of God of Elder Solomon Lightfoot Michaux is a lively Negro romp, noisy and syncopated as some white folks believe all black worship should be... ...Elder Michaux sometimes conducts mammoth baptismal services, with white-clad participants splashing in the river or Chesapeake Bay and spectators on gaily decorated barges and excursion boats. Last summer he scandalized District of Columbia officials by asking leave to baptize a flock in the reflecting pool in front of Lincoln Memorial... Encyclopedia of American gospel music - On September 24, 1951, at the anniversary program celebrating twenty years of broadcasting, Michaux...received congratulatory telegrams from General D.Eisenhower and many other Washington leaders. Elder MichauxI am inspired by Elder Michaux's life and recently discovered his gravesite in Hampton, VA. My grandmother lived in the neighborhood of his Newport News church and attended his tent revivals and she has fond memories of the Elder which she has shared with me on numerous occassions. The video of the singing of the Happy, Am I song is priceless. I have also written several articles on my blog about Elder Michaux. http://findyourfolks.blogspot.com/search/label/Michaux Professor Dru Find Your Folks Blog My memories of Elder MichauxI thought about my aunt and uncle now that they have gone on to be with the Lord. They started out with Elder Michaux and helped work on the farm in Williamsburg, and I have fond memories of the stories she tells of how he started and founded the seven churches. Those were memorable moments I will always treasure. I thank God for Elder Michaux, he was a great man of God. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Harris + Ewing, Kids)
On Walden Pond: 1937
September 1937. Concord, Massachusetts. "At Walden Pond, haunt of Thoreau." View full ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/14/2008 - 11:31am -

September 1937. Concord, Massachusetts. "At Walden Pond, haunt of Thoreau." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Edwin Locke for the Resettlement Administration. We wonder where Thoreau rented his swimsuits back in the day. WowLast time I was at Walden, it was a park and they didn't have any stores nearby. I loved going there to relax after working a night shift. I also love the sign stating you can get a Frappe since I moved to California I can only get milkshakes! I wish I could go back in time, because the store looks like it would be a fun place to go to. Walden PondFrom the Sports Illustrated archives. Oct. 28, 1957: Walden Pond, on whose wild shores and idle waters Henry David Thoreau lingered more than 100 years ago, has, like much of that early, innocent world, been changed by bulldozers, a trailer camp named Walden Breezes, hot dog stands and old beer cans. In the name of recreation, trees were felled on the eastern shore to make an addition to the present beach area, a slope was stripped and a concrete bathhouse and a paved road to the water were proposed. On weekends, Walden Pond resembles a rustic Coney Island. RoyalsWhat are royals? They sound tasty. WaldenI grew up in Concord and much of the "Coney Island" stuff was still there into the 1960s, albeit very much toned down. As you drove down Route 126, just past what used to be the town dump on the left, was the entrance to the Walden Breezes trailer park. Back in the 70s it was bought by the state, with the proviso that existing residents could stay there as long as they wanted. Just past the trailer park was the stand, or a similar looking successor, shown in the photo. It was much less gaudy in the early 60s. The bath house was an ugly cinder block structure down on the beach. If you go back to the late 1800s, there was a bandstand built out over the water and a horse racing track on the far side of the pond. Trains from Boston would stop there. At some point the bandstand burned and fell into the water. Frappes and milkshakesFor those who have never been to New England, a frappe is what everyone else in the U.S. calls a milkshake; but here, a milkshake is just that -- no ice cream involved. (The Gallery, Edwin Locke, Travel & Vacation)
Winter Haven: 1937
January 1937. Family of a migratory fruit worker from Tennessee, camped in a field near ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:38am -

January 1937. Family of a migratory fruit worker from Tennessee, camped in a field near a citrus packer at Winter Haven, Florida. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. Baby With Scissors!Not exactly the most kid-friendly toy! I love the look of the little girl on the right. The rest seem so intense. Two Families?This looks like two related families--the women in the dark dress looks as old as the one in the light dress and the kids sort of divide up by hair color. Maybe a sister-in-law? Migratory CampersThe family looks to be neat, the clothes (what we can see of them) don't seem to be shabby and even the car (again, what we can see of it) almost shines. They don't appear to be the usual down and out migrant workers. The scissors wielder may be the family barber. Is there more to this story? [More of them here. And here. - Dave] My thoughts exactlyTheir expressions are so intense, as though they are seeing another human for the first time ever. Inquisitive and guarded. More LikelyI think it's more likely that the "woman" in the dark dress (holding her hand to her face) is probably the eldest daughter of the family. I'd guess that like the other kids she's standing on the running board of the car. There's no real indication that she's even advanced into puberty (or if she had, is very far down that road). Remember in the days of teenage marriage, when "effective" birth control, particularly for the rural poor, consisted primarily of the rhythm method, coitus interruptus, and prayer, they had them early and often. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kids)
A Million Newsstand Readers: 1937
... in Washington, D.C. Photograph by John Vachon, November, 1937. View full size. Hungry Children? I'm sitting here looking at ... seem like they say "I'm hungry!" I hope not but it is 1937. A million newsstand readers.... but how many buying? Ewww… ... 
 
Posted by Ken - 09/08/2011 - 8:38pm -

Children browse a street market in Washington, D.C. Photograph by John Vachon, November, 1937. View full size. Hungry Children?I'm sitting here looking at these children and hoping that they are well fed. The look on the girl's face and the boy touching the canned food, seem like they say "I'm hungry!" I hope not but it is 1937. A million newsstand readers....but how many buying? Ewww…Look at those rotten orang… Hey, wait a minute! That's paper! (The Gallery, D.C., John Vachon, Kids, Stores & Markets)
Character Study: 1937
January 1937. Ottawa, Illinois. "Two types living along the waterfront." Photo by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/30/2013 - 7:09am -

January 1937. Ottawa, Illinois. "Two types living along the waterfront." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Hanging tagNo way to be sure, but I remember from my youth that Bull Durham had a tag just like that. A bag of so-so tobacco in a little sack with a drawstring closure attached to the tag and with 20 cigarette papers. Much cheaper than "ready rolls"; Bull Durham was 5 cents. After you opened the sack and poured an adequate amount of tobacco into the paper, the smoker closed the bag by pulling on the tag with his/her teeth. The other hand was holding the loose tobacco in the paper ready to roll 'er up and smoke. Which waterfront?The Illinois River Valley includes the river, of course, but also the I&M Canal. The river was dammed for barge navigation in the early 1930s, but that did not prevent flooding. My guess is that this photo may have been taken nearer the old canal, which still sports some old structures. No other word would sufficeother than "types" WaterfrontThe word waterfront today finds itself in such phrases as “luxury waterfront condos” or “exclusive waterfront residences.” These two guys live down by the river. DepressedThese 2 guys, most likely WW1 veterans, look like they're as close to the abyss as they could get. The tag hanging from the pocket of the fellow on the left is probably attached to a pouch of chewing tobacco which was probably not his worst habit. Hopefully their situations improved, but I have my doubts. I expectTheir stations did improve with the outbreak of World War II if they could hold on that long. Too old by that time for military service, they would have been able to get jobs in defense work on the homefront. By the end of hostilities, unless their bad habits intervened, they could have launched into more productive pursuits. Tell me about the RabbitsWhich one is George? Their handsTheir hands indicate that these gents are no strangers to hard work. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
Don't Go There: 1937
April 1937. Shawneetown, Illinois. "An old residence near the levee after the flood." ... they were able to save it.... High water mark? that 1937 Ohio River Flood was a doozy, as the flotsam scattered about gives ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/25/2015 - 2:20pm -

April 1937. Shawneetown, Illinois. "An old residence near the levee after the flood." Photo by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. The Bones Look GoodActually, it seems like a beautiful house under all the old vines and the debris. Hope they were able to save it.... High water mark?that 1937 Ohio River Flood was a doozy, as the flotsam scattered about gives evidence. I'm looking for a high-water mark on the building but don't see one. Maybe halfway up the shed wall on the far left? But that doesn't seem high enough. Modern Chairs!Good to see some things dont go out of style! I have some wood backyard chairs that are very similar to the ones in the yard (right hand side of picture)! (The Gallery, Fires, Floods etc., Russell Lee)
Strike Lounge: 1937
January 1937. Flint, Michigan. "Sit-down strikers. Fisher Body plant No. 3." The labor ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/17/2019 - 1:19pm -

January 1937. Flint, Michigan. "Sit-down strikers. Fisher Body plant No. 3." The labor action that led to the unionization of the American auto industry. Note the "sleeping car" at right. Photo by Sheldon Dick. View full size. One for the history books, literallyMy U.S. History class in high school used this image when discussing the changes in labor laws in the early 20th century. Cool to see it again! Home decor requisitesI simply must get a blanket rope and ashtray installed on the back of my sofa! Spiffy bunchLove the relaxing accommodations... bench seats all around! But saddle shoes and brogans on the assembly line -- what's up with that? Seems nobody's really expecting the work to get too hard or too dirty, strike notwithstanding. Now I knowwhy my Uncles 1936 car came with no back seat. Fisher 3?I believe that this terrific photo was made inside Fisher 1 on Saginaw Street. Flint had two Fisher Body plants, Fisher 1 and 2. Most of the strike activities in Flint took place at Fisher 1 and 2 with strikes also taking place at Cleveland, KC and Atlanta. Music to strike byI believe that is a gramaphone between the table abd the Tic Tac Tow car. Not to mentiion a large stack of platters on the table. [It's a radio-phonograph console. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Factories, Sheldon Dick)
A Fresh Start: 1937
Washington, D.C., 1937. "Baby's bath" is all it says here. If you recognize yourself 78 years ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/02/2015 - 10:50am -

Washington, D.C., 1937. "Baby's bath" is all it says here. If you recognize yourself 78 years later, let us know. Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. Bassinettes and BathinettesThis is a bathinette. The flat top can be seen hanging behind. That made it a changing table. Some had a ruler printed on the top so baby's growth could be documented. A bassinette was usually made of woven wood with folding legs and wheels. A skirt made of nylon net was de rigueur. So babies got their own furniture plus daily laundry ... belly bands, tar soap, boric acid, cradle cap, rubber pants, diaper pins, hard-soled shoes.. sterilized bottles, pablum ? I sure feel old! No, I don't recognize himBut I do notice two other things: 1) the photographer did not accurately focus on his/her subject, but it was probably close enough for whatever purpose this image served prior to being posted on the internet at hi-res for me to criticize, and 2) what's up with the elaborate (and flimsy) baby bath setup?!? Just put the kid in the tub you already have back there, already! I suppose the idea was to bring the kid closer to Mom, and to use less water. But for me it would still be just an unnecessarily complicated and wobbly piece of junk to take up space in the bathroom. [Even if you are unfamiliar with the multipurpose item of baby furniture known as the bassinet, you probably got yourself changed on one. - Dave] Babies and BathwaterSure hope the kid is still with us, as opposed to those unfortunates that went down the drain. BathinetteMy aunt had one of these strange things. You toted the water in a bucket, and drained it out with a hose in the bottom. It might have been mainly a "first child" thing. I know my mother bathed my sisters in a basin or a sink, and I think my aunt did after the first kid. You could close the lid and use it as a changing table. A disclaimer, perhaps?Dave, can you please zoom in on that label below the handle on the bassinet? ["???MOR MANUFACTURING CORP." -tterrace] Where does the water comes out from?Anyone noticed the washbasin does not have a faucet - just three knobs? [Presumably it's the "integral spout" type similar to this. -tterrace] The Bathinette CompanyMy mother had one in the early 1950s. I don't know if she had one for me a decade earlier. It was made by the Bathinette Company. It was the best way for her to give my baby brother a bath and then flip the top up and powder and diaper him. It had a handy drain hose and I was fascinated with the way it folded up for storage. (I was easily amazed back then) (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Kids)
One Flight Up: 1937
May 7, 1937. "William Goldberg, 771 Broadway, Manhattan." 8x10 gelatin silver print by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/06/2016 - 10:04am -

May 7, 1937. "William Goldberg, 771 Broadway, Manhattan." 8x10 gelatin silver print by Berenice Abbott for the Federal Art Project. Changing New York Collection, New York Public Library. View full size. RatiosLooks like "2 for 1" suits Goldberg got 8 for 1 from his sign maker. Free AlterationsDuring the early 1950's, when mens' suits with two pairs of pants were the norm, I remember going to NYC with my father when he needed to buy clothes. We lived in a small Ct. town with only one clothing store where styles and sizes were very limited, plus we were always looking for an excuse to go to NYC. This type of store pictured with most of their stock upstairs was pretty common at that time The ground floor would often show just a sample of what was available but the upstairs floors (sometimes two or three) had lofts crammed with endless racks of clothing, thousands of choices, fabrics and sizes along with all the dressing rooms and a tailor who made sure your purchase would fit properly. They would often negotiate for a lower price and if you bought a suit or overcoat, they would usually throw in a free shirt or tie or belt (and I don't mean in the kisser). My father liked a bargain and always felt like he would get one in New York. Free AlterationsDuring the early 1950's, when mens' suits with two pairs of pants were the norm, I remember going to NYC with my father when he needed to buy clothes. We lived in a small Ct. town with only one clothing store where styles and sizes were very limited and prices were high, plus we were always looking for an excuse to go to NYC. This type of store pictured with most of their stock upstairs was pretty common at that time The ground floor would often show just a sample of what was available but the upstairs floors (sometimes two or three) had lofts crammed with endless racks of clothing, thousands of choices, fabrics and sizes along with all the dressing rooms and a tailor who made sure your purchase would fit properly. They would often negotiate for a lower price and if you bought a suit or overcoat, they would usually throw in a free shirt or tie or belt (and I don't mean in the kisser). My father liked a bargain and always felt like he would get one in New York. I lose on every salebut I make it up on volume! Upstairs, UpstairsDid Mr. Goldberg mention he was located upstairs? Bargain BasementsMy retail experience always taught me that it was easier to get a customer to walk down stairs than to trudge up. Basements were more welcoming. I'm Looking for a Cheap SuitCan anyone tell me where I might find Goldberg's? I was told it was around here somewhere. (The Gallery, Berenice Abbott, NYC, Stores & Markets)
The Lumberjack Way: 1937
September 1937. "Cooks drying 'silverware' in logging camp near Effie, Minnesota." Medium ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/23/2018 - 10:22am -

September 1937. "Cooks drying 'silverware' in logging camp near Effie, Minnesota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size. SorryCan't see that one after years of watching Shorpy. Look for it in the yellow boxǝpᴉɹd Boys will be boys... but with a swan??? That's Greek mythologyLeda and the Swan. The Lumberjack DietThink I'll skip lunch today. Thanks Dave. Highbrow eroticaLeda and the Swan (Zeus). Tumble-dried mascot"Silverware" was probably the name of the camp mutt. Missing in actionWhat, no hair nets? (The Gallery, Kitchens etc., Russell Lee)
Walker Evans: 1937
The photographer Walker Evans in a February 1937 portrait by his colleague Edwin Locke. 35mm negative, Farm Security ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/28/2007 - 12:26am -

The photographer Walker Evans in a February 1937 portrait by his colleague Edwin Locke. 35mm negative, Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pow!This is a stunning, powerful, portrait! Have to order a copy immediately! [Order received. Thanks. - Dave] IndeedWell Johnny you truly are correct, an amazing photo, what wonderful emotions. (The Gallery, Edwin Locke, Portraits, Walker Evans)
Pavement Ends: 1937
March 1937. "Wind erosion has desolated this once luxuriant bunch grass country in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/28/2013 - 9:26am -

March 1937. "Wind erosion has desolated this once luxuriant bunch grass country in Idaho. Resettlement is restoring the land for grazing." Photo by Wilbur Staats for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. A Tad OlderI'd say there's a real good chance that's a Dodge Brothers' Touring car, alright, but it's older than a 1927 model (which was a much more substantial car). It's more likely a 1917 like this one: DodgyThe car is probably not a Dodge. The company does not appear to have used headlights mounted on a "U" shaped post on its cars. Even if it was a Dodge it would have to be earlier than 1922 as Dodge used 'suicide' rear doors from 1922 to 1948 except for the very low volume phaetons (1928 on) and station wagons. The sloping cowl had disappeared from most cars by the early 1920s with the notable exception of the Ford Model T. The wheelbase also looks like it is more than the 110 and 114 inches Dodge used on all Dodge cars from 1914 to 1923. If the picture is correctly shown the hole for the steering column is on the right hand side, but Dodge does not appear to have built any right hand drive cars for the U.S. market. WaitingToo long for the tow truck! It is a great image though. Nice fabric jobWhile the rest of the car is rapidly returning to nature, the upholstery on the rear seat looks to be in very good condition. Great picture!Dodge Brothers, about 10 years old when the picture was taken. They loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly...But they didn't quite make it. Still not a DodgeThe fenders of the blue Dodge and the car in the Shorpy photo are not the same. Notice how much longer the overhang is on the Shorpy photo. Also, the blue Dodge has lights mounted on the fenders instead of on the "U" shaped post as shown in the Shorpy photo. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Clark's Corner: 1937
January 1937. Brevard County, Florida. "Roadstand near Cocoa." Photo by Arthur ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/13/2014 - 5:47pm -

January 1937. Brevard County, Florida. "Roadstand near Cocoa." Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Cocoa Beach!Just wait another thirty years, give or take. A bottle will wash up on the shore, to be discovered by an astronaut on a training exercise. [No bottles will be washing up in Cocoa, which is on the Indian River and about 8 miles from Cocoa Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. - Ken] Pop. 120As described in Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State (Federal Writers' Project, 1939): "INDIAN RIVER CITY, 50.9m (19 alt., 120 pop.) formerly called Clark's Corner, consists of a few stucco houses, filling stations, and a post office, overlooking the broad reaches of the river. Indian River City is at the junction with State 22 (see Tour 9). South of Indian River City dense growths of palms and pines flank U.S. 1; palmetto thickets and low green shrubbery add to the beauty of the water views." In Color!Corner of (now) SR50 and US1. Postcard from the State Archives of Florida, (Florida Memory). I HAD to look it upa TEMPLE is a bright orange red colored fruit, oval shaped, easy to peel and a cross between an orange and a tangerine, it has lots of seeds and a bitter orange flesh under the skin. TitusvilleThis stand was about 20 minutes away from Cocoa and 30 miles from Cocoa Beach. The corner is in Titusville (I live within walking distance of it). Indian River City was consolidated with Titusville back in the 60's. Today if you look across that river you can see Kennedy Space Center. There is nothing left of the buildings in the post card. It's now a busy intersection with a Walgreens and a gas station. The temple orangeThe temple orange originated in Winter Park Florida, developed by Louis Hakes and named after W. C. Temple, both residents of Winter Park. There's a Temple Drive and Temple Trail in Winter Park, the latter leading into the neighborhood in which I grew up. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Eateries & Bars, Florida, Stores & Markets)
Nanty Glo Slag Pickers: 1937
... coal from the slag heaps at Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania. 1937. They get 10 cents for each hundred-pound sack. View full size. Photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/08/2011 - 11:31am -

Boys salvaging coal from the slag heaps at Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania. 1937. They get 10 cents for each hundred-pound sack. View full size. Photo by Ben Shahn. Nant Y GloNant Y Glo is Welsh for Coal Valley My Dad walked off seconds before the famous pic was made.Two lifetimes and ten thousand memories ago, the two boys in the world famous photo were my fathers best friends. The boy on the right was "The Swede". The boy on the left had a Disney nickname, I think it was "Cricket" after Jiminy Cricket which he got in High School. I do remember my father saying he was never without the hat as it hid the fact his folks were too poor to afford a decent haircut. To see a picture of my Old Man seven years later with the two lads image search Lou Mc Hugh. Find the WWII picture of the sailor posing with the Nanty Glo football team. "The Swede" is standing to my fathers right. The other boy is front row second from right. They were saying good bye to my dad as he shipped out for Atlantic Fleet convoy duty. To verify my dads Depression Nanty Glo credentials, click on the Lou Mc Hugh picture of the sailor in helmet posing next to the naval cannon. See the inscription on the barrell. Nanty-Glo. Now subtract 8 years from a 1943 sailor and you get an eleven year old boy. I met the Swede at my moms funeral in 1988... (Ben Shahn, Great Depression, Kids, Mining, NYC)
Little Cousin: 1937
August 1937. "Indian girl and her baby cousin. Blueberry pickers' camp, Littlefork, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/02/2010 - 1:40pm -

August 1937. "Indian girl and her baby cousin. Blueberry pickers' camp, Littlefork, Minnesota." Medium format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Contrasting ViewsShe is quite pretty; he is not amused. Excellent! Looks likesomeone I once knew. Not a Happy CamperMaybe it's the shoes? Another wonderful shot by Russell LeeWith the late afternoon sun lighting up their faces, you can clearly see how much the girl cares for her young niece. Yet another Russell Lee photograph that qualifies as "art" in my book! Thanks, Dave. [Cousin, not niece. And the kid is a boy. - Dave] Making a livingThese two Ojibwe (Chippewa) were most likely from nearby Bois Forte Indian Reservation near Nett Lake in Koochiching County, Minnesota. Wild blueberry picking was one of few sources of income for the Chippewa at that time. My family provided guiding to out-of-area fishermen and hunters for a living in addition to picking wild blueberries during that period for which buyers would pay 10 cents a pound. The little guy in this photo is probably expressing what I remember mostly of those times out in the bush picking berries, it always seemed to be hot, lots of annoying bugs all day long. Baby boy?I seem to have missed something. How do we know that the baby is a boy. "Indian girl and her baby cousin. Blueberry pickers' camp, Littlefork, Minnesota." Was there more to the photo notation than what was posted? [Caption information for the other photos of these two note that the child is a boy. - Dave] (The Gallery, Kids, Russell Lee)
Maryland Junk: 1937
October 1937. "Houses near the railroad tracks. Hagerstown, Maryland." Our title comes ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/01/2017 - 10:54am -

October 1937. "Houses near the railroad tracks. Hagerstown, Maryland." Our title comes from the storefront on the left. 4x5 inch acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Important AnniversaryNote the sign announcing a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam the previous month. There were many souvenirs of this event, one of the last times that living veterans were able to meet. Among these commemorative pieces was a United States half dollar. High FlightLooks like a couple of aspiring aviators sitting on the porch. Two Bits no moreEven your local tonsorium had to raise prices. Pane full viewMaybe not much to look out toward but there is a lot to peer in to. Like an Edward Hopper Painting!What a beautiful composition! It reminds me of an Edward Hopper painting, particularly his "Early Sunday Morning" (1930), now at the Whitney Museum of American Art. What the museum's website says about Hopper could be equally applied to Rothstein's photograph: it has an "emphasis on simplified forms, painterly surfaces, and studiously constructed compositions." C.G. Dodson's World's Fair ShowsFormer performers and their descendants have quite a visible and thriving presence online. The poster in the window on the right is here. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Bicycles, Railroads, Stores & Markets)
Lock the Car: 1937
July 1937. "Georgia road sign." Photo by Dorothea Lange, who seems to have ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/08/2014 - 11:06pm -

July 1937. "Georgia road sign." Photo by Dorothea Lange, who seems to have appreciated quirky signs. More to come later in the week. View full size. SignThe owner of that sign should sue McDonald's. [For want of an "r" the suit was lost. -tterrace] LOL?I'm not sure if "LOL" counts as a real comment on here, but, I did. Georgia needs sign spell-checkThis reminds me of a sign I saw in Georgia while driving from Columbus to Augusta back in the early '70s: "PLAM READER." Her clairvoyant powers didn't extend to spelling, it seems. Loose DefinitionHambuglars n. Cockney expression Amateur Cornetist Ex: Irving Berlin song, "Someday I'm going to murder the Buglar". Trichinosis anyone?All the right ingredients! (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Eateries & Bars)
Winter Palace: 1937
December 1937. "House in disrepair. Abandoned farm community. Dalton, Allegany County, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/03/2017 - 4:55pm -

December 1937. "House in disrepair. Abandoned farm community. Dalton, Allegany County, New York." Photo by Arthur Rothstein. View full size. Beautiful DisasterIt would be lovely to see a picture of what the house looked like in its prime. As my father would say, it looks like it's got "good bones." I don't envy the person who had to clean all those windows, though. That was an all-day affair. Shifting SandsDid something move? The house, to me, gives the appearance of being built on a beach, especially given the wrap-around porches. And there is no beach in that area. And, according to my map, Dalton is not in Allegany County but rather Livingston County. [Dalton addresses include locations in Allegany County. - Dave] Winter SandIn the Northeast we call it "snow." Oops.Closer examination reveals my mistaken identification of sand is actually snow. Please excuse my mistake. We here in Houston very rarely get snow. The most abundant natural element we get is water, and more water and ... [Another clue would be the title of the post. - Dave] White as sand versus as snow I too thought sand and dunes when I first saw this photograph. But just now, when I went for a closer look at how the building was put together, the white is snow. Suddenly it's a lot colder out. Building went from charming derelict to abandoned ruin in my mind. No ThanksI would suggest that the last owner realized the old place needed a complete paint job and justly decided to simply walk away. First a right, then a left, then an uppercutOh man, you guys are rough on poor Sandy, I mean Randy! An understandable mistake from a distance without clicking the photo for a closer look. However, another clue might be that "sand" drifting around the edges of the upper floor balcony. All in good fun Randy, each of us gets a turn over Dave's barrel. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Arthur Rothstein)
Truckin: 1937
Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Repairing government trucks at the Treasury procurement section." Harris ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/15/2012 - 12:10pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Repairing government trucks at the Treasury procurement section." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Carb QueryIs it possible to get a close up of the carburetor? There a word stamped on it, and I can't quite read it. [It's a Carter carburetor. Or "Carbureter," as the company spelled it. - Dave] Stylin'Cool socks. StraightforwardDon't you just love the simplicity of that engine? Pre-regulation power and performance -- and yes, pre-regulation pollution -- but it didn't take a rocket surgeon to keep one running either. VentedI noticed that they are both wearing the same types of shoes with vent holes in the side. Procurers of ...What do you think the Treasury was procuring there in the "fuel yard," way back yonder? Nudge, nudge, wink wink, say no more. By the way, it's easy to see here the origin of the term "well-heeled," which is what these guys were not, even if their shoes were Buicks. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Commuter Parking: 1937
November 1937. "School at Greenbelt, Maryland." Notable for being an early planned ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 3:38pm -

November 1937. "School at Greenbelt, Maryland." Notable for being an early planned community, one of three "Green-" towns midwifed by the Depression-era Resettlement Administration. 35mm negative by John Vachon. View full size. Oh, the Old DaysWish the kids now days knew the joy of coming out after school and finding your "unlocked" bike still standing exactly were you left it, unmolested. mode of transportToday, kids only come to school by S.U.V. Sad. GreenbeltA bit down at the heels today, but still a very pleasant place. Opponents of government "interference" in relentless growth should have a look at Greenbelt and then another local community like Bladensburg or Laurel. bikesI agree with Sugapea. My husband and I both graduated from the University of Maryland in 2005 (College Park is just down the street from Greenbelt). He had 3 locked bikes stolen before he just gave up. GreenbeltI lived in Greenbelt from 1948 to 1951 (14x Hillside Rd). It was the most walkable and safe environment you could ask for. But it was also segregated...no African-Americans allowed. Had they been permitted to live there when I did, it still would have been a wonderful place to live, and I am sure they would have been welcomed. After all, in 1948, Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby were already playing in the Major Leagues and Truman had already integrated the armed forces. Little Red WagonThat little red wagon reminds me of the similar wagons we had in my nursery school yard back about 1952. We'd get on them with one knee in the wagon, and our hands controlling the handle in front, and we'd zip ourselves along with our other foot on the ground, more or less like a scooter. We really clipped along! I'll bet that's what that wagon was use for, (as opposed to being pulled with something in it). Something&#039;s wrong hereDoor propped wide open No guard at the door No hall monitor No metal detector No graffiti on the brickwork and >gasp!< that faucet still has a knob on it! Tag saleIf this was a tag sale these items would be gone so fast it'd make your head swim! (The Gallery, Bicycles, Education, Schools, John Vachon)
Rear Windows: 1937
1937. "Legges House (rear), 101 East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina." ... the second floor was the "summer kitchen" at least in 1937 when the picture was taken, but given what appears to be an old fireplace ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/13/2017 - 5:58pm -

1937. "Legges House (rear), 101 East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina." 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Summer Kitchen?I imagine the second floor was the "summer kitchen" at least in 1937 when the picture was taken, but given what appears to be an old fireplace on the OUTSIDE at the base of the chimney (note soot inside the recess), this must have once been part of a larger structure at one time, perhaps another house by itself? Still there!Although it has been fixed up a bit... VinesThose vines aren't doing the masonry any favors, and it looks to be in tough shape already. My wife's family had a very pretty ivy-covered chimney. I was shocked at the condition of the brickwork, when I pulled the ivy off. The foliage holds moisture in the mortar, and that, combined with the New England winters, is a Bad Thing. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
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