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A Higher Power: 1937
March 2, 1937. New York City. "St. Paul's chapel and churchyard, Broadway and Fulton ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/01/2019 - 1:03pm -

March 2, 1937. New York City. "St. Paul's chapel and churchyard, Broadway and Fulton streets." Overshadowed by two proto-skyscrapers from the 1890s, the Park Row and St. Paul buildings. Photo by Arnold Moses for the Historic American Buildings Survey. View full size. 3:11 PMIt's odd to see a church tower with a clock. Clocks are more often seen on banks or government buildings. My very first thought on this imageIf I lived in the building on the back left, I really would have loved to have a friend in the opposite building so I could walk back and forth across those steel beams each day to hang out. Other than that, it's an amazing photo. Time and Time againSt. Paul's and Trinity, just down the street at the head of Wall Street, both have clocks. The clock at St. Paul's was stopped by the dust of 9/11. (same parish). The one in Trinity's tower was used to signal the start of the New Year. Before Times Square, people would gather at Trinity on New Year's Eve and celebrate when the clock struck midnight. Matter of perceptive (pun intended)Even meets the traditional city ordinance that no profane building shall be higher than the church spire. Still haunting meI had the privilege of visiting and photographing this cemetery in 2011. It's across the street from Ground Zero and the new World Trade Center, which was still under construction then. All of the trees are grown tall now; most of the gravestones are under leafy shade. Nothing was harmed in the terrorist attacks, and they used the church building as a place of refuge and refreshment for the first responders. There's a pew where George Washington worshiped ... back in the day. WOW!Love the new look! [Thanks. It is a work in progress! - Dave] BackwardsYou are looking at the front of the chapel. While you now enter on Broadway, the front is shown here - the altar is on the Broadway side. Most people think the Broadway side is the front. The archivist for Trinity/St Paul's theorizes that after his inauguration, Washington who famously worshiped here, traveled from Wall Street where he was sworn in, to St. P's by boat - as it was faster. At the time, the graveyard was on a gently sloping hill that lead led to the Hudson River. I was in there the Sunday after 9/11. It was dusty, but there wasn't a crystal off the chandelier, or a crack in the ceiling. The only loss was a single tree, an insignificant sycamore, and not a very old one at that. Barnum's American Museum was once across the street. When it burned for the last time, he put the show on the road, and under the big top. (The Gallery, HABS, NYC)
Refugees: 1937
Feb. 1937. "Refugees from the 1937 flood in their tent of the camp in Marianna, Arkansas." Photo by Edwin ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/05/2013 - 9:18pm -

Feb. 1937. "Refugees from the 1937 flood in their tent of the camp in Marianna, Arkansas." Photo by Edwin Locke, Resettlement Administration. View full size. Talcum powder!I couldn't figure out what the can in the mother's lap was, until a movie I just happened to have on, "Penny Serenade" (1941), showed Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe on "Petticoat Junction") dressing a baby after a bath and asking for a can of talcum powder! This was a beautiful family and I hope their situation soon improved. They really areA beautiful looking family. I wonder if the "baby" is still around, or maybe the parents as well. Great shot. GorgeousJust wanted to echo the fact that this family is absolutely beautiful. (The Gallery, Edwin Locke, Fires, Floods etc., Kids)
Club Med: 1937
February 1937. "Abandoned house on the Withlacoochee Land Use Project, Florida." Medium ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/18/2018 - 12:05am -

February 1937. "Abandoned house on the Withlacoochee Land Use Project, Florida." Medium format nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Liv-o-MedLooks like it took care of just about everything--even biliousness! Any "colorizers" out there looking for a little something to do? Three Sixes for malaria?Is that "Malaria" on the partially-obscured 666 (called "Three Sixes" in their radio ads) sign? I've always seen the "COLDS FEVER" signs, but I never heard them make a claim for curing malaria. Also, I would be particularly interested in the dirt track racing at the Florida State Fair, but sadly, that was last year's (the 1936) fair. Black-DraughtToo graphic for my sensibilities! Royal American ShowsOnce the largest Midway provider in North America with a 60 car train to transport the rides and various games and booths. Out of business by the 70's but my childhood remembers them well. The sign they needed most?Post no bills. [Or: BOAST NO PILLS. - Dave] Stop or I'll Dazzle!Is that a row of bottle caps nailed to the board bottom left of the house--a makeshift guardrail or just for show? Now that's forward thinking!On the left side of the house below the 666 for colds and fever sign is a lonely poster advertising the 1938 Fair Feb 4 to 15. Only a year in advance. Now that's planning! [It's actually an old sign for the 1936 fair. -tterrace] (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Florida)
Stamps Gas Coke: 1937
August 1937. "Post office in Gemmell, Minnesota." One-stop shopping for a variety of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/23/2013 - 1:30pm -

August 1937. "Post office in Gemmell, Minnesota." One-stop shopping for a variety of needs. Photo by Russell Lee, Resettlement Administration. View full size. All you need to make you GoEx-Lax, orange juice and gasoline. That's all I need for speed. I miss seeing these little combination stores and post offices. They're about all gone from our area. One I visited just a few years ago (now closed) still had items in stock with prices dating to the '50s and '60s. All of ThatPlus Ex-Lax. LeadI never noticed that they warned about gasoline having lead since the thirties. But it took till the eighties till they finally removed the stuff. [See Dave's explanation here. -tterrace] Carnation, Pet, Borden -- those I've seen, but how could I have reached senescence without knowing that Armour also made condensed milk? TEL or EthylThe "lead" that was added to gasoline was not metallic lead nor a simple metal salt. It was a more complex organic compound known at tetraethyllead (aka TEL). The commercial additive blended this with two other components along with a dye. Check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraethyllead for a more detailed explanation. Boom, burn, bustGemmell was a lumber boomtown. A forest fire hastened its demise, before Lee photographed everything left of any importance. According to a middle school history project, at its peak Gemmell had 2,000 citizens, seventeen hotels, an ice cream parlor, two schools, four or more restaurants, one gas station, one church, more than ten sawmills, and a number of other businesses. Lee reported that there were 500 citizens at the time of his visit, which seems generous. Today, it's more of a townsite than a town. (The Gallery, Gas Stations, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
The Deer Hunter: 1937
December 1937. "Deer hunter. Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/19/2017 - 6:30pm -

December 1937. "Deer hunter. Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein. View full size. Buck Season in PennsylvaniaNext week, the week after Thanksgiving, is the first week of rifle deer season in Pa. Only the car model (now most likely a pickup truck) will have changed when this scene is repeated hundreds more times. It's all groovyThe Remington Model 14 had 12 widely-spaced grooves in the forestock, as does the one in the photo. The Model 141 had 25 narrowly-spaced grooves. Also, the front sight on the 141 was a bead ramp style. I wouldn't be surprisedif his name was Elmer J. Fudd. The Rifleis a Remington 14 or 141 carbine - probably a 14, as the similar 141 was produced only from 1935 on, and in small numbers. Shhh, be vewy quiet.The Wabbit was too clever so he had to settle for Deer. Car ID1936 Chevrolet. (The Gallery, Animals, Arthur Rothstein, Cars, Trucks, Buses)
Ragamuffin Wagon: 1937
September 1937 and another dispatch from John Vachon: "Children living on the outskirts ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/14/2013 - 1:37pm -

September 1937 and another dispatch from John Vachon: "Children living on the outskirts of Washington, D.C." And their rabbit hutch. View full size. Of mice and men"Tell me about the rabbits George. Tell me again about the rabbits." Poor and HappyAt first you would think what a miserable childhood these kids must have had. My mother grew up relatively poor in this same era. She would have been 11 when this was taken. She is the first one to tell you that she would not have traded this time in her life for anything. Even growing up with nothing, she had a great childhood with very fond memories. I'm sure not all share this fondness of the depression era, but if you ask, I'll bet most do. Andy Griffith lookalike The older boy on the far left looks like I would picture Andy Griffith, who was born in 1926, to have looked at the same time. All one family?If they are all siblings their Mother must be one tough lady. IdealA little dirty. A little feral. Different ages together, the older watching the younger. Access to animals. I'd take this childhood any day. AgreedCrosley both my Mom and Dad were also 11 when this was taken, and my Mom would agree with you. She had wonderful childhood memories, growing up on a farm in Ontario. Because of the farm, of course they never went for lack of food and I'm sure that made a difference. My Dad also grew up on a small farm in Manitoba, and his memories may have been better if his own father had been a little less crabby. (The Gallery, D.C., John Vachon, Kids)
Aldridge Plantation: 1937
June 1937. "Old Negro. He hoes, picks cotton and is full of good humor. Aldridge ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/05/2009 - 2:17am -

June 1937. "Old Negro. He hoes, picks cotton and is full of good humor. Aldridge Plantation, Mississippi." View full size. Photo and caption by Dorothea Lange. Aldridge plantationDoes anyone have any information on the Aldridge plantation outside of Drew, Mississippi? The original owner, Jack Aldridge, passed it on to his son Clem. After Clem died the property was taken over by Martha Aldridge. I am trying to get any information that I can about this property and its history. [The LOC database (click here and use the search field at the top of the page) has 36 Aldridge Plantation photos. - Dave] Aldridge PlantationI think the Aldridge Plantation worker picture here was near Leland, Mississippi. My family still owns land just south a couple of miles from here. There was another picture of old Joe Aldridge and some workers in the FSA pictures. There were several Aldridge family plantations in the area. One at Wilmot (Suitsme Plantation) and another at Estill. Both on Deer Creek but farther south. I don't know about the Drew Aldridges. It's a small world. (The Gallery, Agriculture, Dorothea Lange, Great Depression)
The Matriarch: 1937
July 1937. "Old Negress of Greene County, Georgia." Medium format nitrate negative ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/06/2016 - 8:46pm -

July 1937. "Old Negress of Greene County, Georgia." Medium format nitrate negative by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. The house is unusual. The house is definitely not a typical tenant farmer affair. The elaborate front door treatment and staircase say that this once once quite a house. The typical tenant farmers house would have been one story and 3 to 4 rooms. There would have been no ornamentation. Such a house might be recognizable to someone from that area. I hope we will learn more. Yes pdstark. . .My exact thoughts! Wonder what IS in those pockets? And I'll be she's planning to save the grain bag on the floor behind her to make another wonderful, sturdy apron with zigzag stitching on the pockets! RadiantA striking woman with clearly defined strength and beauty. I'd love to listen to her story. And see what she has in her pockets. A Person of SubstanceNot only is this a lady considerable dignity but, judging from the few architectural details visible, her home is far superior to the shacks and shanties that so predominate Lange's work during this period. I suspect that, within the confines of the Jim Crow laws and practices prevalent at the time, she was a person of some standing in her community. Typically LangePrime example of Lange's work. Quietly evocative of this lady's strength and beauty. (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange)
The Old Bus: 1937
October 1937. "Old school bus. Williams County, North Dakota." Medium-format negative ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/31/2013 - 10:33am -

October 1937. "Old school bus. Williams County, North Dakota." Medium-format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. School's WagonNo question about it that this passenger wagon was owned by a school district. But I have to wonder if our concept of a school bus (stops in a string of places and takes groups of waiting children who live too far to walk, to their school) even existed in the horse drawn days. I have seen some pretty quick Amish horse carts trotting down the road (with retired race horses pulling them) in Indiana. But even so, those kids would have to get up pretty early in the morning if this thing went from one rural driveway to another, pulled only by a horse. KudosWonderful photograph! Very ingeniousI wonder if it was painted yellow... Looks like it was converted to a small dwelling of sorts (I doubt that chimney was part of the standard equipment offered in the Studebaker Brothers brochure of the early 1900s). I can see the windows were boarded up, but, with some imagination, you can see the general arrangement it once had: a long horse drawn wagon very similar to the classic Conestogas, but with flat sides and a roof. Probably it had a few seats, and no window glass at all. By the way, that would have been a very good antecedent for the original wood-bodied "station wagons". Ingenious, simple, practical, and an use for a horse drawn carriage I never imagined. Grand old lady of a busIf you look carefully you can see the faded label that clearly says in part __HOOLS. No doubt the county school system. But the windows aren't boarded up at all, looks like. Those boarded sides have hinges at the top, by the roof. The label was painted on those boards, so likely that's how the bus was when it was used. Probably the hinged sides could be propped open in warm weather. It is actually papered over outside with cardboard from boxes (half of the door covered over), probably to keep out the cold prairie winds. And yeah, I'd bet didn't have a stove or a pipe. Thanks for a look at a vehicle I'd never heard of--a horse-drawn schoolbus. Court decisionWell, one thing we know is that the driver didn't get paid when schools were closed by a flu epidemic. (The Gallery, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Dog Mart: 1937
Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Dog Mart." Eventually, the kennel master was alerted to the presence of ... magazine featured the Dog Mart in an article in October 1937. In 1938, 7,000 people and 641 dogs attended the event." Source: ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/01/2016 - 12:32pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Dog Mart." Eventually, the kennel master was alerted to the presence of an impostor. 5x7 inch glass negative. View full size. Leaves of GrassThis may or may not be in autumn but this picture reminds me of how close I used to get to the earth when I was a kid. I can remember the smell of dirt, dry leaves, grass. It was not unusual to be rolling around in the grass. During the very early part of spring I was thinking about how what it was like when the snow started melting and little rivulets would appear of running water. We were so close to all of it back then. Hunting Anyone?Could this be the Fredericksburg, Maryland Dog Mart which was also known as the Dog Curb Mart? "The mart was scheduled for October each year to coincide with the beginning of hunting season in the area. This provided hunters with the opportunity to purchase hunting dogs. At that time the event began to gain nation-wide attention. It was the subject of a Pathe Newsreel feature in 1928 and Time magazine featured the Dog Mart in an article in October 1937. In 1938, 7,000 people and 641 dogs attended the event." Source: Wikipedia (The Gallery, D.C., Dogs, Harris + Ewing, Kids)
Archer Mercantile: 1937
November 1937. "Store building at Alger [i.e. Archer], Sheridan County, Montana." Medium ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/23/2019 - 5:48pm -

November 1937. "Store building at Alger [i.e. Archer], Sheridan County, Montana." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Modest, isolated livesMany of the photos to be found on this website show a rural America of modest means in isolated environments. I suspect a Sear catalog was their only contact with the "outside" world. Perhaps WWII was as much a cultural change as an economic or political force. And this was life not long before many of us were born. Just wondering. WhitmarshCall me crazy, but I read nightmarish. And isn’t that Prince Albert in a can behind the door insulated with cardboard? Gone but also forgottenNeither Alger nor Archer appears on Google Maps, nor on the list of towns and ghost towns for Sheridan County: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_County,_Montana#Communities [Au contraire. -Dave] I believe that the metropolis of Archer MontanaIs fresh out of mercantile. And maybe a while before another shipment arrives. Gasoline PumpsThe early gasoline pump on the right being looked down upon by the modern version is classic. Out of businessNot every small town that gets shut down can blame it on Walmart. (The Gallery, Frontier Life, Gas Stations, Russell Lee, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
Rickety Manor: 1937
1937. "Charleston, South Carolina. 727 Bay Street." Come in, and watch your ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/22/2013 - 7:02pm -

1937. "Charleston, South Carolina. 727 Bay Street." Come in, and watch your step. 8x10 inch acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. Door so high upWhat's "up" with that door? It looks like a long way down to the street. RegentrifiedThis appears to be the old Josiah Smith Tennent House. It is much improved today and the side yard is the Philip Simmons Children's Garden. Here's a screen shot of the Google Street View: Old BridgeViewable behind the house on the left is what appears to be an onramp for the now demolished, then very new John P. Grace Memorial Bridge. The removal of this bridge and the later, parallel Silas Pearman span in the mid-2000's (along with there supporting ramps) has left a still noticeable hole in Charleston's urban landscape. (The Gallery, Charleston, F.B. Johnston)
Gamecocks: 1937
December 1937. Gamecocks in the training arena in Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/05/2019 - 3:17pm -

December 1937. Gamecocks in the training arena in Puerto Rico. Photograph by Edwin Rosskam, Farm Security Administration. View full size. What a coincidence...NPR reported this morning that the governor of the last state in the Union to allow cockfighting has JUST signed a bill to end cockfighting in a year. (Why give them one more year, Louisiana? It's illegal in every other state.) *** BATON ROUGE, Louisiana: The only U.S. state where breeders can still legally pit fighting roosters against each other in bloody battles to the death has officially banned cockfighting starting next summer. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed the ban Thursday, ending years of dispute among legislators, the cockfighting industry and the animal rights groups that consider the fights barbaric. The new law, effective in August 2008, makes it a crime to organize or enter birds in a cockfight. It also closes a loophole in Louisiana's animal cruelty laws. Gambling on the fights was banned in the state this summer. Cockfighting is a rural tradition in which specially bred roosters, often with blades or metal spurs attached to their legs, fight to the death or serious injury while spectators wager on the outcome.... *** More at: http://tinyurl.com/yrw8f7 c'mon its just a chickenReally now it's just a chicken their brain is about the size of a pea.I grew up on a farm with thousands of chickens,and have you people seen where you KFC comes from or how thay kill them at a processing plant.I guess if you did you would never eat chicken again. If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. Mark Twain What Mark Twain had to say about cockfighting...From Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi: When the cocks had been fighting some little time, I was expecting them momently to drop dead, for both were blind, red with blood, and so exhausted that they frequently fell down. Yet they would not give up, neither would they die...the dying creatures would totter gropingly about, with dragging wings, find each other, strike a guesswork blow or two, and fall exhausted once more. I did not see the end of the battle. I forced myself to endure it as long as I could, but it was too pitiful a sight; so I made frank confession to that effect, and we retired. We heard afterward that the black cock died in the ring, and fighting to the last. Evidently there is abundant fascination about this 'sport' for such as have had a degree of familiarity with it. I never saw people enjoy anything more than this gathering enjoyed this fight. The case was the same with old gray-heads and with boys of ten. They lost themselves in frenzies of delight. The 'cocking-main' is an inhuman sort of entertainment, there is no question about that... --Life on the Mississippi, Chapter 45 http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/245 My DadWhen I reflect on the expanse of his career, my dad has built a Baptist church, a TVA bridge, and twelve cages for fighting cocks. I could understand working for TVA, and building a church is sorta obvious too, but the cockfighting thing has bothered me for several years. Anyway the point is don't believe this is a forgotten part of our culture ... drive down Hwy 412 between Jackson and Perryville, Tennessee, there's a sign on the right side of the road advertising fighting cocks. (The Gallery, Curiosities, Edwin Rosskam, Puerto Rico)
Flats Fixed: 1937
An uncaptioned photo from a group of pictures taken by Edwin Rosskam in the Northeast in the late 1930s. Who can locate the intersection? View full size. Long Island If this is NY State Route 25, and based on the design of the sign it c ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/08/2013 - 11:50am -

An uncaptioned photo from a group of pictures taken by Edwin Rosskam in the Northeast in the late 1930s. Who can locate the intersection? View full size. Long IslandIf this is NY State Route 25, and based on the design of the sign it could well be, then somewhere along the rolling North Shore of Long Island -- Manhasset, perhaps? The flowers for sale often indicate a cemetery or hospital nearby. That's all I have. The former 25D ran where the LIE does nowSee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_State_Route_25D H-m-m-m-mI can't help but wonder if this entrepreneur kept a box of tacks handy for use when business was slow. Outward BoundRoute 25D is Horace Harding Boulevard. It starts in Queens and winds its way through Nassau County as the northerly service road of the Long Island Expressway, alternately known as Interstate 495, or the World's Longest Parking Lot. Close-Up PleaseThat is a NY State historical marker diagonally across the intersection. If we could get an enlargement of that sign, and/or what appears to be the road sign on the short pole to the left of the leftmost phone pole, we could possibly nail it down. [That's a road sign, not a historical marker. The other sign says 25D. - Dave] Thanks for the close-up, Dave. East WillistonI can almost make out the first name on the road sign as being "East Williston." That town is south of what used to be Route 25D, near that road's eastern end. If this is correct, most likely we are looking in a generally SE direction at the intersection of 25D and Roslyn Road, and the cars are heading north on Roslyn Road. Taking a ShotJudging by the shadows, the bloom on the trees, and knowing that 25D ran east/west, I would guess the cars are heading west, and we are looking N/NE. [25D runs to the left and right. It's not the road the cars are on. - Dave] Days of My YouthI lived just a short walk south of the old Horace Harding Blvd., off Main Street in Flushing. During summers, I would walk up to the boulevard to watch the construction - at that point, the roadway was being depressed to create a level overpass for Main Street and other streets. Quite a project. Staged Photo?Did the photographer set this one up? Wouldn't the "flats fixed" message normally face the road? [Maybe the flat-fixer was out to lunch, or perhaps only time-sharing the spot with the florist. -tterrace] Could it be?Could this be what is now the intersection of Bates Road and Horace Harding Boulevard in Lake Success, NY? (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Edwin Rosskam)
Slater House: 1937
1937. "Slater House, St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida. Dr. Chatelain's ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/07/2016 - 9:32pm -

1937. "Slater House, St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida. Dr. Chatelain's photographs. P.A. Wolfe, photographer." 8x10 inch acetate negative attributed to Frances Benjamin Johnston. View full size. 3 P'sPorch, Packard, Patina. ShuttersI'd like to hear the reasoning behind the shutters. Some are full height, some are half height and at least one window has both. Car registered in different countyUp until the late 1970's, the numbers before the dash on Florida license plates indicated the county of registration. In this case 11 means Alachua County (Gainesville), while St. Augustine is in St. Johns County with the number 20. The numbers were in order of the population in 1930, I believe, which meant that changes after that weren't reflected. Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale) started having problems toward the end of this scheme because they were number 10, and they started running out of room on the plates for numbers. Florida county tag numbersFunny how those Florida tag numbers stayed in my mind, though they did away with that scheme many years ago. I can remember our tag-number progression as we moved from place to place (my dad was always looking for a better airport). So we started out in Fernandina Beach (Nassau County, 41), moved to Apalachicola (Franklin County, 59), then Marathon (Monroe County, 38), then Naples (Collier County, 64). That's the point where my mom put her foot down and said no more moving! It's still there105 St. George Street St. Augustine Florida (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, F.B. Johnston, Florida)
Sally's Harley: 1937
Sept. 15, 1937. "Although she weighs only 88 pounds -- one-third of the machine she rides ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/26/2014 - 5:58pm -

Sept. 15, 1937. "Although she weighs only 88 pounds -- one-third of the machine she rides -- Mrs. Sally Halterman is the first woman to be granted a license to operate a motorcycle in the District of Columbia. She is 27 years old and 4 feet, 11 inches tall. Immediately after receiving her permit, Mrs. Halterman was initiated into the D.C. Motorcycle Club -- the only girl ever to be accorded this honor." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Motorcycle MamaAnother post on Sally Halterman and her Hog here. Anorexic Harley?A V series Harley Davidson weighed about 530 pounds, six times the weight of Sally Trending upwardsAt approximately 700 pounds, the rule of thumb for Harleys today is for their riders to weigh about half as much. More on SallyI learned to ride a "Big Bike" in 1965 -- my buddy's 1939 Harley 61. At 150lbs I was not much of a match for the 550lb mount, but I never dumped it. A kick starter and manual spark advance (to keep one from a sprained leg), 3-speed tank shift (and no syncro tranny) which required a 'double-clutch' to keep from a grind. I became friends with a man in his 80s when I was still in my 20s. He rode Harleys on a board track testing instruments for Stewart-Warner. He told me about woman riders on the track riding 24 hours, and more. Sally had good company. I ride my 1980 GoldWing with pride at 35 years on the bike. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Motorcycles)
I Could Just Dye: 1937
July 10, 1937. Washington, D.C. "Testing cosmetics for the government. Mrs. R. Goodman ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/27/2012 - 7:11pm -

July 10, 1937. Washington, D.C. "Testing cosmetics for the government. Mrs. R. Goodman is shown sitting with Mrs. C.R. West applying dye for the hair. Some dyes contain lead and the poison in the dye may lead to chronic poisoning. The Department of Agriculture is continually on the lookout for false labels and advertising." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. H2S04That's all Mrs. Goodman is missing, a Sulfuric Acid rinse. Curl up and dyeI'm surprised to see that by the mid 30's the government was already starting to crack down on quack and dangerous beauty products. People used to apply some pretty scary stuff back in those days. Re: Acid RinseThat's one way to wash that grey right outa her hair. Hard sell?How would one go about advertising for people to be a part of this study? "Wanted: Young women, preferably with no family, to take part in government study. Free cosmetics makeover for those involved. May experience brain damage, scarring, burning, respiratory distress, or death. Or not. Serve your country in a fashionable way!" Mrs. Goodmanlooks as though she's been inhaling a few too many of those chemical treatments. She's just asking for troubleI mean, everyone knows not to drink Worcestershire Sauce while you're getting a perm. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing)
Puller-Downer: 1937
Nov. 4, 1937. "General Alexander Macomb house, 125 Main Street, Belleville, Essex ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/02/2014 - 2:52pm -

Nov. 4, 1937. "General Alexander Macomb house, 125 Main Street, Belleville, Essex County, New Jersey. Remarkable for being a seven-bay front. Demolished March 1940 on account of tax burden." Former abode of the Hero of Plattsburgh. Photo by R.M. Lacey for the Historic American Buildings Survey. View full size. Sic Transit Gloria MundiIt would have been nice if the heroic general's residence had been replaced by an equally grand new structure, but alas all that's on the site today is a rather rundown commercial building: http://goo.gl/maps/YGopD As per Craigslist"1bd attic apt avail, historic district, fantastic views, outside private entrance, parking, $500 month + sec dep, credit and criminal backgrounds req, it's like having your own place." Side EntryShame it is gone, wonder what the side entry was for. [It's a boardinghouse. - Dave] Thanks, that fire escape should have been a clue. ConstructionI always wonder with American buildings of that time and age, would that have been a proper stone house, or are those stones only siding, with timber underneath? The add-on looks like timber outright. [Details here and here. - Dave] Thanks, Dave. Wow, 1'-10" brownstone. Impressive. Love to explore!Would love if that were still there today, and left untouched since 1940! What stories the old house could tell. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, HABS)
Watch Your Step: 1937
Spotsylvania County, Virginia, circa 1937. "St. Julien Plantation porch. Main house built 1794 with addition ca. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2017 - 9:37am -

Spotsylvania County, Virginia, circa 1937. "St. Julien Plantation porch. Main house built 1794 with addition ca. 1812." 8x10 acetate negative by Frances Benjamin Johnston, Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South. View full size. Life was so easyBefore there were so many lawyers. The PlantationThe plantation consists of 200 acres in Spotsylvania County, not far from Fredericksburg, VA. The home is Federal in style. It was started in 1797 and was completed in 1812. The attached photograph was from Wikipedia Porch Decor What is the reason for the nets at each end of the porch? Pardon meIs this the Escher residence? Neither run nor rise should change in a stairI have spent my entire career in the construction industry. Anytime I see an example of poor workmanship, I say, "Man ... that looks like *I* did it!" Well, folks, this is off even THAT scale. Safe-T-PorchYou may not make it up or down the stairs, but at least you won't fall off the porch by accident. (The Gallery, F.B. Johnston)
Basting the Bird: 1937
December 4, 1937. Washington, D.C. "Correct way to bake turkey. Miss Alexander removes the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/28/2012 - 5:28pm -

December 4, 1937. Washington, D.C. "Correct way to bake turkey. Miss Alexander removes the bird from oven and bastes it." View full size. Hip HeatThose are some very cool looking ovens. Looks like you could roast up a couple of buffalo in those things. Not very safety-first Anything that involves having a pan of scalding hot fat at eye-level for basting cannot be correct. Not for liftingThat oven may be fine for basting, but I wouldn't want to be the one to pick up a 400-degree 25-pound turkey plus sizzling grease from chin height, navigate it over that open door, and transport it safely to a hip-height table. "Lorain" Oven Heat RegulatorThis tells a little bit about the temperature control of those old ovens: (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, Kitchens etc., Thanksgiving)
The Sink at the Top of the Stairs: 1937
January 1937. "Children of migrant citrus worker who lives in a rundown apartment ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/06/2016 - 9:37pm -

January 1937. "Children of migrant citrus worker who lives in a rundown apartment house. The sink at the head of the stairs is the only running water in the house. Winter Haven, Florida." Photo by Arthur Rothstein. View full size. Citrus work is hard workWorking in the groves was a right of passage in Winter Haven in the sixties. I fired groves during a freeze, and picked tangerines after another freeze. People that year got tangerine juice mixed in with their OJ from the Donald Duck plant in Lake Wales. I spent another summer when in college pruning trees. These kids probably did their share of picking. By the sixties, white migrant citrus workers usually lived in Eloise or Wahneta, just south of Winter Haven. The shacks there were only one story though. The smell of orange candy would fill the air when the orange juice plants were in full swing, the Minute Maid plant to the north and the Snively plant in Eloise. WonderQuite strange that the girls are fairly well dressed but the boy has tattered clothes and is barefoot. Must be a boy thing !. Worn outEven the dog looks worn out. Poor as dirt...but still had a pet to cherish and love, some bonds need no explanation! Attention to detailI'm amazed at the attention to detail (or lack of) in this photo. The stairs are trimmed out nicely with a skirt board and quarter-round molding, while the walls barely get some paper over the unplastered lath boards. The contrast between the two is jarring. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Dogs, Kids)
The Merry Fiddler: 1937
1937. "Mrs. Mary McLean, Skyline Farms, Alabama." 35mm nitrate negative by Ben ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/07/2014 - 1:20pm -

1937. "Mrs. Mary McLean, Skyline Farms, Alabama." 35mm nitrate negative by Ben Shahn for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Your basic violinNo chin rest, no fine tuner on the E-string, probably no shoulder rest, either, and who knows what the poor soul uses for rosin? Beyond folkThe bridge is not standard and all the tuning pegs are different like they were hand whittled. I wonder if the lower strings are wound gut? Chin RestThis photo is one of a series: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/related/?&pk=fsa1997017193/PP&st=gallery&sb=... Some of the photos make me wonder whether she might be blind, which was a common motivation to take up music as a source of income or to relieve boredom. It's unfortunate that Ben Shahn's field notes don't appear to be with the photos. This photo: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa1997017197/PP/resource/ ...shows why she doesn't need a chin rest. This is one of several non-chin positions used by traditional fiddlers. It is less tiring when playing lengthy square dances or play parties, which typically lasted many hours. The position is more relaxed, and allows changing strings by rocking the fiddle instead of the bow. It normally doesn't allow fingering higher positions, which aren't usually played in these styles. Also note the unconventional bow hold, which you see with many traditional fiddlers: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/fsa1997017199/PP/resource/ Even more from Skyline Farms: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/related/?va=exact&sp=3&q=Skyline+Farms--Alab... Another source: http://www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/156149 I messed with the fiddle many years ago, including similar relaxed holds, but life got in the way. Ben Shahn's workFans of Ben Shahn's photography and fine art might consider a visit to the Facebook page dedicated to his work: www.facebook.com/BenShahn I will share this Shorpy post with fans there. A Wonderful SmileWhile many superficial people would pass her by but that smile would have me captivated. I would make myself known to her and ask her for a spirited rendition of Alabama Jubilee on her fiddle and a dance later on. (The Gallery, Ben Shahn, Music)
Good Eats: 1937
1937. "Restaurant in Mobile, Alabama." Welcome to the Wooden Shoe, where you ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/26/2014 - 12:41pm -

1937. "Restaurant in Mobile, Alabama." Welcome to the Wooden Shoe, where you can order your eggs "dressed up" (but not too loudly, because it's a "Quiet Zone"). Photo by Arthur Rothstein, Resettlement Administration. View full size. Could be in New Orleans….In New Orleans a husband would take a To-Go oyster Poor Boy (or loaf, which was bigger) to his wife sitting at home waiting for him to return from a night of drinking with buddies. It's called "The Peacemaker." 312 Conti StreetI believe this is 312 Conti Street at Claiborne, behind the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The building was still there as recently as 1967, but now the entire block is a park. Oyster loaves used to be a common item on restaurant menus throughout the South. Gone, probably due to the rising cost of oysters and changing tastes. "Dressing" a sandwich would probably mean lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. DressedWhen I ordered a ham sandwich in Burras, Louisiana (elevation 0') the young lady asked "Would you like that dressed?" Without a clue what she meant, I said sure. It turned out to be coleslaw on an awesome ham sandwich. FadedApparently the former home of Shaw Electric Co. according to the faded sign above the doors which looks like it was repainted at least once. The car parked around the corner appears to be a 1935 or 1936 Chevrolet Master Deluxe, but not enough is visible to tell if it is a 4-door Sedan or (2-door) Coach. These models, with an external spare tire but without an integral trunk, were declining in popularity; however, it was not until 1939 that they were finally phased out of production early in the model year. We called them "po-boys." My parents were married at the Basilica in 1966, the Catholic church seen behind this building. My late maternal grandparents, Mobile natives, were familiar with this establishment according to my mother. She remembers my grandfather raving about their oyster loafs (we called them po-boys). I'm going to have to go back and look at their wedding photos taken outside of the church and see if there's another angle of this building before it was torn down for a park. In any event I love this site and just wish there was more activity here than reading posts from years past. I feel like I'm in a time machine viewing a time machine, lol. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Eateries & Bars, Mobile)
Our Humble Abode: 1937
January 1937. "Two children of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, standing before ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 11:37am -

January 1937. "Two children of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, standing before their temporary home. This family of eight is camped in a field near the packinghouse at Winter Haven, Florida." View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. Unreal1936 was when I was born and don't remember much about the Depression but what would the kids today feel and do if they had to live like that just for one month instead of going through it for years like these poor folks had to? (The Gallery, Agriculture, Arthur Rothstein, Great Depression, Kids)
Rocky Road: 1937
February 1937. "Missouri family of five, seven months from the drought area. 'Broke, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/24/2014 - 8:28pm -

February 1937. "Missouri family of five, seven months from the drought area. 'Broke, baby sick, car trouble.' U.S. 99 near Tracy, California." Last seen here. Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Pebble collectionNot that D. Lange's photos need any help feeling "real", but the kid behind the trailer selecting the best rocks from the roadside makes this photo so real to me that I can put myself there with them. It's exactly what my kids would be doing, and in fact I could probably find a photo on my computer that has them in the background doing the same. Is that a lip full of snuff?I hope she and the kids made it through, she's got an interesting look to her. (The Gallery, Dorothea Lange, Dust Bowl, Great Depression, Kids)
The Dirt Show: 1937
November 1937. "Radio microphone used in information work. United States Department of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/13/2021 - 6:39pm -

November 1937. "Radio microphone used in information work. United States Department of Agriculture." The subject here seems to be soil conservation. Medium format acetate negative by Arthur Rothstein for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. A double button mic.That appears to be a Western Electric 600A carbon microphone. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/western_el_carbon_microphone_600a.html The other brotherThe names on the script appear to be "SALISBURY" and "EISENHOWER." The former is no doubt Morse Salisbury, radio chief of the Department of Agriculture. But Eisenhower? It's worth remembering that the future president's younger brother Milton served as Director of Information for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1928 to 1941. Thereafter, he was president of KSU, then PSU, and (much later) Johns Hopkins. [He's mentioned by name in the script: "How about it, Milton?" - Dave] Soil Washing?Wonder what they meant by soil washing, all the present day references I can find are in regards to soil pollutant removal. ["Soil washing" is erosion. - Dave] Great microphone!I'm a radio guy and love this photo! Many years ago I played the radio announcer in The Man Who Came to Dinner, and we mocked up a prop mic out of a lap lens ring, some black lace, and a few wires and a coat hanger. This is what it was supposed to look like! (Technology, The Gallery, Agriculture, Arthur Rothstein, D.C.)
Dakota Drug: 1937
October 1937. "Drug store. Stanley, North Dakota." Medium-format nitrate negative by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/09/2013 - 4:12pm -

October 1937. "Drug store. Stanley, North Dakota." Medium-format nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Could this bethe same place? Am I misreading the evidence?I'm not absolutely certain, but there might be a 1¢ sale going on. Tincture iodine sale! When was the last time you heard of someone using that stuff? A dipoleIt looks like a dipole antenna, above the store, and the single visible end support even has insulators in its guy wires. I'm guessing the store to be about twenty feet wide, so the dipole's full length would be about forty feet. That would make it resonant around 12 megaHertz, but I'll bet the feedline is balanced (using two wires), making the whole feedline-antenna system tunable. There's a ham radio operator in that drugstore! RE: A dipoleThere must be a butcher shop out back, which would explain the "ham" radio setup. (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Your Permanent Record: 1937
Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Tax office?" is all it says here, in what looks like a set from "1984." ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/07/2015 - 10:44am -

Washington, D.C., circa 1937. "Tax office?" is all it says here, in what looks like a set from "1984." Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size. Cabinets near the endThose are probably the X-Files. Heinous Crime RepositoryThis looks like one of those Law & Order SVU scenes where the Detectives go to find cold case files. Hallway of FilesI've worked in government offices like this. The file rooms have no more room for file cabinets. So they line the halls with file cabinets to keep up. Get SmartMy earworm is humming the 60's theme song right now. Alternate ending for The ShiningJack's wife decides to organize his typewritten pages. The future of secure data storageOffline. The Office of Personnel Management revealed on Thursday that “sensitive information” of 21.5 million individuals was obtained last year by hackers who intruded into the federal personnel agency’s computer networks. (The Gallery, D.C., Harris + Ewing, The Office)
Pike's Peak or Bust: 1937
Taken near Pike's Peak, Colorado, my great grandfather's brother, George W. Downing, poses with his wife, family, and one great automobile. View full size. No Apostrophe In 1891, the US Board on Geographic Names recommended against the ... 
 
Posted by RDown3657 - 12/15/2014 - 8:44pm -

Taken near Pike's Peak, Colorado, my great grandfather's brother, George W. Downing, poses with his wife, family, and one great automobile. View full size. No ApostropheIn 1891, the US Board on Geographic Names recommended against the use of apostrophes, and in 1978 the Colorado state legislature passed a law requiring the use of Pikes Peak. However there are still 5 places in the States with apostrophes in their name. [Zebulon Pike would probably have something to say about that. - Dave] Nice hood ornamentWhat a great idea to make the car's hood ornament in the shape of a man with a straw hat! Faded LuxuryA well worn 1929 Cadillac and a circa 1925 Pierce Arrow, at the rear High Noonremarked Captain Obvious. Roll-back RoofI've never seen a car roof like that: it's obvious that it can be rolled back, or closed using the prongs around its periphery, but is that factory standard or custom? [This appears to be a tourist service in operation, providing sightseeing tours in the old 7-9 passenger sedan as well as a souvenir photo. As we've seen recently, solid metal car roofs hadn't arrived yet, but to me this adaptation has a rather do-it-yourself look to it. -tterrace] Cars on Pikes PeakI remember being driven up Pikes Peak in 1960 in a 1953 Cadillac fitted with a specially fitted low-geared 3-speed transmission. We ground up to the top because my mother did not want to drive our 1956 Pontiac, loaded with me, my two sisters, my aunt, and my cousin, up there. I remember some concern as to the cost, but I (at 12) thought the Cadillac option was really neat. Pierce-Arrows at AltitudeFor many years, the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs maintained a fleet of Pierce-Arrows (first modified limousines, then buses) for just such touristic service. Those were later replaced by a number of stretch Cadillacs, some with Plexiglas roofs. Having driven the route a number of times, I must say that the dirt portions could be challenging, and when most of the route was unpaved, such buses and limos must have seemed an attractive alternative to the private car to drivers from the flatlands ... and to their potential passengers as well. 1928 Faded LuxuryThe Cadillac is actually a 1928 model. The parking lights mounted on the cowl are the primary detail that instantly differentiates it from the following year. In 1929 these lights were scaled-down and moved to the top of the front fenders. The Cadillac shown looks like the Custom Fleetwood Imperial for Five Passengers. The molding above the windows that ends abruptly just after the rearmost window is not seen on the regular Five-Passenger Imperial. The Custom Fleetwood version was more luxuriously appointed including satin-inlaid hardware which was two-tone gold with bright edging. There were two occasional seats in the rear compartment. The Custom Fleetwood cost $4,245 while the Five-Passenger Imperial was $50 less. Cadillac offered more than 50 body styles in 1928 along with over 500 color combinations. The marque's luxury image was enhanced by eliminating both the 132 and 138 inch wheelbases and standardizing on one of 140 inches. The V-8 engine was tweaked, and it now produced 90 horsepower (up from 87). Cadillac manufactured 56,038 automobiles in 1928 - including 16,038 LaSalles. It would be their best year of production until 1941. Outfits?What are those matching outfits with the flared legs? They look like a cross between a cowboy costume and a basketball warm-up suit. [Here's some women's casual wear of the 1930s. -tterrace] Maybe a "cool down" location for the Cadillac I lived in Colorado Springs for 5 years and drove up the peak annually. Being that the picture was taken at just over 11,000' they have already climbed roughly 4,000' from Manitou Springs, and they have another 3,000' to go to reach the summit. I note that the engine cowling is raised and I suspect this was probably a planned stop to aid in keeping the engine cool on the way up. As an aside, I found the trip up to the summit of Mount Evans near Idaho Springs a more exciting climb! It is advertised as the highest paved road in North America. The road was built to directly compete with Pikes Peak for tourist dollars. It is not an accident that the parking area of Mt Evans is 20' higher than the Pikes Peak Summit. The peak summits are within 150' in height of each other, but Mt Evans is slightly taller. "At the turn of the last century, Colorado Springs and Denver were in a race for the hearts and minds (not to mention dollars) of the eastern tourist. In 1888, the Cascade and Pikes Peak Toll Road Company completed a 16-mile road up the north side of Pikes Peak. This became a major tourist attraction, drawing tourists away from Denver Area. Not to be outdone, Denver's Mayor Peer proposed that a road be constructed to the top of Mount Evans. In 1917, he procured state funds to build the road. It was completed in 1927." (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Biwabik Derelict: 1937
August 1937. "Vacant building. Biwabik, Minnesota." Medium format negative by Russell ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/30/2014 - 11:35am -

August 1937. "Vacant building. Biwabik, Minnesota." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Vacant for a good reason!I wouldn't want to enter that building, particularly in the winter with snow on the roof. Note the nasty crack to the bottom left of the 2nd story left-most window, the bricks that have fallen out from that window's header, and the crack continues up towards the roof. The smaller building looks like it's had its facade chopped off. Turns out there are mines in the area, so I wonder if there was a subsidence problem. Well Spaced LettersI have the suspicion that this may have been the International Order of Odd Fellows meeting hall, constructed in 1889. Mesabi Iron RangeThe term Biwabik is from the Ojibwe word for iron. A picture of the iron range in the depth of the depression. As one old Iron Ranger once told me, when Detroit gets the sniffles, Da Range gets double pneumonia. This is (almost certainly) Tower, MinnesotaThat white star with a 1 in it marks Minnesota Highway 1, which never ran through Biwabik. O.C Sovde however was a prominent merchant in Tower, in which MN 1 does pass through. He lived on "North Second Street" in Tower in 1910, 1920 and 1930 and his wife Charlotte (now widowed) was living in Tower in 1940. He is buried in Lake View Cemetery in Tower. Yes, it's Tower.This is the northwest corner of Main St. (Hwy 1) and Poplar St. While the two brick buildings and the one story buildings are gone, the white building to the far left still stands. Compare the second floor bay windows and the cornice details with this Street View clip. (The Gallery, Russell Lee)
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