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Eureka: 1900
Eureka, Colorado, circa 1900. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative by William Henry ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/30/2020 - 2:09pm -

Eureka, Colorado, circa 1900. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative by William Henry Jackson. Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Change in WeatherI looks sunny now, but in 1888 this area (including nearby Animas Forks) got 25 feet of snow over a 26-day period. I guess this helps explain why most of the population left during the winter! Satellite DishImagine my shock at seeing the satellite dish on the roof of one of the buildings! Oh, wait a minute...........it's only a windmill. SpectacularWhat a find. This picture is worth a few hundred thousand words. Thanks for bringing it to life, Dave. Yeeee-Haaaa!On New Year's Eve I was just over the hill from Eureka in Silverton, where the "wild west" mentality hasn't been gentrified out of the townsfolk....yet. At the stroke of midnight a small rowdy crowd tumbled out of a saloon and someone hollered "yeeee-haaaa" and fired a pistol in the air to ring in 2010. Hoping these places don't change too much ... [Silverton is one of my favorite Western towns, along with its bigger neighbor Ouray. A jeep trail called the Alpine Loop connects them, with ghost towns (including Eureka) and ore mills along the way. - Dave] WowStunning location. You wouldn't wanna be accusing these boys of cheatin' at poker now would ya. Some have it, some don'tThis photo illustrates what the French mean by "je ne sais quoi." Whatever it was, William Henry Jackson had it. Sofa SizeMy life would be complete if I could have this blown up huge, along with the Longacre Square 1904 post from today, and hang them facing each other in the same room. It's "Reservoir Dogs" meets "Bull Durham." Couldn't be more perfect. Kids!I love the two little kids behind the four men in the foreground. One of them is wearing a huge hat! CinemaScopeWith this picture we can appreciate how faithful the Hollywood set designers were in portraying pioneer towns in those iconic shoot 'em ups directed by John Ford and others. This looks like the movie set in Old Tucson where they shot many westerns. ArchitectureDoes anyone know the architectural term for facades that obscure the pitch of the roof from the front. Is it decorative or does it have a function? ["False fronts." They turn any shack into an edifice. - Dave] All goneNo remnants appear to exist today: A 'tighter' shot by way of comparing the mountains in the two, but I think it still shows at least some portion of where the structures used to stand. Below: remains of the Sunnyside Mill. A dandy?The dandy in the front left with the crease in his pants looks like a bearded Clint Eastwood! I don't know if I would call him that to his face. But where are all the horses at the hitching posts? RefreshingA welcome break from the DC and NY cityscapes. Tarnation!Will you look at the slope behind the town on the right. That's just screaming avalanche territory. Just behind the tents in the right background, there's a possible sign of an old avalanche washing up across the valley and into the trees on the other side. Still, if it's around today, it managed to survive and most of these mountain mining camps seemed to burn down more often than being buried. Awesome!What an amazing photo! Draw, PardnerIf this group of four were packing guns one would think they were heading for the OK Corral. CinemaScopizationWe've had plenty of colorization around here, but John McLaren's comment has inspired me to format this scene to the actual CinemaScope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Left to right: Lee Van Cleef, Robert J. Wilke, Thomas Mitchell, Gary Cooper. Zero horse townAt first I was thrown by the lack of horses on the wagons, being conditioned to your photos of NYC etc. with dozens of horses hitched up. Then I realized that you don't need a horse to get across town, as those gents in the foreground are demonstrating. And those hills are just waiting for some ski lifts full of rich tourists. The negativeWhere do you start with proclaiming this image to be otherworldly? I just can't get over the tonal range of Jackson's negatives. He pulled off this same sort of light to dark ratio in a series that Shorpy published from Mexican railroads. And then in the swamps of Florida. I just don't get it and believe me folks, this isn't about Photoshop. [It is, to a certain extent. All of these images are adjusted using the Shadows & Highlights filter in CS4. It's what brings out detail in overexposed areas (clouds) as well as in the shadows. Below: unadjusted. - Dave]
Pike's Peak or Bust: 1937
Taken near Pike's Peak, Colorado, my great grandfather's brother, George W. Downing, poses with his ... against the use of apostrophes, and in 1978 the Colorado state legislature passed a law requiring the use of Pikes Peak. ... at Altitude For many years, the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs maintained a fleet of Pierce-Arrows (first modified ... 
 
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)
The House Jack Built: 1940
... passed away in the meantime, Laura is living in Clifton, Colorado, with the married name Murray, and A.J is living in Dayton (it doesn't ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/30/2012 - 12:02pm -

Sept. 1940. The Jack Whinery family in their Pie Town dugout. Homesteader Whinery, a licensed preacher, donates his services to the local church. More on the family below. View full size. 4x5 Kodachrome transparency by Russell Lee. Re: Dancing Africans?Not Africans. Injuns. There's such a thing as aThere's such a thing as a "licensed preacher"? Stupid comment hereThe girl second from the right seems to be channeling Napoleon Dynamite. Sorry to ruin it. Juvenile. Sorry. [Gyaaah! - Dave] Dancing Africans?I'm a bit intrigued by the pattern on the boy's shirt. so youngi'm more intrigued with how young they look and how many kiddos they have. wow. looks like the 2 girls on the left are twins. Sad eyesIn so many pics of poor families in the 30s/40s, I notice how sad (maybe just tired) the mothers look while the dads somehow show some kind of dignity or at least of being alive. PIE TOWN I just talked to some friends who went there this summer. There are still people who bake pies and have a very rural lifestyle. They said it was a great place! Licensed preacherSure there's such a thing as a licensed preacher. In many states, there are 2 distinctions: licensed and ordained. A licensed minister is recognized by the state and can perform weddings, funerals and the like. It kind of depends on the church you attend, but ordination is usually church recognition of a minister's credentials. Sunday best....wonderful how they managed to step up to the plate and present themselves in their "finest'...an amazing and poignant photograph... me again1940 = year I was born in Norfolk VA..... :-) Velva MaeIf my research is correct, the Mrs. is Laura Edith, née Evans, and Jack’s full name is Abrim Jack Whinery. The eldest daughter, the camera-shy one on the right, is Velva Mae. If she’s still alive today, she’ll turn 76 on August 29th. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska There's a Velva M. Kosakowski who may be the oneHere's her obituary. She's the only Velva in the SSDI born on that date with the middle initial M, and the obit says she's Jack and Edith Whinery's daughter. It looks like the same Velva Whinery you mention, Denny, but whether she's one of the girls in the photo I don't know. The girl on the right looks far too old to me to be nine (she is almost as tall as her father when sitting plus she has breasts - I'd suggest she was about 12-13), but the girl on the left looks nineish. Charlene...thank you for the information! I think you're right: the camera-shy girl on the right is likely well beyond nine, now that I look at her again. The obituary you linked us to shows that Velva certainly came a long way from this Pie Town dugout, eh? Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska The girl on the rightI think that girl is Wanda Whinery. She's mentioned in the obit as being Velva's deceased sister; a Wanda Whinery shows up in the SSDI from the Grand Junction/Clifton, CO area (where they all seem to have ended up). She was born in 1929, so she'd have been 11 in this photo, an age at which most girls are shy, awkward, and uncomfortable. You're right about it being a long way; a little girl sitting beside her mother to a great-grandmother in her own right. SadHow old was that mother when she married? She doesn't look that much older than her eldest child. Sad. namesInteresting how first name fashions come and go. Here we have Jack and Edith (basic early 20th C names) with a Velva and a Wanda, surely exotic names for the time -- though the 30's, when they were born, was a time of experiment in many things... What were the other children called? Bet the boys got more ordinary names. One boy's name was Lawrence,One boy's name was Lawrence, apparently. And if the Obit for Velva is right, Wanda Whinery never married - no married name is listed. They may have been dirt poor, but the kids look healthy and cared for. young mothers>>>"i'm more intrigued with how young they look and how many kiddos they have. wow." My paternal grandmother was 15 when she married my grandpa 1932 (in Lovington, New Mexico), and they started a family right away. My grandmother preferred to say that she was "almost 16". They were actually residing at that time around Brownfield, TX, but they drove all day and night (accompanied by the father of the bride) to the nearest courthouse in NM, because at that time, 16 was the legal age for girls to marry in TX. Apparently, there was nothing shameful or even unusual for girls to marry at 15 in that place and time, though perhaps 14 might have been pushing it. Both families were fairly strict and god-fearing people-- poor but not destitute. Grandpa's whole family were members of the Primitive Baptist Church. Scott, in Taiwan distichum2@yahoo.com They are all so thin. NotThey are all so thin. Not starved thin as much as built thin. Thanks for all the comments on who they might have been! They are interesting reads. clothingThe fabric the clothes are made from has to be flour/feed sacks. Perhaps not the father's but the rest of them surely are. The parents do look so young. Not more then 30. And yet they must have led a hard life up to this point. Amazing the family resemblance. Feed Sack FabricIn the late 1800's cotton sacks gradually replaced barrels as food containers. Flour and sugar were among the first foods available in cotton sacks, and women quickly figured out that these bags could be used as fabric for quilts and other needs. Manufacturers also began using cotton sacks for poultry and dairy feeds. The earliest of these bags were plain unbleached cotton with product brands printed on them. In order for women to use these bags they first had to somehow remove the label, or to make sure that the part of the cloth with the label was not normally visible. It did take some time for the feed and flour sack manufacturers to realize how popular these sacks had become with women, but finally they saw that this was an opportunity for promoting the use of fabric feedsacks. Their first change was to start selling them in colors, and then in the 1920's began making them with colorful patterns for making dresses, aprons, shirts and children’s clothing. They also began pasting on paper labels that were much easier to remove than the labels printed direstly on the fabric. By the 1930's competition had developed to produce the most attractive and desireable patterns. This turned out to be a great marketing ploy as women picked out flour, sugar, beans, rice, cornmeal and even the feed for the family farm based on which fabrics and pattern they wanted. I can remember that if my mother was not able to go along when my father went to buy feed, she would often send a scrap of material of the fabric design she needed so that he would be sure to buy the right one. This was during the 1950's. By the 1950's paper bags cost much less than cotton sacks, so companies began to switch over to this less expensive packaging. The fabric feedsack industry actively promoted the use of feedsacks in advertising campaigns and produced even a television special encouraging the use of feed sacks for sewing, but by the end of the 1960's the patterned feedsack fabrics were no more. Pink feed sacks...The girls' clothing is actually relatively new cotton muslin, and in quite good shape. Dad and the baby are wearing the most worn-out clothing of all of them. I doubt feed sacks came dyed with pink flowers or other feminine designs. The ones I own are just plain off-white. As an aside, I just noticed that all the kids look just like Mom except the oldest daughter, who looks just like Dad. The Sack DressFeed sacks came in every design imaginable. I have a friend who collects and lectures on them and she has seen literally thousands of different prints. Andover Fabrics out of New York will be doing a line or reproduction fabric based on her collection soon. I've even seen feed sacks printed to look like toile. The variety is astounding. Information about the Whinery childrenI was in Pie Town a few days ago and managed to find the name of all the Whinery children. The oldest girl is Laura; Velva (middle name "Mae") is in pink, and Wanda is in white. The eldest boy is A.J, and the baby boy's name is Lawrence. I know for certain that Wanda, Velva, and Lawrence have died. Wanda was born in Adrin, Texas on August 29, 1931 and died on May 27, 2007 at the age of 75. She was married twice, to Clifford Miller on Nov 4, 1956, and she had four children, two boys and two girls, and Chester Kosakowski, age 81, on Oct 31, 2005. In her obituary it says that Wanda and Lawrence preceded her in death, Wanda likely unmarried as they referred to her as Wanda Whinery instead of with a married name. It also said that Laura and A.J. survived her, so unless they have passed away in the meantime, Laura is living in Clifton, Colorado, with the married name Murray, and A.J is living in Dayton (it doesn't say which of the 23 Daytons in the US, so I'm guessing it is Dayton, TX) I talked to a man who lived in Pie town for all of his life, and he said that he doesn't think the Whinery home is still there. Neither is the Farm Bureau building that the children went to school in. On the other hand, one of the other school buildings is still there and being re-stuccoed and made into a residential home. Their current public schools are in Datil and Quemado, none in Pie Town. The current population of Pie Town is approximately 60 people, and the Pie-O-Neer has better pie than The Daily Pie. The Farm Bureau buildingThe Farm Bureau building still exists. It is now used as the "Community Center" and is the property of the Pie Town Community Council. A porch has been added along the front, and an addition on the side for a kitchen and restrooms, but otherwise it looks pretty much as it did in the Russell Lee photos from 1940. Gyaaah! Unbelievable! (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Pie Town, Rural America, Russell Lee)
Custom Royal: 1956
... in the background has an address with the words E. Colorado Blvd on it (I used special software to try and make this out). Judging ... background, I would have said the photo was taken along Colorado Blvd somewhere near Kinneloa, that is at about 3121 E. Colorado Blvd ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/18/2013 - 8:54pm -

        At Bob's ("Home of the Big Boy") in a 1956 Dodge Custom Royal convertible in the very mid-Fifties color scheme of coral and black. June 1956. "Aspects of life in Southern California, including cars at drive-in restaurant, drive-in laundromat, drive-up bank, shopping center." (Next stop: the Pantorium.) Kodachrome by Maurice Terrell for the Look magazine assignment "Los Angeles: The Art of Living Bumper-to-Bumper." View full size. Rancho Cucamonga?Perhaps with Mt. San Antonio to the north? Could some SoCal resident let us know? And, does anyone have a time machine handy—if only for an afternoon? 1950s auto design evolutionBy 1956 cars like the Dodge convertible pictured were making the Buicks, Cadillacs and Mercurys of the late 1940s and earlier 1950s as seen in this parking lot look pretty dated. We still had my grandfather's 1950 Plymouth in 1956 and though still shiny and new appearing, it was no match style-wise for the cars just a few years newer and looked pretty dowdy. My older brother's gold 1957 Plymouth Belvedere hardtop he got soon after looked as though it were moving forward even when at a standstill. Back to the FutureThe passenger in the adjacent Buick is either 50 years ahead, on his cell phone, or has a toothache. [Wrong car. - Dave] What's wrong? [The person is in the car to the right of the Buick. -tterrace] A valuable rideDepending on how well it's been restored, that car would be worth between $35,000 and $50,000 today, maybe even up to $60,000 in some cases. Can anyone familiar with Los Angeles give an approximate location for this photo, based on the distinctive peak in the background? Bob's on Riverside Drive in BurbankThat's Bob's drive-in in Burbank. Not far from NBC. It's still there and good as ever. Every Friday night (at least during the summer) car collectors from all over the San Fernando valley bring their cars to show off. Jay Leno is a frequent visitor. On the other side of that mountain is the Hollywood sign. Disney studios and NBC and Warner Brothers are within about a mile to the left. Universal is off to the right. [Actually this Bob's was in Pasadena, not Burbank. See above. - Dave] American GraffitiThat would be the oldest remaining Bob's, an historical landmark, at 4211 Riverside Drive in Burbank. They have "Classic Car" get-togethers every Friday but if you're out for a bite, better to check out "Mo's" across the street. http://www.bobs.net/events/classic-car-show\ [Actually this Bob's was in Pasadena, not Burbank. See above. - Dave] Neat carI used to want one of these in the worst way when they came out. Instead I had a '50 Merc coupe like the one in the background. Wish I had it back now. Old DodgeMy dad had a 1956 Dodge Custom, a nice running car but the tinworm had eaten thru it by 1959! Still that '56 ragtop is gorgeous! The car hoplooks like he could be Bob himself! Not Burbank, it's PasadenaThose are definitely not the Hollywood Hills in the background, and this isn't Burbank. The hills are pretty clearly the foothills of the San Gabriels, north of Pasadena, and it looks to me like the sign that says "Office" in the background has an address with the words E. Colorado Blvd on it (I used special software to try and make this out). Judging by the now not entirely overgrown firebreak in the background, I would have said the photo was taken along Colorado Blvd somewhere near Kinneloa, that is at about 3121 E. Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. Looking online, I found that someone had mentioned there having been a Bob's at 3130 East Colorado, just east of Pasadena City College. My guess is this is that Bob's. [You are right! Below, a comparison of the peaks in the 1956 view and the current Google Street View looking north on Kinneloa. - Dave] Location, Location, LocationI am almost certain that is not the Burbank Bob's. The sign is the tipoff. The original sign is still there today and is much larger and more elaborate than the one pictured. Also, the streets don't jibe. Across the street should be Papoo's Hot Dog Show, which predates Bob's, but there seems to be a trailer park instead. Since the next pic was taken in Sierra Madre, I suspect it may be in Pasadena. [I share your suspicion. - Dave] The forward lookCalifornian made the point that his brother's 57 Plymouth looked as if it were moving forward even when standing. No surprise there, as the head of design at Chrysler at the time, Virgil Exner, intended it that way. He branded the entire mid fifties product line "the forward look." His designs were a very radical departure from the pre 1955 grandpa style Chrysler line. (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Cars, Trucks, Buses, LOOK, Los Angeles)
Eugene Dalton: 1913
... Fort Worth, Texas # Death: WFT Est. 1918-1987 in Denver, Colorado Father: Wesley DALTON b: 13 JUL 1857 in Dayton, Ohio Mother: ... * Married: WFT Est. 1914-1947 in Telluride, Colorado Children 1. Has No Children Living DALTON 2. Has No ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 10:02am -

Eugene Dalton, November 1913, Fort Worth, Texas. Some results of messenger and newsboy work. For nine years this 16-year-old boy has been newsboy and messenger for drug stores and telegraph companies. He was recently brought before the Judge of the Juvenile Court for incorrigibility at home. Is now out on parole, and was working again for drug company when he got a job carrying grips in the Union Depot. He is on the job from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (17 hours a day) for seven days in the week. His mother and the judge think he uses cocaine, and yet they let him put in these long hours every day. He told me "There ain't a house in 'The Acre' (red-light district) that I ain't been in. At the drug store, all my deliveries were down there." Says he makes $15 to $18 a week. View full size. POOR KIDtry working those hours today! Good griefIt's amazing (and maybe a little depressing) to think that a delinquent or "problem kid" in 1913 could be someone who worked 17 hours a day, seven days a week! What would that judge think of the kids today?! Or maybe not so poor.$15 a week was a lot of money back in those days, especially for a kid his age. Seems pretty industrious to me. RJP3Human beings were animals to allow all this so recently ... I am sure there are many who wish they could go back to this profit model. Poor guy - I would have been doing lines too. TiredHe looks so tired. The expression of a worn out soul and he's just a kid. I can't imagine...I can't imagine a kid working those kind of hours, seven days a week, having any energy left over to be incorrigible. Seems like the only time his mom would see him he'd be asleep. People were just differentPeople were just different then, I'm sure they couldn't imagine the lazy world we live in today. Cocaine?"His mother and the judge think he uses cocaine, and yet they let him put in these long hours every day." Was cocaine illegal in those days? I seriously doubt this kid saw his 20th birthday. Lazy?If a world in which you don't have to work 17 hours a day to make ends meet is lazy, then I'm throwing in my lot with the lazy. Poor Kid???He looks like a dope addict...all jazzed up on the dope... Long hoursWhen did he have time to be delinquent? DaltonHe was bad? He worked 17+ hours a day to survive. He didn't take the shortcuts of knives and guns which take only seconds to settle debts-legal or otherwise. The punks in the streets should be sent back in time and see how long they'd survive. Family tree?# Name: Eugene Trice DALTON # Sex: M # Birth: 15 SEP 1897 in Fort Worth, Texas # Death: WFT Est. 1918-1987 in Denver, Colorado Father: Wesley DALTON b: 13 JUL 1857 in Dayton, Ohio Mother: Imogene Olive TRICE b: 30 AUG 1857 in Georgia Marriage 1 Katherine BROWN b: WFT Est. 1893-1913 * Married: WFT Est. 1914-1947 in Telluride, Colorado Children 1. Has No Children Living DALTON 2. Has No Children Living DALTON Incorrigibility at home?I would be very curious to know what "incorrigibility at home" was back in those days... Was this kid send to juvi because he talked back to his mom at home or was he actually doing something bad? I also can't imagine him having too much energy left in him after a 17 hour day... The Drug StoreIn 1913 cocaine was still included in many common elixirs, which were legally acquired at the drug store until 1914, when it became illegal to sell cocaine (and heroin or opium, which were also common ingredients). Of course that is why as a messenger for the drug store he was often delivering to the "Red Light District." The fact that the judge and his mother were concerned about his use of the over-the-counter drug reflects society's growing awareness of addiction as a problem. This led in the next year to legislation (Harrison Narcotic Act) that took most of what we would call serious drugs off the shelves. Work was harder in the old days.An old railroader I knew told me that they used to work twelve hours a day, with one day off a month; and then be called in to work that day too. My granny said that her maids had similar working hours. It was normal, if not very humane. This guy's job, working around the station, wasn't as strenuous as some other forms of manual labor. Think of English miners working bent over in coal seams; or sailors going aloft in storms. If one fell in the ocean, the ship didn't stop. Long hoursIf the young man is telling the truth, $15-$18 a week is a lot of money in 1913. According to an inflation calculator, in 2012 dollars thats $348.00-$418.00 per week. A tidy sum for a 16yo (which may explain why he put in the long hours he did). (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Vacation Time: 1969
... We went on many, many driving vacations to New Mexico, Colorado, OK, MO & many places near the Panhandle of Texas where I grew ... 
 
Posted by Mvsman - 09/13/2011 - 10:36pm -

Leaving Walnut, CA for Wyoming and Nebraska in July 1969. I'm on the left, trying to look cool, going to start high school in the fall. Yikes, those socks! There's my Dad and Mom, who appeared in earlier pictures. They're showing some age progression. Both are in their early 40s here. My little brother was a surly bundle of anti-joy then, and he whined a lot through the whole trip. We packed up the '64 Chevelle wagon and left for the great unknown. As a surly teen, I read a lot of books along the way and grunted and moaned a lot. During the trip, we heard about the Charles Manson family murders in Los Angeles, and being only 30 or so miles away, I was really scared to come home. It all worked out ... thanks for looking and I look forward to your comments. View full size. Chilling NewsWe too were leaving for our vacation on our way from Diamond Bar (not too far from Walnut) to visit the grandparents in "Idyllic Larkspur" (near San Francisco) when we heard all about the Tate-LaBianca murders on the car radio. It definitely put a damper on the trip for us adults. With the three kids squabbling in the back of our VW van (Mom, she looked at me!), I don't know if they heard any of it or not. Our oldest kid was 9, the middle one 6, and the youngest 4. -- tterrace's sister Vacations in a wagonYou know, vacations just aren't vacations without a station wagon. Sorry, but an SUV just isn't the same thing. Folks across the street have a 1965 Rambler Classic Cross-Country; ours was a 1966. Did you have air-conditioning? Maybe that would have quelled the grumbling and moaning somewhat. I know that we welcomed the A/C in our Rambler after 10 years without it in our '56. But now, decades later, I'll occasionally switch mine off and roll down the windows when cruising along a rural road, and the breeze carrying the aromas of cut hay and other vegetation fills me with a warm, nostalgic glow. A great, era-defining shot, thanks! (Out of respect for your mother, I won't comment on her headgear - although I just did, didn't I?) West of the MidwestWyoming AND Nebraska? You are a lucky, lucky boy. One of our few vacations from our Indiana home was a trip to Iowa but since my dad was on some sort of a deadline* we didn't get to enjoy any of Illinois' diversions that must surely have existed along I-80, or so I dreamed. Departing from Walnut, CA, mvsman must have seen plenty of I-80 as well on his "Asphalt of America" tour. *Who has a deadline on a trip to Iowa? It was only 250 miles! FootwearYour shoes are in style about every 8 years or so. Just keep the shoes and wait for them to come back. Your dad's dark socks (with shorts), on the other hand ... Adler socksI bet they were Adler socks. I graduated from high school the year before and it was all the rage to wear Adler socks in colors that matched your shirt. Black socks with sandalsMy wife thinks I invented that look. I can't wait to show her that it's retro chic. Chevy Bel AirIt's either a 68 or 69, sitting in the other neighbor's garage - complete with trailer-light connector installed in the bumper. [It's a '68. - Dave] Love Your Mom's Hat!I think you looked quite cool for an "almost" high schooler! Your mom's hat is the best! I bet she's pinching your little brother. Or maybe that was just my mom! PurgatoryWe used our '69 Pontiac Catalina station wagon to put the gear in the middle and the whiny kids waaaay back on the rear-facing seat. Man, I loved that car! Meanwhile ...At the beginning of that very same month we were on our way back from Los Angeles in a white 1965 Impala wagon with no AC and a ton of camping equipment both on the roof and in the back. We stayed in Reno on the Fourth, hoping that the drunken manager of the KOA there wouldn't accidentally back over our tent. I was more or less inured to the lack of cool, even back in Maryland, and I think the only time we really noticed it on the trip was when it was over a hundred crossing the Mojave. The Impala was passed on to my great-uncle who drove it until it dropped sometime in the mid-1970s. By 1969 we had left short haircuts behind, which since I had thick glasses meant I looked totally dorky in a completely different way; my father, on the other hand, was well into leaving hair itself behind. I notice you're wearing the de rigueur cutoffs, which is pretty much what we wore when we weren't in jeans. TweaksDitch the socks and you'd fit in perfectly with today's Williamsburg hipsters. You were scared?I was terrified! I was 11 years old at the time of the Manson murders and lived only 20 miles away. In my 11 year old mind, I was convinced the murderers would find their way to my house and they were specifically go after me! Thanks for posting this. This photo captures the "feel" of L.A. suburbia of the era perfectly- just as I remembered it. To the Moon!I started high school in 1969, too. Did your trip start before or after the moon landing? Did your parents make you watch it on TV, even though you wanted to be out with your friends? That was a surly moment for ME for that reason. Don't worry -- the shades and the hair in your eyes make up for the socks. 1969Was not this the year of the PLAID ? Fun vacationNebraska? For a vacation? I drove through that state. Couldn't get out fast enough. I was only 3 in 1969, but lived in nearby Simi Valley, home of Spahn Ranch. What city was this taken?? Oh yeah, love your mom's hat. I have pics somewhere of my mom wearing the same thing. What were people thinking?? We went after the moon landingI actually watched it on my little black and white TV in my room. I was a space geek then (and now). Thanks! That Ramblerbelonged to the superintendent of our school district! He and my dad knew each other causally, to say hi to or wave at as the car went by. I don't recall if we had AC in that car. It had a small engine and was seriously underpowered for hills and mountains. Now, I'll try to did up slides of our earlier trips in my granddad's borrowed 1959 Chevy Nomad wagon! This was truly a luxury barge on wheels. This thing looked like it was 15 feet wide and 25 feet long (to my 8 year old eyes). I had the entire back area to myself and my comic books, as little bro wasn't on the scene yet. The Summer of '69Grew up in La Puente, not far from Walnut. My 1969 was the the summer of "Sugar, Sugar" and Man on the Moon. 41 years ago -- WOW Taz!When I saw your brother, the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil came to mind! Mom's "Hat"That's no hat, it's a curler-cover. A la Phyllis Diller. A different eraIn '69, my dad was making probably about $18K-$20K a year. My mom stayed home. Yet we took similar vacations, 2-3 weeks at a time. Now, my wife and I work like rented mules and can't afford to go anywhere. When station wagons ruled the roadEach summer, Dad would load up the gear in the suction-cup equipped, stamped steel Western-Auto roof carrier on top of the old '61 Ford Falcon wagon and off we'd go. Looking back, it truly took faith and fortitude to pile a family of five and enough gear to support a safari in that underpowered, unairconditioned two-door wagon and set off fron Louisville to the far reaches of the country (New York City, Washington D.C., Miami). I remember fighting with my brothers over the desirable real estate in the back of the wagon where you could stretch out (no seatbelts) and watch the miles of highway fade into the distance through the tailgate window! Wagon MemoriesOur 1957 Mercury Colony Park station wagon with the Turnpike Cruiser engine had a similarly slanted rear window. On our trip to California later that year, Pop decided to drive on through the final night to miss the desert heat, with us kids sleeping in the back. I discovered I could position myself to see the road ahead as a reflection in the rear window, while simultaneously looking through the glass to watch the clear Western skies for shooting stars. What can beat the cozy feeling of slipping off to sleep while rolling along the open road while Pop faithfully pilots the family bus through the dark? Sixty-NineAh, Summer of '69, my favorite year. Got my driver's license. Got my FCC Third Phone. Started work part time in a REAL radio station. My parents ran their own store so we couldn't take too many trips. I'm jealous of those of you who did. And yes, Nebraska was borrrring to ride across back then, but today it isn't bad -- there are several interesting attractions across the state and a nice Interstate to zip you through! FourteenI was 14 years old that summer of 1969 (living in Cocoa Beach, Florida). I can relate to the yellow socks. I had a few pair of those. The color of the socks were supposed to match the color of the shirt. It looks like those are a freshly cut-off pair of jeans. What's in your father's right shirt pocket? A lens cover, maybe? Who took the photo? I see the car in the garage across the street looks like a '68 Chevy Impala--round taillights. And the Rambler in the next drive looks very nice too. A little peek of the mountain is nice too. I've never been to that area so I have no conception of what it's like there. Great photo, thanks for sharing a piece of your childhood memory. Cartop carrierMan, I want one of those roof carriers. Looks like it holds a lot of stuff. Memories aboundOur vacations were exactly the same (even my dad's socks with sandals). We headed from our Fountain Valley Ca home like thieves in the night. Had to get across the desert before the heat killed the kids. Of course we had an aftermarket AC installed by Sears so the front seat was a chill zone (no kids allowed). Our vacations happened at breakneck speed but we saw everything and always ended our trips with a pass through Vegas for Dad & Grandma. Fun times! "The Box" - Rooftop CarrierOur family trips were always in a station wagon, and always with "the box" on top. Dad built and refined a series of boxes over the years. They were much larger and taller than the one in the picture. All our luggage, supplies etc went in "the box" leaving the wagon for the 6 of us. With the back seat folded down my brother and I could sleep in sleeping bags in the back. In the winter dad put brackets on the box sides and bungee-tied all our skis on. The station wagons themselves were amazing. Dad always bought the biggest engine offered (we needed it), a large v8. The last wagon had dual air conditioners, front and rear. And how about the rear doors on a wagon. The rear door folded down or opened from the side, and the window went up and down. SUVs, get serious, they have very little useful space. No fairI suspect one of the reasons the younger brother is looking so crabby is that he didn't get sunglasses like everybody else. It's no fun to squint all day. Tterrace is completely right, roadtrips just aren't the same without a big ol' station wagon. I loved sitting in the rear-facing seat when I was a kid. And I remember being fascinated by the tailgate that could open two ways: swinging from the left-side hinge or folding down like a pickup truck. Hi Pat QYour recollections are so evocative of those road trips from another time. Life seemed simpler, or is it just filtered through our nostalgia screen? Great Time To Be AliveSure brings back memories!! I started HS in '68. We went on many, many driving vacations to New Mexico, Colorado, OK, MO & many places near the Panhandle of Texas where I grew up!! Road trips now are usually to the coast or TX Hill Country, but still have a magic to them, leaving before the sun's up!! ChevelleLove the car. In high school, a wagon was an embarrassment. Now I wish I had one. VentipanesOur family of six and a dog would pile into our '63 Lincoln and while sitting in the driveway Dad would ask Mom, "Okay, where do you all want to go?" Then we would be off to Nova Scotia or Florida. There was no AC in either the Lincoln or the '63 Impala we had so we would drive the whole way with windows open in the summer heat. If you turned the vent windows all the way open so they were facing into the car they would generate a terrific amount of airflow into the cabin at highway speed. It was quite comfortable actually and 40+ years later I wish cars still had those vent windows. Lunar summerSeveral have mentioned the Apollo 11 landing. I have a similar tale. I was 7, just a little too young to understand the significance of the event. I remember my mother trying to keep me interested as she sat on the edge of her seat watching the coverage. Now I'm glad I remember that night, and get chills watching the video and Walter Cronkite taking off his glasses and saying "Whoo boy!" totally at a loss for words. That was an awesome summer! Oh yeah, we had a station wagon too. '69 Caprice Estate with fake wood paneling! Almost had the wagon...Our family was cursed to miss out on having station wagon vacations - first time in '65, we were supposed to be getting a red '62 Corvair wagon from my uncle who was going into the Air Force but he hit some black ice and rolled it while he was delivering it from back east (he was unhurt). Next in '66 we traded our rusted-out '56 Chevy for a beige '63 Dodge 440 eight-passenger wagon; I was looking forward riding in the third seat on our annual trip from Chicago to Paducah, but a lady in a '62 Continental hit it. We ended up with a maroon '65 Impala hardtop for the next several years' vacations, but at least it had AC! Our imitation wagonWe did not have a wagon so Dad cut a piece of plywood for the back seat of our 57 Mercury that gave us kids a full flat surface in the back seat. Holding it up were two coolers on the floor. On top Dad blew up two air mattresses, then they gave us "kiddy drugs" (gravol). They caught onto that after the first trip in which that back seat became a wrestling arena. Hi BarrydaleSugar Sugar is a favorite of mine to this day. The San Gabriel Valley has changed a lot since those days, eh? And the year beforeAnd the year prior to this photo my family, consisting of myself at 13, my sisters aged 10 and 4 (or 5) loaded up in a 2 door Marquis and headed from Raleigh up through Indiana, SD, WY Oregon down through LA and back east across the desert through AZ, NM, TX and driving one marathon from Texarkana to Anderson SC in one day, during the peace marches throughout the South that summer! I still remember passing the civil rights marchers for mile after mile on the roads through MS, AL and GA. The trip took two months.... and you think YOU heard whining from your brother? Sometimes things don't changeThe socks may be a little bit high, and shorts a bit short, but the way you are dressed is exactly the way many kids at my middle/high school dress now. Especially the ones going into high school, I'm just stunned by how similar you are. I could actually almost confuse you with my younger brother, who is so similar he even has blond hair. Right now I'm planning a road trip in my 1968 Ford Falcon for the spring, its a 4 door sedan and not a wagon. But it is a daily driver kind of car, not a show car, so I drive it in the same way your parents might have driven their car, not to show off, but just to get around. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Kids)
Green Gasoline: 1980
1980. "Shamrock gas pump, old Route 85, Aguilar, Colorado." Color transparency by John Margolies (1940-2016) / John Margolies ... hefty. Compare today's 18.4-cent federal and 22-cent Colorado tax per gallon -- out of a price ten times as high. [The price ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/17/2023 - 8:41pm -

1980. "Shamrock gas pump, old Route 85, Aguilar, Colorado." Color transparency by John Margolies (1940-2016) / John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive. View full size. Creme tangerineI saw the title and immediately heard it in my head replacing the first two words of the Beatles song "Savoy Truffle"! BowserBowser model 575, circa 1941-48. This one seems to be in above average condition for its years. It would have been an excellent candidate for a cosmetic restoration, transforming it into a colorfully imposing embellishment for a modern day Man Cave. Sylvanus Bowser invented the first gas pump in 1885, before cars ever existed. Since people relied on gas to power their homes, they used Bowser's invention, which held refined kerosene, for their stoves and lamps. https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2017/05/bowser-building/ If I'm reading it correctlyThe last customer received 7(?) gals of gas for $2.25, making the gas 32 cents a gallon. This would be far too low for 1980 (which was approaching/exceeding a dollar a gallon, if I recall correctly). [Not to belabor the obvious, but this is a derelict pump at a ghost gas station. - Dave] High gas taxWhenever the last transaction on this pump occurred, it is noteworthy that the sticker below the dials says that there are 11 cents per gallon of taxes. Given that the total price is 31.9 cents per gallon, that's pretty hefty. Compare today's 18.4-cent federal and 22-cent Colorado tax per gallon -- out of a price ten times as high. [The price per gallon on this pump is ?1½ cents. - Dave] Yes, I see that now. I guess I just assumed that it was .9 because that's the way gas stations have always priced for as long as I can remember, and still do, even as the tenth of a cent fades into total insignificance. If, as calculated by alg0912, the first digit is a 3, that would correspond to a sale in the 1960s some time. The station's closure might have something to do with the merger of Shamrock Oil with Diamond Alkali in 1967 (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Shamrock). Two digitsTwo digits plus a decimal for the price per gallon. Those were the days! (The Gallery, Kodachromes, Gas Stations)
Briefing the Generals
... [That is Eisenhower -- Ike's son John. Maybe at Colorado Springs or in Alaska? - Dave] C-119G The Serial 37864 ... 
 
Posted by brian@csa-nyc.org - 01/21/2008 - 12:42am -

Elliott Smyzer briefing generals Macarthur and Eisenhower on an airstrip. I'd LOVE to know what the context of this photo was and where it was taken. brian@csa-nyc.org I hate to disagreeI hate to disagree with Dave (because he can usually prove me to be wrong) but if he's identifying the officer next to Captain Smyzer as John Eisenhower he's wrong for one simple reason - John Eisenhower retired as a Brigadier General (one star) in the Army Reserve. There's only one Brigadier General in the photo, the dark haired Air Force General at our far right. Both he and the General who bears a strong resemblance to Ike are Air Force officers (wings on the left side of their jackets, plus the rather distinctive Air Force "scrambled eggs" that have lightning bolts as part of the motif and are know as "farts and darts" - thank you Wikipedia). From our right to left are Major Clay (no farts & darts on his cap - they kick in at Lt. Colonel), a Major or Lt. Colonel in the 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagle shoulder patch), Captain Smyzer (also 101st Airborne), the Air Force Major General resembling Ike and the Air Force Brigadier General (with no ribbons). [I was guessing. I am sure we will figure it out! - Dave] I say, not EisenhowerJohn Eisenhower was in the Army, not the Air Force. And the two men on the right are definitely Air Force generals -- they have lightning bolts in the scrambled eggs on the brims of their hats. He sure looks like an Eisenhower, though. That's not MacArthur and EisenhowerThe dark uniforms are USAF, probably early to mid 60's. None of the services used name tags before that time although General/flag officers still don't. Ike wasn't an Air Force command pilot and the dude in shades looks to be a major or light colonel, not the proper rank for MacArthur. The C-123 in the background is not of WW-II vintage either. Not sure who Capt Smyzer was, but if he met those illustrious generals, it wasn't captured in this picture! [That is Eisenhower -- Ike's son John. Maybe at Colorado Springs or in Alaska? - Dave] C-119GThe Serial 37864 translates into 53-7864; it was a C-119G "Flying Boxcar" that was sent to the Chinese Nationalist AF in 1966. thanks to jbauger serial list I don't care who those guys are.....But that guy in the middle has some cowrazy camooflage going on. Thats the Grandfather of my sonYes it is them, and Elliott Smyzer is the grandfather of my son. If you would like the story of the pic, email me and I will connect you with his son who has this photo enlarged and on the wall! reddingbarb@yahoo.com [Elliott is your father? Your father-in-law? - Dave] (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Northward Ho: 1905
... was apparently a gift from the State Historical Society of Colorado to the Detroit Publishing Collection in 1949. There is more ... western US states and eventually brought 23 settlers from Colorado to found the Bassano Colony, in Alberta. This was in 1914. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/20/2012 - 2:07pm -

Circa 1905. "Motor car, Canadian Government Colonization Co." I wonder if there was a calliope aboard, or bagpipes. Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Comedy Imitates LifeIn his album "Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America, Part 2" the founding fathers invent a new medium called Tele-wagon. It would be pulled around Europe while people extolled the new country's virtues through a small hole cut in the side. I wonder if Mr. Freberg knows how close to reality he came with his seemingly-goofy idea. Early HybridThere's an electric motor on the front axle, and what looks like a big radiator just aft. And a boiler tank in back. How'd this thing work? What propels this - um - contraption?Looking underneath, I wonder if this wasn't some sort of early hybrid... There appears to be an electric drive on the front axel but just behind it there is what appears to be a radiator and at the rear, what appears to be a gas or water tank. And finally those large boxes underneath appear to be battery boxes used in electric trucks of the period. What's your guess - steam/electric? Gas/electric? Interesting.... Fine example of the sign painter's art!And to think that we Canadians sometimes like to make fun of Americans for being "over the top." I guess we're caught this time! An amazing variety of typefaces, though. Oily AcresThe driver appears to be a bit slippery looking. I don't think I'd buy a necktie from that guy let alone travel thousands of miles for free land. John A. would be so proudFrom the federal agency that brought you Miss Canada astride her wheat-swagged bicycle... When it came to platitudinal boosterism, nobody beat the Canadian Government in the early 20th Century. Free land, mild climate, peerless soil, and the promise of happy, rosy-cheeked offspring playing amongst the wheat. Of course they never really told you that the land wasn't really free...there was a $10 service charge when you got to the Dominion Lands Office which some simply didn't have, having spent the last of their money on Canadian Pacific passage. And there was always a chance the surveyors' maps were off and you'd land was mostly under water. And the least said of the weather the better. But still, an admirable (and fantastical) showing from the fair Dominion. Considering the speed at which the Last Best West was settled between 1890 and 1914, it seems to have worked! What the heckare all of those electric bells and whistles for, the ones behind the vehicle operator's head? The signage on this wagon is magnificent. GadzooksMonty Python meets Kids in the Hall, and Charlie Chaplin is driving! Please Tell MeThat this thing survived and is in a museum somewhere. Canada, eh?Our much-advertised self-effacement isn't much in evidence, here. My mother came to Canada based on a lecture extolling the virtues of Canada's wide-open spaces and the ease of British subjects to get work. Ironically, her attempts to get a job as a teacher, here, were initially rebuffed with the terse "We don't hire Scottish people". Turned out it was a receptionist who didn't like Scots. "We don't hire your type..." --- I should have mentioned that efforts at convincing immigrants to settle the west, which also included "free land", often led to clashes in cultures. Those people from Eastern Europe fell afoul of suspicious governments (Federal and Provincial) and their neighbours when they gathered together to farm land communally. The Doukhobors, for instance, arriving in 1899 (7900 people) and 1902 (another 500), were initially permitted to own land individually but farm communally. However, but by 1905, the government of the day disallowed this practice. This and the Doukhobors refusal to swear the Oath of Allegiance, led to the government cancelling their homestead entries. They rejected government interference, which led to radical action by various sects (sometimes by carrying out bombings or nude protest). They were eventually disenfranchised, and their children removed from their care. It wasn't until the 1970s and 1980s that the Doukhobors began to reclaim their culture and, in some cases, their family ties. The Doukhobors immigration was the single largest mass migration in Canadian history. The photo was apparently a gift from the State Historical Society of Colorado to the Detroit Publishing Collection in 1949. There is more information about the Canadian Colonization Company (a privately owned company that bought land and then distributed it for a fee) and other companies like it. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=a1ARTA0... Coming and GoingFunny, my ancestors (part of the Mayflower crowd) settled in Canada as Tories but my grandfather and his 12 siblings immigrated back to the US around 1900 and became US citizens. What goes unsaidOh yes! A land of plenty and prosperity. Then there's the arctic climate six months of the year. Hope you like it uber-cold. Steam Lines?There appear to be steam lines, with sliding joints and valves, going to the wheels. What the heck? Actually, given the boiler and radiator, I really like the idea of a steam calliope. HomesteadersIn 1906 my Gr. Grandfather and family of 11 boys, (two with his second wife)set off with this dream from Minnesota to Saskatchewan. Every son went back to Minnesota to find a wife, and that is how I ended up being Canadian. ElectricDoes that motor drive the wheels? or is it just for the lights? Filling the Promised LandAt this time Canada was enthusiastically promoting immigration. Here's another 1905 promotional wagon, somewhat less hi-tech. Steam, I think.Considering the front "blow down" valve and the pipe leading to the boiler. The "radiator" is the condenser for reusing exhausted steam from the engine to turn it back into water for greatly extended mileage. The electrics are provided by a dynamo which charges batteries for all those lights. Oddly, the head and tail lights appear to by acetylene lamps. And, strangest of all. I think the rear wheels steer the thing. Hey, only on Shorpy, right? Bells whistles etcBehind the driver are two large meters that probably gave the amount of remaining charge in the batteries. A bank of knife switches that operated the numerous light bulbs are in evidence as well as what appears to be a large round rheostat to control voltage. The temperatureWhen our Fellowship sponsored a family of Kosovar refugees during the war in the former Yugoslavia, we were trying to impress upon them that the winters were "very, very cold". After bringing this up a number of times, the father finally said "If the winters were that cold, no one would be living here. Since you're living here, I think we can manage." Manage they did. Although part of the family returned home after the conflict ended, part of the family remained and remained good friends. And it wasn't until we saw photos of Kosovo in winter that it dawned on us that cold winters weren't exactly a surprise to them. That's something we still joke about (amongst other cultural misunderstandings on both our parts). Early day hybridAccording to "The Golden Years of Trucking" published by the Ontario Trucking Association in 1976, this was a gas-electric four-wheel-drive truck built by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Co. of Windsor, Ontario. It had an electric motor on each wheel, was 20 feet long and had an 81-inch track. The four cylinder engine produced 20 HP. The truck was sent to England to visit "every town and village in the country." Because it was so underpowered it never made it out of London. Presumably it was left in England. The sides could be hinged up to expose examples of the wonderful Canadian produce. [Fabulous. One question: When? - Dave] Wondering no moreI always wondered what possessed the various branches of my family to come to Canada. Now I know! Northern LightsI'm hoping the lighted letters on top worked thusly: each letter lights up in turn (C-A-N-A-D-A), and then the entire word flashes several times ("CANADA" "CANADA" "CANADA"!). That would have been all kinds of awesome! The CPR and Western ImmigrationThe Canadian Pacific Railway was instrumental in promoting immigration to Canada and settling the western provinces, in particular. 1905 was a pivotal year because that was the formation of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Since the CPR had the only available transportation method of getting settlers into these new provinces, and they had a vested interest in encouraging both the agricultural future and the urban future of the west, they made it their business to encourage settlement. Since they also had a vested interest in getting settlers from Europe via their steamship line, they were VERY interested in advertising both the method and the reason for getting to Canada. They advertised in the form of lectures and through films (William Van Horne hired film maker James Freer to film all aspects of Canada (discouraging the use of winter scenes) "James Freer, who began shooting scenes of Manitoba farm life in 1897, and who was being sponsored on tours of Britain by William Van Horne as early as April 1898, was a pioneer in every sense of the word. None of his films appear to have survived, but his promotional literature indicates the eclectic nature of his offerings, part hard sell and part general-interest subjects to attract the audience. Entitled "Ten years in Manitoba -- 25,000 instantaneous photos upon half-a-mile of Edison films," a typical Freer "cinematograph lecture" included Arrival of CPR Express at Winnipeg, Harnessing the Virgin Prairie, Harvesting Scene with Trains Passing and Winnipeg Fire Boys on the Warpath. The first tour was evidently considered both a popular and a commercial success, though its immediate impact on emigration figures cannot be calculated. In 1901 Clifford Sifton, then minister of the Interior, agreed to sponsor a second one "under the auspices of the Canadian Government." This 1902 tour, using the same program of films, was less successful than the first, and neither the CPR nor the federal government was prepared to sponsor a third." http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/publications/archivist-magazine/01500... A joint effort between the CPR and the Canadian government IN THE WESTERN US STATES featured an "exhibition van" "which travelled the highways and country roads, much after the fashion of the van used in England by the railway company. The car was in charge of L.O. Armstrong, an effective speaker who represented the railway. According to the same book, "Building the Canadian West - The Land and Colonization Policies of the Canadian Pacific Railway (cited above), there was a colonization company (Beiseker and Davidson) active in the western US states and eventually brought 23 settlers from Colorado to found the Bassano Colony, in Alberta. This was in 1914. http://books.google.ca/books?id=CxsA_rOLK1UC&lpg=PA113&ots=2geF2e37ks&dq... No description of the van is given. I have contacted the CPR Archives to see if I can find out more. The automated response tells me that I can expect to wait 6-8 weeks for an initial response... Great. Similar to the Homestead ActThe promise on the wagon of 160 free acres reminds me of the promises of the American Homestead Act that promised anyone 160 free acres of land if they stayed on (and improved) the land and stayed for 5 years. In the corner of the prairie where I grew up (NW Iowa) my ancestors and lots of people made it, but lots of people didn't make it in the wilds of South and North Dakota. I can't even imagine how you could make it in a sod hut or tiny cabin even further north in the winters of Western Canada. All of those pioneers were made of sterner stuff! CPR Archives responseI received an email this morning from the CPR Archives... The photo of the motor car is interesting and new to us. The CP exhibit car was a railway car promoting farming in western Canada (see photos NS16354 and NS12974). CP also had a "trailer" which was hauled in Europe (see NS11550 in Paris)." I also came across this, which is unfortunately unaccessible in its entirety without purchasing the book. In my reply to the archivist, I cited the posting earlier by Jimmytruck. Curiouser and curiouser. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Curiosities, DPC)
Chattanooga: 1900
Colorado circa 1900. "Mining camp at Chattanooga on Mineral Creek." 8x10 glass ... Dollar Highway passes through. This is one of the few Colorado photos by William Henry Jackson in the LOC. Most ended up with, I believe, the Colorado Historical Society. Some info Been through there many times, it ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/23/2012 - 1:55pm -

Colorado circa 1900. "Mining camp at Chattanooga on Mineral Creek." 8x10 glass negative by William Henry Jackson, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Railroad Tie Down?There is an unusual tie down on every 5th tie on the railroad track. I don't think I have ever seen anything like that before. Does anyone know what this is? Past Its PeakChattanooga thrived as a staging point for ore and supplies passing between Silverton and Ouray. The arrival of the Silverton Railroad in 1888 eliminated that need. The following year an avalanche wiped out most of the town and it was not rebuilt. There's plenty of slide evidence in this photo. Today, the BLM uses howitzer rounds nearby to trigger controlled avalanches. The Million Dollar Highway passes through. This is one of the few Colorado photos by William Henry Jackson in the LOC. Most ended up with, I believe, the Colorado Historical Society. Some infoBeen through there many times, it is between Silverton and Ouray. Not much left there at all, although there was never a lot at Chattanooga, I believe most of the buildings were destroyed in a fire or flood. The railroad went up from Silverton to the mines around Red Mountain Town and Ironton, both ghost towns now. The modern highway is on top of the old railroad grade in several places. In the background down the valley you can see Bear Mountain, named after the formation the trees make of a bear licking it's paw. It is still visible to this day. Mystery SolvedNow I know where Track 29 goes. Railroad hardwareThose are "Anti-creepers" mounted to the ties every 5th one or so. They keep the rail in gauge, which in this case is narrow gauge I believe. Quite important when you don't have tie plates, (the rails are spiked directly to the ties) but do have sharp curves and rugged terrain! Here's the shot todayI found where I believe the shot to be taken from on Google Earth. The where the railroad was, now is a stretch of the "Million Dollar Highway." 37°52'33.10"N 107°43'30.72"W Facing South. July 2012I was there just this past July a took this shot from the edge of the road. The old buildings in the foreground are what remains of the Silver Ledge Mine. (The Gallery, Landscapes, Mining, Railroads, W.H. Jackson)
Public hanging
... list of the Denver Public Library. There is a town in Colorado called Buena Vista. Newspaper article Chaffee County Times, Colorado In 1888, the first legal hanging was held in this area behind the ... 
 
Posted by William - 09/20/2011 - 8:51pm -

I found the negative in a cigar box that was tossed into a dumpster in Portland, Oregon. I have no idea of the history. View full size. Maybe around Denver?I googled the name, came up with very little except the name showing up twice in the undigized list of the Denver Public Library. There is a town in Colorado called Buena Vista. Newspaper article Chaffee County Times, Colorado In 1888, the first legal hanging was held in this area behind the courthouse. This was the hanging of Nicolo Feminella, who was convicted of the murder of a fellow miner. Some historyHere is a link to a story that mentions this event in passing: http://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&Ar... "In 1888, the first legal hanging was held in this area behind the courthouse. This was the hanging of Nicolo Feminella, who was convicted of the murder of a fellow miner. A lot of history has evolved in this area and in the old McGinnis Gym." Building on the old gym news story...The Chaffee County Courthouse and Jail Buildings are now a museum. http://www.buenavistaheritage.org/Page.aspx?PageID=2355 at the bottom of the page: The large room at the top of the stairs was once the heart of this venerable old building. This courtroom was the scene of many exciting cases. The fate of Nicolo Ferminello, an Italian accused of stabbing a man to death, was decided here. He was sentenced to die for his crime and his is Chaffee County's only "legal" hanging. He was hanged at the back of the jail complex. The room, which is now available for rental, has the original judge's bench and chair. notice the use of scare quotes around legal hanging... Big!Seems like an awfully big and heavy structure for a single hanging. Surely the forces sufficient to snap his neck would not have been anywhere near sufficient to need all those 2x8s, braces, and so on. Of course, lumber was cheap.... GallowsIt is a counter weight gallows. The condemned was led to the rope at ground level. A very heavy weight was released jerking him into the air. In this picture the man is being lowered by raising the weight out of the picture to the left. Some spectators are watching this. On the left side of the picture you can see the tought rope leading down to the weight. [Little known fact: only educated ropes were used for hangings.] Cigar box?You found this photo in a cigar box in a dumpster??? That's odd...that photo might be worth something. I would keep it and frame it, it's a piece of history. Another version of the history of this hanging...Source: coloradodefenders.us This was the 24th execution in Colorado: NICOLAI FEMENELLA (a.k.a. Mike George). August 23, 1888. Buena Vista (Chaffee County). W-W. Hanging/Broken neck. An Italian immigrant, Femenella was convicted of murdering Irishman William “Pat” Casey, who, like Femenella, was employed as a railroad section hand in the city of Granite. The murder resulted from a quarrel between several Irish and Italian immigrants about the men’s different ethnic heritages. After his conviction, Femenella began to claim that he killed in self-defense, a plea that may have saved him from the gallows had he originally used it at trial.387 Governor Alva Adams deferred the execution on three occasions. “According to prevalent opinion here Femenella has received more consideration than would be accorded to the majority of lifelong citizens in this community.”388 Approximately seventy-five people were admitted to the jail yard to witness the hanging, and a “large crowd” mingled outside the jail fence. He was hanged with rope left over from that ordered from a St. Louis company to hang Andrew Green (q.v.).389 (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Scouts and Guides: 1864
... Ohio. His brother Theodore Hale Dodd was a colonel in the Colorado Army; high ranking fellow in the area. Too much to say. Sadly, Henry ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 8:55pm -

March 1864. "Brandy Station, Virginia. Scouts and guides of the Army of the Potomac." From photographs of the main Eastern theater of the war, winter quarters at Brandy Station. Standing, left to right: James Doughty, James Cammack (?), unknown, Henry W. Dodd, unknown, unknown. Seated: John Irving, Lt. Robert Klein of the 3d Indiana Cavalry, Dan Cole. On ground: Dan Plue, Lt. Klein's son, W.J. Lee, unknown, Mr. Wood, Sanford Magee, John W. Langdon. Wet-plate glass negative, photographer unknown. View full size. Pinkie ringsI didn't realize that pinkie rings were fashionable (or practical) in those times. I count at least three on left hands and one on right. Does anyone know whether there is any significance to these? Wow!I wonder how much time this motley crew spent on the right side of the law and how much time they spent elsewhere. I Just NoticedLook at the square toes on the boots and shoes. Is that an illusion or am I seeing it right? They've been too long in those clothes, and I'm sure they could all use a bath. But they all also have a steely look in their eyes that you don't see much of any more. Self Square toed men's dress shoes are still a very popular style in Europe and Asia, but you do not see them so much here in the United States. Although motley, all of these gentlemen look extremely rugged and competent, which is what you would expect from a guide who could make his way through rugged terrain in all sorts of weather. The second man from the left in the back is posing writing in his notebook, demonstrating perhaps that he was both professional and literate which would be important marketing points in his favor. Loud clothesIt's hard to imagine someone discreetly scouting in those outrageous check patterns! I'm guessing....that the "steely-eyed" look comes from staring into space while trying to hold absolutely still for the long exposures. And, it appears that some were more successful than others at doing this. These boots were made for either footAccording to some research I did for a sculptor that was working on an Abe Lincoln statue, not long before this picture was taken, footwear was not made with any preference for left and right. These boots are either still in the old style, or fashion hadn't moved them very far away. A poet among them?They are a rough looking bunch, except for the man to the left of center in the grass. He has a "poet" look about him. The others are quite steely-eyed, as has been noted. ButtonsMaybe it is the steely eyed look that made it difficult for that guy in the back row to get his waistcoat buttoned up level. Fancy that -- one mistake with the first button and he goes down for internet eternity as a sloppy dresser. Most dangerous jobGive these guys a break. An infantry or cavalry scout faces apprehension and summary execution every time he leaves camp. It was a particularly nerve-wracking job in the Civil War, where lines were often fluid, enemy could turn up anywhere, and you might have to bluff your way out of any encounter. That's one tough dude there!The man sitting with the black and hat the beard is one of the toughest looking fellows I've ever seen. I can see death when I look into his eyes. He is someone I would want on my side! MIAThe gent on the far left appears to be missing a few fingers. MelungeonsI wonder if some of these fellows are of melungeon heritage. Melungeons are rather dark-skinned people found in the Eastern Appalachians who are generally thought to be of European, Sub-Saharan African and Native American heritage. Some people believe that they were descendants of the Lost Colony, but no one really knows where they came from. "Dodd" and "Cole" are listed as Melungeon surnames, of course those are rather common names, but Mr. Cole is one of the darkest complexioned men in this photo. There's a good article in Wikipedia and loads of other stuff on the Internet on this subject. Scouts and SpiesThis picture is on the cover of "Scouts and Spies of the Civil War," by William Gilmore Beymer. These are men who signed up for what was called "extra dangerous duty," behind enemy lines and so forth. Worth a read if you're interested in that sort of thing. Henry Wood DoddHe is my relative, born in Fairfield, NJ. Moved to Ohio. His brother Theodore Hale Dodd was a colonel in the Colorado Army; high ranking fellow in the area. Too much to say. Sadly, Henry ate some beef at a Union camp; most got sick. Henry had the sickness the rest of his life. Had to go to the bathroom a lot, if you understand. Hard to stay in the saddle but he did. He was one of the first fellows picked by Pinkerton for the first Secret Service agent's class. Around 1886 or so, Henry was at an old soldiers' home (Kansas ??) but his Iowa sister (teacher) came for him when he was very sick. She was his only family member alive. He died 1888 in Algona, Iowa, aged 49. In 1865, Henry Dodd and another man captured Dick Turner, former Confederate head of Libby Prison. Glen Union scoutsThe man in the chair far left with half a hand, straw hat, is my great-great grandfather JOHN M. IRBY (1840-1871), of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry, Company C. Born and raised in Switzerland County, Indiana. The name "Irving" was incorrectly attributed to him or he possibly used it as an alias. I believe it was misattributed because it so close in spelling to Irby. He suffered the hand injury from a canister shot during a small skirmish (not the large engagement) at Brandy Station, Virginia, in August 1863. He recuperated in Washington, D.C. He detached to Union Headquarters to serve as a scout. Plew (Plue) and Cole were Indiana Third Cavalry. I was able to verify that he is my ancestor through military, medical and family records. I was able to communicate with his granddaughter who verified much of the information that I learned. John mustered out of the Army in September 1864. His wife was JERUSHA EMILY CULP. They had three children, one being my great-grandfather James M. Irby. John was youngest of three brothers. His brothers were Charles Irby & Silas Irby. They served with Indiana units in the Union Army -- Silas in Tennessee and Charles in Maryland. John suffered from several medical ailments. He committed suicide by hanging in 1871 in Vermillion County, Indiana. It is said that he was depressed because he could not farm due to his injury. He probably was suffering from PTSD. He is buried in Eugene Cemetery, Eugene, Indiana. (The Gallery, Civil War, Portraits)
Meet the Flintstones: 1962
The Manitou cliff dwellings west of Colorado Springs. This was taken on my grandparents' honeymoon out west in ... 
 
Posted by shawnv - 12/04/2008 - 6:27pm -

The Manitou cliff dwellings west of Colorado Springs. This was taken on my grandparents' honeymoon out west in 1962. View full size. FordYes, that '62 is a Ford, not a Mercury -- it's a Galaxie. What a great collection. The Old OnesHigh on the list of Anasazi priorities were a reliable water supply and convenient parking. The real cartoon characterThe real cartoon character is the painfully thin old dude with the high-waters and the hat perched on the very top of his head. Is he for real? Bumper stickersOf the six vehicles with their back bumpers facing the camera, it appears at least four of them have the same (rather large) bumper sticker. Black background, red text on the top line, white text on the bottom line. Considering that I almost never saw much in the way of bumper stickers until my later childhood (born in the '60s and grew up in the '70s and '80s), it makes me wonder what this particular sticker was about that attracted so many of these tourists. The ManitouOh, that's just great. I suppose now you'll tell me that the North Pole attraction nearby was fake as well. I guess it's fitting that my only memory of the family vacation to Manitou Springs in the 1960's was my purchase of "real" Confederate banknotes at the North Pole gift shop. Faux AnasaziWhen I lived in the Southwest about 10 years ago, one of my greatest interests was to visit the cliff dwelling of the Anasazi. The ruins at Manitou don't readily come to mind when thinking of such things, and indeed, a quick google search reveals why. While looking somewhat authentic (minus the foreground parking lot and built-in gift shop), the dwellings at Manitou are an early 1900s reconstruction built (somewhat faithfully) for the tourist trade. [I've been to the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, which are pretty impressive. No parking lot full of Iron Age cars, though. - Dave] Go Mustangs!My mom's an alum of Manitou High. Go Mustangs! Naming cars From left to right: The tailfin of a 1958 oldsmobile, a 1961 Chevrolet Impala, 1953 Mercury, 1959 Chevrolet Impala, 1957 Mercury, 1954 Chevrolet, 1962 Mercury and hood of a 1958 Buick. [Close, but. There was no Impala wagon in 1961. And that's a 1958 Mercury. The red convertible is a 1962 Ford. The car in the foreground is a 1959 Ford, not a Buick. - Dave] It's Called "Fit""Painfully thin"? That's normal. Maybe not the average these days with a McDonald's every 3 blocks, but that's fit and trim for any decade. Love the '59 Chevy's taillights and gullwing fins. And bonus points for it being a wagon. Great resale value!Years ago, a friend of mine had a '59 Chevy Kingswood (top of the line) wagon, which he bought for the princely sum of $150. A few years later, it was rear-ended while parked on the street. The only visible damage was a dented tailgate and rear bumper, but it also broke the engine and transmission mounts, and the second seat wouldn't fold down. The other guy's insurance company totaled it, and gave him $500. Talk about resale value! As for bumper stickers, I can remember when Six Flags Over Texas would put a bumper sticker on every car parked in the lot -- if you didn't want one, you had to fold down the driver's side sun visor. Bumper stickers of oldI remember leaving "Clyde Peeling's Reptile Land" in northern Pennsylvania when I was just a kid and finding someone had placed a bumper sticker on my Dad's big old Plymouth. Dad went nuts! He stormed back into Reptile Land, presumably tore the heads off of several snake wranglers and reemerged with a razor blade to scrape the sticker off that fine chrome bumper. I stood in the hot sun with Mom while Dad cursed and scraped and then cursed and scraped some more. "Old Dude" ProtestThe man referred to as an old cartoon character was probably under 40 and he was not wearing floodpants as that was the standard proper length in 1962, hems stopping above the top of the shoes (Think Beatles suits in 1964). Clothes were close-fitting and closely trimmed. Am I the only one who remembers the "Mod" look? "Painfully Old"I have to agree with the poster about feeling "painfully old." Aren't the laws of physics being bent here? How could there be an adult here who had grandparents honeymooning in 1962? My parents were married in 1962 at age 21 and had me a year later! My husband and I have small children and are trying for more - I didn't feel old before. [So Grandma and Grandpa got hitched in 1962. They had a kid, let's say, in 1963. We'll call him Billy. Billy gets married when he turns 23, in 1986. Billy and his wife have a kid in 1988, and name him Shawn. Shawn is now 20 years old, posting away on Shorpy. Tempus fugit. (Am I close?) - Dave] 1961 Chevy Bel AirThe second car from the left is a 1961 Chevy all right, but it's a Bel Air not an Impala. The Impala has 6 tail lights! [There was no Impala wagon in 1961. Or Bel Air, either. The 1961 Chevy wagons (Nomad, Parkwood, Brookwood) all maxed out at four taillights. - Dave] Chevy NomadThe Nomad wagons had the same trim as Impalas, but Nomad badging on the rear fenders and tailgate. And four taillights, not six. They could be ordered with either a six or V-8, which might have surprised the Beach Boys. Steve Miller Tachin' it up someplace near the crossroads of America Nice.This is a nice picture and all. The dwellings are cool, the cars are interesting, but, holy smokes, his/her grandparents' honeymoon, in 1962??? That makes me feel painfully old. Bumper StickersBack in the 50's and 60's many attractions hired high school kids to zip around the parking lot placing bumper stickers (signs actually) on every car. The signs were usually light cardboard with thin metal straps on each end. Since cars had real, stand-alone bumpers, it was a simple matter to bend the straps around the bumper. Visitors could easily remove the sign when they got home, but in the meantime -- free advertising. My dad would fume at the possibility of scratching the chrome on our beloved 1955 Packard Patrician and remove them before leaving the parking lot. Bumper StickersWasn't it common in the 50s and 60s for touristy places (notice I avoid the perjorative "tourist trap") to have an employee go through the parking lot and bumper-sticker every single car? That's always been the story about the Tommy Bartlett shows in the Wisconsin Dells. I suspect that's the case here. High SchoolI graduated from high school in 1962, and I would gladly sacrifice a finger or two for one of those cars! Wagons HoI am going to suggest that the 61 chevy wagon is a 9-passenger Brookwood or Parkwood, but it really is impossible to tell which model only by looking at the back of it. I think it's a 9-passenger because you can see a step on the bumper below the outboard taillight. The 59 wagon is either a Brookwood or a Parkwood, because there are no bumper steps (Kingswood) and the tail light lenses are plain (Nomad). The 59 also has the optional back up lights under the bumper. It's no Brookwood..If it's a 9-passenger, it ain't no Brookwood. B'woods came in 6 passenger models only, and the 2-door version (in a wagon! yes!) was the "Nomad". Only the BelAir and the Parkwoods would have had a 3rd seat. [There was no two-door Nomad for 1959, only four-door. The only two-door Chevy wagon that year was the Brookwood. And there was no Bel Air wagon. No nine-passenger Parkwood, either. The only 1959 Chevy wagon with a third seat ("Lookout Lounge") was the Kingswood. - Dave] Sixty-OneI was referring to the '61 Wagon. And i stand corrected, myself: '61 featured 3 wagons - all 4-doors, and all available as 6 or 9 passenger wagons: Brookwood, Parkwood, and the Nomad. (according to the Chevrolet bible). MercurialThe second car from the left is our hardtop 1953 Mercury coupe. And Dave you are very close in your assumption -- Shawn was born in 1987. Yah, Dineah speaking, through my friend, Standing Dog. Well, these cheesy tourist traps can be helpful when they teach real lessons about the indigenous peoples, but most whites go away clutching Eastern tribe tomahawks and faux eagle feather headdresses. The Anasazi were a very successful group that were undone by climate change. Local deforestation combined with radically changed rain patterns spelled the end to their advanced agricultural practices, and forced them to assimilate with the still successful Hopi and Dineah. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Travel & Vacation)
Echo Cliffs
"Echo Cliffs, Grand River Canyon, Colorado." Photochrom print published in 1914 from a glass negative taken many ... Glenwood Canyon This is Glenwood Canyon, western Colorado (about 15 miles from my home). Grand River is now called the Colorado ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/04/2014 - 1:26pm -

"Echo Cliffs, Grand River Canyon, Colorado." Photochrom print published in 1914 from a glass negative taken many years earlier by William Henry Jackson, whose Western views, developed in his railcar-darkroom, formed the basis of Detroit Photographic's holdings in the company's early years. View full size. Great photo!I would love to see more photochromes on shorpy, autochromes too. IntriguingI know there were color photographs years before Kodachrome, but I never knew they were available at the turn of the century. Or was this print hand-colored? It looks fantastic! [The original photograph was black-and-white; colors were added during the printing process. -tterrace] Glenwood CanyonThis is Glenwood Canyon, western Colorado (about 15 miles from my home). Grand River is now called the Colorado River. The railroad tracks are still there and heavily used by Union Pacific freight trains (mostly coal) as well as Amtrak passenger trains. Interstate 70 follows the canyon on the opposite side of the river. This is one of the most picturesque stretches of interstate highway anywhere in the U.S., and truly a marvel of engineering. How it workedA tablet of lithographic limestone called a "litho stone" was coated with a light-sensitive surface composed of a thin layer of purified bitumen dissolved in benzene. A worker then pressed a reversed halftone negative against the coating and exposed it to daylight for 10 to 30 minutes in summer, or up to several hours in winter. The image on the negative caused varying amounts of light to fall on different areas of the coating, causing the bitumen to harden in proportion to the amount of light. The worker then used a solvent such as turpentine to remove the unhardened bitumen, and retouched the tonal scale of the chosen color to strengthen or soften tones as required. This resulted in an image being imprinted on the stone in bitumen. Each tint was applied using a separate stone that bore the appropriate retouched image. The finished print was produced using at least six, but more commonly 10 to 15, tint stones, requiring the same number of ink colors. So: the original photographic negative was used to "expose" specially prepared lithographic stones, which were then etched and engraved by hand to modify them as required for each different ink color. Then the stones were used in succession to print the 6, 10, or 15 ink colors that appear in the final product. Just two wordsThere are just two words for this Echo Cliffs colorized photo -- Incredible, Incredible. (The Gallery, DPC, Landscapes, Photochrom, Railroads)
Ellis Island: 1911
... to Heaven I made a special trip to New York from Colorado just to see Ellis Island. It was one of the most moving places I have ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 5:43pm -

New York circa 1911. "Inspection room, Ellis Island." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. A new beginning, or maybe notImagine what this room must have been like when all those benches were full. Such emotion, such optimism, and likely, such fear. I can only wonder how the immigrants felt who were directed to the door behind the officials on the left. This Room WasA Cathedral of Hope for so many thousands. Ellis Island KidsSince all four of my grandparents came to America through the gates at E.I., I took my kids to this sacred place many moons ago. We toured all the floors, the museums, the infirmary, every inch of it, it was riveting to me. They have exhibits of authentic luggage and possessions carried overseas, actual clothing that was worn, photographs of many of the immigrants with their personal autobiographies on headphones (if you are curious) and it really puts one back there in time. One of my young sons could not believe how very poor so many people were, having written that they came with just coins or a few dollars or even nothing in their pockets. He was totally immersed in the photos and in so many of them, the kids' faces were blurred out to blankness like the child with the lady on the second floor. Anyway, at one point my tearful son said "This boy is so poor, he doesn't even have a face." It took us a minute before we 'got it' but has provided much laughter in the retelling; maybe you had to be there. I'm grateful every day that my ancestors' decision to become Americans was a priceless blessing for all their descendants. Ellis Island is unforgettable. God bless America. DetainedMy grandmother was detained (coming in from Poland) due to an eye infection. Her two younger siblings and mother waited for three days with relatives in new York. Once Grandma was released they left to settle in Chicago. Stairway to HeavenI made a special trip to New York from Colorado just to see Ellis Island. It was one of the most moving places I have been as both sides of my family passed through there. My favorite spot was the stairs leading out after you passed inspection and were granted entrance to America. They're about 15 feet wide and you can see and walk in the indentations made by the millions of feet that have worn down the steps. I couldn't help but think of my grandparents who walked down the same stairs. It was worth every penny spent to restore Ellis Island. And I recently heard from a friend who's a project manager for the National Parks Department that the other buildings at Ellis Island will begin restoration soon. My GrandmotherMy grandmother arrived at Ellis Island as a young woman (12 or 13) after traveling by ship from Greece with her father. The mother she barely knew met them there and on the ferry back to NYC, threw my grandmother's precious belongings into the river and told her she was in America now and would start over. That story used to break my heart when I was a girl; I guess it still does. My family and I visited a few years ago and it really does feel like a sacred space. Like OTY here, I am so thankful my grandparents left their Greek villages and became Americans. Mine tooMy grandmother came through Ellis Island with her parents and siblings. My father and his family came from Eastern Europe via Canada to the USA. It's worth noting in these present times that my family and millions like them waited in line and came to the USA legally. Everyone who does otherwise, regardless of the country from which they come, disrespects the sacrifices made by millions of honest immigrants from around the world. RootsBoth my parents were immigrants. My father, his mother and three siblings came through Ellis Island in 1922. I was able to find them on the Ellis Island Web Site. My mother's family came here in 1923. Eastern European immigration just about ended in 1924 because of the so called "Red Scare" laws. Interestingly , I found my Mother's mother (my grandmother) and my mother's 2 younger sisters and her only brother on the Website but not my mother, an older sister or my grandfather. They left Southampton, England in 1923 but don't appear on any Ellis Island records. My mother lived 103 years and I could hold a conversation with her up to about a year before her passing. She always insisted that she came into "Castle Gardens" but Castle Garden stopped receiving immigrants in 1892 and turned the job over to Ellis Island. I sort of believe she may have come in to Boston or Philadelphia but just didn't remember. Every so often I start searching for the records again but with no tangible results. In any case I'm one grateful guy. They endured enormous hardships to get here and they just made it. God Bless America. +99Same view from August of 2009. When I immigratedForty-seven years later, I arrived at Idlewild (now JFK) on Pan Am (now extinct) with $75 in my pocket (now spent). It was certainly a more pleasant way to begin the new life, but the excitement felt by the Ellis Island immigrants could not have been any higher than mine. How do you do it?timeandagain, have you simply been visiting the sites in the LOC photos and reshooting them or are you n cahoots with Dave and know a couple years in advance what he's going to post? Plaster JobLooking at the post +99 from timeandagainphoto and one that I took when there this summer, it looks like they plastered over all of the block walls and tile ceilings in that building. Unless they added that in the restoration--which would seem strange. Lost And FoundSeeing that lone bag on a bench makes me wonder if they had a lost and found. If so, the abandoned/lost bags might be part of the exhibits mentioned in another comment, with their own tales to tell. WartimeWhen the US entered the First World War, Ellis Island became the mobilization centre for Red Cross Nurses heading overseas. My ex-husband's grandmother. Charlotte Edith Anderson was the first Canadian Indian to be trained as a nurse, though no hospital in Canada would train her. She trained at the New Rochelle Hospital. Edith (as she preferred to be called, wrote in her wartime diary about her arrival at Ellis Island from New Rochelle where she had been working as a Public Health nurse, visiting New York City before heading overseas and her departure. I was pleased to have transcribed her wartime diary but sad that I didn't get a copy before my husband and I divorced. https://www.shorpy.com/node/7764 Re: How do you do it?I've been doing comparative shots of identical views since the mid-1980s. When I moved to DC almost 20 years ago I started using the photographs from the collections of the Library of Congress (they were only available in physical files at the library then). I research specific cities and place them in separate files along with maps where the shots were taken. When I visit those cities, I take the appropriate files with me and take current shots from the same perspective. I have hundreds of sets and thousands of shots of cities throughout the country in several lateral files as well as on several gigs of computer memory. Drives my wife insane. Ocean Border, Land BorderI'll bet that if there had been a land border between Europe and the United States, a lot of European immigrants would have slipped across, too. The sacrifice was in taking the risk and the leap of faith to come here. I'll also bet that many immigrants without documentation would gladly become citizens today. To my mind they should be given the chance. Guastavino Tile CeilingJuly 1916, an explosion occurred on Black Tom Island, a loading facility just a few hundred yards off Ellis Island. The blast caused $400,000 in structural damage. As part of the repairs, the Guastavino Brothers installed a new tile ceiling over the Great Hall. Dad DetainedMy father came through Ellis Island in 1920 with his father, mother and two younger sisters. They came from Greece. He was a boy of 8 and he had some sores on his head. He had to be detained. They wrapped adhesive tape on his head. If you remember the old adhesive tape,if you didn't have sores before they put it on your head, you certainly would have sores afterward. They also changed his first name from Evstrathios to Charles. He was very proud of his heritage and he was glad they made a monument out of Ellis Island. Isle of TearsListening to Irish Radio, couldn't help thinking back to this photo. Guastavino Tile Paul39 mentioned the repair after the nearby explosion. That answers my question of how they made plaster adhere to the glazed tiles that I saw when I visited a few years ago. The original substrate was probably terra cotta. The oyster bar under Grand Central Terminal has a wonderful example of Guastavino tile ceiling which is hard to find now. Grandma on the LusitaniaMy grandparents on my father's side came through Ellis Island from Russia. My grandfather arrived sometime in the final decade of the 19th century, and just this evening, after seeing this post, I have done a search at ellisisland.org on my grandmother (who I have more information about), and may have discovered documentation of her arrival on the ship's manifest! Thank you, Dave and Shorpy, for pointing me in this direction! I have contacted a cousin who hopefully will be able to verify or discount my findings. Here is an image of the manifest which has me so excited. Please scroll down to Line 14. Finding relativesThis is a wonderful photo, and I can easily imaging my grandparents sitting there as children around 1904-1906. Mr. Mel, frequently immigrant names were not spelled as we think they should've been. You may want to try searching the Ellis Island database via a different search engine: http://stephenmorse.org/ (first item on the page). Mr. Morse, the inventor of the 8086 computer chip, created this site soon after the original EIDB went public, because their own search engine was so pitiful. He has since improved it. It will enable you to search by sounds-like, just the first letter, and more. There are FAQs to help use the search engines. (I highly recommend many of the other search engines on that page - amazing!) CSK, congratulations! But there's a whole second page to your passenger list, which will have even more information. So go back to where you found your page, and click on "Next" or "Previous" (sometimes the original microfilms were rolled backwards on the reels). beachgirl2, it was very rare that officials at Ellis Island changed names, this is mostly a myth. They had to match the names to the departure lists created in "the old country", and there were plenty of translators for the languages brought over. (These departure lists still exist for Hamburg and some ports in England) But sometimes a recent immigrant wrote back home, and told them to use his new name, now that he was American. Or they Americanized them soon after arrival, to blend in. Or a schoolteacher couldn't pronounce the birth name. ... So if you research, you should be able to figure out when your father changed his name - before he left Greece, or very soon after the family arrived. But probably not on Ellis Island. Great photo - and new version too! Explosive AlterationsI was told by an archaeologist who works at Ellis that most of the interior (including the ceiling and walls) had to be redone after the building suffered blast damage from the Black Tom explosion of 1916. A website for Jersey City history notes that: "the Statue of Liberty sustained $100,000 in damages from the spray of shrapnel, and newly-arrived immigrants at Ellis Island had to be evacuated for processing at the Immigration Bureau at the Battery in New York City." Also, the buff-colored "stone" of the walls in the current photos is actually plaster with incised and painted joints (an accurate restoration of what had existed following the Black Tom incident, or so I am told). (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Telluride: 1940
... September 1940. "Dilapidated buildings at Telluride, Colorado." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security ... to me like "705" is probably really "205." As in 205 E. Colorado Avenue. The vacant building with the suspicious young lady sitting in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/30/2018 - 7:49am -

September 1940. "Dilapidated buildings at Telluride, Colorado." Medium format negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. This Property is Condemned. Part OneJust needs a leading man in the scene. Replayed everywhere in the USA. It's all in how you say itA certain conductor, as his Rio Grande Southern train approached the town, would go through the coach and announce the next stop as, "To Hell You Ride". Our young damsel in the photo looks like she'd rather be somewhere else. Hope she's in a better place now. 705 is really 205The address sign that looks to me like "705" is probably really "205." As in 205 E. Colorado Avenue. The vacant building with the suspicious young lady sitting in front is now gone, and they seem to have raised the street level, but the shop to the left is still there. In the 2014 Google view it's the "Telluride Music Co." but appears to be a cafe now. You might still be able to get a Big Smile there, but these days that might mean putting something... different in your pipe. Phoenix BeanThis building looks to me like the current Phoenix Bean coffee shop (image below). It was originally a hardware store. [This is the building to the left, with the SHERIDAN BEER sign in the window. - Dave] Google and Bing say "no"I thought it would be interesting to see if these buildings survived the "gentrification" of Telluride after it became a ski resort, however, neither Bing nor Google maps have street view in Telluride. Hard to believe, but true. Except for one small strip of Colorado Avenue (about a block) Google does not show any streetviews for Telluride in my Google in Indiana. Yet I see one below. WTF Google in Indiana? Been to Telluride It's come up in the world. NestsOn the more ornate building there a few nests above the girl. I will guess they are from wasps but the opening looks different than what I usually see. [Those are swallow nests. Made by birds, not bees. - Dave] (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Stores & Markets)
Topper in the Beets: 1915
... 30, 1915. "12-year-old Lahnert boy, near Fort Collins, Colorado, topping beets. The father, mother and two boys (9 and 12) expect to ... Lahnert. He was born in Missouri in 1903, and died in Colorado in 1985. In 1916, Lewis Hine took many photos of families that were ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/03/2016 - 7:26pm -

Oct. 30, 1915. "12-year-old Lahnert boy, near Fort Collins, Colorado, topping beets. The father, mother and two boys (9 and 12) expect to make $700 in two months' time in the beet work. 'The boys can keep up with me all right, and all day long,' the father said. Begin at 6 a.m. and work until 6 p.m. with hour off at noon. Several smaller children do not work. See Hine Report for studies of work done by these and other children." Glass negative by Lewis Wickes Hine. View full size. Beet FarmSchrute Farms has nothing on this place. Topper In The Beets This is Joe Manning, of the Lewis Hine Project. My research indicates that this boy was Alexander Lahnert. He was born in Missouri in 1903, and died in Colorado in 1985. In 1916, Lewis Hine took many photos of families that were working on beet farms in and around Fort Collins and Greeley, Colorado. Most of these families did not own the farms they were working on, and lived in temporary housing for the harvest season, and then lived in rented housing in Greeley and Fort Collins the rest of the year. The Lahnerts were natives of Missouri. It is interesting that many of the beet farm workers at that time were native Germans that had been living in Russia. I wrote a story about the Rommel family, of Fort Collins, also photographed by Hine in 1916. They were German natives from Russia also. The story includes considerable information about the history of Germans from Russia who settled in the US. http://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2014/11/26/jacob-rommel-family-page-one... How to Top a BeetMontana State College wanted you to know how, in English, Spanish, and German. The bad old daysThank heavens this awful, muddy, hard work is mechanized now. The order is changed a little, though, the beets are now topped before they are plucked from the ground. Still it's an all hands, 24 hour as long as the weather is cool, job that happens every year. How it's done today, at least in Minnesota: https://youtu.be/ksN7h-ZpFWc (The Gallery, Agriculture, Kids, Lewis Hine)
Midwest Cafe: 1941
September 1941. "Main street of Craig, Colorado. A new and thriving boom town in the Yampa River Valley." Photo by ... state Interesting that none of the cars shown are from Colorado. The left car has California plates, the center is from Montana, and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/09/2022 - 11:04am -

September 1941. "Main street of Craig, Colorado. A new and thriving boom town in the Yampa River Valley." Photo by Marion Post Wolcott for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Straight 8, V-12, Straight 6The Zephyr, with its aerodynamic lines and V-12, was a marketing coup for Ford Motor Company in the depths of the Great Depression. It came back for 1946, then was gone. Out of stateInteresting that none of the cars shown are from Colorado. The left car has California plates, the center is from Montana, and the right from Wyoming. Craig seems like an unlikely tourist destination, but perhaps the food at the Midwest Cafe was worth the detour. Air ConditioningI enjoyed seeing the "air conditioned" sign. It reminds me of the old Kool cigarette ad on many a restaurant door: "Come in, it's KOOL inside." The cars are the Stars!The partial car on the left is a 1940 Buick Special coupe. The middle car is a 1940 Lincoln Zephyr, and the car on the right is a 1937 Chevrolet Master Business Coupe, which came with only ONE (the left one) taillight! This Boomer Boomed From CraigJust a bit after this photo was made, I was conceived in this place. My mother said there were reasons I was NOT born there. Mostly, she said it had to do with exiting the family house from the second floor in winter. Also, leaving the family car running all night in winter. Then, there was the unpleasant task of hanging laundry that froze nearly instantly, including my sister's diapers. Mom said people were neighborly. If you were starving in winter, they'd bring you a deer carcass to gnaw on and trade eggs for a cup of coffee. Also, Mom did say there were decent cafes & bars, but that they absorbed too much of my old man's time. So one blistering cold winter morning Mom packed her bags, determined to get the Hell out of there. My old man said, "If you'll wait a day, I'll go with you." Over the months ahead, there were reasons I was not born in Alaska, Washington, California nor Texas. There's a whole armoire of inherited family photos in the next room, some of which almost certainly were processed by those folks at Irwin's. KodaksUnlike in Canada, where we say Kodak and Lego (which are the actual names), in the US people say Kodaks and Legos. Why? ["Kodaks" = Kodak cameras. - Dave] +81 YearsThe Midwest Cafe was located at 520 Yampa Avenue, now the Spicy Basil. Oh yes ...Yes please, three over easy, hash browns, whole wheat and gravy, coffee for sure. AAA approvalBet it was good back then. KodaksInteresting how brand names take on a generic item identification. Kodaks refer to Kodak cameras specifically, but could have been used for all cameras? Similarly in the UK 'Hoover' became used as a generic term for vacuum cleaning: "I"m going to Hoover the carpets" (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Eateries & Bars, M.P. Wolcott, Small Towns)
Empire State Express: 1905
... one of the last standard gauge steam locomotives left in Colorado. They are amazing machines! Our's was an oil burner, rather than coal, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 10:12am -

Syracuse, New York, circa 1905. "Empire State Express (New York Central Railroad) passing thru Washington Street." Our second look at one of these urban express trains. 8x10 glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. That "plume of smoke"Actually that's steam, which is why it's white and not black. Street trainThe scariest railroad picture I've seen is one I picked up on Flickr of a freight train going down a residential street in small town Georgia. Guess you check the schedule before you back out of your drive, or let the kids out. Strike!I'll bet the only time you couldn't hear the noise in that bowling alley next to the tracks was when the train came roaring through. Mystery CoachWhat is the vehicle beside the awning? Looks like a self-propelled stagecoach. Fresh *cough cough* Air *cough cough*!I can't Imagine being in one of those offices or apartments in "The Yates" with the windows open when the train came through! Egad, How did people stay alive back then? VacancyThe Yates Hotel was torn down in the 50's or 60's to make room for a parking lot. This intersection is gone also. The triangular building is still there. Cover your earsCan you imagine the noise? I'll wager the people working and/or living at The Yates hated to hear that old locomotive approaching. Probably rattled their very bones. Magnificent sight, though. Look at that plume of black smoke! Trains in streetsNew Albany, Mississippi, had the GM&O main line go right down main street. This persisted even after diesels arrived in 1935. There are tracks in the streets of Paris, TN but I don't know if they are still used. You have to remember that the railroads were there first and the towns built their streets later in most cases. Here it is todayStill quite recognizable by the building on the right. View Larger Map It still happensThere are several places here in California that still have some trains running down the middle of the street. I was in Santa Maria a couple of years ago and nearly got in the way of a locomotive meandering down the avenue. It was cool to see. Gotta Lovethose streetlamps. Good stuffMost of that "smoke" is steam. Great photo from a great era! Street RunningActually, trains running in city streets is quite common, even today. The most notable example is the Union Pacific tracks through Jack London Square in Oakland, Ca. It is not uncommon to find long double stack intermodal trains moving through the heart of downtown rather frequently there. There are numerous examples of the railroads using city streets, which were added alongside the rights of way. Be advised though, that the speeds are really slow, and the trains don't go tearing off through the heart of town. Steamed upMy wife and I rode a train (RGSR) last weekend which was powered by a steam locomotive, one of the last standard gauge steam locomotives left in Colorado. They are amazing machines! Our's was an oil burner, rather than coal, but the black smoke and steam was magnificent, not unpleasant to me at all! It pulled La Vita pass like magic. This picture is one of my favorites so far! In UrbanaI saw something similar in the mid-50's. In Champaign-Urbana Illinois. Main line track, right down the middle of the main street. The mystery coach of SyracuseHere, from the New York Public Library's online archive, is a 1909 Babcock Electric brougham, manufactured in Buffalo. [The vehicle in our photo seems to have a tiller for steering. - Dave] MasonryWhat a wonderful masonry masterpiece! Electric SteamInteresting juxtaposition of steam powered train crossing under overhead trolley catenary wires, and over the trolley tracks, all frozen in one moment of time. (The Gallery, DPC, Railroads, Syracuse)
After the Gold Rush: 1940
... "Abandoned gold mill east of Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado." Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size. All ... There are over 20,000 mines burrowed into the mountains in Colorado. It's really only a matter of time before something like this happens ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/02/2018 - 9:33pm -

September 1940. "Abandoned gold mill east of Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado." Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size. All that glitters.I was trying to find out which mine this was, but it was rather like trying to find a needle in a haystack because there were a LOT of mines, both gold and silver, in that area. A few years ago, however, the hazards of all that mining became a very pressing concern. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0810/Animas-River-spill-How-Colorado-... There are over 20,000 mines burrowed into the mountains in Colorado. It's really only a matter of time before something like this happens again, which is horrid news for the environment and for wildlife in Colorado. [Even back in 1940, photographer Lee made note of the yellow streams of the Animas River Valley. - Dave] It boggles the mindJust look at all the effort that went into building those buildings. Look at the many windows in that structure on the incline, and think that this was all done without power tools, not counting the sawmill that milled the lumber. It boggles the mind to think what our ancestors could do with the tools and resources they had. There's gold in them thar tailingsAbout 1948, at age 14, my friend's dad would drive into the mountains near Denver and stop where there were mill tailings. We would take a batch home, crush the rock, and pan for gold with a pie tin. Over time, we collected about an ounce of gold flakes. Gold at that time was price-controlled at $35 an ounce. Silver Lake Mill along the Silverton NorthernThis is the Silver Lake Mill along the old Silverton Northern RR line to Animas Forks. It stands at the foot of Arrastra Gulch. Behind the photographer on the west bank of the Rio de las Animas is the Mayflower Mine, which can still be toured. There's a lot less of the Silver Lake Mill left than shown here. An excellent reference to the area is The Rainbow Route by R. Sloan and C. Skowronski (Denver: Sundance, 1975). I model the areas around Silverton in HOn3. (The Gallery, Mining, Russell Lee)
Central City: 1941
... City, an old mining town. Mountainous region of Central Colorado, west of Denver." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post ... to the immediate right were station facilities for the Colorado & Southern Railway branch to Central City from Black Hawk. In the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/16/2019 - 1:08pm -

September 1941. "Central City, an old mining town. Mountainous region of Central Colorado, west of Denver." Medium format acetate negative by Marion Post Wolcott. View full size. The back way into townThis is the view coming into Central City via Virginia Canyon Road, known to locals as "Oh-My-God Road." It's a narrow, winding, unpaved road from Idaho Springs, and until a little over a decade ago it was the only access to Central City that didn't require going through the neighboring town of Black Hawk. Gambling interests, which wanted visitors to Central City not to be distracted by the larger competing casinos in Black Hawk, drove construction of the absurdly oversized yet still very steep "Central City Parkway." That road now provides a "direct" route from I-70 when not closed due to rockslides or washouts. Centered on Central Tantalising glimpseThe locomotive peeping around the corner of the building is a bit of a tease, I wonder if Marion covered it in another photo? [Stay tuned! - Dave] Not exactly Penn StationThe two red brick buildings to the immediate right were station facilities for the Colorado & Southern Railway branch to Central City from Black Hawk. In the vintage photo, note the nose of a C&S locomotive peeking around the corner of the depot. Look about halfway up the distant hillside to see the former right of way. This branch was built in the late 1870s; the attraction was gold and silver mining all through this region. By 1941, C&S Central City branch had been inactive for a number of years. I think the loco shown was left there for a display of sorts, and later moved. At about this time, C&S was in the process of closing/removing the remains of their once extensive narrow-gauge lines from the mountains. Today's popular Georgetown Loop RR is a reconstruction of C&S Silver Plume Branch that was already gone by 1941. End of the LineMight any of our Shorpy railroad buffs be familiar with the odd-looking signal device to the left of the apparently-shy locomotive? Sorry, wrong odd signalOlde Buck and damspot are correct, and I am wrong. I have seen switch targets like this, and I even made a model station with this style of "order board". My bad. "Odd" signal deviceAnswer to Doubleclutchin: that is a switch stand. The target (as it is known) shows the position of the track switch, and is part of the mechanism which operates the switch. The switch (in the track) allows a train to move into one of two (usually) tracks. This switch stand would have been used on a main track so the position can be seen from a distance, telling the engineer if a slow diverging route is set, or the main high speed route. "High" speed here was probably not more than 30 or 40 miles per hour. The vertical rod rotates through ninety degrees when the switch is moved, so displaying to the engineer either square blades (perhaps painted white?) for the slow route, or the round blades (perhaps green?) for the "fast" route I would suspect that this switch stand was moved here as part of the display. A tall switch stand is more expensive than simpler, low switch stands. Since this is the end of the line, is is not necessary to provide long distance warning of the position of the switch. Face on the barroom floor.I do remember a saloon there touting "the face on the barroom floor." Wonder if that's still there? Really neat town when we were there in the '80s before casinos. I found the trainRight around the corner on Gregory Street, just past the Post Office and RMO Dispensary. Odd signalDouble clutch, that odd signal is a train order signal. Displaying white banner/white light, no orders; red means to stop, sign for and receive orders; yellow would indicate orders to pick up, stopping not necessary. There could be some variation of signals on different railroads, but this is typical. Just as the locomotive was left for display, it is also possible that the train order signal was put up for display also. I don't know if Central City was a train order office back in the day. The funny signalTo answer doubleclutchin's question, the object is known as an order board. The days of communicating with train crews by paper sent ahead to a telegraph operator required a way to indicate to the train's crew that there was a message (an "order") for them and to halt and receive and sign for same. The paddles were rotated one way for "proceed," and the other for "stop." Central City, a terminus location (end of the line), would have been a required stop anyhow, so this board is just serving as an example of the object, not what would have been seen in Central at any time. Cameo in "On the Road""Central City is an old mining town that was once called the Richest Square Mile in the World, where a veritable shelf of silver had been found by the old buzzards who roamed the hills. They grew wealthy overnight and had a beautiful little opera house built in the midst of their shacks on the steep slope. Lillian Russell had come there, and opera stars from Europe. Then Central City became a ghost town, till the energetic Chamber of Commerce types of the new West decided to revive the place. They polished up the opera house, and every summer stars from the Metropolitan came out and performed. It was a big vacation for everybody. Tourists came from everywhere, even Hollywood stars." Jack Kerouac, "On the Road", Chapter 9 Slip n SlideI'll bet that road into town was one wild ride in the winter when that road was wet and muddy. I wonder how many times those buildings at the bottom of the hill were slid into? (The Gallery, Frontier Life, M.P. Wolcott, Mining, Railroads, Small Towns)
Bank Shot: 1940
September 1940. "Montrose, Colorado. Old bank." And "Shoeteria." Medium format acetate negative by Russell ... banking Up until bank deregulation in the mid 1980's, Colorado was a unit banking state, and a very restrictive one at that. Banks ... First Interstate Bank in 1996, FI only had three banks in Colorado -- Denver, Englewood and Boulder, each previously run separately. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2020 - 2:17pm -

September 1940. "Montrose, Colorado. Old bank." And "Shoeteria." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Same building?There are a bunch of similarities here but if they are the same there have certainly been some serious alterations done. A matching building from the same architect perhaps? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ [Wrong intersection! - Dave] The joys of unit bankingUp until bank deregulation in the mid 1980's, Colorado was a unit banking state, and a very restrictive one at that. Banks coudn't do any business, even back office or IT (computer) functions, in more than one building. This finally resulted in banks having very large buildings like the Wells Fargo one shown here to work in. When Wells Fargo took over First Interstate Bank in 1996, FI only had three banks in Colorado -- Denver, Englewood and Boulder, each previously run separately. Prior to the takeover, Wells only had branches in California. The Englewood FI bank was a massive building for the size of the city, and the First Interstate in Denver had two skyscrapers downtown that stood diagonally opposite each other on a city block, connected by walkways at the corners of various floors to make into "one building". Wells-Fargo must have taken this location over later than 2000, and it would have grown to this size much before then. Don't ask me how I know this! Those windowsSome beautiful gold leaf on all those windows which banks and their tenants typically employed. Different BuildingWhere the First National Bank once stood, a Brutalist-tinged Wells Fargo now hulks: For reference (check the matching notches in the background mountain): Main Street, Montrose, 1939. (The Gallery, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
Pie Filling: 1940
... We stopped there a few years ago on the way from Colorado to California, and it is certainly worth travelling the back roads ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/08/2021 - 12:33pm -

June 1940. "The gasoline pumps at Pie Town, New Mexico." Medium format acetate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Pie-O-Neer No MoSadly, the famous pie source in Pie Town, the Pie-O-Neer Cafe, closed its doors for good after the coronavirus hit early last year. Café is still openAlthough not in the same location, I would guess. Acute accentThat is some accent over the E of CAFÉ. It almost functions as an exclamation point. Make mine minceBecause as I always say: mince pie, not words. Also because no one else ever wants any and I can have the whole thing. Good newsThe Pie-O-Neer Cafe has reopened! The retired owners sold it and helped the new owner (an experienced pie baker) with their recipes. The new owner has introduced one innovation - a pie bar. Like a salad bar, only pie! Possible future "Seinfeld" settingBinge watching "Seinfeld," this would fits right in maybe as a location for Kramer to retire to. Make sure the glass is full before starting fill-upI remember those pumps. Wow! I seem to have suddenly become old. I dare you ...to order anything but pie and see what happens. That reminds me of a story...Uncle Ronnie spent his childhood in the Kentucky hills. Once he was old enough, he joined the military as a way to gain job skills and see the world. One evening the guys in the barracks said, "Let's go into town and get us a pie." Sounded good to Ronnie--he had a sweet tooth, and didn't much care if it was apple, cherry, molasses--his mouth was already watering. Imagine his disgust when faced with his first pizza. He remained bitter about that till the day he died. He'd have viewed Pietown with the gravest suspicion. Back to the picture, I hope Cowboy Carl there doesn't get startled or hiccup--he's apt to hurt himself. What good news!Glad to hear that the Pie-O-Neer cafe is reopening. We stopped there a few years ago on the way from Colorado to California, and it is certainly worth travelling the back roads instead of the Interstates. Plus, the Very Large Array of radio telescopes is on the way there, if you leave I-25 in Socorro, NM. Ambidextrous pumpsRemember when hoses on gas pumps were so long you could stretch them across your car like that? Now you always have to remember on which side of the pump you need to park. A simpler timeBack when gasoline was sold by the whole cent, without that messy 9/10 tacked on. Pie CrustyI think this might be the old gas station. It's on US-60 in Pie Town. But the modern road is now where the row of buildings once stood across the street. Shy PieFor some reason it feels like the word "pie" doesn't work well as a brand. Like someone else remarked, it's Seinfeldian. No one would seriously build a brand whose most common uses consisted of "American as Apple Pie", "Shut your pie hole", or "cutie pie". It's a nice word, though, and I love pie,(except mincemeat pie, oddly). But somehow the word struggles as a moniker with any meaningful legs in polite society. As seen on "CBS Sunday Morning"Bill Geist visited Pie Town in 2014. You can watch his segment on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJYaTG72b2c Not just pies but chile too!You can get great pies, and a great bowl of green chile stew also! And yes I spelled "chile" correctly! 64-425Hard ridden 1935 Ford three-window "standard" coupe. Wartime rubber in high demand, automotive tires in very short supply, bald tires the norm. I recall seeing some snake-wave thread pattern tires on cars during the very early 1950s but don't remember the tire manufacturer's name or logo. Gas Wasn't CheapTwenty cents a gallon for gas may seem cheap, but it's equivalent to about $3.70 a gallon today, about what I paid the last time I filled up. I wonder how many pieces of pie I could buy for 20 cents back in 1940 Pie Town. CORONADO CUARTO CENTENNIALhttp://www.worldlicenseplates.com/jpglps/US_NMXX_GI2.jpg https://www.jstor.org/stable/2507507 Car ID1935 Ford coupe (standard one tail light) 1928 Ford model A sedan. The coupe has had a rough life so far, but the Model A is looking well. Reminds me of Jett RinkProbably not Jett Rink but I bet he knew him. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, Pie Town, Russell Lee, Small Towns)
White Stuff: 1960
... Sands, New Mexico or Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. The whiteness seems to be like White Sands. I Vote Sand As a ... 
 
Posted by Tony W. - 09/17/2011 - 8:16pm -

I don't know who or where this is. At first I thought it was snow but my brother argued it's sand. The date of the slide is May but it may have been taken earlier in the year to fit in with my snow theory. 35mm Kodachrome slide. View full size. I Vote SandIt looks a bit warm to me, and the boy does not look as though he is dressed for snow. NMReminds me of White Sands, New Mexico. Is this a possibility? Central Coast?Looks a lot like the dunes on the Central California Coast namely Guadalupe. I have been to White Sands but don't remember the greenery. Don't try to confuse meI don't care what the rest of you say, it looks like snow. I vote sandI don't know anything about sand but as a lifelong Western/Northern Canadian I know snow, and that is not snow. For one thing, if it is snow it would have to be near or at the freezing point, given your brother's clothing choices and the living, healthy mosses and grasses on the peak above. Snow near the freezing point is coarse, uneven, and watery, and because of that it twinkles in bright sunlight and is semi-translucent. This covering is dull, fine-textured, and opaque. For another, it's unlikely that snow would be found in large quantities at the bottom of a hill but not at the top. That's something I'd expect of drifting sand, not snow. [Why is the title of your comment "I vote snow"? - Dave] [Good question: because I messed up. - Charlene.] Should be dressed for desertLooks like White Sands N.P. in New Mexico. I was there back in '64 when I was 12yo. An impressive sandbox. Yes, Sand.Somewhere in the shoeboxes is a faded Ektachrome of that same pile o'sand, taken on our journey from California to Ioway. Looks like sand to meWhite Sands, New Mexico or Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. The whiteness seems to be like White Sands. I Vote SandAs a life-long Michigander, I know both snow and sand dunes. This is most certainly sand. You can tell by the way the sand is parted at is feet. Also, if he were sitting in snow, his knees would have sunken lower. Plus, snow is cold and he's not wearing any gloves! Me TooPut my vote in for White Sands, NM. This looks like the road side on the old tourist route through the monument. Add one tablespoon-full.It's neither snow nor sand. It's sugar. Or maybe salt. Or perhaps flour. Snow methinksHaving worked at White Sands for several years I do not think this is where this is. At WSNM it is actually gypsum and not sand and it is very hard and packed. I believe it could be snow and the snow would be melted on the rocks because they are dark and would be warmer thus melting the snow. Angle of reposeThe angle of repose for dry sand is about 30 degrees. If we had a better look at any footprints that would probably cinch it as in dry sand, unlike snow, they'd mostly quickly fill back in. Not SnowVanilla ice cream maybe? Tony W.: W for Watson?Question Doctor Watson: does the slide come from a collection that might give any clue? I Too Vote SandI live in New Mexico about 70 miles from the White Sands National Monument and have visited there many times. The sand there is fluffy and not packed at all, in fact, the dunes are still moving and hard to walk on. If it were snow, the hills in the background would probably be completely covered. Also, the boy is not dressed in any way appropriately to be playing in snow, but here in New Mexico, many do dress in long sleeved shirts to protect themselves from the sun. One more thing, at the left hand side of the picture, there is grass growing, it does look exactly like that at the WSNM, but the grass would be covered completely by snow. The Shadows KnowHis shadow is way too short to be in the wintertime at such a northern place where this much snow would have been. In the northern winter the sun is really low even at midday, so the shadows are really long, even though there is a downhill where the shadow is. Besides there is green grass growing on the top of the dune and "white" isn't nearly white enough to be snow. Believe me, we have the stuff half a year. Here is one of my winterpics for comparison: It's not saltCompare with this photo of the salt works just north of Pondicherry, India. Source of the image.Where did this image come from? Evidently not from a source that can be tracked. A garage sale pick up? Another possibilityBolivia. I've got it!Cream cheese frosting on the world's largest lava cake. Mmmm. South of Point Mugu, CaliforniaSpecifically, at the south end of what is now Thornhill Broome State beach. The dune was larger then; it was mined in the late 50s through the early 60s. (Everything was larger in the past, wasn't it?) Next time I'm over that way, I'll attempt to replicate the shot. This is itThere aren't any other slides that seem to relate to this one, hence my confusion. Taking another look at it, it does start to look like sand to me, although in California there can be snow and yet be hot enough to wear rather light clothing. White SandsCould this be the white sands at Monahans Park in Texas or the White Sands National Monument? (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Tonypix)
Loco: 1890
... of the pictures he took for the D&RG, DSP&P and Colorado Midland Railroads, among others - and quite a few of them include a ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:26pm -

Circa 1890. "Mexican Central Railway train at station." Dry plate glass negative by William Henry Jackson. Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Where's the rest of the train?That is an astonishingly short train: A locomotive, a tender, a baggage car, and then either a caboose or a small passenger car. How did they make this trip pay, unless there is something very special being carried as freight? Short TrainWe tend to expect long multi-car passenger trains but in many cases the real work was done on branch lines with a set-up that looked pretty much like this in the days before cars and buses became the standard. You really had two ways of getting to your destination if it was greater than walking distance; a local (unnamed) passenger train or a horse/horse and wagon, and after a certain distance the horse and wagon stopped making sense. This kind of train was the intercity bus of its day. Warm waterThe two ladies are collecting water overflow from the steam injector. That is the steam appliance they are standing next to. Overflow water, which is warmed by this process is not as hot as water straight from the boiler. Dave J. Hot waterUnless the boiler pressure is very low, drawing off hot water this way would result in instant steam. The water in a locomotive boiler is usually over 270 degrees so it will instantly turn to steam if released to atmospheric pressure. Possibly the locomotive had been standing and pressure dropped or else they were just getting it fired up when the photo was made. I do see that the Senora with the olla on her shoulders seems to have a bit of insulation in the form of a serape under the jar and against her head. The most likely manufacturerThe most likely manufacturer of the locomotive is the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Penn. The circular builder's plate on the side of the smokebox was a trademark of theirs. Also, they often cast "The Baldwin Locomotive Works Philadelphia, U.S.A." into the margin around the edge of the locomotive number plate during this time period. An example is here: http://www.railroadiana.org/hw/hw_bp/bp_BLW32_EBT_b.jpg This short train, with the small coach and large express car was probably the daily "milk and mail" or whatever the Mexican equivalent was. These short trains made every stop on nearly every mile of railway line in North America, carrying merchandise packages, mail, and a few passengers to all the small towns. Chances are, the contents of the express car are more valuable than the tickets for the coach. Free Hot WaterIt looks like the women are tapping off some hot water from the boiler. I've seen this done in India. I'd leave it to cool down a bit before heaving it onto my shoulder. Who made this baby?Can anyone enlarge this picture to reveal the wording on that plate on the locomotive? And what on earth are those two ladies doing next to that driver wheel? I wonder if they are looking for something. Pre-revolutionary transportationThese photos are very interesting to me because they show snapshots of life in Mexico before the civil war (or Revolution, as they like to call it here). Undeniable the influence of American railroads in the design of that loco. Do we know where this was taken? Is it a Cooke?This loco looks rather similar to this Cooke: This one is described as being owned by Compania Muebles y Mudazas. 2249 was built by Cooke in February 1893, #2249, as Lehigh & Hudson River 19. It was sold as MyM 2249 and resold as Nacional de Mexico 2249, Class F-23a. In 1931 it was renumbered 807, Class F-27, and retired in July 1934. Cooke was based in Paterson, New Jersey. Re Who Made I can't read them, but the circular builder's plate on the side of the smokebox and the circular number plate look very Baldwin. Also note the white flags on the pilot beam, signifying that this train is "running extra" -- not in the schedule. Re: Free Hot WaterI thought they were taking off steam products, which would be distilled, rather than boiler water. Photo TrainThe white flags denote a special train and I would think this train was assigned to carry Mr. Jackson and his gear and stop where he saw fit to photograph. Other railroads accommodated Jackson in this way. Probably a BaldwinI'm not 100% sure but looking at the round builder's plate, and trying to decipher the lettering around the edge of the numberplate on the front, I think this was built by Baldwin. A ten-wheeler would generally be considered a huge engine for such a tiny train, but Mexico is in general pretty mountainous. Also, sometimes an outsized engine would be assigned to a train in order to avoid dispatching it as a light engine to a new location. I seem to recall seeing an example in one of by books, and back when I worked by the tracks in Silver Spring I saw a freight with eight diesels pushing at the back-- definite overkill considering that the run from Brunswick is pretty much downhill all the way. It's not a Cooke engineI think it's a Mason. It is a dead ringer with identical cab, smoke box, steam and sand domes. and everything matches except for the pilot and location of the bell Might Be a BaldwinAlthough not 100%, the amount of wording on both the builder's plate (the raised round item on the smokebox, just above the white flag and cylinder on our left), and the front number plate, lead me to believe this was a Baldwin. Cooke also used round plates, but with much simpler lettering, and in various sizes, Darkoom SpecialVery likely this is a photographer's special, with the second coach fitted up to act as a rolling darkroom. WH Jackson worked on a contract basis for a lot of western railroads - the Denver Public Library has a huge collection of the pictures he took for the D&RG, DSP&P and Colorado Midland Railroads, among others - and quite a few of them include a two car (in some cases, a two caboose) train fitted up for his use, and posed among various scenic landmarks. It's not Alec or Billy or Stephen, but...Careful squinting at the numberplate on the smokebox door reveals it's a Baldwin. How did they make this trip pay?One could ask the same thing about a private 747. Short trains, well-known from moviesA lot of cheap western movies show very short trains, probably because they couldn't afford to restore a lot of rolling stock ..... This reminds of such movies. (The Gallery, DPC, Railroads, W.H. Jackson)
Baron's Cocktails: 1958
... opening of the new Baldwin Piano & Organ Center on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, in July, 1966. What's following the cable ... 
 
Posted by Rute Boye - 07/22/2012 - 2:36pm -

Somewhere in San Francisco circa 1958. The film is Anscochrome and the colors are well preserved. Note the Billy Graham Crusade Headquarters on the second floor! View full size. Baron's corner todaytterrace beat me to it. The net's pretty remarkable. I found out that the Manx Hotel is now the Villa Florence, then used Google Maps/Street View to get a picture of the actual intersection. The facing on the building above Baron's (now above Starbucks) is still the same. View Larger Map Make mine a doubleVery nice. Who took the picture? Cocktail locationThis is Powell at O'Farrell. Baron's is now a Starbucks, and Lefty O'Doul's big baseball is gone, too. Hits the SpotThat's the last really good logo for Pepsi. The next two were OK, but it's all quickly downhill after that. The decadent '70sI can't help but note that the same office that housed the "Billy Graham Crusade" in 1959 had by 1973 been transformed into the "Executive Suite Sauna & Massage"! Locally knownFrieda Benz Oakley was a professional organist who, in the late 1940s, had an organ music studio in San Francisco. By 1952 she had moved her studio and home to San Mateo. As a professional in the mid-1950s, she gained a not inconsiderable reputation as a regular performer at the famous Domino Club in San Francisco, playing popular and semi-standard tunes. She was also sought after for more public venues, such as the San Mateo Fair. This slide shows her still playing local gigs in the late 1950s, and also tells us that Baron's had a Wurlitzer organ on the premises. In the early 1960s she was living in Southern California and teaching in Glendale and at the Hammond Organ Studios in Pasadena. She also was accepting invitations to play for such groups as the San Gabriel Organ Club, the Women's Association of the Congregational Church of the Chimes, and for the Los Angeles chapter of the American Theater Organ Enthusiasts—of which she was a member. Her last public performance on record seems to be at the grand opening of the new Baldwin Piano & Organ Center on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, in July, 1966. What's following the cable car? Check out the red (Dodge?) truck immediately behind the cable car. It seems to have an unusual bed and a red beacon on the roof. Perhaps it's a fire truck or tow truck? DAVE - The photo was taken by my father. We lived just south of SF, in San Mateo, from ~ 1954 to 1961, and this is from that era. I have cases of color slides that were a part of his estate and I'll try to find the best and most interesting to scan and post. Thanks very much for hosting the venue that allows others to enjoy them! On The StreetIn the foreground we have what looks like the right front fender of a 1958 Buick. On the right hand side of the street appears the taillamp and bumper of a 1957-58 Mercury. On the left hand side of the street is a red 1947 (Third Series) - 1953 GMC cab over engine (COE) truck. The white over green vehicle behind the GMC looks like a 1957 Ford Custom 300. The black car behind might be a 1956 Ford. Push me pull youThe red Dodge truck following the cable car is almost certainly a repair vehicle sent out by the Municipal Railway (MUNI). Check out its oversize pushing bumper and tool boxes at rear. It appears to be assisting cable car 502, which has undergone some type of mechanical mishap and is now out of service. Witness the "Take Next Car" sign in the front window.. The cable car is headed for the Powell Street turntable, and if it can't be fixed there the Dodge will most likely have to push it all the way back to the car barn at Washington and Mason Streets. It will be a long push -- mostly uphill. Cable cars were (and still are) notoriously finicky and tend to go flooey at inconvenient times. This car could have 'lost its grip,' meaning the mechanical device that grips onto the moving subsurface cable that pulls the car along. Alternately, it might have suffered some sort of brake malfunction. Whatever the case, MUNI didn't want any riders on this trip. All still thereSurprisingly, every building visible in the photo -- and both streetlamps -- still stand. Photogenic CornerA few more historic photos of this street corner I found via google image search. Baron's cocktail bar was still there in 1973. In the 1940s it was Lynch's. Jimboylan points out above that the 1940s photo is a different corner. Higher resolution images available at the linked sources: 1940s (the Tender), 1959 (roger4336), 1973 (Leroy W. Demery, Jr.). When the city was cool Until the mid 60s, the fare was the same as for buses -- fifteen cents. Alas, I admit defeatI was hoping someone would post info on the cocktail lounge names. I found Baron's was owned and managed by S. Baron Long. There was a vintage ashtray on line with his image in the center. He also became owner manager of the Hawaiian Garden's Restaurant in San Jose in 1938. They had floor shows and trained bullfrogs. There is also a mention of Baron Long's Ship Cafe in Venice Beach but don't know if it is the same person. However, I had to admit defeat on the sign front and center advertising someone named Benz and the last three letters of the first name "eda", I was thinking Freida, at the organ. Guess that was one organ player who never made it big. [Googling "Frieda Benz" + organist returns hits relating to a performer who had some California appearances during this general period. - tterrace] HitchcockThe image has the feel of the film Vertigo. Rail remnantsI noticed the remnants of other trackage crossing in the middle of the intersection. Was this all that was left of the O'Farrell-Jones-Hyde Street line? Hotel ManxI stayed at the Hotel Manx for one night with a college friend in 1976; it was dingy and scary! We were on our way to a summer of indentured servitude at a summer stock theatre in Santa Rosa. We had just received our BAs in Drama from UC Irvine, and as college graduates we were happy to make $40 per week. What, and give up show business?! Lynch's isn't Baron'sThe interesting 1940 photo of Lynch's and its link shows the competing California Street Cable Railway Company's Jones St. Shuttle car at the corner of O'Farrell and Jones Sts. Lefty O'Doul'sLefty O'Doul's is on Geary now. Does anyone know when it moved? GMC Contact TruckThe contact (pusher) truck is a circa 1950 GMC not a Dodge. The GMC logo is visible just above the grille. A 1951 example with a set of extra lights and windshield visor is shown below. Lefty O'Doul's vs Lefty'sThe only thing I know for sure is that Lefty's and Lefty O'Doul's were two different establishments. Both Lefty's Cocktail Lounge on Powell and Lefty O'Doul's Restaurant are listed in the 1960 San Francisco City Directory. Seeing the baseball sign, you would think that both were owned by Frank O'Doul. Wonderful TownI was going through U.S. Navy Electronics School out on Treasure Island throughout most of the summer of 1958. Used to go on liberty in San Francisco and always thought that, if I had to live in a big city, I would choose S.F. as my first choice. I didn't leave my heart there but will always remember that city as such a vibrant place. Many happy memories. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Silverton: 1901
Silverton, Colorado, circa 1901 as photographed by William Henry Jackson. 8x10 inch dry ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/30/2020 - 2:08pm -

Silverton, Colorado, circa 1901 as photographed by William Henry Jackson. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Yay Silverton!I stopped in Silverton for lunch on a long motorcycle ride last summer. It was a great little mountain town, much more "real," I thought, than Ouray up the road. It's not much bigger now than it is in this 109-year-old photo, and many of the buildings on the main drag are still there. Fire ContainmentNotice how wide the streets are - at least 50 feet. No doubt they were to act as firebreaks in an emergency. Since fire fighting options were limited in a remote village, better one block should burn down than the whole town. Prosperity!That's a well laid out, prosperous looking little town! Looks like they've even got themselves a nice little coal fired power plant. Well-preservedSilverton still looks pretty much like this. I rode the train here with my granddad 30 years ago. We drove from his home in Arizona to Durango in his 1968 Porsche 912. SidewalksThis could be the beginning of a new housing development today including sidewalks if it weren't for the absence of driveways and the presence of outhouses. It's also interesting how, even in this small town, there is a farm side (left in this picture) and a city side. In the farm side, there appear to be three animals stretched out on the ground but I suspect that may have something to do with the camera angle. With the river running through it, it appears to be an altogether pleasant-looking place to live. The railroad is still there!It's interesting to note that the Denver and Rio Grande narrow gauge tracks in the foreground still exist. Silverton is now the northern terminus of the scenic railroad from Durango. The foreground tracks now make up part of a Y for turning the trains. The stub of the Y leads to the depot in town. The view from hereSilverton in August 2009 from Route 550. Click to embiggen. High altitudeAt 10,000 feet, more or less, it would help to have a great set of lungs if you lived there. Christ of the MinesI'll always remember our drive up from Durango to Silverton on the Million Dollar Highway: the aspens, the magpies, but most of all, I'll remember the 16 foot Christ of the Mines Shrines, 500 feet above Silverton to the north. Old WestThis could be the setting for a movie like Pale Rider. I can just see Clint Eastwood sneaking around here blowing away the bad guys. Do I have it installed on here?Suddenly I have this crazy urge to play SimCity, and I can't figure out why ... (shrug) Silverton 2010I wish you could get better resolution out of Google Maps and Earth, but here's the approximate view today. The original was shot further up the hill behind this vantage point: View Larger Map Silverton in Summer of 1970Thanks to member "seacue" for sharing this photo of Silverton as seen in 1970. Which houseI believe my grandfather, his brothers, and their parents still lived in Silverton in 1901 - in the 1900 census, they lived on Snowden Street. I wonder which house is theirs in this photo? Silverton, 1958First view on video almost identical to view in Jackson's photo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybRHM4scZw&t=12m6s (The Gallery, DPC, Frontier Life, Small Towns, W.H. Jackson)
XXXX Coffee Chums: 1942
... an old mining town in the mountainous region of Central Colorado." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security ... thanks! Stair-step machine sales in old Central City, Colorado, were near zero. The Good Package Coffee Brew me a cuppa! ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/16/2022 - 1:26pm -

May 1942. "Central City, an old mining town in the mountainous region of Central Colorado." Acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Coffee ChumsThe XXXX chums, in MCMXLII and MMXI. Central City memoriesI'm loving this series. I spent quite a bit of time in Central City in the early 1970s. In the 30 years that passed between Vachon's visits and my own, not much had changed -- it was still rustic. It's a very different place now that the casinos have completely taken over. There's Less Mud These DaysLess mud, more casinos, but it doesn't look too different otherwise these days. https://goo.gl/maps/GqCrCSKFh4ASpf3h7 No, thanks!Stair-step machine sales in old Central City, Colorado, were near zero. The Good Package CoffeeBrew me a cuppa! One chum to anotherWhere have you bean all my life? That's Not Lens DistortionThe building about halfway down the street with the "Coors On Tap" sign is quite droopy. I'm amazed it's held on to today. I love black-&-whiteI happened to photograph that "Owl" wall last October with my 1942 Adox Adrette. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Mining, Small Towns, Stores & Markets)
King of the Road: 1963
... I remember stopping along side the road in Utah, Nevada, Colorado and many other states on our road trips. We had NO money, so we ... 
 
Posted by delworthio - 12/23/2008 - 4:33pm -

This is how you pull over for a family meal during a road trip. It's the early 60's and the family is off to visit Canada. Kodachrome slide. That camp stove used white gas. View full size. PumpedI too fondly remember the rectangular hand-pumped Coleman stoves with the fuel vessel hanging off the front and the stamped metal wind-breakers: simple yet reliable. (I currently use the backpacker descendant that looks like a moon lander: it has never let me down even in the coldest weather). Growing up we mostly used our full size Coleman for camping but I can identify with the comments regarding use for the roadside midday lunch break. If it were my family we would probably be stopping for lunch at one of the many scenic rest stops along the old national road as it crosses the mountains in western Maryland. Oh the MemoriesWow this photo brings back memories of my dad heating chicken and dumplings in the can and assembling bologna sandwiches on white bread with mustard for many a roadside dining experience on our yearly family vacations. He branded it "clean food" in his campaign to convince my brother and me that it was the best thing ever. This was in the 1980s - I guess it was a tradition he carried on from his own childhood vacations. I doubt the tradition will carry on with this generation since I'm much more likely to just GPS the location of every Starbucks along the way. A Tent SituationMy wife, daughter and I camp two or three times a summer at state parks, and we regularly leave all our cooking stuff on the table (including our old drab-green Sears-branded Coleman stove), our clothes and such in the tent (we do lock up the valuables in the car, though). We'll go out for multi-hour hikes, or even drive into whatever town we're near, and when we come back usually the only trace of visitors is muddy raccoon prints on the table. Alas, we do all our cooking when we get there, though. My version of this scene would be ordering sammiches at Subway. Coleman Camp StoveSitting in my father's garage is that very same green camp stove (ca. 1961) still in the original box. I can remember my mother cooking on it for us during our car camping trips around the state of Oregon during the 60's. He still has the red Coleman cooler also. That stove brings back memoriesWe cooked on one of those for a whole year while hand-building our geodesic dome house in 1971 and waiting for the power company to install underground power. The stove used expensive gallon cans of Coleman fuel. There was a gas station in town that sold white gas (naphtha) for cheap, but it had impurities that clogged the stove. So we had to go back to the $4/gallon stuff. Doing it rightTraveling in style means camping with a chrome percolator. InterestingThe idea of stopping on the side of the road to cook from a Coleman stove is a novel idea in this culture and would now be considered really weird. The roadside picnic area where this was taken is probably now a McDonald's. I'm 37 years old and although I've been camping several times we've never stopped enroute for a picnic. It's obvious the older generation was not as prone to be discouraged by a little hard work and inconvenience and didn't mind taking some extra time if it meant doing something important. Our family van on a long trip is packed to the brim with junk, mostly stuff we don't even need - DVD players, cellphone cords, GPS units, boxes of clothes for the in-laws, huge suitcases, etc, etc. Then it's on the interstate - no time to stop except quickly for fast food. What a refreshing change it would be to recreate a trip like the one pictured here on the backroads of America. Where in Canada?Being as how I'm in Prince George, BC, and this scene could be practically anywhere but in the mountains or on the prairies. By the way, I looooooves Shorpy! Coleman StoveAh! A good old "green monster" coleman stove. My Scout troop still uses identical ones to this day, a testament to their being indestructable. We only changed the tanks to newer red ones a few years ago. You know it was a great design as you can still buy the same stove today, it has a few very minor improvements but for all intents is the same stove they made 50 years ago. ColemanI still have my Dad's two burner Coleman, 55 years old, works like a charm Don't miss the Tupperware!Another iconic item of the 50s and 60s is behind the stove -- Tupperware! Road FoodMy girlfriend & I usually stop and make sandwiches at least once on a vacation trip. Not as extravagant as firing up a stove for a hot meal, but it's a nice break from fast food and a chance to unwind. What impresses me is that the stove also has its own stand. No stooping down to the ground for him. No man who takes a chrome percolator on a road trip should stoop. Background to dramaBlissfully unaware of the drama playing out behind them: on the left, a speeding Corvair; on the right, unsuspecting, a pair of pedestrians precariously perched on the shoulder. What will the next few seconds bring? Sudden terror, or just a request to pass the mustard? PercolatorIt appears to be an electric perc. How did he make it work way out there? Dad cooking.Dad is doing the cooking just as I did for our family when on camping trips. My children loved the camping life as we traveled and still have wonderful memories of it. My kids, now 56, 62 and 65, still talk about my Rabbit Ear Pancakes. In the late 1940s we could leave our stove and cooler on the table, the sleeping bags in the tent at the campsite and they would still be there when we got home from a movie in town. Times have changed. Camping 40's and 50's StyleYou've hit on a passion of mine! I fondly remember many road trips while growing up. We used the same stove. For those interested, you should check out 40's and 50's style Teardrop trailers. I am just completing one now. We are taking a week long Florida trip starting tomorrow and will spend our time in State Parks sleeping in our teardrop. Mine can be seen here: http://home.earthlink.net/~tony.cooper/TDProj/album.htm Many varieties including originals can be seen here: http://pages.prodigy.net/rfs2growup/mystry07.htm Talk about living nostalgia! [I grew up in Florida! For a few summers in the mid-1960s we'd haul the family Avion up from Miami to Juniper Springs, in the Ocala National Forest. You should check it out if it's not too cold. - Dave] Sault Ste. MarieI failed to mention that on the slide this was phonetically written: "Soo St. Marie, breakfast." The trip was from our home in Northern Indiana and up through Michigan. I'll post the other slide with Mom doing the cooking (includes tailfin of their car!). Maybe that one will show us the percolator better. I'll have to ask Mom if she remembers where they would plug that in. My wife and I do the cooking like this while camping at Bonnaroo, but not while on the road. We don't have this stove but use the modern equivalent and use her dad's old Coleman camp oven, which is basically a metal box that sits on top of the grill and bakes. It has a temperature gauge on the door so you adjust the flame accordingly. Perfect for biscuits to go with the bacon and sausage gravy. Or Naan to go with our Indian MRE's. Road foodMy Texas Bride told me that when her family traveled her dad would buy a loaf of bread, a pound of bologna and a quart of milk. So one day while traveling up to Valentine, Nebraska, we were in the town of Thedford and I bought a loaf of bread, half-pound of bologna and a quart of chocolate milk and went to the park for lunch. I loved it. She did not! About theft of camp gear, we ran into a case of this in Yellowstone Park and Sinks Canyon State Park in Wyoming. Sad that this happens but happen it does. Great stove!We use those guys in WW2 reenacting. Nothing perks you up in the morning like Tim from the 5th Armored brewing up a pot of tea on that thing! I've been looking for one of the "pocket stoves." eBay? eOuch!! I'd like to just say, for the record, that roadside cooking is still alive and well. This summer I took a 10 day driving trip to Wyoming with very little cash. Well, I should say what cash we had was eaten up by gas!! We started out with a few camping meals, jam and jerky. Along the way we would pick up bread and fruits. Finally after 5 days I said "enough" and demanded a hot meal. We got a small "disposable" grill from K-Mart and cooked up dinner on the side of the road by the bison preserve. It could have been torture, trying to shield that thing from the wind at 1 in the morning, but watching planes come over the Tetons lit up by the full moon made things romantic and magical. Maybe in 50 years, those shots will show up on Shorpy! Roadside foodI remember stopping along side the road in Utah, Nevada, Colorado and many other states on our road trips. We had NO money, so we stopped at local stores and bought bologna, bread, chips and fruit. I still remember this after all these years. A trip to fast food would have been long forgotten. A side-of-the-road picnic? It's is branded indelibly in my brain!!! They're everywhereAhhh, the ubiquitous ol' Coleman stove. I think Lewis and Clark had one too. Juniper SpringsJuniper Springs will not be too cold to visit at about 83F, today at least. I may just take the 29 mile drive out there to see if any other Shorpies are there! But back to the Coleman stove -- they can also be quite dangerous or upsetting. I once got one as the #1 Christmas present for a previous spouse. Wrong move. GuessCan't say exactly why, but if I had to guess I'd put them somewhere in Northern Minnesota. Something about that dwelling in the background looks Range-Finnish. I would love to do a family vacation like this someday. Sad to say, but who has the time for a leisurely Americana road trip? Guess it's time you have to make. Our trips to CanadaWe did exactly the same thing on our trips to Canada to visit my aunt. I remember the food tasted wonderful. Manifold menuI'm still surprised to find that people eat out 3 meals a day while traveling. No wonder so many are so deep in debt, so addicted to credit cards. It's easy enough to find a rest area or city park to eat lunch. The TV tells us that the world is dangerous, but I've found most places are fairly friendly. At worst, they just leave you alone. I still have the green Coleman stove, but I never did like the darn things. We have a small propane stove that doubles as a heater. We don't spend every night in a motel when we travel, either. A tent packs up pretty easy in the car. Now, for true road-food, you take a piece of meat, some cut-up potatoes, onions, and carrots, a little oil, salt and pepper, wrap it up in foil, and lay it on your engine to cook while you drive. When you get hungry, you have a hot meal ready to go. Or is that just an intermountain western US concept? Great photo -- looks like a fun trip. Road trip!I'm 23 and plenty of my friends go on road trips and we rarely stop for fast food. When we got to our major destination this summer, we cooked a 12 pound turkey over a fire. It was magical and cooked perfectly. I think I might be in the minority here, but when I have kids, we're totally road tripping and cooking for ourselves. CookingMy buddy used to do that on backpacking trips. Before starting up the hill he would stop and buy meat and vegs and had a little spice kit in his backpack. We'd build a fire once camp was set up and he'd wrap everything in foil and through it in the coals! I must say it was very da kine!!! (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Travel & Vacation)
Georgetown: 1901
"Clear Creek Cañon." Georgetown, Colorado, circa 1901. Famous for the Georgetown Loop, a narrow-gauge railroad ... It's nice to see this on Shorpy. Most of W. H. Jackson's Colorado photos are in the Denver Public Library Western History collection. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/22/2013 - 9:26am -

"Clear Creek Cañon." Georgetown, Colorado, circa 1901. Famous for the Georgetown Loop, a narrow-gauge railroad visible in the distance. 8x10 glass plate by William Henry Jackson, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. A thing of beauty is a joy to behold foreverThis place is near and dear to my heart. It's a beautiful little place with equally beautiful, wonderful people. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face, Dave. [See also: Bisbee, Ouray, Silverton. - Dave] I was just in GeorgetownInteresting to probably no one but me, I was in Georgetown last week. It's changed remarkably little since the time of this picture, although there are currently more trees. I also learned that my grandmother and grandfather stayed at the Hotel De Paris on 6th Ave during a honeymoon road trip in 1925. Well preservedI have compared this photo with fresh photos in Street View. I started from the south end of Taos St. and found soon many houses which are in this photo - many of them wooden. Not only the remarkable buildings have remained but also quite ordinary city street buildings. Amazing, absolutely! Since 1901 there has not been fatal fires, neither too eager rebuilding. I honor the city officials who have succeeded in this. I wish I had an opportunity to visit Georgetown. Devil's Gate BridgeIt can be seen in back, where the track looped over itself climbing to Silver Plume. Abandoned in the '30's, the loop has been restored. It's nice to see this on Shorpy. Most of W. H. Jackson's Colorado photos are in the Denver Public Library Western History collection. A familiar sight, stillThis might be one of the least-altered vintage city views I've seen on this fine site-- except for the massive expansion of that steep one-one lane trail to the right, heading uphill to Silver Plume. Today, we call that trail "I-70." So do you have any shots of Silver Plume? That remains the most unspoiled mountain town I've found, even so surprisingly close to Denver. That tower on the leftAlpine Hose No. 2 View Larger Map Building in the center with clock towerPublic school built 1874. View Larger Map The freeway is new. . . . . . and the switchback trails in the distance have been expanded into proper roads, but not much else has changed. William Henry JacksonUsing 8x10" (or bigger) plate cameras, Jackson (who died at 99 in 1942) left us an invaluable treasure of extremely detailed landscape pictures, including this one. I've been thereNothing much has changed, other than the tourists (The Gallery, DPC, Landscapes, Mining, Railroads, Small Towns)
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