MAY CONTAIN NUTS
HOME
Home

Search Shorpy

SEARCH TIP: Click the tags above a photo to find more of same:
Mandatory field.

Search results -- 30 results per page

Zines & Beans: 1938
... The buildings have since been torn down. A Doubletree hotel sits in its place. Don't know if the restaurant serves oyster stew or ... a few blocks south of 1610 Capitol Ave (Now the Doubletree Hotel and First National Bank) lies a great seafood joint called appropriately ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2017 - 4:07pm -

November 1938. "Capitol Avenue storefronts, Omaha, Nebraska." Medium format negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Oyster stew!It's been forty years since I've made oyster stew! I'll bet mine was better, because I used oysters we picked up off the beach, at Dabob Bay, on Washington's Hood Canal the night before, and opened that day. In Nebraska, I'll bet they had to use canned! I'd even settle for canned right now, though! Hurry up!I don't know what that third car from the left is, with the 1-1813 license plate, but I want it and I want it now. I also want 45 cents worth of oyster stew, with some of them teeny little saltines and some Tabasco. And make sure that the oysters are the kind that grow in the ocean and not around Omaha, Nebraska, if you please. Top to BottomSam in 1616 and 1616½ has you covered from one end to the other. Spotted car1-1813 is a 1935 Oldsmobile top of the line sedan . Spotted Car1-1813 is a 1935 Oldsmobile L-35 touring car as seen here. No longer thereThe buildings have since been torn down. A Doubletree hotel sits in its place. Don't know if the restaurant serves oyster stew or not. FlawedThe adulation for that Oldsmobile would vanish quickly when one of its pistons blew --- - common problem for the 35s and 36s. Mine failed leaving Jackon Hole, Wyoming in 1948. Had to limp over the mountains and down into Salt Lake City where the second piston failed necessitating an engine tear-down in a parking lot. Before Parking LinesHave the feeling the 2nd car from the right, is going to be a little upset when it's time to back out. 1-1990 must have squeezed into that parking spot. Even after parking lines, he's probably still parking like that. Precursor?I favor the funky one fifth from the left, with the interesting back door. Anybody know what it is? Maybe it is my fondness for VW buses in my youth, but it looks intriguing. Travel Rule #1Don't order the seafood when the nearest ocean is 1000 miles away. Or do, but eat it with a side of Imodium. What Kind Of Oysters?As a son of The Land Of Pleasant Living I have always been leery when traveling of restaurants advertising oysters. If a restaurant isn't within 50 miles of a major oyster producing body of water I won't order them since my preference in oysters run to the Chincoteague style and not the Bull Durham variety. Precursor?The Funkymobile is a 28/29 Ford Model A Sedan Delivery. Very rare and desirable to the restorers and hot rodders alike. I'd choose it over all the cars in the lineup Rear door1929 Ford Sedan Delivery Current prices begin around $30,000 Oysters in Omaha? You betcha!Just a few blocks south of 1610 Capitol Ave (Now the Doubletree Hotel and First National Bank) lies a great seafood joint called appropriately 'Shucks' with a great oyster stew and all sorts of the succulent bivalves on the half shell - from both coasts, and even occasionally from the Choctawhatchee Bay in the Gulf. I've lived in Omaha for 31 years and vouch for the freshness of the seafood offerings here in our fair city. (Also has pretty good beefsteaks, as well!!!!) Can't say I've ever seen that 1935 Olds still around, though we like our classic cars here as well. Salty roads in the winter have been the ruin of many a fair classic, including my old '71 VW Westphaia. Shorpy and history.My son hooked me up to the Shorpy site years ago. Have just recently gotten the nerve to register and leave a comment. I really enjoy all the photos, the depression era by Dorothea Lange, And the photos of the old cars. Keep up the excellent work Dave. Shop to right?What is the shop between New Capitol Bar and Dean Lunch? I can only make out the word "Falstaff", and the objects in the window give few clues as to what they sell. [It's part of the New Capitol Bar; Falstaff is a brand of beer. -tterrace] Half-Seen Zine StoreA big bunch of people on FictionMags, an invitational Yahoo group I'm in, have been fascinated by the "zine" shop on the far left, and what the kid visible in the window is reading. Other images of magazines and especially newsstands here on Shorpy, for instance the recent 1938 Omaha newsstand, have been widely dissected. Falstaff BeerThe Falstaff brewery was south of downtown Omaha near 25th and Vinton Streets. Another Omaha local beer (also defunct) was Storz. Of course, there are numerous craft beers now brewed locally - and those have much more flavor than the old locals! Try 'Lucky Bucket' if you can find it. TrunkThe second car from the left is a 1932 Ford sedan with an aftermarket trunk mounted on an aftermarket support made by Kari-Keen or possibly Potter. Queued CarsFrom left to right: 1. 1937 Ford Tudor or Fordor (slant back) 2. 1932 Ford V8 with non-standard bumper 3. 1935 Oldsmobile L-35 4. 1936 Studebaker, likely a Dictator 5. 1929 Ford Model A Deluxe Delivery 6. 1936 Ford Deluxe Tudor Touring Sedan 7. 1933 Plymouth coupe (Business Coupe?) 8. 1937 DeSoto S3 Touring Sedan Note the partial reflections of the cars in the store windows. Bygone 'Zines DealersShortly before this photo was taken, the "Zines" store had been one of two news dealer stores of Charles C. Savage. This one, at 1618 Capitol Avenue, was being run by his daughter Hazel Lydia Savage. Two of her brothers both worked at the main family store at 1260 S. 16th in 1938. Hazel married Paul Colgrove on November 6, 1938, moved to Bandon, Oregon where she spent the rest of her life, and had a daughter, Colleen. The couple divorced in 1966. Hazel was born on September 12, 1917 in Omaha, and died January 15, 2011 in Bandon. After Hazel Savage, the store on Capitol Avenue became the business of Paul William Lehn. His last name can be partially seen in the window. He was born in Nebraska to George and Madeline Lehn in 1920. Less than a year after the photo was taken he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 19, 1941. After WWII he became an accountant, and he remained in Omaha at least through the late 1950s. He died on Chrismas Day, 1971 in Los Angeles, California, but he was buried back in Omaha. Re: Error in descriptionThe information that I provided in regard to the store is easily found in the Omaha city directories from 1936, 1938, and 1940. I have attached extracts that verify the information that was provided. Perhaps Hazel's daughter was simply just never told how her mother ran a news store prior to being married, and that her uncles also were clerks in their grandfather's store. Not a traceThe street was redone sometime in the 1950s. The Edward Zorinsky Federal Building was originally completed in 1958 as a home to the US Army Corps of Engineers. It's been modified a couple of times, most recently completed as a post-9/11 security and environmental retrofit in 2008. It is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly and sustainable building. But I'd do anything to sit in Sam's Barber Shop shown in the original image and listen to the stories drift in and out with each customer. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Eateries & Bars, John Vachon, Omaha)
Pittsburgh: 1941
... be built. The church is still there, although now it's a hotel. Pressley Street The previous comment is correct. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/17/2023 - 2:46pm -

June 1941. "Rain. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. I love the rain...This photo immediately brings forth the smell of rain, the hiss of car tires as they pass and the drip drip drip of rainwater off the eaves of the porch. Pittsburgh by VachonThis is a beautiful picture. John Vachon's photos did not have the pathos and personal drama of Dorothea Lange's work, but more than any other American photographer, he has left an invaluable scrapbook of the vernacular American landscape. He is my favorite photographer. What are the towers ...... in the background? Is that another church? Looks Orthodox. Perhaps someone familiar with Pittsburgh will know. A Rainy DayThe person walking with the umbrella really makes the photograph work. You can almost feel the rain.. Pittsburgh PrecipitationI agree with others here about the evocative quality of this photo. Staring at this for a few moments I swear I can hear the rain coming down! Canada Dry SpurCanada Dry Spur ("the cola drink with Canada Dry quality") was Canada Dry's attempt at entering the cola wars. By this time of course the company was owned by P.D. Saylor and Associates and the only connection with Canada was the name. Such a wonderIt's 103 degrees on my front porch (yes, that's in the shade), my part of Arizona hasn't seen rain in 3 or 4 months. Guess whats going on my desktop. Thanks. DSS Look how it falls straight down!Not only can I relate to DSS since we don't get a lot of rain in West Texas, but I'm just amazed at how it's coming *straight down*. (Huge gusts of wind aren't sucking her umbrella inside out, and the rain isn't coming in sideways and raising welts on her skin!) P.S. Not that I'm complaining...I love it here, and my glasses usually protect my eyes from the infrequent SIDEWAYS rainstorms! Tioga Street, PittsburghPittsburgh has a lot of onion-dome ethnic churches all over town. The 1941 City Directory lists a Wm. James Confectionery at 7314 Tioga Street, which is where Point Breeze meets Homewood meets nothing original still standing. This would be east of downtown. South Side P-BurgThis looks like the "South Side" of Pittsburgh and if I am not mistaken, this is an orthodox church which is now the private home and studio of the owner of the number one Pittsburgh chain of hair salons and spas. Morrow TriangleAtlantic ave is a one-way northward running street to the east of downtown. The only intersection that makes a bend like the one photographed is at Liberty and Baum. There are no row homes or churches there now though. The vantage point of the photo is a parklet called Morrow Triangle. The filling station and church are now the site of a car dealer. Unless there was a street name change that the Atlantic ave in the picture is different from the current Atlantic ave I think I'm right. [The "Atlantic" sign is advertising a brand of gasoline. - Dave] It's SouthsideI've lived in Pittsburgh all my life and this shot looks remarkably like the Southside (flats) to me just off Carson Street. Many churches of similar Greek Orthodox venue there. A previous poster indicated he thought that Atlantic sign was a street. It looks like a gas station to me, or something else. It's DeutschtownThis is the corner of Madison and Lockhart, looking west. The church with the onion domes is St. Mary's -- Bavarian Catholic, believe it or not. You can't go and see this intersection anymore since it was destroyed in the 1980s so that the Parkway North could be built. The church is still there, although now it's a hotel. Pressley StreetThe previous comment is correct. That's St. Mary's (now known as the Priory) which sits at 614 Pressley Street. Atlantic GasThe Atlantic sign is for the gas station. Atlantic petroleum was founded in Philly, then eventually acquired by Sunoco in the 80's or 90's. (The Gallery, John Vachon, Pittsburgh)
Riggs House: 1910
... House formerly, 15th and G Sts. N.W." The 19th-century hotel was soon demolished to make way for a much larger office building . ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/15/2017 - 12:15pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1910. "Riggs House formerly, 15th and G Sts. N.W." The 19th-century hotel was soon demolished to make way for a much larger office building. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. +109Below is the same view from August of 2019. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Streetcars)
Gotham: 1931
... Building, lived a couple blocks away at the Barbizon Hotel when it was a residence for single women, and my first job was in the ... Most of the area along the river between the Beekman Hotel (tall building in mid-foreground) and the first set of tall smokestacks ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/13/2013 - 6:19pm -

New York. December 15, 1931. "River House, 52nd Street and East River. Cloud study, noon, looking south from 27th floor." 5x7 safety negative by the prolific architectural photographer Samuel H. Gottscho. View full size. School, work and homeI attended secretarial school in the Chrysler Building, lived a couple blocks away at the Barbizon Hotel when it was a residence for single women, and my first job was in the Empire State Building. Breathtaking photo. Awesome pictureIncidentally, 1931 was the year the Empire State Building was completed. I agree that the real star of the picture is the Chrysler Building, which was the world's tallest for 11 months before the Empire State took that title away. 1 Beekman PlaceBottom left is 1 Beekman Place. Sixteen floors, built as a cooperative, 42 apartments now selling at over $1M each. The coal pier next door is gone. View from Queens AstoundingProof, as if needed, that New York will always be the most American of cities! This photo demonstrates the excitement and the beauty of this one of a kind place where expansion "up" was exploited to the max! FANTASTIC PANORAMA!These are without a doubt my FAVORITE shorpy pics. I really hope someone somewhere has more of these grand views of the city. SO MUCH GOING ON IN ONE PICTURE!!! Poster!I've seen this exact picture before, reproduced as a giant framed poster. I didn't realize it was Gottscho. High IronyThe star of this photo is the Chrysler Building. How the mighty have fallen. BeautifulCities were so much more attractive before the glass boxes started to take over in the '50s. San Francisco is another city that looks fantastic up until the late '40s. InspiringSomebody cue Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue! Empire still dominatesMy fist trip ever to NYC was in 2004. While approaching the city on Amtrak, I was amazed that how, after 70 years, the Empire State Building dominated the skyline. More than a bit of luckGottscho had a great understanding of light. The sunrise pretty perfectly illuminates the buildings. At a different time of day, the effect would not have been half so good. Railroad FloatJust behind the coal wharf you can see two or three railroad car floats. Once a common sight in New York and other cities, they've become largely obsolete with decreasing freight traffic and improved river crossings. Dead EndCoal barges, slaughterhouses and luxury highrises: the location for the 1937 movie "Dead End"; a neighborhood in transition. How one man's slum is another's prime real estate. Superman's MetropolisThere's a saying amongst comic book fans that Metropolis is New York in daytime, while Gotham City is New York at night. My personal opinion is that Metropolis is New York from the air, where you can't see the garbage on the street, while Gotham City is New York at ground level where all the faults and flaws are all too visible. UNI walk through the area in the middle of this photo every day. I'm amazed by the number of still-familiar buildings in this photo, I didn't realize so many were so old. Notable changes: the FDR Drive now takes up the area along the East River. Most of the area along the river between the Beekman Hotel (tall building in mid-foreground) and the first set of tall smokestacks seen on the left side of the photograph is inhabited by the United Nations. Those smokestacks are now gone, too - demolished about 5 years ago in anticipation of a long-delayed residential development. WashdayI love the laundry hanging on the line in the lower right of this picture -- so many details, so much time and movement. Thanks ShorpyThanks to Shorpy we enjoy great pictures like these, thanks again and greetings to all. MemoriesI lived on East 54th between First and Second Avenues from 1961 through 1963, just a few blocks from this area. I enjoyed drinks at the top of the Beekman Tower between First and Beekman Place. What a great and elegant neighborhood that was, even better in my opinion than Sutton Place, two blocks north. RooftopsOne of the neatest things from the aerial photos is seeing all the structures, plants, odds and ends on the roofs of the buildings. We never know about that from ground level! No peopleWhere are all the people? It's as if they have been magically removed. We only see remnants of their existence. A bit of laundry. A few parked cars. Penthouse terrace furniture. But no humans. Weird. December sunlight>> The sunrise pretty perfectly illuminates the buildings. At a different time of day, the effect would not have been half so good. It's closer to midday -- I'd say 11:30, maybe noon. [And I'd say it's noon because the caption under the photo says "noon, looking south." - Dave] Noon?Even though the original caption says noon, I believe those shadows are way too long for that time of day.........maybe he got his notes mixed up. [He's not the one who's mixed up. Winter solstice, Northern Hemisphere -- hello? - Dave] (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
Summit Street: 1909
... Loan Co. 302 Severcool & Co. 302–10 Niagara Hotel 302 Earl P. Severcool 302 Duket & Askam 304 Nirdlinger ... them on the street: Harry Barnett, bell boy, Niagara Hotel, rooms same Jay Black, bell boy, Niagara Hotel Fred Goldner, engineer, Niagara Hotel, rooms same Mark O. Hankins, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/09/2012 - 3:18pm -

Toledo, Ohio, circa 1909. "Summit Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. I was just there.I am just starting research for a book on The Lion Dry Goods Store (325-31 Summit Street), and feel as if I was just looking down the street. I was there in 1964 as a stock boy at the Lion Store. Here is the 1910 "roster" for this block of Summit Street from the Toledo Directory Company: Left side of Summit looking from Madison Avenue toward Adams Street 301 United Cigar Stores Co. 303 Hendrick Candy Co. 305 I. F. Strasburger 305 E. G. Herrick 305 Burnham, Stoepel & Co. 307 J. J. Freeman & Co. 309 Drinkwater & Co. 309–11 Kresge 5c & 10c store 313 The Raiment 313–17 Pacific Express Co. 315 A. J. Heesen 315 Dr. S. E. Starr 315 Dr. W. C. Chinn 317 Wilmington & Co. 319 M. F. Newcomer & Son 319 Pacific Express Co. storeroom 321–3 S. H. Knox & Co. 325–31 The Lion Dry Goods Co. 325 D. C. Hoffman 333–47 Lamson Bros. Co. Right side of Summit looking from Madison Avenue toward Adams Street 300–4 City Loan Co. 302 Severcool & Co. 302–10 Niagara Hotel 302 Earl P. Severcool 302 Duket & Askam 304 Nirdlinger Furnishing Goods Co. 306–8 Almon Hall 308 I. Kopelman & Co. 308 C. T. De Veaux 310 Menter & Rosenbloom Co. 310 J. G. Carter Piano Co. 310 John G. Carter 312 G. R. Aylsworth 312–14 First National Bank 318 Walcott & Knapp Co. 318–20 Metropolitan Business College 320 Wachter Shoe Co. 322 The Hofbrau [Lunch Room?] 322 Joseph Kest 324–26 Kobacker Furniture Co. 328 F. J. Trost 336 D. M. Kable 336 Dr. P. S. Rieg 336 P. W. Rieg 338 Merchants and Clerks Savings Bank 340 Peoples Credit Clothing Co. 340 W. G. Brown 342 vacant store 342 A. V. Watkins 344–46 Star Hardware Co. 348 Stolberg & Parks 348 Toledo Upholstering Co. You can also see J. R. Grosman (243), The Judd-Gross Co. (245) and The Huston & Co (247) A tell2:28:29, somewhere in time, certainly no longer in anyone's memory, but full of all the collective hopes and aspirations of these throngs, perhaps seen superficially on their faces All Gone now Ah the days of "urban removal" took all approx 40% of the building in downtown Toledo - Have to learn by our mistakes. United We StandAs usual, the United Cigar Store at its customary corner location. On the EuropeanPlanYou might see them on the street: Harry Barnett, bell boy, Niagara Hotel, rooms same Jay Black, bell boy, Niagara Hotel Fred Goldner, engineer, Niagara Hotel, rooms same Mark O. Hankins, manager, Toledo Advertising Service, boards Niagara Hotel W. Barret Hankins, advertising agent, boards Niagara Hotel James McDonough, manager, Crescent Realty Co., boards Niagara Hotel Blake Severcool, clerk, Niagara Hotel Earl P. Severcool, proprietor, The Niagara Hotel, home same Mrs. Mary E. Severcool, boards, Niagara Hotel John E. Weir, manager, The Raimant, boards Niagara Hotel Mrs. Helen Zimmerman, rooms Niagara Hotel From the Toledo Publishing Company 1910 city directory for Toledo, Ohio (The Gallery, DPC, Toledo)
The Knickerbocker: 1909
New York, 1909. "Knickerbocker Hotel, Broadway & 42nd Street." Decked out for the Hudson-Fulton ... The building is still there, but no longer a hotel. Built by John Jacob Astor as a showcase of luxury in a time of economic prosperity in the city, the hotel was destined to close its doors only 15 years later due to changes in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:36pm -

New York, 1909. "Knickerbocker Hotel, Broadway & 42nd Street." Decked out for the Hudson-Fulton Celebration. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. A-bunting we will go! Wow! When they decorated for a festive occasion back then the did it right. I wonder how many yards of flag bunting they used on that building? Most of the subway entrances of that style were removed ages ago, but few of them still remain scattered around midtown Manhattan. The building is still there, but no longer a hotel. Built by John Jacob Astor as a showcase of luxury in a time of economic prosperity in the city, the hotel was destined to close its doors only 15 years later due to changes in fortune. The building was later home to Newsweek magazine from 1940 to 1959, and after major renovation in 1980 it is now used for garment showrooms and offices. Darn You Shorpy, Darn YouAnother two hours of my life gone! Spent browsing the gorgeous detailed photos on this site, viewing the high-def images, marveling at the detail, enjoying the historical aspect of the photos, and even reading and enjoying the comments. It's a good thing I'm retired so I don't feel too guilty spending all that time here. I've been visiting here over 3 years now, and yet every visit is like finding a new treasure. You're still the best site on the web! EnvyIt appears a woman crossing the street was caught in the act of admiring the other woman's attire. Boy glad that's not done anymore! Oh, if i could just reach in!Our theater company is mounting the musical "Ragtime" this season. I have had to source out the material for our custom-made bunting -- yards and yards of red, white and blue (and white stars). Wouldn't it be nice if I could just ... sigh! HF?Who/what would "HF" represent on the flag? BTW, we get to see the subway and the elevated in the same frame. Cool. [Perhaps the caption contains a clue. - Dave] ETA: Yes, Dave, I think it does. lol. How did I miss that?!? And there I was, thinking it might be Hill Figger. Go figure. Going DowntownWe get a good view of the original subway entrances on the corner. Cheers!One of the legends about the original Knickerbocker Hotel comes from the drink called the martini, which was said to have been invented by the house bartender, Martini di Arma di Tagga. In 1912, he mixed dry vermouth and gin together and the mixture gained the favor of John D. Rockefeller, who liked it so much that he recommended it to all his Wall Street buddies, and the drink quickly became a national favorite. Another remnant of the past is a sign for the hotel that can be found in the New York City subway. The “Knickerbocker” sign is posted over a doorway that once connected the hotel to the east end of the platform for Track 1 of the 42nd Street Shuttle. Two by TwoWhy two subway entrances on the same corner? Entrance vs exit? Two different lines? [One for each direction -- they're marked Uptown and Downtown. - Dave] The Edison CompanyIn mid-block we see a sign for some offices of The New York Edison Company, the local electric utility for Manhattan. My father started work with the The Brooklyn Edison Company in 1928 and a few years later most of the NYC utility companies merged to form what is still known as Consolidated Edison (ConEd). CoincidentallyToday's Wall Street Journal has an article about a Texas-based group looking to turn the building back into a hotel. The U.S. FlagThe photo is dated 1909 but the flag on the hotel is a 45 star flag which was replaced in 1908 when Oklahoma became a state. [Not this one. -Dave] Scandalous! Really! I never. The amount of skin showing on that Woman in the Advertisement across the street is simply ruinous to impressionable young minds! The New Dressler?I just finished reading the book Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser. This photo of the Knickerbocker is exactly what I imagined one of the hotels described in the book looking like. Wonderful detail and easy to get lost thinking of what's inside. [The cover of the book shows the Hotel Astor decked out for the Hudson-Fulton celebration. Note the ship's prow over the entrance.] O.J. GudeIn 1878 with $100 in capital the O.J. Gude Company was founded and goes on to pioneer the first use of the electric bulb in a billboard sign in May, 1892 just thirteen years after Thomas Edison invents the first light bulb. More Info from the great great grandson of O J Gude. (The Gallery, DPC, NYC)
Saratoga Springs: 1904
Saratoga Springs, New York, 1904. "United States Hotel, Broadway at Division Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, ... exists and still open. Not only that, but it's still a hotel (albeit under a different name). [Um, no. The United States Hotel ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/21/2022 - 3:52pm -

Saratoga Springs, New York, 1904. "United States Hotel, Broadway at Division Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size. Saratoga TrunkThis elegant resort gave its name to elegant luggage. Well-preserved 19th-century Saratoga trunks are for sale today, likely to become home furnishings because no contemporary traveler wants to wrestle with that kind of bulk. The luggage gave its name to a 1941 best-seller by Edna Ferber, which became a 1945 film and a 1959 stage musical. Ironically, in these works Saratoga Trunk is a branch railroad line. Still ExistsNot only did it not burn down, it still exists and still open. Not only that, but it's still a hotel (albeit under a different name). [Um, no. The United States Hotel was demolished in 1946. - Dave] •••Oops!••• Mea culpa. I let my guard down on my vetting process. :-) It is not still thereI was stationed in Saratoga for six months in the 1970s and I do not remember ever seeing this place. [As noted below, it was torn down in 1946. - Dave] The place to be when it's racing seasonThis incarnation of the United States Hotel was completed in June 1874; the previous one burned down. In 1875 'The Visitor's Guide to Saratoga Springs' gushed with praise. Happily, the review includes basic information such as layout, dimensions, number of rooms, even a paragraph regarding fire protection. I'm booking a small suite high and away from the street to avoid noise and smells. Dave, thank you for adjusting my comment. I didn't realize I could link to my own photo until I went into edit and saw how you did it. Armed with new knowledge, I've corrected previous posts. I know only a few things well; but I take instruction easily. TransformativeI could not figure out what the can-shaped object was on the side of the building, above the veranda -- on closer examination it looks like an electrical transformer. Odd location, I've never seen one strapped directly to a building before, and in such a prominent position, but this being 1904 I suppose it wasn't too unusual. About those treesGreg B., I'm attaching a Google Street view so everyone can better appreciate your comment. It's not a bad looking corner; but yes, not much there for 'The Visitor's Guide to Saratoga Springs' to gush about now. Your comment raises a question -- in 1904, are those elm trees? If so, they probably survived about 30 more years before Dutch Elm disease killed them. Remarkable TreesThe impressive display of mature trees curbside suggests that they must have been planted around the time the original incarnation was constructed several decades earlier. Looking at the corner today, there is nothing close to impressive, unfortunately. (The Gallery, DPC, Saratoga Springs)
The Oriental: 1903
        The Oriental Hotel, at the eastern end of the Coney Island peninsula, opened in 1880 and was demolished in 1916. 1903. "Oriental Hotel and boardwalk, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York." Panorama of two 8x10 ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/03/2014 - 11:57am -

        The Oriental Hotel, at the eastern end of the Coney Island peninsula, opened in 1880 and was demolished in 1916. 1903. "Oriental Hotel and boardwalk, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, New York." Panorama of two 8x10 glass negatives, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Ruh-rohThis can't be good. College at the beach, or vice-versaWhile hotel's receding into the mists of history, and the boardwalk no longer extends that far east, a small, crescent-shaped portion of Oriental Beach still remains. What makes it a bit unusual is that it is located on the campus of Kingsborough Community College and students use it as a lounge and outdoor lunch area. During the summer, outsiders can get special permits allowing them to use the beach, accessing it via a walkway that keeps them away from campus buildings. And yes, that's Dead Horse Island in the background, though its proper name was actually Barren Island. Landfill has since connected it to the mainland. The more things changeLook at the woman's waist. That can't be healthy. A wonderful imageby any standard, in any century! Was that panoramic pair printed in 1903 or was it a contemporary collaboration with Shorpy? If so, all hail Photoshop! [Photoshop! - Dave] Pre-sprinkler eraGroundskeepers watering all that lawn by hand!?! DreamlikePossibly the most beautiful image I have seen on Shorpy so far (and I have been coming here for a long time). SpectacularWhat a beautiful building! I'm often surprised to see just how short-lived some of these magnificent buildings were. A mere 36 years is all this gorgeous hotel existed. I guess that's the price of progress. Homeland Security 101On the sidewalk to the left we see that the local constable is making a beeline towards the suspicious GWC (guy with a camera). After all he could be a spy or something. Getting Oriented Trying to figure what's off in the distance behind the two promenaders. Maybe Dead Horse Island? Add My VoteSuperb image; surreal and very simple, but can be interpreted on several levels. Thank you, Dave. Shorpy does it again! I was a student at Kingsborough Community College. When I attended,the campus consisted of barracks left over from a WWII training facility. The old wooden buildings wouldn't have been worthy of being outhouses for this grande dame that stood on the sight earlier. Groundskeeper Willie x2I bet it's the same guy, this must be where the negs split, there's a line of bad focus running up through there. SousaDuring the summer of 1893, John Philip Sousa and his band were engaged to perform several daily concerts at Manhattan Beach for a 10 week period. Manhattan Beach March was written directly after that summer concert series and was an immediate hit. (Panoramas, Coney Island, DPC, NYC)
Victorian Vines: 1910
... demolished to make way for the construction of the Statler Hotel 101 years ago (July 2, 1913). "Former Gov. John Judson Bagley acquired ... Feb. 6, 1915, "had private baths (a first for a Detroit hotel), in-room telephones and cold running water in every room. It also was ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/25/2014 - 12:34pm -

Detroit circa 1910. "Bagley Homestead -- Michigan Conservatory of Music." Former abode of Michigan Governor John Judson Bagley (1832-1881). 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Just an empty lot now.But at least there is this! Catalogue of the Michigan Conservatory of Music, Detroit, school year 1907-1908. Long GoneThe John Judson Bagley Home was demolished to make way for the construction of the Statler Hotel 101 years ago (July 2, 1913). "Former Gov. John Judson Bagley acquired the site in 1863 and built his home, which remained in the family until it was sold to Arthur H. Fleming in 1907. It was Fleming who sold the property to Ellsworth M. Statler’s chain of hotels." The Statler, which opened Feb. 6, 1915, "had private baths (a first for a Detroit hotel), in-room telephones and cold running water in every room. It also was the first hotel in the nation with air-conditioning in all public areas. Such features were nearly unheard of at the time it was built. The Statler also had a complete medical department on the top floor." The Statler became a Hilton property in 1954 (as did all Statler properties that year). Hilton ceased operation of the hotel in 1974 and it was then ran (for about a year) as the Detroit Heritage Hotel. Abandoned in 1975, the structure rotted away (very sadly, like much of Detroit) for 30 years, finally being demolished in 2005. The site remains an empty lot, but with a current investor proposal (Jan, 2014) to build a "Boutique Hotel Development" on the property it may finally be utilized again. Quoted text credit to: HistoricDetroit.org WiredIn addition to the distribution ring off to the right of the conservatory, I see on the rooftop to the left, a swingset looking A-frame structure with insulators to hold the wires. [Very good. Now explain to us the sideways weather vane. - Dave] A windy day? Another exampleAllowing vines to grow on your house isn't good. The vines grab onto the mortar causing it to need tuck-pointing sooner. The vines are also a natural path for insects to get into the house. With apologies to Bob DylanYou don't need a weathervane to tell which way the wind blows. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Education, Schools, Music)
Avenging Angels: 1943
... all over the world, Sorensen stayed up all night in his hotel room sketching out the layout that would become the Willow Run plant ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 12/07/2021 - 1:11pm -

February 1943. "Looking up an assembly line at Ford's big Willow Run plant in Michigan, where B-24E (Liberator) bombers are being made in great numbers. The Liberator is capable of operation at high altitudes and over great ranges on precision bombing missions. It has proved itself an excellent performer in the Pacific, Northern Africa, Europe and the Aleutians." 4x5 acetate negative by Howard Hollem for the Office of War Information. View full size. Rosie the RiveterLooks like a Rosie the Riveter working on the platform on the right on the plane in the foreground. Her shoes don't seem appropriate for an assembly line, but shoes were probably in short supply in 1943. This is What Won the WarObviously, there were many, many factors that went into the Allied victory in WWII, but I think most historians agree that it was America's vast industrial capabilities, which allowed us to churn out bombers, fighters, tanks, ships, Jeeps, etc., by the tens of thousands that ultimately won the war. Girl powerRosie peeking up from a hole (someone who knows the correct name for that, please correct me) near the nose of the first plane is pretty cool. Rosie II, wearing fancy shoes with her overalls, inspecting something just to Rosie I's left. We can do it! Deceased "Liberator"There is a young man (James S. King) buried next to my grandfather who was a navigator on a B-24 called "Fickle Finger of Fate". He was killed in a bombing mission over Vienna, Austria on Oct 13, 1944. He was 23 years old. I try to decorate his grave every Memorial Day. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=King&GSfn=James&G... Next stepsHow did the planes move from those positions? Were the elevated racks disassembled and reassembled each time or is there some kind of overhead crane system? Neat photo. Designed in One NightIn the book, "My Forty Years with Ford," Charles Sorensen, Ford's Chief Engineer discussed how this plant came about. During a visit to Consolidated Aircraft's plant in San Diego, it was proposed that Ford gear up to manufacture subassemblies that would be shipped to Consolidated. Sorenson declared they were not interested in such work but were prepared to manufacture the entire plane. Using the principles he had developed designing automobile plants all over the world, Sorensen stayed up all night in his hotel room sketching out the layout that would become the Willow Run plant which was up in running within 18 months. Aunt Betty's 1943 Willow Run ID CardAunt Betty's Willow Run ID card was found among her belongings after her passing in 2001. Postwar, she worked for the Detroit Times, then NY Times, then Northwest Airlines. A lifelong career girl, she was well-educated, well-read, well-traveled, and interested in everything except marriage. Barely a year after Pearl Harborthis incredible mobilization of American industrial might was fully underway. Walter? Oh, sorry pal.I know the Willow Run plant employed thousands, but I can't help myself. Every time I see a picture of the Willow Run plant in this era, I look for my grandfather. He worked there throughout the war and after, when Kaiser-Frazer took over the plant. I'm not even sure I would recognize the man I first knew twenty-plus years later, but I still look. There was even a song about them.Broadway, of course. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X6EkUQ7DRw "More bombers to attack with, More bombers 'til the skies are black with ..." How'd They Do ThatHow the US produced so much for that war always amazes me. Looking at this picture makes me wonder how did the assembly process work here? Did each plane get moved up to the next work station after a certain number of assemblies were completed? Coordinating the timing of all that must have been a nightmare. Construction sequenceIt looks like the planes in the background, where they are in two rows rather than one, might be the same model but without the outboard wing sections attached. If so, they maybe assembled the fuselage and main wing sections where they could fit two rows into the assembly space and then moved them forward into a single row and added the wing extensions. Response to girl powerThe unfinished area of the nose you are referring to is just above the navigator's position and is the navigator's observation dome, AKA "astrodome". It was used to enable navigators to obtain fixes on stars when flying at night to establish the latitude over which they were flying. There were 18,482 B-24's made, the most of any combat aircraft ever made in the U.S. Willow Run Story on YouTubeThere's an excellent (and VERY detailed) 33 minute long video about the Willow Run plant and the B-24 assembly on YouTube. https://youtu.be/p2zukteYbGQ The Arsenal of DemocracyIn that very location in 2017 I participated in an attempt to achieve a world record of the "largest gathering of people dressed as Rosie the Riveter." I was only one small part, but altogether 3,734 of us broke the record. Several authentic Rosies attended as well, many of whom worked at Willow Run. The Flying BoxcarAmerica doesn't win wars, it overwhelms them. The Arsenal of Democracy! Moving UpThe sections of deck under the outboard side of the inboard engines, where the main landing gear were, were "drawers" that slid in tracks under the outer deck to allow rolling the plane forward to the next station. There is a separate "drawer" ahead of and behind the landing gear, the gap for the landing gear between the drawers is visible. At the left side of the picture foreground, it's where the temporary stairway is placed. It's neat that the decks stepped up to match the slight wing dihedral, maintaining ideal work height. The selection of Ford was appropriate, as the company understood mass production. The work items would have been divided up between stations so that all airplanes were ready to move up about the same time, with the planes in front moving up first. The timing probably followed Ford's standard practice, where an issue with a work step on a plane meant that the plane would come of the line, then be taken to a rework area to rectify the problem, without holding up the line. We toured Rouge in the early 50's, and the level of organization at that time was amazing. 13 leftI think I counted 13 B-24s in various states of assembly. As of 2021, there are only 13 complete B-24s left in the world. Only 2 are still flying. The rest are restored to museum displays. https://www.airplanes-online.com/b24-liberator-surviving-aircraft.htm Found photosWhile cleaning out my FIL's house, we found some snapshots taken by someone in a B-24 unit. We were able to identify the unit and I actually went to a reunion to see if anyone there could ID the photographer. No joy, but the slice-of-life photos made their way to someone doing a display for a USAF strategic missile unit which had inherited the original B-24 unit's number. I got a nice thank you for sending them, but never did find out who took them (FIL was in the MPs and his service dates don't match up) The production during WWII was nothing short of an all-out effort, coordinated by the War Production Board. Wikipedia has some details. Can you imagine something like that happening today, with all the bickering and nonsense we're currently experiencing? The HypeI always wondered why the B-17 got all the hype, pomp and glory while there were 50% more B-24s. Maybe Boeing had the better PR department? Flow chart San Diego And B-24 CutawayHopefully, I did it correctly. How the assembly line worksFortunately, the photo is very high resolution, so it's possible to deduce how these planes are moved and when. The platforms are wired with conduits on the floor, so they don't move. The planes have to be moved into position. The planes in the foreground with full wings attached all appear to be in the same state of construction. A clue is that the same uninstalled fairing piece is visible on top of each horizontal stabilizer. This means that the planes are most likely to be rolled into position between shifts, a whole batch at a time. We see eight planes in these workstations. That's a power of two, so it's a sensible batch size since the stations in the rear are dual column. Want to see what a B-24 looks like on the inside?Click on the link (US Air Force museum website) https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Disp... Scroll down and click on any of the "Cockpit360 Images" How'd they do that flow chartThis flow chart is part of a collection of Willow Run artifacts at The Henry Ford The Yankee Air Force is still based at Willow Run and also maintains a
Greatest Show on Earth: 1904
1904. "Hotel Lincoln, Pittsburg." Let's turn our attention to those Barnum & ... Penn and Fifth The old city directories show the Hotel Lincoln at Penn Avenue and Fifth Street. ("Rooms without bath, $1.50 ... $3 double.") Sometime around 1910 the name was changed to Hotel Chatham. Seems to have been demolished around 1960. Its corner of ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 8:48pm -

1904. "Hotel Lincoln, Pittsburg." Let's turn our attention to those Barnum & Bailey circus posters: "Two days only, commencing Wednesday afternoon May 18, Old Stock Yard Grounds, East Liberty. Two performances daily, doors open at 1 and 7 p.m." Featured act: The Wentworth Trio, "trick riders in a series of entirely new equestrian acts with running horses and English road carts." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Penn and FifthThe old city directories show the Hotel Lincoln at Penn Avenue and Fifth Street. ("Rooms without bath, $1.50 single, $2 double; with bath, $2 single, $3 double.") Sometime around 1910 the name was changed to Hotel Chatham. Seems to have been demolished around 1960. Its corner of Penn and Fifth is now occupied by Fifth Avenue Place. Nightmare fuelThose creepy clown faces make me glad the other poster is cut off. Even the guy at the top of the poster has a creepy expression. Moreover, the guy in the hotel window has a sort of eeriness all his own. He looks like a statue. 106 years laterWaiter in dining room finally gets his 15 minutes of fame! Creepiest Show On EarthFact: In 1904 there were still no limits as to how scary your clowns could be. Inside and OutIf you open the image to full size - it is interesting to see one well dressed man in the window of the hotel and then one not so well in the alley of the hotel. Makes you wonder what each was thinking at that moment. [Don't forget The Third Man. - Dave] Lincoln > Chatham > MayfairFrom the historic Pittsburgh Images site, it appears that this hotel eventually became the Hotel Mayfair and was demolished in July of 1950. Photo Description: State of demolition activities at the Hotel Mayfair and neighboring buildings to prepare for the construction of the Gateway Center complex. Maybe just the postersThis would be a great one to color. (The Gallery, DPC, Pittsburgh)
The Sitting Room: 1905
Circa 1905. "Parlor, Kaaterskill Hotel, Catskill Mountains, New York." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, ... in a comfortable rocker. Wikipedia Oddly enough, Hotel Kaaterskill doesn't have a Wikipedia page, even though it was a seemingly ... too comfy. Massive Kaaterskill In its prime, the Hotel Kaaterskill was largest mountain hotel in the world. It could accommodate ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 1:30pm -

Circa 1905. "Parlor, Kaaterskill Hotel, Catskill Mountains, New York." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. AWESOMEWhat a beautiful room! I cant get over the light fixtures. Have been in the light industry for thirty years and have not seen anything as beautiful as these. This is on picture that truly makes me want to go back in time. Thanks. DelightingThey've got an interesting mash of lighting technologies there. Gas and carbon-arc electric! It also appears that everyone enjoyed facing away from one another. No tete-a-tete at this resort. Before vacuumsHow would you like to carpet-sweep that immense expanse by hand? Gotta love the love-seats! InventionI remember my grandfather always telling me that man's greatest invention was the chair. 2001 minus 96Looks like a set straight out of a Kubrick movie! Pre Dirty Dancing DaysThe straitback chair setup makes for some awkward rendezvous. The upolstered furniture in the middle, not so much. The RumorI heard that you had to be important to make reservations to sit in a comfortable rocker. WikipediaOddly enough, Hotel Kaaterskill doesn't have a Wikipedia page, even though it was a seemingly impressive feat and there's plenty of other online resources about it. Anyone care to start it? Like Something out of a Kubrick FilmThe carpet makes the furniture look like they're floating on clouds. OK, it may be the cold medicine I just took. Escape artist training room.Are you ONLY supposed to sit in the sitting room? Because other than one set of chairs off to the right, this might just be the least-conducive to conversation seating configuration ever. And most of the chairs don't even look comfortable for lounging, reading, etc. Just sitting and staring straight ahead. Maybe you and a friend could practice the "escaping from a kidnapper who has tied us together, back to back" routine? I do love the S chairs, though. Three dimensional lookIn the regular size pic the carpet looks like clouds in the sky in 3-D. Looks a Bit StarkAnd none too comfy. Massive Kaaterskill In its prime, the Hotel Kaaterskill was largest mountain hotel in the world. It could accommodate over 1100 souls, and the foundation was a mile in circumference. The narrow gauge Kaaterskill Railroad was built to Kaaterskill Station in the 1880s just to cater to the hotel's needs. Only two lighting technologies?I see a third. Someone traveled ahead in time and bought electroluminescent carpet. Have some funAnyone up for a game of musical chairs? A rainbow of graysToo bad this is black-and-white. There must be at least fifty different colors in that carpet. Kaaterskill FaarkFarked again! Although the obvious Kubrick reference would seem to be the Empire-style bedroom with the luminous floor at the end of "2001: A Space Odyssey," a number of Farksters have made a connection with the Overlook resort in "The Shining." (The Gallery, DPC, Farked)
Duluth: 1905
... Plan! It's so cool to see this outdated term on a hotel sign. Floating Seems like the photographer must be situated ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 7:04pm -

Duluth, Minnesota, circa 1905. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Familiar facadesMany of the buildings in this photo still exist. The large stone building in the upper left is the old Central High School, now the Central Administration Building for the ISD. It was built in the 1890s. I wonder if the Pickwick sign is a company associated with the operators of the Old Saloon at the original Fitgers Brewery. This turned into the Pickwick restaurant, which is still in operation. One of the train cars is a Fitgers Beer reefer. Railyard playgroundI find the variety of people and animals hanging around the railyard in almost every photo on here interesting. Here we see a bunch of kids playing around the freight cars. The days before Thomas the Tank Engine! The other day it was free range chickens! Just interesting is all, how different we are today. Hey you kids!Look at all the little boys running around! Plus the barefoot kid on top of the boxcar and his friend down below. Doesn't seem prudent but I bet it was fun. Ol' swaybackSeriously overload gondola car, on our far left. So many still aroundMany of the companies and products seen on signs in this picture are still around after more than 100 years. Armour Foods, Quaker Oats, Coca-Cola, Duluth Paper, both Pabst and Hamm's beer, National Biscuit (Nabisco), probably others. Must be JulyNo snow and the water isn't ice. School TimeThe Old Central High School with its two wings and clock tower was, and remains, a very imposing building. Duluth TodayAs a Duluth resident,I greatly enjoyed this photo! Many of the buildings in the photo are still around - notably the tall-spired one in the left-center. That's the former Central High School. Duluth is undergoing a renaissance today and appreciation of the old buildings, the spectacular setting on Lake Superior and the rugged hills has never been greater! I love living there! Old downtownLooks to be a shot across Main Street in what is today's old downtown section. Houses are built all the way to the top of the bluff today. Note the boatsNot only trains but boats here. A lot to see. American Plan! It's so cool to see this outdated term on a hotel sign. FloatingSeems like the photographer must be situated somewhere on the waterfront. Any ideas on his vantage point? [Many of the Detroit Publishing city views were taken from water towers. - Dave] Duluth & Iron Range R.R.The reporting marks on what appear to be early hopper cars and the much abused gondola are for the Duluth & Iron Range Railroad (predecessor of the current Duluth Missabe & Iron Range). Presumably the ore cars are hauling ore from the Soudan Mine, which makes me wonder if some idiot filled a gondola with iron ore. Probably not though. My guess is that it's an old car filled with stone, coal or clinker. Lake AvenueThe bridge crossing the tracks appears to be South Lake Avenue. The tracks have since been replaced by I-35. The stone building to the left with the clock tower is the (still standing) historic Central High School. Can you spot the cannon?What a great photo, so much going on. I'll keep coming back to this one. Thanks to all who provided the local updates and building identification. Is the cannon still there? AwesomeThanks once again for a picture of my local area. Like others said some of these buildings are still around. Amazing to see this area when it was a real working class place rather than the tourist area it has become. Thanks again Shorpy About face, perhaps?It would be wonderful if, before climbing down, the 1905 photographer had also turned his camera in the opposite direction (east), to capture the sparkling new Aerial Lift Bridge over the just-renovated Duluth Ship Canal. [This photo is part of a six-frame panoramic view. There's a photo of the bridge here. - Dave] FunnyI'm hoping the lumber sash and door place sold better stuff than what was on the building. RecyclingThe cannon was sold as scrap iron in 1942 and was melted down and used during World War II. Because there was so much protest over the sale of the cannon, a flag pole was erected in 1949 on the spot where the cannon stood. Details here. Boy of the North CountryWhere was Bob Dylan born 36 years later? Saved the BestCentral High School Building is fantastic. You could get lost in the details and beauty of this Architecture. Sorry about the cannon, but the Building survives! Railroad NutBecause I am a nut about railroad history, I just love those old railroad cars. Love these Duluth photos!Its hard to believe my grandpa was 16 years old and living in Duluth when these photos were taken. Maybe he's one of those kids playing by the tracks A lonely survivorWho would have guessed that the Tremont, along with its ghost sign, was a survivor? We can fix ol' swaybackThat old gon could be straightened out by adjusting the turnbuckles under the car. Those cars had truss rods supporting them. If it's not too far gone a big wrench and a level will fix it. So Much to See I have one of these panoramas framed in my home. Everytime I look at it I see something new. The tram, the Central Tower, and down by the Steam Plant, which used to be the place to stay away from (bowery area). Wouldn't the photographer be shocked to see Canal Park today! (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Duluth, Railroads)
Great Southern: 1906
Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1906. "Great Southern Hotel." Built 1902-03; demolished in 1951. Panorama of three 8x10 glass ... masts just barely visible on the opposite side of the hotel. [Possibly some of these out in the harbor, from a shot made around ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/03/2012 - 10:19am -

Gulfport, Mississippi, circa 1906. "Great Southern Hotel." Built 1902-03; demolished in 1951. Panorama of three 8x10 glass negatives. View full size. People count I count 9.... two on each of the "wing" porches or entries, the two on the right, one on same side just behind the building, somewhat blurred.... The ladder man, the seated man, and one in the window to the seated man's left, ground floor.Several geese and a dog! Next pleaseI hope the library will eventually yield to us a view of what's holding up all those masts just barely visible on the opposite side of the hotel. [Possibly some of these out in the harbor, from a shot made around the same time. - tterrace] I wish Shorpy's was a time machineI would pick a picture and be transported, at least for a little while. I wouldn't like to be the man on that ladder, though. Eight and countingI see seven people without to "maybe" person in the carriage: two walking on the right side of the hotel, two lounging on the right porch, two on the left porch, the ladder man and one on the far left covered walkway. Are there more? There's just one word for this photo......"Spectacular!" A Fine Southern HostelryI don't know how exceptional the fire proofing of this hotel was for the time but it appears to have paid off. A somewhat-rare example of an old hotel on Shorpy not lost to fire but to the wrecker. The St. Louis Lumberman, January 1910. A Fine Southern Hostelry. We present a picture herewith of a hotel of which it has been well said that it is “fit for a king; good enough for a commoner.” Our reference is to the Great Southern Hotel at Gulfport, Miss., a splendid bit of architectural designing and a fine example of comfortable, if not luxurious, furnishing. This well-known hostelry fronts beautifully on the Gulf of Mexico over a space of 350 feet, is three stories high and has 250 guest chambers. Two wings of the building extend backward to a park, cared for by a landscape gardener. Though a frame structure, such ample precautions against fire have been taken in its designing and construction as to practically do away with fire risk, The roofing is tile; the floors are double, with asbestos between each floor; the lathing is steel wire, and cement plastering has been used throughout the building. The house being heated by steam and lighted by electricity, no lamp is used in any part of it, and no fire of any character in any exposed position. In addition to these safeguards, the heating and cooking plants are segregated; there are standpipes on all floors, and an organized and well-drilled fire brigade is ready for service at almost a moment’s notice. The supply of water comes from a well 850 feet deep, and according to a chemist has curative properties for rheumatism and for kidney and other troubles. Every guest chamber is equipped with a private telephone, hot and cold water and a private bath. The lobby and parlors are spacious and elegant. and the sun parlor fronts the sea. The large dining room is finished in Flemish oak, and looks out upon the Sound. The cuisine is directed by a chef who is famous for his productions, and the larder is stocked with the markets’ choicest products, including seafoods and luscious fruits. The climate around Gulfport is a delightful one in winter, and there are many outdoor amusements to which the visitor can turn his hand, including fishing and boating. One can hardly find a more ideal place to spend a winter vacation than at and around Gulfport. 7 Humans?I can spot 6 people for sure. But is that a person in the horse drawn carriage or some other object? This picture makes me want a room facing the East, ocean view please. Gone but Not Forgotten...I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and although the Great Southern was torn down a year after I was born, there are still those down there to this day who speak of it in hushed tones (they're getting fewer and further between!). US Highway 49 runs east and west about where the south side of the building is in the picture and the gravel road on the left side of the picture is now the main street of downtown Gulfport, 25th Avenue and also US Highway 49. When the hotel was torn down in the early 1950's, the developers built an entire block of "modern" commercial buildings that housed chain stores like Learners and TG&Y and some local businesses. All of these buildings were devastated in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. After the hurricane, they leveled all the debris and the site was a vacant lot. Interestingly, the smokestack on the right side of the picture was the edge of the Great Southern power plant. Although modified, it still stands and up until the early 1990's was a Ford dealership for many years. For any of those who want to colorize, the building was a deep green with white trim. It had a red terra cotta tile roof. This picture was taken shortly after it was built, but after several years, the grounds of the Great Southern were covered with lush vegatation -- azaleas, palms, live oak with fountains (pictured here) on both sides of the building. The water in front of the hotel is the Mississippi Sound, which opens into the Gulf of Mexico. Those tall ship masts you see right behind the hotel are at the fledgling Port of Gulfport, which had only been established around ten years earlier, thus the name of the city "Gulf Port". As homage to the past, a local bank built a new office tower in the 1980's about two blocks from this site and established a members only private club on the top floor, which is called The Great Southern Club. (Panoramas, DPC)
The Clifton: 1910
Niagara Falls, new York, circa 1910. "Clifton Hotel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View ... signs in the window say. [Clifton's first name is Hotel. - Dave] Ye Gods... couldn't have been more obvious! A photo ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/14/2011 - 10:08am -

Niagara Falls, new York, circa 1910. "Clifton Hotel." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Things to ComeSometime in the future, The Robinson, Snyder's and the Richmond House will be marketed as Boutique Hotels, possibly even charming, when being compared to The Clifton. Cheap GrubI can honestly say, I've never had a 25¢ meal. I'd love to know what that included. Deities for SaleWhat is that shop next door to the right? It appears to be selling Egyptian Deities, but I can't make out the rest of the sign. [That's the Joseph T. Simon cigar shop. Egyptian Deities was a brand of cigarette. - Dave] Table for One PleaseThe restaurant hostess is a real dog. Ye Gods!***el Clifton is selling Egyptian deities! I can't make out the signs in the window say. [Clifton's first name is Hotel. - Dave] Ye Gods... couldn't have been more obvious! A photo illustrative of why to love ShorpyAt a glance, it's just one more nondescript postcard shot of a long-gone building in some medium-sized city, a place that has no general interest now, and that probably had very little then. Then you are arrested by the crystalline clarity of the shot, almost magnifying, and you find that it's a sudden window into a summer's day more than one hundred years ago ... perhaps July 15. The awnings are all lowered deep, the windows are open, the pull-down blinds flap, the sheer curtains flutter. The Clifton Hotel is distinctively modern next to the forty-year old Queen Anne boarding house, or the antebellum balloon-frames behind the storefronts. You wonder - were they all demolished in "redevelopment," or did they explode, like dessicated aged kindling, in a blaze? There are two young boys in short pants and caps, one obviously the leader, with his hands in his pockets and cap pushed back; there is the comfortable dog on the doorsill, watching the street life; there is a souvenir shop improbably "Egyptian deities." (Were they associated, somehow, with Niagara Falls, or just a la mode that year? As always, there are the trolly tracks, offering you the promise of a trip further into town or the suburbs, for a mere dime. It gives you the sense that you can simply step into that scene just, just for a moment. You can bound up those granite steps, stroll up to the front desk, tap the bell, pick up the dip pen to register. You can breathe in the summer heat, smell the dust, hear the ceiling fan blades slowly whooshing above you - experience life that is much less noisy and rushed. Then you wake from the reverie, and move your computer mouse. Thanks for the vacation, Shorpy. "Egyptian Deities"What th -- ? Karl May and his stay at CliftonKarl May, writer of "Winnetou" fame, lodged at Clifton Hotel on the Canadian side of Niagara from September 24 till October 4 1908. There is a photo of him sitting on the hotel balcony with a view of the Niagara behind. My question - is the hotel shown here the same Clifton Hotel Karl May was in? (The Gallery, DPC)
Devine's Place: 1905
... the elaborate chimney flu on the building next to the hotel was determined to not let one tiny bit of rain or snow get down into the ... Boarding House, Zenith Lodging and the Sven (?) Hotel. And they all look a little rough around the edges. I imagine these ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 6:57pm -

Circa 1905. Our latest installment from the Duluth, Minnesota, panoramic series. Anyone for a round of Blatz? Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. That street in the foregroundis probably the kind of place that your mom would tell you to never walk down. Trolley wireI have never seen a trolley wire suspension system like the one in the photo. Maybe there weren't enough wooden poles so they resorted to the iron poles and arches, but it would seem that insulation of the wires from the ground would be difficult. Anyone seen this system in any other Shorpy photos? WonderfulThere are two really superb looking Victorians at the middle horizon that would be well worth a second look. Charles Addams could have been the architect! Grand! Is that Andy's place? I'm buying but ...it'll have to be the hometown Fitgers, or at least the cross-port rival, Superior. I'll take a passon that Blatz. But I could really go for an ice cold Battle Ax! Battle Ax -- The beer that made Duluth, well, Duluth! Well goshNow I have an urge to go grab me a chew of "Mail Pouch." Isn't advertising wonderful? Still standingThe dark church and the Fitgers smokestack are still there in this panorama: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Skyline-Duluth-200603... Now I have a hankering to visit Grandma's Saloon again for old time's sake. It was a day trip from my home town of Minneapolis, but it's a long ways from where I live in Texas now. Sigh. I'm surprisedthat Dave didn't name this photo "(S)hoes and rubbers" but that might have been just a too bit racy. Pleasantly SeedyNotice how The Builder's Supply building in the foreground has a first floor below the road. I wonder if all of the buildings on the other side of the bridge approach - including Devine's Place - at one time had first floor storefronts and then the buildings were modified once the bridge was built. Just a wonderful, wonderful picture. The beer made in Superior...was Northern. Duluth had a couple other breweries besides Fitger's Brewing (Fitger's & Rex Beer). Duluth Brewing & Malting (Royal Bohemian, Stag, Moose & Karlsbrau Beer) & Peoples Brewing (Peoples, Regal Beer, Olde English 600 Stout). All brand are gone except Olde English 600, which still lives on as Olde English 800 Malt Liquor. Battle Axwas a brand of chewing tobacco. If "Mail Pouch" wouldn't turn off chaw customers, why would "Battle Ax"? A complete version of a wall painting, courtesy of Olivander's Flickr site, is below. Well engineeredThe guy who designed the elaborate chimney flu on the building next to the hotel was determined to not let one tiny bit of rain or snow get down into the house. [Achoo. - Dave] Luxe accommodationsIn just a single-block stretch of seven or eight storefronts there are the Scandinavien Boarding House, Zenith Lodging and the Sven (?) Hotel. And they all look a little rough around the edges. I imagine these fine establishments were most often frequented by merchant seamen coming ashore after crossing Lake Superior, before reloading the next day to head back east through the Great Lakes, perhaps all the way to the St. Lawrence Seaway. They were probably a little rough around the edges as well. Great photograph. [The St. Lawrence Seaway didn't open until 1959. - Dave] City GasDuluth must have had a municipal gas system in those days. Above the Blatz building you can see the frame for storage. Norse StreetThis looks like a real Scandinavian street, with the Scandinavien Boarding House, Svea Hotel, Northland restaurant and A.W. Anderson's shop. Maybe that's one of my immigrant great-grandfathers sitting under that awning. I'm curious where the dirt road that goes under the bridge leads to, though. Fire!In the middle left are the ruins of a building that looks like it burned down. Duluth had what this country neededA good 5 cent cigar! Star of DavidI see a Star of David symbol in three locations: on the Blatz Brewery sign, on a storefront just to the right of the Northland Restaurant, and on the side of the large white building at upper left. Was there a significant Jewish presence in 1905 Duluth or does the symbol indicate something else? [In Germany, the hexagram or Bierstern (beer star) was a symbol of the brewers' guild. - Dave] Flimsy trolley polesThe trolley poles are amazingly flimsy. They look like they're made out of steel water pipe. The insulators look about the size of those used for low voltage telephone wires. I can only see one street light (at the right) so it must have been dark at night. I don't think the trolley poles would survive a midnight collision with a hefty Scandinavian dock worker full of Blatz. ChurchvilleI can see at least four steeples in this shot as well as the building with the onion dome might be one (I am inclined to think it's a hospital or a school). Just how much "churchin'" did one town need? Did anyone notice the Coca Cola sign on the left? Also, judging by the size of some of the mansions in town, there was some serious money in Duluth at this time. Stables!Finally spotted a stable! J. Hammel & Co, sale and exchange stables. Would love to see a close up of it or other stables from long ago for that matter! Points of interestThe large white building with the Star of David at the left edge of the photo is the local Orthodox synagogue in Duluth, still standing and in service. The onion dome sits on top of the Masonic Temple Opera Building, built in 1889 on Superior Street. The dome was later removed so as not to "mock the Classic purity of the Orpheum Theater" being built next to it on the avenue, according to a local architectural guide. Those trolley polesI saw a couple of comments about the trolley wire infrastructure and I've lived in a city that still has streetcars my whole life, so hopefully I can clear a bit up: The insulators don't look that big in the picture and they don't look that big from the ground either, when you're standing on the sidewalk looking up. The are substantial pieces of porcelain when you're holding one in your hand. Also, they only need to insulate against 600 volts DC, which isn't that high. With respect to the support poles, they're probably painted steel poles. Notice that they are only carrying the span wires and trolley wires above the tracks as well as some DC feed circuits. They aren't carrying nearly as many circuits or heavy objects like transformers that the electric utility poles are. Poles like the ones in the picture have lasted between 60 and 80 years at home. The support poles have to be installed on a slight angle, leaning away from the street, when they're installed because the tension of the overhead wires above the tracks and the span wires supporting them tends to pull the poles in towards the street. If you look closely at the support pole at the far right of the picture on the sidewalk closest to the camera, you can see it bending in towards the street. That suggests that it either wasn't installed correctly or (more likely from the way the pole appears bent) the span wire' tension's much too high... Streetcar wire like that's one thing that hasn't changed much over the last 100 years and the stuff hanging above the tracks a block from where I'm writing this looks the same in 2009 as it does in the picture from 1905. A Battle Ax in Indianapolishttp://www-lib.iupui.edu/static/exhibits/circle/exhibit3_1.html While on an entirely different expedition, I just came across another old photo showing a 'Battle Ax' mural, right here in my hometown. Thought I'd share... http://www-lib.iupui.edu/static/exhibits/circle/exhibit3_1.html Did the streetcar company have one of these?I've just come back from holiday in Greece. Trams and trolley buses are alive and well in Athens and Pireaus. The modern trolley poles look pretty substantial, but here is a delightful 1910 photo (courtesy of the ISAP archives) of a horse drawn tower wagon for inspecting the tram wires on the Pireaus waterfront. The Duluth trolley poles at the right of your picture look very similar to the one on the left of this one and the insulator is indeed very small. I wonder if the Duluth streetcar company had such a handy vehicle? Panoramic Duluth1890s. Click to enlarge. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Duluth, Railroads)
The Summit: 1961
Sept. 18, 1961. New York. "Summit Hotel, 51st Street and Lexington Avenue. Exterior from northwest. Morris ... the suburbs, maybe. But it's supposed to be a very good hotel. Still looks groovy! View Larger Map Still ... extant. Carpe Diem! I like the way the Beverly Hotel (which I assume is the building next door) hits potential customers in ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/28/2013 - 1:55pm -

Sept. 18, 1961. New York. "Summit Hotel, 51st Street and Lexington Avenue. Exterior from northwest. Morris Lapidus, Harle & Liebman, architects." Hints of Cold War intrigue here. Gottscho-Schleisner photo. View full size. Same sign, lesser impactThe vertical "Summit" sign pictured with such groovy shadows shrieks 1961 all by itself. Somehow, today's "Double Tree" use of the same sign just isn't as cool, or as classic. The Promise of the Future!Its buildings like this that fueled my desire to become an architect - I'm so glad that it looks very close to the way it did when it was built. UN Secretary-General Your comments got my attention, so I noticed the flags are at half-mast. I looked up the date and found that September 18, 1961 was the day that U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld died in a plane crash in Africa. Out of placeI don't think it's ugly, but it's always seemed strangely out of place in Manhattan. Belongs in the suburbs, maybe. But it's supposed to be a very good hotel. Still looks groovy!View Larger Map Still groovy, indeed!And only about half a dozen blocks from Frank Lloyd Wright's Mercedes Benz showroom on Park Avenue, with its Guggenheim-like ramp. This was my old subway stop (until the magazine moved to Soho) -- some fantastic terrazzo flooring still extant. Carpe Diem!I like the way the Beverly Hotel (which I assume is the building next door) hits potential customers in the eye with a BIG WALL AD, trying to lure tourists and visitors away from the Summit with AC, TV, terraced suites etc. Ugly Across the DecadesIt was ugly then and it's ugly now. I DO like the sign, however. Landmarked in 2005The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission report . Shorpy Rule ComplianceThe hotel in this photo is in compliance with the Shorpy person-in-window rule. Level to a T. Also a host to democracy When I lived nearby in the early 2000s my voting place was in this hotel, in one of the meeting rooms. There were not that many full-time residents in this commercial and hotel district, and many of those who did reside in the area were not U.S. citizens (in large measure because of the proximity of the U.N.), so even though it was right in the middle of bustling midtown Manhattan it was a very lonely polling place. The hotel staff were largely unaware, and surprised to hear, that there was a polling place in their building. And the poll workers were genuinely happy to have anyone at all come in to vote. There was definitely no wait for a voting machine. Flags are at half mast, why?the flags here appear to be hung at half mast. Searching the date on wikipedia does not reveal why. Anyone? [The first comment submitted gives the likely explanation. - tterrace] Such memoriesWhen I interviewed for my first job in Manhattan (in 1963), for some reason, the company put me here one night. I flew in from Houston and took Carey in, and then somehow got to this place. I was gobsmacked!!!! Such luxury and so au courant! Yes, I took the job! Loew's LexingtonThe imprint of the old Loew's Lexington theater is visible (to the right) up to the sixth floor of what is now the Benjamin Hotel. (The Gallery, Gottscho-Schleisner, NYC)
New Denechaud: 1908
New Orleans circa 1908. "New Hotel Denechaud, Poydras Street." A century later, it's the hotel Le Pavillon. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. ... in the corner nearest the camera. It's a very nice hotel with a unique touch. Every night at 11, they serve to the guests peanut ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 4:24pm -

New Orleans circa 1908. "New Hotel Denechaud, Poydras Street." A century later, it's the hotel Le Pavillon. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Le PavillonMy wife and I stayed there several years ago, and we had dinner there just a few weeks ago. The dining room is on the ground floor in the corner nearest the camera. It's a very nice hotel with a unique touch. Every night at 11, they serve to the guests peanut butter sandwiches on silver trays, and hot chocolate from silver urns. But the people who work there apparently can't pronounce the name of the hotel with proper French diction. Creole, not CajunNew Orleans is not a "cajun" city. It is creole at best, and if anything most street names aren't pronounced correctly either. French diction?This isn't Paris -- it's Nawlins! CoverageAre those sea shells on the roof in the foreground? I believe most modern roofs use stones. Interesting. Very beautiful building! I can imagine how impressive it was at the time! Roof GardenIs that a little ivy garden boxes on the roof of the building in the corner? Sure looks it! [Horticulture a la Morticia Addams. - Dave] LouisianaWe dont speak French here. We speak Cajun, a 200 year old corruption of French, so don't expect proper French pronunciation. Early Sunday morningGiven the long shadows for the low sun and the orientation of Carroll Street, and the absence of anyone except the lone blurred horse and cart (deliveries), sure looks like an early Sunday shot to me. Real nice photo too! [Also note the shadowy figure in the alleyway. - Dave] Denechaud / DeSoto / Le PavillonIn between its opening as the Denechaud and the current name of Le Pavillon, for generations the hotel was known as the DeSoto. I recall when the question of correct pronunciation of "Le Pavillon" came up, a local old timer piped in "De Soda." The text on the back of the attached early 20th century postcard view of the lobby reads "$1,000,000.00 Hotel DE SOTO New Orleans. The ONLY ABSOLUTELY FIREPROOF HOTEL IN NEW ORLEANS. ALL OUTSIDE ROOMS. Famous for its Creole Cuisine. Rates $1.00 and Upwards." The lobby is still one of the most beautiful in the city. I believe the rates have gone up. Lots of charmLovely building! The chimney is blowing off quite some smoke - must have been a windy day!? Le Pavillon still looks charming today and, I just found out, seems to be famous for the occasional ghost apparition. Max Barnett Furniture Co.Max Barnett Furniture Co. can be seen in the background. It was established there on Poydras St. in 1899, and was located there until they moved in 1928. Smokestacks still thereThe two smokestacks are coal burning stacks, which were used for producing electricity until 1973. They are located in the 1200 block of South Peters Street. Maybe someone else can help identify the other tower, as it was prominent in the New Orleans skyline until a few years ago. Yes, shells on roofThere are no stones in south Louisiana. Mollusk shells dredged from brackish Lake Pontchartrain were used as gravel throughout the area until quite recently. Dredging in the Lake was banned in 1990 to reduce the turbidity and stirred-up pollution. The lake is now clean enough for swimming much of the time. I've also seen oyster shells used for gravel in NOLA. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans)
Anytown, USA
... Durham, NC Durham, NC Chapel Hill Street. The Durham hotel is at the site of the Center Theatre, but maintains some of the same ... Carolina Looking northeast from the Washington Duke Hotel, 1940 - East Chapel Hill St. is in the foreground. Tobacco warehouses ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/20/2018 - 9:36pm -

        UPDATE: Commenter "Outside Food," a professor at Drexel University, was the first to identify the location of this January 1940 photo of Durham, North Carolina, by Arthur Rothstein. "Aerial view of Xxxxx." Who'll be the first to tell us where we are? View full size. I Think It Is . . .Durham, NC. Bull CityDurham North Carolina Durham, NC"Durham, North Carolina [showing Post Office and theater]" Rothstein, Arthur, 1915-1985, photographer. 1940 Jan. Winston -SalemBut I could be wrong Best GuessI'm going with Winston-Salem N.C. Durham, NCPost Office Google-searchable; evidently department store's headquarters in Burlington. Durham, North CarolinaHome of the Durham Tire Exchange. And Duke University, I believe. Durham N.C.In the general area of 322 E. Chapel Hill St. Got itDurham, NC Durham, North CarolinaBy Carver, Currin, and Cozart's Big 4 tobacco warehouse. By the movie marquee, it's late 1939 or early 1940. The Centers goneYou would be watching movies in Dhuram N.C. Durham, NCPretty sure this is Durham, NC. I think the Liberty warehouses in the background have been turned into luxury condos. Winston-SalemWinston-Salem North Carolina. North Liberty and W. Fourth Street. The Little HouseLooks like a town an hour or two east of me down 40 called Durham, but what is most interesting to me is the holdout house at left center that could have been the inspiration for the children's book The Little House! Durham, NCThat corner is about a mile from my house. Looks like Durham, NCEast Chapel Hill Street maybe. Durham, NCI'm pretty certain this is Chapel Hilll Street in Durham NC. LocationDurham, NC. Durham, NCTobacco warehouses. Durham, NChttp://www.opendurham.org/buildings/center-theater I'm going to sayBased upon the tire place back behind the post office I'm going to say Durham, North Carolina Tire RecappingUsing the name on the tire recapping place I'll opt for Durham North Carolina (and am prepared to be proven wrong !!) Roaring Twenties and Furniture StoresDurham North Carolina. Overlooking in front, Huntley-Stockton-Hill Furniture Co. 307-309 East Chapel Hill Street Durham, NCFrom the first picture on this page, it looks like Durham, NC. The post office and furniture store are the same. Durham, NCDurham, NC Chapel Hill Street. The Durham hotel is at the site of the Center Theatre, but maintains some of the same architectural spirit. DurhamDurham North Carolina? Durham, North CarolinaDurham, NC. Photographed January 1940 by Arthur Rothstein. The locationThis photo was taken in Durham, North Carolina. The giveaway was the Star Brick Warehouse. Durham, North CarolinaLooking northeast from the Washington Duke Hotel, 1940 - East Chapel Hill St. is in the foreground. Tobacco warehouses cover the landscape north of Morgan St. PS: I cheated and Googled. Durham, NCGoogle search does a great job, doesn't it? We Are Landing In Durham NCMostly tobacco warehouses. (what else?) Durham, NCPost office on East Chapel Hill Street -- still in use. Deco brick Richmond, Indiana Center Theater in Durham, NChttp://cinematreasures.org/theaters/25438 The Roaring TwentiesReleased in 1939. Directed by Raoul Walsh. One of three movies featuring both Cagney and Bogart. SignageNot sure about the town, but the street is Priscilla Lane. 73 years later... I picked up a money order in that post office. (The Gallery, Arthur Rothstein, Movies)
Confederate Veterans: 1917
... a dense gray mass from early morning until late at night. Hotel lobbies were crowded to the doors. Public parks, the Capitol, government ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/11/2011 - 9:00pm -

The Gray and the gray. "Confederate veteran reunion, Washington, 1917." National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. The last soldierThe last Union veteran to die was in 1947 in Minnesota. Life Magazine had a write up on this. There is one veteran from WW1 now living. It is in the newspapers as I write. He is 108 and lives in Pennsylvania. [The Wikipedia article on last surviving veterans, which is never an exact science. The most we can usually say is that someone is thought to be the last survivor of a particular war. That article has the last two Union vets dying in 1953 and 1956. - Dave] Johnny Reb in his 60'sThis was an eye opener for me as to just how long ago the Civil War took place. These guys were teenagers when it happened and here they are they are in their 60s in 1917. A cool and timely picture. Convention Center MarketBuilt in 1874, the city’s first convention center extended the length of Fifth Street between K and L Streets, and was known as the Northern Liberty Market. It was an immense single room 324 feet long, 126 feet wide and 84 feet high at the center. The architecturally significant structure featured a curved roof and was supported, without any interior columns, by a series of enormous iron and steel trusses. 1893 A second floor was added to form a large auditorium, with seating for 5,000. The building was renamed the Convention Center and popularly known as the Convention Hall. The facility operated there for 50 years, hosting revival meetings, fairs, auto shows, roller-skating, bowling and a variety of amusement and sporting events. 1930 By the early 1930s, Center Market – the city's largest building – was located at Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street. It was later demolished for the government's Federal Triangle construction project. Many of that market's vendors moved a half-mile north to the Convention Center building, which was renamed New Center Market. News Travels SlowlyLooks like the Gillette Safety Razor was slow to take hold in the South. Great image!I'm guessing that this group from Nashville had ridden with Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest based on the flag they carry. I bet they all could tell stories to keep you going for days if anyone would listen. Commander at the front looks like he takes his position very seriously. Old DixieDying (slowly) for their cause. StubblyI must say, Confederate vets knew how to rock the facial hair. UniformsObviously these men are better dressed than they ever had been during their war when the Confederate uniforms were nominally gray, and later "butternut" but sometimes ended up being whatever you could find or even scrounge off of dead bodies. I wonder how many of our images of Confederate soldiers and how they dressed come from seeing images like this and the studio portraits that the young men going off to war had taken rather than the reality of the field. Yes they all look oldYes they all look old, but what does that say about me? I can remember when the last Confederate (in fact the last Civil War) veteran died, sometime in the 1950s, and the reason that it is in my memory bank is that it happened near where I lived at the time (Baytown, Texas) and the high school band from Robert E. Lee High School (Go Ganders!) played at the funeral. I would later attend REL. And apparently, things going the way they are, I will live to see the last WWI veteran die. A Mighty Host of Gray1917 marked the 27th annual Confederate reunion and the first to gather outside of the Confederate States. I've extracted only a few of the many newspaper articles of the time, and in just this small sample, there are inconsistencies regarding the age of the youngest. [Upon Stanton Square's blue fingers, I hereby bestow the Purple Heart. - Dave] 1,500 Veterans in City Special Trains Bring Gray Hosts From as Far as New Orleans. More than 1,500 Confederate veterans, representing a majority of 22 States that are to send delegates to the annual Confederate reunion that opens here tomorrow, were registered at headquarters yesterday. In addition incoming trains from the South brought Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy and thousands of others whose sympathies are Southern. Col. Robert N. Harper, after hearing reports from John Dolph and others of the registration committee lat night again expressed the opinion that the total number of visitors, including delegates, will reach the 75,000 mark before the first day of the reunion is over. From an early hour yesterday shifts of volunteers were busy constantly registering the veterans at the Union Station, where scenes similar to those that characterized the inauguration preliminaries prevailed. An extra force of policemen was on duty at the station handling the crowds and seeing to the necessary enforcement of rules. As early as 6 a.m. the "vets," many wearing the suits of gray that will be conspicuous here during the week, began to arrive. Many were intent on attending the memorial exercises at Arlington and to obtain a glimpse of President Wilson. The first excursion train to pull into the station was the "Tom Green Special," from the cotton belt, bringing veterans from Memphis, Texarkana, Pine Bluff and the vicinity. Closely following it came others from Augusta, Ga.; Newberry S.C., and New Orleans. At noon several special excursion trains, each carrying an average of 300 veterans and others, arrived. In the afternoon, the Elliott Tour Special brought large delegations from Birmingham and Atlanta. H.F. Cary, chairman of the transportation committee, said yesterday that at least 38 specials from every point in the South would reach Washington before Wednesday. It is conservatively estimated that of the 40,000 survivors at least 5,000 will attend this year's reunion. ... Veterans were taken either to their hotels or to the "tented city" not far distant from the station. Last night, close to 200 of the visitors slept under canvas. The majority were fatigued after long journeys and expressed a preference to "stick close to quarters" rather than see the sights as some suggested. More than 500 were quartered in a large red brick structure at the corner of New Jersey and C street northwest. Arriving there they were assigned to rooms. Meals were served under a large canvas tent close by. Washington Post, Jun 4, 1917 Sidelights of Confederate Reunion About a half hundred veterans responded to the sounding of the dinner gong at the tented city yesterday and enjoyed the first meal served "under canvas." The menu consisting of vegetable soup, fresh pork, prime ribs of beef, new potatoes, green peas, stewed tomatoes, assorted pies, iced tea, coffee and bread and butter, was a sample of the generous treatment the "boys" can expect during their stay in camp. ... When some one had the audacity to inquire of A.B. Rowland, of Fulton Ky., one of the party at the tented city, as to his age he answered, "I'm one of the kids. I'm only 72." As a matter of fact, the youngest Confederate veteran is 69. Washington Post, Jun 4, 1917 Dixie's Sons Own City Washington surrendered yesterday to a mighty host of gray - without a struggle. White-haired and gray-coated veterans owned the city. Streets and avenues were a dense gray mass from early morning until late at night. Hotel lobbies were crowded to the doors. Public parks, the Capitol, government buildings and nearby places of historic interest were given over ungrudgingly to the venerable guests from Dixie. Bands played familiar airs, fife and drum corps beat age-old battle marches and buglers sounded the reveille and taps. ... The Tented City on the Union Station plaza was the mecca last night for veterans and sightseers from all parts of the District. The large mess hall was the busiest place in Washington from 4 p.m. yesterday until 8 o'clock last night. Nearly 15,000 meal tickets had been issued to veterans since Monday morning. Camp fire meetings were held last night in every nook and corner of the plaza. War time stories were "swapped" and Southern songs filled the air with melody. Officials of the registration booth at Union Station said last night that between 15,00 and 20,000 veterans had arrived in Washington since Sunday morning. Washington Post, Jun 6, 1917 Sidelights of Confederate Reunion Editor C.A. Ricks, of the Courier, Huntington, Tex., who was born February 28, 1851, claims to be the youngest Confederate at the reunion. He enlisted August 1, 1863 in Courier battery at Shreveport, La. ... The Georgia delegation greeted the President with a shower of peanuts, while the ladies literally bombarded the stand with flowers. Washington Post, Jun 8, 1917 Third Veteran Wins Bride at Reunion The third Confederate veteran to take unto himself a wife while attending the recent reunion is Dr. John A. Pollock, 71, of Kingston, N.C. His bride is Miss Lula L. Aldridge, 50, of the same city. ... Dr. Pollock also is the next to the oldest of the three "vets" who are going South with brides. The oldest was Frank H. Raum, of Richmond, Va., who was one of Mosby's men. He is 73. The "vet" who got the youngest bride is James A. Thomas, 63, of Atlanta, Ga. He married Miss Elizabeth Roberts, only 25. Washington Post, Jun 10, 1917 ObservationsNotice Santa Claus on the left has a peg leg. As for facial hair, if you look at silent movies of the period they usually have old geezers shown with similar whiskers. I think this stereotype was based on truth, that the oldsters kept the style from their youthful days. There are only about 11 confirmed WW1 vets still living, as listed on Wiki. All of the Central Powers guys are gone. Only 2 remain who actually spent time in the trenches. MedalistsSeveral of the veterans, including the officer in the frock coat, are wearing the Southern Cross of Honor. These were given by the United Daughters of the Confederacy starting in 1900 to Confederate army and navy vets. The Confederate States of America did not issue any medals. And the last Civil War widowI read the article below a few years ago. The Shorpy photo brought it to mind. "Civil War widow, final link to old Confederacy, dies" The cantankerous 81-year-old man struck up a few conversations with the 21-year-old neighbor and a marriage of convenience was born. They were married in a civil ceremony at the courthouse in Andalusia on Dec. 10, 1927, and 10 months later had a son, William. The story actually gets better but I'll leave it to everyone to read the whole thing. It still amazes me that so much history walks among us. Whenever I get the opportunity to talk to a WWII veteran I grab it because they are fast disappearing also. Oldest Confederate WidowThere may still be a couple of Confederate widows among us but it's their choice to remain in anonymity. Maude Hopkins was the last one publicly known. She died Aug. 17 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maudie_Hopkins Why did young girls marry veterans old enough to be their grandfathers? The pension was attractive in Depression days. BeardI think the guy on the far left bought his beard at the Acme Novelty Shop so he could join this Facial Hair Club for Men reunion WW2 VetsI saw on Fox News on Veterans Day that there are about 2.1 million veterans of WWII left. About 900 die every day. Actually, the United Confederate Veterans were organized locally into camps and drew from veterans living in the area. They took their names from famous officers, units and the like. The label on the flag here is more likely the name of the camp from Nashville. Southern Cross of HonorThe UDC awards a Cross of Military Service to any veteran of WWII or Vietnam upon application. The only additional requirement for the award is that in addition to proof of their own service, he or she provide proof of direct lineage to a soldier similar to one of the men shown in this fine picture. These crosses are beautifully made pieces and serve to establish a remarkable lineage to the present day. Many, if not most, of the men shown in this picture had grandfathers or great grandfathers who were soldiers of the American Revolution--and many of their fathers served in the War of 1812. Shades of GrayI've colourised this picture at https://www.shorpy.com/node/11187 if anyone's interested. (The Gallery, Civil War, D.C., Natl Photo)
Eureka Vacuum: 1912
... block of buildings on the left south of the Pontchartrain Hotel are still standing. Re What were they thinking? "When this is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/04/2021 - 3:43pm -

Detroit, Michigan, circa 1912. "Woodward Avenue." A shopper's paradise. Meet you in an hour at Cinnabon. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. View from Grand Circus ParkDetroit renumbered all of their street addresses in 1920. Therefore, the old 260 address on the left indicates that this photo was actually taken from Grand Circus Park where Park Ave. (foreground) intersects with Woodward. View Larger Map View Larger Map I am disappointed!!Just when I was in the mood for some Chop Suey and not a place in sight. Player Pianos, Fifth FloorHope they had a good elevator! Woodward buildings still standI think the current street view above is a little off. I think this picture was taken from a spot just south of Grand Circus park between where the Whitney Building and Broderick Tower are now. Most of the buildings on the right including Grinnell Brothers still stand. Also the block of buildings on the left south of the Pontchartrain Hotel are still standing. Re What were they thinking?"When this is 'View full size' we're all be dead." PianosI counted 6 piano stores not 3. Grinnell BrothersGrinnell Brothers (sign on right side of street) was a Detroit area institution all the way into the 1980's, when the entire chain went out of business. They had stores in every area mall and not only sold pianos, but other musical instruments, lessons, records, sheet music, pianos rolls, everything to do with music. Wonderful stores, they just couldn't keep up with the times. What were they thinking?I love pictures like this! This is a frozen second in the lives of all these people. Where were they all going? What were they thinking about? Who was worried, or excited, and about what? Who had just gotten good news, or bad news? Who was going to work, or to do something fun? Who was pregnant, or had new a child, or grandchild? I also wonder what was playing at the theater. I assume it was live theater, primarily, although there were quite a few short films, and the production of feature-length films was only a few years away. If I had my choiceI have to agree with user "tterrace", I'd much rather walk down the 1910 version of Woodward than today's, oh if just for a day. What sights to behold. What happenedGrowing up in Detroit and remembering my mother taking me downtown on the streetcar and shopping at Hudsons, Kerns, and Crowleys and then for being a good kid she took me across the street to Kresge's downstairs and bought me a waffle sandwich which I will never forget. I often hear the phrase "you can't go back" but I miss and loved the way the city was. Mouse Furs, yuck!Oh wait, it's Mau's Furs. Never mind. What Could It Be?I wonder what the three objects are on the street to the left and in front of the second streetcar. No one is near them. [Newspaper bundles, thrown off the streetcar for pickup by Woodward Avenue newsies, would be my guess. - Dave] Prettier?I won't get in to the prettier/not prettier debate, but based on Anon. Tipster's Google Street View links, the adjectives that occur to me are more along the lines of : 1910: alive, vibrant, visually diverse, inviting; 2011: sterile, lifeless, visually monotonous, inhospitable. Hats anyone?As far as I can tell, with the exception of one small boy, everyone is wearing a hat. Ah, those were the days. Lots of piano storesI counted three different piano shops on this block, Bush & Lane, Manufacturer's and Melville Clark. Was this a sort of "piano district" at the time, or were pianos just ubiquitous enough in parlours of the day that several dealers on a single block was nothing unusual? [Player pianos were, I think, something like the plasma TVs of their day. - Dave] "Spirit of Detroit"The buildings at the left have been replaced by the statue "Spirit of Detroit" and Coleman Young Municipal Center. There's an automatic "people mover" tram running almost directly above where the camera was. This part of Detroit is quite a bit prettier now than it was a century ago. View Larger Map View Larger Map Urgent need to tinkleIs there anyplace on this street that sells pianos?? Of course it's DetroitMore cars here than any other 1910 picture we have seen. One thing, I think I'm pretty knowledgeable about antique cars, but does anyone know what the heck that round tank on the rear of the car at center right is? Has me puzzled. [Something steamy, perhaps. Condenser? Reservoir? - Dave] Are You Properly Attired? The boy about to board the trolley seems to be, although the ring around his shoulders could also be a part of whatever he's dragging behind him. A lamp maybe? Hard to tell - I run out of pixels before I can enlarge/enhance it enough. Still, it looks like a bicycle tire to me. Perhaps other Shorpists will have better data. Bush & Lane Piano Co.on the left had their main manufacturing facility in Holland, MI. They went out of business in 1930, victims of the Depression as were many other piano manufacturers. Right RulesLooks like all the cars of the time were right hand drive. Anyone know when we decided to change? [Gradually. - Dave] Majestic TheatreThe Majestic Theatre opened in April 1915 per its website, so I wonder it that dates this post to 1915. [Detroit had several Majestic Theatres over the years. The Majestic in this photo opened in 1908 at 231 Woodward. - Dave] Piano StoresOK, I count at least six piano stores! And at least three fur stores. More piano storesI'm counting possibly seven piano stores--Bush and Lane Pianos, Manufacturers Piano Co, Cable Piano Co, Tarrand Pianos, Grinnel Bros Pianos, Melville Clark Pianos, and another just to the upper right of the Grinnel Sign. I'm surprised that there isn't a Wurlitzer sign somewhere in this. I'm also seeing a Victor Records. Pianos were all the rage for years--before everyone had radios and tv. People learned to play for entertainment for themselves and others. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Stores & Markets, Streetcars)
Atlantic House: 1907
        "The 175 room hotel burned to the ground during a blizzard on January 7, 1927." ... what that same spot looked like in 2010. I prefer the old hotel. Before the Fire The photo below, from the Library of Congress, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/08/2016 - 7:06pm -

        "The 175 room hotel burned to the ground during a blizzard on January 7, 1927." Circa 1907. "Atlantic House, Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. January 7, 1927Sadly, the Atlantic House conflagration has apparently been relegated to a minor footnote in history by other events occurring on the same day (as often happens), such as the beginning of regular commercial transatlantic telephone service and the Harlem Globetrotters playing their first basketball game (in Hinckley, Illinois). The same spot todayHere's what that same spot looked like in 2010. I prefer the old hotel. Before the FireThe photo below, from the Library of Congress, shows the hotel in 1882. The Queen Anne style building was built in 1877 by John L. Damon. There were multiple dining rooms, as well as private dining rooms, an immense ballroom, game rooms, roulette parlor, as well as several bars and lounges. Damon's son took over the establishment, but he sold the hotel in 1924. Several sources mentioned the hotel was on the verge of bankruptcy when the fire took place. After the fire multiple houses were built on the property, but eventually the land was turned into seaside condominiums. Famous guests included President William McKinley, presidential candidate William Jennings Bryon who gave a speech in the ballroom, and Enrico Caruso who performed at the hotel. The Detroit Publishing Company photo here shows the same building and beach in 1920. In this photo the photographers shack is gone, and the bathhouse has been moderately modernized. The beach in this photo looks much larger, but this photo may have been taken at low tide. The newspaper article about the fire below is from the Lowell [Massachusetts] Sun on January 8, 1927, Page 4. (The Gallery, DPC, Swimming)
Market Street: 1957
... to have succumbed in the past few years. The Federal Hotel is now the Alda Hotel, and the green Alda Hotel sign is an obvious re-purposing of the ... 
 
Posted by Rute Boye - 08/19/2012 - 6:19pm -

Looking east on Market Street in San Francisco from the Old Federal Office Building. Note the electric buses. This is quite a bustling scene, but I wonder if the poor pedestrians caught in the center island ever made it all the way across the street. 35mm Anscochrome. View full size. How many rememberPhotostat Copies While You Wait ? "Fulton"UN Plaza didn't exist in 1957, so Fulton St still intersected Market west of 7th St (which hadn't yet been extended NW across Market St). Comparing with todayFirst thing I noticed was the street sign saying Fulton. Fulton runs east-west a few blocks north. What the sign calls Fulton is actually seventh street. The Odd Fellow Hall is still there and active. The Merrills Drug sign is still there in the Google Street View photo, but it seems to have succumbed in the past few years. The Federal Hotel is now the Alda Hotel, and the green Alda Hotel sign is an obvious re-purposing of the original. The United Artists theatre is now the Market Street Cinema, featuring a "Live Nude Show." Rainbow Pizza in the Alda Building is good for a very large slice of Thin Crust New York style pizza. I remember this from a day riding the antique Trolleys. I love those PCC cars to this day. On the corner of Market and Seventh, the "Grant Building still stands. Across the street, the building that now houses the Renoir Hotel is visible, but the sign indicating what it was called back then is lost of a large mess of signage. Very little else is visible and there is new construction, in the form of a donut world on the corner of Market and Seventh. All in all, a great look at past vs present. I miss SF. Waiting for the streetcar This is Market Street at Seventh -- today it's pretty rundown. The pedestrians standing on the median strip are probably waiting for the green streetcar that is approaching. In later years they added a metal railing to keep commuters from being run over by traffic. I lived in SF for 31 years, from 1980 to 2011 ... now I'm a suburban VA resident outside DC. Not stranded, but waitingI love this photo, especially with the Ferry Building at the end for context. Those electronic buses still run on Market, along with other historic streetcars. The center island is actually the F-Market streetcar stop. ["Electronic" buses! Transistors or vacuum tubes? - Dave] Locker ClubsHunters Point Naval Shipyard, Naval Station Treasure Island, NAS Alameda were all near enough to provide clients for the Locker Club. Locker ClubNot sure how close this scene is to a base but it is interesting to see the 24 hour locker facility on the left side. Up until the late 1960's sailors leaving or returning to their base had to be in uniform. Locker clubs sprung up outside the bases where the sailors could change to civvies before going on the town and then change back upon returning. Market Street MemoriesI was lucky enough to be an eight year old in San Francisco in 1953. The Emporium, Woolworth at the corner of Market and Powell, and taking a cable car from our apartment on Taylor Street to school six blocks away are memories that will last forever. Great photo, thanks! More MemoriesHey, Bob401: remember the rooftop carnival on top of the Emporium? I was 7 then; I might have been on the train with you. (Not my photo, but the only one I've come across.) Trolley busesThere seems to be some confusion about the two buses vs. the trolley. All are electrically-powered via overhead wires. Market St. and pedestriansYup, those guys are just waiting for the streetcar. Still, Market St. jaywalkers abounded then and abound now. It was enough of a problem at the Emporium (the building with the red script "E" in the middle distance), that a police car would often be parked nearby in those days. And the cop on his car's speaker would say things like, "Will the lady in the green coat go back and cross with the green light?" It was worse.The modern view by GFrank52 shows 4 sets of trackless trolley or trolley bus wires. But, before 1947 when there were 4 streetcar tracks, they were too close together to stand between the tracks to wait for a Market St. Rwy. car. (The newer competing Municipal Rwy. of S.F. had the outside tracks.) So the older company advised prospective passengers to signal the motorman if you wished to ride an Inside Track car and he would wait until it was safe to cross the other track to board. The Library of Congress has a 1906 movie showing this setup on an older 4 track section much closer to the Ferry terminal. Tx for the memory!I explored Market St from 7 to 20; what great memories you bring back. Q, the movie at the United Artists appears to be Run Silent Run Deep, which supposedly was released in early 1958. OTOH, there were such things as sneak previews, though they would not usually be advertised so well; they were supposed to be sneaky. Behind the United Artists sign, you can see the sign for the Centre theatre. Absolutely full of fleas, we picked them up every time we went there, but we and a thousand other kids went there once a week anyway, for the old serials from the 1930s and 1940s. A fleabag for truly dedicated film aficionados. Locker Club Part DeuxNavy (land) bases in the 60's generally allowed sailors to enter or exit their duty stations in civvies however there was generally no room aboard ship for this luxury. Seventh StreetMy Father was employed at Commercial Metals Company located at 650 Seventh Street at the time the photo was taken. The Fosters Cafeteria at the corner of Seventh and Market, who's sign is visible just above the front of the bus on the right, had great rice pudding. Before North Seventh StreetOn the left past the Locker Club is the Greyhound sign, with an arrow directed towards the Greyhound Bus Depot, which was located on Seventh Street in the block just south of the Oddfellows Building. In the early 1970s, Seventh Street was extended one block north of its prior endpoint at Market Street, to its current terminus at McAllister. This was at the time of the creation of United Nations Plaza, and the closing of two blocks on Fulton Street. All the buildings on the north side of Market from Fulton to a point just past the Greyhound sign were demolished for the creation of United Nations Plaza, extension of 7th Avenue, and the construction of the BART/Muni Civic Center Station. I worked for around 15 years in the building at the corner of 7th and McAllister, where I had a fine view of the former Hibernia Bank headquarters branch at Jones & McAllister. The building housing my office was one of only two original buildings in the former block from McAllister west of 7th to Leavenworth, and on Leavenworth south to Fulton, which survived. The City I remember!We lived across the bay in Richmond, but came to The City to shop and go to movies (Fox Theater!). My father was born in SF, in the same room where his mother had been born. Little did I know in the '50s and '60s that I would one day live in SF, and work in the Ferry Building! Great pic, brings back great memories. Market Street neonThanks for posting all the wonderful vintage SF street scenes. --Randall and Al, San Francisco Neon, neonbook.xyz (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery)
Changing Chicago: 1910
Chicago circa 1910. "Madison Street, Hotel Brevoort & La Salle Opera House." The fad for automobiles seems to be ... Madison the same year. One Block Farther West The Hotel Brevoort was at 120 West Madison Street, between La Salle and Clark, so ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/06/2023 - 3:01pm -

Chicago circa 1910. "Madison Street, Hotel Brevoort & La Salle Opera House." The fad for automobiles seems to be growing. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size. Looking East Toward WabashA bit hard to sort out the depth, but my resident Chicago expert (my wife!) thinks we are looking at the intersection with Dearborn St., then State St., and beyond that the Wabash Ave. elevated station (part of the "Loop",) which still exists. In March 2014, Preservation Chicago, an architectural preservation group that releases an annual list of Chicago's seven most endangered buildings, included the Madison/Wabash station on its 2014 list, noting that it is the last original "L" station house on the east leg of the Loop. PreponderancesIn 1910 women were definitely the minority on the streets of any village, town, or city. They were at home nurturing their children, which is unfortunately not the case in 2014. [You'd think they'd have grown up by now. - Dave] 40 more years......and it would be razed to make way for St. Peter's Church. Judging by the El track about a block away, it looks like the picture is of it at its 137 W. Madison address, so this would have been taken right before it moved across the street to 110 W. Madison the same year. One Block Farther WestThe Hotel Brevoort was at 120 West Madison Street, between La Salle and Clark, so the photographer must be standing just east of La Salle Street, looking east on Madison as Dennis M. says. That would make Clark Street the first intersection we can see, followed by Dearborn, State, and Wabash. There are quite a few well known early skyscrapers clustered together in the foreshortened perspective at the far end of this view, including the Champlain Building (demolished 1916) on the left, and the Chicago Building, the Carson Pirie Scott Store, and the Heyworth Building (all still standing) on the right. 2 MetersThe first two cars on the left appear to be taxis, with their meters clearly visible. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chicago, DPC, Streetcars)
The Smoking Dog: 1927
... Great shoes though. Get a job! The Mayflower Hotel in Washington announced that William Jeffries Chewning Jr., young bank ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:53pm -

March 18, 1927. Washington, D.C. "Margo Couzens, daughter of Senator Couzens." An heiress whose early life might be outlined thusly: aspiring artiste; leadfoot horn-honker; teenage bride (eloped); hothead horn-honker; divorcee. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. PowerThis young woman is an explosion of talent and passion. Self Portrait with Hat and Bow TieShe earned extra money on weekends fighting pitbulls. Why so serious?It's the deadpan look on her face that makes this so funny. I love it. A graduate ofthe C.M. Coolidge School of Anthropomorphized Dog Art. A quick courtshipFrom the Feb. 17, 1930 Time Magazine "People" section: Senator James Couzens of Michigan, meeting William Jeffries Chewning Jr., his son-in-law [and first husband of daughter Margo], for the first time at lunch in Washington, told reporters: "He seems a very nice chap." Five years later, the same column would report the couple's separation. Haughty HonkerA simple tale to remind us that inflated self-importance is hardly a new phenomenon. Washington Post, Sep 21, 1933 Mrs. Chewning to Face Court for Horn Honk A prolonged blast from automobile. Town Sergt. Alton Shumate, of Falls Church, Va., holding traffic at an intersection for the first apparatus answering an alarm, sends boy to request the motorist to cease blowing the horn because there is a fire. The impatient lady motorist refuses to cease. Up steps a courteous man, who explains traffic is being held for the fire equipment. "You'll be delayed only a minute," he says, "Please quit blowing your horn." "The idea of holding us," she says. "This is some hick town." "This may be a hick town, but I happen to be the mayor here and also the town judge," he returned. Unimpressed, the lady continues to express voluminous and forceful opinion of the town and its officials. Then the sergeant comes up and orders the lady to the curb. "You know who I am?" the lady demands. "I don't know, and I don't care." the sergeant replies, handing her a summons to appear in the mayor's court Saturday night to answer charges of making unnecessary noise, in violation of the town ordinance. The lady was Mrs. Margo Couzens Chewning, daughter of Senator James Couzens. She was accompanied by her husband, William Jeffries Chewning. The summons was accepted - and on Saturday night Mrs. Chewning must face Mayor L.P. Daniel of the hick town, who presides as judge in said hick town. P.S. - the fire proved to be near Cabin John, Md., on the other side of the river. Washington Post, Sep 23, 1933 Couzens' Daughter Abandons Battle in Horn-Honking Horn-honking at Falls Church won't get Mrs. Margo Couzens Chewning, daughter of Senator James Couzens, Michigan, into the town court tonight after all. She decided it was worth $2 to let the incident drop. Her attorney, John C. Mackall, announced he was posting that amount as collateral on Mrs. Chewing's summons and would forfeit it. Previously her husband, William Jeffries Chewning, said he would fight the case because he believed she was being persecuted. The trouble started with Mrs. Chewning got into a controversy with Mayor L.P. Daniel, of Falls Church, about blowing her horn when traffic was halted by fire apparatus. In ResidenceIt appears that in 1930 William and Margaret Chewning were in residence in the 2400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW. They apparently lived in a large apartment house, but it is not clear which one. You clearly don't understandthe mind and delicate emotional needs of an arteeste. Did the cops not understand she can't bear to wait for such plebeian events like buildings that are ablaze. Great shoes though. Get a job!The Mayflower Hotel in Washington announced that William Jeffries Chewning Jr., young bank clerk who eloped with Margo, daughter of millionaire Senator James Couzens of Michigan, would become one of its assistant managers, would report for work daily at 8 a.m. in frock coat and grey trousers, would take up "a receptive post in the main lobby." Time Magazine, Oct. 13, 1930 Guilty!Put her behind bars for pretending to paint in a dress, stockings and heels. Ms MargoThe Paris Hilton of the last century's DC elite. So she's the one!I always wondered who the inspiration for this fine piece of art was. A real handful, true,but what adventures taming that fiery beast! Fast livingEarly life indeed -- Margo was born in 1910, so she's just a teenager here, and some Googling around shows she separated from her second husband (the persecuted Mr. Chewning, of course) in 1935. One hopes things eventually calmed down a bit. Honk, HonkI see, she is a graduate of "DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM" school of social interaction. Being in a political family she must of been granted her a full scholarship. Margo, the PrequelMiss Entitlement's first horn-honking incident. The roadster is the car she would elope in the following year. Washington Post, May 5, 1929. DAUGHTER OF SENATOR RUNS AUTO INTO TWO MEN Margo Couzens and Her Friends Take Pair to Hospital Dressed in her riding togs and driving her new roadster with three persons whom she was giving a lift from the Riding and Hunt Club to the Wardman Park Saddle Club horse show, Miss Margo Couzens, 18-year-old daughter of Senator James Couzens, of Michigan, knocked down and critically injured George Brown, colored, 53 years old, 1912 Thirteenth street northwest, a mason, on Massachusetts avenue northwest, at the Rock Creek Park entrance. Brown, physicians at Emergency Hospital believe, has a fractured skull as a result. His companion, Henry Watkins, colored, 114 L street southwest, escaped unharmed when the automobile bore down on them. The accident, according to police of the Eighth Precinct, occurred at 12:40 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Both men were walking across the intersection as the roadster approached them, Miss Couzens said last night. Miss Couzens sounded her horn to warn them, and the two colored men stepped apart, startled by the signal, she said. Then Watkins turned and shouted to his companion to join him, and Brown ran toward him across the path of the automobile. Miss Couzens said she applied her brakes instantly after sounding the warning and seeing the confused actions of the two men. The automobile, she said, came to a quick stop, the wheels being locked by the brakes. Brown was knocked down and dragged a short distance by the automobile. According to miss Couzens, he was carried only several feet. With the aid of her companions, Miss Couzens placed the injured man in the automobile and took him to Emergency Hospital. ... At the hospital Miss Couzens was visibly excited and nervous over the accident, according to police. ... Driver's Ed, 1929"When 'colored' persons are encountered crossing the road, stopping (or even slowing) is hardly necessary. Simply sound the horn until they scatter like chickens, and proceed apace." 1911-1976Margo Couzens Chewning Bryant died July 5, 1976, at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton, Virginia, aged 64 or 65. I Hope You're Sitting DownI am compelled to show the odd similarities between this and the cover of my former band's first album, Lambchop's "I Hope You're Sitting Down", as painted by our lead guy, Kurt Wagner. Finally, someone who knew who she was.From UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC. FOR RELEASE MONDAY. JANUARY 14, 1935 AND THEREAFTER. THE DAILY WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND SENATORS' DAUGHTERS In Washington, it's never safe to assume a superior attitude, regardless of who you may be, or to whom you may think you're talking. Mrs. William Jeffries Chewning Jr., erstwhile Margot Couzens, daughter of Croesan Senator James Couzens of Michigan, went shopping recently at a fashionable Washington department store. She made a small purchase, and in payment presented a very large check, Explaining that the banks were closed and she needed some cash over the weekend. The salesgirl, very pleasantly, replied that she could not cash so large a check, as much as she would like to. Retorted Margot: "But I've got to get it cashed, I've been dealing here for years. It's perfectly good. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Chewning," reiterated the salesgirl. "We have strict orders not to cash checks above a certain figure." Mrs. Chewning, not accustomed to having her checks rejected, was keenly annoyed. "That's all very well," she replied, "but do you know who I am? I'm Senator Couzens' daughter." The salesgirl nodded pleasantly, "Oh, yes; I know quite well. You see, I'm Senator Nye's daughter." Born too lateMiss Thing is probably miffed that she was only eleven years old when all the cool artists were hanging out at the Krazy Kat Club. That's it!The crazy kind of yard sale art I love to chance upon. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Portraits)
Aqua and Orange: 1967
... something idiotic it was YOUR fault...not the fault of the hotel for providing entertainment and counting on you to use it responsibly. ... a Tiki bar. The Hojo shut down years ago. Half the hotel including the pool and the orange check-in office was torn down. A ... 
 
Posted by davisayer - 09/08/2008 - 12:40am -

Poolside at a Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge in Austin, Texas, 1967. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by Hugh Mason Ayer. View full size. Possibly still aroundI believe this is still around -- but the Vintage HoJoness has been remodeled away. If you check Expedia.com and Hotels.com there's some photos, and there's hojoplazaaustin.com Greetings from HoJo'sI collect tacky motel postcards from the 1950s and '60s, and this reminds me of one. The fine action shot of the diver and the gloriously saturated colors put it far above most postcards, though. This is a beautiful image. Out of the WaterAs a former lifeguard, I cringe at this picture. She is just begging for a head/spine injury. If you are of a certain age,If you are of a certain age, those colors and roof design are permanently impressed in your memory. Gallery matesNo doubt about it, this ranks right up there with End of the Road: 1964 for sheer Kodachomeosity. Awesome backflipI can smell the chlorine... BeautifulBeautiful photo--the colors are so vibrant. I see three things you don't see at today's motel pools; slide, diving board and an ashtray! What a fantastic reminder of my own childhood vacation days. Marco.....Polo.....FISH OUT OF WATER!!! HoJo Fried Clam DiggerJust looking at this picture makes the mouth water for some of those great HoJo fried claims. When the last Howard Johnson's closed here in San Diego, it was a sad day for the loss of that one great vacation treat. Like the shot of the gravel truck in the background, sitting and plotting to crack any and all windshields trailing it. Orange and WhiteTheir color scheme made a nice match for the University of Texas school colors there (what with many of the Austin street signs also that way - white on orange). I lived in Austin while attending UT 1966-69. GollyI've lived in Austin for 8 years now...I had no idea we had a Howard Johnson's. Wow!Wow, what a backflip! Slides and diving boardsThis was obviously taken during the era when if you did something idiotic it was YOUR fault...not the fault of the hotel for providing entertainment and counting on you to use it responsibly. That part of the "good old days" I do miss... HoJoHojoboy is right...I am just as old (young?) as he is and when we were little, HoJos were a welcome sight. My brother and I would beg to stay at them because we knew they had the best pools. That is, unless we were camping--then we'd beg for the KOA. A quick scan of the horizon as we drove into any given town let us know if we were going to stay there or keep on driving. Howard Johnson's are still around, but they went all "continental." It's a shame. Thanks again for the memory jog, what a treat. Doesn't seem that long ago that...Hotels looked like this. There was a huge Hojo in Knoxville, TN where I grew up. I'm not exactly old either. As in 31 years old. When we were kids, my Mom would take us down to the Hojo in the summer. For a couple of bucks, they would let you swim in their massive indoor pool- complete with an island, a slide in the middle, and a hot tub. I also recall playing Pac-Man on one of those table consoles with the glass tops. There as also a Tiki bar. The Hojo shut down years ago. Half the hotel including the pool and the orange check-in office was torn down. A developer looks to have tried making the remaining hotel into condos. Motels today are sterile places. I tend to try and stay at old ones if possible. AmericanaMattie, if you love collecting this stuff, this is the best site I've ever been to for all things "Roadside Americana": http://www.lileks.com/motels/index.html Lileks has the best mixture of reverence and humor for the America we all grew up with. Be sure you tour the Institute of Official Cheer! Fried Clam StripsThe origin of HoJo's Tendersweet Fried Clams... HoJo KvilleI remember the HoJo in Knoxville that an earlier poster wrote about. That indoor pool with the island was the bomb-diggity. We used to stop there on our way from Florida to Ohio (and back). I spent lots of time in that pool until it was time for supper or sleep. Great memories! Ice CreamHoJo's ice cream was the best! "A certain age"To heck with all this pussy-footing around how old we are. Sheesh! I'm 48 hotel/motel years old. When I was growing up (come summertime) there was nothing more my Dad wanted to do than Sparkle-Wash our red '65 Chevy Impala wagon (no AC) and head out onto the road. This photo made me do a memory mindflip back to when three kids, Mom and a springer spaniel (along with a Triple-A Triptik) trusted Dad in his wanderlust. We HAD to like like HoJo's because Dad HAD to have every serving of tendersweet fried clams he could digest. Yes, ashtrays were everywhere! You could smoke in a doctor's office. I see a lot of old movies where Doc is lighting up his own fave-filtered brand. Thanks for listening. AustiniteI have lived in Austin most of my life (48). I believe this HJ is at 183 & I-35, NW corner. There was likely one in South Austin as well, but I can't recall where it was. But I know there was one here as mentioned. That was pretty much the North edge of town back then. I love this site, even though it has minimal Texas stuff, I love historical record photography. Bless you for this tremendous preservation record you have created. (ShorpyBlog, Member Gallery, Travel & Vacation)
Eagle Fruit Store: 1942
Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel at 10th and P, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1942. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by ... seems to be 10th and P. In the back you can see the Hotel Capital, which is still there, at the top left of the satellite photo ... P Street. Bottom left corner of the satellite aerial. The hotel was probably "Hotel Capitol" and not "Capital" since Lincoln is the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/07/2011 - 4:01pm -

Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel at 10th and P, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1942. 35mm Kodachrome transparency by John Vachon. View full size. Rode hard, put away wetThe car on the right is a 1938 Studebaker -- the headlights are the "datestamp" -- looks like it's been a tough four years. i sure enjoyed this site. myi sure enjoyed this site. my daughter sent it to me. i am 73 so i really like looking at it. sami Eagle Fruit StoreWhat is the intersection? What is there now? It would be interesting to see a "then and now" contrast. [The intersection seems to be 10th and P. In the back you can see the Hotel Capital, which is still there, at the top left of the satellite photo below. - Dave] 10th & PBoomer's Printing Company is currently at 10th & P Street. Bottom left corner of the satellite aerial. The hotel was probably "Hotel Capitol" and not "Capital" since Lincoln is the capitol (ol ending) city of Nebraska. The hotel has been renovated and is now condominiums. Wish I could see the front of the old coffee shop, too! [Lincoln is the capital (ending in -al) of Nebraska. Capitol (ending in -ol) is the big building in the capital city where all the lawmakers meet. The hotel is the Capital (below). - Dave] +68This is indeed the corner of 10th and P Streets looking east. As noted by Lincolnite, Boomer's Printing now occupies the corner where the Eagle Fruit Store was in 1942. The earlier building was razed and replaced by a Trailways bus station which was subsequently replaced by Boomer's. This is the same view from the same perspective taken on March 23, 2010. It's difficult to see, but the Capital Hotel building is still visible as is the square white ornamentation on its corner which can be seen just above the green overhang in the 1942 view (it's obscured by trees in the 2010 shot). (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon, Stores & Markets)
Broad Street: 1905
... is a flag -- it says Bellevue, for the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. The "North" sign is on the tower to the right, atop the North American ... it. - Dave] RE: Tall Building w/ Spires The Hotel Walton. Photos of the lobby are also tremendous. +108 Below is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 8:22pm -

Philadelphia circa 1905. "Broad Street north from Spruce." Detroit Publishing Company, 8x10 glass negative. Library of Congress. View full size. Early AutoI consider myself a "car buff" but these very early autos elude identification for me. Any guesses? Even if we don't know the make, the sight of a lone automobile on the dung-strewn streets is one of those great transitional moments. City HallBroad street leads to City Hall which is the tallest and largest masonry building in the world, using no steel. The walls of the first floor are over 20 feet thick to support the weight of the building. I have seen this building just about every day of my life and I still stop to look at its beauty. EmissionsBack when you really had to worry about your carbon footprint. Seven-O-Five or 12:35?Trying to determine the time of day is not too easy for old eyes, but it seems like there are LOTS of parking spaces available. Also, imagine wearing a long dress and then trying to avoid all the horse poop in the street. People seemed very civilized 108 years ago. The architecture was quite elaborate as well. Nice photo. [In answer to your question: Look at the shadows. - Dave] Horse droppingswere a major problem in big cities in the equine era. The streets had to be scooped up frequently, which required a large force of street cleaners. According to this article, "at the turn of the nineteenth century, New York City's infrastructure relied upon disease-creating entities such as the horse. Between 100,000 and 200,000 horses lived in the city at any given time. Each one of those horses gave off 24 pounds of manure and several quarts of urine a day." Rooftop signsOn the left of the picture is a rooftop sign that reads "THE NORTH...." and the building in front of it seems to have the same type of sign. Anyone know what they said? Also I think the theatre on the right is still in use today. (Maybe Ron can verify.) I lived in Philly for six years and was always amazed at the buildings. It's so wild to see what it looked like back in the day. This is why I love this site. [There is no rooftop sign on the building to the left but there is a flag -- it says Bellevue, for the Bellevue Stratford Hotel. The "North" sign is on the tower to the right, atop the North American Building. - Dave] Old photographyPeople often comment on the sharpness of these old large format photos, but they're superior in another way as well. See how the vertical lines in the modern picture all lean in toward the center because the camera is looking up, while the old view camera could be adjusted to eliminate this distortion and keep the vertical lines vertical. [There are plenty of modern film and digital cameras that will accommodate shift lenses, which are widely used in architectural photography. - Dave] Today's BroadView Larger Map Philly Soul?Way to go, man! Great shot. I live right outside Philly. I love seeing old pics of places I know well. Shorpy is showing some love for the Two-One-Five, representin' old school style! Keep up the fantastic work, my friend! I visit your page daily for stuff just like this. Cheers! The TheaterJimsShip, the theater is still standing. It's the Academy of Music, it opened in 1857. Academy of MusicThe Academy of Music is the building on the left. The theater on the right was the Broad Street Theatre, torn down in 1937. http://libwww.library.phila.gov/HIP/HIPSearchItem.cfm?ItemID=pdcl00176 No GenericaThis picture has such amazing details. I really love the different styles of the buildings. There are places in CA where you can get lost so easy because every house looks exactly the same. I can look at this picture for hours. Seven Lamps"These building look far better than what replaced them." They usually do. Modern architecture seems to be created by people who never progressed further than stacking blocks on top of each other. But that's just my opinion. Used to be betterI went to UArts in Philly and the building on the right with the turrets was replaced by the Terra building (where I took some of my classes). This picture was definitely taken on Locust Street (I lived around the corner). These building look far better than what replaced them). Philadelphia city planningPhiladelphia was laid out by its founder, William Penn. His plan from 1683 called for Broad and High (Market) Streets to be extra-wide. Penn didn't want narrow, crowded streets like ones in European cities at the time. Better BuildingsFor every Mies Van Der Rohe there's a thousand hacks thinking it's easy and that's why we have the canyons of today. Sad. I'm amazed at the proportions of the aptly named Broad St. It looks like it could handle 10 or 12 carriages wide! Any idea why they went that wide and was that the norm? Certainly made it easy to convert into the car age. Wide streetsThe wider the street the easier to turn a team of horses, mules, or oxen. InspiredWhat is the tall building on the right with the spires, it appears to have been torn down judging by the google map, what a shame. That was a beautiful building. Spruce and BroadNo this was taken from Spruce. (Check google maps) I also went to UArts when it was Philadelphia College of Art. I lived on the corner of Broad and Spruce. Where the first building you see on the left is used to be the Schubert Theater now the Merriam Theater owned by UArts. The next building on the left would be the Academy of Music. [The Broad Street Theatre, on the right, was at Spruce and Broad. Below: Street View from the same location. - Dave] Missing Mansard StoriesHas anyone noticed that the top three or four stories of the building on the left at the corner of Spruce & Broad have been demolished. The building now extends only up to the grand cornice level. All of the articulations of the French-styled mansards, chimneys and other elements of the upper stories are gone. They probably created maintenance problems for the owner and were a source of leaks over time. The building today looks far better in my opinion than it does in this photograph; the awkward and unbalanced details of its former crown are out of sync with the aesthetic of the lower block, which has the grand cornice for an appropriate and typical termination. [The mansard-roofed building is gone. You're confusing it with the building behind it. - Dave] RE: Tall Building w/ SpiresThe Hotel Walton. Photos of the lobby are also tremendous. +108Below is the same view from October of 2013. Early autoThe car rushing through the photo is a 1904 Covert runabout. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Philadelphia)
That Toddlin Town: 1900
... Billiards & beds Where would you stay: The Hotel Midland with rooms for 50¢, 75¢ and $1, or, the Calumet with rooms for ... you could win enough for the (assumed) better rooms at the Hotel Midland. If you're losing at pool, save enough for a stay in the Calumet. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/12/2012 - 5:55am -

September 1, 1900. Chicago, Illinois. "Madison Street east from Fifth Avenue." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Cable CarsBack in the late 1800s, Chicago had a cable car system. My great-grandfather was an engine house engineer for it. MY GOSH!!! the detail is amazing...These are without a doubt my FAVORITE type of Shorpy pics. The clarity and detail found in these 100 year old photos blows me away. Its so easy to imagine walking this street. I'd love to see what it looked like in color (but I must say, I prefer the B&W). I wonder what it smelled like? Question about the Fire.I'm curious to know if this area was destroyed by the Chicago fire. Horse & ElectricInteresting to note that one track is electrified while the other is for horsecars. The view todayThe photo must have been shot from atop the El. Here's the current view from Fifth (now Wells Street) looking east along Madison: View Larger Map Who Says?There's no such thing as a free lunch? It's not only free, it's HOT. You can even get an night lunch, according to the sign. Tacoma BuildingThe tall building on the left is the Tacoma Building of Holabird and Roche, built 1887-1889 and demolished in 1929. It was the first skyscraper designed by the firm, and it used to be described as the first skyscraper - period. (That honor is now disputed among several other buildings in Chicago and New York.) The Tacoma was also the first large building built by a general contractor, the George A. Fuller Company, which later built the Flatiron Building in New York as its corporate headquarters. No such thingRight next door to Vogelsang's restaurant (which presumably does NOT give it away), there is a sign advertising "Free Hot Lunch." I wonder what you had to do to qualify. Listen to a sermon? Make a long-distance telephone call? It must have been something. Because, you know the saying ... Wells to FifthMy first thought was there is no Fifth Avenue in Chicago. But I found that Wells Street was renamed Fifth in 1870 and back to Wells in 1916. What time is it?The hands of the clock in the building tower in the distance (Middle left) show the SAME TIME as the jewelry store clock in the lower right, even though the hands on the jewelry store clock are obviously PAINTED ON! Weird coincidence! [It's 3:40 by the tower clock. At the jeweler's it's always 8:17. - Dave] Billiards & bedsWhere would you stay: The Hotel Midland with rooms for 50¢, 75¢ and $1, or, the Calumet with rooms for 25¢, 20¢ and 15¢ plus the option of weekly rates of $1, $1.25 and $1.50? Think it over while spending 30¢ per hour in the pool hall. If you're a down on your luck pool shark, perhaps you could win enough for the (assumed) better rooms at the Hotel Midland. If you're losing at pool, save enough for a stay in the Calumet. BurnedThis area, along with all of what is now called the Loop, was completely destroyed by the Chicago Fire of 1871. But it was quickly rebuilt, mostly by 1873; many of the buildings in the foreground appear to date from that initial period of reconstruction. Signage CityWhat was "The Record"? That sign almost looks modern in its execution; like something out of the 50s or 60s. And it isn't a simple sign. Any ideas, anyone? [The Chicago Record was a newspaper published from 1893 to 1901. - Dave] Signs, signs, everywhere there's signsThere are at least three signs for sign makers in this photo, and from the looks of things they must have all been working overtime. Wabash ElCenter background is the El station at Wabash and Madison - Nancy says it's still there! A Free LunchFrom the mid 19th century until Prohibition, it was common for bars and taverns to have a "free lunch" table. It often consisted of sandwiches, roast turkey being common. (Turkey was the cheapest meat of the time, much like chicken is now.) Almost always, there was a one-drink minimum purchase required for access to the table, and the indigent or down-on-his-luck fellow might be found trying to eat and run without a purchase. Sometimes, the food selection ran towards salty in nature, so as to provoke thirst in the customers, but in other locations saloons would compete with each other based on the quality of their free lunch table. And, of course, this was the source of the saying "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch". No thanksOne has only to read "The Jungle" to know what you were eating at the "free" lunch counter. Ewwwwwwww! Wells and FifthThat intersection is only two blocks away from my office, where I'm sitting right now. Suffice it to say that virtually none of the buildings pictured (except some of those far in the background, at the east end of Madison) are still standing. Wells is both the original and current name of that cross street. It was originally named for Billy Wells, a hero of the War of 1812, but the street eventually became so notorious as a vice district that its name was thought to be an insult to Wells' good name, so in 1870 the name was changed to Fifth Avenue. Once the vice district was finally cleaned up, the name was changed back to Wells. West Chicago Street RailroadThe Madison Street cable car line was operated by the West Chicago Street Railroad, which was owned by Charles Tyson Yerkes, a famous robber baron. The line was converted to electric on August 19, 1906. May 2010Here's the view today from the same vantage, looking East from the L at Wells & Madison. Lon Chaney and the free lunchThis must have been the same thing that Lon Chaney Jr. (Creighton Chaney) spoke of in a documentary about his father. When Lon Sr. was a struggling stage actor, he would go to places that offered a free lunch. He would buy a beer, which entitled him to go to the free lunch table. He would make a sandwich, then wait until he didn't think anyone was looking, and put the sandwich into his pocket. Then, he'd make another, and keep doing that until he had enough to feed his wife and son, too, all for the price of one beer! Billiard History of ChicagoThis particular strip of Madison was a mecca for billiard businesses (and players) at the time. You'll notice the Breevort Hotel sign on the left. It was owned and operated by Hannah & Hogg, one of Chicago's most successful and well known liquor distributors, who also operated the city's most luxurious bars and billiard halls. Other billiard hall signs can been seen as well, including (distant on the right) a sign for Mussey's. This establishment (since the late 1800s) was well known across America as one of the nations leading billiard and bowling venues. Although you cant discern it in this photo, on Dec 15, 1892 at the intersection of Madison and State, Emanuel Brunswick (a stepbrother of Brunswick's founder - John M. Brunswick) was struck and killed by a street car as it rounded the corner. (same kind of car shown in photo) Officially known as a "grip cars," these streetcars vary slightly from cable cars. A grip car utilizes a moving cable under the street, whereas a cable car is usually driven by an electric line overhead. [The "cable" in cable car refers to the traction cable under the street. - Dave] (The Gallery, Chicago, DPC, Streetcars)
Churches of Chicago: 1942
... We're looking east towards Holy Name Cathedral. The hotel and building just east of it are still standing at 62 W. Huron Street. ... to Heaven inside) Hard Hat Area I'd give the Hotel with the turrets a wide berth! The one farthest from the camera looks ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/27/2023 - 1:49pm -

April 1942. "Chicago, Illinois" is all they wrote for this one; it seems to be a Sunday. Acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information. View full size. The Methodist Book ConcernMy favorite titles amongst the “most widely held works” by the Methodist Book Concern are: The solemn warnings of the dead, or, An admonition to unconverted sinners (1802); Modern Pagans (1917); and Number Thirty: Being some relation of what happened to Chivvy (1920). You can’t make this stuff up. Huron & DearbornWe're looking east towards Holy Name Cathedral. The hotel and building just east of it are still standing at 62 W. Huron Street. Holy Name CathedralThe large church in the distance is Holy Name Cathedral at 730 N Wabash Avenue. I grew up in the suburbs, moved away over 50 years ago, but I'm sure that other than Holy Name, very few of the buildings making up the bulk of this photo still exist. Steps, Left to RightStepping up the block, from lower left corner of the image: 1st building: missing steps ("Quite a drop, Batman") 2nd building: wide steps 3rd building: ultra wide steps 4th building: no steps (ground floor entrance; Stairway to Heaven inside) Hard Hat AreaI'd give the Hotel with the turrets a wide berth! The one farthest from the camera looks like it's damaged. Here's the Church in the MiddleAt the corner of State and Superior. Get ready: Huron next !Sometimes you're all ready with your comment, and life throws you a surprise I'll leaf it to others to provide the punchline. The Sainte-Chapelle of ChicagoOver near the far left margin of this photograph, in the shadows between two taller buildings, stands the St. James Chapel of the Quigley Preparatory Seminary, a school belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Completed in 1919, this building is clearly modeled on the Gothic Sainte-Chapelle in Paris (built 1242-1248). It is an unusually accurate example of French Gothic architecture revived in the eclectic period of the early 20th century. The building still stands at 835 N. Rush Street, but the school it was built for closed in 2007. Holy Name Cathedral is a mob tour mainstayHoly Name witnessed two notorious murders during the 1920s bootlegging gang wars. Across the street was Schofield's Flower shop, owned by North Side gang boss Dean O'Banion, the most powerful rival of the South Side's Johnny Torrio and his second-in-command Al Capone. The shop was O'Banion's headquarters and front for his illicit businesses. The shop was also the preferred flower vendor for big mob funerals. On November 10, 1924, Frankie Yale (a New York associate of Torrio and Capone) and two local mobsters arrived ostensibly for a floral funerary arrangement. They left O'Banion dead on the floor with bullets in his chest, neck and head. Hymie Weiss was O'Banion's successor as head of the North Siders. Schofield's was still the gang's lair on October 11, 1926 when Weiss was ambushed in front of Holy Name as he walked towards the flower shop. Tour guides will show you holes in the cathedral stones from the mob machine guns. Now a house of luxury residenceMost of what you see in 1942 between the hotel at 62 W. Huron Street and the Holy Name Cathedral at 730 N Wabash Ave has been replaced by One Superior Place Apartments, which, with their parking garage, engulf an entire city block. The small church at 56 W. Huron Street, where church was just letting out in 1942, is now the site of recently built luxury residences. Click to embiggen Almost survivedThe church is on the September, 2017 Street View. By 2018, it was replaced by an apartment building. The building was converted to a beauty parlor at least ten years before. The Small Church ReplacementI'll leave it to loyal Shorpy readers to opine if better or worse. (The Gallery, Chicago, Jack Delano)
« first‹ prev…13 [14]15…next ›last »
Syndicate content  Shorpy.com is a vintage photography site featuring thousands of high-definition images. The site is named after Shorpy Higginbotham, a teenage coal miner who lived 100 years ago. Contact us | Privacy policy | Accessibility Statement | Site © 2024 Shorpy Inc.