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Under the El: 1940
... the block on which Jake and Elwood blues lived in the SRO hotel in "The Blues Brothers"--the block ostensibly destroyed by a homicidal ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/09/2011 - 10:51am -

July 1940. Another view under the elevated tracks in Chicago. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. The ElWhat are the streets? Tables for Ladies...It's not every oysters/fish restaurant that can claim that. ["Table for Ladies" seems to have been a pretty common sign for restaurants. More so back toward the turn of the century. - Dave] The El intersectionIt's one of the corners of the Loop ... my husband thinks the street going away from the viewer toward the vanishing point is Wabash, and the street crossing it is Lake. This is how it looks today. (Google Map Street View). Under the ElIt's Jewelers Row, all right, but I think you're shooting a bit too far to the north. The facade of the building does not match the second story of the Carson Pirie Scott building on that intersection. We should be thinking closer to Jackson Boulevard or Van Buren. I've seen the Schlitz marquees before. Fred PotthastOh Fred, thanks for having such a searchable name. Fred Potthast's restaurant was at 4 West Van Buren, per a 1933 Chicago Tribune article about Loop taverns reopening in the wake of Prohibition's repeal. "Below stairs Fred Potthast, the second generation of his name and occupation in that premises, has his license tucked away against the impending change, but won’t need to hire any carpenters to build him a brand new bar. He’s quite satisfied with the one that was installed there forty-four years ago [1889] by his father, famous for his sea food cuisine." Even more significant: we are looking at the block on which Jake and Elwood blues lived in the SRO hotel in "The Blues Brothers"--the block ostensibly destroyed by a homicidal Carrie Fisher. The space is now a vacant lot that was supposed to become a park when the library was built but never has. Lotta history dere though. State and Van Buren looking westtoday there is a park on the right and the Washington Library on the left. The next street light is Plymouth Court Tables for LadiesNot only the Table sign there was usually a Ladies Entrance which bypassed the bar and led directly to the table section. I remember the local neighborhood taverns in Baltimore would have those signs and alternate entrances which no self respecting man would use no matter if it were pouring down rain and you had to walk an extra 20 to 50 feet for the Bar entrance. The StreetsThe photographer appears to be standing in the intersection of State Street (left to right) and Van Buren, looking Westward. More recently this area was used in the remake of Ocean's Eleven, it's where Matt Damon pulls the business card out of his pocket that Danny Ocean swapped for the wallet Matt had just lifted from the unsuspected El rider. The only thing left from 1940 ...is the steel holding up the El and the location of a couple of manholes in the street. Streetview in maps.google is my friend when my memory is not. Wells and LakeI've studied this image and I really think that it was shot at Wells and Lake, the northern and western corner of the Loop. The image appears to be looking southward while standing on Wells. Look at the buildings in this Google Map street view. Specifically, pan or slide to the right and notice the building with the "cut" or beveled corner. The doorway is where it should be, in the beveled corner. The other Loop corners don't have existing structures that come as close as this. Of course, the original structures in Vachon's image may no longer exist, and I could be wrong. View Larger Mapcbp=12,178.12917418537864,,0,14.927384966794076 Anyway, it seems convincing. I'm going to check it out on foot soon if the temperature ever climbs above freezing. Perhaps this means I need a hobby. Looking west on West Van Buren from South StateThe view is under the south perimeter of the Union Loop El, which straddles Van Buren Street from Wells Street to Wabash Avenue. As has already been mentioned, there are two clues that show this view looks west on Van Buren at State. First is the Fred Potthast Restaurant. The low address number (4) indicates that we are looking west along the first block of West Van Buren, as State Street (in the foreground) is the dividing line for Chicago streets running east and west. Second and even more telling is the track junction allowing the streetcars to operate eastbound on Van Buren and continue on State north or south. +77Below is the same perspective from June of 2017 (minus the charm in the original). (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Chicago, John Vachon, Railroads)
Bike to the Future: 1910
... As in the previous view , the Post Office is at left, Hotel Seminole on the right. Note the city-issued JACKSONVILLE license plates. ... your automobile I couldn't find a floorplan for the Hotel Seminole. But I did learn it and the Bisbee Building were designed by ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 10/12/2022 - 1:50pm -

Bustling Jacksonville, Florida, circa 1910. "Forsyth Street looking east from Hogan." As in the previous view, the Post Office is at left, Hotel Seminole on the right. Note the city-issued JACKSONVILLE license plates. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. RevolutionaryBicycles were revolutionary when first presented as the Safety Bicycle in the late 1880s. Imagine quadrupling your daily travel distance! Plus many of the earliest automobiles mimicked bicycle technology with chain drive, spoked wheels, pneumatic tires, etc. Oh, we were just admiring your automobileI couldn't find a floorplan for the Hotel Seminole. But I did learn it and the Bisbee Building were designed by Henry John Klutho, following Jacksonville's great fire of 1901. Klutho was in New York City in 1901, but realized an architect was about to be in considerable demand in Jacksonville, so he moved there. He adopted a new "Prairie-School" style of design. This style would later fall out of favor and much of his work was destroyed. Even later, what remained was appreciated all over again. The occupants of both of these automobiles caught my attention. Somehow, I sense none of the men in contact with either car is the owner or rightful occupant. As far as 'bike to the future', whoever laid their bike down on the curb may soon be reminded automobiles have a reverse gear. Not like todayWhere are all the overweight people? Photos Taken Some Time ApartI think the roof-level photo was taken as much as an hour or so after the ground-level one was. In the ground-level photo, the shadow from the pole on stage right aims almost exactly at the light post, but by the second one it points several degrees toward the east, meaning the sun has moved to the west. Fifteen degrees worth of movement would (if I remember my astronomy class correctly) mean about an hour has passed. There are also more people on the street in the ground-level photo, but by the time of the roof-level one, at least two diners and a waiter have arrived in the balcony restaurant of the Seminole on the right. Dinnertime, perhaps? I also think that this was taken in the cooler half of the year, because if it was summer in Jacksonville, those people would be sweltering. The only vehicle that still remains appears to be the one in the foreground, which has, interestingly, backed up by half a car length or so. Similarly, the two men at it may be (if they are the same two people) be the only ones to appear in both photos. I definitely get "showing it off to his friend" vibes! Facing factsJamesWH's chronology seems thoroughly consistent with what must be the best evidence available ... the P.O. clock: in the earlier (presented on Shorpy) picture of Forsyth the clock shows 1:08; the aerial shot shows 2:31. If we're to assume the shots were all made on the same day, a logical progression is: the photographer took the westernmost shot first, then this shot, crossed the street, ascended the Buckman Building and took the third. Admittedly an hour is a long time to rise a few floors -- and the building had an elevator -- but perhaps some time was spent in setting up the camera. (Or maybe a stop was made at the Seminole's bar). [Perhaps he was busy taking more photos. - Dave] Easy CommuteMr. Joseph Fried (1861-1930), proprietor of the Rathskeller (117 West Forsyth), resided at 221 East Adams, a mere four blocks away. The 1910 city directory lists two phone numbers for the Rathskeller, 196 and 2637. In reply to HaroldOThe Wright Flyer (which made the first powered, manned and sustained flight in 1903) also used bicycle technology, as in sprocket and chain drive to the propellers. The Wright Brothers had been involved in bicycle, motors and machinery manufacture. Hats OffAnother wonderful scene full of hats. Hats served many practical and useful purposes. Tipping your hat slightly to signal a greeting. Holding your hat to your chest to signal respect or mourning; during national anthem or funeral for example. Waving your hat above your head to signal farewell or joy; at a parade or ship departure for example. Holding your hat in one hand in front of you while bowing; an extended and respectful greeting with maximum effect. Removing your hat while sitting in a movie theatre or church; another signal that you respect the environment and other participants. Society lost some useful social skills when hats stopped being worn by everyone. Lost WorldAll the men appear well-dressed and the few women rather elegant, even seen at a distance. To state the obvious, it's an entire civilization now gone forever. (The Gallery, Bicycles, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, Florida, Jacksonville)
Nashville: 1900
... sheets with numerals were hard to keep in sync. Great hotel now awaiting Amtrak trains we never should have lost. Nashville ... Remain Not only is Union Station (now the Union Station Hotel) still there, but the First Baptist Church (spire) and Customs House ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 6:55pm -

Circa 1900. "Union Station, Nashville, Tennessee." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Note Digital Clock now AnalogThe linen sheets with numerals were hard to keep in sync. Great hotel now awaiting Amtrak trains we never should have lost. Nashville MysteryAs I remember the statue of Mercury disappeared after its fall from grace and no one knew what became of it. Now this was a story I heard in town many times; it might even be true. [This article gives the history of the statue and what became of it after the fall. - tterrace] Thank you…. I was hoping someone would know the real story! Inverted acornsAll the utility poles have finials the resemble an upside down acorn. Intended to fool my enemy, the squirrel? Missing:A clock on the station tower. Three Landmarks RemainNot only is Union Station (now the Union Station Hotel) still there, but the First Baptist Church (spire) and Customs House (tower) in the far background remain as well. Falling MercuryNote the statue of Mercury on top of the tower. The poor old boy came to a bad end, falling to the street after a violent wind storm. Union Station todayHere's a similar shot of Union Station today. It is now a fancy hotel operated by Wyndham. Next to it, further down Broadway, you can see the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and the Estes Kefauver Federal Building & Courthouse. Those buildings are new, but just past the federal building, you can see the same spires of the old Customs Building (now housing the U.S. Bankruptcy Court) and the First Baptist Church of Nashville. Hi-Tech Mail HandlingI had a meeting there in the mid-1970s. By that time, Amtrak only had two trains passing through daily, and they had been relegated to a small office in one corner of the building. Everything else had been left exactly as it was when in full operation. I remember a huge, Rube Goldberg-looking network of conveyor belts going everywhere under the big trainshed, that I was told was an experimental system of automated US Mail handling to and from trains. I had a cheeseburger for lunch in a cafe that as I recall was located in the approximate area of the one in the photo. It was either semi-open air or they had all the door and windows open, because it was absolutely swarming with houseflies, like you see in video from third world countries. They were so thick they'd fly in your mouth while you were trying to eat, and keeping them off your food was impossible. I've never seen anything comparable anywhere else in the U.S. Tornado damageThe 1998 tornadoes in Nashville blew out the clock face and left poor Mercury hanging by a toe. Mercury is actually only two dimensional to fool the eye. The Frist Arts Center next door was originally the main downtown post office. The designers did a marvelous job in keeping the integrity of the original building. (The Gallery, Nashville, Railroads, Streetcars)
Standard Service: 1940
... them. But nnnnoooooo ... Current view? The Page Hotel, located in the upper left, was located at the corner of Fourth and White ... 61 Freeway There Now Based on this article, the Page Hotel stood at Fourth and White Streets, about where the U.S. 61 freeway is ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 11/14/2019 - 11:35am -

April 1940. "Gas station on a sunny afternoon. Dubuque, Iowa." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Resettlement Administration. View full size. Hairy CatConsidering the Cat's hair in this self-portrait (https://www.shorpy.com/node/25187), I wonder if Mr. Vachon was peering over the camera and looking at the lens (or out the window) the moment this exposure happened. [He was looking down into the viewfinder. - Dave] That does double for me!I loved all my twin-lens reflex cameras and wish I had kept them. But nnnnoooooo ... Current view?The Page Hotel, located in the upper left, was located at the corner of Fourth and White streets. This view from Google Maps, appears to show approximately the same view. Not sure if the existing brick building across the tracks is the same one in the current view. U.S. 61 Freeway There NowBased on this article, the Page Hotel stood at Fourth and White Streets, about where the U.S. 61 freeway is now. http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/index.php?title=PAGE,_John Heavy metalBeing a steam locomotive fanatic, I would want a room facing the tracks in the hotel. Unfortunately I wouldn't be born until Nov. of 1940. Looks like a busy crossing and with the baggage carts must be right at the depot. John VachonJohn Vachon's FSA pictures are sadly underrated. He was highly influenced by Walker Evans, whose plain and unpretentious portraits showed little evidence of advocacy or drama. Vachon had the same style, but his subject matter often differed from that of Evans. Vachon was young and inexperienced when he was hired by FSA head Roy Stryker. He fell in love with the camera, and loved touring the country for the first time. He photographed just about everything he saw, in this case a gas station near the railroad tracks. Consequently, his vast collection of pictures has become a valuable document of how life and the built environment looked in the 1930s. If you build it they will comeIt's kind of hard to see but if you follow the road (4th Street) from the bottom towards the top of the picture you will see a baseball stadium in the distance. It was known alternatively as Municipal Stadium, 4th Street Stadium, or John Petrakis Park. It was built in 1915 and was razed sometime in the 1970s, I believe. It hosted several minor league ballclubs. Double visionUnlike commenter Jim Page, I'm a newcomer to twin-lens reflex cameras, having started to collect them last year. I found this image of Jack Delano somewhere in cyberspace. I believe that's a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex around his neck. Being a serious fan, I just had had to buy one. Gas PricesWhat's up with the sign? Prices? Octanes? [Yes. - Dave] Photographer's viewpointWell, we can see where the photo was taken from in radiochris's modern shot. There was a fire here, tooThe six-story brick building shown in the "Current View" post is the Canfield Hotel, built in 1927 as an addition to the existing four-story wooden structure. In 1946 a fire destroyed the older wooden building, killing 19 people, including owner William Canfield. The picture would have been taken from the four-story wooden part. An account of the fire: http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/index.php?title=CANFIELD_HOTEL (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, Gas Stations, John Vachon, Railroads)
Minneapolis: 1905
... place have themselves been torn down, including a Ritz Hotel and the '50s era Minneapolis Public Library. On the Avenue The ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2012 - 6:14pm -

Circa 1905. "Minneapolis, Minnesota." Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Lileks will knowPerhaps the keeper and knower of all things Minneapolis (James Lileks) will weigh in. Or perhaps he has, is "Jimmy Longshanks" a pseudonym?? [Lileks's username on Shorpy is, as far as we know, "Lileks." - Dave] Blue MondayCheck out the laundry hanging out to dry. Even in the middle of the business district, it looks like there are some residential units....possibly someone living above their first floor store. Packed in for a peekThat certainly is a large crowd of people on top of the turret on the building in the center. I wonder if it is an observation post or if they are gathered for a special event. [Something tells me they're always up there. - Dave] MinneapolisI live in Minneapolis and I don't recognize anything! My, how times change!!!! Guaranty Life Building.That is the large building in the center, also known as the Metropolitan building. Sadly, it was razed in the early 60s. This view is looking north, with the Mississippi River at upper right. The first bridge is Plymouth Avenue, the second is Broadway. [Seems to be "Guaranty Loan." - Dave] Window UnitsCan anyone identify the light colored circular items in the windows on the third floor of the building on the right side of the photo? [Barrels. - Dave] A river runs through itThe amount of horse pee in the streets (esp. at the stables lower left) is both awesome and horrifying. Or is that the result of the Dept of Sanitation cleaning up afterward? In any case I guess it kept the dust down. Inside the Metropolitan BuildingYep - they tore it down as part of a huge urban renewal project. Had a hard time doing it too. That place was solid! In order to maximize interior light, it had a huge atrium and the walkways had glass floors. Beautiful ironwork too. Gluek BeerGluek's Bar and Restaurant is still in Minneapolis, though it is now located about 4 blocks due west on 6th St. N (as opposed to 4th St. S and 2nd Ave. S, where is is seen here). Also, judging by the photographer's position, taking into account height, the viewing angle in relation to the river and the Metropolitain's location on 2nd Ave S and 3rd St. N, this photo was likely taken atop the then yet unfinished Town Hall building (completed c. 1906). The More You Know.More information on the Metropolitan building can be found in "Twin Cities Then and Now" by Larry Millet. This photo is used in the book. Gluek's owned many bars throughout Minneapolis. This one served the financial district, the one on N.6th served warehouse and railroad employees. Nothing yet on the "barrels". Update: I have found earlier and later photos of the Metropolitan Building with objects in the 3rd floor, and only the 3rd floor, windows. Some are square, some rectangular. Advertising? Still looking. Chimney Extension...and the round thingsI suspect the tall black extension on the chimney near the center of the photo is to get the smoke above the windows of the Metropolitan building. Hopefully it has guy wires to support it, if not it doesn't look to be very stable in a breeze. Are any wires visible in the high resolution version? It would be hard to guy something in all directions that is on the corner of a building unless they used an adjacent building for some of the guy wire anchors. It looks like there might be the top of another chimney extension in the bottom center of the image. I was curious about the round things also, if they are indeed barrels, what purpose do they serve in the middle of a window? [Maybe they say "beer here." - Dave] Woof.Interesting how often dogs appear in the urban photos. I guess it would be fairly safe, until autos literally overran them. Positively Fourth StreetI drive to work every weekday morning on the street in the foreground, Fourth Street. Of the major buildings clearly visible in this photo, only two remain -- in the upper far left, at the corner of Fourth Street and First Avenue. For the rest, if they survived until the 1950s, they were destroyed in the Gateway Area urban renewal program. Ironically, some of the structures erected in their place have themselves been torn down, including a Ritz Hotel and the '50s era Minneapolis Public Library. On the AvenueThe broad street going vertically in the photo shows far less evidence of the horses' various evacuations. While the street going left to right shows a whole lot of the watering of the lily. It appears that the horses, probably whilst hooked up to their drays and cabs, had a lot of time on their hooves. Gluek'sThe Gluek's beer sign was just an advert for a saloon. The brewery would pay for your build-out, as long as you carried their beer. It's not the big Gluek's on Sixth Ave N. Re: Gluek'sIf you look at "Land of Amber Waters" by Doug Hoverson, he discusses the problems the Gluek family had with owning so many saloon properties. The land lost much value during the Great Depression. (The Gallery, DPC, Horses, Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Mobile Newsboy: 1914
... papers at barber shops, drugstores and the local hotel. Our town had 4 daily papers available (Omaha, Lincoln morning & ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/15/2011 - 1:20pm -

October 1914. Mobile, Alabama. "Young newsboy who begins work at daybreak." View full size. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. Mobile Newsboy: 1914, date of photoFlip the picture upside down, and you see the newspaper has a banner headline that reads, in part, "BOSTON TAxxx SECOND." On October 10, 1914, the Boston Braves beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 1-0 in the second game of the World Series, ultimately sweeping 4-0. Suffice to say, the newspaper, and the photo, are probably from the morning of Oct. 11, 1914. [Another clue would be the caption under the photo that says "October 1914." It's the afternoon paper of Saturday, October 10 - Dave] ww1 news alsoChannel ports now Kaiser's Objective, I think thats what is written next to the game, also Portugal expected to Decla but his hand blocks the rest - Mobile NewsieAs an artist I love it. ResolutionI am wondering about a technical question: how is it possible to get a detail from the original picture with such a fine resolution. If I download the picture it has a resolution of 1200x861 and the detail from it will have a resolution of approximately 120x100 but the detail shown in the comment has a resolution of 485x400. Can anyone tell me how that is possible? By the way: I am a European lover of historical and cartographic sites. I am very pleased to have found Shorpy. Gives me such an interesting insight in the U.S. society in the past century. thanks for all that. Alex Bussum, Netherlands [The full-resolution image here is 5000 x 3587 pixels. We downsize the full-resolution images to approximately 1200 pixels wide before posting them to the site. - Dave] 10-10-14Amazing, that we are looking at a newspaper as it was on Saturday, October 10, 1914 -- papers are so forgettable, no one could have guessed, least of all the Newsie, that he'd be seen and known all these decades later. This site really is like going back in time. Paperboys were once a legend, [We'll be right back with Part 2 of this windy diatribe after a brief intermission. - Dave] Disappearance of paperboysThe reason you don't see paperboys anymore has nothing to do with kids and their willingness to work, and everything to do with the newspaper delivery business and how it is run. Newspapers want no part of child workers anymore. But don't let me stop your misinformed rant... I was a paperboy onceBack in the 1960s, I had a paper route for a while. Even then, paper carriers were not newspaper employees. No, we were "independent contractors" who solicited sales door to door, delivered to homes 7 days a week and collected once every 2 weeks. I had a canvas bag draped over my bicycle handlebars, loaded with 50 or 60 papers. It was tedious and not very rewarding - I didn't last long. Our town, anyway, had no newsies hawking papers on the street. I think by then radio and TV had taken over the "breaking news" category. You could buy individual papers at barber shops, drugstores and the local hotel. Our town had 4 daily papers available (Omaha, Lincoln morning & evening, and Beatrice) plus the local paper 3 days a week. The Internet is taking a toll on those papers today. From a would-be paperboyI remember when the paperboy job disappeared from Long Island. It was in the mid 1980's, right when I was wanting to be a paperboy like my older brothers had been. I don't know the details of it, but some older man bought one of the Postal Service's discarded right hand drive Jeeps and took over all the local paper routes. That was the end of it for the kids. They left an envelope in your box every week for you to leave your check in and we never saw the paper deliveryperson again, unless you were up at 5 AM when he was passing by. I have no idea what it's like now, as I left the U.S. nearly a decade ago, fed up with the direction it was headed and boy am I glad I did. Love the site, keep up the good work. Mobile PaperboyIn Mobile as a 10-year old, 1950-51, I sold newspapers early in the morning--5:30 a.m.--on a street corner near the main entrance to Brookley AFB. Like a previous commenter, I didn't last long. The newsboy in the photo is probably on Government Street, a main thoroughfare, about where the entrance to the Bankhead tunnel now is. It's also possible, though less so, that he's a few blocks around the corner on Royal Street. OMG! That made me LOL!Seriously...hilarious with the fadeout. Thank you, Dave, for the laugh. I Was A Paperboy Once ...and all it taught me was not to be a paperboy. I ran my route on my bike between May and August of 1964 and delivered every day to about 90 homes within a three mile radius. Collecting from customers was like pulling teeth and I was always short - and always having to go back and back and back to try and get paid. The job took more time than I would ever have imagined and by the time I left it I had made only $12 "profit." So much for being an All-American Icon. Car Paper RouteFound this pic just today by clicking on "Prev Page" on the home bar. Brought back more memories of my 3 year career delivering papers. My first 6 months I worked for a lady that had a very large car route. We rolled and I threw from the car windows. My target was driveways and sidewalks. Sometimes I would actually hit the porches and when I did my lady boss would yell out "good shot, Jimmy". We would stop the car if I hit the bushes and if a paper landed on the roof, I would throw another paper. She retired and I got the 1st choice of a walking route as there were 5 routes created from her auto route. PaperboyI had three routes at once in the mid 60's and made about as much as some adults. My routes were broken up into seven routes when I quit. Collecting was up and down. Some customers were great, and others real deadbeats. Who stiffs a kid for a few cents? There are still paperboys in the Hillsborough and Durham NC area. They sell the papers at intersections, not much walking, but some dodging of texting drivers. (The Gallery, Kids, Lewis Hine, Mobile)
Detroit Creamery: 1915
... Detroit circa 1915. "Detroit Creamery Co." At right, the Hotel Tuller; at left, a dealer in Studebaker wagons. 8x10 inch glass negative, ... left of where the camera was). [The photo shows the Hotel Tuller annex addition completed in 1910. Horse-drawn ice and milk ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 03/30/2022 - 1:38am -

Detroit circa 1915. "Detroit Creamery Co." At right, the Hotel Tuller; at left, a dealer in Studebaker wagons. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. I see... what looks to me like a little person peeking out of the window above and between the words DETROIT and CREAMERY to the right of the main doors. Then there is the pair discussing something -- or at least, a young man is gazing out of the window while someone (I can't tell if it is another gent or a lady but I suspect it is the former) is speaking earnestly to him. The horse second from right is either sneezing or neighing, or both ... and the black wagon to the far right is decorated with swastikas, which, according to Wikipedia, were a symbol of auspiciousness and good luck in the West prior to 1930. Thanks, Dave. I was going to say, either a little person peeking out, or a flower pot. "Circa" covers a lot of territoryRumour has it this photo is somewhat older: 1908 ... which seems more consistent w/ the lack of motor vehicles (OTOH in 1915 they proudly announced the opening of their new garage and stables for "253 horses...and 132 milk wagons", so who knows?) And don't even think about checking: nothing remains at Cass and Grand River but the sky (Tho an utterly charming Romanesque building remains from to the left of where the camera was). [The photo shows the Hotel Tuller annex addition completed in 1910. Horse-drawn ice and milk wagons were used well into the 1950s. - Dave] The Tuller could settle it, but, unfortunately the side we're seeing - in this print anyway - is the Adams Street side, which was built c. 1906. (I'll concede however it must be after the 1910 addition of 5 floors to the top). [The "New and Greater" Detroit Creamery and Ice Plant shown here had its grand opening in February 1911. This is not a print -- it's an inverted scan of the camera negative. - Dave] Good Luck and ProsperityThat's what the swastika on the back of the wagon, far right, symbolizes in Asian cultures. It became infamous about twenty years after this photo, when adopted as the symbol of the Aryan "race" by the Nazis. One wonders what the lettering on the wagon says. [STANDARD LAUNDRY. Which advertised in the city's German newspapers. - Dave] Don't Cry over Spilled MilkIt appears that the Creamery was located at the three-way intersection of Cass Avenue (to the left), Middle Street (to the right), and Grand River Avenue in the foreground. Middle ends at Clifford Street, the dark building beyond the laundry wagon. An aerial photo from 1949 shows the building to the left still there, but this corner was already a parking lot. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Horses)
Surrey With the Fringe on Top: 1908
... Bailey, M.D., 1897. The New Mackinac This hotel was built for the special comfort of summer boarders. On arrival, each ... be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the Hotel ought to have been placed upon Fort Holmes or on Round Island, the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 10:22pm -

Mackinac Island, Michigan, circa 1908. "New Mackinac and New Murray Hotels." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Not much has changed thereI stayed on the island in the late 1990s and awoke to the clip-clop of the morning delivery wagons. +100Below is the same view from August of 2008. Wheels have changedOn the fringed surreys over the past decade. Bucolic settingTo this day, even the garbage wagons are horse-drawn. No more MackinawAs you can see in the 2008 photo, The New Mackinaw isn't so new anymore. In fact, it's gone. I think the small peaked-roofed building is the Visitor's Information Center. Bailey's Drug StoreDarn, if only it was a Building and Loan. New MackinacAn unusual use of sarcasm in an advertisement. Mackinac, Formerly Michilimackinac, John Read Bailey, M.D., 1897. The New Mackinac This hotel was built for the special comfort of summer boarders. On arrival, each guest will be asked how he likes the situation, and if he says the Hotel ought to have been placed upon Fort Holmes or on Round Island, the location of the Hotel will be immediately changed. Corner front rooms, up one flight, for every guest. Baths, gas, electricity, hot and cold water, laundry, telegraph, restaurant, fire alarm, bar room, billiard table, sewing machine, piano, and all modern conveniences in every room. Meals every minute, and consequently no second table. Every guest will have the best seat in the dining hall. Our clerk was specially educated for the "New Mackinac," he wears the original Koh-i-noor diamond, and is prepared to please everybody. He is always ready to sing, match worsted, take a hand at draw-poker, play billiards. sharpen your pencil, take you out rowing, lead the german, amuse the children, make a fourth at whist, or flirt with any young lady, and will not mind being cut dead when Pa comes down. He will attend to the telephone and answer all questions in Choctaw, Chinese, Chippewa, Volapuk, or any other of the Court languages of Europe. The proprietor will always be happy to hear that some other hotel is "the best in the country." Special attention given to parties who give information as to "how these things are done in Chicago." More News To ComeNot yet on the island's PR band wagon but it can only be a matter of time: "The New White Seal", "The New Baileys Drug Store" and "The New Marquette Furnished Rooms". I've been to the IslandI've been to the Island a number of times, the last time being just last June. It happened to be one of the rare occasions that some motorized vehicles were there: some earth-moving machines such as a bulldozer and a backhoe. So I was in the Blacksmith's shop, and the Smith was doing his demos of fashioning various items from iron stock, and suddenly the backhoe rolled by with extreme noise. Then the bulldozer went by, noisily. The Smith had been there in comparative peace and quite for weeks. He was taken aback, because the last thing he expected was the roar of diesel engines. Somewhere in TimeMany of you are probably already aware that the film "Somewhere in Time" with Jane Seymour and the late Christopher Reeve was shot on the island. Esther Williams made a movie there too, but I have forgotten the name of it. The Island can be clearly seen from the Mackinaw Straits Bridge, a wonder in itself. (The Gallery, DPC, Horses)
Three Sides to Every Story
... clocks. This clock is in front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and was removed when the building was demolished in 1908. The current ... is the Maillard Candy Shop. It was in the 5th Avenue Hotel one block north of the Flatiron Building. I found this interesting ... NYC. A Maillard’s shop was a tenant at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, eventually evolving from a confectionary into a ladies’ restaurant. In ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/23/2013 - 6:52pm -

New York circa 1903. "The Flatiron Building." Topping the list of favorite triangular skyscrapers. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. SteamerI think the lone automobile in the lower right is a steam powered Stanley, White or Locomobile. These firms all made runabouts of this type beginning around 1899. I find their products impossible to differentiate from any distance, but they all have a narrower, more upright stance than the curved-dash Oldsmobile. This one appears to be a four-seater, less common than the two-seat buggy configuration. With all those horsesIt's not surprising that there at least four Department of Sanitation workers within the field of view, busily trying to keep up with the output of those animals. With an average production of about 22 pounds of manure per animal, per day, the horse population certainly created job security within the DoS, but the advent of the automobile brought a swift change to that particular activity. +105 yearsFrom the Empire State Building. Durable domesThe two flag-adorned domes seen on the right may look particularly old fashioned, but both are still around today. The dome on the right is atop 170 Fifth Avenue, on the corner of 22nd Street, built in 1897. It housed the offices and showroom of the Sohmer Piano Company and is still called the Sohmer Piano Building even though it was converted into 12 full-floor condominiums in the late 1990's. The most recent unit sale was a couple of months ago, for the unit occupying the second floor. It went for $3.875 million. None of the other units are currently for sale. Sorry. The dome just to the Flatiron Building's right is on top of 141 Fifth Avenue, which was built in 1900 as the headquarters of the Merchant Bank of New York. It too has been converted to condominiums, though with over 30 units the building's rather less exclusive than 170 Fifth. It does, however, have a penthouse which includes the dome. It sold a couple years ago for $12.9 million. The Flatiron Building itself houses the Macmillan publishing company, with retail on the ground floor. Its narrow profile means that there is only about 5,000 square feet of space on each floor and many of the offices are oddly shaped. In fact, space is at such a premium that the men's and women's restrooms are on alternating floors. One advantage is that most offices have windows. As originally constructed, the Flatiron building had 20 stories. Almost as soon as it was finished, however, the developers decided to add a penthouse. It might have been under construction at the time of this photo but isn't visible due to the low angle. As it would have been too expensive to extend the existing elevators, getting to the penthouse required taking an elevator to the 20th floor, and then getting on a different elevator or using the stairs for the one-floor trip to the penthouse. As far as I know it's still that way today. In addition to its architecture, the Flatiron Building was noteworthy in another respect: it was one of the first large office buildings that was built on spec, in other words without any tenants already having signed leases. The area shown here, usually called the Flatiron District, is thriving today, with office and retail rents at levels close to those in Midtown. Many software and other technology companies are drawn to the area. Squares in the DistanceThe view is to the south. The wide road heading south-southeast (to the left of the Flatiron Building) is Broadway (an old Native American trail running the diagonally the length of Manhattan for about 11 miles). Six blocks down Broadway from 23rd Street (the street the northern tip of the Flatiron Building touches, with crosstown streetcars visible) is 17th Street. 17th is the northern border of Union Square, which is visible in the distance. The wide road leading south (to the right of the Flatiron Building) is 5th Avenue. It ends at Waverly Place / Washington Square North (equivalent of 7th street) at Washington Square Park (not visible in the picture). On the far side of the Square/Park is NYU. One automobileThe only horseless carriage I see in the photo is in the right foreground. Could that be the famous curved-dashboard Oldsmobile? One more thingI just noticed that the caption on the photo says circa 1903. The clock in front of the toy building was built in 1909, so this photo would date no earlier than 1909. [Two different clocks. This clock is in front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and was removed when the building was demolished in 1908. The current clock was installed in the same location when the Fifth Avenue Building - now the Toy Center - was erected the following year. -tterrace] Toy BuildingThe building on the bottom right, with the clock in front on the sidewalk, is 200 5th Ave. also known as the 5th Ave.Building. During WWI, the building became the home of the toy industry, hosting the annual Toy Fair, the industry trade show. Toy Fair was held there, and in an adjacent building until 2007 or so, when the buildings were sold. The iconic clock was the unofficial symbol for Toy Fair for many years, and was declared a historic landmark in the 1980s. I loved going to New York for Toy Fair, and a highlight of being in the "Toy Building" was seeing the Flatiron Building across the street. It's an awesome sight! HorsesThe danger of disease-carrying horse manure to public health (a knee scraped in the gutter might ultimately kill you)led to a drive in the late 19th century to get animal powered vehicles off city streets. This directly led to the rapid development of the cable and electric street railway industries, as many municipal governments mandated the end of horse-car lines as soon as possible. I stopped counting at 21 trolleys in the picture--imagine two horses pulling each. That's almost 1,000 pounds of manure in a few blocks. Picture SpotWhen I went to NYC for the first time last year, how could I not get my picture taken with the Flatiron Building? I mean, c'mon. Maillard'sAt the lower right of this picture is the Maillard Candy Shop. It was in the 5th Avenue Hotel one block north of the Flatiron Building. I found this interesting article on Google: Mr. Maillard came to the States from France in 1848, opening his first store at 401 Broadway, NYC. A Maillard’s shop was a tenant at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, eventually evolving from a confectionary into a ladies’ restaurant. In 1908, after the Fifth Avenue Hotel was demolished, a much larger store and ladies’ luncheon restaurant opened at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 35th Street. The decor was Louis XVI, the ceiling was graced with lovely paintings, and the settings were completely French. Mr. Maillard, whose award-winning chocolates were exhibited around the world, furnished the inaugural banquet of President Lincoln, thereby making himself a household name. The shop was renowned for chocolates, bon-bons, cocoa, and ice cream. Although Maillard’s has long been out of business, their advertisement and trade cards are still collectible items today. I wish these photographs were scratch-and-sniff, because I’ll bet the fragrance inside the shop was heavenly. Have a chocolate day. ~ S.G. Rogers (The Gallery, DPC, Flatiron Building, NYC, Streetcars)
Motown Rising: 1918
... Square and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument with the Hotel Pontchartrain on the right and the Real Estate Exchange at left. At the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/02/2012 - 5:23pm -

Detroit circa 1918. "Woodward Avenue, south from the Majestic building." Cadillac Square and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument with the Hotel Pontchartrain on the right and the Real Estate Exchange at left. At the Gayety: "Higher Grade Burlesque." Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. AwningsThe awnings at the top of the Pontchartrain make my knees go weak. Did they hang out the windows to install these? DetroitFun fact: The layout of Detroit was originally designed to mimic that of Paris, symmetrical and very ordered. It was when the auto industry arrived that this symmetry was destroyed--streets were criss-crossed in every which way to allow for quick transport of car parts to factories. If you take away those streets, you'll still find Paris. Horse PowerWhat a difference with the cityscape images from approximately 1905 where it's hard to pick out an automobile. Ain't nothin' worsethan low-grade burlesque. Take in a photo-playAmong the photo-plays at the Family Theatre, True Blue, a western starring William Farnum who, in addition to his stage career, continued making films until 1952. Also had notable thespian forebears and siblings. The Quicker Picker-UpperI had to look pretty closely, but there are still a few horse-drawn vehicles, and there in front of the Family Theatre, he who picks up after them. Also, one elevated, and at least two pavement-level traffic cops. It takes a lot of people to keep those streets going. Electro Medical DoctorsNot really keen on going in to see one of these. Crow's nestThe small tower at bottom right was, indeed, a traffic control device manned by a police officer. He manually threw the four way sign at the top of the "nest" -- "stop" in two directions, "Go" in the other two. Later on, electric traffic lights were added, but just green and red. They were common in early 20th century Detroit. Old DetroitThese pictures of Detroit looking so prosperous and vital make me sad. It did not weather the last 100 years very well. Zap it!The Electro Medical Doctors offered stimulating cures. "Male weakness" was a common complaint of our forefathers, today known as erectile dysfunction. "Electro Medical Doctor"Never realized that ol' Doc Frankenstein spent some of his career in Detroit. Virginia Pearsonappears to have her name in lights on the corner marquee of the Family Theatre. According to IMDB, she appeared in seven films in 1918, and later had roles in the 1925 versions of "The Wizard of Oz" and "The Phantom of the Opera" before falling into obscurity shortly thereafter. Small tower at the bottom rightIs it for traffic control? They're not for lookin'Can anyone explain the windows in the Family Theater building? I've never seen anything like them - are they wood panels, or perhaps marble-colored glass? Either way, it doesn't look like you could see through them. German GenerosityI wonder if the Kaiser would be wiser if the miser spent all his money on gayety and high grade burlesque? Plan of DetroitThe plan of Detroit was conceived by Judge Augustus B. Woodward in 1807, shortly after the fire that destroyed the whole city in 1805. It is an original design based on an intricate pattern of interlocking equilateral triangles and hexagons, and it is not really patterned after any other city plan of the time - not that of Washington, and certainly not that of Paris, which was still a largely medieval warren of streets before Baron Haussmann's gigantic public works program was carried out in the mid-19th century. The amazing thing is that Woodward's novel plan was actually executed, at least in that part of downtown Detroit below the Grand Circus. Detroit's main drag, Woodward Avenue, is named after the judge. Judge Woodward's other main legacyhe was also involved with the original chartering of a school he wanted to call "The Catholepistemiad of Michigania" but which was fairly promptly re-named The University of Michigan. Originally chartered in Detroit in 1817, moved to Ann Arbor in 1837. (The Gallery, Detroit Photos, DPC, Streetcars, WWI)
Splash: 1922
... July 15, 1922. The new swimming pool at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View ... there now? [As noted in the caption, this was a hotel pool. Currently the location of the Marriott Wardman Park. - Dave] ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/13/2011 - 11:53am -

July 15, 1922. The new swimming pool at the Wardman Park Hotel in Washington. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. View full size. What a slopeThat's quite a slope where the pool is — Wardman Park must have been very keen to have one. What's there now? [As noted in the caption, this was a hotel pool. Currently the location of the Marriott Wardman Park. - Dave] Of the seven nymphetsI have been sitting here for an hour wishing the young lady closest to the camera would turn around and wave. Sigh. Good timing!I'll be at the Marriot Wardman Park next month for a conference. They still have an outdoor pool, but I'm pretty sure it's not in the same location. View Larger Map Beach paleLook at those pasty legs flapping about at the far end of the pool. Somebody's having a really good time out there. (Or, I suppose, a really bad time -- should someone be throwing out that life preserver?) ShirtsI notice all the guys are wearing tops. Was that a rule? Busted!Although most of the subjects in the Shorpy shots are looking at the camera, I feel like I'm invading the privacy of some of these bathers. The group of guys on the long side of the pool, who are apparently aware of the camera, also seem to be aware that I personally am watching them. After eighty seven years you'd think they would be more receptive to an audience! (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Sports, Swimming)
A Familiar Facade: 1909
... photos, and the same trucks are parked in front of the Hotel Bartholdi. [A good observation. Aside from the clock, people and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/05/2012 - 2:00pm -

August 1909. "The Flat Iron Building, New York." One of Detroit Publishing's favorite subjects, making its eighth appearance here. View full size. Pieter Brueghel the ElderThis photograph evokes a Brueghel painting. Billions of blistering bollardsThey are skinnier than usual, but this is the most bollards I remember seeing in a shot on Shorpy. Here they seem to function as yellow and white lines would today. Trompe l'oeilUntil I clicked "View full size" I thought it was a winter scene with lots of beautiful snow in the foreground. But now I see they're all in summer togs. The street paving seems unnaturally even -- except that part where I guess a giant water wagon came through and made a hard right. A couple of street sweepers with tools unequal to the task seem to be following along. And the hatted horse from Philadelphia has turned up here! Oh say can you seeI count 15 flagpoles in the neighborhood but only five flags, only two of which are the Stars & Stripes. Guess it's not the Fourth of July. I love this building -- even more impressive in person. 97 percent occupancyIt looks like most of the Flatiron is occupied with tenants due to all the awnings that are extended on the sun side. The small buildings to the left and directly behind are still standing and the building in the foreground to the right is there as well according to Google street view. It's interesting to view how city planners allowed for those wide sidewalks during this era. Love the rare automobiles lurking about in this shot. It can't be long before they take over in NY. Beloved iconI stood not far from there not too long ago, riveted in rapt admiration. Thrilling. The Flatiron's grace and mystique is timeless. Better get a move onIt's almost 9:30. Some of those folks are going to be late for work. All that trafficand no honking! Olden ArchesFifth Avenue, to the right of the Flatiron, ends at Eighth Street. There we have a fading glimpse of the Washington Arch and behind that, Washington Square Park. The Arch, dedicated in 1895, is really Greenwich Village's most famous landmark. The park attracts a most varied clientele including NYU students and faculty, chess players, buskers, dogs and their owners, break dancers, soapbox orators, potheads plus their vendors and that's during the daylight hours. WindowsWhy are there so many awnings out of the windows? [Sun hot. No AC. - Dave] One horse townSomeone else pointed out how quickly street scenes went from mostly horses to mostly cars over a short period. Compare this photo with the 1916 photo in Harrisburg. Creepy CordialsThat huge guy at the top left serving the cordials was a little creepy...look at those eyes. I assume he was selling this.... Must be cars around!Or perhaps those are not oil stains on the road? [Shorpy veterans will recognize the isolated dribbles as horse pee. - Dave] I get lost in this imageEvery time I see the Flatiron Building I think about Michael explaining his love and excitement of the Flatiron to Walt. That one building inspired him and changed his life. Like Michael told Walt, "You've gotta see it!" I can get Lost in this image. It is a trip through time. Peculiar vehicleCan anyone explain the reason behind the design of the vehicle in the center foreground? It looks like some sort of bus, designed so that customers are funneled past the driver, perhaps to facilitate payment. [It's the rear end of a double-decker bus. Hence the spiral stairs. - Dave] 1908 or 1912?I don't know which year this photo was taken in, but it was definitely taken about 15 minutes after this photo, which is dated 1912. The awnings and windows in the buildings are in identical positions in both photos, and the same trucks are parked in front of the Hotel Bartholdi. [A good observation. Aside from the clock, people and vehicles (and the big wet street-cleaning path), the two photos are almost identical. Library of Congress gives the year of this image as a qualified "1908(?)"; the other image is part of a nine-part panorama with the date range "1910-1915"; I averaged that out as "circa 1912." Further scrutiny of each of the nine images in the panorama turned up one showing an Order of Acorns banner with the slogan "Give us Home Rule, We will do the rest" flung over Broadway -- a banner mentioned in the August 29, 1909, New York Times. So, dates of both images henceforth changed to 1909. Thank you and good night. - Dave] P.O.V.Nice to see a photo of this icon from a slightly higher perch. I wonder if it swayed like a sailboat in a really strong wind? A Little AstronomyGiven the clock that reads about 9:28, and the direction of shadows, one could estimate the day the photo was taken. Not much has changedWhat I find amazing is that so many of the buildings down both Broadway and Fifth Avenue are still in existence today. I used to work in 141 Fifth Avenue (the domed building behind the Flatiron to the right) StreetcarsWhat is the power source for all those streetcars? -- I don't see any overhead wires. [The power source is underground. Note the slot between the tracks. - Dave] (The Gallery, DPC, Flatiron Building, NYC, Streetcars)
Cotton Club: 1900
... by the building still here today (although it now houses a hotel). When they demolished the old building, a few architectural details ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/19/2012 - 4:39pm -

Circa 1900. "Cotton Exchange, New Orleans." Something of a boll market. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Hard Rock!Those are some serious cobblestones on those streets! InfrastructureThis photo would seem to illustrate a complex, unstandardized infrastructure at the turn of the last century. Note the different manhole covers, and the lengthy steel plating that appears as a sidewalk on both sides of the street - providing access to what? Cobblestone streets and trolley tracks. The telephone/power poles with their myriad of lines - that I never see entering any of the buildings. Only one of the poles seems to use footspikes. Are those trash containers on the sidewalks with the narrow slit openings? Although there appear to be hitching posts in the picture, where do you water your animal in hot, humid New Orleans? [At a horse fountain. - Dave] Groaner"Boll market." Dave, go to your room. Top of the rightmost buildingI love the fancy Victorian buildings, but what caught my eye was the framing at the top of the building to the right of the Cotton Exchange. Do you suppose there's more building to come there, or maybe the top story burnt and wasn't rebuilt (apparently pretty common, based on the history of other buildings I've read.) [Those cornices were most likely decor (or marquee supports) for one of the "roof garden" restaurants popular at the turn of the century. - Dave] GaudyThat is the first word that comes to mind when looking at this building. Excessive and overblown are the other two. the ornamentation is WAY out of proportion to the rest of the building. I love it. Also a great image of the carbon arc light there on the left. King Cotton in ExileThis was the Cotton Exchange Building constructed in 1871, and replaced in 1920 by the building still here today (although it now houses a hotel). When they demolished the old building, a few architectural details were salvaged. These Caryatides from the Old Cotton Exchange are on City Park Avenue in Mid-City New Orleans. Second Empire"The Exchange had its 1871 opening in a series of rented rooms in an existing building at Gravier and Carondelet. Although they moved several times, the Exchange would not leave this intersection until its closing in 1964. After constructing and then outgrowing a small building nearby on Gravier, the Exchange built a palatial Second Empire building in 1883 at the northern corner of Gravier and Carondelet, designed by architect S.S. Labouisse. Noted for its lavish interiors, the building soon became a landmark in New Orleans." http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/New_Orleans_Cotton_Exchange The Original Hooters?Judging by the statuary, they served hot wings in this Cotton Club. Extravagant OrnamentThe elaborate decoration on the original Cotton Exchange is a testament to the amount of money being made in the cotton industry. The building was at the corner of Gravier and Carondelet and was built in 1883. It was demolished and rebuilt in 1921 in the Renaissance Revival style. The replacement was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The only building from the photo that still remains is the one at the far right - currently home to Hancock Bank. It's interesting that the floor above the cornice has since been built out. Men, men, men.The only women I spot are of the stone variety. SprainedJust one look at that cobblestone street and I got a broken ankle. Ladies with stilettos keep your distance. Agriculture, Industry & Peace Life on the Mississippi, 1883. Mark Twain. Not that there is any 'architecture' in Canal Street: to speak in broad, general terms, there is no architecture in New Orleans, except in the cemeteries. It seems a strange thing to say of a wealthy, farseeing, and energetic city of a quarter of a million inhabitants, but it is true. There is a huge granite U. S. Custom-house — costly enough, genuine enough, but as a decoration it is inferior to a gasometer. It looks like a state prison. But it was built before the war. Architecture in America may be said to have been born since the war. New Orleans, I believe, has had the good luck — and in a sense the bad luck — to have had no great fire in late years. It must be so. If the opposite had been the case, I think one would be able to tell the 'burnt district' by the radical improvement in its architecture over the old forms. One can do this in Boston and Chicago. The 'burnt district' of Boston was commonplace before the fire; but now there is no commercial district in any city in the world that can surpass it — or perhaps even rival it — in beauty, elegance, and tastefulness. However, New Orleans has begun — just this moment, as one may say. When completed, the new Cotton Exchange will be a stately and beautiful building; massive, substantial, full of architectural graces; no shams or false pretences or uglinesses about it anywhere. To the city, it will be worth many times its cost, for it will breed its species. What has been lacking hitherto, was a model to build toward; something to educate eye and taste; a suggester, so to speak. The Picayune's Guide to New Orleans, 1903. At the corner of Gravier and Carondelet stands the Cotton Exchange, which is a fine specimen of the Renaissance style of architecture, and is considered very beautiful. It is built of cream-colored stone. The cost of erection was $380,000. The Cotton Exchange was organized in 1871, with a membership of 100. It has now almost 500 names on its roll. The Exchange proper occupies a beautiful apartment superbly frescoed with scenes from the history of Louisiana. Futures are sold around the small fountain at one end of the room. The Exchange enforces obedience to its rules for sampling, buying, selling and delivering cotton, and settles all disputes by arbitration. Reports of the receipts of cotton at all ports, exports and imports, meteorological and crop reports, and other indispensable information are daily posted on the blackboards. The upper floors of the building are occupied by business offices. A small gallery, accessible from the stairway or elevator, is open to visitors. A fine view is obtainable from the roof of the building. There is a time-ball on the roof, regulated by telegraphic communication with Washington. It is dropped daily at noon. The Bureau of State Engineers, where the engineering work of the Louisiana Levee system is done, is located in this building. New Orleans in the Twenties, 1993. Mary Lou Widmer. The Cotton Exchange Building, at the corner of Gravier and Carondelet, built in 1882-83, was ready for the wrecker in 1920. Five statues adorned the building, three on the third floor representing Agriculture, Industry and Peace and two on the ground floor as column supports called caryatids. The statues were moved to City Park in the 1920s for a brief stay. The caryatids now stand in the 100 block of City Park Avenue. Below: 1919 photo of the Peace statue of the Cotton Exchange building, taken during demolition. Also note the reclining caryatid. [source: Louisiana Digital Library.] Does it open at 8?The clock appears to say 7:34. I'm guessing it's morning and the loafers near the door are waiting for the Exchange to open. Re: Infrastructure>> The telephone/power poles with their myriad of lines - that I never see entering any of the buildings. How about these? Admittedly scary, though. "Cotton Exchange""Boll Market" -- that's funny, right there! Carved or PouredI was wondering if the repetitive ornamental work on these old buildings was made from pouring concrete in a mold or would they have been individually carved from sandstone or some other material? Cobblestones and steel platesThe large paving blocks were called Russ blocks after the inventor. Most of the city streets were paved this way from the 1850s through the 1880s. They were layed at a 45 degree angle to prevent wagon wheels from eroding the joints and getting stuck. Unfortunately, Russ blocks were a disaster as the joints were spaced farther apart than the size of a horse's hoof. When the blocks weathered the tops became rounded with deep crevices in between (have a look at the well-used paving stones in the old French Market photos to get an idea). When wet, horses often slipped, fell and broke legs. Russ blocks were gradually replaced by the smaller "Belgian" blocks by the 1890s. Neither of these paving types were "cobblestones" which refers to uncut smaller rounded stream cobbles that were used earlier. You can still find old Russ blocks recycled for private walks in the city. Just last year, the last street of exposed Russ blocks (Montegut street riverside of Chartres in the 9th Ward) was unnecessarily ripped up by an apartment developer. They relayed the blocks at 90 degrees with lousy wide joints. Undoubtedly, the 150 year old pavement with morterless hand-fitted seams would have remained serviceable longer than the current, historically inaccurate scheme. There are still some Russ blocks hidden under the modern asphalt. As for the iron or steel plates, these were used throughout the business districts to bridge and cover the deep curbside drainage ditches. Interestingly you can see many of these being used to bridge curbside ditches at modern driveways uptown; they still have the names of dowtown streets on them. (The Gallery, DPC, New Orleans)
Marshall House I: 1860s
... defiantly waving from the rooftop of the Marshall House hotel. James W. Jackson, the hotel's proprietor and an ardent secessionist, raised the banner a month ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/01/2012 - 11:50pm -

Alexandria, Va., 1861-69. "The Marshall house, King & Pitt Streets." Wet plate glass negative, right half of stereo pair. Photographer unknown. View full size. Who'll be the first to put this together with its companion image in a very short flipbook and post it to YouTube? Or it could be an animated gif. Either way, we'd have the world's earliest (and shortest) HD movie. Muddy.Makes one appreciate asphalt. The two almost workDespite being from two different stereo pairs, these two images of the Marshall House work well as a stereo pair, other than the moved carriage and people in the streets. The only other differences are that someone has closed the lower center window of the building in the foreground, and the shutters have been closed on the second window from the right on the other building. [These are not from two different pairs. The images are the pair -- successive shots made with the same camera. - Dave] Col. Ellsworth, Fire ZouavesVery significant early Civil War site. The text below is from the Alexandria, VA website which sums up what occurred there very neatly. On May 24, 1861, the morning of the Federal invasion, Col. Elmer Ellsworth led a contingent of his "Fire Zouaves" to capture the telegraph office. On his way, Ellsworth spotted a Confederate flag defiantly waving from the rooftop of the Marshall House hotel. James W. Jackson, the hotel's proprietor and an ardent secessionist, raised the banner a month earlier during a pro-secession rally vowing that the flag would come down over his dead body. Incensed, Ellsworth climbed the three stories to the attic, cut the halyards and pulled the flag down. As he and his men descended the stairs, Jackson stepped into the darkened stairway with a shotgun and shot Ellsworth, killing him instantly. One of Ellsworth's men, Cpl. Francis Brownell, retaliated by fatally shooting the innkeeper. Ellsworth became famous as the first Union officer to be killed in the war. http://visitalexandriava.com/about/history/civil_war_walking Both Jackson & Ellsworth are regarded as martyrs for their respective causes. The Battle of First Manassas had not yet been fought. The war was just over a month old by the time of this incident. Google MapsGoogle maps shows large industrial or commercial buildings at that intersection. View Larger Map Re: Google MapsAt that intersection today is another hotel - the Hotel Monaco (which used to be an extremely nice Holiday Inn for years). On the King Street wall of that hotel on the corner of Pitt is a plaque noting the Jackson-Ellsworth incident. +145 (approx.)Below is the same view from December of 2010. The building visible behind the wagon in the 1860s still stands on Pitt Street. (The Gallery, Civil War, Stores & Markets)
Bethlehem: 1935
... I and my crew would stay in Bethlehem in a restored older hotel (not motel). We all thought what a quaint, peaceful town. Obviously ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 02/10/2009 - 12:39pm -

November 1935. "View of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania." Large-format nitrate negative by Walker Evans for the Farm Security Administration. View full size. Washday GraysIt must be Monday because of the amount of laundry hanging out here and there, even in November. Looks like a nice town to live in. It even has a convenient cemetery on the hillside -- puts me in mind of Grover's Corner. O Little TownMill houses and churches - hard-working and God-fearing Americans. Count the ChurchesI live in Bethlehem, though I'm not a native. This is a view of South Bethlehem looking north and a bit east. What strikes me about this photo is that there are four churches so close together. Religion and the church had a much diferent meaning back then. AdvertisingAs opposed to most other cities this size, I can only spot two ads: One political and the wall for Mail Pouch Tobacco. Hillside & SelfridgeI grew up in the next city east of Bethlehem, but now live in Washington, D.C. This photograph was taken at the corner of Hillside Avenue and Selfridge Street on the city's South Side, looking northeast toward Bethlehem Steel's massive Bethlehem plant. In any event, Bethlehem wasn't just steel! One thing I notice about the housing stock back home is the abundance of slate roofs. For many years, up to the 1960s, almost all houses in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas of Northampton County sported them. Northampton County was the leading producer of slate in the United States. In fact, it is not uncommon to see slate-roofed ranch houses in 1950s subdivisions, or slate shingle siding on some older farm houses. As far as the churches in close are concerned, these were founded as ethnic Catholic parishes during the immigration waves of the late 19th century. In late 2008 the Diocese of Allentown made a controversial decision to consolidate parishes. Consequently, St. John Capistrano, the church with the stone spire, St. Stanilaus, the church immediately to the right, and Our Lady of Pompeii, whose cross can be see to the left of St. John under the wires, were all closed after being combined with another church just out of frame to the left. 623 BuchananThe house at the bottom of the street is 623 Buchanan and if you look it up on zillow.com you can see a bird's eye view of the house since there is no Google street view. It looks like its a duplex because one half is a different color--roof too! I was surprised at how many of the houses in this photograph are still standing and identifiable Paris, It Ain't!H.L. Mencken once commented on the extraordinary ugliness of Pennsylvania coal and steel towns, and here we see what he was talking about. Obviously a "company town," with only two or three house designs reproduced over and over again. For example, the one with the two cupolas, in the center, and its exact twin on the right. Oh well, at least they had good healthy fresh air (cough, cough, hack ... ) Step InThis photo just invites you to step in and start walking down that hill. You can smell the boxwoods and the wooden porches. Not so obviousThis was never a company town. The town of Bethlehem was founded in 1741. Bethlehem Steel was founded in 1857 and took the name of the town. Allentown - Bethlehem - EastonLaying over at the ABE airport, I and my crew would stay in Bethlehem in a restored older hotel (not motel). We all thought what a quaint, peaceful town. Obviously nothing like during the days when our American steel industry was in full production. In the evening retirees, hand in hand, would come out for a stroll gathering on some of the many benches around town. It’s hard to believe this was the same place pictured on your site. Also, come Christmas, what better place to be stuck if you’re unlucky enough not to be home with your family. Varied ResponsesInteresting that some find this view unattractive and others see charm. I count myself in the latter camp, and find the steep grade of the street and the vintage architecture very appealing. Bethlehem MusikfestJust a few blocks from here is the site of Bethlehem's Musikfest. A nine-day festival that's enjoyed by over a million people every August. My Hometown!Bethlehem as a physical city hasn't changed a whole lot since this shot. The abandoned steel works are being torn down (mostly), and a casino (!) is opening. Also talk of a museum of industry, possibly affiliated with the Smithsonian. Christmas in BethlehemMy grandparents lived in Allentown, and we had other relatives in Bethlehem for years. One of them lived only a couple streets west of the location shown in this photo. I've spent Christmas in Bethlehem several times. The Christmas Eve service at the Moravian Church is always a moving experience. I just love the town. No "My Space"As to the discussion of Charm vs Unattractive, perhaps it's because I live in a small, rural town, but this scenery leaves me claustrophobic. There's no space between the houses. Everyone is living on top of each other. There's no yard big enough for kids to play in. Not unless you count that scrubby lot the center house sits in. Speaking of which, if I lived in that center house I would be praying every day that my neighbor's parking brake worked. Everyone's right!As a South Bethlehem native, I can assure you-- Bethlehem may have been founded in 1741 by missionaries, but the city they built is very much the part of Bethlehem that's on the north side of the Lehigh. South Bethlehem-- the steel plant and all the residential areas that grew up around it-- are just as much a former company town as downtown is a quaint historic area; they may be halves of the same city but there's a very clear difference between them. To those claiming claustrophobia, I'd also like to say-- it may not be clear in this photo, but despite the odd tight angles of the streets in South Bethlehem the houses really have some pretty generous back yards. (The Gallery, Walker Evans)
Madison Avenue: 1916
... The balcony is the upper railing/walkway of the Manhattan Hotel built 1897 (Henry Janeway Hardenbergh), remodeled 1921-22 and renamed ... Co. was demolished 1928. Behind it is the rear view of the Hotel Belmont 1906, demolished 1931. The building between Union Carbide and ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/14/2012 - 1:21pm -

New York, 1916. Heckscher Building at 50 East 42nd Street and Madison Avenue. View full size. Irving Underhill photo. The building, which still stands, used to have a squash court on the 23rd floor. Nowadays it's dwarfed by its neighbors. Such Detail!Look at the bird droppings on the railing and walkway in the left corner foreground. Denny Gill Chugiak, Alaska Which way are we facing?Southeast. 42nd St heads east (to the left). Construction of the southern ramp of the "circumferential elevated driveway" around the newly-completed Grand Central Terminal is visible on Park Ave one block east. Madison Ave is one-way heading north, that comes in from the right at the bottom of the photo. Was it always one-way? Dunno. The Lincoln Safe Deposit Co building is now the 53-story Lincoln Building, directly across the street from the Vanderbilt Ave/42nd St GCT entrance in the foreground here. Been in there many times to a friend's office but I never knew about this building right next door. Thanks Shorpy, I learn something every day. Grand Central TerminalOkay, the building on right foreground is the Union Carbide building. The balcony is the upper railing/walkway of the Manhattan Hotel built 1897 (Henry Janeway Hardenbergh), remodeled 1921-22 and renamed National City Bank. Demolished circa 1963. The Lincoln Safe Deposit Co. was demolished 1928. Behind it is the rear view of the Hotel Belmont 1906, demolished 1931. The building between Union Carbide and Heckscher is possibly the Murray Hill Hotel. South of the Manhattan Hotel and to the left of the Heckscher building (not visible) was the future site of the 1921 Liggett Drug building. The Belmont Hotel, on Park Avenue between 41st and 42nd streets, had me stumped for a while. Bye for now C.R. Can't believe I confused G.G. Bain with Irving Underhill on the Singer 1908 picture. And that wasn't the Queen Insurance building, it was the Dun building. Thanks Dave for the correction. (The Gallery, Irving Underhill, NYC)
REO Heroes: 1906
... and back." Percy Megargel and David Fassett at Huber's Hotel on 162nd Street in the Bronx at the end of their 10-month, 11,000-mile ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/31/2021 - 1:05pm -

June 1906. "REO Mountaineer, New York to San Francisco and back." Percy Megargel and David Fassett at Huber's Hotel on 162nd Street in the Bronx at the end of their 10-month, 11,000-mile trip in a 16-horsepower REO (Ransom E. Olds) touring car. View full size. Shades of the Old WestThe cowboys of the 19th century had a rifle in a scabbard secured under their saddle. Percy and David had the rifle in a scabbard secured under the fender. I wonder what its purpose was, hunting for food, defense or both? ToolsThe Winchester rifle was only drawn once, for a bear: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-reo-mountaineer-endurance-ru... Not a very smooth tripNew York Tribune Thursday Jan 11, 1906 Modern AutomobileThis REO seems to have more basic systems in common with a 1980 car that the 1980 car has with a 2021 car (or crossover/SUV/Truck, since they hardly make cars anymore). 162nd and Jerome AveAcross the street from the (future) House That Ruth Built! Long and winding roadThis was aptly described at the time as an 'endurance run'. Percy and David originally estimated the round trip would take 112 days. One reason it took three times that: they routed through Detroit, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Portland, Los Angeles, Flagstaff, Gallup, Denver, and Omaha. They reported that the car was once stuck in quicksand for three weeks until a snow-melt flood washed it loose. They were in San Francisco in November 1905, so they missed the earthquake by five months. The photo below was captioned: "Lost between Williams and Flagstaff, Ariz." (They are less than 34 miles apart--but Arizona was still a territory.) Clearly, a time-traveller.The passenger is checking his cellphone. The Bronx?! The heck you say."How can this be the Bronx?" I asked myself. "It's not even paved." Then the light bulb went on. Curious as to what might be there today, I did a quick Google and found the approximate location. Suffice it to say, as a native New Englander, I wouldn't be caught dead there now outside of the AL East wild card playoffs... Bowlers and boatersThere is a bit of a mix of hats there, though I would suppose that June was well into straw hat season. Wearing the wrong hat when the season changes could cause a riot, especially in NYC. Unreadable scriptThe REO on the left has three letters on the front of the radiator. These are someone's initials. These could be bought from aftermarket vendors who sold dusters etc. to personalize one's car. Ransom E. OldsHad given his name to the Oldsmobile brand back in 1897, but left the company in 1905. He tried to continue under the name Olds, but legal action from Oldsmobile kept him from doing that so he settled on Reo. Had one of the most descriptive and interesting names for its cars in the 20's, specifically the Reo Flying Cloud. After the Depression settled into making large trucks and was absorbed by Volvo after bankruptcy in 1975. Bottom sideI'm curious as to the purpose of the shroud of fabric underneath the vehicle. Is it to catch those falling parts along the way? Riding ShotgunSo you wouldn't get relegated to the back seat. Unless a couple honeys come along then Riding Shotgun wasn't important. REO in the UKMany motor buses in Britain were REO. The story was 'Ruins Every Operator'... You may say that - I could not possibly comment! Timing is everythingI figure they were somewhere in Ohio when the Big One hit San Francisco. Re: Timing is everything (from the SF fire to the band in IL)To make it to San Francisco in time for "the big one", they might have used a REO Speed Wagon (the truck, not the band); but that vehicle wasn't to appear on the scene until 1915; and the band wasn't on the scene until 1966. On an interesting note, the band got its name (R.E.O. Speedwagon) from the vehicle, as founder and keyboardist Neal Doughty saw it written on the blackboard of his "History of Transportation" class at the University of Illinois (Champaign) in 1967. And if all of that wasn't enough coincidence, on his first keyboard, one of the first songs Neal Doughty learned was "Light My Fire" by The Doors. I can just hear those famous words by Robert L. Ripley ringing out, "Believe It or Not!" It would have been 9 monthsIf they did not have to lace up those boots every morning. Almost HomeCurrently, just west of third base at the (new) Yankee Stadium. Not a speedy wagonIf I did the math right, that averages out to just over 1.5 mph. If they drove just 8 hours a day, it averages out to about 4.6 mph. They didn't try for a direct route, but seemed to try to drive through as many states as they could. Today, with a direct route from NY to SF of 2906 miles, Google says you can make the round trip in 86 hours. Much more info here. Eye of the beholderIMO the tall, dark man standing behind the three gents on the far right, with his eyes cast downward, is also pretty handsome. The triple threat, as it were. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, DPC, NYC)
Kenny's Drugs: 1953
... night we spent in Phoenix, in whatever the major downtown hotel was called, was an interesting one, especially for a teenage gearhead ... Virtually all night, one could stick one's head out the hotel room window and witness what seemed an endless stream of street rods, ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 06/26/2013 - 11:49am -

Phoenix in 1953. "Photographs show teenagers, mostly male, participating in the Maricopa County, Arizona, programs for teenage delinquent drivers. Includes boys working at Juvenile Farm; teens attending Attitude School; policeman with boys and their hot rods; teens driving on Phoenix streets." Photo by Earl Theisen for the Look magazine assignment "How to Tame Teenage Drivers." View full size. Back then, There were no racing slicks available. We just found the largest tires he could get and put them on the rear. The REAL "Happy Days"These were the real "Fonzies" of the era, not the bland happy-go-lucky character Henry Winkler played on TV's "Happy Days". They did not wink when crossed, and those boots were not for walking. Teenage Boys?They look much older than any teenage boys I've ever seen. Not a bad-looking hot rod, though. "Attitude School" -- I think we could benefit from some of that today! Sheriff Joe would have approved of Attitude School.These boys would not look good in pink jumpsuits if they were hauled in for drag racing TiresInteresting tread pattern on the rear wheels of that Deuce. The fronts looks fairly smooth. I wonder how it drove; and where it might be now, 60 years later. I hope Theisen had another shot of these three. Motel CityBased on the number of motel signs, I am guessing that this is either Van Buren Street or Grand Avenue. Both gateways to a city that was based on the automobile back in the 1950s. Personalized Weapon?The cop's police .38 has an interesting grip, looks like imitation horn. A bit flashy for police armory issue. Most of those guns came with a polished wooden grip. No more cruising stripsThis appears to be a popular street on which to see and be seen, rev up the gas and peel out, very much like the scenes from "American Graffiti" and since I was a pre-teen, there used to be one in every state in which I have lived or visited until about 20 years ago. They have mostly been restricted now by local police and new laws to keep kids and their souped-up hotrods away and keep them from being an annoyance and hindrance to emergency vehicles and drive through restaurants but they were fun (for young people) while they lasted. We made many enduring friendships and never-to-be forgotten memories by just meeting and greeting from our cars or parked side by side as we waited for the carhops to deliver our sodas. These kids who allegedly need an attitude adjustment look tame and respectful to me compared to the armed gangbangers accosting each other these days. I'm grateful to have lived my youth during the best decades of the 20th century. Flathead Ford V8Was the likely engine in this car. I graduated in 1952 and many of us in that class had experience in tearing them down and rebuilding them. urcunina is correct.The engine in the roadster is a flathead Ford or Merc V8. You can see the coolant hose for the left bank of cylinders routed from the top of the engine down in front to the left water pump. This completely eliminates the radiator and was only done on race cars set up for the 1/4 mile drags. This car would not be driven on the street. The flathead V8s were notorious for overheating, even with proper cooling systems, and would not last more than a few blocks of street driving set up this way. You can see in the pic that there is no grille/radiator in front of the engine. This photo was probably staged for the camera. Pistol strap is wrongThe strap should be over the hammer of the pistol. As it is there is nothing to prevent it from falling or being taken out. Missing that final touchA pack of Luckies rolled up in the shirtsleeve. CruisingMy parents and I lived in Paraguay from 1957 to 1960, and upon our return stateside, drove from New York to Monterey, California, stopping along the way to visit relatives, friends, and the occasional Route 66 reptile zoo and souvenir stand. The night we spent in Phoenix, in whatever the major downtown hotel was called, was an interesting one, especially for a teenage gearhead who'd been deprived of such stimuli for three years. Virtually all night, one could stick one's head out the hotel room window and witness what seemed an endless stream of street rods, custom jobs, and even family sedans parading down the main drag at a stately pace. I guess it was for the benefit of the tourists, because apparently every local resident was driving, not spectating. Unfortunately, my pleas to be allowed to take our steel grey Imperial and join in the spectacle fell on deaf parental ears. Rear TiresThose rear tires look like dirt track tires to me which were popular on the old jalopies of the day. I Sure wish we could get a front view of the car. Cruising CentralThe cruising street of choice until a decade or so ago was Central Avenue from downtown northward. This photo doesn't look like Central as most of the motels back then were along the main highways: Grand Avenue and Van Buren. The officer is wearing the uniform of what is now called Department of Public Safety but was then called Arizona Highway Patrol. They don't normally patrol city streets so I'm guessing this is on the edge of town but would have been on a state or national highway. It is a good thing that rod and its flat head V8 didn't make much horsepower as that Model A spoked wheel was not that strong. And that rear tire looks much more suited to dirt or clay than pavement. I found an obit of someone who had worked at "Kenny's Drugs" but it did not give the location. Love that sidearmMost likely a S&W .38 police special with stag grips. Would love to have that now. What a classic. Sand DragsWith those rear tires, and the other racing-inspired bits, it might be am early sand dragster. What's on tap?What I'd like to know is which beer company is represented on the sign at the top right. I thought it might be A-1, an Arizona regional of the time, but could not confirm any of their signs had that look. Thoughts? There's hot and then there's HOTHaving cooked, I mean lived, in Phoenix for a year, I can guarantee it isn't summer in this photo. Wouldn't be leaning on the car. I had metal door handles and learned the hard way that when parked outside for more than an hour or two, use a potholder to open the door. (Cars, Trucks, Buses, LOOK)
Steeplechase Park: 1903
... been the Thunderbolt roller coaster with the Kensington Hotel underneath its far turn (the house from Annie Hall where Alvy Singer grew ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/20/2012 - 7:14pm -

New York, August 1903. "South end of Bowery, Coney Island." Be sure to bring the kiddies -- "All the children will be presented with toys to-day." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. ReliefAfter you eat your rosted peanuts and drink your lemoade, you can go to the tolet upstairs! SignageIncredible photo! I spent a half hour just reading signs. 1963I visited Coney Island exactly 60 years after this photo was taken. You could still avail yourself of the Steeplechase Horses and Parachute Jump. And George C. Tilyou is the name behind the flags. Who says there's no such thing as a time machine?I love photos like this one - so clear and so detailed, its like you could step right into them! Thanks, Shorpy! When Life gives you LemosCheck out the sign: LEMOADE! At nightthis place is lit up like Luna Park! They all just seem to be in costume. It's hard to believe that people wore those kinds of clothes. Especially the women. It just seems all so civilized. My first impulse upon seeing this image, was to jump into it to hear the sounds and smell the smells of what this grand place was offering. The Guy on the Leftis ready to start a fight. Maybe he's the guy who misspelled "Lemonade." "The Funny Place"Does anyone else remember the old newspaper ads for "Steeplechase, The Funny Place," whose logo was the caricature drawing of an idiotic grinning man? I always thought it was George C. Tilyou himself. What's there today?What a beautiful picture. Coney Island is such a wonderful chameleon. Steeplechase Park was on the western end of the Coney Island amusement area, roughly where the minor league Keyspan Park and its parking lot are today. This means that if this picture was taken at the western end of the Bowery, which stopped at the Steeplechase property line, then that puts us on the Bowery just west of W. 15th Street. Here's the the corner on Google Maps. Keyspan Park would be directly in front of us where the Steeplechase admission gates are. The spot to our left, in later years, would've been the Thunderbolt roller coaster with the Kensington Hotel underneath its far turn (the house from Annie Hall where Alvy Singer grew up.) The roller coaster sat dormant from 1983 to 2000, when Guiliani tore it down in 2000 to make way for a much-needed vacant lot. Anyway, I just realized I'd taken a picture of that spot from a similar angle in 2000. As you can see from the 2000 picture the street was no longer a public way, but you can get a good sense of the use of the land then and now. I'm willing to bet Kensington Walk is the little turn-off to the left that you see in the 1903 pic. The Kensington was built in 1895 and according to this story from a NY folklore society it "survived the Bowery fire of 1903". The New York Times story on the fire puts the date of the blaze as November 1, 1903. This photo is dated on or before August 25, 1903 if the Knights of Columbus sign is any indication. Most of these buildings, then, didn't have long to live when the picture was taken. Most of the Bowery from Steeplechase all the way to Feltman's Restaurant (where Astroland Park recently stood) was ruined. Out of the ashes of the bordellos and gambling parlors came, well, more bordellos and gambling parlors. Coney Island has always had that amazing knack for giving people what they want. This is why I love shorpy.com so much. With a little work and some luck, we can still uncover those connections from the past which the photographs (and the newspaper morgues, bless the NYT) have so kindly kept for us. Budget Sign Co.You may have needed some of that LEMOADE to wash down those fresh "rosted" peanuts. Back into my ancestors' livesMy grandfather was born in Brooklyn, not far from here, the month after this was taken. Seems like a completely different world. Wonderful image. PalmistI want my life read to me by Eaton the Great! That clock tower is amazing! No No, can't have it here!"Yes, we need electricity, but placing a utility pole here would get in the way of our customers buying our waffles for 35 cents. Figure something out." "Well, ok, but we'll have to balance a pole up on your balcony and tie it to your roof. We try not to do anything in an attractive way, you see." So the power companies and telegraph companies set a precedent that stays with us to this very day. Steeplechase JackYou can see "Steeplechase Jack" and his grin inviting you into "The Funny Place" near the center, below the weathervane, to the left of the signs for Cummins Indian Congress (a Wild West show)! (The Gallery, Coney Island, DPC, Sports)
Ask Mr. Foster: 1924
... St., One Door from Pennsylvania Ave. Opposite Willard Hotel Wallace Nutting A number of the framed images in the window were ... part of a building recently restored as the Casa Monica Hotel. If anyone has a copy of the 1937 publication of "Ask Mr. Foster" ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 09/03/2012 - 3:36pm -

"Foster & Reynolds, exterior." The National Remembrance Shop in Washington circa 1924. View full size. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. Ask Mr. EgoI want to ask Mr. Foster how he got to be such a Mr. Knowitall. Question for Mr. FosterWho was the ever enigmatic Edwards boy who appears in numerous photos around Washington DC? Count the TimesWe could almost make a game of how many times the phrase "Ask Mr. Foster" appears in this shot. Mr. Foster's ShopWashington Post, Apr 17, 1922; advertisement Every one visiting Washington wishes to take away something as a remembrance of the visit to the Nation's Capitol or as a gift for friends at home. It is the aim of the National Remembrance Shop to supply such things in souvenirs that shall have some artistic merit. Our wares are of gold, silver, wood, china, leather. There are picture books of views of Washington, and all sorts of things suitable as gifts. Many of these things cannot be had elsewhere. We mean that the prices shall be reasonable, the goods well and servicable, and pleasing to the eye: even the most inexpensive articles (and there are many such) being of a character to appeal to persons of cultivated taste. National Remembrance Shop (Mr. Foster's Shop) 503 14th St., One Door from Pennsylvania Ave. Opposite Willard Hotel Wallace NuttingA number of the framed images in the window were made by Wallace Nutting, a Congregational Minister turned photographer and entrepreur. In particular, the images in the top of the central window appear to be very similar to "A Plate of Cookies - Studio #67" by Nutting. http://www.wallacenuttinglibrary.com/wnp00067.htm A.M.F. CountI come up with 10 readable Ask Mr. Fosters. National Remembrance ShopThe following appears as an advertisement in the Washington Post in 1915: Remembrances of Washington that are attractive yet inexpensive. National Remembrance Shop,14th St. and Pa. Ave. Pre-GoogleAsk Jeeves' great-granddad. On the SillIn the left window, there are five publications, one with the Statue of Liberty on the cover. Are these atlases, maps, or travel magazines? [Travel guides ("Standard Guides") to Washington, Boston, New York, Chicago and Illegible. - Dave] Reynolds' Standard Guide Washington Post, Nov 11, 1940; obituary Charles Bingham Reynolds, editor of a sightseeing guide of Washington and brother of Burnet Reynolds of 1411 Crittenden Street Northwest, died yesterday at his home in Mountain Lakes, N.J., at the age of 84. Mr. Reynolds was one of the founders of the B.S. Reynolds Co. here, a wholesale souvenir and postcard company. He was editor of Forest and Stream from 1879 to 1906. He was the author of a number of travel guides including "Old St. Augustine, a Story of Three Centuries" and "Standard Guide to Cuba." He founded the Foster and Reynolds Travel Service more than 50 years ago, and served as secretary and treasurer. Standard Guide of Washington at Google Books That hill!Ha! I was going to guess 14th Street, because you just don't see streets slope that way too many places in downtown Washington. How Could I Miss It?I didn't get to Illegible on my trip to the US! Bummin' looks like a fine town. Ask Mr. FosterWard G. Foster started the "Ask Mr. Foster" travel agency in St. Augustine, Florida in 1888. The store was part of a building recently restored as the Casa Monica Hotel. If anyone has a copy of the 1937 publication of "Ask Mr. Foster" by Charles B. Reynolds. Please contact gary@adlibtours.com National Remembrance ShopI have just bought a jug here in the UK. 9.5 inches tall, Treacle Brown Glazed, with a print of the White House on one side and the Congressional Library on the other. On the bottom it is marked "National Remembrance Shop Washington DC." It looks very like the jug in the window. Far left above the second plate from the left behind the two tankards. More pics here. (The Gallery, D.C., Natl Photo, Stores & Markets, Travel & Vacation)
The Royal Palm: 1907
Miami circa 1907. "Miami River and Royal Palm Hotel." Yet another Florida hotel built by Henry Flagler, the Royal Palm is said to have had Miami's first ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/31/2012 - 4:17pm -

Miami circa 1907. "Miami River and Royal Palm Hotel." Yet another Florida hotel built by Henry Flagler, the Royal Palm is said to have had Miami's first electric lights, elevators and swimming pool. 8x10 glass negative. View full size. GOT to get my eyes checkedI read that as: "the Royal Palm is said to have had Miami's first electric lights, alligators and swimming pool." Make you swim those laps a little faster. ProgressDredging has begun on the Miami River. Soon, the river will once again host boats instead of abandoned cars and reefs of tires. Watch outfor the electric swimming pool! Miami RiverThis would have been taken from the first span to cross the Miami River -- the Avenue D Bridge, looking northeast from the river's south shore. Later, Avenue D was renamed "Miami Avenue". Needless to say, the view has changed remarkably in the last 105 years. Sure, Sure,C'mon down and unload a barge full of sand by hand, and we could be out sailing. Palm ReaderPalm trees really beautify Florida. It's too bad the modern view has very few of them. And thanks Dave for another Flagler pic. Alcohol for 3 Months Every YearJust read about this on Wikipedia, very interesting fact: Although, at the insistence of Julia Tuttle, a clause prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages had been included in all land deeds for the new city of Miami, the Royal Palm Hotel had an exemption to serve alcohol to its guests during the three months of the tourist season. (The Gallery, Boats & Bridges, DPC, Florida, Miami)
Parked Tight: 1940
... away. [I think this was the view from John Vachon's hotel window. - Dave] Running Boards All these cars have running ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 01/03/2008 - 1:45am -

May 1940. Parked cars in Des Moines, Iowa. View full size. 35mm nitrate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. ZORThe Mark of Zorro w/ Tyrone Power came out in 1940, but it wasn't released until November. Besides, I would expect a slashing Z rather than the boxy typeface they used here. And, of course, no apparent room for 'The Mark of'.... Isn't the Internet a wondrous thing? And for all you film buffs out there, there is some extant gag footage (there's a phrase you don't hear every day) of Ty Power doing his trademark Z, but it's referred to on the soundtrack as 'gasp', the Mark of Zanuck! but, I digress.... Reading MaterialIn the white car second from the left, looks like there's a newspaper in the back. Wonder what the headline was. [ZOR - Dave] ParkedI wonder how the driver got out of the cars after he parked them, or how is he planning to get in. Maybe they put first the car on the right, then the next one to his left and so on. Kind of a Tetris game! SpaceIt looks like they still had about 1meter of space to open the door and go. But the way they were planning to get out of this parking must be interesting. On the other hand it looks like a parking for office or small factory workers, so probably, as they ended work at the same hour, there was no problems with driving away. [I think this was the view from John Vachon's hotel window. - Dave] Running BoardsAll these cars have running boards, which means that although tightly packed, a driver could step on the adjoining car's running board as he got into his own car. It is odd that they would be parked so closely, though. [These would have been parked by an attendant, not the owner. - Dave] Bumper CarsA couple of these are brand-new cars. The second from the left in upper row with the one chevron-shaped taillight is a 1940 Ford standard coupe (the Deluxe had two taillights). Apparently in those days the bumper was there to bump. They must have backed the cars up 'till they heard or felt contact. Parking lot?I read all the theories about the parking methods used in this "parking lot", but I think it more likely to be the parking lot of a car seller. That is the place where you, also nowadays, will find cars parked like "herrings in a barrel" (like is said in Dutch). [You don't leave hats and packages in cars for sale. It's a typical urban pay lot, familiar to anyone who lives next to a vacant patch of land in a big-city American downtown. They still park them like this today. - Dave] Washington D.C. parkingI worked in Washington during the early 70's and commuted to work in my personal car. The parking lot was behind the Old Post Office off of Pennsylvania Avenue. The attendants would start in the center and pack the other cars around it until the lot was filled. You can imagine what would happen if a person wanted to leave work early! (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, John Vachon)
Rochester: 1904
... Hot, Cold Shower Baths 25 cents. I know that many hotel/apartment buildings of the era had a single bathroom down the hall, for ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/06/2012 - 6:03pm -

"Powers Building, Rochester, N.Y., 1904." Detroit Publishing. View full size. One for the PreservationistsA nice tour of Western New York the past few days, Dave. This one's still there: View Larger Map Powers CloseupClick to enlarge. Not Just OneBoth of those large buildings still exist. The left one has had some remodeling to the facade and the roof line has been altered. StoneworkAbout that construction site: it looks like there is a lot of stonework being done at this phase. I'm going to guess that the picket-like debris is crating for precut stones, possibly Greek style columns that are built up from many smaller stone disks. 5 to 3The men on the bottom left intrigue me for some unknown reason. I wonder what they're doing in the late afternoon amongst all that junk. [That's a construction site full of building materials. - Dave] Hustle and BustleThe ghostly elongated motions of people and transportation devices adds further artistic complexity to this fantastic image. You sense the dynamics. Shorpy Construction Co.Don't think we don't notice how the Shorpy watermark is angled to look like it's painted on the construction site fence! That Great-Grandpa Shorpy sure knew how to put up a building. Modernizing It's good to see that this building with its magnificent ornamentation has largely escaped modernization -- but they still managed to muck up the ground floor. I'm trying to figure out where the basement with the hot & cold showers went. Some Like it ColdAs always, it is the incredible detail that makes these photos and site come to life. Notice competing insurance companies upstairs from the main entrance of Fidelity Trust: You have Phoenix Mutual Life, and a little higher up, Ashley & Loewenguth. On the ground floor you have a One Price Hatters and Furriers. (Doesn't say it is a low price. Could be a high price. Just says it is one price). But the best sign in this picture has to be down in the basement. It reads Hot, Cold Shower Baths 25 cents. I know that many hotel/apartment buildings of the era had a single bathroom down the hall, for all the residents of a floor. But does that really mean that people were excited to go take a cold shower in 1904? Brrrrr. [And let's not forget "Pony Moore" next door. - Dave] Super PowersThanks for posting this! The Powers Building is my favorite building in town. So cool to see such an old photo of it in high resolution! Elevation changeNotice the huge elevation change...there used to be many steps leading up to the front door, now it's at grade. I guess that's where the underground baths went, further underground! Grand Union IntersectionThis is the first photo I've ever seen of a "grand union" track junction -- where two two-track railway lines meet, usually at a street intersection, and railroad switches allow any streetcar coming from any direction to turn either left or right onto the intersecting line. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Grand-union A girl named SueI'm so very late to the party on this one, but this is the corner of West Main (running left-right) and State/Exchange. Many of the buildings on State Street (the far right) are still standing today, and I walk by them regularly. Suffragist Susan B. Anthony was a Rochester resident for most of her life, coming to the area with her family as a young child on a packet boat on the Erie Canal. One of my favorite stories to tell when I volunteered at her home as a docent was what transpired when she was arrested in 1872 for voting. The deputy planned to make her pay for her trolley ride to the police station, but she refused, stating that she was traveling at the expense of "this fine gentleman here, and he will pay my fare." She would have traveled down Main Street that day on these very tracks to the police station. Thank you for presenting this photo! How do streetcars turn?Geezer's spotting of the Grand Union Junction gives me incentive to ask something I've long wondered -- when a street car approaches a junction (switch point) how does the operator make the car go in the desired direction? It seems unlikely that he stops and gets out, or that someone is standing by to throw a switch externally. And what ensures that both trucks make the same turn? Directionality>> how does the operator make the car go in the desired direction In most cases there is no question of "desired direction." The car follows the tracks, which have already been switched. To change the switch points, the operator would have to stop the car and use a track bar. (The Gallery, DPC, Rochester, Streetcars)
Seaside House: 1907
Atlantic City circa 1907. "Seaside Hotel (Seaside House)." Note the fly netting on the horse. 8x10 inch glass ... Mahal now stands. By the 1950s it had become the Seaside Hotel and Motor Lodge, a 10 story brick hotel and a two level motel with a pool, and the area between the hotel and the ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 05/10/2013 - 10:50am -

Atlantic City circa 1907. "Seaside Hotel (Seaside House)." Note the fly netting on the horse. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size. Times changeAnd not always for the best. This is where the Trump Taj Mahal now stands. By the 1950s it had become the Seaside Hotel and Motor Lodge, a 10 story brick hotel and a two level motel with a pool, and the area between the hotel and the boardwalk was a miniature golf course. We used to stay there for a week every September back in the 60s. A Scorcher!I suspect this photo was taken on a very HOT day; both sets of ladies are using umbrellas, the carriages (which may have been taxi-like vehicles) are empty, and just about everyone else is in the shade of the porch. Flies!Flies were epidemic at that time due to horse dung everywhere. Probably was miserable for the people by today's standards. I have reservationsI look at this fine resort & think about the state of building codes and firefighting in 1907. I would opt for the downscale Hotel Jackson in the background. A lower floor, please. What are theWhat are the string things hanging from the horse in the foreground? [See the caption. - tterrace] (The Gallery, Atlantic City, DPC, Horses)
Pennsylvania Avenue: 1910
... here include the Washington Post newspaper, the Willard Hotel between 14th and 15th, the U.S Treasury, a bit of the White House, and ... and the Post have been replaced by a JW Marriott hotel. The retail on the south side of Penn directly across from the Willard ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/17/2012 - 10:33pm -

Washington, D.C., circa 1910. "Pennsylvania Avenue west from the Old Post Office." Landmarks here include the Washington Post newspaper, the Willard Hotel between 14th and 15th, the U.S Treasury, a bit of the White House, and the State, War and Navy building. Detroit Publishing glass negative. View full size. Eggroll with that?So 100 years ago the prez could walk across the street for some Chinese takeout! Government TakeoverWhat a difference today, especially the south side from 13th to 15th streets and south down 14th. It's all federal government buildings replacing the retail stores you see in this picture. I'm curious about the statue on the corner of Penn and 14th. I guess he wasn't too important as the Reagan building now dominates that whole block from 13th to 14th. TrafficWill you look at that charabanc waiting over by Millers, and the "braver than I" cyclist in the thick of it! And is that a Stutz outside the Post? This Sportin' LifeI wonder if the 1910 version Woodward or Bernstein has left his classy chassis idling at the curb while he dashed into The Post to file a rewrite. Great image. A Clearer PictureThis Shorpyshot (™?) certainly gives me a clearer perspective of the White House's neighborhood. Municipal BuildingJust out of sight on the left would have been the District Building, a.k.a. the Municipal Building, now called the John Wilson Building. The story of its abandonment and resuscitation are too long and involved to delve into here. The statue at the corner looks to be that of Alexander Robey "Boss" Shepard Shepherd, but I can't get a good enough look to be certain. Boss Shepard is another long story in DC's history. After a stay in storage at the Blue Plains water treatment plant, the statue is back in front of the Wilson Building again. [The monument is indeed U.S.J. Dunbar's statue of Alexander Shepherd, unveiled on May 3, 1909. Exactly where it was to be put on the lawn was the subject of a prolonged civic controversy. - Dave] Only the Best ViandsGerstenberg's, 1343 E St. N.W., later became the Canton Pagoda, seen in this Shorpy Post: Radio School 1920. Washington Post, Feb 24, 1907 Ernst Gerstenberg Popular Boniface With the prestige of twenty years' uninterrupted success, the logical outcome of a strict adherence to fundamental ideas of superiority in the realm of delicatessen, Ernst Gerstenberg, the popular boniface of 1343 E Street, today occupies a position prominent among the National Capital's noted caterers. This famous resort, distinctive in every degree, has become the hub of some of the nation's leading men. Its reputation is as wide as the country for its excellence in the preparation of foods, and only the best viands are selected with rare judgement, and reach the patron in the most tempting and pleasing style. Mr. Ernst Gerstenberg, one of the famous epicures in German delicatessen, has achieved a brilliant success in a field which first offered discouragement, and through a display of superior judgement and straightforward business policies, and the handling of goods with the "ear-marks" of undisputed quality, has made permanent a place in which the city has evidenced pride. The name "Gerstenberg" is a synonym for originality. From its inception this has been the characteristic feature of the place. The patron derives the genuine satisfaction of being provided at Gerstenberg's with those luxuries which, by some happy stroke of genius, are better, because they are different, from preparations of any other sort. Things are done in the "gold old German way," and, as the purveyor of the best, Gerstenberg is without a peer. Though absorbed for the most post in the personal supervision of his extensive trade, Mr. Gerstenberg has often assumed charge of his cooking department, and his qualifications as chef are the highest. Before coming to America he learned every phase of the business in Germany, and throughout his active management of the place, has in emergencies demonstrated rare ability in every feature of the culinary art. Aside from its reputation as one of Washington's leading restaurants, Gerstenberg's is famed for its high-class importations of the finest wines and liquors. Gerstenberg's beers including Luchow, Hofbrau, and Pilsner, have gained wide popularity. Mr. Gerstenberg is the sole distributor in the District of Columbia of the famous Aromatique Bitters, a noted German preparation of wonderful medicinal properties. "Government Takeover"?Hardly. The Commerce Department building between 14th and 15th is south of the part of Penn Avenue seen here. All the retail in this picture has either been replaced by new retail or public space. On the north side of Penn Ave Miller's, the cigar shop, the telegraph building, Gerstenberg's, and the Post have been replaced by a JW Marriott hotel. The retail on the south side of Penn directly across from the Willard became Pershing Park and the retail to the left of the Willard now includes the Occidental restaurant and W Hotel (formerly Hotel Washington). PayolaAll I can say is that it looks as though the author of that Washington Post piece must have been on the receiving end of some fine comestibles and high class importated wines and liquors. Or maybe he was a Gerstenberg. Glimpse of lifeThis general scene is described very well in a book published in the 1940s, entitled "Starling of the White House." Col. Edmund Starling (a Kentucky colonel) was a Secret Service agent who served from early in the Wilson administration into the earlier terms of FDR. He lived at the Willard and walked to work at the White House. (The Gallery, D.C., DPC, Streetcars)
Auto-Campers: 1920
... courts of the '40s and '50s and culminate in the motor hotel, or "motel." Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 04/22/2013 - 9:37am -

Washington, D.C., or vicinity circa 1920. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas, Texas, in auto tourist camp." A novelty that would evolve into tourist cabins of the 1920s and '30s, the motor courts of the '40s and '50s and culminate in the motor hotel, or "motel." Harris & Ewing glass negative. View full size. About that license plateNice illustration of the first state-issued Texas license plate and registration plate in action. State-issued Texas plates were introduced in 1917, with slightly over 50,000 plates being issued that year. The plates were undated, with the date being on the registration plate [commonly called a "radiator seal", for obvious reasons]. This style of plate, with separate registration seal, continued to be used through 1924. The first dated Texas plates came out in 1925. Great photo of auto camping, which was quite a national fad in the 1920s for those lucky enough to afford it. Lots of folks would do auto camping during the following decade as well, but for altogether different reasons. A great memory of the pastWhen we were young our families used to go to the various roadside rests around the area for a picnic. There were quite a few in our area of Ohio. As years went by and the advent of 4 lanes, the roadside rests were closed and abandoned. Some of them had the best drinking water I have ever had. Winnebago,The early years. Give it ten years or so.They will be doing the same thing, only it won't be for fun. Deep in the HeartI am curious why anyone would ID this as being in the Washington DC area when the vehicle clearly has a 1920 Texas license plate, and some kind of Texas permit (possibly for its use as a camper) on its radiator. [A big hint is the term "tourist camp." Harris & Ewing was a commercial photography studio located in Washington, D.C. -tterrace] Chandelier He's even got an outside lamp for late night dining. In 1920Any trip from Texas up to the Washington area would have been a grand adventure. Imagine the type of roads that poor car had to use. Brave souls. Lamsteed KampkarOne of the first RV's, a Lamsteed Kampkar. Designed in 1915 by Samuel Lambert of Listerine fame... later built by Anheuser-Busch. Described in the book Mobile Mansions Motor Touring in 1923In 1923 my grandmother, aunt, mother and a friend just back from being a missionary in Liberia (4 women), took a motor trip from Washington, DC, to Maine and back. They camped each night, usually in farmer's fields. They were avid photographers and I should post a picture or two on Shorpy. Dadlooks to be a rather jolly ol type of fella doesn't he. Clear the Bridge!He must have gotten that Klaxon from navy surplus. Re: DadWhile Mom, on the other hand, looks a little tired of it all. Car campingThey've essentially turned their car into an RV. Plunk that RV down in a more scenic piece of land and it screams national park to me -- a campground. Car camping. Meet the FostersAfter much squinting and Photoshopping I was able to decipher the writing along the bottom of the plate. Caption updated to reflect this. "Dr. A.A. Foster and family of Dallas Tex." Also seen here. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!"Oh, there's nothing like the posh, posh traveling life for me!" -- From the film, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" 1920 Census RecordsFound the family! From familysearch.org 1920 Census Records - Dallas, TX Allan A Foster (M) - born in Tennessee 1886 - 34 years old Jessie W Foster (F) - born in Texas - 34 years old Beula Belle Foster (F) - born in Texas - 8 years old Allan A Foster (M) - born in Texas - 7 years old Thomas K Foster (M) - born in Texas - 2 years 6 months old Household ID: 83 Sheet No.: 4 GS Film No.: 1821791 Digital Folder No.: 4391480 Image No.: 00741 More on the Foster familyIn the 1930 census, the family was in Pasadena, California. The parents, Allan (spelled Allen) and Jessie, are both 46. The children are Beulah, age 18, Allan, age 17, and Thomas, age 12. In the 1940 census, the Foster family is still in Pasadena. Son Thomas, at age 22, is still living with his parents. There is also a daughter-in-law, Theresa Foster, age 25, living there, who I assume was Thomas's wife. (The Gallery, Cars, Trucks, Buses, D.C., Dogs, Harris + Ewing, Kids)
Flowers on the Ceiling: 1906
Parkside, Pennsylvania, circa 1906. "Park Hotel parlors." Cellphones off, please. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, ... no waiting No loitering either. Looks as if the Park Hotel wanted its patrons to hang around its parlors as little as possible, if ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/29/2012 - 10:15am -

Parkside, Pennsylvania, circa 1906. "Park Hotel parlors." Cellphones off, please. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. HomeyGolly -- same wood trim as our old farmhouse. I could just move in and relax, love the rocking chairs, we move way too fast today. Ergonomics 101I've seen antique chairs with leather inserts but I don't quite understatnd the dished out design. Doesn't look very inviting, posteriorally speaking that is. I believe there are nineTwo more to the right of the fireplace in the back, with just the curved bottoms visible. Wow!The gas chandelier is the absolute "latest" in style. The keys on each arm controlled the gas flow and acted as "dimmers." Worth a fortune today, as well as the marvelous oil powered "pole" reading lamps. The indented rockers, that are quite low, permitted "proper ladies" with their corsets and bustles to sit appropriately. The room is an incredible time capsule of the transition from Victorian to more modern times. Modern ConstructionThere is a steel beam under the ceiling. I can't quite make out what the mill mark is. [PENCOYD! - Dave] Thankful it's B&WVisited Lincoln's home in Illinois. Could not believe the goshawful colors (orange rug!). Walked out with the visual equivalent of tinnitus. Nine chairs, no waitingNo loitering either. Looks as if the Park Hotel wanted its patrons to hang around its parlors as little as possible, if those uncomfortable-looking chairs are any indicator. Maybe the big money maker was the bar, one room over, with padded barstools and soft divans. Oh, and free nacho chips. Impressive chair seatsIn fact, they must have made quite an impression on everyone who sat in them! Spring cleaningIt looks to me like they recently finished spring cleaning, and put out the summer slipcovers on the furniture and the one floor lamp, as well as fresh curtains. The carpets look as if they were beaten to within an inch of their life. Lots of plantsI am impressed with all of the indoor plants, and I really like the hardwood flooring. Not a place to linger inThe furnishings seem very fussy to my eyes and the seats not overly comfortable even if some are rockers. 7 count 'em 7 Rocking chairs that is. And a lovely view of a more genteel era. Planks a lotThat is the nicest wood floor I have ever seen in any of these old photos. A pretty room but rather "busy" for my taste. Totally Awesome!I LOVE this room! It looks relaxing to me, I hope SO that someone will colorize this picture!! They're all dead nowAll of those plants. Gone. OverheadNote the wallpaper on the ceiling!! GravityI wallpapered the ceiling of a small room at my house and it was the last time. I sure admire the pros that can do it seemingly as easy as they do walls. (The Gallery, DPC)
Candy Kitchen: 1908
... Michigan, circa 1908. "View of Monroe Street showing Hotel Pantlind." Not to mention the Candy Kitchen and Ice Cream Parlor. 8x10 ... it is 9:34, but the shadows, especially the awnings on the hotel, appear to be more middle of the day, noontime, shadows to me. Amway ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/13/2013 - 4:09pm -

Grand Rapids, Michigan, circa 1908. "View of Monroe Street showing Hotel Pantlind." Not to mention the Candy Kitchen and Ice Cream Parlor. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size. Handlesbar NetI like the net on the bike, and note correct usage: two handles, one bar. [Kind of like teethbrush, or eyesglasses. - Dave] Don't use the tower clock to sync your pocket watchThe clock on the tower says that it is 9:34, but the shadows, especially the awnings on the hotel, appear to be more middle of the day, noontime, shadows to me. Amway Grand PlazaThe old Pantlind Hotel is now the east portion of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. NowadaysIt would be called Kandy Kitchen. Spacious Streetscape It's positively capacious! No bus shelters, benches, trees or overflowing litter receptacles. There aren't even any parking meters or lampposts to properly lock those newfangled bicycles against. So many peopleBy my count there are over 40 people (and one dog) visible in the picture. That's more than in most cityscape pictures, even ones in much larger cities than Grand Rapids. Cover StoryWhat's the story behind the tarps that are covering some of the store front windows? (The Gallery, Bicycles, DPC, Streetcars)
Jack's Sandwich Shop: 1941
... first floor of many big office buildings, in bus stations, hotel lobbys etc. They were all independent but had nearly identical menus. ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 08/19/2016 - 9:12pm -

        UPDATE: Restaurant ID courtesy of Sagitta. San Francisco circa 1941. "Restaurant counter." And another shot of the Buckley Music System "Music Box." (Selection No. 1: "Three at a Table for Two" by Dick Todd.) 8x10 acetate negative, photographer unknown. View full size. Drop 1 to 24 NickelsClick to enlarge. Bing & BobThanks to Dave we see Bing Crosby has four songs on this page alone. His brother Bob only has one. I think I'd rather eat here than at Mackey's. A lot cleaner and better maintained looking. Slow FoodNothing like a steaming bowl of condensed "Genuine Turtle." Playboy ChannelI'll opt for the Bob Wills selection. Jack's Sandwich Shop3007 16th Street, San Francisco. It's the corner of 16th and Mission, actually. Today it's a bus stop, but the facade of the California Savings across the street (barely visible through the plate glass) hasn't changed at all apparently in 75 years. [Excellent sandwich-sleuthing! - Dave] Music for lonely diners.A sandwich, a cup of coffee, and just me. Tilt & SwingThere is some wonderful focal depth in this image. Note the upholstery tacks on the chair backs: they are in focus all the way down the line. But note some of the objects off center, such as the man in the foreground: his head is out of focus, but his upper arm is sharp enough to see the weave and stitching of his jacket's fabric. The focus is selective in its depth. I don't pretend to have any hands-on experience with a large-format "bellows" camera, but I've browsed Ansel Adams' instructional notes on such matters. And this image shows the effects of tilting and swinging the lens and the film plane in concert. By contrast, a rigid lens and film plane (as with a standard camera) will only gain or lose depth, "corner to corner," according to the narrowing or widening of the aperture. Meanwhile, with a "tilt/shift" lens attached (of which I do have some hands-on experience), the tilt occurs only at the lens, while the film plane (or digital sensor) remains "squared"; the effect isn't as complex as what we see in this photo. No, I believe what we are seeing here is an example of a tilt and a swing. It isn't a casual shot. There was a lot of equipment and preparation going on at the back of this diner. An 8x10 view camera is a big rig, demanding a substantial tripod; and the tilting and swinging of the lens and film back, with the bellows extended, added to the "non-candid" nature of this composition. And yet the photographer has managed to capture a "decisive moment" of quiet psychological tension between disengagement and attentiveness. SorryI'm not eating at a place with no hat hangers on the back of the stools. I'd rather starve. I'll eat at this oneThis is a cleaner place than the Sausalito diner, and it has ashtrays, too. No hat clips on the seats though. Can't have everything. I like waffles to boot. Re: Popcorn Too?I don't think the large box thing in the background is for popcorn, but I can't be sure what it is. I believe the light on top of the "icebox" is an advertising sign for coffee. I wish the picture were a bit clearer, but the image on it looks like a coffee cup. Perhaps it was some form of espresso they were serving. Five cents for one songMusic was quite expensive compared to food. Popcorn too?Anyone know what the large device is at the window? Popcorn maker? Also what is the light up ad on the icebox? (as we called it growing up). I don't plan on eating off the floor, so---Will take my chances at Mackey's. Has a friendlier social vibe and this looks more like the lonely guy joint. Pass. FWIW...The car outside is a 1941 GM product, can't tell which make. Chevrolet, probably, but other makes shared the body style. Could be a '42 if the hung up coats indicate Winter. When I Lost YouLooks like he selected "When I Lost You" sung by Bing Crosby. Cost him a nickel, you can hear it for free here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5JporiR9oM. On hats and dining.This lunch counter looks exactly like what it is advertised to be: a place to have a quick and inexpensive lunch. For that, it seems to be a good place. I would love to have such a place now near where I live or work. (Lunch counters unfortunately seem to be only a matter of history now.) As for all the people complaining about the absence of hat clips: did you not notice the line of pegs for hats and coats along the wall? South of Market South of Market St in San Francisco there were many hole-in-the-wall eateries. They were almost all very narrow, with a set of skinny tables & chairs along one wall, and a counter on the other. The kitchen was behind the counter, with a few at the 'back' of the eatery. Many were shut down in the late 1970's by 'urban renewal' and the plans for the then-un-named Moscone Center. Places were put out years before the buildings were removed, and you'd see 'closing soon' signs in a lot of windows. They were the working person's lunch menu. Chinese that way, Italian the other, and burgers and fries the third. Some pretty decent seafood places shuttered their windows and were no longer. Those in power, with the help of the banks, decided that San Francisco would no longer cater to those who worked there. It was to be a 'tourist destination', along with a pan-handler and street bum destination, but that was not known for sure at the time. Workers, go home. We don't need you. Brown bags and 'company cafeterias' took the place of the "Jimmies' Cafe" and the 'Fish Market' and the "Hong Kong Emporium" that were so busy, so packed to the gills with people intent on easing their hunger that you stood sometimes out the door to get a seat and get back to work before time ran out. Sometimes things didn't work out that way. No longer even a memory for the SF of today. Minna, Tehama, and Natoma streets all disappeared with 'urban renewal', and I got there late. These places provided fresh, decent food at a reasonable price, and you cannot buy that anywhere in that city any more. It has changed, and I won't go back to what it is now. tom AmenI can second the view of tomincantonga as to the wholesale destructions of SF's SOMA character. I worked just below Market Street throughout the 1980s and saw every useful small business driven out and replaced with huge banks or chain stores. Sadly missed are the delis, shoe repair shops, military surplus stores, hobby shops, etc. that used to make lunchtime errands a pleasure and something of an urban adventure. PopcornIt looks like a donut maker. They resembled a popcorn machine but they fried donuts. Pennsylvania has 'emBack in my ad-agency days, I sometimes drove to printers in Pennsylvania, and that state must be the last bastion of the roadside diner. Once, I was with an account manager who was from Long Island, I believe, and we stopped in a diner for breakfast. The waitress asked us if we wanted SOS (look it up). He had never heard of it before and was somewhat dismissive when she defined it. She said, "Hold your attitude till you try some," and brought him a sample in a little white bowl. He was astonished, declared it the best thing he'd ever had for a breakfast item, and insisted on it when we were on the road together. Hot Chocolate??My guess is that the lit advertising sign on top of the refrigerator is for "Hot Chocolate". The lettering isn't quite readable, but the word lengths fit. The phrase below the steaming cup could be "Rich in Chocolate Flavor" or something similar. I Miss These Places Growing up in New England in the 70's I got to experience the last gasp of these places. Most of them were just called "Coffee Shop". They could be found on the first floor of many big office buildings, in bus stations, hotel lobbys etc. They were all independent but had nearly identical menus. Tuna melts, grilled and/or steamed hotdogs, open face turkey sandwiches, pre-made salads with saran wrap over the plate and a side of bright orange French dressing. Coke mixed by hand with 2 pumps of syrup followed by soda water. Really good milkshakes. Really terrible coffee that nobody realized was terrible because Starbucks was still 30+ years away. Slices of pie and cake in a glass case. (Technology, The Gallery, Eateries & Bars, San Francisco)
Boho Wedding: 1922
... if tucked away in an alley at the rear of the Burlington Hotel. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Natl Photo, Weddings) ... 
 
Posted by Dave - 07/27/2012 - 4:46pm -

"Better 'Ole Wedding." Informal nuptials circa 1922 at the Better 'Ole, a Greenwich Villagey "bohemian" nightspot in Washington, D.C., that, while short-lived, made its mark. In 1935 the Washington Post called it "the first real night club of the so-called 'night club era.' " The article continues: "It was started by Charles W. Smith, now the noted black-and-white artist, had a membership charge of $1 and was located on the second floor of a three-story building at 1515 U Street. A hot colored dance orchestra held forth in a room decorated with drapes in a sort of cubist style." More here. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size. Couple In the BoothHer expression is most likely due to her being caught in mid-word and blinking her eyes just as the flash powder went off. Sort of like those photos of celebrities that make them look like blithering, drooling imbeciles that certain periodicals like to publish under screaming headlines such as "BRAD BEBOP GOES BERSERK!" Also, notice that she seems to have another one of those massive floral memorials growing from her midriff, so maybe she's a bridesmaid or maid of honor. Boyfriend, who I bet she's holding hands with under the table, has a big carnation, so maybe he was best man or other wedding functionary. An Odd ReligionIt's an odd religion that will marry a man to a unicorn with a flower garden growing up her front. The two in the booth at the right have already passed out, and they haven't even started serving the liquor yet! Bridal BouquetThat's the bride's bouquet, composed of rosebuds and ferns, which she has tucked into her belt. Check out the wonderful cut-work on her sleeves. This is some boho bunch. I hope they had a long and happy life together. LiquorThis was 1922. The Great Experiment (Prohibition to us) had begun a couple of years before. No booze to be found here - nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more. What a beautiful group!What is the bride wearing?? These people look marvelous and immediately reminded me of all the Krazy Kat Klub pictures seen here, here, and here. The Better 'OleLines from the 1919 play based on the cartoons 12 "Let's get out of this damn 'ole!" 13 "If you knows of a better 'ole - go to it." http://www.geocities.com/emruf5/betterole.html the IMDB entry for the 1926 film of the play http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0016643/ Shave and a haircutThe groom looks like he had a recent shave and haircut but he should have shined his shoes! Bride and GroomThis was no shotgun wedding. The couple appear to be in their 40s. That would put the parents in another world or in a distant place in this world. It would be interesting to find out who the couple were and what happened to them. Good WoodSorry for a 2nd comment, but I just noticed the wood that the booth seats and tables are made from. Another nice example of how cool wood was back then. The tabletop looks like one solid piece (which probably tried to warp up at each side as it dried out due to its position of the rings). The sides of the booth is what gets me. It's huge! Even if it's joined with another board at the centerline, it's still big compared to what we can get these days at a standard lumberyard. Hell, it's hard to even find plywood that straight any more. Reefer MadnessThe couple in the booth on the right look like they have already started their (no turning back) descent into the perils of the evil weed. Beware when two people are both keeping their hands under the table. There is a Walter Mondale lookalike, but taller, about third or fourth from the left of the photo (just to the right of the ceiling lantern) who may have been an ancestor to W.M. And last, but not least, notice there are no old people there, even the clergyman cannot be more than 55 or 60. Obviously these kids were smart Alec whippersnappers, as no parents were invited. Still, its a smart looking, well-dressed and very happy crowd, even though the bride and groom should be holding hands. All in all, F. Scott Fitzgerald would be proud. FlowersAre the bride's flowers a huge corsage, or a bouquet tucked into her belt? I've never seen such a large corsage and I just wondered if it was the style at the time. "Better 'Ole""The Better 'Ole" was a comedy about World War I (unlikely though that may seem) based on a British cartoon series. The 'Ole in the title is a Cockney-fied version of Hole, i.e., Trench. But in this case, it's referring to a nightclub in DC that the Post described on 10/7/21: "the city's latest acquisition in the line of places for Bohemians to gather." The story story goes on to say that the dishwasher absconded with the opening night's take--65 bucks. [Ooh. Fantastic. Thanks! - Dave] Wedding PartyWow. This is one of the best photos ever. People gathered for a festive occasion in a rustic setting. I love the women's clothes and hats and jewelry. The men all look dashing. Everyone seems to be in a happy frame of mind. On other posts people have commented on how "dressed up" people were for ordinary occasions in this era. Of course this is a special occasion, but it seems we have lost something in our clothing fashions of today. I have been to weddings where young people and not so young have attended in jeans with bare midriffs. In a church. It is nice to see photos of an era, where looking nice and acting nice was not considered putting on airs. The Better 'Ole, Cont'd.A 1923 Washington Post column ("After the Curfew") recalls that "the Bohemian atmosphere was first obtained by locating the club in an alley over a garage. Here one dined, and drank, with the smell of gasoline and the noise of cars. The popularity of the place was instantaneous, all of the younger set flocked there. They danced in a two by-four space with great delight, and endured the million and one other discomforts of the place for the sake of the so called Bohemian touch, which for some unknown reason is considered very romantic. The owners of the club seemed to thrive financially and they decided that the club should have better quarters, so they moved into a better building, and a better part of town. They attempted to take the Bohemian touch, which had been so successful, to the new place. To do this they had an elaborate decorative scheme carried out. Stripes, awnings, pictures and rough wooden tables, and all. The real atmosphere was lost, however, and while the young Washingtonians still frequent the place, it is now merely another place to go to dine and dance. There is not much of the Bohemian in the hours of opening or closing, both being the regular times. And there is nothing unusual about the conduct of the guests while there. That is, nothing unusual for this day and age. If some of the original Bohemians could really see what the modern youth does in their names they would probably be horribly shocked." Hair HornsCan someone tell me what the woman thats standing behind the groom is wearing on her forehead? Is that a hairstyle? Special Guest AppearanceFeaturing a special guest appearance by Woodrow Wilson, as the man in the frock. HairstyleThe lady behind the groom is wearing what, in a time with less elevated sensitivities, were called "spit curls." Some ladies with longish bangs found it convenient to moisten their hair with saliva before they curled the hair around a finger. A bobby pin kept things in order until they dried. At times my mother wore her bangs in a similar arrangement, although she preferred a single curl over the left side of her forehead to the double style. My congratulations to the photographer. There is a possibility he used the new fangled photoflash bulbs that were just coming in, but this picture was probably taken on a Graphic, or Graflex, with flash powder. How it looks todayI work on U St. and had to go out and grab a few photos. Here's the composite: Wedding of Dutch Whelan and Mary McCaffreyThe photo was taken on November 17, 1921 by the National Photo Co. news agency in Washington. They captioned it: "A Bohemian wedding in true Washington Square style was staged in Washington today when Frederick (Dutch) Whelan and Mary McCaffray were married at the “Better Ole” an Alley Coffee House much frequented by the intelligentsia, by the Rev. Dr. J. J. Simon of St. Andrews Church. The couple met a few weeks ago at the “Ole” and wooed to the music of the wild ukelala, hence the wedding at the unconventional place selected. The next day the DC paper ran the picture with the headline "Dutch Whalen, DC Tom-tom Beater Weds Artists Model" with the accompanying story: “Who said romance lies unconscious in the hospital, disarmed and dehydrated? Dutch Whelan, popular tom-tom beater for Washington folks who shuffle was off the glazing floor, wasn’t worrying about proving romance was still showing a good pulse yesterday afternoon when his wedding xylophone sounded at the Better Ole. Though he proved it right, Dutch’s interest was centered in his bride, Miss Mary E. McCaffrey, whom he met one night two weeks ago as he was on the job playing ”The Rose of Washington Square.” Two weeks, a Greenwich Village background, music and a model’s platform for an altar – certainly romance is still deadly even if tucked away in an alley at the rear of the Burlington Hotel. (The Gallery, D.C., Eateries & Bars, Natl Photo, Weddings)
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