Re: Chicago - That Toddlin' Town...

[wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Bob Wier)]

>Hi Bob et al.,
>
>>>
>a view card which is labeled on the back ... 820 (E?) California St,
>Chicago Ill.... curved orange mount, no manuf name. It in fact appears
>something
>like an "amateur" card, exept the notation on the back is printed (or
>rubber stamped) rather than handwritten....
>>>
>
>Don't you love those mystery views? Though I'm originally from Chicago I know
>very little about the town. I can offer, however, from my limited experience,
>that the orange cards generally began appearing in the late 1860s, and were
>pretty much out of favor by the early 1890s. Of course it's possible that
>someone had a large supply of them and just kept on using them.... I bet
>someone on the list knows where California St. is. Why would they photograph
>this particular building?
>
>I have a mystery, too: a totally unmarked grey curved mount (pretty sure it's
>a Keystone) of a European scene, a lady washing clothes next to a canal.
>Talking to her is a photographer sitting holding a telebinocular viewer; his
>Stereo Graflex (I think) open on the ground next to him. His face is turned
>away, but he's tall and lanky, receding hairline but no facial hair, wearing
>a brown or gray (well, it's a b&w photo) casual suit. Who....?
>
>Andy Burr
>Winter Park, FL

Hi Andy - On my mount (not really ORANGE - more like a pinkish orange) I 
syspect that from the picture, it was taken either upon the completion
of the building (although the lawn looks pretty good for that) or 
possibly as an insurance photo? There are two doorways with people
standing in each of them at the top of the stairs. I can't really tell
what kind of clothing they are wearing except it's dark (and the tree
shows it's winter - but there is no snow). I might almost think they
are in funeral clothes, but it's real hard to tell. 

Man, I wouldn't have a clue as to your European scene. Hopefully someone
out of the 850 people here (some overseas) might have an idea, if 
you posted a query out to the list. 

I didn't say it in my posting, but I'd kind of assume that the area on my
card is now inside the loop - probably a slum ...I think I'll try to
scan it in later on tonight if anyone want to take a look at it.

THANKS

-- B.W.

    -------- Bob Wier ----- wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -----
  East Texas State University Computer Science Dept.
   keeper of the Motorola MC68HC11, ICOM Radio, and
   Overland-Trails mailing lists and the LDS Genealogy
                   State Research Outlines 
         "Congress - n. - the antonym of Progress"



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