Thursday, April 4, 2013

Desperate Times: Stereoviews A-Z

 In 1906, it was estimated that 500,000 homeless in the U.S. were hopping trains and living on the streets, which was around 0.6% of the population. By 1911, the numbers had grown to 700,000. 

This is before Emmett Kelly's time, although the circus clown shown in this photo made me think of the tramp (Weary Willie) that Kelly made famous during the Great Depression in the 1930s. 

The dialog is not my own (on any in the collection). You can barely see the faded dialog on the bottom right, but every stereoview in the collection has a label with dialogue or description. I had to use a magnifying glass!

 "Why don't dese dudes ride chainless bikes?" 
(ca. pre-1910)


Hmm . . . why not take the horse?



Copyright 2013 © Sharon Himsl; Gravseth family archive
[source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmett_Kelly; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo]



Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

20 comments:

  1. Really like these pictures you've been posting. Feels like a different planet almost.

    mood
    Moody Writing

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    1. Hello Moodernino. Nice to meet you:) Thank you for the follow! The stereoviews DO feel like a different planet....good observation.

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    1. Hi Sally. They are rather addictive. Imagine me looking at 69 of these for the last two months!

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  3. I've enjoyed looking at the images you've been posting this week. Such a different world and one that is so interesting to visit.

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    1. A new visitor! Neat that you are enjoying these. I'm popping over to your blog next...

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  4. I thought chainless bikes were a new thing. I suppose they come in and out of fashion like electric cars.

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    1. Hi JM....welcome back! I had the same reaction. Chainless bikes aren't a new thing? As you say, fads are like that.

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  5. What a great theme! I love the pictures!

    Good luck with the a to z challenge.

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    1. New visitors....welcome! Glad you are enjoying these. I hopping over to your blog next.

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  6. Jack London has some great stories about hoboing. Neat topic:)

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  7. Hi Mark! Hmm...Jack London. I should have known. Love this author!

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  8. Great photos and a history lesson, too! Love it!

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    1. Hi Dawn! Hope you're having fun in the a-z. No kidding about the history lesson. I feel I'm still learning about this period.

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  9. Thanks for stopping by my blog (sorry it took so long to visit)! What a great theme for A to Z. I'm a library school student with an interest in archives, so I love reading about old things. :)

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    1. Hi Nita! No problem. It's a challenge keeping up with all the terrific blogs out there. Wow, a library student who loves the archives. I remember those days (I was an American Studies-History student).

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  10. These pictures are so feaking awesome!
    "Why not take the horse?" Totally snorted.

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  11. Hi Jai! Personally, I'd be more interested in the horse but bikes were the latest thing then.

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  12. 'Why not take the horse?' Love it :)

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  13. Hi Wendy...I think the poor guy looks too tired for either!

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You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.