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| Men waiting for the train Leechburg, PA 1900 |
The second photo is another historical snap and interests me, the decor of the place and the flashback to a time when hats were cleaned and shoes/boots were shined as a way to make a living. I suspect one would starve today making a living at either or both services combined. Again I know neither who the man is nor why my aunt had this photo. Looks like he had a great business. Is he the owner or a customer?
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| Apollo, PA Hat Cleaner 1926 |
These are my two mystery photos. Both in poor condition and both intriguing. Wish I had known about these when I could have asked my aunt for information. As always click on the title to go to the Sepia Saturday host site where you can see other's photos.
Hat cleaners! I had no idea such a thing existed, but this is a fabulous photo.
ReplyDeleteThe way the men are wearing their hats is interesting also - a bit daring the one at the right.
ReplyDeleteInteresting pics, definitely a window into the times. Of course hat cleaning, shoe shine parlors and shoe repair shops flourished. I can remember when most barber shops had a shoe shine stand and we'd get our shoes shined while waiting for a hair cut. In the cities, train depots and other places with significant foot traffic you would find "boot blacks" eking out a living. Clothing was expensive and people took care of it, cleaned and repaired rather than replace. We have become a throw away society, given to following fads which we term fashions and buying new at the whims of designers rather than buying quality and making it last. One of the reasons that I started buying western styled dress clothes when I moved to Susanville was because the styles were more or less permanent. I continued to use those clothes even though some very minior changes occured; mostly no more than a small change in the size or shape of lapels, for example. I still have a topcoat, pants, shirts and a couple of jackets that are as wearable today as they were in the 1960's; if I could get into them, anyway. Even my dress suits were western cut and styled. But if you couldn't wear western boots, or for dress the half boots, the effect was not the same. In fact, it would make you look pretty stupid.
ReplyDeleteTom
Very interesting pictures. So sad no one wrote names on them. That is how so many of my family photos are
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots! I can't help but think of the Hole in the Wall Gang when I see the first one. Perhaps the gang in fancy dress right before they blow up another train car and escape with the loot.
ReplyDeleteThe hat photo is really extraordinary.
Tattered. Yes indeed Hole in the Wall Gang! I wondered if I have some train robbers in my ancestry! :) I keep learning more about my ancestors all the time, so who knows.
ReplyDeleteI love these little snippets of mystery. The untold stories are so enticing. Does the man on the far right have his jacket buttons done up wrongly? I think man-in-the-middle looks rather dashing!
ReplyDeleteYou could wander around both photographs for ages, seeing new things, new connections to things that have now long vanished. I want my hat cleaning now, but will I find anyone to offer the service. Not a chance.
ReplyDeletePat, these really are such interesting photos. You are right, the men at the train station look like time travelers - all of them in clothing that might be from different eras. Although I know about shoe shiners, I didn't know there were hat cleaners. It does look like a prosperous establishment. Very interesting views into the past. laurie
ReplyDeleteI wonder if either town has a historical society where you could learn more information about the people in the photos. I wonder if Apollo had a city directory for 1926 where you could learn who owned the hat store.
ReplyDeleteThey are fabulous photos. I noticed the difference in coats in the first and wondered which was the newest style. The hats are all the same, more or less. In the second photo the shop owner really decorated for the holiday. I was surprised to see streamers.
I hope you're able to learn more about the people in the photos. One of the men's great-grandchildren might be thrilled.
Nancy, excellent suggestions...next trip to PA I will try the historical societies, not much left in Apollo these days but maybe the library?? If there is one. It's one of the towns that devastated with loss of steel industry and has not recovered much. I like to think family might want them, but if they are like the remains of mine they are at best disinterested, sad to me.
ReplyDeletefun pics!! love the long coat!! something i'd wear...
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ
Ticklebear, Yes he is looking like the one in charge...quite dandy!
ReplyDeleteBoth photos are from a time warp. I like the hat cleaning store. It is strange to see how they decorated the interior. The train men makes you wonder where they were all going and why.
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