This image shows a free standing rock structure carved from water and wind erosion. Its fanciful name is the Flower Pot.
The description on the back states:
FLOWER POT
Flower Pot Island National Park
Tobermory, Ontario, Canada
— As indicated by the description, the rock formation is the name of an island park located about 6.5 miles off shore from Tobermory, Ontario. It is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park, and has the only camping and hiking trails in the park.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.
Month: August 2015
Big Tub Light, Tobermory, Ontario
This is an image of the lighthouse near Tobermory called Big Tub Light. It is a wooden structure with six sides situated between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay constructed in 1885.
The description on the back states:
THE BIG TUB LIGHT
Tobermory, Ontario, Canada
–From a website about the lighthouse history:
The Annual Report of the Department of Marine for 1885 provides the following description of the lighthouse: “A light on the west side of the entrance to Tobermory Harbour, Georgain Bay, in the North Riding of Bruce. From the opening of navigation next season a fixed red dioptric light will be shown, elevated 40 feet above the level of the lake, and visible 8 miles from all points of approach. The tower is a hexagonal wooden building, surrounded by an iron lantern, having a height of 43 feet from ground to lantern vane.”
It is interesting to note the light is red instead of white, and does not rotate.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.
Bridal Veil Falls, Agawa Canyon, Algoma Central Railway
This image shows the 225 foot high Bridal Veil Falls, where the water descends from a tributary of the Agawa River.
The description on the back states simply:
Bridal Veil Falls, Agawa Canyon, Algoma Central Railway.
–This name is commonly used throughout North America for waterfalls that spread into a fan from top to bottom, in the fashion of the back of a bridal veil. Sometimes significant imagination is necessary to see such a water formation.
This image likely dates from the 1960s.
Algoma Central Railway Locomotives Stopped at Agawa Canyon, Ontario
This image shows the front end of the tourist train run by the Algoma Central Railway from Sault Ste. Marie to Agawa Canyon. They run other tour trains as well.
The description on the back states:
Algoma Central Passenger Train parked at Canyon prior to returning to Sault Ste. Marie — Agawa Canyon Tour.
–These locomotives are typical of the era, rather than more historic E-class or F-class streamline locomotives. The trip to Agawa Canyon is less than half the total distance of the railway. One tour includes the entire distance, a total of 592 drives.
The clothing on the visible passengers, particularly the printed plaid pants, are typical of clothing from the 1960s.
Agawa Canyon, Algoma Central Railway, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
This image shows the train at its final destination for the tour, the otherwise inaccessible Agawa Canyon. To this date the canyon is accessible only to hikers and the train. The exceptional length of the train is clearly visible from this image.
The description states:
View from the Lookout of beautiful Agawa Canyon, final destination of the Algoma Central Railway Wilderness Tour.
–What appear to be small lakes are the meanders of the Agawa River, which carved the valley after the last Ice Age. This postcard dates from the 1960s.
Montreal River Trestle, Algoma Central Railway, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
This image shows the rear of the train as it completes the transit of the Montreal River trestle during the Wilderness tours.
The description on the back of the card states:
The Algoma Central Railway Wilderness Tour crossing the Montreal River Trestle at Mileage 92, north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.
–Clearly visible at the right below the trestle is the dam on the Montreal River and the associated hydroelectric station. This card dates from the 1960’s when the service began.
Algoma Central Passenger Cars Crossing the Montreal River Trestle, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
This is another view of an Algoma Central Railway train on the scenic Montreal River trestle, highlighting the passenger cars used in the trains tourist service.
The description states:
The Algoma Central Railway Wilderness Tour, out of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, takes the traveller through some of the most spectacular scenery in North America.
–The presence of at least eight passenger coaches for the scheduled train indicates a very popular attraction. In fact, the trains can be between 20 and 24 cars long.
The Wilderness tourist service was started in the 1960s, so this postcard likely dates from that time.
Montreal River Trestle, Algoma Central Railway, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
This image shows four engines pulling a tourist train across the high trestle over the Montreal River near Sault Sainte Marie, Canada.
The description states:
The Montreal River trestle, a breathtaking crossing at Mileage 92 north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. – Algoma Central Railway, Agawa Canyon Tour
–Such tours through forested areas are common even today, particularly during the Autumn when the trees change color. Also visible in the background is a dam and hydroelectric plant built on the Montreal River. The four engines in use indicate a very long train of passenger coaches.
This image likely dates from the 1960s, when the tourist service started.
Women’s and Men’s Dormitories, Western State Teacher’s College, Kalamazoo, Michigan
This dual image shows the two main residential buildings which housed students at the Teacher’s College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. By this time the name had been changed to a more explicit description of the school’s purpose. Two buildings were essential as it was not acceptable to have men and women living in the same buildings while students.
There is no description on the back of this card.
These buildings have been renovated and repurposed over the century, and the Women’s Dormitory, erected in 1938 is now an administration building, after a 1992 renovation. The Hall of Men appears to now be called Spindler Hall.
Since the school was renamed the Western State Teacher’s College in 1927 until 1941, this image likely dates from 1938 or 1939.
Western State Normal School Admin Building and Science Hall, Kalamazoo, Michigan
This card has images of both the main Administration building, top, and the Science Hall, bottom, which served to train teachers for the public school system in this area of Michigan.
There is no description on the back of this card.
Of particular interest is the object and sloping pathway to the right of the Administration building. This was a funicular railway, and the passenger car is shown at the bottom waiting to take passengers up the steep slope from the lower to the upper campus. The railway was built in 1907 and operated until 1949.
The Administration building was erected in 1905, and the Science Hall in 1915. They are also known as East and West Hall, on the original eastern campus.
This image likely dates from the 1920s.