This image shows the Soldiers Club which was part of the army base at Fort Ord, California north of the Monterey Peninsula. It was later renamed Stilwell Hall.
The description states:
SOLDIERS CLUB
A spacious, hospitable home away from home for the enlisted man and his guests. Soldiers Club serves as a fitting memorial to General Stilwell and the men of his command responsible for its erection.
—The building was built directly on the cliffs overlooking Monterey Bay, and with years the cliffs eroded so far as to cause the south wing of the building to collapse in the 1990s. Erosion continued to threaten the structure and safety of the building, and it was demolished in 2001.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.
Month: April 2016
Fort Ord Army Barracks, California
This image is an elevated view of the former military base known as Fort Ord, located north of the Monterey Peninsula.
The description states:
FORT ORD, CALIFORNIA
Overlooking the blue waters of Monterey Bay, just a short distance from historic Old Monterey, California’s first capital, Fort Ord is an excellent all-year training site.
–These single-story structures are typically administrative buildings, while the two-story versions are more commonly housing for low-ranking soldiers. The building with the spire at the left middle-ground is a military chapel. The fort has long since been closed, and the land reused for private business, housing and the California State University Monterey Bay campus.
The shadowy outlines in the distance across the water are not mountains, but a fog bank, typical of the weather conditions in this area.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Lover’s Point Beach and Restaurant, Pacific Grove, California
This image shows the parking lot and walkway leading to the cove that shelters the Lover’s Point beach. In the left background is a restaurant which overlooks the beach and the bay beyond.
The description states:
BEACH, PACIFIC GROVE, CALIFORNIA
Famed as the winter home of the Monarch Butterflies, Pacific Grove offers a fascinating municipal museum, peninsular coastline, and a cozy outdoor swimming pool and bathing beach.
–The pool is just visible at the left edge of the image, and is still present in this location today, as is the restaurant, under different ownership. The beach has decreased in size somewhat due to erosion, but is still fairly expansive at low tide due to the shallow incline of the ocean bottom.
The cars in this image establish the photo as from the 1950s.
Lover’s Point Beach and Boat Launch, Pacific Grove, California
This image shows the popular white sand cove beach at the foot of the Lover’s Point peninsula and the boat launch which included rental boats as well as a glass-bottom tour boat to view the bay from.
The description states:
PACIFIC GROVE BEACH
At this popular sandy beach, one may ride in the Glass Bottom boats to view all types of marine life.
–The beach is much smaller now due to sand loss from erosion, and the boat launch jetty has been removed after the tour boat business closed.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.
Lover’s Point, Pacific Grove, California
This image shows the small rocky peninsula known as Lover’s Point, located in Pacific Grove on Monterey Bay in California. The vegetation in the foreground is ice plant, like that in the previous postings, but without the colorful flowers.
The description states:
LOVER’S POINT at PACIFIC GROVE
(California) Typical of the wondrous scenes you will find all around the Monterey Peninsula.
–At this time there was a glass-bottom boat tour that launched from the stone jetty in the middle left of the picture. This service has long been discontinued.
This postcard was used and is dated 8 July 1955.
Ice Plant, Pacific Grove, California
This image shows the coastline of Pacific Grove, California, brightened by the effusion of flowers on the ice plant used a ground cover extensively in this area.
The description states:
1563–SHORELINE DRIVE, PACIFIC GROVE, CALIFORNIA
A popular scenic drive along the shore leading to the rocky headland where is located Point Pinos Lighthouse.
–The Point Pinos Lighthouse is still in operation, but it is also a museum, and is surrounded by a municipal golf course.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.
Pacific Grove Coastal Walk, California
This image shows the bright flowers of the ‘ice plant’ in bloom along the coastal walkway that extends much of the distance from Monterey to Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, California.
The description states:
LOVER’S POINT
Pacific Grove, Monterey Peninsula, California
Lover’s Point where the blue waters of the Pacific splash against the rocky and sandy shoreline covered with a red and pink carpet of wildflowers and ice plant.
–The ice plant is a very aggressive and hardy ground cover which adapts well to sand and dunes. Lover’s Point is not in fact visible in this photo, as will become apparent in the coming days postings.
This card likely dates from the 1960s.
Battleship, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
This image shows the massive rock formation creatively labelled “The Battleship” for its resemblance to warships of that type from years past.
The description states:
HOTELS – SHOPS
FRED HARVEY
RESTAURANTS
The Battleship, a conspicuous and turreted mass of red, lies at the base of Maricopa Point. It is an example of the Canyon as a master teacher of how this earth is made. It has been said that the Grand Canyon is the most instructive exposition of Geology in the world.
–The above claim is likely based on the fact that so much of the basic understanding of geological processes and formations are readily visible in the Canyon at various locations.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.
Hopi Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona
This image is of two Hopi Indians looking across the Grand Canyon towards the north, from the lookout known as Hopi Point.
The description states:
HOTELS – SHOPS
FRED HARVEY
RESTAURANTS
Most of the stories told of what people have said upon catching their first glimpse of the Grand Canyon are unbelievable until you see the mighty chasm for yourself, for only then do you realize its breath-taking immensity.
–This seemingly remote location is in fact only about 2 miles from the tourist lodges on the South Rim, and a bus provides access to this and several other similar vantage points.
This card was used and is dated 21 Jun 1948.
Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, Arizona
This image shows the Navajo Bridge, which crosses the Colorado River over the Marble Canyon in northern Arizona.
The description states:
HOTELS – SHOPS
FREDY HARVEY
RESTAURANTS
This bridge over the Little Colorado River at historic Lee’s Ferry, 143 miles northeast of Grand Canyon Village, is 467 feet above the river with a span of 833 feet. It is the only means by which automobiles can cross from the South Rim to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon within the state of Arizona.
–The bridge shown here was completed in 1929, but with the passage of time was deemed insufficient to handle the loads and traffic volume of more recent vehicles. Another bridge was constructed in 1995, and this bridge closed to vehicles, though it remains open to pedestrians, bicyclers and bungee jumpers.
This card likely dates from the 1940s.