This motel image shows an establishment built specifically to overlook the Soo locks complex between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The Crestview still exists today.
The description states:
CRESTVIEW MOTEL
“The Soo’s Newest and Finest”
Luxurious furnishings – Hot water heat- Tubs and showers – Soundproofed – Wall-to-wall carpeting – Phones in all rooms and some air-conditioned – At foot of Ashmun Hill – Overlooking both Soos, American and Canadian – Open year around.
James Lambros, Prop. Phone 635-5213 or 635-5214. Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. 45 Units.
–As can be clearly seen, this is an artist’s rendition of the motel, including the rendition of the view of the Soo Locks presumably from the motel grounds. This is a typical example of the most standardized construction of motels of the era.
The seal at the bottom left is common for motels of this era, and indicates an affiliation with the American Automobile Association, an organization which, among other activities, provided reviews, approvals and maps to motels and notable locations.
The card likely dates from the 1950s.
Author: desteede
Motel Bay De Noc, Cooks, Michigan
This begins a two week tour of American motels from the mid-20th century in upper Michigan. The first is the Motel Bay de Noc, built in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The description states:
MOTEL BAY DE NOC
On Big Bay De Noc & U. S. #2, 106 mi. W. of Straits of Mackinac at Garden Corners
17 Mi. W. of Manistique, Mich.
Cooks, Michigan
Safe, Private Beach, Good Fishing, Completely Modern, Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Frank E. Richards, Prop.
–The design is more typical of the second generation of motels, with more standard construction rather than the individual cottages of the 1940s and earlier. This differs in the convenient but awkward location of parking, where the car is immediately in front of the motel room door. Not only does this potentially make for awkward entry and exit from the car and room, but also unloading and moving bags in and out.
In addition, cars of this era were fairly noisy when started, and had to be run for a few minutes to be ready to drive. The car placement directly adjacent to the room would mean all that noise and potential smell would be inescapable to the room’s occupants, and possibly the neighbor’s room occupants as well.
The rooms were also unusual in that there was a front and back door, essentially unknown now, which allowed the visitor to exit onto the back park area and proceed directly to the lake and picnic areas adjacent. Equipment there is basic and typical of the time.
The cars shown indicate the card dates from the 1950s.
Pueblo Indian Dancer, New Mexico
This image is of a Pueblo man dressed in a dance costume likely used in public performances. The majority of the clothing is buckskin, including the shoes, while the headdress is eagle feather, leather, horsehair, cloth and beads.
The description states:
173 – PUEBLO INDIAN DANCER IN FULL REGALIA
Beautiful, rare, beaded buckskin costumes are used by many tribes of Indians in their ceremonial dances. Most of these are valuable antiques handed down from their forefathers.
–The eagle headdress, while quite dramatic, was originally worn by plains tribes such as the Sioux and was only much later adopted by the tribes of the southwest. This image is part photo and part illustration, as it is unlikely this modern Indian would have been standing for the photo while a covered wagon just happened to be in the background, particularly in New Mexico.
Pueblo Deer Dance Rehearsal, New Mexico
This card shows a rehearsal of the Pueblo Deer Dance as performed in the mid-20th century in New Mexico.
The caption on the back states:
50 Pueblo Indians Rehearsing For the Deer Dance
The dances of the Pueblo Indians are many and the costumes worn, rare in keeping with the ceremony. The dance of the chase represents the Indian in costume, with Buffalo Head and Bow and Arrow, others with antlers carrying a stick in each hand to appear four footed, adorned with Fox skins and Eagle Feathers.
–Additional more recent photos of the Deer Dance performances can be seen here. This card likely dates from the 1940s.
Pueblo Pottery Makers, San Ildefonsono, New Mexico
This image shows two Pueblo Indians from San Ildefonso, New Mexico making, decorating and displaying pottery products.
The couple featured here, Julian and Marie Martinez, were famous for their own pottery work and also for the recreation of historical forms, particularly the ‘black on black’ style illustrated on this card.
The caption on the back of the card states:
JULIAN AND MARIE
famous Indian Pottery Makers
The following comment is given on the work of Marie in the New Mexico Magazine, Santa Fe, N. M., Nov. 1934: “One of the finest Indian Pottery makers of today, examples of her work are in every Museum in the U. S., as well as those of foreign lands.”
(Photo reproduced by courtesy Kaufmann-Fabry Co., Chicago, Official Photographers, Century of Progress.)
–The photo has obviously been colored in addition to reprinting. The card is almost certainly from the 1940s, as Julian died in 1943. Marie lived until 1980.
Pueblo Grain Threshers, Gallup, New Mexico
This image shows two Pueblo men in the threshing yard where the wheat they have harvested is broken down. This is done by having people or draft animals walk in a circle on a prepared threshing floor, often dragging a heavy board or log to break up the wheat shafts and ears. After this process is completed, the grain is separated from the shafts through winnowing.
The caption states:
Pueblo Indians, threshing wheat in primitive ways, near Gallup, New Mexico
–This postcard likely dates from the 1940s.
Pueblo Jewelers, Gallup, New Mexico
This image shows two Pueblo men making necklaces with very simple tools. The man on the left is using a drill to make holes in beads. The man on the right is spinning the straw threading where the beads will be attached.
The caption states:
Santo Domingo Pueblo Indians excell in making shell bead necklaces near Gallup, New Mexico B6451
–This card likely dates from the 1940s.
Hopi Basket Weavers, Gallup, New Mexico
Shown here are two Hopi basket weavers inside an adobe building beginning work on baskets. The baskets are started from a hub which has a large number of spokes attached to it, providing a framework for the woven sides. An example of the basic hub can just be seen on the ground next to the woman’s white drape. A small, completed basket is nearby.
The legend on the front states:
Hopi Indian Basket Weavers
Gallup, New Mexico A4658
–A curiosity of this image is the stamp in the lower left corner. Close examination reveals it is backwards, indicating this negative was inverted when printed for this production run of cards.
The card likely dates from the 1940s.
Pueblo Indian Woman, Gallup, New Mexico
This image shows a Pueblo Indian woman wearing the traditional clothing of her tribe, including shoes and jewelry, and holding a hand-made blanket. The material of the clothing is primarily deer hide, known more commonly as buckskin, and the blanket is wool.
There is no description on the back of this card, only the legend on the front, which reads:
Princess Bluewater
Pueblo Indian
Gallup, New Mexico A9727
–This card likely dates from the 1940s.
Zuni Mother Beading Charms, Gallup, New Mexico
Shown here is a woman with a bundled infant. She is putting beads on charms for sales, samples of which are shown at the bottom of the image above the caption. The child is bundled in a very confined way on a cradle board, typical of the tradition for Native Americans of this area. It is only used for the first few months.
The beaded charms on display here are in the shape of dolls, but many types of beadwork are well known.
There is no description on the back of this card, but it is believed to date from the 1940s.