Tag Archives: 1940s

Ocotillo Cactus, New Mexico

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This is an image of a type of plant native to the Sonora and Chihuahua Deserts. The Ocotillo cactus is not a true cactus.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description on the back states:
277–OCOTILLO CACTUS
Forqueiria Splendens, also called Candlewood, Coach-whip Vine Cactus and Jacob’s Staff, at time appears as dry sticks only. The rainy season causes it to flame with slender, brilliant red panicles of bloom. Many Southwestern hillsides are literally covered with this spiny shrub.
–The stems are hard enough to provide a kind of living fence when planted or grown in sufficient density, and are also harvested for walking sticks.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Rock Cliffs, Laguna, New Mexico

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This is a vista of the Acoma rock cliffs and the foot trail that winds among them. The Acoma  Pueblo is a mesa community, accessible only by the foot trail.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states:
148 – ROCK CLIFFS AND FOOT TRAIL AT
ACOMA, “THE SKY CITY”
SOUTH OF HIGHWAY U.S. 66,
NEAR LAGUNA, N. M.
Coma Pueblo, a seventy acre Mesa, 350 feet above the Plains is the oldest continuously inhabited place in the United States. This view shows the foot trail ascending to the village, the only access to the Plateau and gives an idea of the steep formation of the Gibraltar Rock.
–This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Citadel of Quebec, Canada

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This image shows an aerial view of the 17th Century defensive works for the city of Quebec, Canada known as the Citadel. It is the main element in a larger national historic area in the Upper Quebec section of the city.

Librairie Garneau, Ltd, Quebec


The caption states:
Air View of the Citadel, Quebec, Canada
–There is no description on the back of the card.
While the first protective walls were initially complete in time for the Battle of Quebec in 1690, there was extensive ongoing expansion and amplification of the fort for many decades following . The existing star fort was built between 1820 and 1850.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Kalamazoo Public Library, Michigan

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This illustration shows the front entrance and street corner display box of the original Kalamazoo Public Library, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The box appears to feature a patriotic display of United States images and publications, along with a small Uncle Sam doll.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


There is no description on the back of the card.
This Romanesque building was erected in 1893 and served as the city library until 1957, when it was demolished and replaced with the current structure, along with four additional branch libraries.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Pere Marquette EMD E-7 Locomotive

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This illustration is one of the new series of streamlined locomotives produced by General Motors’ Electromotive Division. This one was a E-7 version, operated by the Pere Marquette during the declining days of passenger rail transport in the United States.

Natural Color Postcard Made in U.S.A. by E. C. Kropp, Co., Milwaukee, Wis.


The description on the back states:
THE PERE MARQUETTES
First of the postwar streamliners. Pere Marquette Railway’s all-reserved-seat coach trains operate on Michigan’s fastest rail schedules between Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids.
–While these are arguably the most photogenic, the most well known Pere Marquette locomotive still in operation is the Pere Marquette 1225, a 2-8-4 Berkshire locomotive restored and used as the model for the film “The Polar Express”.
I was personally involved in the restoration of the 1225 during my time at Michigan State University between 1974 and 1977. I acted as MSU Railroad Club Secretary as well as working directly on the locomotive.
This illustration dates from the 1940s.

First Methodist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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At first glance, this postcard appears to be identical to this one, posted here long ago. The photographs on which the colorized version is based is the same, with only a couple of very interesting revisions.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. American Art” Post Card


The description on the back states:
THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
FULTON STREET at BARCLAY AVENUE
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
–Among the changes between this card and the previous one are the legend at the bottom, which now omits the word ‘Episcopal’, as that part of the church name was retired after a merger in 1939. Additionally, the code number at the bottom right is the same with the addition of ‘-N’, indicating a new version of the card.
Most telling are the two cars visible in the image. The older card shows cars typical of the 1930s, while this image shows cars typical of the 1940s in exactly the same locations.
This image almost certainly dates from the 1940s.
 

Fat Man’s Misery, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa

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This image shows a cave formed not by underground erosion, but by the movement of two uneven formations toward and against each other, in this case forming a triangular opening which decreases towards the rear. Thus, it is not a proper cave at all.
There is no description on the back of this card.
Curiously, a search on the web shows that this is a popular description for narrow caves throughout the United States. Perhaps instead of cave this should be better labeled a rock shelter.
This image likely dates from the 1940’s.

Balanced Rock, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa

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This image shows a large formation which has the look of a constructed feature. The large boulder, deposited here and then extensively eroded, is not part of the formation it sits upon.
There is no description on the back of the card.
The large sign affixed near the top of the boulder reads “Balanced Rock  –  Hands Off”. It is not clear what human hands alone could do to affect the boulder, so it can be presumed the hope is to discourage souvenir hunters from chipping away pieces with hammers and such.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Natural Bridge, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa

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This is a view of an external erosion feature, one of many in Maquoketa Caves State Park. The park is made up of heavily eroded geologic features which were formed during and after the last Ice Age, about 12-14000 years ago.
There is no description on the back of the card.
Such natural bridges are found throughout the United States wherever there is extensive erosion still present at the surface, including forests, deserts and even some oceanside bridges, such as the ones in Santa Cruz, California in Natural Bridges State Beach. The image shown in the link shows a collapsed bridge and only the remaining rocks.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Facial Profiles, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa

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This image shows a stone bench on the right, possibly used as a walkway, and on the left a dark rock outcrop that with some imagination can appear as a face. Above it there is a light colored formation which might also be construed as a face, though the characteristics are significantly more vague.
There is no description on the back of this card.
The center of the picture appears to be a watercourse. This main cave passage is much more simple and underdeveloped than other such caves, without the obvious lighting, paths and handrails which were installed to more closely constrain visitor movement and increase safety.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.