Tag Archives: 1950s

Bankhead Tunnel, Mobile, Alabama

This image shows one entrance of the Bankhead Tunnel in Mobile, Alabama, which passes under the Mobile River to Blakeley Island.

Mirro-Krome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
BANKHEAD TUNNEL, MOBILE, ALABAMA
Underneath the Mobile River, connecting Government Street with U. S. Highway 90, East. This 3,389 foot long underwater tunnel was completed in 1941 at a cost of $4,000,000 and is 49 feet below mean high water level of the river.
The age and size of the tunnel means that traffic is restricted to passenger cars and pickup trucks.Larger vehicles are directed to the larger and more recent George Wallace tunnel a few blocks south.
The advertisement at the left side of the image indicates this image dates from the 1950s.

St. Joseph’s Chapel, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama

This image shows St. Joseph’s Chapel of Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama, a Roman Catholic, Jesuit liberal arts college.

Mirro-Krome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
SPRING HILL COLLEGE CHAPEL, MOBILE, ALABAMA
Spring Hill College, established over 100 years ago, a co-educational college operated by the Jesuit Order of the Catholic Church, is locate on Old Shell Road.
–The college was founded in 1830, and the chapel was built in 1910.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.

Dogwood along Natchez Trace, Mississippi

This image shows the highway known at the Natchez Trace, and a flowering Dogwood tree in the foreground, a common tree throughout the southern United States.

Mirro-Krome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY, DOGWOOD
Along the Parkway dogwoods and other plants bloom profusely in the Spring. Trees, shrubs and other flowers are protected at all times, so that visitors may enjoy their picturesque beauty. Administered by the National Park Service, U. S. Department of Interior.
Protect Our Wildlife
–The dogwood in this image is most likely the widely distributed Cornus florida, based on the appearance of the flowers. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a two lane road following the old Natchez Trace trail from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

Invasive Kudzu Along a Mississippi Highway

This image shows the dramatic growth and detrimental impact of the fast growing invasive species of vine known as Kudzu, as seen in Mississippi along a rural highway.

Mirro-Krome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
KUDZU ALONG THE HIGHWAY
An oriental legume, whose runners grow from 20 to 50 feet in a single season, ha been used in Mississippi since 1936 to prevent erosion. In addition, Kudzu’s large, dark green leaves make a picturesque covering for rough road banks and hillsides along Mississippi’s paved highways.
–The positive tone of this postcard, describing Kudzu as a beneficial and positive addition to the ecology of Mississippi, has changed 180 degrees over the decades as Kudzu has proven to be enormously destructive and difficult to control, which is seen even in this photo. The tall ‘bushes’ looking almost like topiary are native trees and bushes that have been smothered and killed by Kudzu.
This postcard likely dates from the 1950s.

Old Vicksburg Bridge, Vicksburg, Mississippi

This image shows the Old Vicksburg Bridge carrying a local highway and rail line across the Mississippi River at the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Mirro-Krome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BRIDGE, VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI
Looking down on one of the many barges daily plying the Mighty Mississippi, the bridge at Vicksburg offers a crossing for both trains and autos.
–The bridge was built in 1930 to carry both autos and trains, but was converted to train operation only in 1998 when a modern highway bridge was built nearby.
The image likely dates from the 1950s.

State Capitol, Jackson, Mississippi

This image shows the State Capitol building housing the Mississippi state legislature in Jackson, Mississippi.

Mirro-Chrome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
STATE CAPITOL, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
…Housing the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the State Government, the Capitol was built in 1903 at a cost of approximately $1,000,000.00. Open to the public.
–It is the third capitol building in Jackson since statehood.
The autos seen in the image indicate this card is from the 1950s.

Texas Longhorn Cattle in the Field

This image shows a few longhorn cattle as they appear while grazing in a pasture.

Baxtone, Box 175 Amarillo, Texas


The description states simply: Longhorn Steers
–The steer is a bull which has had its testicles removed to reduce aggressiveness. Both steers and cows tend to have longer horns than bulls.
This card was used and is from the 1950s. 
 

Four Lane Highway, Western United States

This image shows the early form of the multi-lane highway as they were first built before the establishment of the Interstate system.

A Mike Roberts Color Production for Intermountain Tourist Supply, Inc., Salt Lake City 1, Utah


The description states:
A DESERT HIGHWAY
In sharp contrast to early-day travel, crossing the deserts of the west today on broad, smooth highways is an enjoyable experience.
–This highway is interesting to compare to current designs. This road has no median divider separating the opposite flows of traffic. Even more unusual is the dotted line in the center, indicating that it was permitted to cross into oncoming traffic to pass vehicles in the left lane in your direction. Both of these conventions were deemed too hazardous to maintain with the increase in traffic speed and frequency.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.

Shepherd and Flock, Western United States

This image shows a horse-mounted shepherd and a modest flock of sheep as they make their way along a country road, following a river canyon in the western United States.

Kodachrome Reproduction by Mike Roberts for Intermountain Tourist Supply, Inc., Salt Lake City 1, Utah


The description states:
A WESTERN CANYON
Western canyons with their verdant foliage and shrubs are a welcome sight to the traveler and a paradise for sheep and cattle, a major industry in the west.
–Such sights are less common now that automobile traffic has increased even in rural areas, but much of the intermountain west is still very sparsely settled.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.