Tag Archives: artwork

Fort Shelby Hotel, Detroit, Michigan

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This image is an artist’s rendition of the main entrance to the Fort Shelby Hotel in Detroit.

Peerless Litho Co. — Chicago


The description states::
HOTEL FORT SHELBY
Lafayette Blvd. and First Street
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
900 rooms with bath, in ideal downtown location. Air-conditioned rooms, all with circulating ice water, savior, chair-side radio. Finest accommodations at moderate rates. Delicious food and beverages in Empire Room, Tiger Bar and Java Room. Convenient parking. Children free.
–The hotel was constructed in 1916 and was purchased in 1951 by the Albert Pick Hotel group. The hotel closed in 1973 and was largely unused until renovation began in 2006. It is now an Embassy Suites with some apartments on the upper floors.
This card was used and is dated 25 April 1956.

Park Shelton Hotel, Detroit, Michigan

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This image shows the imposing three tower structure of the Park Shelton Hotel on East Kirby in Detroit, Michigan.

A COLORPICTURE By Jonnie Walker Press, N.Y.C


The description states:
Park Shelton Hotel
East Kirby at Woodward Avenue
DETROIT 2, MICHIGAN
“Detroit’s Midtown Transient Hotel”
Overlooking the beautiful Art Center in the midtown business sector of the Motor City, the Park Shelton offers the luxury and atmosphere of an exclusive club…home of the unique Sapphire Room, featuring “Service with Charm.”
–This is not the first name for this structure, as it was built as the Wardell in 1926. It’s name has changed several times since, and it was first called the Park Shelton Hotel in the 1950s. It was later converted into apartments and is now condominiums.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.

Charles Manor Restaurant, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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This image shows the Charles Manor, a restaurant on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Nationwide Advertising, Tyler, Texas


The description states:
Dine at Charles Manor
Chicken, Steak, Ham and Trout Dinners
By Reservation — For your convenience
It’s never too late to call
Dinners for one or more persons
ALSO
Luncheons, Weddings, Dinners for all occasions
209 Charles Ave. at Cherry St.
Phones: 80875
              94485
–The business is gone, but the building is still on the site and in good repair, as shown here. Other than paint and a few other modifications, the building looks much the same now as then.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.

Mayflower II Artwork

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This image is an illustration of the reconstructed ship Mayflower II, which was built as a replica of the original which brought Puritan colonists to the Massachusetts area in 1620.

Painting by John F. Leavitt


The description states:
MAYFLOWER II built in Brixham, England, by Project Mayflower; sailed from Plymouth, England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in April 1957; to be berthed permanently at Plimoth Plantation, Massachusetts.
–The ship has been docked as an exhibit at the Plimoth Plantation since arriving there in 1957.
Since this event happened in the 1950s, this card likely dates from that time.

Payne’s Motor Court, Fredricksburg, Virginia

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This image shows a typical second generation motel, with a single continuous building instead of separate cottages. There are a minimum of amenities beyond the room itself. It was located in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

FULLCOLOR POSTCARDS PRODUCED BY NATIONWIDE SPECIALTY CO., ARLINGTON, TEXAS

FULLCOLOR POSTCARDS PRODUCED BY NATIONWIDE SPECIALTY CO., ARLINGTON, TEXAS


The description states:
PAYNE’S MOTOR COURT
Located on U. S. #1 — 2 — 17 — Built in 1950.
Modern with hot water heat.
In Virginia’s most historical city,
FREDRICKSBURG, VIRGINIA
Telephone 687-J
Owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Payne
–This structure seems to have been demolished some time ago. This postcard, noting the original construction date, must date from the 1950s.

Natural Bridge, Virginia

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This image shows the road under the Natural Bridge, a formation of limestone created by the creek which runs alongside the road.

Tichnor Quality Views, Tichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, Mass.


The description states:
NATURAL BRIDGE — One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. There is no other structure like it. The Lee Highway, U.S. No. 11 passes over Natural Bridge. It is higher by 55 feet than Niagara Falls. The mean height of the bridge from the stream below to its upper surface is 215 feet, it has a span of 90 feet between the walls, width averages 100 feet and the arch is 40 feet thick.
Hotel and cottage accommodations. Open all year. Illumination at night.
–U.S. Highway 11 still passes over this span. The card was used and is dated 13 August 1951.

Mill Mountain Star, Roanoke, Virginia

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This illustration shows the initial design of the Roanoke Star, built atop Mill Mountain outside of Roanoke, Virginia.

Published by Asheville Post Card Company, Asheville, North Carolina


The description states:
ROANOKE, VA., Star City of the South
Constructed on top of Mill Mountain, 1,800 feet above sea level and 975 feet above the City. The largest man-made illuminated star in the world — 88 1/2 feet in diameter, on a 100 foot structure — as tall as an eight story building. Nine rows (2,000 feet) of neon tubing.
–The design of the tubing has changed somewhat over the years, to include five concentric stars, and to include red and blue colored neon tubes, though at this time the star is illuminated solely with white.
The star was first lit in 1949, and this card was used, dated 16 August 1951.

Wetterhorn, Switzerland

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This image shows the mountain known as Wetterhorn overlooking a trail through the lowlands below the mountain summit.
There is no description on the back of this card.
This mountain overlooks the village of Grindewald, and is one of three summits of the same mountain.
This card was used and is dated February 1957.

Wilson Memorial and Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

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This image is a colorized, and closer in view of the Wilson Memorial Plaque as it looked in front of the Palais des Nations.

Edition Jaeger, Genéve


The description states:
Genéve – Palais des Nations et Plaque commémorative Président Wilson
–A person standing at this point would have their back immediately to Lake Geneva. As noted earlier, this building was replaced with a new United Nations building and is now the Wilson Hotel.
This card likely dates from the 1920s.

Dog Opera Performance, Germany

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This illustration shows a scene from an opera as performed and spectated by dogs. It is presumed to be an opera because of the presence of the orchestra playing during the performance.

No. 17 Marcel Schumann Importers, 1355 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.


There is no description on the back of this card.
For simplicities sake, the artist has drawn most of the orchestra, and likewise most of the audience, with nearly the same ‘breed’ of dog, allowing only small variations. It is not clear if the dog off stage is a director or prompter, but it is not a performer as the costume is unlike the other performers.
This image likely dates from the 1940s.