Shoe Shine in Savannah

Shoeshine week continues here at OPOD with this fine picture of a young shoe shine boy. The picture was taken in 1899 in Savannah (Do you like how I know how to spell Savannah?). It look like the boy's own shoes are in pretty bad shape.

Well, we lost another OPOD reader yesterday, as you know if you read the comments. I hate to say it, but sometimes I think you all are a bunch of whiners. Last week you were whining because I put a poll up and only gave you one choice. Since the answer was so obvious, I just thought I would save you a little time by just putting up one option. Then, this week, I give you three options, and still you complain. So, people get mad, and we lose another person. Actually, you know how I like contests. Sometimes I think to myself what poll question I could put up that would drive off the most people at one time. By doing this, we would be left with only the really interesting people . . . the few, the proud, the truly crazy.

P.S. Tomorrow I should have a MAJOR domestic update for you. This will be huge. Stay tuned.

Bootblack

I learn that Shoeshine Boys used to be called "Bootblacks". This picture shows just such a boy on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 9th street in New York City. I like the clothes and hats the people are wearing. I think style and fashion pretty much hit its peak in the 1910 era.

Shoe Shine Boy

Based on yesterday's OPOD, I could have made this either "Chicken Week" or "Shoeshine Week". I have decided to go with Shoeshine Boys. I reserve the right to switch back to chickens if I run out of good pictures of shoeshine boys. Anyway, this picture was taken in 1908 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The boy is Greek.

Shoe shining is pretty much a thing of the past, which is too bad. Back when I was growing up, you could always make a little money by shining your parents shoes, and if you were a little more energetic, you could take your little box to a public place. I rarely see shoe shine stands any more.

Boy and his Chickens

This picture was taken in 1897, and shows a boy with his two chickens. He looks to be a shoeshine boy. Maybe someone payed him for a shoeshine with chickens? We may never know for sure.

Domestic Update:

The new chickies are doing great. It has only been two days, but we have already decided these chickens will be for eggs, not for the frying pan. I would not be able to bring myself to lower the axe on one, so we will continue to buy our chicken at the grocery store, and enjoy the eggs from these little guys. When we got the chickens, they were one day old. It is amazing how they come right out of the egg knowing everything they need to know. They run right over to the water and start drinking. They run right over to the food tray and eat. Then they run around and scratch and peck and scratch and peck. They are on wood chips over newspaper, so the chances of finding something good are nil, but yet on day one they know that chickens should scratch and peck. I am very happy with both the chickies and the peacocks. Birds make very good pets. They are very friendly, and sociable with people. When I get home, you can see the peacocks looking out the window, waiting for me to bring them something. Also, birds pretty much take care of themselves. They are much easier pets than dogs or cats.

We used to have a little parakeet named blueboy. Blueboy passed away last year, but we had had him for about 9 years. He was a good talker, and could say about 20 different things. He was a very smart little bird. We would leave his cage door open, so he pretty much had free reign in the house. We also had a little shiatsu dog. The bird would get on the floor, and start herding the dog around the house. When the bird got on the floor, he would start chasing the dog around barking. Yes, the bird would bark at the dog, and the dog did not like it. Then, when the bird had the dog cornered, the bird would start saying "Bad Dog, Bad Dog". Then the dog would cower down with its tail between its leg. That was really something funny to watch. The bird would also fly down onto the table when we were eating. He would walk around the table and takes bites of food off our plate of the things he liked. He never walked on the food, but would walk in a circle around the plate. He loved Chili, scrambled eggs, salad, chicken, and bell peppers. If we took the bird in the car somewhere, and went through a drive through at a fast food place, the bird would bark real loud at the fast food attendant. He had seen the dogs do that once, so whenever we went through the drive through he would bark.

Most people get two parakeets as pets. The problem with this is that they bond with each other, and then pretty much will never talk. If you just get one, they bond with you, and learn to talk and do all these other interesting things.

I think birds have pretty much been the best pets that I have had.

Mystery Man

Finally it is Saturday and Mystery Person contest. This is where I waste your valuable day off. Ready, Set, Go!

Hunting

I have to say that I am sad to see Hunting Week come to an end. I enjoyed the spirited commentary among the visitors, and liked this set of pictures. We wrap things up with this picture which was taken in 1890. This guy appears to perhaps be more of a sport hunter. I am not sure what he is hunting for. It looks like he has a double barrel side-by-side shotgun. I have never hunted with dogs, so am not sure what might be going on. Perhaps he is a bird hunter and these are bird dogs.

DOMESTIC UPDATE: The Chickies have Landed.

I think I had mentioned last summer that I ordered a batch of baby chicks. I wanted 10, but the minimum order was 50. The reason is that with that many, they keep each other warm in shipping, and arrive all peeping. Well, the post office called yesterday morning, and said the chickies had arrived. Luckily my neighbor is one of the people who wanted some of the chickens, so she went and picked them up. She also remembered everyone who was in on the deal. So, when I got over to my neighbors house yesterday, the chickens had pretty much been sorted out. She gave me money that the people had given her. I don't remember how much the total order was, since it has been some time since I placed it, so I have no way of knowing if I ended up square on the deal, but that is OK since in the end I got my chickies. Since they were shipped by priority overnight federal express, the shipping was a lot . . . almost as much as the chickens. I am not sure anyone calculated the shipping into what they paid me.

Hunting Camp

I really love this picture. It was taken in 1888 near Deadwood in the Dakota Territory. It shows a couple of hunters in camp with the deer they have killed. OK, I guess that I can not prove that they are really hunters, it is speculation on my part. They could be a couple of taxidermists on the way to a convention carrying some of their latest work.

Hey did you notice in the comments yesterday the person who was actually in the picture posted his little story about the day he killed the rabbit? That was a first . . . like a voice from the past telling about the day pictured.

Bunny Hunt

OK, Hunting week continues amid some controversy that I am posting pictures of children next to animals that they did not actually kill. Anyone who lives in West Texas knows that any respectable young man gets his first prong horn antelope before his 6th birthday, but I can understand that this might sound foreign to those not privileged enough to live here. Also, there is growing anger over what some perceive to be a lack of choices in this week's poll question. Some have felt that the poll as configured might include some degree of bias, and might not generate scientifically valid results. Well, against this growing outrage against the editorial practices at OPOD, we present this picture. We will call it what looks to be a boy holding what looks to be a dead rabbit, that he might or might not have just shot. There. That should be safe. Many thanks to Heather for submitting the picture from her family album.

First Hunt

Today, we get down to business. No more picture of Girlie-Man hunts with a dozen overdressed rich men on expensive horses chasing a little fox. Nope, today it is a Manly-man hunt. A He-man hunt. The picture was taken in Glasscock county. This little guy looks to be 5 years old. He is shorter than the rifle, and probably does not weigh as much. Notice thta that there is no recoil pad on the rifle, and it is lever action, meaning no gas-recoil reduction. Hence, this rifle probably kicked like thunder. Have you ever seen a bigger smile, or a more proud boy. I would be willing to bet you that wherever this boy ended up, that his family never missed a meal. This photo was sent in by Krista . . . many thanks.

Fox Hunt

Today's picture was taken in 1921 and shows men on a Fox Hunt. To be honest, I do not really understand Fox Hunting. Are they really hunting a fox, or is it something more like a game where you are running your horse across an obstacle course. I can not imagine that it would take 12 guys with fancy horses to catch a fox.

Hunting Season

It is hunting season once again in Texas, and we commemorate this by declaring this to be Hunting Week on Old Picture of the Day. This picture was taken in 1908, and shows a young boy that had just bagged a fine rabbit. You can bet his family had a nice batch of Rabbit Stew that night. It is hard for me to tell if he is carrying a rifle or a shotgun.

Growing up in Texas, I grew up loving hunting. I got my first BB gun when I was six years old. I would hunt birds with it. The rule around my house was that if you were ALWAYS responsible with the BB gun, at age 11 you could purchase a 22. With a 22 I could hunt rabbits and other varmints. A little later I was able to get a 410 shotgun, and then on up to a deer rifle. When I was in High School and College, there was nothing I liked more than going deer hunting. I loved being out early with my friends, and all the things that went along with hunting. When I moved to New Mexico, I was no longer able to hunt, since I did not have a place there to hunt. Now that I am back, I don't hunt. It is funny in that all the other things about hunting still appeal to me, but for some reason, I just don't want to shoot a deer. I am in favor of hunting, and am all for people who hunt, I just personally no longer want to kill a deer. Maybe I am getting soft in my old age.

Mystery Person

The contest is officially underway!

Jackson Square

This picture was taken in 1937, and shows a couple sitting in Jackson Square. To me, it looks like they did not want to have their picture taken. The man looks like he is holding a small item in his hand, but I am not sure what it is. I think the woman is holding a small key ring.

Western Union Messenger Boy

Today's Old Photo is from 1913, and it was taken on a street in New Orleans. It shows a Western Union delivery boy. Kids like this were hired by Western Union to deliver telegrams around town. As far as child labor goes, that has to beat working in a Coal Mine.

I find the bicycle interesting. It is not unlike the one I had growing up in the 1960's. These were 1-speed bikes. To brake, you slightly moved the pedals backwards. Personally, I liked this system much better than the hand brakes on modern bicycles. It also had a big comfortable seat, which I liked much better than the small seats that came out with the 10-speed bikes. As I grew up, this style of bike fell out of fashion, and the bikes came along with the banana seats and high handlebars. Then a few of these started having multiple gears, and then all of the sudden all bikes became the 10 speed bikes with small seats and low handlebars. I sort of really like the old style bikes similar to the one pictured here.

New Orleans Newsboys

Today's picture was taken in 1913. It shows two newsboys working on a street in New Orleans. The boys are 7 and 9 years old.

French Market

This is another picture of New Orleans in 1935. The picture shows the French Market area along the waterfront.

This week of pictures sure makes me want to visit New Orleans again. I really like the food. Nothing like a good Jambalaya or Crawfish Pie. I would also like to visit that Civil War museum again. Hmmmm . . . maybe next summer I could convince Mrs. PJM to make a trip up to New Orleans with me.

Old Sailor

New Orleans week continues here on OPOD with this picture of an old sailor. The picture was taken in 1935 in Jackson Square. You never know for sure if the person is a local or a tourist, but my bet is that he is a local.

Street Corner

I don't know about you, but I am sure glad Chicago Week is over. I am not sure what I was thinking about doing a week on a place I do not like. So, this week we move somewhere that I am interested in . . . New Orleans. This picture was taken in 1936, and shows a street corner in New Orleans.

I find New Orleans to be a very interesting place. There are things I really like about it, and a few things I don't care for. First, I am very interested in the South, and old things. Well, that makes New Orleans a very interesting place for me. I love the old Southern Architecture, and feel of the city. In the French Quarter, there is an Antique Shop filled with incredible Civil War antiques like Colt revolvers, swords, uniforms and so forth. The shop also has things like original cased dueling pistols. A place more like a museum, but where you could purchase what you wanted. Then, there is also the Confederate History museum. Definitely the best Civil War museum that I have ever visited. It is full of incredible historical items. Across the street from the Confederate museum is the D-Day museum, another amazing military history place. I also like the food in New Orleans. I enjoy eating at the Commanders Palace, which has the best bread pudding I have ever tasted. I like the people of New Orleans, and the way they talk.

OK, a few things I don't care for. There is this overall undercurrent in the city of debauchery. You are walking around the French Quarter, and there are a number of burlesque types of establishments. Also, there is this overall undercurrent of sort of a Voodoo culture. That kind of gives me the creeps. You are walking down the street looking in stores, and then you end up in one that sells ground snake parts, skulls, and spell books.

Shaking Things Up

We shake things up a little this week. You were expecting mystery person contest this morning? Well you get mystery street contest this morning. To win, you have to 1) Identify the Street, 2) Identify the City, and 3) Identify he decade the picture was taken. No credit for partially correct answers. First to get all three wins. This week, the gloves come off. I must defeat the evil Nate Maas. I must defeat you all.

Chicago Ferris Wheel

This is a picture of the Ferris Wheel at the 1893 Chicago World Fair. Wow, I had no idea it was so big. Notice that where a typical ride would have a two person seat, this one has what looks like a small room.

OK, in my earlier post I might have left the impression that I did not like Chicago because of the airport. I should clarify, I do not like Chicago for MANY reasons. Here is an example. I had to go to a meeting in Chicago. When I left the hotel, there was a terrible snow storm. It was like a complete white out. It was freezing cold. Then I walk into the meeting half frozen, with my hand stuck to my briefcase and I say, "Wow, that is some snow storm". Then they tell me that it is not snowing, that that is "Lake Effect". They said it as if I had not really seen 6 cars that morning off the road and stuck in the ditch, or a semi truck turned over and on fire. They acted as if it was my imagination that the ends of my appendages were turning black from frostbite, and the end of my nose had icicles, or that my eyes were frozen open. Nope, none of that was happening, it was all just lake effect. Now, I am not saying you should not like Chicago. I am not calling for a boycott of Chicago, I am just saying I am happy I will never have to go there again.

Chicago Columbian Exposition

Looks like I finally figures out how to get people to comment on my posts this week . . . say something bad about Chicago, and then everyone comes out and makes comments. Today, I take a slightly different strategy, which is to post a somewhat interesting picture. I will admit that this week my pictures have been a little flat, as I have been way behind on a lot of different work. Today though, I think this is a pretty good picture. It was taken in 1893, and shows the Columbian World Exposition in Chicago. You can see the big Ferris Wheel right in the middle of the picture. (Note to self- See if cool picture or criticizing Chicago gets more visitor comments)

A & P Market in Chicago

Today's picture was taken in 1941 in front of an A&P market in Chicago. This is a nice picture, and shows two boys with what looks like a little delivery wagon.

OK, someone yesterday asked what happened to all the people who usually post on the blog this week. Well, perhaps my pictures just are not getting the juices flowing this time. Perhaps I should not have selected a topic for this week of a city I disdain. Yes folks, Chicago is my least favorite place in the world that I have ever been to. Yep, I did not like anything about it. Yes, I always cringed in fear when I heard I would have to go there, or even through there. Maybe my disgust with this place is leading to non-inspired blog postings this week. Fear not, Saturday is a new mystery person day, and next week will be a new theme.

Chicago Board of Trade

If you have not figured it out already, this week we are looking at old pictures of Chicago. I have to admit that my personal experience with Chicago is limited to being stranded numerous times at the airport there on connecting flights. So, I have a bias against Chicago. So, maybe I was flying from Nevada to Florida, and I end up being snowed in in Chicago. Anyway, this picture is from 1903, and shows the Chicago Board of Trade. It looks sort of like a huge warehouse.

Chicago Stockyards

This picture shows workers at the Chicago Stockyards. Looks like they are taking a lunch break. The picture was taken in 1941.

Chicago

This picture was taken in 1899, and shows the Pacific Express train station in Chicago. That is an impressive building, I wonder if it is still standing.

Mystery Person

OK, here we go with this week's mystery person contest. Who is the woman pictured above?

DOMESTIC UPDATE: Well I have some major news for you all. I have a new peacock. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce to you Mr. Handsome Jack, pictured below. For now, Handsome Jack is staying in the backyard of the Peacock Palace, while Lovie and the Chickies are living inside the Peacock Palace. I did not want to throw them all together at once. I wanted to get Handsome Jack settled into his new surroundings first, lessening the chance of some sort of barnyard catastrophe.

I should add that Handsome Jack actually is the Papa of the Chickies. When the lady gave us Lovie and the babies, she was just thinning out her peacocks. She called last week, and said she had fallen and broken her hip, and needed to get rid of all the peacocks. She said we could come and get Lovies' old flame, and father of the Chickies. So, the whole family is back together again. Now, if you want a mini-trivia contest . . . what fictional character did I name the new Peacock after. To make sure you know the answer, you have to answer this question. What was Handsome Jack looking for in the swamp?

Lovie and the Chickies are living inside. The Chickies are growing up fast.

Storefront Church

We continue church week here at Old Picture of the Day with this photograph from 1941. The picture shows a black Storefront Church in Chicago.

Billy Sunday Tabernacle

This last week we had Billy Sunday as our Mystery person. He was a former baseball player turned big time evangelist. Today, we feature a picture of a crowd in one of his services.

Boddelwyddan Church

This picture was taken in 1898, and shows the Boddelwyddan Church of Wales. What a magnificent building.

New Mexico Church

This picture was taken in 1941 and shows the Llano de San Juan church in New Mexico. The picture really captures the feel of New Mexico. I lived in New Mexico for many years, and always enjoyed the crisp air, and the smell of pinon and green chilies in the fall.