Where is this, and why is there a picture of it? (part 2)
Studying the details
From time to time, I would take the mystery picture out of the box and look for more clues. But the faded photograph was difficult to study. In fact, my high-resolution scan was much more informative.
A clue in a sign
I used Adobe Photoshop and
zeroed in on various parts of the scene,
starting with the building at the right.
It has a sign, and with lots of enlargement,
I could read it! It says "B. D.
THOMAS, HORSE SHOER". So this
is a blacksmith's shop. It affirmed
my belief that horses were still being
used for transportation and farm work.
Better still, this name might lead me to the location in this picture.
There's life on this
street
I had thought that
the blurred girl in the foreground
was the only sign of life. But
another detail showed more people.
Under the awning near the center
of the picture are two or maybe
three people with bicycles. You
can see the wheels and maybe some
spokes in the bicycle wheels. There's
one bicycle on the left of this
detail, and one or more on the
right. The people—boys, I think—are
to the right.
So people ride horses and bicycles in this town. That puts the picture in the late 1800s or early 1900s, just as I thought. But what about cars? The next clue answered that question.
Automobiles were in
use
It's difficult to
read, but the sign is "WEST
END GARAGE".
This open shed is just to the left
of the blacksmith's shop.
Although no automobiles are visible, the term "garage" makes me think that this is an auto repair facility.
Furthermore, there is a community called West End just west (of course) of Atlanta. Is this the same place?
Towns, roads, bridges, and communities were once named for what they represented. Atlanta Road (and there were several) went to Atlanta. Whitehall Street went from Atlanta to the community of Whitehall. Paces Ferry road went to . . . well, you know. And that was the problem. I figured that lots of towns had their own versions of West End.
Contact me at:
Last update: April 7, 2014