Category: Vintage

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Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota

This channel connects the upper and lower lakes of Minnetonka. Lake Minnetonka located about 15 miles west of Minneapolis has over 300 miles of shore-line. It is noted for its scenic beauty, fishing, sailing and a summer playground. A large amusement part is on the water’s edge at Excelsior, Minnesota.

Apparently the amusement park was there from 1925 to 1973. I never saw it.

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Williamsburg, Virginia

April, 1955

Hi!

Ave had a good day of sightseeing! Were at it most of the day in the hot Va. sun. Left coats in the car. The flowers are lovely here – tulips, iris, violets are all out though they say it is in late spring. The reconstructed area is very interesting. Have seen today about half of the buildings open. Tonight we went to a candlelight concert of 18th and 17th century string music in the Governor’s Palace. It was delightful. Ate dinner tonight at the Williamsburg Inn – wonderful food.

Love

THE CAPITOL, 1699-1705

This structure closely identified with the political life of Colonial Virginia, has been rebuilt on original foundations at the earlier of two buildings that stood here during the eighteenth century. Its furnishings and unusual interior painting conform to descriptions in contemporary records.

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Sioux Falls, South Dakota

September, 1911

Dear Daughter

Don’t count too much on my coming to corn produce as I am very busy canning peaches and must to make Poor pickles and meat relish and get my dress made and get shoes and gloves and we are going to Edith’s Sat. and home. I’ll let you know. Later.

Mother

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Little Sisters of the Poor, Chester Ave.

April, 1916

Letter rec’d in good condition. Will ans letter tomorrow night or when I receive that parcel. Maybe tomorrow.

B

The Little Sisters of the Poor is an international Roman Catholic women’s religious organization. They were established in Philadelphia on August 24, 1869, to respond to the needs of the elderly poor in Philadelphia. The home was rebuilt in the early 1970’s and is currently called the Holy Family Home.

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Los Angeles, California

Pershing Square, Los Angeles

Postcard courtesy of Western Publishing and Novelty Company.

In 1866 the area known today as Pershing Square was dedicated as a public square called La Plaza Abaja (the lower plaza) by Mayor Christobal Aguilar. A year later people started calling it St Vincent’s Park since it was across the street from St Vincent’s College (now Loyola Marymount University). The name changed again in 1870 to Los Angeles Park and in 1886 it was 6th Street Park when it was redesigned by Frederick Eaton. It became Central Park during the early 1890s and had a bandstand pavilion.

In 1900 a statue of a Spanish-American War veteran was dedicated. In 1910 the park was renovated again by John Parkinson and featured a fountain by sculptor Johan Caspar Lachne Gruenfeld. In 1918, a week after the end of World War I, the park was renamed once again to Pershing Square to honor General Pershing. I believe this is the iteration pictured above.

The park went through many other iterations over the years including being demolished in 1952 in order to build an underground car park. By 1984 when the Summer Olympics were in Los Angeles, it had become so neglected, the city spent $1 million for temporary renovations.

Once again, in 1992, the park closed for a $14.5 redesign and renovation by Ricardo Legorreta and Laurie Olin. It re-opened in 1994 with a bell tower, fountains, a walkway, and concert stage. This design remains today. In 2000, a monument was dedicated to a highly decorated local Korean War veteran by the name of Eugene Obregon.