Questions and Answers (Q&A) Forgotten Chicago Forum
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Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 18, 2012 10:13AM
Where in Chicago?
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/190017930?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=*&who=Harry+Callahan&pos=47
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/190017930?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=*&who=Harry+Callahan&pos=47
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: December 18, 2012 12:12PM
That looks like the train shed for Grand Central Station, so somewhere just south of Harrison on Wells.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 18, 2012 01:24PM
WayOutWardell,
You may be correct, or very close. I just used Google Maps street view of the intersection of Harrison and Wells, photo September 2012. My guess too, was a location close to a railroad station.
Maybe the photograph was taken near the LaSalle Street Station. I would like to find a 1950s vintage map that will show two intersecting streetcar lines at an acute angle, near the station, as shown in the photograph.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2012 03:52PM by nordsider.
You may be correct, or very close. I just used Google Maps street view of the intersection of Harrison and Wells, photo September 2012. My guess too, was a location close to a railroad station.
Maybe the photograph was taken near the LaSalle Street Station. I would like to find a 1950s vintage map that will show two intersecting streetcar lines at an acute angle, near the station, as shown in the photograph.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/18/2012 03:52PM by nordsider.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: December 18, 2012 04:50PM
The streetcar tracks in the background are heading up to the Polk Street Bridge, which led west across the river. Here's a link to a 1947 photo of the Wells side of Grand Central, along with a photo from the same spot in 2012.
[url=http://www.wbez.org/blog/john-r-schmidt/2012-01-06/there-chicago-95224]Grand Central, 1947[/url]
[url=http://www.wbez.org/blog/john-r-schmidt/2012-01-06/there-chicago-95224]Grand Central, 1947[/url]
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 18, 2012 05:20PM
WayOutWardell,
Good detective work! That certainly looks like the same streetcar tracks and building design.
Good detective work! That certainly looks like the same streetcar tracks and building design.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
Rustymuscle
()
Date: December 21, 2012 08:22PM
Just wanted to clarify, the 1947 photo in the link is slightly north of the photo on question? So, the original photo is looking directly west, just south of the view in the other photo? If you pull up historicaerials.com, it's pretty clear.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 22, 2012 08:23AM
Rustymuscle,
I agree with your camera location; the original 1953 photograph must have been taken facing west with the train shed of the Grand Central Station's "self-supporting glass and steel train shed" in the background.
Photograph From The Chicago Daily News 1902 - 1933
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/ichihtml/
Search: tower of Grand Central Station
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 10:44PM by nordsider.
I agree with your camera location; the original 1953 photograph must have been taken facing west with the train shed of the Grand Central Station's "self-supporting glass and steel train shed" in the background.
Photograph From The Chicago Daily News 1902 - 1933
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/ichihtml/
Search: tower of Grand Central Station
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 10:44PM by nordsider.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 26, 2012 07:32PM
Where was this photograph taken in 1950?
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/190018833?rpp=20&pg=22&ao=on&ft=chicago&pos=434
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/190018833?rpp=20&pg=22&ao=on&ft=chicago&pos=434
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
Mr Downtown
()
Date: December 28, 2012 12:42AM
That's 418 W. Eugenie, NW corner of Fern Court. Photo is looking north on Fern toward the (now removed) Ogden Avenue. It doesn't look all that different today:
http://goo.gl/maps/UByYH
http://goo.gl/maps/UByYH
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 28, 2012 08:06AM
Mr Downtown,
Thank you for the location. I had zoomed into the photo and saw the 418 and suspected the location was somewhere just west of Sedgwick.
When I look at the far end of Fern Court in the photograph, which must be the intersection of Ogden Avenue, and probably Menomee Street --- according to a 1938 map --- I see a multi-story building that puzzles me. The Forgotten Chicago feature: "The Extension And Removal Of Ogden Avenue" had an aerial photograph showing this area; however, it seems to be no longer available for viewing?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2012 07:41AM by nordsider.
Thank you for the location. I had zoomed into the photo and saw the 418 and suspected the location was somewhere just west of Sedgwick.
When I look at the far end of Fern Court in the photograph, which must be the intersection of Ogden Avenue, and probably Menomee Street --- according to a 1938 map --- I see a multi-story building that puzzles me. The Forgotten Chicago feature: "The Extension And Removal Of Ogden Avenue" had an aerial photograph showing this area; however, it seems to be no longer available for viewing?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2012 07:41AM by nordsider.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
nordsider
()
Date: December 29, 2012 08:17AM
The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . . and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in the background?
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+evans&pos=50
http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+evans&pos=50
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
Mornac
()
Date: December 29, 2012 02:31PM
Several things make me doubt this is Chicago. Aside from the architechture being a little off, the terrain is a little too rural for the area you’re suggesting, the almost handmade wooden sign wood never be something the city would employ in our climate, the “parallel parking” sign would be larger and have “City of Chicago” printed in small somewhere on it, the “Union Street” sign is something for likely found in a community where street names are not important, and finally, City of Chicago parking meters of that era looked like this: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrUlJ9drwDgvqu22MUavkmw61F2Ktj5oARgI-q-XuugTV6H6KKpQ
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
PKDickman
()
Date: December 29, 2012 02:31PM
nordsider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is
> given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street
> sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a
> Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a
> Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . .
> and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in
> the background?
>
> http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-co
> llections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+
> evans&pos=50
I don't think that's Chicago.
It's way to hilly. More like a rivertown. You can see it betterin the other photos in the series. And that second empire courthouse doesn't look like Chicago architecture. The parking meters and and fireplug doesn't look local either.
Look for a town on a navigable river, probably the county seat, grew up around the civil war.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is
> given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street
> sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a
> Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a
> Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . .
> and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in
> the background?
>
> http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-co
> llections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+
> evans&pos=50
I don't think that's Chicago.
It's way to hilly. More like a rivertown. You can see it betterin the other photos in the series. And that second empire courthouse doesn't look like Chicago architecture. The parking meters and and fireplug doesn't look local either.
Look for a town on a navigable river, probably the county seat, grew up around the civil war.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
Mr Downtown
()
Date: December 29, 2012 04:16PM
That big institution in the background of the Old Town (Fern Ct) photo was built in the 1920s as the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital. Later it became the Catherine Booth Hospital, operated by the Salvation Army, and then in 1960 became part of Roosevelt Hospital. After a big 1980 Medicare fraud scandal, the name was changed to Chicago Center Hospital in 1981, and the hospital closed in 1985. Shortly afterwards, it was demolished and the 30-unit Belgravia Terrace townhouse development was built there.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: December 29, 2012 05:10PM
nordsider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is
> given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street
> sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a
> Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a
> Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . .
> and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in
> the background?
>
> http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-co
> llections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+
> evans&pos=50
That's Norwich, CT, at the intersection of Union St. and Church St. The other photos in the series show a wider shot of the town hall (with the clock) and the Central Baptist Church on the left. It looks much the same today.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is
> given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street
> sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a
> Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a
> Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . .
> and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in
> the background?
>
> http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-co
> llections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+
> evans&pos=50
That's Norwich, CT, at the intersection of Union St. and Church St. The other photos in the series show a wider shot of the town hall (with the clock) and the Central Baptist Church on the left. It looks much the same today.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
Lance Grey
()
Date: December 29, 2012 05:18PM
nordsider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is
> given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street
> sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a
> Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a
> Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . .
> and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in
> the background?
>
> http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-co
> llections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+
> evans&pos=50
The "related" photos on that page look European to me.
-------------------------------------------------------
> The description of this photograph (1940s-50s) is
> given as: "Possibly Chicago", showing a street
> sign "Union St". If this is a photograph of a
> Chicago location, where in Chicago? There is a
> Union Avenue 700 W, from 630 N to 12937 S . . .
> and where would the pedestrian bridge be, shown in
> the background?
>
> http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-co
> llections/190037843?rpp=20&pg=3&ft=chicago+walker+
> evans&pos=50
The "related" photos on that page look European to me.
Re: Where was this photograph taken?
Posted by:
PKDickman
()
Date: December 29, 2012 05:29PM
WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> That's Norwich, CT, at the intersection of Union
> St. and Church St. The other photos in the series
> show a wider shot of the town hall (with the
> clock) and the Central Baptist Church on the left.
> It looks much the same today.
You're good.
I am glad to see (from google street view ) that they have pointed up the brick work on that church.
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> That's Norwich, CT, at the intersection of Union
> St. and Church St. The other photos in the series
> show a wider shot of the town hall (with the
> clock) and the Central Baptist Church on the left.
> It looks much the same today.
You're good.
I am glad to see (from google street view ) that they have pointed up the brick work on that church.
