The writing on the photo describes, Farm family window shopping in Williston, North Dakota.
Dime stores they were called, and I remember that name well, before variety stores became the popular word. They always owned the best real estate or prime corners to lure their customers in. Much like the big box stores of today.
Welcome again to Sepia Saturday
Featuring shoppers and employees of stores around the country. Our theme topic has an endless supply of themes. I'm including a few minor and one major success story, associated with stores.
To fully grasp the magical connection of these young boys you must think back to when you felt the same excitement of seeing new shades Crayola brought to life.
"There is nothing sadder in this world than to wake Christmas morning and not be a child."
Did you know she was as wise as she was smart and funny?
A pleased shopper outside Wanamaker's in New York City sometime in 1910.
"Esmeralda I believe that man just took our picture. Good heavens, the nerve of that stranger, just who does he think he is?"
This week, Alan has posted a most interesting retail store with a flurry of things going on. But the sign advertising an insurance company in New Orleans, caught my eye.
520 Royal Street Brulatour Ct. New Orleans, Seignouret Brulatour, about 1938.
The sign reads that they specialize in "English Antiques."
Have you ever checked out how many cities have the name New Orleans? Even outside of the United States of America?
Not in all cases, but certainly at 520 Royal Street, and often in Savannah, Georgia from my own personal knowledge, the backsides or rear of these stores were extremely elegant.
They both offer many stunning courtyards.
BUT! For some folks, stores did more than sell things.
Have you any idea where Lipton Tea originated?
Sir Thomas J. Lipton
It's amazing how accepting employment in a department store can change your life, so much for the better. Sir Thomas Lipton is a perfect example.
Check his story out here.
Durham, North Carolina.
What could be more fun for a photographer than to run around town, and capture the thousands of gazes that followed window displays!
Can you spot what this mother is surely going to ask Santa to leave under the tree this year?
But did you notice the roadster?
What could be more fun for a photographer than to run around town, and capture the thousands of gazes that followed window displays!
Can you spot what this mother is surely going to ask Santa to leave under the tree this year?
But did you notice the roadster?
In case you've forgotten just how grand Woolworth's Five and Dime Store was, think again. Here is a photo from 1960 of a Woolworth's being built.
New York City, Woolworth's building under construction February 2, 1912.
The finished product.
Woolworth Building 1912 in New York City.
How about a closer look?
It's one of the oldest skyscrapers in the United States and one of the twenty tallest buildings in New York City.
About 1931, R. H. Macy and Company Broadway and 34th Street, notice the clock at the right side of the building?
Do you know this famous painter and which department store this is?
Hint- It's known for being a windy city!
There just isn't enough time to allow the full depths one can travel in Sepia Saturday themes. I hope you enjoyed this breakfast edition of "What stores and shopping did and continue to do for us."
For more Sepia Saturday posts go here
28 comments:
So much to see! Window shopping is great fun and I enjoyed shopping with you today.
Oh, Karen, this is a magnificent post! It brought back memories from when we were young and used to love shopping at Woolworths (nothing like the one you featured though) and Newberry's. It was so old fashioned even back in the 60's & 70's, with the wooden floors, the luncheonette counters and the wide variety of offerings. I loved those dime stores.
You outdid yourself in this one. I love the lady giving the stink-eye to the photographer and the back courtyard photo.
Thank you, I know that this took a lot of time to make for us.
Kathy M.
This was awesome! I love this post! Thank you for sharing it!
A great series of photos, Karen - I particularly like the one of the excited boys looking in the window. I remember that feeling well! Lovely architecture too! Jo :-)
Yes window shopping is great. I like the image of people looking at all the dolls on display.
Your photos brought me back to the shops of my youth. I have good memories about the toyshop that I passed every day on my way to school. I knew exactly if a new doll was exposed. Thanks for this beautiful tour along shops.
Fantastic memories stimulated by your post...especially the lunch counter in Woolworths!
Always enjoy time traveling with you!
check this out:
http://archive.org/details/sIvanBes1938_2
Happy Aloha to YOU
from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° >
Window shopping what a treat; I think in the future this will disappear more and more and Internet window shopping takes over. I am impressed with the "Woolis" store. The back of the stores, the courtyards,in Savannah, are very beautiful,after shopping one could have a cool drink there.
You are right to remind us that shops are such a central part of all our lives. A great selection - a shop window of shops.
like the boys standing at the windows. it´s nice to see the old pics :)
Excellent collection of window shoppers. Funny how that expression is used even when there isn't a window.
I haven't got the foggiest idea who your famous painter from Chicago is. But he certainly looks like a gentleman in higher spheres.
And this picture of Esmeralda and her friend is a gem. That expression on her face...
Help! What is or was "Ward Week?" And does Woolworths still exist in America? - they went bust in the UK and all their stores were sold.
No one seems to window shop these days - perhaps they do it on the web.
That kid's grin was adorable
- Mac
I can remember the consternation of first finding out that very little of the items in a five and dime store were actually priced like that. It was toward the beginning of a life full of consternation that turned into constipation somewhere along the way. If you don't mind, I would rather give anymore details.
Karen the article about Sir Lipton was interesting, oh to be a heir to his vast fortunes! lol
I love your photos, they're so nostalgic and what really stands out to me is window shopping seemed to be a family affair. This also brought back memories of my youth, when we went to town we'd have to all get dressed in our Sunday best, this was before my father passed on and I was only 4 1/2 when he passed. I don't remember much for the next few years, but thank you for stirring up some childhood memories.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
The lady in photo #11 (looking at the dolls) has a very peculiar hat. And no, I didn't know the store nor painter (I've never been the Chicago, too windy). Of course I can't resist to find it out ( Marshall Fields department store, Norman Rockwell).
the expression "Dime store" has always been familiar to me, but I never really thought about its meaning or origins. Today, your first photo had me reading up on the Woolworth Bros origins. I'm not much of a shopper myself, except where it comes to what you might call thrift stores and boxes of old photos.
Getting through all the Sepia Saturday posts becomes harder and harder, because the photos shared send me off in all directions, just as they ought to. Thanks for the great contribution.
I loved dime stores when I was a kid. I would probably still love them if there were any left. Dollar stores just aren't the same.
The 5&10 cent store was a competitor to Woolworths, now it's the $-store which lacks any style or true value. I can remember when window shopping like your photos, was an activity of the street instead of the mall.
Postcardy- you are so right! Sometimes there is the rare store that pops up in a small town that reminds me of what once was the old dime store!
Mike- I agree, most malls are really nice, but I miss those old fashion dime stores- which now if they are alive and standing are often antique stores!
Great post. The photos of the Woolworth building reminded me of the time we had to call on our buyer there. What an intimidating time that was. But we got the order. We sold our needlework kits to Woolworths for about 5 years. Sadly, Woolworths is no more. But that gorgeous building still stands. The inside lobby takes your breath away.
Nancy
A fascinating tour of shops and I love the window-shopping ones. Who hasn't done that and hankered after the unaffordable? I've been to Chicago but I've no idea of the answer to the question you pose. That picture of Macy's reminded me that I posted one of its shop front for a thematic photographic we did on shopping. I just compared the two, but mine was taken from ground level.
I drink Lipton tea all the time. And now I know where it comes from :) I'm guessing that courtyard is somewhere tropical or ... I'm not sure but I saw what look like banana trees in there.
Awh, Woolworth!!
Fond memories of my childhood,
where many photobooth pictures were taken under my mom's supervision.
Or when she dragged me to the food counter to have an apple turnover with loads of hot caramel sauce and ice cream over it. Browsing through the records section [as a young teen], and visiting the pets in the back of the store.
Or getting lost in the store when I was barely more than a tot, maybe 3 years old, crying for my mommy, until the security guard picked me up, trying to cheer me up and asking where was my mommy, if I knew her name, (of course i know her name, it's Mommy!!) and then I said, "she's beautiful" and wearing turquoise!! When he saw her rushing with relief toward me, he agreed...
:)~
HUGZ
Gosh, I'd love to live in the house with that courtyard!
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