SEPIA SATURDAY
Summer of 1924 Washington, D.C.
Oh what fun it is to pedal
your day away!
and to visit the S.S. Kresge store too.
your day away!
and to visit the S.S. Kresge store too.
(Notice the girl watching the photographer through the car window?)
Have you ever seen such a unique style of Tricycle?
Trundling or treadling along?
Trundling or treadling along?
Welcome to the world of pedaling and a wee bit of peddling.
Keep an eye open for the Red Light!
More importantly, after scanning various bicycle photographs one major link connecting them all was quite haunting. All the back stories to those that pedaled so long ago. It seems the very wealth or lack of it, in one's family determined just what a child's bicycle meant for them.
I'm pretty sure this young man was considered quite popular in his day. Although, his expression speaks volumes. What could he be thinking?
It was sometime in 1921, and he's listed as "Times Boy" at the Library of Congress with no further information.
Imagine if this lad were a child today and his life at home was much like ours, do you think he might have a happier expression?
A Boy and His Bicycle
brings to mind the song, Me and my arrow, straight up and narrow! Me and my bike! Better than a trike!
I believe this is the same bicycle as the last photo,
A Ranger. Ever hear of it before?
I'm hoping he doesn't have what it completely appears
to be in his mouth!
Messenger boy 1910.
Taking a walk on the wild side of life!
Growing up way too quickly!
November 1913
Taken by photographer Lewis Wickes Hine.
He's another messenger boy, of more appropriate age working in New Orleans, Louisiana.
But yet again with the sour face.
Below on the left is, Emmet Brewster, Postal Messenger # 3 also 11 years old in this photo and he'd been working for seven months making ten to fifteen dollars a month. He had finished only the third grade in school, and often worked late at night in Mobile, Alabama.
What kind of messages went out so late at night?
What was so important that it couldn't wait until dawn?
(I sense another post possibly coming, later on.)
Raymond Bykes, also from Western Union No. 23, Norfolk Va. he was 14 years old and works well after 1:00 a.m. and "he's known for being precocious and not a little tough". He's only been with that office for three months but he knows the Red Light District thoroughly and goes there constantly.
Lewis Wickes Hine, the photographer said the lad told him, "I often sleeps down at the Bay Line boat docks all night." Hine said this about the boy's mother. "Several times I saw his mother hanging around the office, but she seemed more concerned about getting his pay envelope than anything else." Location is Norfolk, Virginia. June 1911.
For the lad below, a much happier disposition, but why?
This is a more likely expression for a boy on his bicycle!
October 1913 and 11 year old J. T. Marshall was a messenger for Western Union. What I found interesting about J. T. is that the Library of Congress was quite helpful with this lad. Yes, they list him as being a lad that goes to the "Red Light District" often and that he knows some of the girls there. They list this has Houston, Texas.
But, that's all they have to say, over and over.
Surely, there was so much more to this lad's life.
So just what else do we know about a boy and his bicycle in the Red Light District, and can we discover what ever happened to him?
Maybe later......
From Houston, Texas meet,
Wilmington, Delaware- May 1910
William Gross, 516 Tatnall Street, Newsboy, age 15 sold papers for 5 years. His average earnings were fifty cents per week. But on May 25th William gave investigator, Edward F. Brown, a list of houses of prostitution written in his own handwriting, and to which he serves papers. He spoke openly about occasionally giving directions to strangers to these various houses for 15 cents to a quarter.
How about pedaling those railroad wheels with a family of four. Why is that the nanny or grandma riding along?
September 30, 1924.
I'm thinking Mommy is the lady holding hands with the little boy but my aren't her eyes a bit scary?
Isn't it interesting, watching people!
A roadster pedaling of sorts, with this busy mother of three.
California November 1936
I'm going to leave off right here at the campsite, because someone mentioned there's great fish to be caught down by the water. Not to mention the campfire and roasted marshmallows too! Maybe you want to grab your own bike and fishing pole and come on down too!
For more Sepia Saturday posts go here
