I posted this postcard previously, along with two others showing "The Brightest Christmas City" decorations of downtown Minneapolis, here. This postcard shows the view looking north on Nicollet Avenue from7th Street. Part of a Walgreen's drugstore sign is visible on the left. Donaldson's department store is in the right foreground, and signs for Standard Clothing Company and Powers Department Store can be seen farther up the street.
I thought it would be interesting to focus on the small figures of people on the left. Cropping and enlarging just that section of the photo gives a good view of the fashions and weather. I can almost feel what it would be like to be there walking along a festive, but cold and slippery, street with my hands in me pockets to keep them warm. It must have snowed recently because the type of snow that is clinging to the decorations doesn't last long.
I was hoping that I could get a better view of the license plates and store windows when I enlarged the photo, but the photo wasn't sharp enough for that. I was not able to date the photo, but I think it is probably late 1920s. Minneapolis had similar Christmas decorations for many years, and there are some photos of various years online. However, none of the photos I found online had decorations exactly like these.
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Even all bundled up in what looks like a black fur coat, the woman in it appears to be freezing. I feel cold just looking at her!
ReplyDeleteThe garlands are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteYou chose a great photo for cropping and enlarging. You need a particularly even light I find.
ReplyDeleteGiven the decade, the garlands are likely real pine and not artificial. That's impressive. But with the heavy snow the decorations look more dangerous than festive!
ReplyDeleteGood work on cropping and enlargement. There is so much to see on a postcard like this.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with Mike, they do look to be real. How wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSuper photo of an old fashioned (?) Christmas...and the poor ladies had skirts on in that weather too! The garlands and even trees on the side of a building are superb! I imagine they were wired up pretty strongly because there's a lot of snow possible there.
ReplyDeleteThey look so cold! The decorations on the department store remind of decorations during the Christmas season on Hudson's Dept. Store that used to stand in downtown Detroit before it was imploded.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much in that original postcard : layer after layer of interest. Expertly analysed, as usual.
ReplyDeleteThe ladies' shoes look downright hazardous in the snow. Great city decorations...wish ours were 10% as good here in the tropics.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good image for focussing on the detail, and I particularly liked looking at the people hurrying along to keep warm.
ReplyDelete