The Slower Road

Today’s old photo shows the streets by the old Town Hall building in Marblehead, Massachusetts, c. 1906.

All the vehicles in this scene appear to be parked for the photo. From left to right, we see a lady seated in the passenger seat of an automobile (with a driver-less delivery vehicle behind her car); the Jersey Milk and Cream deliveryman, surrounded by a group of children; another group of children, standing outside the door to the police station; and two more delivery vehicles (“Hood Farm ___” and the “Northshore News Co.”), plus another car.

… unusual for the time, at least.

Here’s a great street scene from New York, c. 1905. There are throngs of people on the sidewalk and a Hansom Cab waiting by the curb. And did you notice the unusual part? The photographer appears to have stationed himself on a horse-drawn vehicle, as you can see the back of the horse’s head at the bottom of the photo.

Shall we go shopping on this Saturday? Here’s the corner Market and 8th Streets in Philadelphia, in front of Gimbel Brothers’ department store, c. 1900. In addition to a lot of pedestrians, there are a number of commercial vehicles pictured on this busy street.

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