More pics of, and from, the past . . .

WW11 goodbye

6,000 year old kiss

White child curiously touching the shield of a black riot cop during a KKK protest.

The death mask known as L'Inconnue de la Seine, taken from an unidentified young girl who was said to have committed suicide in the Seine River, around 1880. A pathologist at the Paris morgue was so taken by her beauty that he had the death mask of her face made. Her enigmatic smile has been compared to that of the Mona Lisa and her face was used for the head of the first aid mannequin Resusci Anne ( resuscitation doll)...called by some "the most kissed face" of all time.

New shops on Argyle Street, The Rocks, Sydney, 1907

Late 1800s.... horse handlers moving freight have stopped for a 'smoko'.

Sydney University viewed from Parramatta Rd and Bay St in 1870

Coogee Beach, January 1909.

Children in the 1950s make their own fun with a makeshift swing from a lamppost, England.

The Great Smog of 1952 in London claimed an estimated 4000 lives.

Victorian couple 1869 cycling Britain

Knife grinder, Britain, 1920’s.

A common sight during the 1920's, the knife grinders gradually disappeared from the streets of London, but were still to be seen in the 1950's and early 60's. The contraption this man has hand built has the two higher wheels turning a small grindstone by pedalling. Some effort has gone into the wooden framework, which has ornamental carving.

Scooter, 1916

1952 Christchurch, New Zealand. It was common practice to dangle prams, pushchairs and bicycles from the hangers on the front of a bus (with the babies removed).

Victorian London 1877. Very Holmesian, don't you think?

 

Twin Towers

Bannerman’s Castle, Pollepel Island, Hudson River, New York (and the 2 photographs below)

Francis Bannerman purchased over 90 percent of the Spanish guns, ammunition, and equipment captured by the United States military and auctioned off by the United States government. After the Spanish-American War. He purchased Pollepel Island in 1900 Bannerman purchased the island in November 1900 for use as a storage facility for his growing surplus business. On it he constructed a storage facility in the form of a castle and another castle in a smaller scale on top of the island near the main structure as a residence. The castle, clearly visible from the shore of the river, served as a giant advertisement for his business. Construction ceased at Bannerman's death in 1918. In August 1920, 200 tons of shells and powder exploded in an ancillary structure, destroying a portion of the complex. Bannerman's sales of military weapons to civilians declined during the early 20th century as a result of state and federal legislation. After the sinking of the ferryboat Pollepel, which had served the island, in a storm in 1950, the Arsenal and island were essentially left vacant. The island and buildings were bought by New York State in 1967, after the old military merchandise had been removed, and tours of the island were given in 1968.[6] However, in 1969, fire devastated the roofs and floors and the island was placed off-limits to the public. The castle is currently the property of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and is mostly in ruins.

 

Martin Place, Sydney, NSW Australia, 1936

Home Sweet Home in the bush, 1800’s

Giant tree, utilized as a house at Wynstay, South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. ca.1878-1900

In homes with usually only one room, the box-bed allowed some privacy and helped keep people warm during winter. It was the main furniture of rural houses in Brittany until the 20th century.

A box-bed is a bed enclosed in furniture that looks like a cupboard, half-opened or not. The box-bed is closed on all sides by panels of wood. One enters it by removing curtains, opening a door hinge or sliding doors on one or two slides. In front of the box-bed was often a large oaken chest, with the same length as the bed. This was the 'seat of honour,' and served also as a step for climbing into the bed. It was also used to store clothing, underwear and bedding the rest of the time

Some additional box-bed pics . . .

The caption for this pic read Box-bed, Brittany, 1910's.  I don't know what the French reads but it seems to me that this pic may have had a titillation element, particularly in looking at the face of the male person.