DR. TURNER’S SANITARIUM : COLFAX, IOWA : RPPC

sanitarium 1This vintage postcard features a picture of Dr. Turner’s Sanitarium in Colfax, Iowa. Drs. Alice and Lewis Turner were owners of the Sanitarium “where one is taught to get well by natural methods”. The sanitarium was established by the Turners in 1904. The building was previously a hotel (The Grand). The average patient stay was three weeks and the doctors only used medicine in “stubborn cases”. Instead, hot packs, formentations (hot moist substances applied to the skin), and local mineral water were the treatments of choice. A stay at the sanitarium cost between 8 and 12 dollars a week. Mineral baths cost extra.  In 1911, the Turners sold the rest home to Dr. Lewis C. M. Porter, who joined forces with a local hospital. The rest home burned down in a fire in 1928.The postcard was published between 1905 and 1910 by H. W. Wood (Colfax Postcard Company). The postcard is a color lithographic print made in Germany.  SOLD                                                                                               

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Published in: on November 9, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (6)  
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ADORABLE LITTLE GIRL AND HER DOLL : CLINTON, IOWA : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card portrait features an adorable long haired little girl standing next to her seated doll. The toy doll is sitting in a rocking chair. The girl is wearing a “fancy” dress. The child appears quite content as she poses for her photograph at the Temple studio in Clinton, Iowa. “The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton County, Iowa, Illustrated” provides some information about the photographer, Gilbert Lawrence Temple. He was born in Ohio. He was schooled in Ohio and was a student at Otterbein University for two years. In 1870 he began his career as a photographer in Beloit, Wisconsin. After two years he sold his business and moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he went to work for J. F. Ryder, a leading photographer in that city. By 1874, Temple was working for the J. H. Reed studio in Clinton. He remained an employee of Reed for 7 years and then opened his own studio (Santee & Temple). In 1884, Temple bought out his partner and became the sole proprietor of the studio. This vintage photograph was found in a photo album belonging to Nellie Frances Pinney (1878-1966). This cabinet card has gold beveled edges. SOLD

Published in: on August 5, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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AN IDENTIFIED OLD MAN : WATERLOO, IOWA : CABINET CARD

An older man, looking quite intense, poses for his portrait at the studio of La Tier, in Waterloo, Iowa. The gentleman is named Albert G. Porter and he was born in 1816. His place of birth was Seneca, New York. His identification information is derived from an inscription on the reverse of the card. The date 1892 is written on the front of the card (center bottom) and this is likely the date that the photograph was taken. The photographer, James D. La Tier, was the first president of the Photographic Association of Iowa. During his career he operated studios alone, as well as part of Simmons & La Tier, as well as Simmons, La Tier, and King. La Tier is mentioned in a number of photographic publications (1890 & 1898).

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Published in: on July 2, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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MOM AND DAD, FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN AND A BISQUE DOLL IN MOUNT AYR, IOWA (1895)

A couple poses with their four young children at the studio of Maxwell in Mount Ayr, Iowa. One of the girls is holding a bisque doll and the boy is holding a riding crop. The image is dated 1895-96.  The photographer,  M. G. Maxwell is mentioned in a number of photographic journals for winning medals for his work (1894, 1896, 1900 and 1907).  SOLD

Published in: on April 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THE APPANOOSE COUNTY COURTHOUSE : CENTERVILLE, IOWA : (1915)

This vintage real photo postcard features the Appanoose County Courthouse. The building is located in the county seat of Centerville, Iowa. The courthouse was selected to be on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The cornerstone was laid in 1903 and the building was dedicated in 1904. The Courthouse has a two-stage central clock tower. Worth noting is that in the background are two interesting advertising signs. Note the signs for “Coca Cola” and for an “Automobile and Buggy” shop.  A third sign is also evident but it is partially obscured by the courthouse. The sign appears advertise the “Davison Brothers Hardware” store. The postcard message is from a wife to her husband. She was away from home and reporting on her trip. The postcard appears to be from circa 1915 and is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: Uncategorized on June 18, 2022 at 3:13 pm  Comments (1)  
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PORTRAIT OF THE MOST ADORABLE BABY IN MUSCATINE, IOWA

This cabinet card portrait features the most adorable baby ever photographed in Muscatine, Iowa. Thanks to an inscription of the reverse of the photograph, we know the name of this photogenic child. The notation states “Please give this to Cora Freddie(?) Guthrie. Taken when 3 1/2 months old. She is now over a year”. The notation is signed “Evelyn”. The photograph was taken by the Clifford & Son studio in Muscatine, Iowa. The studio was operated by Charles Clifford and his son Frederick. Charles Clifford had a studio in Newton, Iowa in the 1880’s and 1890’s. The Photographic Journal of America (1893) announces that Charles and his son opened a studio in Muscatine. The Photographic Times (1895) makes mention that the father and son had mauufactured a “flash light machine”. The Photo Beacon (1897) notes that the Clifford & Son had won some awards at a photography exhibition.   (SOLD)

Published in: on March 16, 2021 at 12:00 pm  Comments (1)  
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A YOUNG WOMAN WITH HER HEAD IN THE CLOUDS IN BELLEVUE, IOWA

A young woman has her head in the clouds in this Bellevue, Iowa portrait. The photographic effect was created by photographer M. J. Streuser in his Front Street studio. On a sad note, it is likely that this portrait is actually a memorial cabinet card. My hypothesis is that the photographer used the effect to create a heavenly image of the woman.  To view other memorial cards, click on the category “Memorial Card”. This cabinet card portrait is in very good condition (see scans).

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Published in: on October 2, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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YOUNG WOMAN WEARING WIRE RIMMED GLASSES IN CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

A young woman wearing wire rimmed glasses is the subject of this portrait by C. Sorensen.  Sorensen operated a studio in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The woman in this portrait appears prim and proper. She exudes a certain conservatism. Her hairstyle is quite unique. She has  piled much of her hair just above her forehead. The reverse of the cabinet card has an inscription that states “Anna Hubbard …From Belle P.”. Presumably, this woman in this photograph is “Belle P.”.  Preliminary research was unsuccessful in uncovering information about either Anna or Belle.  The cabinet card gallery has other photographs by C. Sorensen and to view them, click on the category “Photographer: Sorensen”.  (SOLD)

Published in: on September 18, 2020 at 12:01 pm  Comments (1)  
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GRADUATION PORTRAIT FROM IOWA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL (UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA) IN CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

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Cabinet cards frequently present interesting mysteries. This cabinet card inspired a number of questions. I wondered what the story was behind this unusual image. The cabinet card was out of the ordinary because of the mini photograph in the left hand bottom corner of the image. The previous owner of the photograph suggested it was a memorial card, but I was dubious. I hypothesized that the image was a graduation portrait and that the buildings in the photo insert was the college from which he graduated. I set out to learn what colleges were located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I discovered that the University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls. From 1876 through 1909 the college was called the Iowa State Normal School. The name was changed and between 1909 and 1961, the educational institution was known as Iowa State Teachers College. Further research confirmed my hypothesis. The photo below, from the University of Northern Iowa library web site, shows the same buildings that are in the cabinet card photograph. The building on the left is South Hall (later Gilchrist Hall) and the building on the right is North Hall (later Central Hall). These buildings were located on the campus of the Iowa State Normal School. Research uncovered the photo postcard below which was identified as being from 1885. My initial hypothesis seems to be correct. This cabinet card is most likely a graduation picture. The subject in the image had just graduated from the Iowa State Teachers College. The cabinet card’s photographer was named Hahnemann Lancaster and he was located in Cedar Falls. The reverse of the photograph has printing advertising that Lancaster had won two first place prizes at both the 1884 and 1886 Iowa State Fairs. Lancaster (born in 1858) was 41 years old when he appeared in the 1900 US census. He was born in Canada. He was married to Sarah (age 39) and the couple had two sons and three daughters at the time of the census. This cabinet card portrait has “gold” edges and is in excellent condition (see scans).  (SOLD)

Gilchrist THIS PHOTO IS NOT FOR SALE

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Published in: on February 17, 2020 at 12:01 pm  Comments (5)  
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SILENT SIOUX OIL BURNER CORP : ORANGE CITY, IOWA, : OWNER AND HIS ADVERTISING PANEL TRUCK (VINTAGE PHOTO)

This vintage snapshot features a man and his truck. This photo has captured a commercial truck with a painted advertising sign. The vehicle is a work truck for Silent Sioux Oil Burner Corp.. The business was located in Orange City, Iowa. Presumably, the warmly dressed gentleman, posed with the truck, is the owner of the company. Note the man’s bow tie and the snow on the ground and on the roof and fender of the truck. It was winter in Iowa when this photograph was taken. A trade catalog from this company is part of the Smithsonian Libraries Trade Literature Collection.The catalog was published in the period between 1900 and 1909 though the company existed beyond those dates.      (SOLD)

Published in: on January 29, 2020 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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