WEDDING GROUP PHOTOGRAPH IN CLARINDA, IOWA

This cabinet card appears to be a photograph of a wedding group. One would suspect that the bride is the woman in the white gown. She is seated and holding an umbrella. The most likely candidate for groom is the fellow standing behind the bride. The bride is certainly better dressed than the groom. For some unknown reason, the brides  purse was placed on the floor in front of her. What was the photographer thinking? He did an excellent job of posing the six individuals in the wedding group and than detracts from the image by leaving the purse on the floor in the center of the photograph. This  photographer has a history of making similar posing mistakes. To view an example of another one of his poorly posed photographs, click on the category “Photographer O. H. Park. Note the man sitting on the left of the bride. He is holding something that looks like a pin wheel or a small fan. Perhaps a Cabinet Card Gallery visitor can more confidently identify the object. This photograph was taken at Park’s studio in Clarinda, Iowa. Clarinda was founded in 1851. It is written that outlaw Jesse James passed through Clarinda a number of times. The town was named for Clarinda Buck. Legend states that Ms. Buck carried water to the first surveyors of the area. The name “Alice” is written on the reverse of the photograph. “Alice” is likely the name of the bride.  Note that the photographers likeness is on the reverse of the card too. (SOLD)

Published in: on April 15, 2026 at 11:30 am  Comments (5)  
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JESSE JAMES : 1st BANK OF NORTHFIELD : MINNESOTA : ROBBERY GONE BAD : RPPC 1939

This vintage real photo postcard features a view of the Jesse James Cafe in Northfield, Minnesota. Note the cafe’s sign below the three windows on the buildings second floor. There are also advertising signs evident for a chiropractor and for a barber shop. There is some interesting history attached to the cafe’s building. The building used to house the First Bank of Northfield which was involved in the historic “The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid”. In 1876, Northfield was a growing Southern Minnesota community. That same year, First Bank of Northfield, became of interest to the notorious gang of bank and train robbers, The James-Younger Gang consisted of Jesse and Frank James; Bob, Jim and Cole Younger, and three others. The robbers rode into Northfield and three of the gang members entered the bank and began the hold-up. Bank employees told them that the safe was locked and could not be opened. When a merchant witnessed the robbery in progress, he warned fellow citizens to arm themselves and fight to stave off the robbers. Gang members outside the bank began to fire their pistols and told the citizens to leave the area. After the ensuing gun fight, two robbers were killed and two were wounded. In addition, the bank cashier was killed when he refused to open the vault. Six of the robbers fled after the failed raid. After some time, the three Younger brothers were captured and another robber was killed in a gun battle. Ultimately, Jesse James (1842-1882) was killed by one of his new recruit gang members. He was killed while standing on a chair dusting off a picture. James was unarmed. His killer was motivated by a reward offered by the Governor of Missouri. This vintage postcard has a 1939 postmark from Northfield, Minnesota. SOLD

Published in: on August 24, 2024 at 9:16 am  Leave a Comment  
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