LOUELLA PAULINE BISHOP SITS FOR THE FOTOGRAFIST IN PRESQUE ISLE, MAINE

An inscription on the reverse of this photograph identifies this pretty young woman in the image as Louella Pauline Bishop. Research was unsuccessful in mining any biographical information about her. The photograph was produced by the Davis studio in Presque Isle, Maine. Apparently, Davis wanted to be known as a fotografist rather than photographer. Researching the meaning of the word “Fotographist”,  I learned its actually an English word that is simply another way of saying photographer. Prescott Davis was born in 1863. He married his wife Annie in 1889. He appears in the 1900 U.S. census as being a photographer and living in Presque Isle. One wonders if his out of town friends referred to him as “Prescott from Presque”. Presque Isle is located in northeast Maine. It was settled in 1828 and was originally named Fairbanks. The town was located in no man’s land. The territory was claimed by both British Canada and the United States. It was called Presque Isle because the French meaning of Presque is peninsula and the town is located on a peninsula between the Aroostock River and the Presque Isle Stream. In earlier times the town was known for its involvement in agriculture and the lumber business.

Published in: on November 10, 2012 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY WOMAN IN LEWISTON, MAINE

This photographic portrait features a pretty young lady posing for her portrait at the Flagg and Plummer gallery in Lewiston, Maine. The subject has quite the sour expression on her face. She looks exasperated, as if she has spent more time and effort at the photographer than she cared to. A pencilled inscription on the reverse of the photograph reveals that the Flagg and Plummer studio was the successor to the Curtis and Ross studio. The  notation also discloses that the young woman in this photograph was named Florence L. Bisbee and that the image was produced in 1899. According to the U.S. Census of 1900, Florence Bisbee was born in 1877 and lived in Auborn, Maine. She lived with her father (Byron), mother (Adiline), and two older brothers. Florence worked as a dry goods clerk, her father was a grocery clerk, and her brothers worked as shoe cutters. By the 1910  census, Florence was employed as shoe stitcher and in the 1920 census she was still living with her parents at the age of forty-three. The 1930 census found her as a head of household and  living with an older woman. She was still a shoe stitcher. Very little information could be found about this photographs creators.  The Flagg and Plummer studio is mentioned in an article in The Bulletin of Photography (1915) concerning the formation of an advertising group of photographers.

Published in: on December 19, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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OLDER GENTLEMAN WITH SCRUFFY BEARD IN PORTLAND, MAINE

This cabinet card features an older man with a scruffy, but nicely shaped, pointy beard. In the style of his day, he has just the top button of his jacket fastened. The photographer of this image is Howard  M. Smith of Portland, Maine. Smith operated studios at 2574 Middle Street and at 478 Congress Street, in Portland. Smith’s studio is listed in an 1891 Portland business directory. To view other photographs of unusual beards, click on the category “Beards (Only the Best)”.

Published in: on September 21, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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PRETTY WOMAN IN BRUNSWICK, MAINE

A pretty woman poses for her portrait at the studio of A. O. Reed at his studio in Brunswick, Maine. The young woman is wearing a pin at her collar and earrings. Note her styled short hair and her flowery blouse. To view other photographs by Reed, click on the category “Photographer: Reed”.

Published in: on July 30, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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SOMEWHAT ATTRACTIVE YOUNG WOMAN IN BANGOR, MAINE

This cabinet cad features a somewhat  attractive young lady posing at a photographic studio, in Bangor, Maine. The profile image reveals an interesting hairstyle that includes braids. The photographer was George Lausil.

Published in: on July 10, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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MAILMAN DELIVERS BABY IN BANGOR, MAINE

This unique cabinet card features a mailman delivering a baby. Alright, he’s not delivering the baby using traditional child birth techniques. He is delivering the baby from his mail pouch. The mailman is dressed in his full uniform and he has a relatively serious expression on his face as he poses for the photographer. The baby’s facial expression can best be described as “sour”. The cameraman is Frank C. Weston, located at 2 Smith Block,  of Bangor, Maine. Weston was a native of Maine who established himself as a photographer in the late 1870’s. His prices were “dictated by a spirit of moderation”, and he was the preferred photographer among the African American community of Bangor.

Published in: on February 22, 2011 at 12:01 am  Comments (5)  
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HANDSOME AND MYSTERIOUS LOOKING YOUNG MAN IN BRUNSWICK, MAINE

This cabinet card is an image of a handsome young man photographed by H. O. Reed of Brunswick, Maine. The subject is well dressed and has well groomed facial hair. He has a mysterious and ethnic appearance. To view other images of interesting mustaches, click on “Mustaches (Only the Best)”. H. O. Reed was a native of Brunswick, Maine and began working as a photographer in 1877.

Published in: on February 13, 2011 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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LOVELY COUPLE IN CAMDEN, MAINE

A wasp waisted woman and a mustachioed man pose for their portrait at the studio of William V. Lane, in Camden, Maine.  The woman is clearly wearing a corset. The photographer, Lane (1849-1903) came to Camden and opened his gallery in 1883. He also had a branch gallery in Vinalhaven, Maine.  He stayed in Camden for 15 years; and then moved to Boston, Massachusetts. While in Camden, Lane was the Chairman of the Board of Assessors and in that capacity, he promoted a new opera house in town.  Lane also served as the President of the Business Men’s Association and had a one year stint as Road Commissioner. To view other images by William Lane, click on the category “Photographer: Lane”.  SOLD

Published in: on December 20, 2010 at 2:03 pm  Comments (1)  
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A WOMAN WHO APPRECIATES JEWELRY IN BATH, MAINE

A nicely dressed woman poses for her portrait at the studio of A. Hatch in Bath, Maine. The woman appears to appreciate jewelry. She is wearing a necklace with a cross, earrings and a bracelet. She is wearing a hairband and has curly hair and bangs. The Maine Register (1891) reports that Hatch’s studio was located at 46 Front Street in the town of Bath.

Published in: on September 30, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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THREE YOUNG SIBLINGS IN PHILLIPS, MAINE

This cabinet card is an image of three siblings who are identified by their first name on the reverse of the card. The oldest child is Mildred Belle (age-4) and she has bows in her hair and is quite adorable. The middle child is Ivan Donald (age-1) and his hair style can best be described as chaotic. The youngest child is Marion Florence (age-4 months). The photographer was Archie Snow McKeen (1874-?) and his studio was in Phillips, Maine.  Mckeen was a native of Phillips who as a photographer, moved locations several times. He had photographic studios in a number of Maine towns including Phillips, Rangely Lakes, Center Harbor, and Winnepesauke Lake. He also operated in both Beverly and Haverhill, Massachusetts. McKeen was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Published in: on August 20, 2010 at 12:01 am  Comments (1)  
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