Looking at this week's Sepia Saturday prompt had me scratching my head until I went to an estate sale today. The sale had started yesterday so I didn't have much hope that anything interesting—in my mind—would be there on the second day. I smiled when I found a frame in the garage in a box of junk that contained four interesting photos. This was the one that most caught my eye and I knew immediately I had my contribution for this week.
When I looked at this week's prompt my first thought was a lantern and smoke. Seriously, the dog was the second thing I noticed. I'm easily distracted by my own thoughts. Where there's smoke there's fire. So I give you firemen from long ago with their fire house dog. Think of him as a dalmatian with really big dark spots.
Click on images to see them larger.
I have no idea where this shot was taken. There are a lot of towns named Hastings so I'm clueless as to where this might have been taken.
As to the wild beast in the darkness behind them. Looks like some sort of weird insect monster. Nah, just the fire wagon waiting for the horses to be attached and the race to the next fire.
Now, I want to apologize to my fellow Sepians for something that happened several weeks ago. I visited all the sites for those who had posted for Sepia Saturday 371. I left messages and went on my way. Later that night I discovered only two of my messages actually posted. I've had this happen many times and it's frustrating. Often I have gone back and tried to remember what I'd said so I could comment again. This time I didn't. I have no idea why this happens and I hate that I end up looking like a deadbeat who doesn't participate. I'm sorry. Hopefully this time I'll get through without incident. I'm wondering if anyone else has this happen.
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Well done on that lucky find. As for the not commenting, I’m afraid I don’t know the answer. Usually when I comment on a post it tells me it’s been published - sometimes awaiting approval.
ReplyDeleteThat's usually what I see too. But sometimes it seems the post goes through, nothing on the screen about it being accepted or waiting for approval, so I figure everything must still be okay. I move onto the next blog post. For awhile I would copy each post so I could paste it back in if I found it didn't go through. Of course this last time I didn't do that. Sometimes I just want to take technology by the throat and...
DeleteI've never thought to see if my comments get through, and I'm one of the few who monitors my comments before posting them...so I hope yours have come through on my blog whenever you had something to say! It's kind of fun hearing from folks who I only know through SS.
ReplyDeleteYes, SS is like a fun little club and I have always believed the Groucho line of not wanting to belong to any club that would want me as a member. This "exclusive" club is different.
DeleteI've had trouble with comments from my iPad. Not that my iPad makes comments...I mean when I try to comment using my iPad. I agree with you about technology...when it's good it's great but...it can drive you nuts. I love your take on the theme this week.
ReplyDeleteTechnology! (hitting hand on forehead) Can't live with it, can't live without it...though at times I like trying.
DeleteIt's a super photo from around the 1890s, and I think they are volunteer firemen in Hastings, Nebraska. In the 1893 Hastings NE city directory, Robert Jarvis worked as a clerk for Wells Fargo Express, and H.H. Stine, first name Howard, had a Flour & Feed store. The middle name is harder to read but it may be Wm. Thomas, and he shows up in the 1885 Nebraska census for Hastings.
ReplyDeleteIn 1891 the population of Hastings, NE was 13,630, and its Fire Department had both a Hose Company and a Hook & Ladder Company.
I've had problems earlier this year leaving comments using the Chrome browser, often on your blog too. I discovered it was a ad-block extension that prevented Google cookies from tracking me as I roamed the internet. I un-blocked it and was recognized again. Ain't the internets wonderful?
You've nailed it for both. First thanks for giving me some information about the photo. Second you were right. Turning off the ad blocker seems to have solved the problem.
DeleteWay to go Mike!
DeleteGreat picture of the firemen and dog. And that engine does look like some kind of weird alien or something! Urk!! As for your comments not going through, I've had that happen to me too on occasion so think nothing of it. Your comments are pretty much always there so if you miss one, I'd think something had kept you from being able to do it - not that you'd deliberately not commented! :)
ReplyDeleteThe rig does look frightening. But then back then people didn't have horror/sci fi movies to scare us so probably would have never thought the rig was anything other than a fire rig.
DeleteIt's a great photo. Do you think the photographer asked them to cross their legs like that?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of that, but good catch. I'm betting that indeed it was planned.
DeleteLove that photo! Glad you went to that estate sale to rescue a bit of history.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
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