Weekly Photo: Davy Crockett of Maine

Our last photo was of factory workers coming out of the old Calderwood Bakery on Pleasant Street in Portland, changing shifts way back in 1937.

Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room. This time our photo is a Munjoy Hill photo, taken in 1955. Who is our intrepid young explorer, our young Davy Crockett? What did he discover about Portland during his reconnoitering mission? Is his perch still there today? Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details.

Weekly Photo: Going home from work

Our last photo was of a street sweeper in Portland, standing at the top of Forest Avenue where it meets Congress Street. If I'm correct, this corner is not much changed, and until recently housed a leather goods shop.

Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room. This time our photo is of another downtown Portland street, this time taken in 1937. Workers are coming off their shift at this old Portland food-producing company, traces of which remain on and in existing buildings even today. Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details. Can you tell which sloped street this is? Hint: It is not a one-way street, though it crosses one that is.

Weekly Photo: Cleanin' the Streets

Our last photo was of an organ grinder on Sherman Street in Portland, entertaining some of the local children. Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room.

This time our photo is of another downtown Portland street, this time right on Congress Street, taken in 1942, the year in which German U-boats of WWII began harassing shipping boats on our East Coast. Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details. Can you tell which highly-trafficked street corner he is stopped at?

Where's the Monkey?!

Our last photo was of the installation of cobblestones on Cross Street in Portland, where they remain to this very day, one of the few streets in Portland's Old Port area that has not been paved over with asphalt. Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room.

This time our photo is of another downtown Portland street, this time in the Parkside neighborhood, taken in 1942, the year in which German U-boats of WWII began harassing shipping boats on our East Coast. Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details.

That's a great crowd of little kids! Look at the outfits and hats (again!)... they don't seem to mind that the hurdy gurdy man doesn't have a monkey.

Laying Cobblestones in Portland

Our last photo was of the installation of sewer pipes on Forest Avenue in Portland, with the camera facing towards Woodfords Street. Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room.

This time our photo is of another Portland street, again estimated to have been taken circa 1900-1910. We return from the suburbs to the downtown area for this photo. Another of the city's urban improvements of the new century was the installation of cobblestone streets, instead of the dusty unpaved roads that drivers had to contend with up to that point. This short street is down towards the waterfront, and is still a full cobblestone street today, unlike many of its brothers who have been paved over with asphalt. Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details.

Weekly Portland Photo of the Past

Our last photo was of Exchange Street in Portland's Old Port, looking up from the intersection with Fore Street towards where today Exchange Street crosses Middle Street. Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room.

This time it is of another Portland street, again estimated to have been taken circa 1900-1910. Around the turn of the century, Portland felt a pressing need to relieve itself of the sewage problems of an increasing population. Before long, the major sewer pipes of the city were being laid, many of which are still working today. Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details.

Old Port photo of the past, Portland ME

Our last photo was of the intersection of Congress Street and Deering Avenue, where Deering changes to Vaughan Street. Here is another photo, courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room..

This time it is of one of Portland's Old Port streets, again estimated to have been taken circa 1900-1910. The vendors' names have changed, there are awnings everywhere (no doubt thanks in part to F. A. Leavitt's Awnings & Hammocks), and parking is of a different kind of vehicle, but if you look closely, you might be able to figure this one out too. Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details.

Old Congress Street Photo, Portland ME

Courtesy of Abraham Schechter, who runs the Portland Public Library's Portland Room. Abraham was excavating the storage room last year as he continued his campaign to revitalize and reorganize the Portland Room, and came across a stack of beautiful old glass negatives. He has kindly consented to share a sample of them with us, and here is a great one.

See if you can recognize this intersection on Congress Street in Portland. Abraham estimates the time period of the photo to be circa 1900-1910. Yet many of the buildings shown are still very much as they are today! Click on the photo for a larger version to inspect details.

For any of you interested in researching Maine history, the Portland Room is a one-of-a-kind resource, packed with books and documents with which to while away the hours in blissful historical research.