The Only Time Machine I'll Ever Have

Quite by accident I have become a collector of old photographs (the first photos that got the ball rolling were in a box of books I bought). 

At first I simply thought the old photographs were just neat little glimpses into the past, a way to get an idea of what fashions, hair styles, pastimes, hobbies, etc., that people were into in days gone by.

This is probably my oldest photo - a tintype from the Civil War era

The back of this photo states it was taken in 1865 by Kendig

This photo is identified as being of Charles Marquis, but is not dated

These two photos must be of a husband and wife. They were in a little photo wallet

The back of this photo reads: "Virginia Mabel Fisher, 5 years old, Irene Silvia Robinson, 8 years old, June Isadore Hart, 16 years old. To Goldie From Mama June 9th 1915

Since I found that first batch of old photos though, I have become quite the old photo enthusiast. I'm not obsessed with them, but I do keep an eye out for them when I'm thrift shopping, garage selling, or at a flea market.

                             
This somewhat creepy photo is not dated, but I'd venture a guess it was taken in the 1920's.

This one is dated June 14 1932. What the hell is a Kangaroo Band?

This photo is not dated, but from the car and the clothing, I'd venture a guess as to the late '20's, early '30's.

This one is dated March 27 1934. They look like WPA workers.

June 30th 1935, and "Guaranteed Forever" are stamped on the back of this photo

J. Darwin Gunnell, February 12th 1937

The majority of the photographs I find have little or no explanation of who is in the picture or where and when it was taken. Occasionally though, someone writes a few words. 

On the back of this portrait is the following: 

Dear Virginia - "A wise man heareth a thing before he judgeth it; therefore let him have understanding" - Solomon. "Love them that love you; be kind to the charitable and you shall have your reward." - Gunnell You could get by on your looks! Liebe & Knishes J. Darwin Gunnell Mission Secretary Western States Mission.

The front states: Graciously Thine J. Darwin Gunnell Howell, Utah.

I'm no expert, but I think this guy had it bad for Miss Virginia.

This photo has no attribution whatsoever, but it's obviously from the WWII era

Dated March 11th 1940

Dated March 11th 1940

The two photographs above are significant for the depiction of skiing in Colorado in 1940. The ski industry was in it's infancy (Winter Park had opened that year) and there were very few ski areas with road access, and absolutely none of the popular resorts Colorado is famed for existed at all.

Dated November 10th 1940, I'm sure she's supposed to look pensive.

November 27th 1943 and Sunshine Super Tone are stamped on the back of this photo

This photo of the Nevada - Utah state line was taken in the 1940's. Nevada had a lot to brag about.

Photos taken from at what must have been the beginning and the end of a road trip.

 Judging by the expressions on her face and the body language, this young woman has been on quite the road trip - on unpaved roads. The pics are undated, but as the roads are unpaved, I'm thinking the early '40's.

The two pics above were developed in a lab in Minneapolis, Minnesota. No date is given, but being as how the Cochetopa National Forest was broken up into three separate National Forests in 1944, and from the clothing, I'd place these pics in the early '40's.

Mt. Garfield, near Grand Junction, Colorado, circa 1940's

The last photo I'll post is of peach orchards near Grand Junction. The back of the photo has a typewritten description, stating: "Peach orchards in the Grand Valley of the Colorado, of which Grand Junction is the center - with Mt. Garfield (a part of the Book Cliff Range) in the background. 3500 carloads of choice peaches are shipped from the valley annually."

This is the only photo of the Grand Valley I have ever seen that does not show a major highway skirting the Book Cliff Range. This is also the only photo of the Grand Valley that I have ever seen that features just one dwelling. It's actually quite phenomenal, as that area now is dotted with homes and interstate 70 snakes along the base of the Book Cliff mountains.