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January 1942. Bantam, Connecticut. The business section of Bantam with the camera facing south along Lafayette Boulevard (Route 25). A few rods to the left is the Warren McArthur plant [fabricator of aluminum aircraft parts], while the block of stores visible at the left includes Mitchell's Tavern, the First National Store, a garage and two service stations. Not shown, but lying just this side of Mitchell's restaurant, is the birthplace of Horace Bushnell, a discoverer of anaesthesia. Reading from the right are the Episcopal Church, Tony's Bantam Inn (favorite eating place), Marcel Roy's drugstore, the Bantam grocery store and the firehouse. View full size. Photo and caption by Howard Hollem for the OWI.
Bill, in my business, we still use the term rods every single day. The price of pipeline right of way is always determined as "X" dollars per rod.
In 1942 the going rate for right of way in Texas was 25 cents per rod. In 2008 it's more like $30.00 per rod, but I've seen up to 3 figures on occasion.
(For those who might be unaware, a rod is 16.5 feet)
"A few rods to the left"??
Were we still using "rods" as a unit of measurement in 1942? Sounds biblical or very old timey New England Yankee.
The Warren McArthur plant referred to in the caption made well designed aluminum furniture before & after WWII. Warren McArthur (1885-1961), whose furniture helped define the glamour of 1930s Art Deco, was a mechanical engineer by training. Surviving examples of his work are sought after & fetch good money.
[During the war the factory made aircraft seat frames. - Dave]
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