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1904. "Marion County Courthouse -- Indianapolis, Indiana." This Second Empire colossus met its Waterloo in 1962. 8x10 inch glass negative, Detroit Photographic Co. View full size.
Responding to GlenJay: Such a stark monolithic contrast between old world and new world.
In many demolition photographs it stands out that there is little, if any, protection against falling debris and public access to such dangerous sites.
I am quite certain that a man with a pocket watch checked his time every day against that tower clock.
If you zoom waaay in, you can just make out the ropes coming down from the flag.
It appears they reach the parapet with the ornate railing.
I have noticed in quite a few of these old photos the fact that pedestrians occasionally stopped in the middle of an intersection or street to hold a conversation. It didn't seem to be rare. Maybe a horse and carriage were much slower than a modern car.
Moving pictures daily.
Did someone raise and lower the flag every day? Did it require climbing out on that little crow's nest? I would not want the job.
The old Marion County Courthouse may have been gargantuan, but it was much more attractive than the International Style "plaid" City-County Building that replaced it.
Here it is in the process of demolition, with what replaced looming behind and towering above.
You'll love the Marion County Courthouse.
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