Hartford, Connecticut, circa 1905. "Main Street and City Hall." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size.

Circa 1906. "The Olbiston, Genesee Street, Utica, N.Y." Offering a mix of "bachelor and family apartments," the fireproof Olbiston, completed around 1900, still stands. View full size.

1905. "Madison Avenue, Toledo, O." The Hotel Madison at left. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size.

My grandmother in 1966 at the sewing machine in her clothing store in McLean, Texas, on Main Street. I'm next to her in the hat, probably asking a million questions, along with my younger sister. Grandmother operated the store for many years and lived in the back in an apartment. McLean back then was on the old Route 66 and prior to my grandfather's death in 1963, they owned and operated the Hindman Hotel there. I used to spend summers in McLean, and looking back, it was like living in Mayberry. View full size.

New York, 1905. "Metropolitan Opera House, 39th Street and Broadway." And down the street, the new New York Times building. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size.

New York, 1905. "Hotel Netherland, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Photographic Company. View full size.

New York circa 1905. "Metropolitan Life Insurance building, Madison Avenue and East 23rd Street." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Circa 1905. "City Hall -- Philadelphia, Pa." The largest municipal building in the United States, City Hall is topped by a 26-ton statue of William Penn. 8x10 inch glass negative. View full size.

A bright and sunny New Year's Day 1960 found me walking along Grand Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. I snapped this photo because three days later the streetcars would cease running, owing to the closing of a nearby viaduct for replacement. The Fox Theater in the background, opened in 1929, fared a little better, lasting up to 1978. In 1991 it reopened and survives as a performing arts center. The Fox house organist at the time was Mr. Stan Cann, who held that position for 22 years, from 1952 until 1974. They called him "Stan Cann the vacuum cleaner man" because his hobby was collecting antique vacuum cleaners. He lived in Los Angeles during retirement and gave frequent organ concerts around town, many of which I attended. 35mm Kodachrome by William D. Volkmer. View full size.

Circa 1905. "Panorama of Richmond, Virginia, showing St. Paul's Church and Capitol Square." A wide-angle view comprising two 8x10 inch glass negatives. View full size.

Richmond, Virginia, circa 1905. "Hotel Richmond, Ninth and Grace Sts." The hostelry last glimpsed here. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

December 1940. "Trailer parked near service station. Bath, Maine." Medium format acetate negative by Jack Delano for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

Circa 1905. "On the Miami River at Miami, Fla." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

Jacksonville, Florida, circa 1905. "Hotel Aragon, Forsyth and Julia streets." 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.

September 1939. "Truck driver who operates between Twin Cities and radius of 150 miles tying in load. Minneapolis, Minnesota." Medium format acetate negative by John Vachon for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.