Friday, November 9, 2007

Holliday Hydroelectric Powerhouse and Dam, Noblesville, Indiana, circa 1930s


Revision: I want to thank C. Le Sesne for responding to this article with the correct and detailed identification of my grandfather's photograph. This is one reason I love vintage photos: there's often a story behind them. This is the Holliday Hydroelectric Powerhouse and Dam, Riverwood Avenue and 211th Street, in Noblesville, Indiana. It is on the West Branch of White River and according to this article it was built 1922-1927 and was placed on the National Historic Register in 1995. It was found to be technically innovative and further that its French Chateau style is architecturally significant. This Hamilton County landmark is the only known existing example in central Indiana. This informant also stated that Noblesville businessmen have an interest in restoring the building and that it is in good condition today. Note: I hope to visit this site and photograph it on my next visit to Indiana.

Here is an interesting photograph from the 1930's. It seems like an odd subject to photograph, but there it is: perfectly framed and composed. I colorized it, trying to give it a subtle, tinted look and trying to enhance the photo with the addition of color.
Note the road or pathway running parallel to the river and how perfectly it aligns with the band of light colored bricks around the middle of the building. The photographer MUST have done that intentionally, right? I especially like the way the reflections on the water turned out.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Kite Flying During the Depression


Here's an amusing photo of a relative flying a kite on a windy day in the 1930's. It certainly has the look of a Depression Era scene but could be a few years later. The picture is from the Madison County area in Indiana, perhaps it is Anderson.

The framing and composition of the photo are interesting and a bit surprising for an amateur photographer. I am told that my grandfather had a great sense of humor and several other pictures in the collection support those stories.

Revision: My mother says that this is Uncle Art's farm on 600W in Madison County.