Sidewalk Compass, Casper Wyoming

Also on Midwest Avenue, a decorative Compass.

Manhole Cover, Casper Wyoming

Straying somewhat from the focus of the blog, this is an ornate manhole cover on a Midwest Avenue sidewalk in Casper.  The only one of its kind in Casper of which I'm aware, its been in place for decades.

Holscher's Hub: A note about the photographs on this blog.

Holscher's Hub: A note about the photographs on this blog.: When this blog first started, almost all the photos were by me, the fellow identified occasionally as "PTH".  I didn't even bo...

Holscher's Hub: Windshield view of Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

Windshield view of Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

Writing inspirations – Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney « M J Wright

Writing inspirations – Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney « M J Wright

Wyoming Fact and Fiction: Oldest House in Wyoming

Wyoming Fact and Fiction: Oldest House in Wyoming

Lex Anteinternet: Enigmatic Messages for Weary Travelers.

Lex Anteinternet: Enigmatic Messages for Weary Travelers.

America Theatre

This is the America Theatre, a very old movie theater on Center Street. The theater has been in operation for decades, although it's had its ups and downs. Some twenty or so years ago, it was bought by local entrepreneurs who revamped it, together with the Rialto Theater up the street, bringing it back into the full swing of things. The theater has a very wide screen, and is a very popular theater today.

While the Rialto has been restored to its 1930s appearance, the America, which is nearly as old, retains the look it has had much since the 1970s.

 America Theatre at night.

 Classic car (1954 Chevrolet Bel Aire)  near a classic theater.

GB Fish and Chips, Denver Colorado

I've passed by this location a million times, and have looked at this strangely compelling and simultaneously repulsive mural every time. 

This is the mural on the side of GB Fish and Chips on Colfax Avenue in Denver. The apparently well regarded chain of local fish and chips shops features giant flags from the United Kingdom in all of their several locations, apparently.  This particular mural also has three figures on the Union Jack, one of whom can't been seen in this photo taken from the back window of my pickup truck.  It's probable that all three depict actual people, with the one on the right in boxing shorts, and all three of whom are wearing boxing gloves and bloodied.  The middle figure in the top hat is Winston Churchill.

I find this mural impossible not to look at, but also very odd.

Wyoming Fact and Fiction: False Fronts in the Old West

Wyoming Fact and Fiction: False Fronts in the Old West

History flows on Poplar

History flows on Poplar

Engelke Brothers Maker's Mark, 1919, Casper Wyoming.

I posted one of these the other day from the same company, in which the year, 1913, was also stamped in.  In this one, it was simply lined in by hand, for a much less professional appearance.  Oddly, this one is a few years younger.  It's also several blocks away, presumably representing the advancing sidewalks of the town in the teens.

Hedquist Construction Sidewalk Maker's Mark. Center Street, Casper Wyoming

Engelke Brothers Sidewalk Maker's Mark. 1913. Casper Wyoming.

It used to be the custom, and probably at least still partially is, for cement companies to stamp their names in their product.  this is an example of a Engelke Brothers mark, in downtown Casper, from 1913.

Many Casper sidewalks were of this vintage in the general downtown area, but in recent years the sidewalks have been torn out and replaced, so these really old stamps are not nearly as common as they once were.

California Tire & Rubber Company, Salt Lake City Utah.

Another painted building from an area of Salt Lake that was once an industrial area.

Firestone Building and mural, Salt Lake City Utah.

This photographs shows the backside of the Firestone Building in Salt Lake City, as well as a neighboring mural. This was an industrial area of Salt Lake a century ago, but the area now just off downtown features restaurant and shops (but is also near an area that can be a bit rough).  The appearance of the back of the  Firestone Building is much different than the front, and the building now houses an Italian restaurant.  The building was built in 1925.

Crane Company Building, Salt Lake City Utah.

This building in Salt Lake City was built in 1910 in a district of Salt Lake which once featured a variety of industrial structures. Today a Vietnamese restaurant is on the street level.  The Crane Company that built this building is the company which makes the well known valves and plumping fixtures, and it was used in the course of their business.

Lex Anteinternet: Holscher's Hub: Bosler Consolidated School, Bosler...

Lex Anteinternet: Holscher's Hub: Bosler Consolidated School, Bosler...: Holscher's Hub: Bosler Consolidated School, Bosler Wyoming. This is the Bosler Consolidated School, in Bosler Wyoming. These ...

Lex Anteinternet: C-Span: Cities Tour. Casper Wyoming

Lex Anteinternet: C-Span: Cities Tour. Casper Wyoming

Today In Wyoming's History: On C-Span Today

Today In Wyoming's History: On C-Span Today: I'll be on C-Span today, at 10:00 MST (along with a lot of other people), in their Casper Weekend.  Not that this is significant in any ...

Coopersmiths, Ft. Collins Colorado.

A variety of ghost signs are seen here, on the side of what is now Coopersmith's, the popular brew pub in Ft. Collins, Colorado.  The Colorado Bakery & Grocery sign is prominent, but also included are a Denver Post sign and an Owl Cigar sign.

Colorado Capital

 

The Colorado Capitol building, which was in the process of being re-roofed (gilded?) when these photos were taken.

Society of the Military Horse • View topic - Riding Halls & Other Horse Related Buildings

Society of the Military Horse • View topic - Riding Halls & Other Horse Related Buildings

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County International Air Port, formerlly t...

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County International Air Port, formerlly t...: Twelve locations on the ground of the Natrona County International Airport, which started out as a United States Army Air Force base during ...

The end of the NCHS swimming pool

GhostsofNorthDakota.com - North Dakota's Ghost Towns and Abandoned Places : GhostsofNorthDakota.com

GhostsofNorthDakota.com - North Dakota's Ghost Towns and Abandoned Places : GhostsofNorthDakota.com

A trip back in time (Tripeny Drugstore)

A trip back in time

Lex Anteinternet: Modern Technology and the Public Building

Lex Anteinternet: Modern Technology and the Public Building: Recently, on our blog about courthouses, I posted an item on the Townsend Justice Center, which is the courthouse for Natrona County Wyomin...

Purina Elevator, Denver Colorado

Terrible photo, but the elevator features a puppy playing with a ball.

Tennis Court on Parking Garage, Denver

Hotel Virginia (Natrona County Annex), Casper Wyoming

This century old building in Casper Wyoming was most recently used as Natrona County's County Annex, a government administrative building, but it had its origins as a hotel.  It's currently under renovations which will convert it into apartments, which is somewhat similar to its original use as a hotel.

I don't  know what the original name of the hotel was, and how many names it may have operated under, but sandblasting on the building has revealed a "ghost sign" for a hotel.  Unfortunately, I can't read anything other than "hotel" on the sign.  The current owner intends to market the apartments under the name Hotel Virginia, but I do not know if that's what this sign said, or if parts of more than one sign are visible.

Platte County Steam Laundry, Wheatland Wyoming

This small building is still in use, and has updated windows today.  A newer sign above the door says "Coin Operated Laundry", so perhaps its still in its original use, although presumably not as a "steam laundry".  Its location is just off of the rail line, which was likely a good location for a laundry.

Landmark Bar, Wheatland Wyoming

Located directly across the street from the Platte County Courthouse, the Landmark Bar features a painting of a map view of the State of Wyoming on its side.

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County School District No. 1 Bond Issue Fa...

Today In Wyoming's History: Natrona County School District No. 1 Bond Issue Fa...: The bond issue floated by NCSD No. 1, which would have sought a $33M bond for use in upgrading the safety features of existing schools, pro...

Lex Anteinternet: The NCSD Bond Issue

Lex Anteinternet: The NCSD Bond Issue: The bond issue goes to the voters tomorrow, May 6.  Please vote yes, if you are a Natrona County, Wyoming voter. Prior threads on the topi...

Main Gate, Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center, Aurora Colorado.

Taken from a moving car, with an Iphone, these photos are of the former main gate for Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Aurora Colorado.  Note the red crosses on the guard houses.

This facility is now the University of Colorado's Children's Hospital, and has been greatly added to.  It's a first rate facility.

Now out in print

Lex Anteinternet: Casper Star Tribune Editorial board: OK the school...

Lex Anteinternet: Casper Star Tribune Editorial board: OK the school...: The Casper Star Tribune has changed its position (reluctantly, given the pools) and is now supporting the bond. While I wish the Tribune wo...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue: The actual cost

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue: The actual cost: This graphic, generated by the Natrona County School District, nicely shows the actual cost to Natrona County property owners for improv...

Lex Anteinternet: Natrona County School District Bond Vote

Lex Anteinternet: Natrona County School District Bond Vote: Tonight, February 24, 2014, the Natrona County School District will hold the second of its public meetings to take comments on the proposed ...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Safety

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Safety: As folks who read this blog (and there's darned few I know) are aware, I've written on several occasions about the upcoming Natrona ...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Modern technical and vocational t...

Lex Anteinternet: The Bond Issue. Modern technical and vocational t...: I've posted on the upcoming bond issue here several times before, but I want to switch gears a bit with this post, as I think that perha...

Lex Anteinternet: Swimming Pools — NCSD Transform

Lex Anteinternet: Swimming Pools — NCSD Transform: Swimming Pools — NCSD Transform Nice site on the proposed pools and the bond issue. Here's the reason for the bond issue:  "Whi...

Lex Anteinternet: Book Announcement: On This Day In Wyoming History...

Lex Anteinternet: Book Announcement: On This Day In Wyoming History...: We'd like to announce that our book, On This Day In Wyoming History , will go to press in March and can be pre-ordered from the publishe...

Second Story Radio • Nebraska State Capitol - Lincoln, NE

Second Story Radio • Nebraska State Capitol - Lincoln, NE