Leadville, Boarded Up In '29

[Chris Walker]

You all should remember this picture, showing the Water Board Special of 1929 in Town...
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/924/rec/4


A while ago I stumbled upon this companion piece, taken the same day.

What drew my eye was the Signage, but on closer examination I was intrigued by the number of boarded up buildings in this view.  DPL gives the location as 7th St but is in fact one more street over.

A harsh look at a City depressed before the Great Depression has even begun: quite poignant I think.  Oddly the centre structure has unshuttered upper floor windows that are broken out.

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/689/rv/singleitem/rec/7




Some contemplation required!

[Jeff Young]

Fantastic, Chris.

Several of my buildings in Kokomo will be abandoned (since my setting is after most of the mines played out).  Most of the inspiration I had previously consisted of Muriel Wolle’s photos from the 40’s, which are excellent because she had such a good eye, but your excerpts are more within period.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Keith Hayes]

Chris, would you consider that the dark black is in fact the reflection of a building across the street? The two panes have vaguely similar forms which could be part of a Cormier on the building opposite. The buildings in the photo appear to be on the north side of the street, so the building opposite would be in shade and appear black in reflection.

Just a thought before everyone starts to break windows on their models.

(I do like the Wrigley ad, which is most excellent. What colors might this be? Mint green? Ochre? White?)

[Chris Walker]

"... would you consider that the dark black is in fact the reflection of a building across the street?
Just a thought before everyone starts to break windows on their models.... "

Well Keith I didn't consider that, it could be a reason to consider, especially if there was a two-story building close by and you only had the street level view, but if you look at this clipped section from the "'29 Special" shot I would say definitely not.  





I would agree not breaking out all your windows, look deeper into the distant shot and it is hard to match same.  That was what struck me as odd, just those on that Street.  

Cold hard realities of a lingering Mining depression.

ps I noticed that the detail shot got posted twice, third detail shot inserted, corrected.

[Jim Courtney]

(I do like the Wrigley ad, which is most excellent. What colors might this be? Mint green? Ochre? White?)

Could have been lots of colors!







This 1928 magazine ad is the most contemporary to the Leadville ad that I could find:

[Chris Walker]

Not knocking Jim's suggestions but a healthy dose of weathering to fade any bright colour(s) would be needed if it was to be truly replicated.
What was that Derrell used to say?? Gritty, very very Gritty".

[Keith Hayes]

Hmm. Interesting images, Chris. The window on the left definitely has the same shape in two photos at different angles. The panes could be broken,  but I want to think that is not the case.The upper panes are too flat. Maybe the black is the glass and the tan is a board filling in the pane?

[Chris Walker]

Here Keith,
perhaps this closer view will help?  

Right hand window is boarded up on the inside, the upper Sash having lost its mullion.  Lovely arched tops too.

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15330coll22/id/689/rv/singleitem/rec/7

[South Park]

In Victorian architectural parlance, those would be known as
"semi-arched" top windows.  Arched top being a full half circle
without the corners.