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Thought I would post this. I've had it on my computer for quite some time and have always enjoyed studying the details of the picture. Thought others might enjoy doing the same and perhaps some interesting discussion would come of it.
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Michael Comer
one of the moderator guys -
Re: A Great photo to study
Great photo! Where is it taken?Matthew Easley -
Re: A Great photo to study
I really don't know. I came across it online but don't think it was identified as to place.Michael Comer
one of the moderator guysComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
I tried searching C.D. Otis & Brothers to no avail.Pat BrownComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
That's quite a combination of law office and insuracne broker on the upper floors. At least half the insurance companies offered are still in business.
Any idea of what the pole adjacent to the outside stairs represented? And behind the stripped handrail hints at a barber shop.Mike Stein
Remuddeled Kitchen MessComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
So because I was bored tonight and I love that Photo I did a little research after studying that photo. I saw Travellers Insurance on one sign and looked up the history of todays travellers insurance. They were not founded until 1864 according to their website. It also stated that it was founded in Hartford Conn. I also see a Hartford Insurance sign and Aetna Insurance was also founded in Hartford. By 1865 Aetna (according to their website) was big and met requirements for insurance in Mass. and New York states so could mean that office was anywhere if it is really close to the the war whether during or after. Since Travellers was in its infancy from 1864 to a couple years after it could be possible to say that this was in the Hartford area depending on the date.William D. O'Malley IVComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
Neat photo. What do you make of the pole like structure sitting atop the box at the bottom of the fire escape? It looks like a barber pole but the pattern painted on it doesn't resemble the traditional striping.
There also appears to be a pole with a curve at the top leaning against the building that is resting down inside a stairwell that likely leads to the basement of the building. What do you make of that?[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=2][FONT=Book Antiqua]Ken Raia[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]Comment
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Re: A Great photo to study
there are a lot of top hats and bowlers. me thinks the photo is from Victorian times ca. 1880-1890. I'd also bet that the box and pole structure has something to do with firemen or a early forunner to a fire hydrant or something to that effect.[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=3]Michael Phillips, GGG Grandson of
Pvt Edmond Phillips, 44th NCT, Co E, "The Turtle Paws"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Mustered in March 1862
Paroled at Appomattox C.H. Virginia, April 15, 1865[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Navy][B]"Good, now we'll have news from Hell before breakfast."[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
Was Gen Sherman's response upon hearing the capture and execution of 3 reporters who had followed from Atlanta, by the rebels.
The execution part turned out to be false.[COLOR=DarkRed] [B]Dagg Nabbit![/B][/COLOR][/FONT]Comment
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Re: A Great photo to study
After researching on and off all day the only historic builiding in CT I can find that looks similar to this one is the Cheney Building.
There are some MAJOR differences and I do not know the history of the builidng...perhaps it was renovated or altered in some way over the years?Luke Gilly
Breckinridge Greys
Lodge 661 F&AM
"May the grass grow long on the road to hell." --an Irish toastComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
Upon closing the computer and coming back and looking at the picture again....it appears that the Phenix Insurance Company sign says "New York" underneath it. I believe however, the common factor on all of the signs is whatever it says on the bottom. Perhaps it is "A.C. Osborne"???? But I cannot figure it out. Is there a nice super high res image somewhere?Last edited by lukegilly13; 03-27-2011, 03:57 PM.Luke Gilly
Breckinridge Greys
Lodge 661 F&AM
"May the grass grow long on the road to hell." --an Irish toastComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
The two signs closest to the street windows say "ST C. D. Otis & Bros." I'd presume they are the dry goods store advertised on the roof. Tried a search of city directories and also a general google search and couldn't find anything on that company... either as a dry goods store or not.-Elaine "Ivy Wolf" KessingerComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
Another detail that might not yet have been mentioned: at left, there appears to be the remains of piled-up snow. This indicates a probable late winter or early spring dating for the image. Judging from the visible clothing and hat styles of the men shown, the photos is definitely 1860's or, at latest, early 1870's vintage.
Mark JaegerRegards,
Mark JaegerComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
Starting from the topleft 3rd floor insurance bill board says "Travelers Ins. Co.", next to the right is "Home Ins. Co.", continuing right "Phenix Ins. Co.", Then "Hartford Ins. Co"; next line down is an "Aetna Insurance Co.", next line down starts with "Commerce Ins. Co." , an illedgible sign between the windows possibly ("somebody white law offices"), then the last and most important to location is "Buck Eye Ins. Co.". Unless I missed something, this last one tells us that this pic is somewhere in Ohio...... possibly? Buckeye insurance group was establihed in 1879 in Ohio as The German Baptist Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Association according to the Buckeye Insurance Group's website: http://http://www.buckeye-ins.com/AgentBenefits.aspx
When did it become Buck Eye Insurance?
Each of the insurance shingles state in various dollar amounts "cash assets"
You can read about The Home insurance Co history here: http://http://www.fundinguniverse.co...y-History.html[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=DarkSlateGray][SIZE=3]Michael Phillips, GGG Grandson of
Pvt Edmond Phillips, 44th NCT, Co E, "The Turtle Paws"[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]Mustered in March 1862
Paroled at Appomattox C.H. Virginia, April 15, 1865[/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Navy][B]"Good, now we'll have news from Hell before breakfast."[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE]
Was Gen Sherman's response upon hearing the capture and execution of 3 reporters who had followed from Atlanta, by the rebels.
The execution part turned out to be false.[COLOR=DarkRed] [B]Dagg Nabbit![/B][/COLOR][/FONT]Comment
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Re: A Great photo to study
I think the Commerce Insurance sign on the front of the builiding says Albany on it. I believe a couple of the signs on that same face of the building say New York.
There are so many interesting aspects to the image that it is hard to pick one to research.
The problem with checking the insurance companies is that for one, Commerce Insurance Co. was not founded until 1972. We know ...unless it is either one heck of a reenactment, it's not 1972.Luke Gilly
Breckinridge Greys
Lodge 661 F&AM
"May the grass grow long on the road to hell." --an Irish toastComment
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Re: A Great photo to study
Boy, you guys have no imagination at all. Didn't it ever occur to you that a company name might have been used repeatedly and in several different states at the same time over the last 150+ years? You can't rely on websites to determine the age of a company. Those companies, founded in the 1850's, probably never had a website.
Also, a city name on the sign is no indication of the location. It could just be a marketing scheme meant to reassure the customer that the insurance company was associated with some well-known company in that referenced city. That is the reason they list the assets of the company. There was no government bail-out plan back then. If your insurance company failed, it failed. Same with banks.
Get out of your 21st century thinking.Joe SmothermanComment
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