Hey, there! Log in / Register
The corner drugstore
By adamg on Wed, 11/04/2015 - 11:19am
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
Cross & Washington Streets
Cross & Washington Streets
"Whoever heard of an Indian with weak/sore eyes?"
I'm having some trouble understanding this bit of early 20th century racism...
Not that complicated.
Just part of the mythology--still around in some of the books I read as a kid--that they had better eyesight and sense of smell that made them better trackers and hunters and navigators of the natural realm. Along with their magical powers and great sense of rhythm.
Racist?
Why is it racist? It's advertising some snake oil called Indian Eye Balm. It isn't derogatory towards Indians / Native Americans.
I'm half Italian, should I find the Chef Boyardee icon racist?
Not racist, but otherwise offensive
Because pasta from a can is more offensive than anything I can imagine.
Hey man
Even positive generalizations can be hurtful. What if you were a native american but had poor eyesight, how would you feel about the sign? (Provided you could read it).
FFS The address is on the enlarged photo
At the bottom.
Along with the date.
Oops
Our bad! We didn't have enough coffee at the Archives this morning. We have reposted with a cropped photo.
Settle down.
Settle down.
Haymarket Station area
The original photo says the corner of Washington and Cross, which old maps place right in the vicinity of the new Public Market building. See here: http://www.city-data.com/forum/attachments/general-u-s/86299d1319249913-...
See It Larger — Entrance To Haymarket Square Subway Station
Two more views of the same location:
The Haymarket Square subway entrance was across the street from the drugstore, which appears on the right edge of the picture and postcard above, and which was located in the bottom-right corner of the station plan drawing below:
Alex Guerrero's
drug store?
Way way up in the distance in the wide shot....
...down old Washington Street, you can see Tower C for the elevated. Controlled the switching between the loop around the north end, the stuff coming out of the Canal Street portal (the future North Station area) and the run over the river to Charlestown.
On the far left edge of the frame is the original Haymarket Station entrance headhouse.
How do you people know all
How do you people know all this stuff about the trains??? Also has anyone ever been to the mini train museum/exhibit near fire river bridge?
Today:
this is about as close as I can get Google Street View to the spot of the 1905 photo. The current view is a bit north of the 1905 spot. The actual location is probably on the surface road just to the left of the ramp.
Brings up a good question
When are they going to take down that "Scotch and Sirloin" sign?
The Answer
Thanks for playing, folks! This is indeed the corner of Washington and Cross Streets. The date is November 26, 1905
Forget the eye balm...
I just long for a time when I could cure my cough with a dose of Jellison's Honey & Horehound and cross the street for a chaser of Chicken Cock Whiskey. Why take down the "Scotch and Sirloin" sign? Look at the rich cityscape in this photo that was expunged - Urban Renewal-ed - to make way for a highway and a whole lot of brutalist concrete... presumably because it was an "eyesore". If any of this were still standing today we'd likely have ourselves an urban playground on par with Chelsae Market/Highline area of NYC. Come to think of it, a little eye balm might not have been a bad thing.