World War II: Then and Now

Image 1, c. 1944; click image for larger view.

Image 1, c. 2009; click image for larger view.
Image 2, c. 1944; click image for larger view.
Image 2, c. 2009; click image for larger view.
Image 3, c. 1944; click image for larger view.
Image 3, c. 2009; click image for larger view.
Image 4, c. 1944; click image for larger view.
Image 4, c. 2009; click image for larger view.

Image 5, c. 1944; click image for larger view.

Image 5, c. 2009; click image for larger view.
Image 6, c. 1944; click image for larger view.
Image 6, c. 2009; click image for larger view.


HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT YOUR STREET MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE 50, 75 OR EVEN 100 YEARS AGO? If you live in an older area or big city, there could be images available to show you. But if you live in a subdivision or new expansion areas, there could be nothing but corn fields, trees or pasture land.

If you have a curiosity or interest about the Second World War, these historic images of Normandy in 1944 (and today) will certainly interest you. What these images say to me is that no matter what—life goes on.

Via Fishki.

All color photos are exclusive copyright © Patrick Elie.

Innovative Escape Tools from German Prisons

(Above) DOUBLE-BARRELED PISTOL
This gun was found along with other homemade firearms in the cell of two Celle prison inmates on November 15, 1984. The weapons had been made in the prison’s metal workshop. They were loaded with pieces of steel and match-heads.

(Above) DUMMY SUBMACHINE GUN
Made from a grease injector, wood, a rubber sleeve, and tape. The mock weapon was found in 1994 in a prison workshop in Wolfenbüttel prison, Germany, after jailers were tipped off that an escape attempt was being planned.


(Above) RADIO TRANSMITTER / BUG
Made of radio recorder parts by an inmate of Wolfenbüttel prison, Germany (battery is missing). Prisoners occasionally manage to install gizmos like this one in guard-rooms to be prepared for upcoming cell searches. Also suitable as a means of cell-to-cell communication among inmates. A standard radio serves as a receiver.

(Above) HASH PIPE
Fashioned from an empty horseradish tube; confiscated in ‘Santa Fu’ prison in Hamburg, Germany. Bongs are the most common of all forbidden items in prisons. The range of materials they are made of mirrors the inmates’ great imagination. And their prior needs.

(Above) KNUCKLEDUSTER
With a padded handle, this weapon is made from a rasp that was presumably stolen from a prison workshop. The weapon was found in a cell in the prison of Wolfenbüttel, Germany, sometime around 1993.

(Above) SAW
An inmate of ‘Santa Fu’ prison in Hamburg, Germany, fitted a wooden handle to a piece of saw blade for better handling. The tool was found in his cell and confiscated.


(Above) DUMMY PISTOL
Made from from blackened cardboard; found on June 23, 1988, in an inmate’s cell in Stammheim prison, Germany, after a fellow prisoner tipped off the jailers. The dummy was hidden in an empty milk pack and was most probably intended to be used for taking hostages in an escape attempt.


(Above) DAGGER
Disguised as a wooden crucifix, this dagger was found in an inmate’s cell in Wolfenbüttel prison, Germany, sometime around 1994; intended for use in an escape or as a general weapon. At that time a lot of crucifixes were fashioned in prison woodshops until jailers finally dug their true purpose.


(Above) GRAPPLING HOOK
Made with segmented extension rods (13 segments, overall length: 4.5 meters) and rope made of leather and string. This cleverly conceived tool assisted two inmates in their escape from Ludwigsburg prison, Germany, on August 19, 1987. The attached rod enabled them to place and retrieve the hook and thus negotiate two prison walls in succession.
(Above) STOVE / GRILL / TOASTER
An inmate of Ludwigsburg prison, Germany, botched together this multi-purpose tool from wire, a broken heating rod and some tin foil. It was found in his cell and confiscated sometime in the mid-eighties.


IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS PURE RESOURCEFULNESS, INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY, a good place to start is the worldwide penal system. Yep. Prisons. There, restricted of materials and allowed only a few approved “safe” items, prisoners have nothing but time on their hands to devise the most ingenious “unapproved objects.” Of course, many incarcerated people turn their time to making art—carving (soap, wood, stone), drawing, painting, folding paper or other— is better known. Less known are the “other” things prisoners use to defeat the system (as I am showing above).

All of the above items were photographed more than 10 years ago by award-winning German photographer Marc Steinmetz, who has a most interesting Web site of his work. Steinmetz is a pro, having photographed for major corporations and educational institutions in the areas of science and technology, industry, museums and more. Check him out by clicking here.

First published in: ‘Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin’ 25/1999
Photos available through: Marc Steinmetz
All images © Mark Steinmetz.

Amazon Women of the Ukraine

All photos on this post © Guillaume Herbaut.




IN THE UKRAINE, A COUNTRY WHERE FEMALES ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL TRAFFICKING AND GENDER OPPRESSION, a new tribe of empowered women is emerging. Calling themselves the “Asgarda,” the women seek complete autonomy from men. Residing in the Carpathian Mountains, the tribe is comprised of 150 women of varying ages, primarily students, led by 30 year-old Katerina Tarnouska. Reviving the tribal traditions of the Scythian Amazons of ancient Greek mythology, the Asgarda train in martial arts, taught by former Soviet karate master, Volodymyr Stepanovytch, and learn life skills and sciences in order to become ideal women. Little physical documentation existed on the tribe, until recently, when renowned French photographer, Guillaume Herbaut, met the Asgarda back in 2004 in the midst of the Orange Revolution.

Finding their involvement with the revolution intriguing, Herbaut spent fourteen days photographing the tribe for “Le Retour des Amazones.” As apparent in several of the photos, the Asgarda idolize Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko – a key figure in the Orange Revolution and leader of the “Fatherland” party. Hoping to convey “the tradition, the legend, and the uneasiness among women in Ukraine”, Herbaut’s photographs portray devout and austere females in traditional and newfangled garb brandishing braids, battle axes, and boxing gloves.

Here’s their website: Asgarda

While Herbaut is uncertain if the photos are a good representation of the tribe, he adds “They were very happy when they saw the pictures. They want to show their strength.” When asked of his impressions of the Asgarda prior to and after photographing them, he remarked, “My first impression was ‘Asgarda is the root of a new sect’. My second impression was ‘Asgarda is the root of a new sect’!” New sect or the rebirth of a previous one, the Asgarda are reclaiming their lost independence, and, if Herbaut’s photographs are any indication, they aren’t afraid to fight for it.

This article was written by Jenna Martin, for PlanetMagazine. All photos are by and © Guillaume Herbaut. This post via PlanetMagazine.

1889 Johnstown, PA Flood Account & Family Death

Click image for larger view.


Click image for larger view.


IT IS REALLY QUITE AMAZING WHAT CAN BE FOUND ON EBAY IF YOU SPEND THE TIME TO LOOK. Amidst the flotsam of junk, fakes and Walmart resellers you find wonderful things. This anonymous letter, a four-page account of the Johnstown flood of 1889 and the death of the entire Kirkbride family, is quite revealing. Over 4,000 people perished in that flood, the result of a dam breaking upstream. Think about it. Just after 4pm on a spring day, as people prepared for dinner and the usual things, death in the form of raging water wiped everything away. This letter should be in the Kirkbride geneology archive. It was once available on eBay (for purchase) for $50 bucks.

Circa late 1889 or early 1890s is this four page letter with envelope giving a detailed account of the 1889 Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood and the death of Mahlon Kirkbride and his family. The letter reads as follows...

“Drowned at Johnstown, Pa on the 31st of 5th Mo. 1889 Mahlon Kirkbride, son of Mahlon and Mary Bishop Kirkbride - aged thirty four years and thirty one days, also at the same time his wife Ida V. Kirkbride aged thirty two years. Their children Fannie, aged ten years, ten months and ten days. Linda aged seven years seven months and twenty three days and infant son. By the most correct statistics given 4 thousand persons perished in the flood - which caused almost the entire destruction of the town - little save the foundation of the Cambria Iron Works being left.

The flood was caused by the giving way of the dam of an immense reservoir - the largest either natural or artificial in the U. States. The Reservoir was 11 miles east of Johnstown and 2 miles from the village of South Fork. The dam was 2-1/2 miles long and the western end was 4 hundred feet long and eighty feet high. It was originally one of the feeders of the old Pennsylvania Canal. Afterward retained by sporting club as a resort for fishing and boating. After a steady rainfall of 48 hours this dam gave way at a few minutes past four o’clock on the afternoon of the 31st of 5th mo. 1889. In one hour the water had all run out carrying the most fearful destruction before them for 18 miles.

Mahlon Kirkbride and his family had apartments in the Hager Block - a three story brick building - near the edge of the valley. They could have escaped to the mountains in a few minutes - but brick buildings were supposed to be the safest places. It is thought they would have resisted the water itself successfully - but locomotive engines, cars, frame houses, and trees from above danced about like toys on the water - and striking the brick walls - caused them to cave in - and roofs to fall. Of the thirty five persons in the block all perished. After four months Mahlon’s body was recovered - being found covered with sand and protected by the roots of a large tree on the bank of Stonycreek River - one half mile from his home. His remains were interred on the 4th of 10th mo. 1889- by the side of those of his wife and child in Grand View Cemetery. Mahlon Kirkbride was auditor of the Johnson Steel Street Rail Co. at Johnstown.

This is to be copied in Yardley Genealogy. The envelope reads, “History of the Johnstown flood and the destruction of Mahlon Kirkbride and his family”.

Some Great Textiles

Concentric Square Quilt USA
circa 1940,
Graphic Concentric Square Quilt,
Hand-stitched black, yellow and gray African American quilt made of rayon.
Via 1st dibs and Just Folk
(Click image for larger view)NEW ENGLAND HOOKED RUG WITH RECLINING DOG American
ca. 1860-1880
Hooked rug with a dog in the center surrounded by a red floral border. Made in New England, wool construction, probably Massachusetts. A great early example, nicely executed, with strong colors. Wool construction.
Via 1st dibs and Jeff R. Bridgeman Antiques
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Pine Burr Quilt

American
1920’s
Exceptional African American Pine Burr quilt. All hand quilted and pieced. Found in Selma, Alabama. Fantastic color placement and design. These quilts were made with leftover fabric and clothing. These quilts are very labor intensive and would take many years to finish. A simple frame is needed for this quilt to hang on the wall. We do not have it attached to a frame in the image. Framed it will hang appropriately on the wall. This quilt makes a very dynamic wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above) Detail of Pine Burr Quilt. (Click image for larger view)

African American Concentric Squares Work Clothes Quilt

American
1940’s
Very bold African American Concentric Squares Work Clothes Quilt. Made from discarded work shirts by Eunice Taylor, Winston County, Alabama(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Abstract Quilt. Attributed to Gees Bend, AL

American
1940’s
Attributed to Lucy Mooney Gees Bend, Alabama, Circa 1930-40. The backing is made from 100 pound welfare sacks issued by the US Government, and says: “The Department of Welfare...Donated by the people of the United State of America - Not to be sold or exchanged.” This quilt is an amazing abstract wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

African American Memorial Work Clothes Quilt

American
1930’s
African American made double sided Memorial Quilt. Wonderful abstract wall hanging. Constructed from the work clothes of a loved one that had passed on. Also some strips of vintage ticking. Made by Annie Rogers, Creedmoor, N.C.
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

Gees Bend African American Concentric Squares Quilt

American
1940’s
Gees Bend, AL African American Quilt made by Clementine Kennedy (1904-1974). Concentric squares or housetop variation.
Via 1st dibs, Urban Country Antiques
(Click image for larger view)

(Above)

Yo Yo Rug

United States
circa 1930
A painstakingly executed graphic textile in beautiful colors, this “yo-yo” mat reflects the light in subtle ways to create an astonishing wall hanging.
(Click image for larger view)


IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A NEW COLLECTING AREA, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER high-quality American textiles, such as quilts or hooked rugs. For example, African American quilts are often characterized by their freedom from the traditional rules of quilt making. Often made from hand-me-downs and scraps of fabric, these quilts are often pieced as things fit—or by following a vaguely defined and always changeable design. Abstraction is the word that best defines them—beautifully balanced in a way that allows chance to play a role in the design. But if you like tradition—there are plenty of other quilts and hooked rugs to fill that need. Either area you wish to collect in, there are still opportunities to find nice examples for under $500. As for the rarest and most collectible examples in an category, the sky is the limit for cost.

All examples via 1st Dibs.

It's Good to be King, if Just for a While

I FOUND THESE PATCHES ON EBAY. Neither the seller nor I have any idea as to their origins or meaning, but I can make some good guesses. I really love the ones with the lightning bolts... me thinks it must be for the radio operators.

Rank. Degree. Hierarchy. Order. It’s the way the world works. It’s the way corporate America works. It’s the way nature works. I don’t like it, but it will never change.
Via ebay.