Summer is here in my Pacific Northwest, specifically in southern Oregon. Triple digit temperature, aggravated by little or no winter snow pack have spawned wildfires in the mountains throughout the western States. In my home which is surrounded by mountains and hundreds of miles from the ocean, beach photos are a rarity. Lakes, rivers, and sometimes just the local reservoir provides a "beach-like setting. And so it is, I submit a land-locked version of a 1937 beach party -- looks like sand so it must be a beach party.
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| Courtesy of the Archives of Roots'n'Leaves and JGHill |
These two photos appear to have been taken at the same time and place. Summer, 1937, would be the year, but the place, I know not. My best guess is along a canal bank, or perhaps a river --- probably in the Stockton, California, area, although it could easily be in southern Oregon, around Klamath Falls.. Wherever the location of the site in the photo to the right, I seem to be sitting on a sandy "beach" and not quite into the beach party thing.
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| Courtesy of the Archives of Roots'n'Leaves and JGHill |
The photo to the left is about the same vintage and perhaps the same day, but clearly there is more vegetation to be seen. I look a bit pensive. Perhaps I am nervous, sitting there on the back seat of dad's new Pontiac, trying on mother's high heels for a "nudie" stroll on the "beach", or alongside a river or canal.
I remember several times when I was a bit older, probably four or five years old, and the back seat of the Pontiac was taken out for party seating, The back seat came out easily so it could be used as ad hoc seating for whatever occasion -- rather like an early day "camper." It didn't take much to have a beach party in those days.
Now, stroll on over to see what summer time fare is being offered by fellow Sepians.
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© Joan G. Hill, Roots'n'Leaves
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That seat must have got a bit sandy! Very sweet photos of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks. And yes, I would imagine there was sand covering most everything -- including the seat.
DeleteWhilst the photos are just monochrome and concentrating on the subject - they tell such a story of holidays and happiness. Lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alan. I dinna really think about the larger story, but you are right. Dinna take much in those days for a story of holidays and happiness.
DeleteI can remember a picnic from my childhood sitting on the seat that had been lifted from the back seat of our car - thanks for the memories :)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I love about Sepia. Someone's innocuous photo will trigger a whole slew of my own memories. And taking the back seat out of a car for extra picnic seating had to do with a special time and place. Can you imagine taking the back seat out of one of those sporty cars?? lol
DeleteDo you have a shoe fetish still? In both photos you are putting shoes on or off:)
ReplyDeleteFunny. but you are right,I was busy with the shoe thing,
DeleteThe Oregon coastline is magnificent. I love driving through all the little towns. It's a great place to go camping. But all the times I've been up there I don't think I've ever walked on any of the beaches. Sand dunes yes.
ReplyDeleteLet’s hope El Nino really does roll in this fall.
I am a high-desert gal, so the ocean is a strange place to me, but I do love Oregon's rugged coast --- preferrably high above the water --- it's those "sneaker waves" that high-desert folks hear about that keeps us from the beaches.
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