JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Firemen, as awesome 170 years ago as they are in 2017
" Occupational Photographs " are so numerous they must have been quite, quite popular. Wish they were now but guess it'd be tougher? I mean, ' Fireman ' , still have those and ' Seamstress ' you can dig up given enough time but say " A. I. Research Engineer ", try that. Or " Blogger ". There are a few hilarious possibilities considering 2017's range of occupations.
With some exceptions we can generally ascertain the line of work being represented. Remember the blood-letting fellow? That photo btw, either the original or a copy was on eBay for months.
I think of these frequently when reading of men massed for some imminent battle- where each came from, what job was left undone, what uniform or hat, cleaned and neatly stored in great hope, perhaps touched with loving, wistful hands during long months and years.
Always new ones to be found on Pinterest ( of course ), Ebay, NYPL, LoC and ( not as frequently ) our National Archives. Included women- who knows if any also folded a business and followed the drum's beat, to war, to war.
The instrument is a ' meldeon ', seems an early synthesizer.... ( that's a joke ). Given how many professional musicians there were in the era ( given the lack of television and computers ), it may be something she earned a living with, hired for events.
More, in next post.