JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Currier and Ives prints are responsible for nostalgic sighs this time of year. A plethora of prints, etchings, paintings and photos by other artists tells us our ancestors knew a good thing when they rode in it. Our nostalgic yearnings for this aspect of the ' good old days ' is not misplaced. This, by an unknown artist is of a race.
Currier and Ives imagery, carols and the occasional sleigh bells you can find on Ebay are the only nostalgic tinged evidence left from a way of life which seems to have vanished over night. We manage to dredge these ' good old days ' up annually, Christmas for some reason associated through cards and carols with life before fossil fuels replaced oats and hay. Everyone knows there's no snow after December 25th.
A little prewar, this party of winter lovers could be a Currier and Ives image.
Rushing our seasons with summer catalogs issued Dec. 26th notwithstanding, this mode of transportation was awfully necessary until crocus poked heads through the March onion snow. Bells, not car horns let us know a someone was coming on snow packed roads ( and please get out of the way, those things could cut a leg off ).
One of around a gajillion entertaining looks at the topic , this from New Jersey, 1864.
Hang on- there's more
Sleigh rides were transportation before snow tires, chains and ashes became part of our winter. Sleighs 10 passengers deep dropped folks off at work in New York City, the best bus ever, sleighs carried goods to stores, families to church and doctors to house calls ( *sigh* ). Have to say, a winter night's sleigh ride was considered as picturesque and enjoyable as holiday cards depict despite being the only way to get around. Races were common, too- with inevitable disasters.
NYPL, entitled ' A Country Morning ' is from the mid 1800's.
Hate to regret progress, can't help feeling a little resentful towards Henry Ford this time of year.
Sleighs on NYC streets are an awfully popular subject in the era- no nostalgia required.
Both images depict Broadway- cool stuff!
One of my favorites, multi sleigh collision in front of Barnum's.