Real World Ephemera #1

[Frank DeFreitas]

Everywhere I go, I am always looking for ephemera. It is not hard to find! Recently, I have been taking my camera and capturing pictures of some of the ways ephemera is being used out there in the "real world". Here, then, are a few of the latest that are worthy of posting:

1. The Allentown Fair
The Great Allentown Fair (as it is known and promoted) has a 150-year history. In celebration, they dedicated an entire wall to their historical ephemera collection. A section of that wall (shown below) dealt with past performers, such as (shown) Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, Liberace, Donnie & Marie Osmond, Kenny Rogers, Herb Albert, etc. They also had a section of their agricultural hall designated for political ephemera, since it was an election year. Here are a few photos:

(above) This was one section of an entire wall of showcased ephemera documenting the 150 year anniversary of the fair. It was wonderful to see the care in which it was displayed, and also the care in which it must have been stored all these years.

(above) One section of an entire area dedicated to historical political ephemera and memorabilia. Many of the items, naturally, reflected how the elections were held locally.

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2. Hawk Mountain
Like most nature tourist attractions across the country, Pennsylvania's Hawk Mountain maintains a modern visitors center. Within this visitor center are all of the educational exhibits and the gift shop. Located on a lower level is this case with ephemera related to its first curator, Maurice Braun. Here is a photo:

(above) A small exhibit case holds the ephemera and other memorabilia from naturalist and conservationist Maurice Braun. Most items are authentic, except for the typewritten letter in the typewriter, which I believe was either a xerox or ink jet photocopy of an original. The dates on the items shown here range from 1934 to 1938.

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3. Tamaqua Train Station
The historic Tamaqua Train Station has a long history going back to the age of Pennsylvania coal and steel. For the past 15 years, a group of residents have been refurbishing the once run-down station, and it is now back to its glory day appearance (including fine dining). Here is a photo of some of the railroad ephemera that is throughout the station:

(above) Here is a timetable for shore trips to Atlantic City via rail on August 30, 1953. Eddie Fisher was being featured at the entertianment meca called Steel Pier. It was the rail systems that made Atlantic City the "playground of the world" . . . connecting its once-remote shore location to the major east coast metropolitan areas (and beyond, as shown here for Tamaqua, Pennsylvania).

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4. Pennsylvania Railroad Museum
The Pennsylvania Railroad Museum is jaw-dropping in scale. It has entire trains indoors, and celebrates the history of rail travel in this state. Each era and type of rail transportation has its own associated ephemera exhibits. A few that I had a chance to photograph are included here:

(above) A 1940 Pullman dining car menu (roast prime rib of beef: $1.50), shares the spotlight with an associated 1971 guest check. I recently had a chance to dine on Amtrak traveling from Savannah, GA to Philadelphia. It was a wonderful experience at sunset.

(above) A broadside announcing a special rate for grain and flour freight in 1859. The address, corner of 13th and Market Sts, is now part of the Reading Terminal Market / Galleria Mall (and part of the Philadelphia Convention Center complex).

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoyed the post! -- Frank DeFreitas

[Frank DeFreitas]

Thank you Ruth. I've enjoyed browsing your vintage travel ephemera many times! Even travel and vacationing was depicted so differently back then. In fact, it was different. Even starting out . . . with a gas station attendant who not only pumped the gas, but checked "under the hood" and washed the windows -- front and back. It just added so much excitement to the "we're ready to go" moment, didn't it? Different? Yeah, I'll say it was.

[Ruth Cooper]

Fantastic displays - thanks for sharing!

[Frank DeFreitas]

Thank you Ray and Lady Estelle. I agree that there is just no substitution for having original pieces of historic ephemera tell a story (or at least be a part of the story). With some documents, like the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution, the experience of just being in their presence is awe-inspiring. No web page or multimedia presentation will ever give that kind of rush (at least with ephemera).

[Lady Estelle T. Barada]

Oh my,
I really enjoyed the train rates for Grain and Flour. How interesting.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos.

[Ray Kirchmeyer]

That is a great post Frank. I like seeing these displayed for the public to enjoy. It may serve to raise awareness that these very fragile pieces of history need to be preserved.
I myself have donated pieces from my collection to museums from time to time. There is a certain satisfaction in sharing these with the world rather than leaving them sitting in a drawer, file cabinet, or box. There is a move in my city right now to open a small historical museum downtown. The historical society already has a quite large collection of documents that can be placed there. My church is located downtown and they have a large scrapbook in the foyer containing documents dating back to the 1880's. One is a bill of sale for the church land for $1.00 from the railroad. The reason for the price was in the minds of the railroad people a church would bring stability to the community in a land where the sixgun still ruled.
These wonderful displays you photographed really bring the importance of history to the people. Thank you.

[Frank DeFreitas]

Thanks Tom. I hope you get a few nice "in the field" ephemera shots to post, and I'll be looking forward to seeing them. I must admit, however, that I have gotten a few strange looks from others: "Why is he taking a picture of that"?! It's good to see ephemera "out there" and still working . . . and earning its keep!

[Tom Murphy]

Great post Frank. I am jealous of you having so many events and places to visit... Allentown Fair, Hawk Mountain, Train Museums. I feel left out here in Florida.. not too much of interest and little or no Ephemera. Perhaps I am just not looking in the right places.

Any way.. I'll start carrying my mini camera and see what I can find of interest... to match your post. LOL

Tom

[Frank DeFreitas]

Deb, what a great story about your mother having a travel notice pinned to her blouse . . . and with expectations of her arriving safe and sound, without question. Yes, it certainly was a very different world, even if so many, many people today say that it only seems that way today. I find myself thinking along the same lines as yourself.

[Deb Carlen]

Frank, what a terrific display of "real world" ephemera. It instantly evokes others times and places exactly in their "now" moments! My grandfather was the senior clerk of Southern Railway; my mother the youngest of five girls...when she was very young, they would pin a notice to her blouse with directions for the conductor about which station to detrain her, and relatives would claim her on the platform. Such a different world, and only 80 years ago.