Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
July 1942. Washington, D.C. (vicinity). "Canoes and rowboats tied up at small refreshment barge on the west bank of the Potomac." Medium format negative by John Ferrell for the Office of War Information. View full size.
The location of this "coke" oasis is just above Key Bridge opposite Roosevelt Island. It is a short walk to the C & O Canal. The canoe rental was in Foggy Bottom, in Washington, DC. By the way, "coke" is known as "dope" in Appalachia and other places in the South.
The walking beam is a wooden mock-up that has been attached to the roof. The smokestack and whistle have been likewise simulated.
That device on top looks like a walking beam propulsion system, a very light basic one, next to the steam boiler stack. I wonder if anyone is familiar with whether that was a standard way to propel a small river barge in those days?
What about the "Hires in the sky"?
A term not many people living out in the prairies would be familiar with.
Today's news anchors show more skin than these gals.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5