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May 1942. Southington, Connecticut. "An American town and its way of life. The Memorial Day parade moving down the main street. The small number of spectators is accounted for by the fact that the town's war factories did not close. The town hall is in the left foreground." Medium format Kodachrome transparency by Fenno Jacobs for the Office of War Information. View full size.
I still can't get over the fact that this picture is 75 years old! The Kodachrome just makes it look like it was taken yesterday.
It's clear the war effort didn't keep the groundskeepers at town hall from doing their work, and doing it very well, I must say.
Southington News of 5-29-42. Front page article about the next day's Memorial Day parade activities. The whole newspaper makes for interesting reading.
Parked along the fence, left to right, are a 1940 Chevrolet; a 1937 Ford; and a 1933 Oldsmobile (note the people inside watching the parade).
The first five cars parked along the parade route, starting at the yellow curb and working back, are a 1939 Buick; a 1942 Buick (which is not a Roadmaster model); a 1941 Pontiac; a 1934 Chevrolet; and a 1941 Buick.
The American Legion is marching behind the boy band.
The parade must be in the morning because the flag is still at half staff (it is raised to the top of the flag pole at noon on Memorial Day).
It looks like there used to be a circular driveway in front of the town hall. The curb in front of the building has two ramps that go all the way to the street.
There are at least six children on top of the roof of the building next to town hall. Another five are on the cannon in the parkway. I saw them because I had my eyes examined by Dr. Duffy.
I had forgotten the detail of medium format Kodachrome. When I first started as a photography student we still worked in with film. I was one of the very last classes to do so.
The world has changed so much in just over 10 years.
Kodachrome never ceases to amaze me. This photo looks like it was taken last week.
This aerial view shows Main Street (State highway 10) at Academy Street
Two newer buildings are across the street, but town hall remains with little change.
Gorgeous scene. Is the blue suit wearing woman in the foreground pushing a baby carriage? It's very interestingly designed.
[It's a stroller. - Dave]
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