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Monday 5 September 2011

Russell Lee: Labor Day, Silverton, Colorado, 1940


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Silverton, Colorado. Labor Day celebration. Burros loaded with ore sacks in the burro-loading contest

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Silverton, Colorado. Labor Day celebrations. Contestant tying sacks of ore onto a burro in a contest

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People in town for the Labor Day parade, Silverton, Colorado


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Watching the Labor Day parade, Silverton, Colorado


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Watching the Labor Day parade, Silverton, Colorado

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Children watching the Labor Day parade, Silverton, Colorado


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Cranking up motor which will supply power for the miners' drilling contest, Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado

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Miner attaching airhose to power drill he will use at the miners' power drilling contest at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado


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Miners in power drilling contest at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado


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Judges at the miners' drilling contest, Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado


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Candid cameraman at miners' contest at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado


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Boy watching miners' contest at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado


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Group of people watching events at the Labor Day celebration contests, Silverton, Colorado


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Spectators at the miners' contest at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado


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Spectators at the contests for miners at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado

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Miner at the contests for miners at the Labor Day celebration, Silverton, Colorado

Photos by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration, September 1940 (Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection, Library of Congress)

12 comments:

vazambam (Vassilis Zambaras) said...

Boy, watching that "Boy watching miners' contest" was a real treat--sent me back some 50+ years when I was "The Squint-Eyed Kid" wearing my older brother's over-sized pants and too long of a belt to boot! Thanks.

TC said...

Wow, I love that kid. He seems to be literally holding himself up by his belt straps.

Two photos above that solo shot, in the picture of the miners' contest judges, we spot that lad again, off to the right, again squinting -- and clutching his whatever-it-is, for dear life.

STEPHEN RATCLIFFE said...

Tom,

Boy watching the miner's contest, man watching boy watching miner's contest. . . .

9.5

grey whiteness of fog against invisible
top of ridge, blue jay on edge of fence
in foreground, sound of wave in channel

in this way you see, signed
in lower left present

what most thought forgotten,
at least, so it seems

grey white of fog against top of ridge,
shadowed green pine on tip of sandspit

Elisabeth said...

Once in a world, wonderful images, TC. Thanks for introducing yourself to me.

Julia said...

I can understand the melancholy the funny boy arouses, but I prefer the young miner of the last picture...

TC said...

Many thanks to my bolinasian and antipodean friends.

Julia, I believe you have recognized his star quality.

STEPHEN RATCLIFFE said...

And many continued thanks to you, Tom. . .

Phil Antonelli said...

The squint-eyed kid was named Phil Antonelli - my father. He passed away a couple of years ago. The boy behind him was his best friend Jasper Gallegos. Jasper was killed in the first daylight bombing raid over Europe conducted by the US Army Air Corps during WW II

TC said...

Thanks very much, Phil.

Putting a name on a picture is respect for history. Honoring the past, keeping the memory green.

Coming back to these beautiful photos is a fresh wonder for me, every time.

So much to feel. The intense reality of that world. Not a single cellphone.

(A world I can just about remember...)

Unknown said...

Phil, I saw that and recognized him immediately! I was going to send you a link to this, but... you done found it!

Unknown said...

The miner in the last picture was my Granddad Bob. So glad I stumbled upon this blog.

TC said...

We're glad too Rob.