----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2020 7:21
PM
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Photo: Swift
& Company Shed
Hi List Members,
For everyone's convenience, I will put the web link back into the
conversation...
The date is given at the web site as: [1935?]
I will say that if you zoom in on the image, the sign immediately above
the door reads - you guessed it - 1935! I suggest it might be a street
address number, but maybe the library researchers mistook it as being the
year?
I will also add that the shed looks to be very recent construction, the
wood is in top-notch shape, not dirty nor dog-eared nor weathered to
any detectable extent.
Someone mentioned there may be two tracks under the shed, but I do not
think that to be the case. I suspect there is an enclosed annex to the back
end of the shack that extends under the shed - perhaps the shed covers this
annex and/or a loading platform beyond the annex to provide shelter
from the elements?
Also notice that the poster on the end of the car is not just pasted on,
it is nicely framed with wood that has 45 degree beveled corners, and the
poster appears to have been put up there is some amount of care to make for a
good-looking presentation. Contrast this with the other pasted-up bills that
are in the image. This makes me think the car closest to the camera is there
to stay.
I like how the siding used to make up the sides of the shed appear to be
random width boards!
Claus Schlund
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2020 6:50
PM
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Photo: Swift
& Company Shed
This
location is about a block from the Denver Union Station. A map that came
with the book "Denver's Railroads" shows the L.J. Brown hide house, but
where the Swift shack and shed are located in the photo is called out as
"Country Club Dist[ribution] Co. Interestingly, the track (or tracks - are
there two under the shed? I think so.) are not shown on that map, which
shows every track that existed, and I mean every track. The map is said to
be from "about 1936."
Another map from the same book, from "a time when the narrow gauge
South Park and Clear Creek Lines were still operating," again show no tracks
but does show a building outline that is consistent with the photo. The
building is labeled "KC Bag Co." I believe the South Park line was abandoned
in 1937.
I suspect the photo is from well before 1935, and even the library
questions that date. The freight cars in the background seem to support
this.
I tend to agree that the reefer closest to the camera is permanently
parked there. The condition of the paint compared to the others is one
give-away in my opinion. Note also the plethora of chalk marks on the
others, but none on the first car.
Swift had a large packing plant a few miles away from this location so
I suspect suspect something was shipped from the packing plant to this
location for use or transshipment in the immediate area. This is very close
to downtown Denver.
Richard Townsend
Lincoln City, OR
-----Original
Message-----
From: Bill Parks via groups.io
<BPARKS_43@...>
To:
main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Sent: Sat, Dec 26, 2020 3:04 pm
Subject: Re:
[RealSTMFC] Photo: Swift & Company Shed
This may end up being one of those photos that we never figure out.
Dave Parker questions the date of the photo, and
the age of the cars would suggest it was more around WWI.
Additionally, from what I could determine, the girl on the poster on the end
car was used on multiple posters form around 1900 through WWI (may have been
used later, but I couldn't find any dated later).
The fact that the poster is on the car, and not the building, is
very interesting. As far as I know, that would make the car ineligible
for interchange, which lends weight to Ken Akerboom's comment about the cars
possibly being used for "permanent" storage. If that was the case,
then 1935 would be probable for the date of the photo.
I am leaning towards agreeing with Douglass Harding that this
structure has to do with byproducts. His observations about that are
logical.
Finally, the brick chimney looks like
it was built prior to the covering over the track. My guess is it was
for heating in the building. It almost looks like it is used to help
hold up the shed, but you can see a partial gap at its top, which says to me
it is not holding any of the load. Makes me wonder if the chimney was
still in use at this time. If it was, then some (or all) of the smoke
would end up under the shed.
Probably the best
way to resolve all of this is if anyone can determine anything based on the
cars in the background. Will be interesting to follow other's comments
on this one.
--
Bill
Parks
Cumming,
GA
Modelling
the Seaboard Airline in Central Florida
