This postcard shows six (unidentified) workers from the Mt. Vernon, IL Car Manufacturing Co or better known as the "Car Shops." It's not a miniature train like the one in Sepia Saturday's theme this week, but I thought it would be a great entry anyway. The car shops manufactured train cars in Mt. Vernon starting in 1890 and lasting for sixty-four years. The first president of the shops was David O. Settlemire; his son-in-law Walter C. Arthurs was his secretary-treasurer. During its heyday around 1912, 50 cars a day were rolled out. My own great-grandfather, Joseph W. Wade was for a time a Foreman/Manager at the car shops around 1912- 1928 and was quite prosperous.
Unfortunately, this postcard was not mailed so there is no postmark date. However, by using the symbol in the upper right hand corner on the back side of the postcard "Cyko" I was able to determine this card was made between 1906 and 1915.
Please check out the other great stories at Sepia Saturday this week.
I worked with British Railways for a time in the 1990s when a lot of carriage works closed, so I can imagine the feelings at Mt Vernon when the works closed.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bob, in fact the car shops production slowed down dramatically starting around the 1930's until their closing in the 1950's which pretty much decimated the economy of the town as it was the largest employer. They did manage to bounce back to some extent.
ReplyDeleteThose workers do look rather sad; perhaps they saw the end of their jobs coming.
ReplyDeleteThe shops worked a full crew until the late 50s. When it was closed the men went to work at the shops in Centralia, Il., Beech Grove, In., Washington, In. and other places that had RR yards. There was still Wagner Elec., the Stove Foundry, Dowzer Elec. Shoe factory and a few other places that were working. It was said that Mt. Vernon would die once the shops closed but it never. When General Tire opened in '73 it was a huge shot in the arm and the town once again had jobs. However, Mt. Vernon has been losing population since then. In '52 the population was around 15,600 and today, after annexing several areas into the city limits the population is only 15,284.
ReplyDeleteMt. Vernon has had its ups and downs but I will always love my hometown. I only get to see it about once a year, it never seems to change much.
DeleteThat's a nice photo with a personal connection. It's good that you are able to identify it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I had to use a magnifying glass to read the wording!
DeleteI think photos like this one, showing ordinary men at work, are so valuable and it's nice to have them of one's own family members. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI too think old photos of people at work are so meaningful.
DeleteA second perfect fit. Cars like that may still be rolling! My grandfather worked on the rails as a brakeman and then yardmaster at Union Station in DC.
ReplyDeleteI wonder just how many old train cars on still on the rails?
DeleteThis reminds me that I have no photos of my grandfather at work on the Pennsylvania Rail Road. I would love to have a photo of him sitting in the engine cab.
ReplyDeleteThis photo is fascinating. Rarely find photos of people at work.
Too bad you don't have any photos of your grandfather in the engine cab - that would be priceless!
DeleteThere is a Unity To these men.You can see that they work hard but work for each other.a Good Team!
ReplyDelete50 cars seems a lot to me. Just how many employees were in there?
ReplyDeleteGreat pic, reflects an era!! I suspect Alan would enjoy the mood here.
:)~
HUGZ
Hi Teresa, it shows how dedicated people were and happy to have a secure job. It is such a shame that so many manufacturing all over the world has gone to China, because of the cheaper wages and bigger profits. But it is such a wrong attitude. I saw a film about Detroit, the car manufacturing practically finished. USA produced beautiful
ReplyDeletemerchandise. In the 1960 I got my first dishwasher produced in USA!
Anyway; it has happened all over the world Politicians are hopeless.
You are clever to have found out the date of the postcard. All the best T.
Very interesting! My great-grandfather and great-grand uncle both worked for the railroad back in 1890.
ReplyDelete