They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and while this post isn’t going to be quite that long, there is a lot we can glean from this historic photo of present-day 202 N Sibley Avenue, Litchfield. With some close inspection and the help of old newspapers, not only can we surmise the date to within a couple of weeks but also the reason for the photograph.
The first clues are the two posters in the windows. One poster shows two hippopotamus and “June 30.” As hippos aren’t your typical Minnesota animal, a circus or other entertainment comes to mind. A second poster, hanging in the window to the building on the left, is an advertisement for July 4th. This rang a bell with us at the Museum, as we recalled a grand 4th of July celebration in Litchfield in 1885.
A quick look in the newspapers confirmed our suspicions. On June 30, 1885, the R.W. Weldon & Co. Circus and Menagerie came through Litchfield. Their advertisements boasted many attractions including a giant black camel named Sinbad and a race that featured elephants, ostriches, camels, bloodhounds, bicycles, equestrians, and pedestrians. The reviews that followed were lukewarm. The circus activities were considered fair, but the lack of animals was a disappointment.
As for the July 4th celebrations, Litchfield went all out! They hired a highly-rated brass band and invited the First Regiment Minnesota National Guard. Thousands of people turned out to see the parade, concerts, and fireworks.
Going back to the photograph, it’s clear the large building is the main subject. The building was built in 1884 and was called the Brown Block, after its owner MA Brown. The medallion on the top of the building credits JM and P Peterson as its builders. Work began in June 1884 and by November of that year the building was nearing completion.
One of the first tenants was Judge Seward Plumley. He occupied the front rooms on the second floor. A sign for Plumley can be seen on the building’s south side. Between the two buildings is a door to the upstairs offices. A second “Plumley” sign hangs by the door.
At the corner of the building is the unmistakable barber pole. OW Topping moved his barber shop into the basement of the Brown Block in February 1885, and it’s safe to assume he would have still been there four months later. Perhaps Topping is one of the gentlemen on the corner.
Finally, we come to the probable occasion for the photograph and that is the reopening of Birch & Nelson clothing and men’s furnishing store. John Birch and Rasmus Nelson had their business in a few different places in Litchfield, but an advertisement on June 25, 1885, announced their move to the Brown Block. The relocation probably took place the previous week, so when combined with the posters, this gives us an approximate photo date between June 18 and June 30, 1885.
Even though this photo came without any description, a little detective work helped to bring out the details!
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