#endicott ny

[qualitysigns]

Endicott, New York, USA

Photo: Leah Frances

[markonpark]

IBM Schoolhouse Endicott, NY.

Vintage Postcard

eBAY: markonparkworld

[route22ny]

Top: circa 1960 scan of a postcard of the Frederick Executive House, a (ahem) motel in Endicott, New York.  The image is from the ForwardLook archive on Panoramio (which closes next month).  The caption reads, “Frederick Hotel & Executive House Endicott, N. Y., Route 17C - 250 ultra modern rooms in downtown Endicott within walking distance of IBM Corp. and Endicott Johnson — and all major industrial plants. Dining and dancing in our climate controlled Dubonnet Lounge. Direct dial phones, free local calls. Free television. Ample free parking. Completely air conditioned. Telephone ST 5-9936.”

Bottom:  I decided to take Route 17C from Binghamton to Elmira the other day; my recent rust belt trip had ended early without its final destination: Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, final resting place of Mark Twain.  Quite a nice drive for the most part, I believe 17C is the old Route 17 before superhighway 17 took its place in the 1960s.

On the way I passed this motel--I knew I’d seen it before when I first saw the 1960 scan.  The years haven’t been particularly kind but it has survived.  Photo taken October 11, 2017.

[055u4ry]

Female Worker’s Badge, 1906

My great grandfather worked in this same factory- the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Factory. It was hard, repetitive, and unsafe work. Local legend has it that some immigrants first English words upon coming to the area were “which way E-J?” I’m told the factory employed a large amount of people, and occasionally provided housing to its workers, so there was always a good amount of people lining up willing to do the work. Men seemed to get more dangerous work while women’s work was more grueling. My grandfather eventually died from working at E-J, his job was stiring giant vats of lye with leather hides in it. He was given one surgical mask per week for “protection”. By the second day on the job it was soaked in dirt and blood.

This woman was probably some kind of industrial seamstress. If I had to guess I’d assume she sewed together the leather for the shoes. Looking at her face is an experience, and I did not hesitate in acquiring this piece of working class history.

[cheapoldhousesunder50k]

c.1920 Home For Sale in Endicott, NY Under $40K

c.1920 Home For Sale in Endicott, NY Under $40K

200 Bermond Ave, Endicott, NY, 13760          $39,900 OHU50K NOTES From the exterior, I did not think that this home for sale in Endicott, NY, would tickle my fancy as much as it does. Built in 1920, I love the floor-to-ceiling kitchen cupboard, the mission style doorway into the kitchen, and that amazing lighting fixture! In addition, the home is graced with a tiled bath with basket weave tiled…

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[route22ny]

A lady conducts a banking transaction at an ATM (Automotive Teller Mobile) in 1963.  Wait--I made up that bit about an ATM--the lady is conducting her transaction at the bankmobile for Endicott National Bank somewhere in the metro area of Binghamton, New York, in 1963.  Photo from the Broome County Historical Society collection.

The van, btw, is the Chevy Greenbrier, a utility van version of the Corvair (rear engine, air cooled) that was designed to compete with the Volkswagen bus and outperformed it in many ways, offering more power and an automatic transmission.  More here:  http://www.chevyhardcore.com/news/top-5-chevy-vans-of-all-time-1-1961-1965-corvair-greenbrier/

[ggardentracks]

[ggardentracks]