Today’s collection of recreated postcards are from downtown Boone area. When I recreated one of them, I did learn something about Boone history that I didn’t know. A fascinating, dry and itchy piece of Boone history.

The first picture is in downtown Boone, looking east down 8th Street from where the Fareway offices are.

Eighth St. East from and showing, P.O. – Original

Eighth St. East from and show. P.O. – Redux

If I had to take a stab as to when this postcard was produced, I would say either 1907 or 1908 or maybe 1909. On January 28, 1907 the Butler House (a hotel) burned down. That hotel would be the first building east of the old Boone Post Office, which is the first building on the north side of Eight Street in the picture. The Butler House was a three story building. That spot was replaced by the Hotel Holst. It was a four story structure that was built from 1909-1910.

A personal opinion, but the old post office was a much cooler looking building than the post office building that would replace it and is still in use to this day.

The second picture is from a postcard that I’m not sure why anybody would want it. It is simply a picture of Tama Street looking north from the intersection with 4th Street.

Tama Street, Boone, Ia – Original

Tama Street, Boone, IA – Redux

Not much to say about the history in this postcard. It does appear that most of the houses in this postcard are still standing, which is good, because it made it easy to find the location for this recreation pretty easy.

The final postcard recreation is a postcard of a business that I didn’t know ever existed. Which makes sense, because it was gone 50 years before I was born.

The Fitch Ideal Dandruff Cure Co’s Building – Original

The Fitch Ideal Dandruff Cure Co’s Building Postcard – Redux

Here is some information about The F.W. Fitch Company from Wikipedia:

Fitch founded F.W. Fitch Company in Boone, Iowa, in 1892, and also owned a barbershop. Fitch’s first product was a hair tonic labeled “Ideal Hair Grower and Dandruff Cure.” Later products included the “Fitch scientific scalp treatment.”

Fitch moved his business to Des Moines at 15th and Walnut Streets in 1917; this district, F. W. Fitch Company Historic District, is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Fitch Company sponsored a national radio broadcast, The Fitch Bandwagon, from fall 1938 to spring 1948. It had with three different formats. The first featured many popular musical acts in its early years, including Cab Calloway, Ozzie Nelson, Tommy Dorsey and Guy Lombardo. The second was a variety show starring Cass Daley that featured popular bands between skits. The third and best-remembered version starred Phil Harris and Alice Faye for a single and final season; they later spun The Fitch Bandwagon into their long-running show, The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show.

The company did well throughout the early 20th century and during World War II but saw a decline in sales after the war due to the loss of military contracts.

In 1949, Fitch sold The F.W. Fitch Company to Grove Laboratories in St. Louis. The former F. W. Fitch Company building is now owned by Exile Brewing Company.

I found some more information on Fitch in a “The Boone News Republican” article from September 13, 1965.

Even though Fitch left Boone over 100 years ago, you can still see where the word FITCH used to hang on the front of the building over the front door.

Even though the building is starting to be in poor shape…

It is still in use as a dance studio and apartments. It is on the corner of Keeler and 7th Street.

Next time we tackle THE POSTCARD RECREATION PROJECT, it will probably involve the library.

Several years ago Jen suggested that for a photo project, I “recreate” old postcards. I loved the idea and I did it for exactly one postcard. Then did absolutely nothing else. For years. While I was on my vacation, I decided to start that project up again. I think I underestimated how difficult it might actually be to do well. I’m not sure my first (okay second) attempt at is necessarily done well.

In fact, in retrospect, I learned that I need to do a little more research before actually leaving my house and going out there to take the picture, to deliver on what I’m trying to do. For example, one of the pictures that was meant for today’s reveal, I definitely have to do again. I was not far enough west on 8th Street.

My goal is to go about near where the original postcard was taken, approximate the focal length of the original postcard, and then in editing deliver on the spirit of the original style of the postcard. Obviously, none of these will be a perfect recreation. In particular, the exact focal length will definitely be off. However, I think as long as I’m in the ballpark, I will be satisfied.

Postcard No. 2

Original

Redux

This picture is looking south down Story Street, from the intersection with 9th Street. The original is more of an illustration than a photo, so I tried to make it look like an illustration in the editing. Making it bright and colorful. Like it probably was originally (I’m guessing) rather than how it has faded over the years.

Postcard No. 3

Original

Redux

This picture postcard is looking north up Story Street from near Sixth Street. I really struggled with this one because I’m guessing this picture is probably from the 1950s. I am surprised by how many of the buildings in the original picture are gone. On that corner of 6th and Story used to house Vogler-Nieman Chevy, Buick and Pontiac. Plus a Champlin Oil. There was also a small building that sold popcorn there was well.

Here is a look at a couple old photos from a Boone News Republican article by Ed Mondt of that intersection:

1958

1940

If a guy wasn’t going to open a donut shop in his spare time, he could do worse than bringing back the popcorn shack.

Postcard No. 4

Original

Redux

This postcard is a picture of the entrance to McHose Park. Not much has really changed much. There is a stop sign now. The road has been paved. There is a new McHose Park sign. The park was closed at the time I took the picture because of derecho damage. In the editing, I put a slight sepia tone to try to match the original.

I think I’m going to try to do these in sets of 3. The next set of 3 will probably involve the Boone Biblical College, Ledges State Park, and the location of Boone’s old post office.