Name/Title
B+W photo of 420 & 422 Washington Street decorated with bunting and swagging by United Decorating Company of Hoboken, Hoboken, n.d., ca. mid-Oct. 1933.Entry/Object ID
2015.013.1021Description
Black-and-white photograph of 420 & 422 Washington Street decorated with bunting and swagging by United Decorating Company of Hoboken, Hoboken, no date, circa mid-October 1933.
Two 8" x 10" wide prints of the same scene, each printed differently. Photographer not indicated. Reverse as noted below.
Print 1: image as printed is slightly cropped; black china marker in lower margin noting addresses; reverse has a United Decorating Co. inkstamp with its 421 Washington St. address.
Print 2: full view of the image as printed and in better condition; reverse is blank.
These items were donated with other United Decorating Co. images that included documentation images of their work.
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View of the building facades decorated for what appears to be two coinciding events plus visible elements related to then new government program to enhance economic activity during what is called the "Great Depression."
Left is Alberta Market, a retail meat market, at 420 Washington which was celebrating its eleventh anniversary (bunting sign at second floor - "Special Anniversary Sale") which is noted in a small window sign. Their anniversary would have been a typical reason to provide some decoration.
Right is W.J. Duffy, Inc., a retail dealer in carpets, rugs, linoleum and bedding, at 422 Washington St., southwest corner of Fifth and Washington Streets.
Both buildings have patriotic bunting from top to bottom. The primary reason for the extensive exterior display is believed to have been done in anticipation of a veterans parade to be held in Hoboken on November 6, 1933. The parade was to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the November 11, 1918 Armistice that marked the end of the World War [World War I.]
In the window of each store is an American Legion (Legionnaires) flag / banner.
Also present in the windows of each store and on the Duffy store sign are N.R.A. (National Recovery Administration signs or banners) which were first used in the late summer of 1933 as part of a U.S. Government program during the Great Depression for promoting economic activity.
Lower right in the Duffy window is a newspaper page display, with only the banner text legible: Last Minute Photo; New Plane Menace; Sunday News. See notes on detail 7 for more.
See notes for description of detail view.Acquisition
Accession
2015.013Source or Donor
Kirchgessner, RoyAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gift of Roy Kirchgessner; United Decorating Company.General Notes
Note
Notes: All detail images are from print 2:
Detail 1, left: Alberta Market window with many signs with meats offered and prices; other signs are described in details 2 and 3.
Detail 2: Alberta Market window view of signs to right of entrance including "This Store ... Approved ... Relief Orders" and triangular pennant "Eleventh Anniversary Sale."
Detail 3: Albert Market, view of signage at center of window including Eleventh Anniversary, partial view of NRA Member sign or banner, and American Legion banner.
Detail 4: W.J. Duffy window including moveable sign on stand near curb: Parking 1-Hour Only
Detail 5: Duffy window detail views of two types of N.R.A. signage
left: NRA We Do Our Part. A fringed cloth sign mounted on the exterior business name sign
right: NRA Full Speed Ahead. Now Is The Time To Buy. Printed sign mounted inside window. (Other examples of this sign have been seen with copyright 1933, Einson-Freeman Co., Inc, Long Island, N.Y.)
Detail 6: Duffy window detail to right of entrance with American Legion / Legionnaires sign / banner; parking sign; NRA Full Speed Ahead sign.
Detail 7: Duffy window, lower right - newspaper page display, with only the banner text legible: Last Minute Photo; New Plane Menace; Sunday News. While no date can be read, it is likely that this article is about the October 10, 1933 passenger airplane crash that was apparently caused by a bomb aboard it. It is generally considered as the first such crash attributed to a terrorist act and the crime has never been solved.
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Original or Copy: Original
Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2015-03-23
