Pictures, 1912, Mayor's office & others
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The Way We Worked
In June of 1912, judging by the date on several wall
calendars, a photographer (presumably one) visited var-
ious Dubuque business places and recorded his impres-
sions of townspeople at work. The following scenes,
selected from many by this unknown artist, are a richly-
detailed documentation of how our ancestors worked in a
medium-sized midwestern city during the years prior to
the outbreak of World War I.
With a population of 38,494 in 1910, Dubuque was
a bustling commercial and industrial center. A publicity
brochure of the period, after listing the many industries
of the community - from mattress makers to egg pack-
ers - concludes facetiously that "the man who can't
land and hold a job in Dubuque should pick blossoms
from century plants for a living."
Dubuque residents began the month of June 1912
preparing for a visit of a United States Army provisional
infantry division then on summer maneuvers to test new
equipment - an auto truck. An insurrection in Cuba,
airplane flights and auto accidents were much in the
news, as were details of, first, the turbulent Republican
convention in Chicago with Taft selected over Teddy
Roosevelt and, later, the Democratic convention in Balti-
more where Woodrow Wilson was nominated.
The shock of the Villisca murders in southwest Iowa
on June 9 intruded momentarily upon the happy round
of commencement exercises and school picnics. By the
month's end, hot weather had families anticipating Fourth
of July outings on the Mississippi. At least one news-
paper editorial issued a plea for sanity in the use of fire-
works during the forthcoming holiday celebration: "It
might be called 'Incendiaries' Day'; for on that day the
fi re-fiend runs riot."
Amidst the ordinary current of daily life, these Dubu-
que working people paused long enough before the
camera lens and flash powder to have their activities
documented for future inspection. All photographs have
been obtained from glass negatives belonging to the
Dubuque County Historical Society and have been re-
produced with its permission.
The office of the Dubuque mayor. A gas fixture converted to electricity adorns the quarters of M.E. (Mike) Lyons. mayor of Dubuque in
1912. Lyons, seen in his inner office at the present City Hall at 13th and Central. operated a saloon in the First Ward. During June.
Lyons urged a Friday afternoon closing of schools and businesses so that citizens could witness the maneuvers of a United States Army
infantry regiment encamped near the city. Mayor Lyons proclaimed this "an excellent chance for education of both old and young in
love of country and patriotism."
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SOnd'"' nUN"" Mo,", HMpil.t. B'Io'" W,dd W" I. ,u"lu, w", on' 01 tho ,- p..I,,,io",1 ..'"",. yo,n, worn.n oo,ld IolI,w.]
" hol,""d ,hallhi> i> . ,..up " ""dn,t n'''"' nl, tho ",,,In.] M,,"y Hoop'lol bulldln, whIoh w"' ,,,,d 10" y'''' On lun' 15, 1912.
. _ ~..~ ~~ 1" u",mp women receiving diplomas of graduation from the training class of Mercy HospitaL In the audit;
, v,l1~~~" ~nap" formed a beautiful decoration for the stage."
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Wells Fargo Office, 687 Main St. Pinups. pigeonholes and a paste bottle are features of this office. An early type of American Express.
Wells Fargo carried passengers. freight and mail on a network of stage routes in the West. By the time of this picture. stage lines were a
thing of the past and the men shown here were probably handling shipping details of freighted items for Dubuque residents and busi-
nesses. The building which housed this office was razed by urban renewal.
The Lorenz Laundry, 1896 Jackson St. "Your collars shaped without breaking them." proclaimed an ad for this firm. It was owned by
William Lorenz. holdin~ the horses at left; on the stairway is his wife. Regina. and at right in the background is the Lorenz home. Perhaps
some of the freshly laundered clothes eventually attired Dubuque residents stepping out for an evening at the Airdome ("Bring your
own ~ushion") to see "Ocean to Ocean" by the Garside Stock Company or for a night of vaudeville at the Union Park Theatre.
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William W, Wormood Jeweler. 551 Main St. William Wormood is remembered as a jeweler who once engraved the Lord's Prayer on a $1
gold piece. An iron grate. an ad for the Edison phonograph. a case full of pocket watches. an ornate grandfather's clock and a gas chan-
delier are some of the distinguishing features of this downtown business establishment.
The keg wash house of the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Co,. 30th and Jackson. "Nothing fits in so well with your easy chair and a good
cigar as a bottle of Banquet Beer" - so read this company's advertisement in the "Dubuque Telegraph Herald" for June 7. At one time
there were nine breweries operating in the city. The Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company resulted from a merger of four indepen-
dent breweries and built a magnificent structure in 1895, covering nearly three acres. It is rumored by old-timers that for a while during
Prohibition. AI~Capone had operations in Dubuque, shipping liquor in milk cans.
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An unidentified bakery, Racks of cookies. cake pans and tubs of dough - some of the appurtenances of a local bakery. There were ample
occasions for baked goods during that June 64 years ago. There were school picnics as classes let out for the summer, conventions in
the city by the Iowa Liquor Dealers' Association and the Iowa Spanish-American War veterans and, naturally, June weddings.
Ellis Millinery Co,. 611 Main St.. W,F, Aird. owner. "Hats milady?" In the second decade of this century. the well-dressed woman wore
a hat in public, often on!1. elaborately trimmed in ribbons and feathers. During the summer of 1912, Roshek Bros. had this special
enticement for Dubuque ladies: "Genuine Panama Hats. In all the new shapes: the knowing women would expect to pay $15.00 for them:
but you get them here tomorrow for-$8.25."
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The Meat Market of Joe Diebold, 1027 Rhomberg Ave. According to an old-timer. the "finest sausage and fresh meat in the city" could be
obtained at the shop of Joe Diebold. who died in 1975 at the age of 95. In June of 1912. owners of retail meat markets and groceries
advised customers that to shorten long working hours their establishments would close on Thursday afternoons for the summer months.
Some prices per pound were: bacon. sugar cured by side or half side. '16e; fresh pork sausage, 10e and choice boneless sirloin steak. 14c.
With Joe Diebold and seated in front of the counter is an unidentified city detective.
An unidentified shop. Ice-cream parlor tables and chairs. trays of sweets behind glass. straw hats for 10Q: and the latest song hits strung
on a wire mark this store's interior. At Harger and Blish. sheet music sold for 1Q:. 5Q:, and 10Q:. Popular songs of the year included "Billy,"
"My Melancholy Baby." "Row. Row. Row." and "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" by a young man named Irving Berlin.
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The Meat Market of Joe Diebold, 1027 Rhomberg Ave. According to an old-timer. the "finest sausage and fresh meat in the city" could be
obtained at the shop of Joe Diebold. who died in 1975 at the age of 95. In June of 1912. owners of retail meat markets and groceries
advised customers that to shorten long working hours their establishments would close on Thursday afternoons for the summer months.
Some prices per pound were: bacon. sugar cured by side or half side, 16l1:; fresh pork sausage, 10e and choice boneless sirloin steak, 14l1:.
With Joe Diebold and seated in front of the counter is an unidentified city detective.
An unidentified shop. Ice-cream parlor tables and chairs. trays of sweets behind glass. straw hats for lOll: and the latest song hits strung
on a wire mark this store's interior. At Harger and Blish, sheet music sold for H. 5l1:, and 'we. Popular songs of the year included "Billy."
"My Melancholy Baby," "Row. Row. Row," and "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" by a young man named Irving Berlin.
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Lenz Monument Co., 1672 Central Avenue. This business still operates at the same location, Obituaries for the month of June included
several pioneer settlers of Dubuque, The uncertainty of life may have been very much in people's minds -two months previous in April
the White Star liner "Titantic" had gone down with 1500 lives lost. and on June 11 the state and nation were shocked by the violent
murder of eight people at ViIlisca in southwest Iowa, a crime that remains unsolved to this day,
The Mayerle Saloon in the American Hotel. Until mid-month. June had been unusually cool with temperatures below normal. However,
later on a hot spell of readings In the 80s had the newspapers asking people if they remembered the three weeks of below-zero weather
the previous winter, The power company advertised the latest cooling convenience - the portable electric fan, Most likely. on thoir way
home in the stifling heat, some gentlemen stopped for a cigar and a cold beer at the Mayorlo Saloon at 400 Central Avonuo,
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sWay We Worked
ging by the date on several wall
er (presumably one) visited var-
laces and recorded his impres-
work. The following scenes,
is unknown artist, are a richly-
how our ancestors worked in a
city during the years prior to
8,494 in 1910, Dubuque was
d industrial center. A publicity
r listing the many industries
ttress makers to egg pack-
that "the man who can't
que should pick blossoms
g."
the month of June 1912
ed States Army provisional
mer maneuvers to test new
ck. An insurrection in Cuba,
accidents were much in the
news, as were details of, first, the turbulent Republican
convention in Chicago with Taft sele.cted over Teddy
Roosevelt and, later, the Democratic convention in Balti-
more where Woodrow Wilson was nominated.
The shock of the Villisca murders in southwest Iowa
on June 9 intruded momentarily upon the happy round
of commencement exercises and school picnics. By the
month's end, hot weather had families anticipating Fourth
of July outings on the Mississippi. At .Ieast one news-
paper editorial issued a plea for sanity in the use of fire-
works during the forthcoming holiday celebration: "It
might be called 'Incendiaries' Day'; for on that day the
fire-fiend runs riot."
Amidst the ordinary current of daily I.ife,. these Dubu-
que working people paused long enough . before the
camera lens and flash powder to have their activities
documented for future inspection. All photographs have
been obtained from glass negatives belonging to the
Dubuque County Historical Society and have ... been. re-
produced with its permission.
ue mayor. A gas fixture converted to electricity adorns the quarters of M.E. (Mike)
office at the present City Hall at 13th and Central. operated a saloon in
g of schools and businesses so that citizens could witness the maneuvers
e city. Mayor Lyons proclaimed this "an excellent chance for education
'@JtJ
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The Way We Worked
In June of 1912, judging by the date on several wall
calendars, a photographer (presumably one) visited var-
ious Dubuque business places and recorded his impres-
sions of townspeople at work. The following scenes,
selected from many by this unknown artist, are a richly-
detailed documentation of how our ancestors worked in a
medium-sized midwestern city during the years prior to
the outbreak of World War I.
With a population of 38,494 in 1910, Dubuque was
a bustling commercial and industrial center. A publicity
brochure of the period, after listing the many industries
of the community - from mattress makers to egg pack-
ers - concludes facetiously that "the man who can't
land and hold a job in Dubuque should pick blossoms
from century plants for a living."
Dubuque residents began the month of June 1912
preparing for a visit of a United States Army provisional
infantry division then on summer maneuvers to test new
equipment - an auto truck. An insurrection in Cuba,
airplane flights and auto accidents were much in the
news, as were details of, first, the turbulent Republican
convention in Chicago with Taft selected over Teddy
Roosevelt and, later, the Democratic convention in Balti-
more where Woodrow Wilson was nominated.
The shock of the Villisca murders in southwest Iowa
on June 9 intruded momentarily upon the happy round
of commencement exercises and school picnics. By the
month's end, hot weather had families anticipating Fourth
of July outings on the MisSissippi. At least one news-
paper editorial issued a plea for sanity in the use of fire-
works during the forthcoming holiday celebration: "It
might be called 'Incendiaries' Day'; for on that day the
fire-fiend runs riot."
Amidst the ordinary current of daily life, these Dubu-
que working people paused long enough before the
camera lens and flash powder to have their activities
documented for future inspection. All photographs have
been obtained from glass negatives belonging to the
Dubuque County Historical Society and have been re-
produced with its permission.
The office of the Dubuque mayor. A gas fixture converted to electricity adorns the quarters of M.E. (Mike) Lyons. mayor of Dubuque in
1912. Lyons. seen in his inner office at the present City Hall at 13th and Central. operated a saloon in the First Ward. During June,
Lyons urged a Fri schools and businesses so that citizens could witness the maneuvers of a United States Army
infantry regiment ty. Mayor Lyons proclaimed this "an excellent chance for education of both old and young in
love of country an patriotism."
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William W. Wormood Jeweler, 551 Main St. William Wormood is remembered as a jeweler who
gold piece. An iron grate, an ad for the Edison phonograph, a case full of pocket watches, an ornat
delier are some of the distinguishing features of this downtown business establishment.
The keg wash house of the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Co., 30th and Jackson. "Nothing fits in
cigar as a bottle of Banquet Beer" - so read this company's advertisement in the "Dubuque
there were nine breweries operating in the city. The Dubuque Brewing and Malting Companyr
dent breweries and built a magnificent structure in 1895. covering nearly three acres. It is rumore
Prohibition, AI Capone had operations in Dubuque. shipping liquor in milk oans.
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d tubs of dough-some of the appurtenanCesofalooalbakery.There were ample
o. There were sohool picnics as o1asses.letOllt forthe summer, conventions in
e Iowa Spanish-American War veterans and. naturally, June weddings.
ats milady?" In the second decade of this century,.the well-dressed woman wore
bans and feathers, During thesummerof1912,Roshek Bros. had thisspectal
, In all the new shapes: the knOWing women would expect to. pay $15.00for them;
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The Meat MlU'ket of Joe Diebold, 1027 RhombergAve. According to an old-timer, the "finest sausage and fresh meat in the city" could be
obtained at the shop of Joe Diebold. who died in 1975 at the age of 95. In June of 1912. owners of retail meat markets and groceries
advised customers that to shorten long working hours their establishments would close on Thursday afternoons for the summer months.
Some prices per pound were: bacon, sugar cured by side or half side. l6e; fresh pork sausage. 10e and choice boneless sirloin steak, l4e.
With Joe Diebold and seated in front of the counter is an unidentified city detective.
An unidentified shop. Ice-cream parlor tables and chairs, trays of sweets behind glass, straw hats for 10e and the latest song hits strung
onawire mark this store's interior. At Harger and Blish, sheet music sold for le, 5e, and 10e. Popular songs of the year included "Billy,"
"My Melancholy Baby," "Row. Row. Row," and "When the Midnight Chao-Chao Leaves for Alabam'" by a young man named Irving Berlin.
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