This is how old school photos usually look. Look at the straight lines. The excellent posture. The well-behaved children.
Now look at this 1912 photo (below) at the same building, the Edina School, which was located near the site of today's City Hall. Note the chaos. The goofy faces. The laughter.
I love it. Although most school photos from this era show a somber group of children, this one "is quite fun as there are a lot of antics going on with the group," Carol Hansen noted when she emailed me the photo. I couldn't have put it better myself.
As I zoom in closer it looks like this group is boys only. I can see a couple of girls at the far right, most likely waiting their turn for a photo. Although this photo was taken one hundred years ago, the boys act no different than those today who are asked to pose for a group photo. (Yes, I have a son and three brothers. I know from personal experience.)
The top row (above photo) far right is Phil Bailey, Carol's uncle. Below him in the white hat and scarf is her uncle Harry Hansen. The bottom row (below photo), far right in dark hat and clothes is her father Ernie Hansen.
The top row (above photo) far right is Phil Bailey, Carol's uncle. Below him in the white hat and scarf is her uncle Harry Hansen. The bottom row (below photo), far right in dark hat and clothes is her father Ernie Hansen.
These boys grew up and stayed in Edina. "All three men were part of the volunteer fire department and eventually part of the Fire Department after it was full time," Carol writes. "I guess it was the family business after farming."
They are somewhere in this group photo of Edina's first volunteer fire department. Don't they still look like a fun group of guys?
They are somewhere in this group photo of Edina's first volunteer fire department. Don't they still look like a fun group of guys?
If you can help identify anyone in this photo, please email me or comment on this post.
Please note: I know you careful readers will probably have noticed that the first two photos look like they're taken at different buildings. The windows are different, and the first building is brick and the second is stucco. The Edina School, built in 1888, was remodeled several time to accommodate the ever-growing population of the brand-new village. The "yellow brick" school became the gray stucco school, and eventually lost its bell tower. Two new schools -- Morningside and Wooddale -- were built in 1924 to replace the overcrowded Edina School.
Please note: I know you careful readers will probably have noticed that the first two photos look like they're taken at different buildings. The windows are different, and the first building is brick and the second is stucco. The Edina School, built in 1888, was remodeled several time to accommodate the ever-growing population of the brand-new village. The "yellow brick" school became the gray stucco school, and eventually lost its bell tower. Two new schools -- Morningside and Wooddale -- were built in 1924 to replace the overcrowded Edina School.
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