This first one is, I believe, from 1908. I can't remember if I found it online or if it was a postcard someone brought in for the book. Probably the former. Anyway:
Air Ship Flight, Willow Grove Park, 1908. Photo by J. M. Canfield. Click the image for a larger view.
Canfield took a lot of photos of the park, actually.
Haha, I also just learned that the faint thing on the left-hand horizon is the "Sir Hiram Maxim Captive Flying-Machine." Which is what I will now be naming my child.
The "Air Ship" (I want to call it a "dirigible" but some nerd would probably correct me) is so beautiful, isn't it? Very steampunk. Why don't they use those anymore? (Probably because they're always exploding.)
The second is a postcard I bought last weekend (click to view larger):
And the back:
This was taken at Willow Grove on July 4th 1923. This was taken when I was 27 years old.
Today there's a giant indoor shopping mall where Willow Grove Park once stood. Betcha neither of these folks saw that coming.
I love that postcard and wish we knew WHO the people were. The woman doesn't look all that thrilled!
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