29141. (cabinet photo) U.S. Life-Saving Station, Old Chicago, Lake Michigan c.1905
Welcome to Kenrick A. Claflin & Son
Featured on our web site and in our monthly web catalogues are new and out-of-print books, documents, post cards, photographs, maps and charts, engravings, lithographs, uniforms and insignia, tools, lamps, lens apparatus, equipment and apparatus and much more relating to these heroic services.
We now issue most of our catalogues on line rather than by mail. This allows us to issue more catalogues and feature more items, with better photos and descriptions. Let us know your email address and we will email you monthly as our catalogues are posted.
Type in your search word. After hitting Enter you will automatically be brought back to this page. Scroll down to this spot to see the results of search. Pages containing your search word will be listed. You will be allowed to click on the pages found. When on each page, Windows Explorer will allow you to use Ctrl + F to bring up a search box for that page. Type in your search word again and hit “Enter”. You will be taken to that item.
29141. (cabinet photo) U.S. Life-Saving Station, Old Chicago, Lake Michigan c.1905
29141. (cabinet photo) U.S. Life-Saving Station, Old Chicago, Lake Michigan c.1905. One of the largest Life-Saving Service cabinet views that I have yet had, this striking piece measures a full 10” x 13 3/8” on its original 12” x 16” mount and provides an extremely rare view of this large “modern” life-saving station. The first Chicago station was established in 1877-78. opened as part of the 10th District, as Life Saving Station #7. The Chicago station was located on the south side of the Chicago River just inside the entrance on a 48ft X 77ft plot of land. Over time it was determined that the station was far too small for the eight man crew assigned. Soon officials were calling for a first class station to be built to house a full crew of life savers for such an important city. Eventually Lt J. E. Reinburg of the Chicago Life-Saving Service District Office began to make plans for the new station. However, it wasn’t until 1902 that they received a set of proposed plans and not until 1905 that the station was built and actually ready to be moved into. The original station continued to used to house equipment and apparatus until 1925, when station crew razed the old station, saving anything of use including nails to build a new storage building. The photo itself is large and quite detailed. Included in this unusually close view are a number of scenes, each of which would make a fine photo. First is a motor yacht, apparently used by the District Inspector or station crew for inspections or to aid in search and rescue. The second view includes the station with its four boat ramps. A crew of eight men stands with one surfboat, while other boats can be seen on the rails. In the foreground is a motor lifeboat with both sails up. Image is clear and close, just a bit of soiling and provides an unprecedented view. The mount has had wear, with some bent edges, but by and large the photo itself is unaffected. This is an exceptionally rare view, taken near the opening of this unusual station, soon after the station was completed in 1905. It is by far the largest of the day that I have yet seen and is truly a museum piece. (VG-). $325.