The years go by, but some things never change. This flashback image to Shelden Avenue shows a slushy spring day in downtown Houghton, reminiscent of the spring weather this year. This image from the Earl Gagnon Collection is undated, but there are many landmarks and vintage cars that might allow an alum to help us identify the year of this photograph! What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
On the left side of the photo is ‘Chuck’s Bar’. In late 1966 or early 1967 I was at the bar with some other senior students. An older guy struck up a conversation with me and I soon learned he was a ‘recruiter’ from IBM. He himself was a former Tech student and Delta Sigma Phi alumni, my fraternity where I had been the President. Long story short, I interviewed with him at the fraternity house the next day and subsequently was hired by IBM’s plant in Kingston, N.Y. I spent 26 years with the company and often think back to that fateful day at Chuck’s Bar. I think the photo was likely a few years earlier.
Judging by the car, Chevrolet-BelAire, I would guess year of this photo was 1961.
The first car is a 61 Chevy. The pickup is a 60 through 66 Chevy. The Texaco station has a sign offering a toy tank ship for 3.99. They offered this in 1961. The meters and light poles are along the curb. When I was there in the 70’s they had all been moved against the buildings to ease snow removal.
I’m going with 61 or spring 62.
Chuck’s Bar is the spot that became Diamond Mike’s in the 70s, yes?
I don’t remember Diamond Mikes but it became Spanky’s in the early 70’s. We helped him remodel to create a second floor. Great Bar at that time.
I would have to agree with Bruce that this is very likely sometime between late Spring 61-February 62 based on his observation of the Toy Tank Ship being sold by Texaco in 1961 and the following:
1) Both Mike and Bruce correctly identified the car in the right foreground to be a 1961 Chevrolet Bel-Air 2-door hardtop. It has a dark license plate, which would have been a 1959 green plate with a silver “61” tab in the upper right corner (almost visible). These expired 3/31/62 and were replaced by the 1962 cream plate with green lettering. There is a possibility of an out-of-state plate but likely WI, MN, OH, and IL all had bright yellow, white and red plates in 61-62.
2) The pickup further in the distance on the right appears to be a 1960-61 Chevrolet with the taller “eyebrow” hood. It is wearing a light colored “pickup” license plate, which were silver with black lettering, expiring 2/28/62.
3) The parked car further ahead of the pickup looks like a 1951-54 Kaiser Henry J – no help here, other than it has a dark license plate.
4) Parked ahead of the Henry J might be another pickup or commercial vehicle with a silver plate but there is not enough detail to be positive.
6) In the center of the photo is a [Kaiser] Willys Jeep station wagon manufactured 1946-64.
5) The car just beyond the crest of the hill is either a 1961 or 1963 full size Ford station wagon. With extreme blow-up of the photo, one can detect the small fins present on the 61 but absent on the 63.