Before McDonalds, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target there were communities today the heartbeat is dead

The way it was: Rare colour photographs of Main Street in the 1940s capture the cafes, general stores and corner shops that were the heartbeat of small town America

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

A nostalgic collection of photographs has offered a fascinating glimpse of the American Main Street in the early 1940s.

As the nation recovered from the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and prepared for World War II, Main Street was a place where communities came together and the entrepreneurial spirit was able to flourish.

The romantic pictures, from a range of rare 1930s and 1940s shots on the Library Of Congress' Flickr gallery of vivid color photography, show family-run stores and cafes lining dusty suburban streets.

Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska in 1942

Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska in 1942

They capture old-fashioned cars parked out front bars, drug stores and general stores and the town's residents going about their daily lives, which often centred around the iconic hub.

 

The photographs show some of America's most loved brands, including Coca Cola, Rice Krispies and 7UP, advertised in shop windows, and fresh produce including oranges and potatoes selling for as little as 1c.

Before there was a Walmart on every corner and suburban malls inhabited most of the nations cities and towns, these photographs show Main Street as it always was, and in some places still is -- the heartbeat of small town America.

Boys looking at store window display of toys at Christmas time in either 1941 or 1942

Boys looking at store window display of toys at Christmas time in either 1941 or 1942

Shulman's Market

Shulman's Market

Cars and American flags line the main street of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1942

Cars and American flags line the main street of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1942

Main Street at the mouth of Willow Creek Canyon, Creede, Colorado, in December 1942

Main Street at the mouth of Willow Creek Canyon, Creede, Colorado, in December 1942

A store in Natchez, Mississippi, advertises Coca-Cola, Orange-Crush, Royal Crown, Double Cola, and Dr Pepper

A store in Natchez, Mississippi, advertises Coca-Cola, Orange-Crush, Royal Crown, Double Cola, and Dr Pepper

Farmers and townspeople gather outside 'Tyler's Place' on Court day in, Campton, Kentucky around 1940

Farmers and townspeople gather outside 'Tyler's Place' on Court day in, Campton, Kentucky around 1940

A collection of photos from circa the 1940's America collection on the Library of Congress Flickr page

A collection of photos from circa the 1940's America collection on the Library of Congress Flickr page

On the main street of Cascade, Idaho, in July 1941

On the main street of Cascade, Idaho, in July 1941

A street corner in Brockton, Massachusetts, in January 1941

A street corner in Brockton, Massachusetts, in January 1941

Grand Grocery Co., Lincoln, Nebraska in 1942 shows Rice Krispies cereal boxes in window below oranges

Grand Grocery Co., Lincoln, Nebraska in 1942 shows Rice Krispies cereal boxes in window below oranges

Grocery store operated by C.A. Long, Main and High streets, Mount Orab, Ohio, in either 1942 or 1943

Grocery store operated by C.A. Long, Main and High streets, Mount Orab, Ohio, in either 1942 or 1943

Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico, in October 1940

Main Street, Pie Town, New Mexico, in October 1940

Laundry, barbershop and stores, Washington, D.C. between 1941 and 1942

Laundry, barbershop and stores, Washington, D.C. between 1941 and 1942

Filling station and garage at Pie Town, New Mexico, in October 1940

Filling station and garage at Pie Town, New Mexico, in October 1940



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2197244/Main-Street-40s-Rar... 
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Views: 871

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Draconian Show

Sometimes I talk to my invisible friend, IkeHe comes from another dimension when magnetic fields…See More
1 hour ago
tjdavis posted a blog post
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Monday
Doc Vega favorited tjdavis's photo
Sunday
Doc Vega commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Game Night

"Ha! Good one!"
Sunday
Doc Vega commented on FREEDOMROX's blog post MRNA VACCINES: Question
"Listen man I know where you're at but back in October of 2023 thru December of 2023 for months…"
Sunday
tjdavis posted a video

Architecton | Official Trailer HD | A24

SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/A24subscribeWritten and directed by Victor Kossakovsky and starring Michele De Lucchi. ARCHITECTON – Coming Soon RELEASE DATE: Comin...
Sunday
tjdavis posted photos
Sunday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Sunday
Burbia posted a video

Europe Will Not Survive

The hubris.All things Archaix at www.archaix.com
Sunday
FREEDOMROX posted a video
Jun 21
Burbia commented on tjdavis's blog post Track AIPAC
Jun 20
rlionhearted_3 commented on Doc Vega's blog post Latest Details on Missile Exchanges Between Iran and Israel
"May get really ugly over there?"
Jun 20
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Latest Details on Missile Exchanges Between Iran and Israel

Latest information about the air attacks between Israel and Iran as the US moves another carrier…See More
Jun 19
tjdavis favorited Less Prone's video
Jun 19
tjdavis posted a blog post
Jun 19
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"Some interesting information has come to light ( from the renaissance period ) which explains that…"
Jun 19
Sandy posted a video
Jun 19

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted