Birds-eye view of Page, Holt County, Nebraska, 1908 or 1909 (copyrighted 1909).
This panoramic view is from an old post card. The left edge of the picture is facing north-northwest. The right edge is facing east. Be sure to click the map link in the "Additional Information" section on the right side of this page.
Before I play history detective, let me say that this picture must have been taken during the quietest hour of the quietest winter Sunday of the first decade of the 20th century. Not a single person or wagon or "motor car" is visible in the business district. It is the emptiest town I have ever seen in old photographs like this, and I have seen lots of old photographs like this (how I wish I could scan them all!). It reminds me of an abandoned movie set or a town in a scary movie (ha). The only potential person visible in this picture could easily be a blemish instead. However, there are certain qualities to the positioning and the shading of this person/blemish that make me think that it could (remotely possibly) be a woman, and she might possibly be pushing a baby stroller. "She" is on the sidewalk at the left end of the picture, just above the roof of the dark house in the foreground and just to the left of the little white house (run your mouse over the picture to see the note designating "her" exact location). I guess there may also be one or more persons on the same street who are mostly hidden by the back end of the building located above the first "A" in the name "Gallagher" (on the long building in the foreground). They may also be in a "motor car" or a large buggy. This theory is far less certain that the theory of the walking woman. In fact, I'm just using my imagination.
Playing History Detective
1.) The first note on the picture, closet to the right edge,
highlights a house that is also visible in this 2009 Google image (copyright 2009, 100 years later). Study the two structures. You will
see that I am right.
2.) The second note highlights the theoretical person. By the way, the street on which this person is walking is "Main Street," even though it doesn't look like a typical main street.
3.) The third note highlights a house that is visible in this 2009 Google image. Here is a Google image that shows both houses at the same time. Compare them to the 1909 picture.
4.) The fourth note highlights a brick building at the north end of 5th Street, on the east side of the street. Pay attention to the "stair-step" roof line on the nearest side of the building. It is a match for the stair-step roof line of the tallest building in this Google Image. They are both in the same location, so I am convinced that it is the same building in both images.
5.) The fifth and final note highlights the "Edwards & Bradford Lumber Co." at the south end of 5th Street. Once again, note the stair-step roof line on the right side of the building, as well as the shape and size of the building in general. It is the same building that is in this Google image.
Aside from the buildings mentioned above and maybe a few other houses in other parts of town that I have not investigated, practically none of the other buildings in the 1909 picture still exist today.
P.S. I have zero connection to the town of Page. I had never heard of it before scanning this picture.
