Document your hometown: Some time ago a fellow UHH member suggested that we should photographically document our Hometowns as they are today. So many towns are changing rapidly and...

dundeelad Loc: Originally UK. Current West Dundee, Illinois

Some time ago a fellow UHH member suggested that we should photographically document our Hometowns as they are today.
So many towns are changing rapidly and elements of our history are disappearing.
One fellow UHH'r has begun to document his hometown for that very reason. His home is Doncaster, S. Yorks in the UK.
Ian Barber has already shown, in his postings on the UHH site, that he is a master of B/W photography and his "Doncaster Today in Black and White" is further confirming that.
I would urge you to take a look at his site and it may well inspire you to do something similar. We are all recorders of history, and that should not be lost.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/164162063780648/?hc_location=stream

His main website is: www.ianbarberphotography.co.uk

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

That is a good idea. I still look back and my few photos of my hometown and wonder how it changed so much. Things like new Malls under construction (when I was a teen) are now all blooming and ready to be replaced by new ones... A few years ago went back and took photos of my HS. I am glad I did since now it is kind of abandoned and a new one was constructed with modern installations and labs-- also feature students in shorts!. OMG!

HS from the street leading to it.

HS through family home's front porch. Windows have been removed by vandalism and it is full of graffitti

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

My hometown of Ringgold, LA:

Not a big town, only 1 traffic light. Back in the 50's and 60's it was a robust town with a hotel, train depot, and more than 1 merchandise store. Now it has shriveled up and most businesses are gone. I have taken a few photos of some things, but after seeing this thread I may go back and take some more pictures.

"The" light looking down main street

Rocket Funeral Home

Clayborn's Exon gas-food-tabbacci

The Grocery sttore...At the red light.

Signs to everywhere away from here.

A place that is called John's johns, just a few miles toward the big city. Also called the Redneck Rest Area.

Bubu Loc: Out of this solar system

More about downtown Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The church.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

CajonPhotog wrote:

My hometown of Ringgold, LA:

Not a big town, only 1 traffic light. Back in the 50's and 60's it was a robust town with a hotel, train depot, and more than 1 merchandise store. Now it has shriveled up and most businesses are gone. I have taken a few photos of some things, but after seeing this thread I may go back and take some more pictures.

Loved your shots. They bring back some memories, albeit a bit altered by time. Would love to see some shots of Goldonna, although I probably wouldn't recognize it. Last time I was there, we had a pulley'n'pipe well in the front yard and a Chic Sale in the back yard. But we had moved up in the world; corn cobs and catalog pages were a thing of the past. I can almost feel the rock-salt (actually it was chopped bacon rind) whizzing by last time I tried to sample a local watermelon.

CajonPhotog Loc: Shreveport, LA

Mogul wrote:

Loved your shots. They bring back some memories, albeit a bit altered by time. Would love to see some shots of Goldonna, although I probably wouldn't recognize it. Last time I was there, we had a pulley'n'pipe well in the front yard and a Chic Sale in the back yard. But we had moved up in the world; corn cobs and catalog pages were a thing of the past. I can almost feel the rock-salt (actually it was chopped bacon rind) whizzing by last time I tried to sample a local watermelon.

Thanks Mogul for viewing the photos. I didn't think there would be anyone out there that would actually know where Ringgold is. I have never been to Goldonna so I can't show you anything from there. If I do happen to get lost in that direction, I will take a couple of shots for you. Once again, thanks for lopoking and commenting.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

CajonPhotog wrote:

Thanks Mogul for viewing the photos. I didn't think there would be anyone out there that would actually know where Ringgold is. I have never been to Goldonna so I can't show you anything from there. If I do happen to get lost in that direction, I will take a couple of shots for you. Once again, thanks for lopoking and commenting.

Look at your third shot. Now imagine that with a dirt road instead of pavement and a Conoco station/post office/general store with a big tent for traveling preachers and a Friday night movie with everyone sitting on wooden chairs (and half a dozen fathers patrolling the perimeter of the tent with loaded shotguns to make sure that Yankee punk {me} didn't try to slip away with one of their daughters). That's Goldonna. It's on 479 in Natchitoches Parish, right at the northeast arm of Saline Bayou.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

I did this back in 83, when I noticed that the town had changed a whole bunch over the time I was away in the Army. This is North Shields, in the North of England.

I had a paper round out of this shop back in 1971, I think it was.

Just a general look up the road...

Church where I was baptised, way back when.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

That's a good idea, I did post a series a few months back. The real curse of these sort of shots are ruined by endless street furniture here in the UK, similar US scenes are a nightmare of telegraph poles, electricity cables and traffic lights suspended on wires from above, which ruin very interesting shots.
John UK

Shutter Bugger

Great Idea Dundee. I'm taking my camera down memory lane.

May I call you "Crocodile"? :)

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

johneccles wrote:

That's a good idea, I did post a series a few months back. The real curse of these sort of shots are ruined by endless street furniture here in the UK, similar US scenes are a nightmare of telegraph poles, electricity cables and traffic lights suspended on wires from above, which ruin very interesting shots.
John UK

Yeah, and people get in the way too... I shot my series fairly early on a Sunday morning, and managed to keep the shots people-free. I don't have anything against people in general, of course! I just feel if you are documenting the changes in the town, people are just a distraction.

dundeelad Loc: Originally UK. Current West Dundee, Illinois

Shutter Bugger wrote:

Great Idea Dundee. I'm taking my camera down memory lane.

May I call you "Crocodile"? :)

Certainly Shutter Bugger. I am a great fan of Paul Hogan.

Sad to see that he and Linda have split up. Where's a "Donk" when you need one? :D :-D

dundeelad Loc: Originally UK. Current West Dundee, Illinois

To all you guys and gals. Keep taking those shots of your hometown and keep them safe. In times to come they will be an historical record.

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

Downtown Rapid City, SD

Historic building from the 1800's

Old horse trough from horse & buggy days

aerial view from the Alex Johnson Hotel

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

[quote=dundeelad]Some time ago a fellow UHH member suggested that we should photographically document our Hometowns as they are today.
So many towns are changing rapidly and elements of our history are disappering.

I'm from Witt Illinois (population 1m)..........I would love to document it........but there is nothing left too document.......small town usa died when the Andy Griffit show went off the air and Sam Walton invented WallMart. Sad but get over it and move on.