MOUNT VERNON — A pair of old photographs from the Knox Time Collection help us celebrate Independence Day this weekend. While these pictures were almost certainly not from a summer parade, their festive feel is appropriate.
The images are not identified in origin, but some clues may lead us closer.
The first hint is the vehicles in these two snapshots, presumably taken during an actual parade. The two decorated vehicles being driven are fairly early model automobiles, as are the cars parked along the street. I’m far from being a car expert, but I would guess that these vehicles date from the late 1910s, or at latest, early 1920s.
They are wildly festooned with flowers, though the surrounding trees show no leaves.
Considering the date suggested by the cars and the time of year suggested by the lack of leaves, plus the high level of celebration, one wonders if these were images from a parade celebrating the end of what was called then The Great War, which later, due to subsequent events, became known as World War One. The war was officially settled with an armistice on Nov. 11, 1918, and the parade could have followed soon after.
Another timeframe clue is the US flag draped over one of the autos. It is the 48-star flag that was put in use in 1912 after New Mexico and Arizona became the 47th and 48th US states.
That flag remained in use until the late 1950s, when Alaska and Hawaii were added to the union. The appearance of this specific flag means the parade took place after 1912, but still within the time frame where these cars would be commonplace, again suggesting a late ‘teens date.
The automobiles are also driving along a brick street with an evident pair of streetcar tracks, which would match very nicely with South Main Street in Mount Vernon during this period. The projecting window turrets are similar to some downtown Mount Vernon buildings, but the one immediately behind the autos is unfamiliar, having the appearance of great age even then, and probably long gone now.
Comparing the two pictures, it appears to be a restaurant called the Eatmor Eatery. I searched the Knox County town directories I could find online for this period, but did not find such an establishment. Restaurants, however, are a notoriously volatile line of business where names change and venues sometimes pop up and go out of business quickly.
If two pictures were taken, there were probably more that might still be floating around somewhere. Anyone with further information, please let us know.
