Maplewood History: Even More Vintage Photos from the Kalb/Fischer Collection

By
Doug Houser
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4
70
It was definitely a livlier street scape when all of the storefronts were set up to lure pedestrians.

All of the images shown is this post unless otherwise noted are courtesy of Maplewood history preservationist, Martin Fischer.

Here we have a nice early view of the building. The vehicle is very early, possibly a Model T Ford judging by some of the other photos. Most interesting to me was the sign advertising the Kalb's as Electragists. that sent me to the dictionary.
Here we have a nice early view of the building. The vehicle is very early, possibly a Model T Ford judging by some of the other photos. Most interesting to me was the sign advertising the Kalb’s as Electragists. That sent me to the dictionary.
Well now we know they didn't make it up. The term must have fallen from favor in later years. Too bad. We have archaeologists and psychologists. I could have been a historigist.
Well now we know they didn’t make it up. The term must have fallen from favor in later years. Too bad. We have archaeologists and psychologists. I could have been a historigist.
Another early shot showing a couple of the company vehicles. that they were manufacturers of electrical items is very interesting. I'll have more on that later. The house in the rear is still there today. it is a very early house that was moved to this location from its former spot about where the Maplewood bicycle shop is now located.
Another early shot showing a couple of the company vehicles. That they were manufacturers of electrical items is very interesting. I’ll have more on that later. The house in the rear is still there today. It is a very early house that was moved to this location from its former spot about where the Maplewood Bicycle Shop is now located.
Sale days.
Sale days.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Baby buggys aligned on Ellis Ave. Notice the rural character of Big Bend Blvd. I wonder if it was called a boulevard then?
Baby buggys aligned on Ellis Ave. Notice the rural character of Big Bend Blvd. I wonder if it was called a boulevard then?
You have to give R.T.Kalb credit. He definitely worked his business.
You have to give R.T.Kalb credit. He definitely worked his business. The truck is probably 1930 ish.
It was definitely a livlier street scape when all of the storefronts were set up to lure pedestrians.
It was definitely a livelier streetscape when all of the storefronts were set up to lure pedestrians.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Electragist? It sounds so natural — and yet so wrong. 🙂 Why not electricist or electricalist, I wonder? Anyhow I’m grateful for the look at these photos. The one with the line of parked baby buggies is an especially fine and unexpected prize.

    • Electragist sounds funny to me. It was so new in 1922 when the Electragist Journal above was published that they included the definitions of the “new words” in their masthead. I hope they weren’t too disappointed when they didn’t catch on. They might have suspected that their “Electragic – adjective relating to the business” has a sort of negative feel to it. The baby buggies are interesting. There must have been a post WWI baby boom.

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