Hollywood Memories

Lunch break in the Chance Mine in Silver Valley, Idaho, 1909.

Mexico, circa 1940s: the unearthing of a supposed Olmec artifact known as the “Quintillizos Altar.” What do you notice?

Imagine for a moment you were born in the year 1900. At age 14, World War I breaks out, ending at age 18, leaving 22 million dead.

Shortly after, a global pandemic appears, the Spanish flu, which kills 50 million people. And you survive, at 20 years.

At 29, you survive the global economic crisis that starts with the fall of the New York Stock Exchange, causing inflation, unemployment and hunger.

At age 33, Na**sm comes to power.

When you're 39, World War II starts and ends when you're 45, with 60 million dead.

At 52 years old, the Korean War begins.

When you're 64 years old, the Vietnam War starts and ends when you're 75.

Then a person born in 1985 thinks that their grandparents have no idea how difficult life is, not knowing that they have survived several wars and disasters.

To whistle was a compliment for women once upon a time, 1959.

Children working in coal mines in Pennsylvania, 1911. (Photo by Lewis Hine)😍🤩

Australian stretcher bearer, Corporal Leslie "Bull" Allen of the 2/5th Infantry Battalion, rescues an American soldier during fighting against the Japanese on Mount Tambu, New Guinea. 30 July 1943

After three days of non-stop front-line combat at the Battle of Munda Point during the New Georgia Campaign, a US Marine tank crew takes time to rest. The crew is credited with wiping out 30
Japanese pill boxes during the battle, July 1943

Ghosts' of the Coal Mines
These horses or "pit ponies" were deprived of experiencing the sunlight and fresh air. Instead, they lived in darkness underground, relying on their instincts and the guidance of their human partners, known as conogons. These horses were born, worked, and perished in the dark, enduring strenuous labor. It was not uncommon for a single horse to pull up to eight heavy coal wagons alone. Despite their challenging circumstances, these animals maintained their dignity and were aware of their rights, such as refusing to move if they felt burdened with excessive wagons. They also possessed a remarkable sense of time, knowing when their working day should end and finding their way back to the stables even in darkness. This demanding work of horses in the mines continued until 1972 when technology took over, marking the end of an era. On December 3, 1972, Ruby, the last miner's horse, emerged from the mines in a grand fashion. Accompanied by an orchestra, Ruby, adorned with a flower wreath, was brought out of the darkness, symbolizing the conclusion of the era of mining horses and their connogon partners. To commemorate their shared labor underground, a sculptural composition named "Conogon" was erected within the Museum - Reserve “Red Hill”.

Family on relief living in shanty at city dump." (Photo by Arthur Rothstein for the Resettlement Administration.)
January 1939 - Herrin, Illinois

"Jess Dixon (1886-1963) of Andalusia, Alabama, USA got tired of being stuck in traffic, so he designed and built this flying vehicle in 1936. It is a combination of automobile, helicopter and motorcycle.

It has two large lifting rotors in a single head revolving in opposite directions. It is powered by a 40 HP engine which is aircooled. According to Dixon it is capable of a top speed of 100 mph. The vehicle was designed to allow for the transfer of engine power from the rotor blades to the wheels."

A country girl and her friends munch pie after a morning of hunting, ca. 1910s. Note the dapper horse, wearing a jaunty cap.🤩😍

The interior of the kitchen at Refuge Plantation in Camden County, Georgia, offers a rare glimpse into the domestic heart of plantation life in the post-Civil War South. Captured in a vintage photograph from around 1880 and documented by L.D. Andrew in 1936, the image reveals a functional, humble space where meals were prepared outdoors in a separate building, as was common across plantations. Dominating the room was a large fireplace—so wide it spanned the entire end of the kitchen—serving as the center of culinary activity.

Cooking tools were heavy and built for endurance: thick-lidded iron skillets and cast-iron ovens in various sizes were the primary instruments of the kitchen. According to Minnie Davis, a formerly enslaved woman from Greene County, these tools were used with great skill and care. She recalled watching her mother prepare golden biscuits, tender cakes, and perfectly roasted meats using nothing more than the coals and heat of that vast hearth. Her mother’s batter cakes, Davis said, “would just melt in your mouth,” a tribute not only to the food but to the memory of love and resilience that went into its making.

Beyond its practical purpose, the kitchen stood as a place of tradition and creativity, where enslaved and formerly enslaved women passed down their culinary knowledge through generations. Minnie Davis’s reflections speak to a deeper story—of survival, skill, and pride in the face of hardship. The Refuge Plantation kitchen was more than just a workspace; it was a testament to the endurance and spirit of those who toiled there, transforming simple ingredients into sustenance and comfort for their families.