Alan Mays' photos

A real photo postcard view of a parade, possibly part of an Independence Day celebration, somewhere in the United States. Uncle Sam is marching along with a group of musicians dressed in what look like World War I-era military uniforms, while men in civilian clothes, many carrying flags, follow behind.

A real photo postcard. Date and location unknown.

A flaw in the image on this real photo postcard makes it look like a lightning bolt -- or some other strange light from above -- has singled out this kid, who for some inexplicable reason seems to be sitting alone on a chair in the middle of a field.

Be sure to take a look at the cropped version of this photo to see the charming expressions of the bride, groom, and other cute members of the bridal party. From the Dente Studio, Newport, Pa.

I sense that the bride and groom may have had some second thoughts as they posed for this photo. See also the full version of this photo. From the Dente Studio, Newport, Pa.

A rather macabre message on a National Refining Company "boy with slate" label that advertised En-Ar-Co Motor Oils and White Rose Gasoline.

J. Kohn, the leading clothier and hatter, corner First and Morrison Sts., Portland, Oregon.

Anyone know what the actual name of this music group might be? There was no identifying information on the front or back of the photo.

Now located along the Lincoln Highway (Route 30) at the entrance to the Bedford County Fairgrounds in Bedford, Pa., the Coffee Pot building formerly stood a short distance down the road and housed a small eatery. After years of neglect, the building was restored and moved to its present site in 2004.

The Haines Shoe House mailbox and building, Hellam, York County, Pennsylvania. The building is visible from a nearby highway (Route 30) and is located not far from the Lincoln Highway (Route 462). Mahlon Haines, the self-proclaimed "Shoe Wizard" and owner of a string of shoe stores, invited newlyweds and others to vacation at the house after it was built in 1949.

A fake Holland Dutch windmill on a building full of Pennsylvania Dutch souvenirs in the heart of Amish County, along the Lincoln Highway (Route 30), Ronks, Pa.

An ice cream sundae-shaped building (with a cherry on top!) along the Lincoln Highway (Route 30) in Everett, Bedford County, Pa.

See also Braves Restroom at Wigwam Village Motel No. 2 . I bought these two small and somewhat blurry photos a couple of years ago. They were taken at one of the Wigwam Village Motels designed by Frank Redford, probably motel #2 in Cave City, Kentucky. In this photo (above), a Trading Post sign appears on the small building that's visible between the two teepees. The license plate on the car is 3EP16 but I was unable to determine which state issued the plate. I'm guessing that it was the photographer who left the car door open. The other photo (below) shows the Braves teepee, which was the men's restroom. (Thanks go to john4kc on Flickr for pointing out that the telegraph pole visible near the teepee in the background of this second photo suggests that these photos were probably taken at Wigwam Village Motel #2.)

See also Teepees and Trading Post at Wigwam Village Motel No. 2 . I bought these two small and somewhat blurry photos a couple of years ago. They were taken at one of the Wigwam Village Motels designed by Frank Redford, probably motel #2 in Cave City, Kentucky. (Thanks go to john4kc on Flickr for pointing out that the telegraph pole visible near the teepee in the background of this photo--see above--suggests that this was probably motel #2.) This photo shows the Braves teepee, which was the men's restroom. In the other photo , a Trading Post sign appears on the small building that's visible between the two teepees. The license plate on the car is 3EP16 but I was unable to determine which state issued the plate. I'm guessing that it was the photographer who left the car door open.

A giant Turkey Hill ice cream container and cow stand guard at the entrance to the Turkey Hill Experience, an attraction in Columbia, Pa., where you can find out how ice cream is made.

These stereographic cards are in poor shape even after some touch-up, but they're intriguing--and almost macabre--for their depiction of the perils of fireworks. Captions: "The Glorious 4th of July. No. 1." "The Fifth of July. No. 2." Printed on the front: "American and Foreign Views. Sold only by canvassers. New Educational Series. Stereoscopic views."