Window Views - from First Saturday

1929 Ford Model A rear window

1930 Ford Model A windows

Crystal and china in shop window

Mugs in a window

Winter scene

My World Tuesday - First Saturday

First Saturday in Frederick brings out the performers and crowds. This month the theme was international. I strolled through part of the 15 blocks of entertainment and took a few shots. The band above was good, a little jazz and a little country music while I was in listening distance.

These three in costume were strolling down the street.

People and flags on Patrick Street

Hard Swimmin' Fish were setting up to play

One of Frederick's international restaurants

The Everedy Teddy was passing out discount coupons to the stores in

Everedy Square and Shab Row.

Historic Bridges - Long gone bridges

Near: old Potomac bridge; Far: old Shenandoah bridge

The history of Harpers Ferry has been intertwined with crossing the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers ever since Robert Harper began operating his ferry there in the mid 1700's. In 1824 a timber bridge was built across the Potomac replacing the ferry. In 1834 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Sandy Hook. In 1836 the B&O Viaduct was completed crossing the Potomac to Harpers Ferry and in 1837 the Winchester and Potomac Railroad extended rail transportation from Harpers Ferry to Winchester. A highway and footbridge was also built across the mouth of the Shenandoah, connecting Harpers Ferry to Virginia east of the river. These early bridges were destroyed during the Civil War, rebuilt and later destroyed by floods. The major stone supports are all that remain.

Today there are two railroad bridges crossing the Potomac from Maryland to Harpers Ferry. In 1894, a Platt truss and plate iron span bridge was built by the B&O railroad. There is also a footpath on this bridge for the Appalachian Trail crossing. In 1931, a second B&O bridge (deck plate girder) was built, connecting to Harpers Ferry further upstream. This latter bridge eliminated a sharp curve for the mainline track. Both the B&O railroad and the Winchester & Potomac Railroad are now part of CSX Transportation. See Google maps for an aerial view of these bridges.

US Route 340 highway crosses the Potomac downstream from the town into Virginia, follows the river into West Virginia and crosses the Shenandoah upstream from the town. The US Route 340 bridge crossing the Potomac can be seen in the distance in last image.

Old Potomac bridge seen from the point

(1894 bridge in background)

Old Shenandoah bridge seen from the point

View of Shenandoah bridge from upstream

Odd Shots - Flying tractor!

No, just a lawn tractor with the engine removed so it becomes a mailbox for one of the big tractor places in Frederick County.

To see more Odd Shots, start at Katney's Kaboodle and follow the links.


Kaye was close, but the "crate" has wheels and is an ordinary grocery store shopping cart.

PhotoHunt - Orange Lilies

Two shots of our orange lilies from last June.

Sky Watch Friday - Morning skies

Morning shadows - 8:05 looking eastsoutheast

These three images were taken on August 30 in a 4 minute span. The sky gives us a different view in all directions.

Light fog - 8:06 looking southsoutheast

Clear blue sky - 8:09 looking west

Window Views - Bay windows

Back in June I posted some bay windows in a residential neighbor hood of Frederick. This week I show you some bay windows in the historic section of downtown. Bay windows were popular in the late 1800's and appear in cities across the US. Many of the buildings (residences and businesses) in the historic district have bays similar to these.