Charlotte Buyer photograph collection

 Collection – Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-0392

Collection Organization

The Charlotte Buyer Collection consists of sixty-two glass plate negatives, twenty-seven safety film negatives, and thirteen original prints. Every negative is accompanied by a contact print made by the Center for Archival Collections for research use.

The photographs depict street scenes, steam locomotives and cabooses, portraits, festivals, including the Columbus Day Parade of 1892, ex-President Hayes' visit in the 1890s and numerous street fairs. Also depicted are downtown Bellevue buildings and aerial views of the city. All of these photographs were taken of scenes and events in and around the city and date from the 1870s to the 1960s.

One of the major strengths of this collection is the number of well-preserved and clear photographs of the downtown area of Bellevue, Ohio. Several photographs of the same buildings exist which were taken at different times throughout the development of the city. One can easily identify many of the buildings from the earliest scenes through to the present. Many of these structures still exist in the city and can be seen there today (1985).

Some rather unique photographs are included in the collection. Number seventy-nine is a photograph of Theodore Roosevelt giving a campaign speech in May 1912. Photograph number seventy is of "The Largest Buffalo (hide) in the World," and dates back to 1915.

This collection is in excellent condition. The negatives, prints, contact prints, and any existing copy negatives are stored in separate envelopes within their own folder. The location and identification numbers are marked in the left-hand corner of the folder, on the negative envelope, and on the back of the print. Each item of the same subject will bear the same number of its storage folder. Hence, file folder number one contains glass plate negative number one, contact print number one and copy negative number one. These numbers are used consecutively throughout the entire collection and are not re-numbered by storage box.

The photographs are arranged according to subject, and not chronologically, except for a group of stereo-view glass plate negatives which were grouped by format instead of subject, because of their uniqueness.

Trains

 Subject – Box 1

Steam locomotive #165 of the New York Central & St. Louis Railroad with two crew members posing in foreground, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 1

3.5" x 5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Steam locomotive, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 2

3.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Steam locomotive and coal tender with five crew members posing in foreground, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 3

3.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Steam locomotive and coal tender with two crew members posing in foreground in railroad yard, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 4

3.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Steam locomotive #757 with coal tender; NYC & St. Louis RR (Nickel Plate Road), circa 1940s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 5

3.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1940s

New York, Chicago & St. Louis RR wooden caboose #1005 with four crew members posing in foreground, undated

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 6

3.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

New York, Chicago & St. Louis RR wooden caboose #1036 with three crew members posing in foreground (two are holding dinner baskets), circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 7

3.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Portraits

 Subject – Box 1

Portrait of old man wearing a stove pipe hat, holding a cane and a string of fish, circa 1870s?

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 8

3" x 4.25" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s?

Portrait of an elderly woman in a dress sitting in an armchair, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 9

3" x 4.25" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Portrait of a middle-aged woman in a dress sitting at an armchair, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 10

3" x 4.25" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Portrait of 33 members of the Bellevue Business Men's Club posing on sidewalk outside of the Bourdette Hotel on Main Street, 1910

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 11

8" x 10" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1910

Portrait of 12 men dressed in overcoats and capes sitting and standing, circa 1870s?

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 12

8" x 10" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s?

Portrait of the Railroad YMCA football team of 1912 in front of the YMCA house, 1912

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 13

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1912

Parades and Festivals

 Subject – Box 1

Columbus Day Parade--Brass band marching down Main Street in front of the Union block at square facing NE, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 14

3" x 4" safety film negative (1); 3.5" x 4.5" original print (1); 5" x 7" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--Brass band and floats on East Main Street, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 15

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--School Children marching in parade-- "C & D Grammar Schools" on East Main Street, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 16

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--parade and floats on East Main Street, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 17

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--parade on East Main Street taken from second story window w/ American flag in foreground, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 18

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--floats and crowd on East Main Street, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 19

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--"C & D Grammar School" children marching, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 20

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Columbus Day Parade--Brass band forming in front of the Wright Bank, October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 21

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

Parade beginning--Memorial Day? Marching into town from west Main, circa 1900

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 22

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1900

Brass band playing street in front of the Wright Bank (See #21), October 21, 1892

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 23

5" x 8" glass plate negative (2); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: October 21, 1892

R. B. Hayes' visit--parade crowd facing Main Street; arch of evergreens over street, circa 1890s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 24

4" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1890s

Street fair--squash and pumpkins on tables in street in front of A. P. Hale Drug Store on East Main Street, circa 1909

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 25

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1909

Street fair--apples, jams and ciders on tables in street in front of the Mayne House Hotel, East Main Street, circa 1909

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 26

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1909

Street fair--apples stacked on tables in street in front of Cook's clothing store, East Main Street, circa 1909

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 27

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1909

Street fair--vegetables and toy houses on tables in street in front of the Main Street block, circa 1909

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 28

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1909

Street fair--squash and toy houses on tables in street in front of the E. A. Stranahan store, circa 1909

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 29

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1909

The Michigan State Fireman's Tournament--Rube Miller climbing ladder in contest in street in front of the city hall building, August 25, 1884

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 30

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: August 25, 1884

Hot air balloon in street with large crowd in wagons surrounding it, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 31

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

House wagon team in street at the Fireman's Tournament (see #30), August 25, 1884

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 32

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: August 25, 1884

Hot air balloon in street with crowd (See #31), circa 1880s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 33

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Brass band marching in parade on Main Street (See #24), circa 1890s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 34

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1890s

Outdoor stage with crowd gathered in front, in street near the H. V. Stone furniture store on Main Street, circa 1915

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 35

5" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1915

Bellevue High School band marching down Main Street at opening of new railroad "subway, circa 1950s?

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 36

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s?

Bellevue High School band marching down Main Street at opening of new railroad "subway, circa 1950s?

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 37

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s?

Bellevue Boosters' car decorated with flowers for parade; in front of Immaculate Conception School, circa 1950s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 38

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s

Nine State Highway Patrolmen on motorcycles leading "subway" parade down Main Street, circa 1950s?

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 39

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s?

Ribbon cutting ceremony for new railroad "subway" on Main Street, circa 1950s?

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 40

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s?

Dedication ceremony at opening of new railroad "subway" on Main Street, circa 1950s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 41

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s

Stereoviews--Miscellaneous

 Subject – Multiple Containers

H. M. Sinclair Building on Main Street--the first bank in Bellevue, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 42

4" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Great Delivery of Champion Harvesters (see #50); Brass band on wagon and man on horse-drawn harvester in street, May 4, 1872

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 43

4" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: May 4, 1872

Allen and Bourdette Hotels on dirt Main Street, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 44

4" x 6" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Biebricker Building on Main Street with horse tied up in front, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 1, Folder: 45

4" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Union Public School house, 1904

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 1

4" x 6" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1904

Allen Hotel; Bayr & Eichorn store; 1st National Bank, 1871

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 2

4" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1871

Church outside of Bellevue with white picket fence, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 3

4" x 7" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Exchange Hotel on Main Street, 1882

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 4

4" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1) (broken, half missing); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1882

Views of Downtown Bellevue--streets and buildings

 Subject – Box 2

Copy from a woodcut illustration of the "Great Delivery of Champion Harvesters" (see #43), May 4, 1872

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 5

4.5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: May 4, 1872

Copy of an older photograph of the Exchange Hotel, built in 1829 and torn down in 1892 (See #52), circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 6

3.5" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

View of Main Street looking west in winter; Exchange Hotel, Tremont House; blanketed horses pulling wagons on runners, circa 1870s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 7

3.5" x 5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1870s

Copy of older photograph of the Tremont House Hotel on Main Street with horses and wagons tied up in front. Copied for sale at the 1915 street fair (1 of 4), undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 8

4" x 5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Main Street Scene, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 9

4" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Union Block with Local News Office, A. J. Stahl Drug Store, G. S. Schuster Harness Shop (See #56), 1875

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 10

4" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1875

Union Block with Hale and Cupp Drug Store, J. H. Weber store (See #55), circa after 1882

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 11

4.5" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa after 1882

Union Block with Kaiser's store, R & R Drug Store, Snyder Stationery Store. Truck parked in front--sandblasting?, circa 1947

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 12

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1947

Northwest Street. J. L. Painter Carriage Works building (torn down in 1985). John L. Painter standing next to rail and C. F. Heading l or r upstairs?, 1882

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 13

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1882

Round corner building--E. G. Woleslagel Clothier store. Sign painter Charlie Barber on ladder, 1907

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 14

1.5" x 2.25" saftey film negative (3); 3.5" x 3.5" original print (1); 5" x 7" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1907

East Main Street at Sandusky Street; J. D. Cook clothing store, 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 15

1.5" x 2.25" saftey film negative (1); 4" x 6" original print (1); 5" x 7" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1915

West Main Street view looking west; water barrel on sidewalk next to hitching post; dirt street, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 16

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Stahl Block--Bellevue Savings Bank on corner of East Main and Sandusky Street, circa 1930s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 17

1.5" x 2.25" saftey film negative (2); 6.5" x 8.5" original print (1); 5" x 7" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1930s

View of Main Street from corner of West Main and Kilbourne Street; Alexander and Walters Palace Livery Stable; IOOF building, circa 1901

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 18

1.5" x 2.25" saftey film negative (1); 4" x 4.5" original print (1); 5" x 7" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1901

Panoramic view of downtown Bellevue--West Main, NW Street, East Main, June 7, 1928

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 19

2.5" x 6.5" saftey film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: June 7, 1928

Panoramic view of downtown Bellevue--same as #64, but at an earlier date), circa 1906

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 20

2.5" x 6.5" saftey film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1906

The Wright Banking Co. building (built 1875) on corner of SW Street and Monroe Street (see #67), 1908

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 21

6.5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1908

The Wright Banking Co. building on fire at night in winter (see #66), January 18, 1918

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 22

6.5" x 8" glass plate negative (1) (corner is chipped); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: January 18, 1918

Bellevue City Hall and Bellevue Local News buildings with exact copy on second glass plate negative; Dr. Baker and son standing in front of building, circa 1877

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 23

4.25" x 5.5" glass plate negative (2); contact print (2)
Dates
Creation: circa 1877

Coliseum movie theater playing "This is Th' Life, 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 24

3.5" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1915

Rex movie theater (later the Mystic), playing "The Village Smithy" with Cowboy displaying "the largest buffalo (hide) in the world, 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 25

6.5" x 8.5" glass plate negative (1) (broken); contact print (1); 3.5" x 5" safety film negative (1)
Dates
Creation: 1915

Bellevue Public High School built in 1845 and used until 1860s. Torn down in 1922, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 26

6.5" x 8.5" glass plate negative (1) (broken); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

B. R. Brinster's Bakery with delivery truck in front on corner of Monroe Street. Trolley car tracks run down middle of street, 1914

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 27

6.5" x 8.5" glass plate negative (1) (broken); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1914

Church with white picket fence in front, next to cornfield (see #48), circa 1880s?

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 28

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s?

Congregationalist Church celebrating its 75th anniversary (1836-1911) with congregation posing in front, 1911

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 29

6.5" x 8.5" glass plate negative (1) (broken); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1911

Two-storey brick house with white picket fence in front and wooden sidewalk, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 30

5" x 8" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

View of West Main Street, circa 1954-1955

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 31

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1954-1955

Newly paved parking lot for the city with truck loaded with chain link fence parked upon it, 1953

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 32

4" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1953

Seaman's restaurant on East Main Street, November 11, 1963

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 33

4" x 5" safety film negative (2); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: November 11, 1963

Theodore Roosevelt giving campaign speech during his 1912 election campaign in front of the Wright Banking Company building, 1912

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 34

3.5" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1912

Store windows--displays

 Subject – Box 2

Stranahan's women's clothing store window decorated for the Spring 1915 "Spring Fest", Spring 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 35

3.5" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: Spring 1915

Store window displaying bathing suits, Spring 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 36

3.5" x 5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: Spring 1915

E. M. Wolf & Sons' store window featuring men's and boys' clothing, Spring 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 37

3" x 4.5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: Spring 1915

People's Clothing store window (at night) featuring women's clothing, Spring 1915

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 38

3" x 4" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: Spring 1915

View of the Ohio Cultivator foundry; photograph taken from water tower next to foundry looking northwest, circa 1890s?

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 39

8" x 10" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1890s?

Aerial views

 Subject – Box 2

Aerial view of Bellevue looking west; The Gross Lumber Company and part of the Ohio Cultivator Company foundry can be seen. Taken from nearby water tower, 1888

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 40

8" x 10" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1888

Aerial view of Reservoirs numbers 1-3 (built between 1873-1900), and Max Endle's ice house, 1888

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 41

1.5" x 2.25" saftey film negative (2); 4.25" x 6" original print (1); 5" x 7" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1888

Aerial view of Reservoirs numbers 1-3 with Bellevue Krauter Pickle Company on far left and part of Ohio Cultivator lumber yard in foreground, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 42

6.5" x 8.5" glass plate negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Copy of woodcut of aerial view of Bellevue, 1888

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 43

4" x 6.5" safety film negative (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: 1888

Aerial view of Bellevue, circa 1950s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 44

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s

Aerial view of Bellevue, circa 1950s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 45

5" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1950s

Aerial view of Bellevue, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 46

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Aerial view of Bellevue, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 47

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Aerial view of Bellevue, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 48

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Photograph of an airplane taking off, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 49

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Aerial view of Bellevue, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 50

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Aerial view of Bellevue, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 51

4" x 5" contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated

Large shale boulder probably taken at Higgins' Quarry near Bellevue, circa 1880s

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 52

6.5" x 8.5"contact print (1); contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: circa 1880s

Just eight dogs cartoon, undated

 Item – Box 2, Folder: 53

7" x 3.5"contact print (1)
Dates
Creation: undated