Bionic

A Hopi girl. 1905. Photo by Edward S. Curtis. Source - Northwestern University Libraries

A TRIP TO THE STORE meant something different, circa 1884-1890. The large sign at the right advertised saddles from Moran Brothers, an early saddlery in Miles City, Montana. The wood crate near the door was painted “Fallon, Mont.,” indicating a town 50 miles east of Miles City. The Bandwagon X Store boasted of selling clothing, groceries, boots, hats, shirts, underwear, to***co, ammunition. A small sign at the far right listed melons and fruit.

The view was a cropped portion of a print that had suffered deterioration. I restored it to the extent possible for Miles City’s Range Riders Museum. Robert C. Morrison was the likely photographer. The underfunded Montana Historical Society has 3,600 Morrison negatives (the best source for image clarity), but has yet to scan and post any Morrison photos. I hope progress can be made before another generation dies without seeing our visual history. Commentary and Photoshop restoration of image by Gary Coffrin.

Little Moon. Crow. 1883. Photo by Frank Jay Haynes. Source - Montana Historical Society.