Home
up
folky destinations
disappearing folk
Vintage photographs and postcards honoring exceptional creations that were designed to disappear
Here today, gone tomorrow Sholl Antiques
| St Paul
|
Montreal
ice palaces & castles The year 1886 found Montreal, Canada in the middle of a smallpox epidemic and the winter festival was cancelled. Montreal’s "ice palace architect" went to St. Paul, Minnesota where he designed the first ice castle to be built in the United States. The St. Paul Winter Carnival became a tradition, with ice castles being built in a variety of locations. By the early 1900’s the Adirondack Mountain community of Saranac Lake, New York had become a noted tuberculosis treatment center. In 1897 the first Winter Carnival was held & that tradition continues to this day. Over the years castles of different designs were created by these communities. As many as 30,000 blocks of ice in 3x2 foot size have been used in the construction of a single castle.
|
Saranac lake
|
|
|
furniture made from oranges
"Unique exhibits at California Orange Show. Chairs and table made of oranges. One of the unique exhibits at the southern Cal. Fornia Orange Show held at Anaheim, Cal. 6/01/22" from information on photograph |
|
|
map of Kansas made from apples
"An Unusual Apple Exhibit. Lawrence, Kan. - photo shows a map of the State of Kansas, made of apples, which was awarded first prize at the annual Central States Horticultural Exposition in Kansas City. Twenty five bushels of apples of all varieties were used in the making of this map. It was made by students of the Kansas Agricultural College. 12/03/27 " from information on photograph |
|
|
vegetable man - farmer John
"Farmer John in shirt sleeves and vest, is now taking his noon-time rest, for he has been up since the break of day, milking his cows and making hay. He well deserves our great respect, we can't spare him I suspect. Farmer John has a pumpkin body and head. He has grass hair and beard, an onion nose, paper teeth and lips, and corn husk ears shirt front and fingers. Pop corn with the husks pulled back form his arms and sleeves. His legs and feet are also corn with the husks on. His buttons are kernels of corn. He sits in a doll chair. C. Smith, Ithaca NY"
|
 02-019 by Wallace, 1925, Kentucky State Fair
|
butter sculptureButter sculpture has its roots in ancient Tibetan Buddhist art where these temporary creations symbolize impermanence. Impermanence is a basic tenant of Buddhism. The American form of this art has more to do with sideshows and agricultural fairs, yet serious and talented artists have worked in butter. In the late 1800s Caroline S. Brooks of San Francisco enjoyed national attention for her work in butter and she became known as the "Butterlady". What was little understood was that her butter sculpture was but a first step towards sculpting a work in marble. J. E. Wallace seems to be the butter sculptor of choice for early 20th century agricultural fairs where he often worked in large "coolers" holding as much as 2700 lbs. of ice to sculpt his 600 lbs. butter cows. Toward the end of the exhibitions as the butter began to melt it was often sold. Today, Butter sculpture remains a popular attraction at many agricultural fairs across America. |
 02-129 Teddy Roosevelt 1910 Minn. State Fair
|
 01-131 (1908)
|
sand sculpture In 1997 Atlantic City, New Jersey celebrated a "Sandtennial" or a 100 years of sand sculpting. Twenty sand artists and volunteers recreated some of the sand sculptures of Atlantic City’s past. American beach resorts of the late 1800s and early 1900s held sand sculpting contests / exhibitions - sand sculpting as an art form was born. Today, sand sculpting events are held throughout the world.
|
 01-157
|
World's largest cakes and pies
 06-001 (1930s) |
"Worlds largest
Shortcake, Lebanon, Oregon, total weight in icluding
Strawberries 5,000 Lbs."
The Lebanon Strawberry Festival was originated in 1909. Two merchants, Joel C. Mayer and A.M. Reeves wanted to say "thanks" to the community for their patronage and to promote the strawberry industry. A queen was selected; there was also a flower and strawberry show and children's parade. |
|
|
"Adams Co. Fair. Monster Wedding Cake made by Rev. Ja. Deans. Dimensions 8 ft. high, bottom length 32 in. broad & 7 ft. in circumference. Sugar used in art work 210 lbs." From information on postcard |
 01-159 |
"1939 World's Fair Cake by Bill Baker, Ojai , California, Golden Gate International Exposition on San Francisco Bay. 1000 - pound California fruit cake. A presentation to the Golden Gate international Exposition in honor of the baking industry. Made from California products only and from the same recipe as the cake sent from California to President and Mrs. Roosevelt each Christmas. The decorations, made entirely of sugar and certified pure food coloring took one year to make. The dimensions of the cake; 5 feet on the base, 3 feet high and 3 feet across on top of the cake." From information on postcard |
 01-023 |
"The World’s
largest birthday
Cake,
25,000 pounds, Food Circus,
Seattle World’s Fair,1962,
This cake was mixed and baked by Van De Kamp’s Holland Dutch Bakers, Seattle. Decorations by Edison Technical School. SOUVENIR; mail away boxed portions of the fruit cake are sold at the site and Clarks Restaurants, Seattle. STATISTICS: Weight: 25,000 pounds, plus decorations. Height: 23 feet. Icing: 4,000 pounds "C and H Cane Sugar". Circumference: 60 feet (six sides). RECIPE: Raisins: 7,000 pounds. Eggs: 1,500 dozen. Pecans: 2,200 pounds. Flour: 10,500 pounds. Cane Sugar: 4,000 pounds and a BUNYAN pinch of salt: 100 pounds." From information on postcard |
|
|
"World’s
Tallest Cake – 15 ˝ ‘ Made by
Primo Marica , Ferndale Calif. – 8/16/53
- 3000 Eggs, – 200 lbs. Butter, – 200 lbs. Cake shorting, – 10 lbs. Salt, – 10 lbs. Baking powder, – 250 lbs. Milk, – 1 gal. Vanilla, - 600 lbs. Sugar, - 500 lbs. Flour," From information on photograph |
 01-045 |
Royal Canadian
Mounted Police Centennial Birthday Cake –
"30,000 lbs.
RECIPE IN PART: Flour 10,500 lbs.; Cherries 2,800 lbs.; Raisins 7,000 lbs.; Pineapple 3,000 lbs.; Eggs 1,600 dozen. Stir in more fruit by the ton: sprinkle with 3000 lbs. Choice pecans, add 200 lb. "pinch of salt". There you have it, the world’s largest and most delicious fruit cake. The cake is 18 ft. high, base 20 ft. square, lavishly decorated with more than 1,500 lbs. Of edible Royal Icing, fashioned into more than 6,000 rosebuds, Coat of Arms and floral emblems of all provinces and territories, Historic scenes of early forts, as well as 1873-1973 RCMP uniforms in full color, all in hard icing. The cake is toped with a revolving RCMP Crest, surmounted by the Royal Crown, in honor of HRH Elizabeth II and the Prince Phillip, who opened the Calgary Stampede’73. From information on postcard. |
 01-150 |
"Greetings from George, Washington home of the worlds largest cherry pie – 8 foot square – Ingredients as follows: CRUST - 100 lbs. Flour, 80 lbs. shortening, 1 lbs. Salt. FILLING – 750 lbs. cherries, 250 lbs. sugar, 30 lbs. corn starch. The pie is baked for each 4th of July celebration and served to the public." From information on postcard |
|
Vintage images from the Sholl Collection |
