Walking the Red Brick Road

A photographer's journal and life in rural America

Posts Tagged ness city

Likeness

Jul 30

Posted by Roxie in Uncategorized | No Comments

In a previous post, I wondered whether the statue of Cpl. Noah Van Buren Ness actually looked like him or not.

Noah Ness statue

Noah Ness' statue
Noah Ness

Noah Ness

You be the judge.

When Harold Holden sculpted this statue, no picture of the corporal was known to exist. Through a series of events, Ness’ many-times-great-nephew Peter Grace inherited his Civil War papers, including the only extant picture of him, which is at right above. Apparently, Ness switched from his Jewish faith in order to get married. Perhaps Ness County should be Kness County instead?

What an expense that change would be!

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The razor’s edge

Jul 29

Posted by Roxie in travel | No Comments

At one time, Ness City had a razor factory. Someone, whose name I did not catch, had collected various razors and that collection is displayed on bank building’s second floor.

I wish I’d had time to examine them more carefully, but here are three pictures of ones I found interesting.

striped razors

striped razors

Love the striped razor. Supposedly, you get the best shave from one of these, but I’d rather my husband not cut his throat while whacking off his facial hair. The author in the link says that razors can be purchased for around $2. Cheapest one I found, , on Amazon.com, was $5.99. The Edwin Jagger Cut Throat Razor is listed at $140! OUCH!

Why does Edwin Jagger’s name command such a premium? With the help of Google, I found EdwinJagger.com. Looks like the top of the line razor supplier. Don’t think I’ll be buying that any time soon, though.

rope razor

rope razor

I wonder if this rope-design razor was owned by a sailor?

Supposedly, cut-throat razors are making a comeback. The one time my hubby did get such a shave from a barber, his face was baby smooth. I liked! But watching him with a blade at his throat is not something I want to do.

corny razor

corny razor

Since I grew up in corn country, I could not resist this razor embossed with ear of corn. It’s hopelessly corny, I know, but hey.

razors 3I tried to figure out what brand this scaly razor could be. Double Duck came up in the search I made, but the only logo I could find for that brand was, appropriately, a pair of ducks — not two stylized Ds.

Why ducks? Since when do feathered creatures shave?

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Moldings, windows and ceilings

Jul 28

Posted by Roxie in architecture, decor, exterior, interior, photos, travel | No Comments

Merrill Trust Company sign

Merrill Trust Company sign

Look at the beautiful arched window under the Merrill Trust Company sign on the Ness County Bank Building. They are equally as beautiful inside.

Arched window

Arched window

top of arched window

top of arched window

I love the sky through this window. It almost seems as if the future is beckoning. And I’m sure the future seemed very bright to this builder.

upstairs transom windows

upstairs transom windows

While not as fancy, the transom windows are also beautiful.

arch and second floor window

arch and second floor window

Second-floor arched windows are a different design, but are also beautiful.

second floor window

second floor window

A little more woodwork is present in these than the ones upstairs.

door frame corner

door frame corner

The doors are not to be left out.

baseboard with flowers

baseboard with flowers

baseboard

baseboard

Neither are the baseboards.

Top floor was once a courtroom. Why courtrooms are so often perched at the top of courthouses mystifies me. They had to have been beastly hot in summer, especially in those days where men never took off coat and tie and women dressed in multiple layers, fully covered from neck to wrist to ankle.

corner of tin ceiling

corner of tin ceiling

At least they had a beautiful ceiling to admire. It was high up, all the better to keep heat away from the floor.

door louvers

door louvers

Louvers were installed above the door to let out heat. Building is now air conditioned, but, even in shorts and T-shirts, I dripped sweat continually. I know our ancestors were used to sweltering, but they can’t have been comfortable.

courtroom chairs

courtroom chairs

One of the judges disliked the courtroom chairs, so had them removed. Now they are scattered throughout the building.

armrests

armrests

courtroom chair detail

courtroom chair detail

They probably weren’t the most comfortable, but they are beautiful.

Ceiling is much less ornate on the first floor, but it doesn’t need to be.

pillars

pillars

The pillars that support the building’s center are surrounded with burlap curtains. Burlap lessens the echoes from all those hard surfaces.

pillar capital

pillar capital

This is a detail of one pillar’s capital.

I hope you’re having a capital time looking through this building with me. We’re about done now.

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Deck the vaults with lots of details

Jul 27

Posted by Roxie in architecture, decor, interior, photography, photos, travel | No Comments

first floor vault painting

first floor vault painting

Whoever built Ness City Bank missed no decorating opportunity.

painting closeup

painting closeup

The vaults were decorated with scenery. This is the first floor vault.

vault frame detail

vault frame detail

detail of vault frame

detail of vault frame

Here are details of the frame decorations around the first-floor vault.

second floor vault door

second floor vault door

This is the second floor vault.

vault topper detail

vault topper detail

This is detail of the vault’s top. MacNeale and Urban really knew how to deck out their bank vaults.

nameplate

nameplate

Even the nameplate on the interior is ornate.

vault strip 2nd floorStrip on the vault door’s outer edge was engraved, as were the blocks on the locking mechanism.

locking mechanism blocks

locking mechanism blocks

This is still is only a part of the fascinating details in this building. More next time.

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Doorknobs and doorplates

Jul 23

Posted by Roxie in architecture, decor, interior, photography, photos | No Comments

We recently revisited Ness City, the home of that marvelous bank building that we visited in May. This time we toured the interior. Many lavishly decorated exteriors are not matched by their interiors. Not this building.

banded doorknob

banded doorknob

The doorknobs were incredible, such gorgeous relief.

dimpled doorknob

dimpled doorknob

And they weren’t the same design throughout the building.

diamond doorknob

diamond doorknob

Even upstairs, the doorknobs were beautiful.

closet door plates

closet door plates

This upstairs closet door has lost its doorknob, but look at the ornamentation around the latch and on the doorplate. This would not normally have been visible, but, even so, the fine detail is there.

double door latch

double door latch

Even this door latch is decorated.

tricked-out hinge

tricked-out hinge

The hinges are not neglected.

closed hinges

closed hinges

Opened and closed, they are beautiful.

Amazing, but I have yet more to share. You’ll just have to await the next post!

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