A few weeks late, but just found it this morning
[INDENT]Photographer Russell Lee, while working for the Farm Security Administration / Office of War Information, visited the small town of Vale, in eastern Oregon, on the Fourth of July in 1941. On that day, he photographed holiday preparations, a parade, carnival rides, and more, as the small town of about 1,100 celebrated Independence day 76 years ago. Today, on the 241st anniversary of the independence of the United States, a look back at a celebration on the the 165th anniversary.[/INDENT]
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/07/celebrating-the-fourth-of-july-in-1941-in-vale-oregon/532647/
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I can still remember seeing Russell Lee in the halls of the Architecture Building at UT Austin where he had an office and taught photography classes. He had one of those resumes that took several sharp turns along the way:
Cool article James. The first thing I noticed is that although the cars and clothes have changes, the people seem pretty much the same nowadays as back then.
I'd say Vale has done well to survive these last 76 years. It really doesn't look that much different at all at the corner of Main & A St....maybe Newton's Grocery is still around...in a bigger building out by the highway. 😉
My last July 4, 2009 in Oregon was spent in Vale for the parade. My aunt had relatives that were the Grand Marshals that year. The town like Burns to the West and probably other towns in the area sure haven't changed much. I don't know if it is Newton's, but yes there is a bigger grocery store on Highway 20 heading toward Idaho.
Great pictures.
I didn't think about the year in regards to what the current events were at the time, until I saw the lady taking money for the pony rides with a newspaper on her lap and the headline "Nazis Killed in Uncounted Thousands - Berezina River Runs With Blood."
I spent way to much time chasing chukars and valley quail out there in college (much to the detriment of my GPA).
Note the percentage of those wearing long sleeves on July 4. Also, note the bowl haircuts. People dressed up, not down, to go out in public.
