Working Waco: Photos curated by Matthew Wiesehan

This photo shows W.C. Abeel hard at work at his desk, Abeel is assumed to have worked for the Old Big Four Ice Plant or also named the Geyser Ice Co. in Waco. This photo was taken in 1907 and depicts Abeel engrossed in his work. There are many different desk items such as; photos, inspirational quotes, taxidermy, etc. much like today people in the early turn of the century still put Knick knacks on their desks.

But what is most important to understand is that work in Waco has not changed at its core in a hundred years. Yes, the tools we use are different and some businesses are gone but people still work hard to provide services to Waco citizens and to provide for their families. This exhibit hopes to show you two things; how business and local life in Waco was like in the early 20^th century, and to show the similarities of this time to our own time.

This photo is of Austin Avenue, an essential thoroughfare in Waco both in the early 20^th century   and today. There are multiple businesses lining the road, again much like today, although there are a few notable differences between this time and our own time. Some of the businesses lining the street are as follows; F.W. Woolwork Co. a five, ten, and fifteen cent stores (affordable shopping), Household Furniture Company, Hotel Waco, Queen theatre. There is also another business depicted that is not seen in Waco today, and that is a trolley car system. In the middle of the photo one can view a trolley car, and the tracks on which the car drives on, this is no longer in operation in Waco today.

This photo shows another major thoroughfare in downtown Waco still used today, Washington Street. Many businesses still line the streets today, and in the photo, we can view some more historic businesses. On the right side of the photo we can see a drug store “Court House Drugs Pharmacy” which is seemed to have been named due its proximity to the Waco Courthouse. Drugstores and medicine were still apart of the Waco economy in the early 20^th century, medical practices might have been different, but the need for citizens to get medication has not changed.

This photo is dated in the year 1914, and the subject of the photo is the BPO Elks Hall, a club of sorts that practiced in Waco. What is interesting about the photo is where it is said to be taken and what is one the first floor of the building. There is print on the photo that states this building is on Franklin Ave. another major street in Waco. Two small businesses are also seen on the first floor of the impressive building; The Busy Bee Department Store and E.F. Bauman Wholesale and Retail Groceries. Again, depicting that life in the 20^th century was not far from our own, people still needed department stores and groceries, they were just much smaller than they are today.

This photo is of a group of people standing in front of a train, these people are described as the Waco Ad Club, a group that traveled around the country to promote the economic opportunities in the city of Waco and central Texas. This plays into our theme of local life and business in Waco in the early 20^th century, instead of commercials and internet ads, there were whole groups of citizens that would advocate for their hometown to others.

Another photo that shows members of the Waco Ad Club, this time six women. This is important, in the fact that women were also a part of this group of business advocates, most “secret” societies or clubs in the early 20^th century were male dominated, but it seems that the Waco Ad Club was not one of these. The women are holding Texas flags that read “Texas Cotton Palace Waco Oct 31 – Nov 15” a major event in Waco culture. These women are examples of how Waco citizens shaped the economy of this city, and how a group advocated for Waco and central Texas as a viable place to start a business.

A photo that shows a group of men sitting in front of a large pile of watermelons which is in turn in front of The Torbett Memorial Dairy Barn. This photo shows the intersection between groups of people and business in Waco. This group of men and the building behind them, it is unclear if these are workers or if this is a leisure activity, but what is clear is that businesses in Waco like the Torbett Dairy Barn, were places where people could congregate.

This photo shows use the YMCA building in downtown Waco, on the corner of Sixth and Washington. These roads are heavily trafficked areas in Waco today and seems back then as well. The YMCA building was a place where people could gather together, and the building’s location is important to note, it is in downtown suggesting that many people either worked or lived downtown and this meeting place was necessary. Just like today work is not the end all be all our lives there needs to be places of relaxation, and it seems in the early 20^th century this was still true.

This photo shows another major thoroughfare in Waco in the early 20^th century and today, Waco Street and First street. Visible in the photo are a few business storefronts and warehouses, showing what sort of commerce was in Waco at the time. To the left side of the street there is a sign that reads “Oden & Pippin Livestock & Storage 314 SO 1st Street” a stock yard where livestock were held and sold, showing that cattle played a major role in the Waco economy in the early 20^th century.

This photo shows the major roads in downtown Waco, Eleventh Street and Franklin avenue. There are multiple residential houses lining the streets as well as a few storefronts. This suggests that people both lived and worked in downtown Waco in the early 20^th century. Also suggesting that work, and home life were very connected in the lives of Waco citizens, for example in the photo we see homes right across the street from businesses.

Additional images from the Lockwood Gildersleeve Collection: