Thursday, May 14, 2009

Old/New

Do you think the people who brought their horses to this watering trough in the early 1900s could have grasped the concept of Blackberries and cell phones? Like so much of South Pasadena, this historical spot has withstood the tests of time -- and found new use in the modern age.

16 comments:

M. CHRISTOPHE said...

Nice shot and good choice of B& W.
Times are going so fast...if you have took this picture 10 years ago you had no mobilephone on your photo.

B SQUARED said...

Interesting how things change beyond their intended use.

Hilda said...

I can't imagine where the trough was here. Love the rocks though.

Judy Williams said...

It almost has a monolith feel to it. I like the juxtaposition of the modern day with the old , which was your intent. I love those old river rocks, so round and smooth.

Yakpate said...

This shot exemplifies the reason I would like to live 150 years... My imagination burns to know what the blackberries of 2050 will be.

In my lifetime... one black phone in the hall, on a 4-party line... to a Princess phone extension in every bedroom... to the introduction of the fax machine... to a cell phone in almost every hand, and everyone, everywhere, talking all the time.

And yet, few of us really listen.

Virginia said...

I'm with Yak. No one talks to each other face to face anymore. I am constantly amazed at people in restaurants that leave their partner sitting there staring into space while they have long conversations on their phones! Sorry for the rant.

This is one huge watering trough and I too wonder where it is exactly. Those huge stones are wonderful. I'd love to run my hands over them.
V

Jean Spitzer said...

I'm going to have to check this out in person. It sure looks like the watering aspect of this is cemented over in the photo; that can't be right.

Margaret said...

This is one of my favorite things in South Pasadena. When my youngest was in third grade her class walked there and then they all made models of the watering trough. Ours still stands on our mantle.

TheChieftess said...

Right on, Virginia and Yak!!! I too remember the party lines and the Princess phones of yesteryear, and am equally aggravated at the constant cell phone use...especially texting!!! It's constant!!! And it truly does diminish the face to face connection between people when one is distracted, talking or texting throughout the visit....how did we ever survive having only a landline and not even an answer machine???

Whew!!! Got that off my chest!!! Great pic Laurie! Love the rocks!!!

Laurie Allee said...

Hey gang,

I took this shot from an angle. Here's a better view of how the trough looks from the side. I believe the front had a fountain for people -- now cemented over -- and the center where people are sitting in the other picture I just linked to is where the water was for horses. I love this old structure, and have had many a picnic sitting right there.

Anonymous said...

While they have mere blackberries to grasp, we'd have to grasp the manure all over the place :O)

Anonymous said...

Wazzup? I grow blackberries and they go very well with ice cream. (I love good stonework. What artistry. Look at how the rocks were so carefully chosen.)

Double "D" said...

Another way of putting it.
Would the people gathered around
the water trough grasp the concept of
riding horses and talking face to face with
every cowpoke that comes along. Hey
There's always the pony express.

Plus would they consider shoveling poo?

Laurie Allee said...

Thanks, everyone! I'm late getting to my next post, and I'm afraid my brain is already asleep. So, until tomorrow.... (zzzzzzz...)

Dixie Jane said...

I wanted to feel the large beautiful river rocks and lost sight of the trough. And Yak, I too remember the black rotary phone in the hallway. And though I own a cell phone (I don't text message) I think I resent people's lack of face to face conversation. What could everyone possibly have to talk about every minute and everywhere they go? Something very precious is lost in our new innovations. Save something to say while looking in a person's eyes.

Anonymous said...

Photos have come really nice..keep going..great work..

Nice photo...wonderful thoughts....

Thanks for sharing...

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