Asahel Curtis – Lower Snoqualmie Falls, 1909

The photo shown here is in its original frame. It is huge: 24.5 inches wide and 31.5 inches high. Photos of this size were sometimes developed by Asahel Curtis for the Northern Railway Company, which were then hung up in railroad stations. However, on this particular item, there is no sign or stamp of the railroad company, so that may not be the case.

The bottom left of the photo is signed and says “copy right 1909 by, Asahel Curtis”. Interestingly, this piece has quite a bit of history, which is revealed by the writing on its back (see photo below).

First, Dorothy Draper Hamlen was an art collector living on the east coast, which is where I acquired this item. She died in 1970. More interesting is the fact that this photo was given as a present in 1912 to someone by the name of TBG by Jack Hallowell, who was a football player and business man back in the day.

This item is also unique in that, to date, I have never seen another development of this negative in any share of form. A very interesting piece of history.

Asahel Curtis – large photo of lower Snoqualmie Falls from 1909

Dedication on the back of a photo by Asahel Curtis of lower Snoqualmie Falls, 1909