A first reaction to the idea of crowded streets is “Cars”. But there are many ways to crowd a street.
February 12, 1922 and Bridge Street in Stratfod-on-Avon in Warwickshire was crowded with foot traffic for the unveiling of the War Memorial which listed the names of the local serving men who died in World War One. Notice that the Memorial is standing in the middle of the street. After it was hit by a lorry it was shifted to a safer location.
We met Mary Matilda Checkets in Framed in a Doorway in Snitterfield , By 1922 she was the widow Mrs Tansey, had moved from Snitterfield and was now living in Stratford on Avon . Her youngest daughter Ellen was also a widow. She had been married to Private Amos Unitt but he had been killed at Pozieres in 1918 and Ellen had gone to Australia and re-married.
Mary Matiilda sent this postcard to her six year old grandson in Australia. His father Amos Latham Unitt had been born in Stratford on Avon and so his name was entitled to be included on the War Memorial.
I think there is a little bit more to this postcard. It is stamped so has been sent to Mrs Tansey without putting it in an envelope . Then she has signed it as Gran and indicated that it was for her grandson Stan and it has ended up in Australia. I think the two handwritings are different so who was it sent it to Mrs Tansey in the first place ?
Earlier than this, in 1907 on the other side of the world, Camp St in Beechworth was crowded with four horse- drawn vehicles. Beechworth in north eastern Victoria is a remnant of the gold rush in the 1850s This postcard has a linen type texture which makes it hard to scan. Bandmaster Tom Tansey and his wife were to live in this street in the 1930s.
Perhaps some day I will be able to find a family member connected to the recipient of this Beechworth postcard and hand it over.
A Parade is another way of crowding a street. A Gala Day Parade is held each year in Geelong to raise money for the local hospital Here is the Geelong West Brass Band marching down Moorabool Street in the Gala Day Parade in 1931. The bandmaster was Eric Searle. The band had been revived in 1929 after having lapsed a couple of times.
Anyone who follows the road bike racing might be interested to know that this is the part of Moorabool Street which was the start and finish of the 2010 World Road Championships Time Trials. and was the finishing point for the Road Races,
And in a Parade in Sydney c1938 the members of the Sydney Ladies Brass Band were on a highly decorated float, led by their trainer and conductor Hilda Tansey.
For more interesting early street scenes go to the links in Sepia Saturday
Bound for Australia 