Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Lanes Redwood Flats


I found this postcard and had to have it.  It embodies what I love about vintage travel images...the play of light...the roadside attraction...and vintage vehicles...and the fact that it's gone, but immortalized for posterity.

Lanes was started by George Lane, who purchased the land to preserve the trees from the lumber gangs who were decimating the redwoods.  He was also, evidently, involved in the Save the Redwoods League, though I can't find any more specific information.  I love that he set up shop here in the Redwoods.  I would work there in a heartbeat.






The Redwoods

Joseph B. Strauss

Here, sown by the Creator's hand.

In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand:
No other clime is honored so,
No other lands their glory know.

The greatest of Earth's living forms,

Tall conquerors that laugh at storms;
Their challenge still unanswered rings,
Through fifty centuries of kings.

The nations that with them were young,

Rich empires, with their forts far-flung,
Lie buried now-their splendor gone:
But these proud monarchs still live on.

So shall they live, when ends our days,

When our crude citadels decay;
For brief the years allotted man,
But infinite perennials' span.

This is their temple, vaulted high,

And here, we pause with reverent eye,
With silent tongue and awestruck soul;
For here we sense life's proper goal:

To be like these, straight, true and fine,

to make our world like theirs, a shrine;
Sink down, Oh, traveler, on your knees,
God stands before you in these trees.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Labels

I love vintage labels. It amazes me that anyone spent the time and effort to create such beautiful things to stick onto other things.  So elegant.