Collections Item Detail
Sepia-tone photo of the exterior of a celebration at The Keystone Dairy, F. Kroog & Sons, Prop., Hoboken, nd., ca. 1903-1908.
Photograph
Sepia-tone photo of the exterior of a celebration at The Keystone Dairy, F. Kroog & Sons, Proprietors (211 Bloomfield St.), Hoboken, no date, circa 1903-1908.
8" x 10" print on photographer's mount, all edges chipped off. Photographer is not indicated. Reverse is blank. The people are not identified, but several are members of the Kroog family; William M. Kroog may likely be either the man in the front second from the left or the man with the girl seated in the truck.
The view is of an exterior with signage for the dairy with six men, four women and a girl (another woman is seen in a doorway at the left, but does not appear to be part of the celebratory group.) A "Welcome" sign is over an open doorway with bunting surrounding the door. A truck is at the right just outside a garage entrance with two men seated in it with the girl on the lap of the man at the wheel.
The event is unknown, but it may be celebrating the new truck for their business. It is obviously a very early model with kerosene carriage lanterns for lights, steering wheel centered in seat and no fenders. Painted on the radiator are the numbers "30307" with "N J" below which is probably the vehicle registration or license number. (New Jersey started vehicle registration in 1903 and did not issue plates until 1908.)
The location is not stated, but it is apparently 211 Bloomfield St. The Dairy used a 211 Bloomfield St. business address as seen painted on a milk wagon photo dated from circa 1906-1908. Note on left sign "Office" with hand pointing to left doorway. Attached to this record for comparison is a Google 2007 street view detail of 211 Bloomfield St. and it appears to match the earlier photograph.
2009.001.0005
2009.001
Purchase
Purchase
Museum Collections.
n/a
1903 - 1908
Hoboken
Date: 1903-1908
8 in
10 in
Fair
Notes: In records for 1892 water meters, no. 211 has only "meter", no. 213 is listed as a "Truck House" and no. 215 as "7 Fam, Milk Depot." Later records do not state "Milk Depot." The Keystone Dairy erected a large modern processing and bottling plant that opened circa December 1908 at "Seventh and Madison" Streets (street address would later be given as 622-632 Madison St.) Original or Copy: Original Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2009-07-28