Harvestore, Highway 147, Two Rivers, WI

Harvestore, Highway 147 near Two Rivers, Wisconsin (1.31.2014) © J. Shimon & J. Lindemann

Thinking about branding and decay. The signature blue color and A.O. Smith HARVESTORE font and logo erode and change slowly as the Wisconsin elements (snow, ice, rain, wind) work away at this resilient surface. The Harvestore® silo structure stands tall amidst a grouping of traditional farm buildings of functional design also gracefully disintegrating in the snow of January.

Sandpiper Bar & Grill, Two Rivers, WI

Sandpiper Bar & Grill, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, September 28, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman 

Two Rivers Sign, Two Rivers, WI

Twoo Rivers sign, Memorial Drive, Two Rivers, Wisconsin (10.2010)
© J. Shimon & J. Lindeman 

Found: Coolest Spot in Wisconsin, Two Rivers, WI

Found: Sailboat Scenes, Two Rivers -- Coolest Spot in Wisconsin by Curteich-Chicago "C.T. Art-Colortone" circa 1930

Two Rivers, Wisconsin juts into Lake Michigan where summer breezes off Lake Michigan can keep it 20 or more degrees cooler than inland or even slightly south. The lake is sometimes placid as shown on this postcard, but at other times waves come in large enough to surf as memorialized in Depo Provera's instrumental "Surf Lake Michigan" from 1985.

Schwartz Manufacturing Co., Two Rivers, WI

Schwartz Manufacturing Company, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, October 2010

Found: Twilight View of famous Research and Development Tower
at the home of Johnson's Wax in Racine, Wisconsin by E. C. Kropp Co.,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin postmarked November 2, 1953

Found: The Offices of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin
copyrighted by E. A. Bishop, Racine, Wisconsin, circa 1933

Hoffmann Monuments Inc., Two Rivers, WI

Hoffman Monuments Inc., Memorial Drive, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, October 4, 2010

Hoffman Monuments faces Lake Michigan so we passed it on our daily summer bike ride on the
Mariners Bike Trail. It felt odd to see the gravestone of someone we knew displayed out front waiting for pick up. Their name carved in black granite.

Citgo Express Mart, Two Rivers, WI

Citgo Express Mart Convenience Store, Memorial Drive, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, September 28, 2010
© J. Shimon & J. Lindemann 

Lake Michigan at Two Rivers, WI

Lake Michigan, Two Rivers, Wisconsin, September 11, 2011, 9:11 am
© J. Shimon & J. Lindemann 

Found: Hartwell Resort, Crivitz, Wisconsin, circa 1909 (on Kodak Azo paper)

Moonlight on Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, WI

Moonlight on Lake Michigan, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, July 5, 2008
© J. Shimon & J. Lindemann 

Found: Superior, Wis., Moonlight on Lake Superior Bay
 published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, 1907

 Found: "Two Rivers -- Coolest Spot in Wisconsin"
by Curteich, Chicago, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Lake  Geneva, from Recreation Building, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Lake Monona, Foot of Monona Avenue, Madison, Wis. by E.A. Bishop Publishing, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Ellison Bay, Door County, Wisconsin by Ahrens News Agency, circa 1930

Found: Moonlight on Wisconsin River, Nelson Dewey State Park, Near Prairie Du Chien, Wis. circa 1931
Caption: "...Indeed it is difficult to imagine a scene more charming than the Wisconsin River by moonlight, as the quiet waters reflect the silvery rays on the pebbled beach and along the winding shores and wooded banks."

The melancholy moon shimmering on lakes and rivers appears a common theme circa 1930. In post-Great Depression America, the faraway moon touching the landscape creates a mystic escape.