Black & Whie Wednesday: Hobby Lobby

Cold / -5F. However we still have power, warm home and most importantly COFFEE !

Paisley, outside this morning, set a record for the fastest time to take care of business.

While we are more or less prepared for cold and snow the folks along the Gulf Coast are certainly not.  Some communities do not even have snow removal equipment. Hopefully for them, the weather will quickly change.

Back to photography -

If you have followed along for a bit, you know that Midwest architecture is a personal favorite.  Especially the remaining 1890 - 1920 buildings.  

Find the modern structures a little short on variety of materials and construction craft.  Very few curved shapes, generous use of glass, cement.  The results end up as hard line - in your face - structures. 

Consider this recycled Target Store: 

    Richmond, Indiana.

 

David Green family founded Hobby Lobby Stores, a retail chain of arts and crafts stores with over 1000 stores in the United States, to express their evangelical Protestant beliefs and conservative values.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: MLK Day / DJT Day Not

While Black & White is not the usual Monday presentation. On this Monday, it is.  

The third Monday in January, approved as a federal holiday in 1983, is Martin Luther King Day and is dedicated to honoring the late civil rights leader

While it's not possible, would wish to celebrate the day spending time on a quiet and peaceful rural hillside remembering his accomplishments.

         West Virginia.

This year President-elect Donald J. Trump's second inauguration will take the oath of office on the day dedicated to honoring the late civil rights leader.

On this occasion, believe that in Washington D.C., there will a great deal of personal "Blowing In The Wind". 

    New York.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

TGIF: Urban Landscape Photographers Dream / Columbus Grove

 

Once in a while a photo walkabout just turns out to be a complete joyful experience.  Arrived early on this delightful sunny day, parked, picked up the camera kit, got outside, locked the vehicle and started walking along totally quiet empty streets.  

No parked cars.  No people on sidewalks. Just buildings, empty yards.  An urban documentary landscape photographers dream.   

Columbus Grove, founded in 1842 and incorporated in 1864, is a annually declining village in Putnam County, Ohio with a 2024 population of 2,124.

    Columbus Grove, Ohio.

 

As with an earlier post, the upper levels are closed off with the street fronts in use.

 

Found this place to be extremely neat and tidy.  It was as if it was a film / TV set just waiting for cameras to roll.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Black & White Wednesday: Richmond Mall

The DeBartolo corporation began groundbreaking in May 1965, by which point the company had confirmed a number of tenants.  These included three anchor stores - Woolworth, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward - as well as a Kroger supermarket and a Thrift Drug pharmacy, with approximately 30 inline stores contained in an enclosed mall.

In the late 90s Montgomery Ward closed and later became Sears.

The mall was remodeled in 1997 and Dillards was added to the mall. Woolworths closed in the mid 90s and OfficeMax took over the former space.

Hull Property Group bought the mall in 2015. 

In 2016, the mall underwent a major renovation and changed its name to Richmond Mall.

    Richmond, Indiana. 

 

Several retail venues closed and the vacant stores were sealed up and new signage was installed.  Three  anchor store slots - JCPenney, OfficeMax and Dillards - remained.

In late 2019 Dunham’s Sports took over the former Sears space. 

In 2020 the JCPenney store closed due to bankruptcy and later OfficeMax closed as the company consolidated it's number of outlets.

    Richmond, Indiana.

These days, the mall is about 40% occupied and features two anchor stores - Dillard's and Dunham's Sports

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: Wapakoneta / Knives

Winter not a favorite, as the morning started off at 18F.  We are so much better off than the folks in fire zone California.  Hopefully, national and local governments along with insurance - for those that have it - provide  helping aid.

Meanwhile, at My Midwest World Headquarters, underway with heat, coffee and a nearby sleeping Paisley.

In late Fall, on an early Sunday morning, traveled over to Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Wapakoneta - population 9,730 - is the declining county seat of Auglaize County with an average household income of $77,000 and a poverty rate of almost 13%.

Traveling about the Midwest, come across a variety of retail outlets.  A popular one is the gift shop.  The products offered vary but often include among others, personal items, cards and household goods.

On a Wapakoneta walkabout discovered the rather specialized retail Endless Knives & Gifts. 

    Wapakoneta, Ohio

Endless Knives & Gifts has been operating for over 10 years, is estimated to generate $64,000 in annual revenues, and employs approximately 4 people.

Just another surprising Midwest photo ramble encounter.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

TGIF: Regular Programing / Antwerp

Accepting nationally - It is what it is - we are returning to regular programing with a brief visit to Antwerp, Ohio.

Antwerp, named after Antwerp in Belgium and founded in 1841, is a village in Paulding County. 

It is a unusual location as it's population is not really decreasing nor increasing.  It was 1,680 in 2020 and in 2024 it was 1681. 

While the population is stable, the opportunities are not.  For example, The Home Town Pantry located on the court house square,

    Antwerp, Ohio.

 closed permanently on December 31, 2019.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Black & White Wednesday: Difficult Entry

 

Up early - couple hours before sunrise - to discover temperature 12F.  With snow - now up to near 9" - still about, we spend a brief bit of time outside as Paisley takes care of business.  

Returning inside, our familiar morning tasks begin.  A cup of coffee along with warm bagel for me and dish of food for Paisley.  

After finishing and cleaning up, we move to the lightroom, fire up the computer, and quickly check several world wide newspapers for the latest  happenings.  

As today is Wednesday, the next order of business is to produce a black & white blog entry.  Usually this is rather quick and straightforward, but today it is not.

Yes, know what want to post.  However, not clear as to how to say it without offending.

Background - The soon to be leader of the free world is not ruling out taking over a canal, renaming a body of water, buying a country and adding another state to the United States.  What comes to mind - Horse Pucky.

Perhaps it's time to

    Richmond, Indiana.

and move

       Richmond, Indiana. 

For a long time, have been satisfied showing world wide strength with our colors and current configuration.

Big

    New Castle, Indiana.

and small.

   Alexandria, Indiana.

 

You are certainly free to disagree.  Our country has always allowed opposing points of view.  May that continue be the case.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.