Saturday, February 21, 2015

Thames (NZ): Second Look at corner Pahau & Pollen Street Postcard

This is a postcard that has always fascinated me. The gathering of people, the man on the roof, so many scenarios to think about as to what was happening on the day.

On the right is J Paul who was a saddler from c1894 to 1919, near the corner of Pahau and Pollen Street. On the left is the verandah of the King's Theatre which opened in 1913. Next to it is the Junction Hotel that had been on the goldfield for years, although the building had changed several times. The St James Church stands on the next corner and further along is Taylor's butcher shop.

The man up the pole could be another photographer waiting to take a photo or a repairman on the wires. The horse and wagon laying stone down the centre of the road, later these would be concrete strips.  What about all the wires - telegraph, telephone, electricity?

Description Looking along Pollen Street, Thames. Showing (on left) The Junction Hotel; St James' Presbyterian Church. At right is J Paul - saddler. With cyclists, horse and cart and a man sitting at the top of a telegraph pole.
 
Above: 1927 Advertisement in the Thames Diamond Jubilee book
Below the view 2012 

UPDATE: View before the King's Theatre was built.
Look to left side of Pahau Street, Junction Hotel and the single storey building that is replaced by the King's Theatre.
Description
A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THAMES. THE WELL KNOWN GOLDFIELDS CENTRE, SHOWING THE THAMES-HAURAKI PUMP IN THE LEFT BACKGROUND AND POLLEN STREET IN THE FOREGROUND.
Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19050921-13-2