Laurel: Then & now

[DOC]

FINALLY SOMETHING FROM MY OWN TOWN OF WHICH THERE IS NOT MUCH. LAUREL IS A HAMLET, ALTHOUGH LARGE IN SIZE, IT'S MOSTLY FARMLAND MADE UP OF NURSERIES, VINEYARDS AND PRODUCE FARMS.

THERE IS BUT 43 YEARS BETWEEN THESE TWO THEN & NOW SHOTS AND CERTAINLY NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED.
BUT AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING TO PUT UP FOR LAUREL...PLEASE TRY NOT TO LAUGH.

THIS IS THE RAILROAD CROSSING LAUREL LANE (PRACTICALLY MY BACKYARD), BOTH VIEWS ARE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LAUREL LANE AND FACING WEST.

1967:


2010:


NOTICEABLY MISSING IS THE OLD TRAIN STATION BOOTH. I PERSONALLY DON'T REMEMBER IT. THE RAIL SPUR IS ALSO BEEN DISCONTINUED AND EARTHED OVER. CROSSING GATES HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDED.

[Toyandgadgetguy]

I'm looking for the "like" button, but just can't find it!!!

[DOC]

i'm looking for the "like" button, but just can't find it!!!

i think that's on craig's book or face list? Lol!

[jiml]

Would have been way more impressed if there were a train in each picture.

[DOC]

ALTHOUGH VERY SIMILAR TO THE ABOVE LAUREL THEN AND NOW, THERE'S NOT TOO MUCH AVAILABLE FOR LAUREL. BELIEVE ME, I LOOK ALOT FOR OLD LAUREL IMAGES!

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SPOT THIS 8X10" B&W PHOTO AVAILABLE ON EBAY W/B.I.N. WHICH I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF AS SOON AS I SAW IT. THE AD CLAIMED IT TO BE AN IMAGE FROM THE 1930'S BUT I WOULD SAY MORE LIKE MID-LATE 1940'S.

THIS IS ALBIE SCHMITT'S BARN ON LAUREL LANE NEXT TO THE TRACKS. I WALK PAST IT AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. UP UNTIL 1979, WHEN ALBIE PURCHASED IT, IT WAS REFERRED TO AS THE FARGO CAMP. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WAS A POTATO CROP DEPOT BACK IN THE DAY AND HAS (STILL) A LABOR CAMP WHICH HOUSED UP TO 36 MIGRANT
WORKERS (NEGROES BACK IN THE DAY AND LATINOS IN MORE RECENT TIMES UP UNTIL ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO).

UNFORT IN BOTH SHOTS OBJECTS SUCH AS THE OLD LAUREL TRAIN STATION SHELTER AND TRAILERS IN THE NEWER SHOT OBSTRUCT A CLEAN VIEW OF A GOOD COMPARISON OF THE BARN WHICH HAS OBVIOUS AND SUBTLE CHANGES.

THEN: CIRCA LATE 40'S


NOW: MAY 2012

[The Commish]

Did the LIRR once stop there?

[DOC]

Not 100% sure but would lean to probably yes!

[The Commish]

It the first photo you can see what looks like a switch for a siding still there in the distance, but the track would have been against that small building... I know you mentioned a spur being earthed over, I'm curious if it was for passenger or freight.

[DOC]

The spur was def for freight. It came in between the barn and the station shelter bldg. It also crossed laurel lane to the east where i believe there was a scale and a scale house which is still there. If you look on historic aerials, back to the 50's there was more than just the one building in that general area. Where the spur crosses l/l, it's been paved over a few times....probably not used since the 60's or earlier.

[pulltabsteve]

Looks very familiar Nice Ebay find DOC!