Behind This Green Door
by Don Struke
Title
Behind This Green Door
Artist
Don Struke
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Behind this green door is a story. I took this photo in 2009 in the old silver mining town, Virginia City, Nevada, and the "Fulton Foundry Virginia" on the bases of the two columns caused a Google search where I learned that the Fulton Foundry was a major company in 19th Century Nevada. It produced most of the castings and other cast iron materials needed by the fledgling Virginia & Truckee Railroad, which eventually grew to a very successful enterprise. Wondering about the people who built such companies back then, I found on the Cochise County (Arizona) Web site a most interesting story. Read how one young man found his own destiny:
"James Pinkerton McAllister was born in Londonderry County, Ireland on August 25, 1842. His father died when Mr. McAllister was an infant and he lost his mother when he was 10 years old. James attended the National School of Ireland until age 15, then sailed to America in February 1857. His work experience included working on a farm in New York for a year, on a riverboat in Pittsburgh and joining the Pittsburgh Fire Department as a driver. He then headed to San Francisco in 1860, where he was lured not by the gold of California, but by the curiosity to gaze upon the giant redwood Big Trees. After mining for several years in California, James began a journey by foot of two hundred miles over snow-clad mountains to Nevada. He swam across the ice-cold Stanislaus River, wore snowshoes, slept in a buffalo robe and finally arrived at Virginia City, Storey County, Nevada, where he apprenticed himself to the Fulton Foundry. For nineteen years he worked with Fulton, advancing to general manager."
I hate to say it but, you know, they don't make many people like that anymore. Walked 200 miles. Swam the ice-cold river. Wore those snowshoes. Slept under a buffalo robe. Man, oh man.
NOTE: The Fine Art watermark visible in preview windows is not on any print.
Uploaded
June 6th, 2011
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Viewed 661 Times - Last Visitor from Jamaica, NY on 04/09/2024 at 11:05 AM
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Comments (5)
Colleen Taylor
I have a passion for doors. You've captured the mystery here. Gorgeously brilliant!
Don Struke replied:
Colleen, thank you very much. I too have a passion for doors (I know we're talking about vintage beauties like this one) not only because they can be real art but because of the stories you might imagine or, even, make up. Virginia City as I think you know is a door lover's paradise (or words to that effect).
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