An Active reflection

[2715 Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island, Brooklyn, c. 1939–1941. From the NYC Municipal Archives Collections. Click for a much larger view.]

Active is a lively presence in the 1940 New York City telephone directories. In addition to Active Auto Wrecking (ESplanade 2-9605), the Brooklyn directory lists Active Awning & Window Shade Manufacturing, Drugs, Electric Service, Heating & Air Conditioning, Iron Works, Lumber, Mason Supply, Pharmacy, Provision Company, Renovating Service, Service Station, Sign Hangers, Spray Painting & Water Proofing, Studio Upholstering Service, and Vans Moving & Storage. Of the five boroughs, Staten Island alone lacks a business with Active as its first name.

A keen-eyed reader noticed a reflection in the window of last week’s delicatessen, and that prompted me to post this tax photograph from across the street. Here are the reflection and its original:


[Click either image for a larger view.]

If you knew how much time I spent resizing these closeups so that together they align with the larger photograph above, you’d likely worry about me and look away. But not to worry — an inclination to tinker with image sizes is a fairly harmless manifestation of the perfectionist gene. (Thanks, Dad.)

Related posts
More photographs from the NYC Municipal Archives (Pinboard)