| December 11, 1925. Washington, D.C. Margaret Swartzell Swartzell railroad system. http://www.shorpy.com/node/7676 |
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| I grew up in MD but after moving to central PA I remember seeing these black, mostly tree-less mountains on the one side of the road as we were driving. My husband said they were called culm banks and were a result of the extensive mining that went on in the area (leftover coal and coal by-products, I had to look it up). I attached a pic of one I found on the internet, this one is from PA too though not near us. They are interesting but not very pretty to look at. Nicole Blank |
| J.N. Swartzell's Funeral Is Set for Tomorrow Washington Post, Nov. 20, 1937 |
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| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
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| Answers: 1. Nobody. It's a model train set. 2. John N. Swartzell |
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| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| Quiz #245 Results |
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| Funeral services for John N. Swartzell, retired Washington business man, will be held at 11 a. m. tomorrow at his home, 2725 Thirty-sixth place northwest. Burial will be in Rock Creek Cemetery. Swartzell, who was 47-years-old, died Thursday at his home. He retired in 1925 from the firm of Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey because of ill health. His father, G. W. F. Swartzell, was one of the founders of the firm, which failed in 1931. Born in Washington, Swartzell was educated at Friends School and at George Washington University, where he was a member of Theta Delta Chi. He was a past president and honorary member of the Civitan Club, secretary of the board of managers of the Methodist Home and a director of the Columbia National Bank. He was also a past master of Temple Noyes Masonic Lodge and a member of Mount Pleasant Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Anna Drury Swartzell; a daughter, Margaret Swartzell; a sister, Mrs. C. C. Davis, and a brother, Henry R. Swartzell. All live in Washington. |
| Answer to Quiz #245 February 14, 2010 |
| Railroad Model Craftsman 1934 March Yacht concrete bridge Clipper ship Build it in your home workshop 1 3 cylinder motor driven pump Handy knife block 20 ft auxiliary sailing cruiser Devils Gulch Bridge Vaneers Mounting switches Log cabin Hints on soldering Clipper Ship Lightning, and more. Ends: Mar 09, 201021:36:54 PST |
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| A-1 Train Leaving the Station Kid's Dark T-Shirt Order now. |
| How Carl Solved the Puzzle |
| Miniature railroad of Jno. N. Swartzell 8/5/29 memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/npcc/17600/17686r.jpg |
| This was a tough puzzle. Though I could tell immediately it was a model, the only clue I had to anything unique was the word Shorpy on the bottom left. Still was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but just by using keywords and (interestingly enough) NOT being too specific, I stumbled across a picture of his daughter palying with the train set. From there I was able to find a duplicate of the picture above and get the info. Could have used the hint, but it better more fun to go on my own. Keep up the great work. Carl Blessing |
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| Small town USA 1. How many people lived here? 2. Who built the town? Click here for hint. |
1900 Census - Bethesda, Montgomery, MD, Born March of 1890 1910 Census - Bethesda, Montgomery, MD, a mechanical engineer, single. 1920 - Census - Washington DC, still single. 1930 Census - John N Swartzel, 39, married 10 years to Anne G, 29, daughter Margaret, 8, born DC, bank director, WWI veteran. |
| Comments from Our Readers |
| J.N. Swartzell with miniature railroad. Dec. 11, 1925. Washington, D.C. http://www.shorpy.com/node/7712?size=_original |
| Popular Science, October 1934 books.google.com/books?id=YigDAAAAMBAJ&pg.... |
Arrived at contest photo on the net by googling smallville model=railroad=layout to
arrive at contest photo on shorpy.com (lower right in your photo. The photograph was
taken of Smallville minature rr at Washington, DC on August 5, 1929. The layout was
crafted (except for the rails) by John N. Swartnell in the basement of his father.
How people really living there in "Smallville" (as in the Twilight Zone) who knows, they
may have crossed the tracks and fell off the table in a dark abyss.The RR Smallville is
not be confused with the decades later Midwestern Smallville of Superman or Superboy
venue.
Personal recall from the 1950s: had a blue Lionel Train set growing up with my brother.
Asides from the obvious entertainment; the dc transformer used, nevertheless was a
source for numerous electrical experiments. At Christmas there would be a model
railroad layout on the toy floor of this department store which was about 20 by 20 feet
in area for Santaland. Mike Dalton
*****
I cheated to find what answers I have. At the bottom right corner of the photo is the
word Shorpy. When I looked that up I discovered the site is a collection of
photographs. The name of this photo is Smallville: 1929. It is the "Miniature R.R. of
John N. Swartzell". It is only part of a larger layout.
It doesn't seem to be a representation of any particular place. My husband suggested
that Smallville is the town where Superman grew up. Since Superman was created in
1932, this must be another Smallville. Milene Rawlinson
*****
This is 'Smallville', a far cry from Plasticville that I had as a kid. This guy had to make
all of the details of his layout by himself. He probably purchased the track, but
everything else mest have been hand-made in the mid 1920s. Other than trolls and
gnomes and the like, nobody lived here. Am I on the right 'track'?? Dennis Brann
N.B. Only if you are a little loco. Q. Gen.
*****
Note: The best clue here was the word "Shorpy" at lower left. Some other Forensic
Genealogy photo quiz pictures had previously shown up at Shorpy.com, so I went to
that site and searched for pictures of model trains. Joshua Kreitzer
*****
This is strange because I've been watching past episodes of Smallville. I'm up to season
8 episode 14. Fun show for anyone that read comics as kids in the 50's. Mary South
*****
I have a few model train lay-outs myself all in 1:76 scale. Alan Cullinan
*****
This was an interesting quiz. I would like to research further. Any suggestions for the
best web sites? Jocelyn Thayer
*****
Reminds me of the culm banks that line the state highway going past my house!
Nicole Blank
*****
I love the remark about men not outgrowing their toys - before we moved into our
present condo my husband had a model train railroad! And yes, unfortunately, I'm old
enough to remember Burma Shave - but just barely. :) Deborah Stewart
*****
Wisdom in advertising? Let's see; computer: tool or toy? Trombone: ditto. Theater:
likewise. And tomorrow night I have my second gig as backup singer with Johnny B
and the Shyes at Alice's Champagne Palace. Those are my toys. Actually, I'm a better
singer than JB, but I certainly can't play piano the way he can. I'm not really shy
anymore, at least about performing, but the two women singing with us are, and they
started with John before I did. So they're Kinda Shye and Sorta Shye,and I decided
tonight that I'm Cupplabux. Miss those Burma Shave signs. Peter Norton
*****
When I grew up in a small town in PA. the country roads were littered with Burma
Shave ads. I did not notice the Shorpy Logo but immediately thought it was a minature
railroad. After diverting for a while on Smallville of the Superboy comics I returned to
sort out famous model rr builders and got the quiz. I'll hear from you tomorrow and
look forward to each Sunday. Jim Kiser
*****
I must admit I used the Shorpy symbol as a head start, but wise teacher haven’t you
told us to examine everything? Here is one of my son the computer engineer’s quotes:
"To the engineer, the world is a toy box full of sub-optimized and feature-poor toys."
--Scott Adams
And, I do love Burma Shave signs. Judy Pfaff
*****
Colleen- Once again, great puzzle! I got it right away because I had seen this photo
before. I am an on-again, off-again N-Scale model railroader. I Love Trains !!!!, ...Not
enough time. Robert W. Steinmann Jr.
arrive at contest photo on shorpy.com (lower right in your photo. The photograph was
taken of Smallville minature rr at Washington, DC on August 5, 1929. The layout was
crafted (except for the rails) by John N. Swartnell in the basement of his father.
How people really living there in "Smallville" (as in the Twilight Zone) who knows, they
may have crossed the tracks and fell off the table in a dark abyss.The RR Smallville is
not be confused with the decades later Midwestern Smallville of Superman or Superboy
venue.
Personal recall from the 1950s: had a blue Lionel Train set growing up with my brother.
Asides from the obvious entertainment; the dc transformer used, nevertheless was a
source for numerous electrical experiments. At Christmas there would be a model
railroad layout on the toy floor of this department store which was about 20 by 20 feet
in area for Santaland. Mike Dalton
*****
I cheated to find what answers I have. At the bottom right corner of the photo is the
word Shorpy. When I looked that up I discovered the site is a collection of
photographs. The name of this photo is Smallville: 1929. It is the "Miniature R.R. of
John N. Swartzell". It is only part of a larger layout.
It doesn't seem to be a representation of any particular place. My husband suggested
that Smallville is the town where Superman grew up. Since Superman was created in
1932, this must be another Smallville. Milene Rawlinson
*****
This is 'Smallville', a far cry from Plasticville that I had as a kid. This guy had to make
all of the details of his layout by himself. He probably purchased the track, but
everything else mest have been hand-made in the mid 1920s. Other than trolls and
gnomes and the like, nobody lived here. Am I on the right 'track'?? Dennis Brann
N.B. Only if you are a little loco. Q. Gen.
*****
Note: The best clue here was the word "Shorpy" at lower left. Some other Forensic
Genealogy photo quiz pictures had previously shown up at Shorpy.com, so I went to
that site and searched for pictures of model trains. Joshua Kreitzer
*****
This is strange because I've been watching past episodes of Smallville. I'm up to season
8 episode 14. Fun show for anyone that read comics as kids in the 50's. Mary South
*****
I have a few model train lay-outs myself all in 1:76 scale. Alan Cullinan
*****
This was an interesting quiz. I would like to research further. Any suggestions for the
best web sites? Jocelyn Thayer
*****
Reminds me of the culm banks that line the state highway going past my house!
Nicole Blank
*****
I love the remark about men not outgrowing their toys - before we moved into our
present condo my husband had a model train railroad! And yes, unfortunately, I'm old
enough to remember Burma Shave - but just barely. :) Deborah Stewart
*****
Wisdom in advertising? Let's see; computer: tool or toy? Trombone: ditto. Theater:
likewise. And tomorrow night I have my second gig as backup singer with Johnny B
and the Shyes at Alice's Champagne Palace. Those are my toys. Actually, I'm a better
singer than JB, but I certainly can't play piano the way he can. I'm not really shy
anymore, at least about performing, but the two women singing with us are, and they
started with John before I did. So they're Kinda Shye and Sorta Shye,and I decided
tonight that I'm Cupplabux. Miss those Burma Shave signs. Peter Norton
*****
When I grew up in a small town in PA. the country roads were littered with Burma
Shave ads. I did not notice the Shorpy Logo but immediately thought it was a minature
railroad. After diverting for a while on Smallville of the Superboy comics I returned to
sort out famous model rr builders and got the quiz. I'll hear from you tomorrow and
look forward to each Sunday. Jim Kiser
*****
I must admit I used the Shorpy symbol as a head start, but wise teacher haven’t you
told us to examine everything? Here is one of my son the computer engineer’s quotes:
"To the engineer, the world is a toy box full of sub-optimized and feature-poor toys."
--Scott Adams
And, I do love Burma Shave signs. Judy Pfaff
*****
Colleen- Once again, great puzzle! I got it right away because I had seen this photo
before. I am an on-again, off-again N-Scale model railroader. I Love Trains !!!!, ...Not
enough time. Robert W. Steinmann Jr.
| Some of the Thousands of eBay Model Trains and Related Items |
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| HO scale = 1/87 scale (68% of model railroads) http://www.ndrr.com/rmr_faq/Introduction/HO-Scale.htm N scale (16%) http://www.ndrr.com/rmr_faq/Introduction/N-Scale.htm O scale (8.5%) http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/o-gauge-o27-scale.html Gn3 (or G) = 3.5% http://www.ndrr.com/rmr_faq/Introduction/G-Scale.htm S Scale = 1/64 Scale (Small percentage) http://www.ndrr.com/rmr_faq/Introduction/S-scale.htm http://www.nasg.org/about-s-scale.html |
| Remember this saying And you'll be spared, Trains don't whistle Because they're scared. Burma-Shave 1941 Submitted by Dennis Brann |
| A MODEL PROJECT No person has ever lived in Smallville! This realistic scene was created by Mr, J. N. Swartzeli, alone. It took a great imagination, ingenuity and skill, Whether the work was saved to honor Mr. Swartzell, it is not known. Robert Edward McKenna Quiz Poet Laureate ***** Though they grow to men from boys Guys just never outgrow their toys. Burma Shave. Colleen Fitzpatrick, PhD Understudy to Quiz Poet Laureate Robert Edward McKenna |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Mr. Rick and th Quiz Kids Ace Another One. Go Quiz Kids! Robert W. Steinmann, Jr. Tamura Jones Mike Dalton Diane Burkett Stan Read Milene Rawlinson Beth Long Karen Petrus Collier Smith Teresa Yu Dennis Brann Peter Norton Joshua Kreitzer Talea Jurrens Judy Pfaff Marilyn Hamill Gary Sterne Donna Jolley Wayne Douglas Mary South Alan Cullinan Mike Swierczewski Deborah Stewart Jim Kiser Jocelyn Thayer Nicole Blank Evan Hindman Robert Edward McKenna, QPL |
| Culm Banks |
| For Further Reading "Choo Choo Trains" Cheer Weary Grownups Machinists Monthy Journal pp. 384-386, 618 Entire issue of Machinist's Monthly Journal can be found at http://www.library.gsu.edu/dlib/iam/getBrandedPDF.asp?issue_id=728 |
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| Swartzell Family Genealogy Click here. |
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John N Swartzell, born March 1890 in
Washington DC to George Wilbur F
Swartzell, a real estate broker, and Mary
Elizabeth Naylor.
Washington DC to George Wilbur F
Swartzell, a real estate broker, and Mary
Elizabeth Naylor.
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| NEW KATO N Scale BNSF (Swoosh) SD70MAC # 8987 Ends: Mar 22, 201021:20:38 PDT |
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| *G.N. MODEL HO SCALE LOCOMOTIVE* Ends: Feb 25, 201013:45:03 PST |
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| VINTAGE TRIX SANTA FE 576 N SCALE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE Ends: Feb 21, 201006:34:40 PST |
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| Types of Model Trains |