Center lane loading of express busses on downtown Washington avenueat peak rush hours provides a safety zone for passengers in the middle of the street, but eliminates a badly-needed traffic lane when the need is greatest.
This photograph shows the corner of Seventh Street and Washington Avenue in the rain. Several pedestrians, including businessmen, are walking down the sidewalk. One woman looking into a store window is taking shelter under an umbrella. There are streetcars, motor cars, and and horse-drawn carriages in the street. Streetcar and telephone wires crisscross overhead. Each of the the buildings are several stories tall and are adorned with advertisements and electric marquees.
It appears that the old May Company Department store has already vacated 509-523 Washington Avenue just east of the Grand Leader store, May Company moved from this location to the Railway Exchange building in 1913.
This Boehl street scene photo was taken looking west on Washington Avenue at Sixth Street in 1891. The building on the northwest corner at right is the Lindell Hotel, which was rebuilt in 1874 after having been destroyed by fire. Spurred by an offer of $100,000 from Washington Avenue businessmen, who felt a major hotel would encourage commerce on the street, reconstruction was started on the