Then & Now

Photo courtesy of Kearny Museum
Photo courtesy of Kearny Museum
Photo by Karen Zautyk
Photo by Karen Zautyk

Last week’s Then & Now finally had a year (or at least a circa) for the older Kearny photo:1905. This week’s has an exact date: Aug. 8, 1922. The view is looking north on Kearny Ave. between Johnston and Woodland Aves. In 1922, the town had a population of approximately 26,700. And Aug. 8, 1922, was a Tuesday — presumably a workday. So where is everybody? Visible are (l.-r.): one automobile, one trolley car, one horse-drawn wagon and one female pedestrian. Peeking out from behind the trolley is a second auto, barely visible. Note the street itself: Cars may have been restricted to the far lanes, since it’s only those that are paved; the remainder is all cobblestones and trolley tracks. Re the new photo: The population of Kearny is now approximately 41,400. The picture was taken at 9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 21, a workday. So where is everybody?

– Karen Zautyk

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