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Ritzman Photo Collection

Floyd R. Ritzman (1885-1975) was a teacher and administrator in the DeKalb public school system. His passion was photography, especially of trains. When the Ritzman family traveled, Floyd always carried a camera. According to his son, Allyn, he and his father would take drives with the intention of photographing area depots, trains, bridges and events.

Through the generosity of Allyn, his father’s collection of photographs was donated to the Joiner History Room in Sycamore. The collection contains pictures of many railway trains, including 400 pictures of the Chicago North Western Railway trains, and 135 pictures of the Chicago Great Western Railway trains.

The Ritzman Photo Collection was digitized in collaboration with the Joiner History Room. For more information, please see their webpage.

Rooftop View of Street
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, East Lincoln Highway, Looking Northwest Toward First Street, Second Street Visible, NIU Altgeld Hall, Daily Chronicle Building, YMCA, House Furniture, Drug Store, H. L. Meyers Jewelry & Shoes, V. A. Glidden Groceries, One Price Store, C. F. Smith Hardware & Furniture, Jewel Stove, Ranges, R. B. Chandler, P. S. Trumbauer Pharmacy Stationery Drugs, Normal Books & Supplies, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Educational, Place, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, First Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development, Education
Bank on Corner, East Lincoln Highway at Second Street
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking West Toward First Street, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, First National Bank, Dentist -- Dr. Church, A. F. Flachtmeier Dentist, Edward Johnson Real Estate & Insurance, Bijou Theater, All Paper & Paint, YMCA, Before New Paving with Street Car Track, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, First National Bank Building, First Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
Bell Restaurant 343 East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, W. H. L. Rowe (Justice of Peace, Real Estate Insurance and Notary Public) 353 East Lincoln Highway, (Above the Restaurant); DeKalb Ice Cream Parlor, W.B. Stefani 355 East Lincoln Highway, B. J. Morgan Insurance (Above Ice Cream Parlor), Star Theatre (1924) Elite Theatre (1910), Fourth Street and Lincoln Highway Intersection, North Side of Street, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East, Toward Seventh Street, Movie Theatre, Kid Millions Showing with Ethel Merman & Eddie Cantor Starring, on North Side of Street, South Side of Street Visible, Atlantic & Pacific Tea, Herbert C. Wasner, DeKalb Fruit Company, Barber Shop, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Seventh Street, Sixth Street, Economic Development
Davy Building
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, South Side of East Lincoln Highway Just West of Sixth Street, 1908 John G. Davy Building, George S. Peck School of Music & Dancing, 556 East End Ice Cream & Soda Company & Ice Cream -- Domestic & Tropical Fruit -- Cigars & Tobacco, P. L. Smith -- Dentist, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Sixth Street, Economic Development
Meter Men
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Second Street, Looking North Across Lincoln Highway, Morris Five to Ten Cent Store, National Food Store, City Hall, Police Department, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
DeKalb County Courthouse Constructions
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Sycamore, Sycamore, State Street and Main Street (Route 64 and Route 23), Man Standing on Front Steps of Courthouse, DeKalb, Government, People, Place, DeKalb County Courthouse, Main Street, Law and Society, Political Development
J. C. Penney's
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Lincoln Highway at Third Street, Looking South on Third Street, Herr's, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development
Bridge
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, West Lincoln Highway Looking East, Texaco Gas Station, Kishwaukee River Bridge at NIU Lagoon, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
WWII Submarine
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, On East Lincoln Highway, Heading West, Between Second and Third Streets, Store Along North Side of East Lincoln Highway ? F. W. Woolworth Store, Millenary Shop, Florsheim Shoes, Hardware Store, Veterans Memorial Clock Visible, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Government, Equipment, Place, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
Lincoln Highway Bridge
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Texaco Gas Station on Left, Lincoln Bridge ? Texaco Gas Station on left, Near NIU Lagoon, West Lincoln Highway Looking East Toward Downtown, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
First Street and East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East, Toward Second Street, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, Bakery, Model Laundry, YMCA, Pianos, Dr. Post's Office, Dr. Church's Office, Before New Paving with Street Car Track, DeKalb, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building
Early Bathing Suits
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Man and Woman Modeling, Very Victorian Age Style, DeKalb, People, Entertainment, Women and Gender
Morris Store
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, .5, .10, .25, .50 Cents To $1.00 Store, Hotel - Rooms With Bath $1.50 Rooms Without Bath $1.00 - $1.25, Radio Store, Hardware Store, Veteran's Memorial Clock, East Lincoln Highway At Second Street Looking East Toward Third Street, North Side of East Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Veterans' Memorial Clock, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
Early Bathing Suits
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Men and Women in Water and in Boat, Very Victorian Age Style, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Entertainment, Women and Gender
Post Office
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Cigar Store, Buggy Boy With Dog, Man and Woman in Buggy, Location Unknown, Possibly Rural Area, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Economic Development
East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking West from Seventh Street, Main Street (Lincoln Highway) Before New Paving with Street Car Track, Residential Homes, Fine Beer, Bakery, Drugs, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Residential, Place, Lincoln Highway, Seventh Street, Economic Development
DeKalb Fire Truck
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, by Fire Department During War (Office Civilian Defense), Bar Located Next To Fire Station, DeKalb, Government, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Across from 130 West Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, DeKalb, Residential, Place, Lincoln Highway
Floyd Ritzman
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Very Stylish Photograph, High Collar, Neck Tie With Stylish Stick Pin, Nose Glasses, DeKalb, People, Economic Development
Three Couples Ready To Travel
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., No Other Information, Appears that they are Traveling by Horse and Buggy, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Agriculture, Economic Development, Entertainment
Original County Farm House (Poor Farm)
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Later Became DeKalb County Infirmary and then DeKalb County Home, Sycamore Road, Route 23 at Intersection with Barber Green Road, DeKalb County Home Later Razed, 2004 ? Strip Mall, DeKalb, Government, Medical, Monumental, Residential, Place, Sycamore Road, Economic Development, Law and Society, Race and Ethnicity
Old Haish Opera House
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, At Third Street and East Lincoln Highway: Erected 1876, Burned 1906, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, First Haish Opera House, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development, Entertainment
Malta School
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Malta, Located Between Fourth and Fifth Streets, Monroe Street - Cross Street, Gym Later Built onto this Building, Building Later Razed, 2004 -- Lyon's Park is at this Location, Corn Fields in Background, DeKalb, Educational, Place, Agriculture, Education
Second Street and East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, O. G. Oblander Drug Store, Shoe Shine, Murphy's Tavern, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, P. G. Wagner Building, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development