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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.

Charles W. Marsh House
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Built in 1871, Later was Tuberculosis Sanatorium, Now Hopkins Park, House in Photo has a Widow's Walk on the Roof, DeKalb, Residential, Place, Agriculture, Economic Development
Oblander's Drug Store
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 16 East Lincoln Highway, Popcorn Stand, Egyptian Theatre, Looking North on Lincoln Highway and Second Street, Cars, P. C. Wagner Building 1876, Kodaks, Drugs, Cigarettes, Hot Chocolate, College Text Books, Murphy's Tavern (Currently The House restaurant -- 2004), DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, P. G. Wagner Building, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
Matterson Law Office
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 203 Grove Street, Corner of South Second Street and Grove, Burnt Down in March 1947, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
Suds o' Mat Laundry
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 141 South Third Street, DeKalb Westinghouse Washers, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, Third Street, Economic Development
Sycamore Looking West on State Street
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Sycamore, Winter Heavy Snow, DeKalb, Residential, Place, Economic Development
Sycamore Road (Route 23) Looking North
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Near Marsh Home (Now Hopkins Park), Automobile, Buggy, Interurban (Trolley), DeKalb
Texas Ranch House
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Sandwiches/Lunches, 156 East Locust Street, Run by Mrs. Eleanor Hakala and Don Busse, Malts, Diner Located on the Corner of Second Street and Locust Street, looking Southeast, Drink Coca Cola, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Locust Street, Second Street, Economic Development, Entertainment
Sycamore Looking East at Sandpipe in Street from Somonauk and State
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Sycamore, Southeast of Courthouse, Dedication of Civil War Monument, DeKalb, People, Place, Entertainment, Law and Society, Women and Gender, Political Development
Dedication of Civil War Monument
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Sycamore, Photo Taken on Courthouse Lawn, Monument in Background, DeKalb, Government, Monumental, People, Place, DeKalb County Courthouse, Entertainment, Law and Society, Race and Ethnicity
Truck
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Dekalb?s First Delivery Truck, Horseless Carriage, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Economic Development
Vaughan Blacksmith Shop
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Main Street (Lincoln Highway) Between Third Street and Fourth Street, Horse Shoeing, Brick Building, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development
A. F. Rowley Boyhood Home
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Near Steward, Illinois, Horse and Buggy with Driver in Front, DeKalb, Residential, Equipment, People, Place, Agriculture, Economic Development
Boy Scouts in Parade
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Via Eddie Raymond, DeKalb, People, Entertainment
Man Cutting Grain on Sycamore Road (Route 23)
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Near County Farm Road, Using Old Fashioned Hay/Grain Cutter, "White Shirt Farmers", DeKalb, Industrial, Equipment, People, Place, Sycamore Road, Agriculture
Man Cutting Grain on Sycamore Road (Route 23)
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Near County Farm Road, Using Old Fashioned Hay/Grain Cutter, "White Shirt Farmers", DeKalb, Equipment, People, Place, Sycamore Road, Agriculture
Marvin and Bagg Plumbing Store
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 345 East Main Street (East Lincoln Highway), DeKalb, Educational, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Dedication of Civil War Monument
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Sycamore, Women Standing on State Street, at the Intersection of State and Maple Streets, DeKalb, People, Place, Entertainment, Law and Society, Political Development, Women and Gender
Peter C. Wagner Hearse, DeKalb
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Old Fashioned Horse Drawn Hearse, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Economic Development
Henry Hurlburt Wagner Store
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 230 East Lincoln Highway, Later Malone's Store, Photograph of Inside of Store, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Peter Warber House
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 429 South Second Street and Garden Street, Brick Street, DeKalb, Residential, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
Horace Fay Wells
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., as Lincoln, With Tall Top Hat On, DeKalb, Government, People, Economic Development, Education, Entertainment, Frontier Settlement, Law and Society
Embree Lumber & Coal
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 137 South Second Street, Sign E. E. Embree Federal Housing Information Here, Horse and Sleigh in Front, DeKalb, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
Mosher and Embree Lumber & Coal
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, 133 South Second Street, DeKalb, Cement, Fairbanks Standard Scales, Horses and Wagons in Back Lot, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Second Street, Civil War
Malta Hotel
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Malta, Destroyed by Fire November 1, 1932, Hotel Malta; Hotel Buffet, Men Standing Near Fence, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Economic Development
Chronicle Building, Ward's Store, Standard Service Station
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Corner of East Lincoln Highway and First Street, Aerial View/Photograph, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, First Street, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development