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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.

First National Bank
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Second Street and East Lincoln Highway, Old City Hall Building on Right, E. E. Embree Lumber Company Next Corner, Right, Winter Snow, DeKalb, Financial, People, First National Bank Building, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
Evergreen Cemetery
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Phineas Vaughan, Seventh and Taylor Streets, DeKalb, Interesting Marker, DeKalb, Monumental, Place, Seventh Street, Economic Development
Eldorado Cemetery, Stephenson County
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., Oneco Township, Section 29, North Henderson and W. Eldorado Roads, Northeast of Freeport, Illinois, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
Rail Yards, Tenth Street, Aerial View
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, DeKalb, Industrial, Equipment, Place, Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, Economic Development
Chicago Outer Belt Line Train
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Al Lawson, Tom Robertson, Charlie Peterson, Fred Belk, DeKalb, Industrial, Equipment, People, Economic Development
Normal Training School (McMurry)
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, May Day, Eleanor Parson (Zulanf) Holding Basket and Herbert Hampson Holding Fishing Pole, DeKalb, People, Education, Entertainment
Normal Training School (McMurry)
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, May Day, L.?, Right Harriet Larson, Front Charles Parson, Children in Some Sort of Costumes, DeKalb, People, Education, Entertainment
First Street and Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East, East Lincoln Highway, Looking East Toward Second, Third and Fourth Street, North Side of Street -- Lincoln Inn, Goodyear's Goodies, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, First Street, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
Street Scene, East Lincoln Highway and Fourth Street
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East Down East Lincoln Highway, Railroad Tracks and Railroad Station, Street Car Tracks and Brick Street, Horses and Buggies, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Main Street (Lincoln Highway)
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, At Second Street Looking East, Decoration Day (Memorial Day), Parade Heading West on East Lincoln Highway, Dentist Office; J. L. Leishman, V. A. Glidden Groceries, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development, Entertainment
West Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, About Across from McDonald's, DeKalb Arch - 'Come Again', West Lincoln Highway Looking West, Near Site of Current Junction Shopping Center, Sinclair Gasoline, Drive-In, Coca-Cola, Shiltz, DeKalb, Monumental, Place, DeKalb Arch, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Glidden House
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Second Street and Lincoln Highway, Northeast Corner, W. H. Meyers Optician, Horses and Buggies, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
East Lincoln Highway Between Second Street and Third Street
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East North Side, Veteran's Memorial Clock, J. C. Penney Company, B. C. Knodle & Son Hardware Tools Cutlery Antiques, Grace Hardesty Beauty Shop, Cigars, News, Magazines, Coca-Cola, Dentist's Office, Radio, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Monumental, Place, Veterans' Memorial Clock, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
DeKalb, Fourth Street and East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking Southeast, Gas Station on Corner, ?The Successor To Gasoline D-X Lubricating Motor Oil? ?Distributed by DeKalb Independent Oil Co.? ?Diamond 768 Motor Oil? ?The Heat Resistant Lubricant? ?Wolf?s Head Oil? 'Quickest Starting New D-X' , Barber Shop on Corner; Fourth Street, Rail Road Lights and Tracks, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Sixth Street and Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking West, Prescott Building (foreground), Nehring Building (Background, Now McDonald?s), Ford Garage, Used Furniture Store, Piano Accessories Sheet Music Supplies Band Instruments and Instructions, Moving 139 So. 3rd Street, Lyman R. Prescott, Trader, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Sixth Street, Economic Development
Lincoln Highway at Christmas Time
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, East Lincoln Highway Near Fourth Street, Looking East, North Side of Street, Men Hanging Christmas Decorations, Holland Bakery, Attorneys at Law Office, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Between Second Street and Third Street
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, On North Side of Highway, Meat Market, Railroad Tracks, Street Car Tracks, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
Glidden House Block
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, East Lincoln Highway and Second Street, Looking Toward North Side of Street, Drug Store, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
First Street and Lincoln Highway Looking East
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Fourth of July Parade to Kingston, East Lincoln Highway, Looking East Toward Second, Third and Fourth Street, North Side of Street; Lincoln Inn, Goodyear's Goodies 'Tater-flakes They're Smackin' Good' Delicatessen Bakery 135, 135 ½ Potato Chips Delicatessen, Chain Red & White Stores; Barb City Grocery, 143 B. C. B. Gonterman. 143, Photo Craft Shop, The Reliable, Field & Co., Drugs Soda, National Chain Department Stores Klines, Pay Less Here, United Cigars, Hotel DeKalb, Radio, Hardware, Veterans' Memorial Clock, Drugs, New Hotel Rice, Drugs, B. C. Knodle, South Side of Street; W. J. Hope Insurance, Cottage Cupboard Soda Homecooking, Wirtz & Wirtz Furniture, Flags on Trucks in Street, Sign on Truck "Going to American Steel & Wire Company Picnic at Kingston", DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Veterans' Memorial Clock, First Street, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
Third Street and Lincoln Highway Looking North
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Look Out the Cars, Suits $15.00 Overcoats, Railroad Tracks and Depot Station With 'Third Street' Sign on it, Man Inside Depot Station, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development
Robert Davy Jeweler
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Lincoln Highway East of Third Street, North Side, Chicago Dailies Periodicals Stationery, Byron B. Snow News Dealer, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development
Officers of Merritt Simonds Post, No. 283, Department of Illinois Grand Army of the Republic of DeKalb, Illinois
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Gives List of Officers of Merritt, DeKalb, People, Economic Development, Entertainment
Street Scene, East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking West from Third Street, Looking Toward Second Street, J. C. Penney Company, Veterans Memorial Clock, B. C. Knodle and Son Hardware, Looking West Toward North Side of East Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Veterans' Memorial Clock, First Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development
Second Street and East Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East Down East Lincoln Highway, Toward Third and Fourth Streets, Brick Street with Trolley Tracks, Men Working on and in Street, Horses and Buggies, H. U. Meyers Optician, Bloom?s -- the Good Clothes Store, Dentist?s Office, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Third Street, Economic Development
First Street and Lincoln Highway
Joiner History Room, Sycamore Public Library., DeKalb, Looking East Down East Lincoln Highway Toward Second Street, Brick Street, North Side of Street, Red Crown Gasoline, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, Spickerman Brothers Dentists, Lincoln Inn Ice Cream Sodas Lunches, Carlson Cleaner's Tailors Men's Wear, South Side of Street, Montgomery Ward & Company, Holmes Hat Shop, Glass Wallpaper Paint, Cottage Cupboard Soda Home Cooking Restaurant, W. J. Hope Insurance, Buster Brown Shoes, First National Bank of DeKalb, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, DeKalb Daily Chronicle Building, First National Bank Building, First Street, Lincoln Highway, Second Street, Economic Development