I refer to these photographs as Grandpa's Pearl Harbor pictures even though some were of other locations as well. Grandpa was a U.S. Marine from 1923-1927. This group of photographs document subjects of interest to my paternal grandfather, Jochim Walter Schnack. Wallie, or Wally, or Walt, is how he signed the backs of the pictures when he was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Territory Hawai'i. The chain of islands we know as Hawai'i was a U.S. Territory from 1898-1959.
Because of how and what was written on the reverse sides of these photographs, and the fact that grandma saved them, I believe that my grandfather mailed these to my grandmother, Olive Letha
Rose Schnack, as correspondence. They married 12 October 1926.
Some of the pictures are dated and others I included because of the similar subject matter. All the photographs were found loose in a box of miscellaneous memorabilia. I know my grandfather was interested in photography but what I don't know is if he was the photographer of all of these photos. Some, I believe, he developed himself and others have a photography shop stamp on the reverse side.
Click on any of the place names to learn more about them. Place names in this collection are:
- La Jolla, California
- Balboa Park, San Diego, California
- Cardiff, California
- Mare Island, California
- Coronado, San Diego, California
- Point Loma, California
- Coronado Hotel, San Diego, California
- San Diego Bay, California
- Torrey Pines Lodge, Torrey Pines, California
- Del Mar, California
- Pu'uloa Point, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawai'i
- Oahu, Territory Hawai'i
- Halema'uma'u Crater, Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i
- Kilauea Iki, Kilauea Volcano, Hawai'i
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Dot: Taken 1924. Marine Barracks, Mare Island, California. The
canteen is on the left, or rather part of it. This is the duty company
barracks. The Naval Prison detachment has a separate barracks. The
hospital is behind the trees on the right.
Wallie |
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| Friend Barker at Cardiff, California 1924 |
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| Taken February 1924. The Boulevard at Balboa Park over the bridge. This bridge is over 600 feet high. The tower is the distance is that of the California Building. I can't swear how high it is but it has 225 steps to the top and I estimate it at over 175 feet high. You can see a long, long ways in all directions from the top of it. Wally |
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| Balboa Park, San Diego, California |
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| Taken February 1924. Scene shows La Jolla in the distance. At the bottom of the hill is the U.S. Biological Research building and pier. The beach is military beach. Can you see the f__ver coming up the hill? La Jolla is 3 1/2 miles from where this picture was taken. Wallie |
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| This is a combination cave and ocean scene. I snapped it at the sea shore at La Jolla, California, four miles from the Range. You will find it 15 miles north of San Diego. Notice how I caught the spray as it broke on the rocks. I get all my pictures as clear as this one. There are quite a few seals, sharks, and whales in the waters here. |
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| Taken March 1924. Torrey Pines Lodge, California. If you look real close you can read the name. I hope I haven't sent you this one before. Did I ever send you the one showing the winding road through Balboa Park? If not, let me know in your next letter. It was taken from the top of the bridge crossing the valley, which the road runs through. Torrey Pines Lodge is 25 miles north of San Diego. Wallie |
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| Torrey Pines Lodge, California. Walt. |
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| A view from Torrey Pines. Walt. |
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| Friend Kaufman on Torrey Pines grade, California. Walt. |
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| Taken April 1924. Scene looking north along beach and road from Torrey Pines. The road is several hundred feet lower than the place from where the picture was snapped. Del Mar is just over the hill in the picture. You may be able to find Del Mar on a map. It's about 30 miles north of San Diego. |
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| Taken May 1924. Scene in San Diego Bay. Picture shows destroyers on the right. A freighter and six submarines on the left, also part of San Diego. Picture was taken from Coronado Ferry. Wallie |
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| Dot: This picture was taken from Coronado, San Diego, California in August 1924. The land in the distance is Point Loma. The clouds are often much better but I had to take the picture while I was there. The rocks on the right is the breakwater in front of Coronado Hotel. Did you ever try taking a picture like this? If not, try it! Wallie |
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| Dot: Taken September 1924. This is a picture of our barracks here. This view is looking east. It was late P.M. and consequently I got plenty of shadows in the picture. You can see some of the bunks with mosquito netting on the second deck. It is all screened in. The iron door on the nearest corner leads to the guard room and brig. Well Hon, do you like my home?? This was taken with my new camera. Wallie |
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| Dot: Taken September 1924. Showing the street in front of the officer's quarters. Walnut Avenue. This street has trees on it from all parts of the world, including the 'Tree of Heaven' from China. Also, trees from Australia, South America, and other places. Just to the left of the auto, you will notice a very small shack. That's where the Admiral's orderly stays while on duty. Yes, he is a Marine. Wallie |
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| Dot: Taken at the inter-company swimming meet. October 24, 1924. Picture shows 'Seitsinger' doing a back dive. Or rather, the finish of the dive. I have been with Seitsinger ever since we joined. We were on the rifle team together last year. Wallie |
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| Dot: Here's another picture of our Thanksgiving day field meet. This shows one of the teams in a centipede race. I'm not in the picture. Wallie |
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| Dot: Here's the tug-o-war in our recent Thanksgiving day field meet. The other end didn't come out good on account of the shadow. Notice the starter with rifle on left. |
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| All ready to pass in review. Marines at Pearl Harbor, Territory Hawai'i. (Shura Photo, Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1926) |
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| Passing in review, Pearl Harbor, Territory Hawai'i. (Shura Photo, Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1926) |
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| The 1000 yard firing line. The rifle team shooting. Pearl Harbor, Territory Hawai'i. 1926 |
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| Marines arriving at Pearl Harbor. |
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| The dormitory building at Navy Recruit(?) Camp, mess hall, and galley partly showing on left. Wallie |
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| Just before guard mount, Pearl Harbor, Territory Hawai'i |
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| Just before guard mount, Pearl Harbor, Territory Hawai'i. |
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| S.S.Empress of Scotland off Oahu, Territory Hawai'i. March 1927 |
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| This gadget drills 40-foot holes (6 at a time) for blasting. Pearl Harbor channel, Pu'uloa Point. |
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| The edge of Kilauea Iki, 770-foot deep. Last active in 1868. In distance is Kilauea crater proper. And extreme background is Mount Moana Loa, 14,000-foot elevation. Wallie |
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| smallest volcano in the world |
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| Hot lava made this hole 1800-foot through solid rock into the heart of the mountain. The walls and floor are very smooth. |
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| The volcano pit [crater], Halema'uma'u (House of Everlasting Fire) is 1350-feet deep, 3000-feet wide, and 3500-feet long. At present it just rumbles and steams. Last eruption was 1923. I took this picture nearly straight down. On extreme bottom you can see fresh lava. Next, on all sides, land slides from the quakes and then the wall starting straight up. Wallie |
