A group of local sight seers and souvenir hunters are gathered around the wreckage of the Pleiades, the gondola used by Dr. Jean Piccard during his flight. The gondola quickly burned after a fire was caused by burning excelsior ignited by the TNT used to blast away his upper cluster of balloons. The flight ended when Dr. Piccard landed near the Mississippi River bluff near Lansing, Iowa on July 18, 1935 approximately seventy-five miles from Rochester. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Cluster balloons have been inflated and are attached to the gondola, the Pleiades, just prior to take off from Soldier's Field in Rochester, MN. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Assistants are inflating individual balloons with hydrogen at Soldier's Field in Rochester, MN prior to Dr. Jean's Piccard's experimental balloon ascension. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Inflated balloons are being walked in from the edges of the field toward the gondola to be joined into clusters just prior to Dr. Piccard's take off. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Dr. Jean Piccard is inflating one of the 80 balloons which he planned to use in his ascent. He is assisted by Elden Olson, University of Minnesota aeronautical student. Hundreds of spectators gathered to watch this rehearsal of the ground crew on July 7, 1935 at Soldiers Field, Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Dr. Jean Piccard's family is working on the gondola, Pleiades, before his balloon flight from Rochester, Minnesota. Left to right, Professor Jean Piccard, thirteen year old Paul, Dr. Jeannette Picard (his wife), seventeen year old John and eleven year old Donald. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Assistants are holding individual inflated balloons at Soldiers Field while waiting for the signal to move towards the center and join the balloons into clusters for Dr. Jean Piccard's balloon ascension in the early hours of July 18, 1937.
Mr. and Mrs. Mort Madden are posed in front of their farm house where they hosted Dr. Jean Piccard after his flight ended on July 18, 1935. Dr. Piccard landed in a tree near the river bluff on their property and walked to their house. Mrs. Madden cooked breakfast for Dr. Piccard before he was driven into Lasing, Iowa by Mr. Madden's brother-in-law, Joe Manton. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Professor Jean Piccard is posed by the gondola or basket he would ride in during his historic balloon ascension on July 18, 1935. In the background of this photo taken in Soldiers Field is the Rochester Dairy. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Dr. Jean Piccard is posed by a Lincoln-Zephyr automobile. This photo was later used in an advertisement for Motor Sales & Service Company that appeared in the Rochester Post-Bulletin newspaper on July 19, 1937. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight from Soldiers Field in Rochester, Minnesota was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Dr. Jean Piccard is installing a radio in the Pleiades prior to his historic balloon flight. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Seventeen year old John Piccard, eldest son of Dr. Jean Piccard, is fastening toggles to the loading ring of his fathers gondola, Pleiades, prior to Dr. Jean Piccard's historic flight. Dr. Jean Piccard was a University of Minnesota physicist and aeronautical engineer who believed it was possible to ascend into the stratosphere using many small cluster balloons rather than one large balloon. The experimental flight was sponsored by the Rochester Kiwanis Club and supported by local residents and students.
Two men are posed by a balloon with passenger basket at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds. The event was sponsored by the American Legion as a welfare benefit show.
Barbers stand next to their barber chairs in Oesterreich Billiards, Bowling Alley and Barber Shop. Billiard tables are visible on the far right. The barbers are (left to right): Louie Bauman, Bill Sykes, Slim Garlets, Earl Ellison and Fred Oesterreich. The business was located at 9 South Broadway.
Construction of the Kahler Hotel is seen in the background. The Wagoner Block (center foreground) housed the following businesses: the Fischer Cafeteria on the First Street SW side, Emerson Barber Shop and Cigar and Magazine store on the corner, J. H. Wagoner Music Company on the First Avenue SW side, American Railway Express office, Gay Vincent Millinery and J. D. Kelly Real Estate Office. Clarence Stearns Photography Studio was on the second floor. Across the street to the east (right side of photo) is the offices of the Dodge Lumber Company. To the south, across the street (left side of photo) was the Zumbro Hotel, built in 1912. Note parking located in the center of the street. F. H. Gimbert rented roof space for his real estate sign, but his office was two blocks down First Avenue SW at his home.
A car is driving across the concrete bridge (built in 1918) at Oronoco. Several men appear to be fishing in the river under the bridge. The photo is taken from below the site of the present dam, looking west. The dam gave way in 1924 and there was no lake for the next 13 years. The present dam was built in 1937 by the W.P.A. and federal government funding.
Large stacks of tires and boxes of inner tubes are displayed in front of Case Auto Company storefront. Several men are sitting on piles of tires loaded on a Chevrolet pick-up truck. A couple is sitting on another stack of tires. The sign above the storefront reads: ""Case Auto Co., Chatfield, Rochester, Stewartville; We recommend Goodrich Tires, Silvertown Cord, Fabric and Sold Truck Tires"". The Brown Hotel is visible on the right.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Lake Zumbro, created by the dam, is visible on the right.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Looking upstream, the power house is visible in the center right.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Looking toward the west bank and the power house, a small section of railroad track situated on top of one of the walls is visible in the foreground..
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Looking west, the power house is visible on the right.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Looking toward the west bank and the power house, men and horses are visible in the center.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Looking toward the east bank, a portion of the power house is visible on the far right.
The construction of the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Power Plant dam began in 1917. The structure was designed by noted hydroelectric engineer, Hugh Lincoln Cooper. The dam, completed in 1919, is owned by Rochester Public Utilities. Three men are standing on the rim, looking into the excavation area.