Gezicht op Fairmount street te Belvidere before 1892

This anonymous photograph shows Fairmount Street in Belvidere. The image presents us with the kind of idealized vision of civic life that was common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With its tree-lined street and well-maintained sidewalks, the photograph suggests a prosperous and orderly community. The absence of people adds to this sense of calm and tranquility, but it also raises questions. Who lived here? What kind of social activities took place on this street? Were there social divisions or inequalities that are not immediately apparent? The identity of the photographer is unknown to us, and we may wonder if the picture was a private commission or made for a civic institution. Historians can use census records, city directories, and other primary sources to learn more about the people who lived on Fairmount Street and the social and economic conditions of the time. By placing the photograph in its historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.