Aero View of Peekskill,
1911
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This 1911 lithograph of Peekskill is a fine example of the kinds of images that were very popular with Americans in the 19th century. According to John Reps’ Views and Viewmakers of Urban America, over 2,400 places in the US had been documented with a printed image by the early 20th century, most often portrayed “as if seen from an imaginary viewpoint high in the air.” Although published by Hughes and Bailey of New York, the copyright is held by Fowler and Hughes. Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler (1842-1922) is identified in Reps’ history as “the most prolific of all American city viewmakers.” This print is notable for illustrating how developed Peekskill had become by the early 20th century. The drawings of the buildings, which are described by John Reps as “spare” and “mechanical,” are still remarkably accurate in their representations.