Then and now: Y grows from 3-way to 4-way intersection
The black and white photo (circa 1952) shows how the melding of highways 50 and 89 in Tahoe Valley formed a three-way Y intersection.
The camera is on Highway 89, coming from Camp Richardson, looking at where 89 joined Highway 50 from Stateline (left) going (right) to Meyers.
According to longtime local (since 1940s) Dave Wakeman, the Tahoe Trading Post was owned by John Phillipson, who was also the local postmaster. The building at the left was Nevada Lumber Company. To the right of the photo was a two-pump 76 gas station and Lampson’s Market, post office, and bank. Factory Stores at the Y essentially cover this area now.
The color photo shows today’s four-way intersection there, as Lake Tahoe Boulevard (lower-right in photo) was forged by the Martin Brothers and partners in the early 1960s and Caltrans used its property rights to enlarge the entire intersection.
About the only thing similar between these two photos is the distant mountain profile of what became Heavenly Valley.
— Bill Kingman
Love these “now and then” pictures and stories – are any of the “then” photos available for purchase in a higher resolution?
Ditto
Love it! My family built two cabins here in the early 50’s and it is nice to see these old photos.
Mark and Mr. Wright,
For some excellent photos of REALLY old Tahoe try and get a copy of E.B.Scott’s “The Saga of Lake Tahoe”. Great photos and stories. I’m pretty sure it’s out of print so this may be a hard to find book but you will enjoy it should you get your hands on one.
Take Care,Old Long Skiis
The Lake Tahoe Museum has copies of The Saga vols. 1&2 for sale in their bookstore and also has a collection of old photographs available.
Yep….the museum’s computer has TONS of photos you can choose from, print and pay! I’ve also found great photos on the UNR website: https://knowledgecenter.unr.edu/specoll/photoweb/tahoe/ …another that you click and pay.
Museum store is a great place to get Christmas gifts for anyone that’s interested in Tahoe or Sierra history.
Lee,
Thanks for the tip about Saga of Lake Tahoe books being avaiable at the museum. I’ve already got Volumes 1 and 2. They have been at a permanent resting place on my coffee table for many years.
One of these days I’ve got to get to the museum and see what they’ve got. I have a few old pieces of Tahoe memorabila laying aroud here(and no, I don’t mean me!). Perhaps to put on loan?
Take Care, “OLD” Long Skiis
I LIVE DOWN AT THE X
David DeWitt’s note here reminded me of a local radio deejay, Tommy Allen, who advocated in 1972: “It hasn’t been a Y for a dozen years, so now we should call it the South Tahoe Plus (+) — that would be good marketing!”
Some visitors still ask about the YMCA.
P.S. to all: double left-clicking on any/most of LTN’s photos will enlarge them.
THEN-and-NOW large photos are yours at
http://www.photobucket.com/TahoeThenAndNow
Click ON the selected photo again (and maybe again) until full screen. Enjoy! Bill K.