Courtship during the Victorian Age, like many other aspects of life, had elaborate rules and customs. A man and woman had to be formally introduced and the man had to wait for an invitation to "call". Most families had a set time when they expected visitors, who presented a specially printed calling card. Men were expected to observe a fifteen-minute time limit. Almost all courting took place in the home, under the eye of watchful parents. If the courting progressed, the couple might advance to the front porch. Smitten couples rarely saw each other without the presence of a chaperone, and marriage proposals were frequently written.*

From research, we know the location is 704 East 4th Street (now a parking lot behind UTC’s McKenzie Arena). To the far left, we see Fred H. Phillips Sr. looking on with apparent approval. The young man is likely one of his sons, Fred, Jr. or Frank, as Fred had no daughters. A woman’s hat can be seen behind him - perhaps the young lady’s mother. Mr. Phillips was born in Maine in 1847, and moved to Chattanooga - working for the railroads 49 years. When he died in 1918, he had earned the distinction of being the oldest railway mail clerk in Tennessee. During his career he was involved in three serious train wrecks - one leaving him off duty for 14 months to heal.

Sometimes, a less than interesting photo reveals a surprise. The décor itself is fascinating. A common theme is the abundant display of paper framed photos everywhere. Family ‘snapshots’ were always in reach. These were likely ‘contact prints’ - in that the size of the photo is the size of the negative - in this case, 5” x 7”.

On the wall, a print is displayed of a woman holding a baby. That very negative is part of the collection. Click the image below to see the photo - in higher detail than anyone saw it at that time.

At the time, the photographer is actually in the state of Georgia - looking down Market Street towards the Tennessee River.

The building on the far left holds special historic significance. It is the Western & Atlantic Railroad Depot - and the northern terminus of that railroad. Decades earlier at the southern end - an engineer was chosen to recommend the location where the Western & Atlantic line would terminate. Once he surveyed various possible routes, he drove a stake into the ground. The area developed into a settlement, known as "Terminus", literally meaning "end of the line". In 1843, the small settlement of Terminus was incorporated as the city of Marthasville. Two years later, by Act of the Georgia General Assembly the city was renamed "Atlanta"

Established April 1898 - Abandoned October 1898

U.S. Infantry Spanish American War training camp

Located on the site of the Civil War (1861-65) battlefield at Chickamauga, Camp Thomas was arguably both the largest training camp and the most deadly in the country. Established shortly before the war was declared, Camp Thomas would be the temporary home to more than 7,000 regular soldiers and to more than sixty regiments of state troops.

The site as originally laid out simply could not support so many men concentrated in such a small and wild area. Overcrowding and poor sanitation led to a serious outbreak of typhoid, which caused 752 deaths. The camp was thoroughly investigated after the war, and the findings would have a major influence on military medicine for the next century.

SOURCE: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org