Where on Earth was this photo taken?
As is the case with all of our Mystery Photos, this picture from the Observer-Reporter archives has no information attached to it. We know only it shows a place somewhere in Washington or Greene counties, and that it was taken sometime in the late 1940s.
We’re hoping some of our readers can tell us where this photo was taken, and, perhaps, why.
Under magnification, people are visible. A man is climbing up the crane, and there are several people to the right near what appears to be a 1930s-vintage pickup truck. We guess the naked hill in the background in not natural but rather the result of mining. In the foreground are wetlands and what could be a beaver dam.
If you think you know where this place is and what sort of construction might have been going on here, email Park Burroughs, retired executive editor, at pburroughs@observer-reporter.com, or call and leave a message for him along with your telephone number at 724-222-2200, extension 2400. With a little help from our readers, we may be able to solve the puzzle and publish our findings next Monday.