Exterior view of the Nathan Rhine Store, Independence, CA. Ca. 1886/1887.

Exterior view of the Nathan Rhine Store, Independence, CA. Ca. 1886/1887.

View of a dirt street in Independence, CA, ca 1886/1887. The Nathan Rhine Store is to the right.

View of a dirt street in Independence, CA, ca 1886/1887. The Nathan Rhine Store is to the right.

Two views of Independence, CA, dating from when Bledsoe had a studio in Traver, CA. These are from the collection of the California Historical Society at USC. The Nathan Rhine store is to the right in the lower image. The notes in the USC database suggest that Nathan Rhine himself is in the upper image. I’m betting on the guy with his hands on his hips.

Images by J. W. Bledsoe.