This is the real thing – a saloon of the 1880–90s. You can practically taste and smell it! Yippee yi yo!
Not like TV or in the movies at all, this is how it was. J.J. Jarvis' Little Gem Saloon and Restaurant served "meals at all hours", so the sign says; there are no menus, so look at what is chalked on the board, or not, call out your order and someone will rustle it up for you. There are curtains on a rod drawn across the left window – classy indeed! Need a room? There is the hotel across the street as evidenced by the reflection in the saloon windows.
No one is putting on airs, so what you see is what you get in this town. Dust and dirt everywhere. Nobody in this photo is going to shovel the equine poop off the street before the ladies with their babies and tots take center front for the cameraman. The saloon regulars, employees and anyone else get into the picture. The proprietor brings out a tray with glasses filled. Alright! The crates stacked on the walk are Medford Brewery Company of Wisconsin (where else would good beer hail from at this time?). There is sheet metal siding meant to look like brick, sort of. The building next door has newspapers covering the windows inside. The railroad may even come through this town.
This was a faded, tattered cabinet card of above average size. No other identification – what we see is what we get!