Sometimes you don't see the full picture, part 2

Panoramic view of Arlington from 1912.

Recently the above panoramic view was shared with me, following my post titled History can be ugly.

At first glance, this panoramic view, dated 1912, could be identical to the undated view I previously published. They appear to have been taken almost from the exact same position, and probably not taken more than a year or two apart.

The undated "history can be ugly" photo.

The panoramic view, cropped.

And what a different story the panoramic photo tells from the other image!

The panoramic image creates a very different response in the viewer. It seems to illustrate the concept of the "right" side and the "wrong" side of tracks. (although some old timers would argue that it's old Haller City, on the north side of Division St., that was/is technically Arlington's "wrong side of the tracks.")

But that is an assumption made by someone who wasn't there.

However, even "primary sources" — first person accounts, newspaper articles — can be problematic, because personal biases and fading memories can also distort the historical "facts."

That's why when researching history — whether it be that of your family, or that of your community —it is imperative to take into account that there may be more than one version of events. One photo, one artifact, one memory, is only scratching the surface of the whole story — or rather, the full picture.