THE HOME OF DICK & HANK DWYER [Photo Album of the Construction of a House]

The Biography Of A Home

THE HOME OF DICK & HANK DWYER [Photo Album of the Construction of a House]

[1958-1959]

Original and unusually unified photograph album detailing the birth and early life of a midcentury house outside Binghamton, New York.

Very good plus.

Price: $850.00

THE HOME OF DICK & HANK DWYER [Photo Album of the Construction of a House]

From an empty lot to its first Christmas, this is the story of the construction of the home of the Dwyers. Here is Kopyar's well-digging truck, struggling to make it up the hilly landscape; here is Hank – Mrs. Dwyer – reaching into the hole that would later become the cellar, and here is Dick among the rafters that would later become the attic. Here are two pictures, taken only a month apart, of Dick in a bathtub, the first in a bare-bones bathroom where he sports sunglasses and a full outfit, the second nude and scrubbing down among tile and a sparkly shower curtain.
This warmly vernacular album of moments in the construction of a home is unusual in its cohesiveness. It paints an intimate picture of the exuberance of mid-century America, and of the relationship of this young couple just beginning their life together.

The Object

[Binghamton, NY]: n.p, [1958-1959]. 6.75'' x 8.5''. Oblong red commercial string-tied album with gilt accents. 28 black leaves containing 105 black-and-white gelatin silver photographs corner-mounted recto and verso, and first 15 leaves captioned in white. Boards with light edgewear, scuff to rear; one of the metal "eyes" of string structure pulled out of board to rear, but secure on the string. Four photos apparently perished. Several corners degraded or lacking; six photos loose.

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