Print, Photographic

Print. Black and white photographic print of a window display advertising Michigan Potatoes at The J.L. Hudson Company Department Store. Michigan potatoes are visible in bushels, acrylic cylinders, and displayed on shelves. Signage on the left side of the window reads, "Believe it or Not, No, Mr. Ripley, the Irish Potato does not come from Ireland. It is grown in our own State of Michigan. The counties of Wexford, Osceola, Mecosta, Missaukee, Lake, and Clare produce some might fine specimens. Let's see what the Encyclopedia Britannica says: After much investigation it seems to be accepted that the original habitat of the wild potato is either Peru of Chile, where it grows wild on the cool plateau high up in the Andes. Here it has grown for centuries and supplied the stocks which have been distributed to most countries of the world. Unfortunately, the exact history of its introduction to other countries has been lost and the few historical stories that remain prove to have very little solid foundation when investigated by modern workers. Sir Walter Raleigh, for instance in 1585, is said to have brought back the potato from Virginia, yet on investigation it appears that the true potato did not reach Virginia until over a hundred years after this date. Nor could Raleigh have obtained the potato from Peru, for his ships apparently never visited that country. Sir John Hawkins is also credited with having introduced the potato in 1565. _______________potatoes ______________potato," and not the ordinary potato as we know it. Claims are also made for Drake in this connection. Certainly his ships passed through the Straits of Magellan in 1578 and turned northwards, after which he returned to England across the Pacific and Indian oceans, thereby completing his second renowned trip around the world. There is, however, no record that potatoes were brought on his ship the 'Pelican," and indeed it was not until 1586 that he is alleged to have introduced the potato. The Germans are exponents of the Drake story, for there stands in Offenburg, Baden, a monument inscribed: 'Sir Frances Drake, Introducer of the potato into Europe in the year of our Lord 1580.' It is probably, however, that it was the Spaniards who gave the potato to Europe. However, that may be, after cultivation and improvement in Europe, stocks spread to North America and Australia, for these new countries seem to have not ____ ____ Europe and….." Also, signage on the right side of the display reads, "MORE THAN A THOUSAND WAYS TO SERVE POTATOES' says Joseph Faussone, Chef, Hotel Statler, 'Of course, a good appetite does not want sauce, but the potato will always be our most important of the vegetables. Of the many ways we serve potatoes, these are my favorites,' Boulangere Potatoes, Potatoes sliced with raw onions, stewed tomatoes, salt pork, cooked in oven; Welsh Rarebit Potatoes, Cut large diced potatoes in cream and American cheese, Bake in oven; Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Diced ham or bacon with onion chopped fine, sweet butter and put back in the shell; Cottage Fried Potatoes, Slice raw and fry in butter, well browned; Escalop Potatoes, Slice raw potato, cook in cream with fresh mushrooms; Lorette Potatoes, Mashed potato is mixed with cream puff paste, and fried in Crisco." The photographic sequence number, and photographer's name are printed on the bottom of the recto, "17338; Davis B. Hillmer."