Business Histories of Coleman
County, Texas
W. P. Martin Able To Develop
Most Any Size Picture
From the 1936 Centennial Edition
Coleman Democrat-Voice Newspaper
(transcribed by Pam Sanders,
March 2006.)
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| The little hand that points upstairs, you will find, is guiding you
right. It will direct you right into Martin’s studio. This little
hand we speak of is suspended above the sidewalk exactly between the Jesse
Penney Jewelry Store and Perry Bros. In a spacious compartment on
the left at the head of the stairs is the studio of W. P. Martin, photographer.
Mr. Martin had a studio in Ballinger for eight years before coming to
Coleman. His first venture here was in a location over Mayes Drug
Store. He has been in his present location about seven years.
His son in Abilene is reported to have one of the finest studios in
West Texas. They have made a family work of photography.
Even though Mr. Martin has what appears to the casual observer, a large
and spacious place, he says that he is cramped for sufficient room to carry
on the many phases of photographic work, which requires so many separate
and individual compartments. A front office, reception room, display
of merchandise, a properly illuminated room for the taking of the pictures,
dark room and a storage room for chemicals, gives you some idea of the
room that is required for a first class studio.
You may obtain any size photograph up to 16x20 and from that on down
to a stamp picture. You may also have your favorite pose. Mr.
Martin makes group and commercial pictures. Makes enlargements and
carries films that will fit your kodak.
The studio is already making many photographs for Christmas presents
and Mr. Martin says that he expects to be very busy from now until the
holidays. More and more people are realizing all the time, the value
of giving photographs for Christmas.
|
I am trying to gather more information about Walter P. Martin ... when
he left Coleman, etc. If you have any input, please let me know.
Following is his family information from the 1930 Runnels County census.
| 1930 Runnels County census,
1 Justice Precinct (northeast part), page 63, taken April 7, 1930, Dwelling/Family
#394/396, Norton and Ballinger Road: Walter P. MARTIN, head, home
owned (not a farm), male, white, 52 years old, age at first marriage =
22, born in Texas, father born in Tennessee, mother born in Georgia, photographer;
Neva M. MARTIN, wife, female, white, 43 years old, age at first marriage
= 18, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri; Walter P. MARTIN, Jr., son, male, white,
3 10/12 years old, Texas, Texas, Missouri. |
Neva Martin, as shown in this census was Walter P. Martin's second wife.
It looks as if he was still living in Runnels County, even though he had
his photography studio in Coleman in 1930.
|