John Caloe & Son, Photographers, Stereoscopic Images

[Ponytail]

Caloe & Son, photographers, Victoria Station Road

Advertisement from Illustrated Guide to Sheffield, Pawson and Brailsford. 1862.

Whites Directory 1862

Caloe, John, photographer, Effingham Street. 

Whites Directory 1879

Caloe, John, photographer, 114 Corporation Street. 

 

History of John Caloe and family 

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~brett/genealogy/photos/jcaloe.html

 

Caloe advertises themselves as "The American Photographic Company" 

Caloe and Son took Stereoscopic photographs of the aftermath of the Sheffield Flood 1864. 

Stereoscopic photography

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereoscopy

 

There are 25 photographs by Caloe and Son to view on Picture Sheffield, 3 examples of which below. 

https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;t00169&pos=24&action=zoom&id=30690

https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;t00154&pos=10&action=zoom&id=30676

https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;t00155&pos=11&action=zoom&id=30677

 

[Edmund]

By 1867 when John Caloe junior had taken over the Sheffield studio, it appears that the "photographic caravan" studio that he had operated in Rotherham had been moved to the north end of the Corporation street bridge in Sheffield.  Mr Caloe attempted to sell it in September 1867, possibly for use as a grocers shop or similar, but probably in the light of no interest being shown, moved it to a more profitable location at the corner of Bridge street and Corporation street. The plot of land there belonged to the Soho Wheel Company and was about ten feet below ground level.  Because of this, the opportunity had been taken to form cellars which were used for storing a vast quantity of wood, above which at ground level, woodworking machinery was installed by William Walker's timber company. These workshops were sandwiched by a further floor in which another huge quantity of timber was stored.

It's not hard to guess what happened next...

On 13th August 1873 at half past nine, a fire was discovered, which spread amazingly rapidly.  Thousands of sightseers came from all over Sheffield. The adjacent buildings were at risk and windows broke and the sign of the Foresters Arms opposite caught light.  The Fire Brigade surprisingly took 25 minutes to arrive, due to having to find horses for the engines. The whole of the woodyard and workshops were destroyed, and the surrounding buildings and residents were barely saved.

"At one time it was thought that nothing could save the wooden structure at the corner belonging to Mr. Caloe, photographer.  Again and again the flames threw themselves across the street, as if anxious to enfold it in their embrace, but were as often foiled in the attempt. Mr.Caloe continued to pour water upon it, and that alone, there is no doubt, saved it."