McCracken’s
Studio
(also McCracken Photo Studio)
| Business years | 1914 - 1952 |
| Business address | 112 Broadway: 1914-1924 and 1930-1934 |
| 110 1/2 Broadway: 1924-1930 and 1934-1952 |
Elwin
B. McCracken
Elwin B. McCracken was born in Iowa on March 18, 1876. He
married Bessie Gormley in Crookston, Minnesota on November 26, 1905, and
they had seven children Elizabeth, Robert, Ada, David, Donald, Richard,
and Nora. He started a photography studio in Buffalo, North
Dakota around 1914.
Likely later in 1914 he moved to Fargo and purchased the studio of John C. Jansrud at 112 Broadway in Fargo. On June 4, 1918, the studio was damaged by a fire. He worked out of temporary quarters next door until the repairs were made. He operated this studio until turning it over to his son Robert in the 1940s. Elwin McCracken moved to the West Coast and died August 27, 1969 in Kent, Washington. Mrs. McCracken died there in 1957.
Robert
E. McCracken
Robert E. McCracken was born in 1915. He served in the Navy
during World War II as Second Class Photographer's Mate. He applied his
skills as a photographer in aerial reconnaissance over the South Pacific.
In 1948, Robert sold the business to Homer Thune who had apprenticed at
the studio, Mr. McCracken and his wife Olive settled in Hayward, California.
Mr. Thune retained the McCracken name until about 1952 when he
changed it to Thune
Photography..
 Interior of McCracken's Studio 1935 The Bison 1935 |
1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s & 1950s photographers
Fargo 2001