Farm Services Admin Photographer Ben Shahn captured the people of Crossville and how he did it.

Another famous Farm Service Adminstration program photographer that photographed Crossville was Luithianan born Ben Shahn.  Shahn was a photographer as well as a painter and designer.  He developed a style he referred to as "social realism." 

Shahn exploited the portability of the 35mm camera to capture his subjects in an informal and spontaneous manner; he used a Leica with a right-angle viewfinder that enabled him to photograph subjects without their knowledge.

Shahn was the photographer that captured the people of Crossville at the time and in most of the images you can see the 35mm sprocket holes.  If a right angle viewfinder was used it would explain the lack of self consciousness of the subjects in the photo as they may not have realsized they were the subject of the photo. 

Women in Crossville. (This appears to be down 

E. Fourth St. Beside the Courthouse Square.)

Men Loafing Downtown Crossville. (Looking carefully,

the name on the store window appears to be 

Hill & Kemmer.)

Horse and Wagon beside what was then Brewers Store

and is now Frenchs Boots.

Bus Station on the North end of town next to where

the Mecca Theatre was. 

The Home Cafe Builidng with the railroad tracks right behind it.

Note the Real Estate sign on the 2nd floor.  This may have been

in the area of E. Fifth Street or Thurman Ave. The story is that

it burned one night after a special train came through and

a cinder landed on the roof starting the fire. 

Furniture store window in Crossville.

Another classic view of the direction signs that once graced

Main Street.  Brewer's Store is in the background. 

Men loafing at the original location of Mitchell's Drugs

across North St. from the Depot. 

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This photo actually captures photographer Ben Shahn (under the C in Crossville)

reflected in the Post Office window facing one way while shooting at the men

gathered in front of the window showing how he did it. 

While there was a lot of work to do there was

also time for some fun and dancing!

The dancers would often perform for special guests.

Dancers taught by Lenoard Kirk

Dance team at the Cumberland Homesteads

Andirons made at the Cumberland Homesteads

Weaving at Cumberland Homesteads

Chair seat woven at Cumberland Farms