Hard to fathom today that there was a time before google maps, when we couldn’t pull up a street view, geographic topography or satellite views of a place. This advert for Thomas W. Palmer, “Topographical draughtsman,” (from the 1897 city directory) is a quick reminder of work that was once accomplished by hand, and now, pretty much obsolete. This particular Indianapolis ‘draughtsman’ lists Indianapolis Gas Company and Indianapolis Water Company amongst his references, and had an office in the Court House.

At this point, one wonders how long the list of occupations made obsolete by our modern technology, and which just because they are no longer needed…