Floodwater and boat outside Nash & Fogg’s shoe store, Stockton, California — W. M. Stuart

Floodwater fills the street outside Nash & Fogg’s boot and shoe store in Stockton, California. Men and boys gather beneath the shop awnings, some standing along the storefront and others seated near the water. A narrow wooden boat lies parallel to the building, with long oars extending into the flooded street. Hats, long coats, and tall boots distinguish the figures along the shopfront.

The large signs above the awning read “NASH & FOGG” and “BOOTS & SHOES.” The neighboring awning at the right is marked “MRS. JO[?]”. Additional lettering includes “RE.” on the cropped upper-left sign; “AND” along the partly concealed lower edge of the central awning; “M[?][?] [?]O[?][?]SO[?][?]” on the right-hand transom above the double doors; “B[?][?][?][?][?] / [?] / [?]” on the pale notice high in the window left of centre; “[?] / [?]” on the small dark notice beneath it; and “[?]OOTS” in the far-left shop window behind the standing figures.

This horizontal carte de visite is on a cream mount with a double-rule border. Its reverse carries the photographer’s printed backmark: “W. M. STUART’S / Gallery. / Main St., next to the Theatre, / STOCKTON, CAL. / ☞ Negatives Preserved. ☜”

The owner’s researched records document a companion Stuart view titled “Floodwater at Nash & Fogg’s, Stockton.” The matching shop name and photographer support the Stockton identification here. The card supplies no date, names for the people, or numbered series title.