1855                Main Street, over the Marble Depot, opposite Branch Bank, Evansville, Indiana.

1855                Rooms in Dr. Bray’s Building, over the Old Post Office, Evansville, Indiana.   

Summers & Tileston (William W. Tileston) was recorded in six advertisement and three announcements in The Evansville Daily Journal (Evansville, Indiana) and one announcement in the New York Daily Tribune.  The first advertisement ran from March 22 to 29, 1855.  The Shadow And The Substance Of A Conversation.  The following Conversation took place at the Court House corner the other day, between Joe Shadow and Tom Substance:

Joe—I say, Tom,, when are you going around to Summers & Tilton’s gallery to have your Daguerreotype taken?

Tom—Well, I don’t know.  I must go soon, for they say that during the pleasant weather they are crowded all the time; and Saunders, of the Journal, say their pictures are about as good as Webster’s own.

Joe—I believe they are.  I saw some fine groups there the other day.  I’m going to have my whole family taken in a group.

Tom—I shall go the first fine day, for their pictures are so fine and lifelike.  I wonder where I can get a fine case-a first rate one.

Joe—Why, get it there they have a splendid new stock in a beautiful showcase, just received and in fine order, and expect to enlarge it soon.  They have now on hand a fine assortment of Gold Lockets, Miniature Pins, Paper Macia, Union, Moroco Gilt, Belt, Kossuth, Velvet and Jewel Cases, of all sorts and sizes, and they invite all to call and examine them whether they want to sit for a picture or not.

Tom—I was not aware the kept so fine a stock always on hand:  I shall go right down this morning.  But then I can’t have it taken this morning and I am sorry, for I may not have tine again for several days.

Joe—Why not go to-day?

Tom—It’s so cloudy: they can’t take pictures such weather as this.  Why, it’s raining now.

Joe—There’s where you are out of it.  It’s altogether a mistaken idea people have got into their heads that Daguerreotypes can’t be taken on bright sunny days.  They say they can take as good pictures in such weather as at any other time.  You see their large skylight makes the light always strong in the room, and if they don’t get you a first rate picture they don’t want you to take it.  They are always willing to try, and are determined not to let a picture leave their rooms that is not perfect.

Tom—Well, I shall go right down this morning, for the rooms are always comfortable, and it is a pleasant place to spend the time this dull weather.  But how is it that they carry on the Sign and Ornamental painting and the Gallery too?  They can’t attend to both, certainly.

Joe—Very easy.  You see the sign and ornamental branch is carried on under the immediate supervision of Mr. Summers, while Mr. Tileston turns his whole attention to the gallery, so that they are always on hand to attend to either branch of the business.

Tom—Well, I like that very much.  I should think they would go together very well.  Meet me at their gallery in half an hour

Joe—I will: good morning.

Tom—Good morning.                                               

The second advertisement ran from March 30 to May 24, 1855.  More About Elections.  Owing to the great excitement about the city election, and deep interest felt in the Prohibitory Law by all the great political parties, we deem it but our duty to say, that Summers & Tileston, having just received a new Camera direct from New York, are now prepared to take pictures in the best style from a small miniature to a large ½ size.  They are also prepared with the best light in the city for copying pictures.  They guarantee that no picture shall receive injury which may be left in their hands for the above purpose.

N. B.—Why is a Dogratyper taking a picture, like a gent sitting to a handsome gal?  Answer to be had by calling ay Summers & Tileston Gallery.  On Main st., opposite Branch Bank, over the Marble Depot.

1855 May 16.  The Evansville Daily Journal.  (Evansville, Indiana) May 16, 1855, Vol. VIII, No. 25, P. 2.

Great Fire!  Nearly $100,000 Worth of Property destroyed.  About half past 3 o’clock yesterday morning a fire was discovered in the rear part of Anderson’s Barber shop, on the upper side of Main street between Water and First, and in a row of small frame houses…Messrs. Summers & Tileston’s Daguerrean Gallery and Paint shop, above the Marble Depot, were destroyed with every article in them.  No Insurance.  Loss probably $300….

The announcement appeared in the New York Daily Tribune (New York, New York) on May 21, 1855.  Conflagration At Evansville, Indiana.—Below will be found a list of the principal suffers by the fire at Evansville on the 15^th:…Summers & Tileston’s daguerreotype gallery were burned.

The third advertisement ran from May 21 to June 25, 1855.  Once More In The Field.  Summer & Tileston, after shaking themselves for a few days from the ashes of the late fire, have fitted up the sky-light rooms over Wm. Hughes’ store; corner of Main and second streets, where they will be happy to see their friends and old customers and the public generally, who wish to preserve the shadow of their friends, “ere the substance fades.”  Thankful for the liberal patronage extended to them for the past three months, they would respectfully solicit a continuance of the same.  Perfect pictures taken at the shortest notice, and entire satisfaction given, or no sale.                                          

The fourth advertisement ran from May 30 to June 29, 1855.  Not Left Town Yet.  Messrs. Summers & Tileston would respectfully inform their old friends and customers, and the public generally, that they have suspended their Daguerrean operations for a short time, for the purpose of fitting up rooms in Dr. Bray’s building, over the old post office.  Workmen are now busily engaged in putting up a mammoth sky light, etc., and in a few days we shall be better prepared for taking fine pictures than ever.                      

The fifth advertisement ran from June 9 to 25, 1855.  Poetry For The Million.

Summers & Tileston are the persons,

You’ll please to find them out;

There rooms are opposite the post office

Or somewhere thereabout.

They have a mammoth sky-light,

The largest in the city,

The only light adapted

For taking pictures pretty.

They take miniatures for lockets,

For breastpins and for rings,

Take copies from daguerreotypes,

Also from oil paintings.

Their pictures are uniformly low.

Their pictures hard to beat;

So pray, call at their gallery

And see there’s no deceit.

For life you know, is uncertain,

And death is very sure,

Therefore, ere the substance fades.

The shadow you should secure.

The second announcement appeared on June 13, 1855.  Once more In The Field.—Messrs. Summers & Tileston, as our readers know, were burned out by the late fire, and lost everything they had in their rooms, and nothing insured.  Although thus deprived of almost everything but their energy, they did not “give it up so,” but at once set to work preparing new and far superior rooms to those they formerly occupied.  They are now located in Dr. Bray’s building opposite the Post office, in the most central part of the city, and very convenient to the ladies.—They have fitted up their rooms very neatly and are now prepared to take likenesses all kinds of weather, in the best style, and at low prices.  We hope they will receive an extensive patronage in view of their late losses, renewed expenses, and more particularly because they take just as good Daguerreotype likenesses as are made in the West.

The third announcement appeared on June 23, 1855.  The Sun Beam.—This is the name given to Summers & Tileston’s new Daguerrean Gallery. By a lady.  They have accepted the compliment, and “The Sun Beam Gallery” will soon be known as the place to obtain good likenesses.  The proprietors have reduced their prices, and are now making some of the best Daguerreotypes ever taken in this city.  Call and see their new rooms and specimens.

The sixth advertisement ran from June 23 to October 18, 1855.  New Gallery, New Name, And New Prices!  The Sun Beam Gallery!  Messrs. Summers & Tileston have now fully completed their Daguerrean Rooms in Dr. M. J. Bray’s buildings, on First street, opposite the post office, and are now ready to receive visitors and to take pictures in the latest and most approved style.  Having fitted up our rooms with the eye to comfort, they are neat, cool and airy, while we have a mammoth sky-light, which enables us to take picture that will compare favorably with any in the West.—Therefore we feel confident of giving perfect satisfaction in all cases, which we guarantee, or no sale.  Please call and see us at the Western Sun Beam.

N. B.—Pictures taken for one dollars.                                              

The fourth announcement appeared on September 27, 1855.  Dissolution Notice.  The co-partnership heretofore existing between Summers & Tileston is this day dissolved by mutual consent.  The business will be continued by W. W. Tileston, who is authorized to settle the business of the late firm.

A Card.  The undersigned would take this method of returning his sincere thanks to the public for the liberal patronage extended to the late firm, and hopes that by giving his personal attention exclusively to the business to merit a continuance of the same.  W. W. Tileston.

Summers & Tileston are not recorded in other photographic directories.  William W. Tileston is recorded in Craig’s Daguerreian Registry as being active in 1858 to 1861 in Evansville, Indiana.