University of Virginia Library

SEABROOK BROS.

Pluck, energy and ambition are the
corner stones upon which every fortune
and successful enterprise is built, and
the young man of today who is imbued
with these can reach the top just as
easily as did those who now rest securely
upon the pinnacle of success.
A noticeable incident which verifies
this can be found in Seabrook Bros.,
the leading photographers of our city
today. About two years ago these
young men came to this place total
strangers, but adepts in their art, and
filled with ambition and determination
to become leaders in their profession.
They first rented a furnished studio
over the bank of Albemarle, and began
business on a small scale and a modest
manner. This studio had at one time
enjoyed a very exclusive patronage,
but in recent years the quality of its
work had fallen so far below its former
standard, it was then barely paying
expenses. The studio itself was in a
most dilapidated and run down condition,
and the furniture and accessories
much the worse for years of service.
In the face of such adverse circumstances
the new proprietors never
wavered. The splendid quality of
their work, and their excellent business
methods soon brought a large and
growing patronage. At the end of one
year their trade had grown to such an
extent that they found the rented
studio entirely inadequate. They then
determined to secure new quarters,
and equip a studio which would be not
only a credit to themselves, but to the
citizens of Charlottesville as well, and
make it a place more in keeping with
the class of patrons their work had attracted.
They leased a handsome
suite of apartments on the second and
third floors of 403 East Main street.
Even here it was necessary to build an
operating room, and at their own expense
this room was constructed at a
cost of several hundred dollars. It
was put up according to the most
modern ideas, and is one of the finest
in the state. During the recent convention
of photographers of Va., N. C.
and S. C., which met in this city, several
prominent artists examined the
skylight, and pronounced it not only
modern in every respect, but one under
which any style of lighting could be
quickly and easily made. They fitted
the new studio most elaborately, purchasing
the finest accessories and appliances
to be had, and today their

studio is not only the largest and most
complete in the city, but is the handsomest
by far. They do a general line
of photographic work, including pastel,
water color, crayon and enlarging,
making a specialty of the highest class
of work. They also carry a select line
of picture moulding and do a large

[ILLUSTRATION]

Ernest P. Seabrook.

business of this kind. Another prominent
department of their business to
which they devote a great deal of time,
and in which they have a most flattering
trade, is the handling of a large
and select stock of hand cameras, and a
full supply of plates, films, and other
photo supplies needed by amateur
photographers. They have the largest
business in the city in finishing work
for amateurs, and make a feature of
doing it neatly and promptly. In
addition to the local place, they also
operate a branch studio at Orange, Va.,
where they have a large and flourishing
business. The firm is composed of
E. P. and J. T. Seabrook, brothers,
and two more experienced and expert
photographers are not to be found in
the Old Dominion. Mr. E. P. Seabrook
was born at McDowell, Va., and
Mr. J. T. Seabrook, the younger member
of the firm was born at Seneca, S.
C. After leaving school, he entered
the studio of S. L. Alderman, of Greensboro,
N. C., one of the leading photographers
of the South, and there learned
the business under a most able master.
He confines himself exclusively to portrait
work, and that he is proficient in
his art, one is convinced after examining
the character of the work on exhibition
at the studio. He takes great delight
in his work, and numbers among
his patrons the most prominent people
in the city and county. Mr. E. P.
Seabrook attends to the outside work,
and much of the beauty of the pictures
are due to his artistic ideas of taking
views. He learned the business at the
studio of Mr. H. P. Cook, in Richmond
Va., a photographer who specializes
on outside work of every description,
thus he has had the opportunity
of perfecting himself in a way in which
the average photographer who does
both the outside work, and the portrait
work, has not been favored. He
has made pictures of prominent homes
all over this section of the country,
and has also made views of historic
places in the city and county for people
at a distance. In every case this work
has given universal satisfaction. Both
are public spirited and progressive
citizens who are ever willing to lend a
helping hand towards any cause that
is for the welfare of old Charlottesville,

[ILLUSTRATION]

J. T. Seabrook.

the town of their adoption, their home
and the little city in which they have
cast their fortunes. When the Progress
decided to get out a special edition
of Charlottesville and Albemarle
County, the first steps taken by the
management was to secure the services
of these photographers to make all the
pictures necessary to illustrate these
pages. This in itself not only speaks
well for their standing, but the excellent
manner in which all the pictures
were finished, is a glowing testimonial
to their ability as expert photographers.