Hobby That Got Out Of Control

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Lifelong Red Wing resident Phil Revoir calls photography a "hobby that got out of control."

Revoir's passion for pictures - and his longtime local photography business - has left him with more than 7,000 photos of historic Red Wing.

Revoir took part of his collection on the road this week to the Red Wing Area Senior Center.

"There are a lot of quite interesting scenes," Revoir said. "It's just nostalgic."

Revoir built up his collection while operating his photography studio for 52 years. He would ask customers if they had old pictures. If they did, Revoir would copy the negatives.

Most of the pictures are of downtown.

"I would say Main Street is probably the most photographed area," Revoir said.

The collection includes shots of Main Street before it was covered in asphalt or gravel, cattle on Barn Bluff and a view of the area before the High Bridge.

"I've always been interested in the historical part of Red Wing," Revoir said. "People are either interested in historical photographs or they aren't."

Revoir doesn't make a habit out of taking his pictures - some of which are more than 140 years old - on the road.

But he knows that there are others like him who have an interest in the Red Wing of the past.

"Anyone interested in Red Wing history I think would enjoy this," he said.

Revoir's photos will be on display at the senior center, located in the Fairview Red Wing Professional and Community Center, 1407 W. Fourth St.

Tags: phil revoir, applause, photography, hobby