Louise and Edwin Rosskam lived in Puerto Rico from 1945 to 1953.

Like the photographer Jack Delano, they initially arrived on a photo assignment – but they fell in love with the island, and decided to stay.

They took thousand of photos of Puerto Rican people, places and events – and left a wonderful record of life on the island, before one million cars and countless corporations invaded it.

The following image was taken in October 1945 by Louise Rosskam. There is innocence to it, and also an omen of things to come.

High up in the Cordillera mountain range, three corporations – Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, and Royal Crown – were already staking their claim.

Roadside bar and soft drink counter, between Bayamón and Vega Alta 

For an excellent summary of Louise Rosskam’s life and photography while in Puerto Rico, you can read David Gonzalez’s article in the New York Times:

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/peaks-and-valleys-on-a-small-island/