Jennie and Lawrence Crouch, Rockville, Connecticut, 1910-20s

Writing on back reads: "Mr + Mrs L.E. Crouch and ?
Rockville, Conn.
Jennie Castello - Crouch 
(Given to me in 1920)"

In this photograph, a windswept trio stands outside a farmhouse. The couple on the right are identified, while the third man at the far left remains a mystery.

Jennie Castello, the woman in this photo, was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, around 1875. She was the daughter of Irish immigrants William and Elizabeth Castello. William, a farmer, immigrated to the United States in 1857 and soon after served in the 17th Regiment of the Ohio Infantry during the Civil War.  Jennie had six siblings: Thomas, Carrie, Willie, Minnie, Ida, and Johnnie. Sadly, both Willie and Johnnie died in childhood.

In 1904, Jennie married Lawrence Egbert Crouch, a laborer and mill worker. Lawrence was born in New York around 1879. In the 1910 census, Jennie and Lawrence are living with Lawrence's mother, Elisabeth, and his step-father, Henry Kelsted, in Tolland, Connecticut. By 1920, they were living on their own.

According to the inscription, this photograph shows the couple's home in Rockville (the census records say they lived in Tolland, though the two towns are so close together either could be accurate). 

The couple never had children. Lawrence passed away in 1951, after which Jennie stayed with friends Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hill. Jennie was eventually moved into the Rockville Convalescent Home, where she passed away in March 1969. She was buried at North Cemetery in Tolland.

Jennie's obituary states that she left behind no relatives, but I hope she still has family out there that might like to have this photo.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Ila Mae and Doris Virginia Swartz, Rochester, New York 1922

"Doris Virginia Swartz
at the age of four months"

This is a Real Photo Postcard of 4-month-old Doris Swartz and her lovely mother, Ila Mae. 

Ila Mae Smith was born in New York on May 9th, 1902 to parents William and Dora Smith. At age 18 she married 34-year-old James Cleveland Swartz, Jr., in Cattaraugus, New York. He worked various jobs in his life, including as a molder in a foundry and as a carpenter. Doris was the first of their children together. She was born just a few days before her mother's birthday on May 6th, 1922 in Rochester, New York. 

In the following years, Doris gained 3 siblings: Frances Leona (b. 1923), Norman Stoney (b. 1927), and Duane Richard (b. 1938). 

Just like her mother, Doris was married at age 18. She married 32-year-old Max Floyd Mann in 1941. Over the course of their 53-year marriage, Doris and Max had 7 children. Doris's obituary notes that at the time of her death, she had 30 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great grandchildren.

Doris Mann passed away in Arizona in 2008 at age 85. 

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Father Joseph Wonderly and Students, Peru, Indiana 1920's

The writing on the back reads:
"High School Girls
Top Row: Thelma Gilbert, Antionette Lewis, Theta Johnson, Genevieve Withers, Gertrude Brennan
Second Row: Joan Carrol, Hazel ???, Thelma ???, Father Wonderly, Martha Frances, ???
Third Row: Lucille Damica, Georgianna Wagner, Catharine Richmond, Alice Crume, Selene ???
Bottom Row: Mary Kruntzer, Mildred Gillen, Margaret Cade, Mary Kammel"

Joseph S. Wonderly was born August 26th, 1895 in Huntington, Indiana to John and Kate Wonderly.
Joseph suffered many losses as a child. His mother died in 1902 after giving birth to Joseph's youngest brother, Robert. His older brother, John, died of tuberculosis in 1914 and his father, a respected locomotive engineer, died in 1919.

Joseph Wonderly in his high school yearbook.

Joseph went on to attend St. Mary's Parochial School, St. Joseph's College, and Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West. He became ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Aldering at Fort Wayne, Indiana on June 10th, 1922. He took a foreign language course at Maryland University and intended to do missionary work in China, though I have found no record of him ever doing so.

I believe this photograph was taken during Father Wonderly's time in Peru, Indiana, between about 1923 to 1928, when he taught at the St. Charles Borromeo School. The school was founded in 1922 by the Sisters of Providence from St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Father Wonderly then set out for Texas around 1929. In Pampa, Texas, he was a pastor at the Holy Souls church and taught at the Holy Souls Parochial School. He lived in Pampa until 1940, when he returned to his home state of Indiana. Rev. Joseph Wonderly died in Indiana in 1976, age 81.

If you know who any of these folks may be, let us know in the comments!

The Laner Brothers, Fayetteville, Arkansas 1927

The back reads:
"Laner Bro's Shoe Shope
N.W. Corner Block and Center
In basement of Eason Building
1927
L -> R
Monroe LANER
Nichols "Nick" Hopper (15 or 16)
Julius LANER

-?
Wiley Holt"

Julius Laner, born 1868, was a Swiss shoemaker who lived and worked in Esculapia, Arkansas. As late as 1925, his business was simply referred to by his own name. With his wife Alice, Julius had three sons: Julius A., born in 1905, Monroe, born in 1907, and Aubrey, born in 1910. Julius passed down his trade and his shoe shop to his two eldest sons, Julius and Monroe, who renamed the business "Laner Bros". The shop was located in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the basement of the Eason Building, which is also known as the Old Bank of Fayetteville (the building has since been restored and was added to the National Historical Register in 1994). 

Julius A. married Golda Reeves, a telephone operator, in August 1924. They had one daughter, Susan, in 1936. Monroe lived with his brother until he married Emele Colwell in 1941.

Nichols "Nick" Hopper was born in 1913 to Ernest and Ethel Hopper. He was an apprentice to the Laner brothers at the time this photo was taken and is later listed in the 1940 census as a "cobbler".

Wiley E. Holt was born in 1908 to Wiley and Edna Holt. He worked as the shop's delivery driver.

If you know who any of these folks may be, let us know in the comments!

Women in the Snow, 1920's

This is a snapshot of two fashionable women standing outside on a very snowy day. It is likely from the 1920's.

I hope everyone has a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year- stay warm!

Marjorie and Gene Cox on Thanksgiving, 1925

This is a snapshot of Marjorie and Gene Cox standing outside a home on Thanksgiving day in 1925. I don't know where the photo was taken, but it looks like it may have been chilly!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and if you know who these two may be, let us know in the comments!

Caribou Monument 1920's, Bowring Park, Newfoundland

This Real Photo Postcard is of the Caribou Monument in Bowring Park, Newfoundland. The statue, a replica of the monument in Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park, was unveiled on July 1st, 1928 as a tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives at the Battle of Beaumont Hamel.

The monument was damaged by vandals last year, but was luckily repaired and returned to it's home in Bowring Park in November.

The Caribou Monument being returned to Bowring Park.
(© — Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram)

I know this isn't the kind of photograph I usually post, but it was a picture from my collection that fit the prompt so well I had to share!

Whitlow Family with their Dog 1920's

 "Kent, Altie, Vena, Manse, Jacks
Bro. (Happy Jackson) Irene, Vera,
Jack and little Bud,"

This is an interesting photo of a family and their dog taken in front of a home. It must have been sunny outside because everyone is squinting and covering their eyes! I'm not entirely sure if I've read the handwriting correctly, but if I have, they certainly have some unusual names, though unfortunately there is no last name.

If you know who this family may be, let us know in the comments!

Maxine Meyers December 1927 San Antonio, Texas

I wanted to post a winter photograph, and this was as close as I could get!

This is a snapshot of a lovely lady named Maxine Meyers. According to the back, this was taken near San Antonio, Texas. She is lounging here up against a rock, and with one leg dangerously close to a cactus! There is a cape-like collar at the top of her dress, covered in what I imagine would be brightly colored flowers. Also, look at the heels on those shoes! Her hair looks Marcelled, which is similar to finger waves.

The back says: "My Wife Maxine Meyers". Something in between has been smudged out.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!

Sybil and Tennie Guillory and Reinhardt (?) 1920's

This is the last picture I have of Pearl's family. Pearl Cockfield eventually married Jules Barre around 1920. This is an Artura Real Photo Postcard of Jules's cousins, Sybil and Tennie Guillory, and Sybil's husband, Rheinhardt(?). I'm not sure where the picture was taken, most likely in Louisiana.

"Rheinhardt(?) - & wife- Sybil
Tennie Guillory
Jules's Cousins"

If you know who these folks may be, let us know in the comments! Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve. :)

Unknown Family 1920's-30's

 This lovely little family caught my eye the other day. This is an Azo Real Photo postcard and the stamp box suggest it's from the twenties or thirties. It looks like the man is wearing some sort of fedora and a single-breasted, striped suit. Both he and his wife are wearing glasses. I love the little boots on the children- a boy and a girl maybe? On the back it reads:

"We are just home from Sunday School and the children are tired and hungry and not very anxious to have their picture snapped."

Sadly, there are no locations or names given.

If you know who these folks might be, let us know in the comments!

Unknown Family 1920's Train Station

This snapshot was probably taken in the 1920's judging on the fashion: there appear to be cloche hats on a few of the ladies (some with wider brims than others), short hair, and low-waisted dresses. There are no names on the photograph, but this looks like a family to me, particularly the three children in front.

If you know who these people may be, let us know in the comments!

Clifford Holley, Eira Thomas, Trevor Ward Abertaf Infant School 1926

This is a unique photograph of the 1926 class from the Abertaf Infant School in Wales. It was taken by George Holdsworth and Sons, who owned the Scholastic Photo Specialists of Hartlepool. This particular photo was owned by Clifford Holley, who is pictured here. The names written at the bottom are very hard to read.

                         


"From top, 2 row- 8th is Eira (Thomas)
3 row 4th is Trevor Ward
9th is Clifford Holley
10 is ????? ?????"

If you know who these children may be, let us know in the comments! (Make sure to click the pictures to make them bigger)

Unknown 1922 Girl with Cat

I had to buy this snapshot of a girl with her kitty- I'm a cat lover! This is dated 1922. Unfortunately, there is no name or location given. The girl is standing in front of a barn.

If you know who this girl (or the cat) may be, let us know in the comments!

Ralph Harper February 1924

This young man is Ralph Harper. According to the back of the photograph, this picture was taken on February 3rd, 1924. The boy is standing on a side-walk next to what looks like some sort of wooden bridge. Perhaps he is in a park? Sadly, there is no location given on the photo.

If you know who this may be, let us know in the comments!