Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday photo of children in the dark inspired me to take another look at this old photo.
 |
| Center: John Jr. 1920 |
Once again, I am agonizing over the identities of distant
relatives in New York. The little boy in the center is definitely John Jr. The
two older boys in the shadows are not likely John’s brothers as they are not
featured in any other photos in my collection. Whether they were cousins or
neighbors is impossible to determine.
 |
| "John Jr. and I 1920" |
John Jr.’s head-wrap is unusual. I wonder if he had some
kind of surgery. Almost as strange is Lillie’s colonial mop cap. Does any of
this help explain why they posed at a sign that seems to warn them of “Danger”?
From the number of photos of Lillie with John Jr. and his
sister, it is apparent that she was close to John Jr.’s parents. But who were
they? I only wish I knew who John SR. might have been. Then maybe I could sort
out the families of the sisters of my great-grandmother Mary Theresa Sheehan
Killeen Walsh.
So, like the prompt photo, I too am in the dark.
There are more stories and old photos at Sepia Saturday.
Don’t YOU be left in the dark!
© 2015, Wendy Mathias.
All rights reserved.
John Jr certainly is a mysterious little fellow and I agree his headgear in both photographs looks like a bandage.
ReplyDeleteThe shadowy photo is a good match for the prompt. Lillies hat is a bit strange. John's little bucket and spatula would lead you to believe they're at a beach.
ReplyDeleteThere is what appears to be a "B" under the woman's left hand. Suggestive of beach. Perhaps the sign says "Danby" and not Danger? I think Danby has a beach on Lake Cayuga - but I'm not all that familiar with that part of New York. If John Jr. was from that area ... perhaps it means something.
DeleteI too agree about the bandage. Indeed another mystery that might not be solved.
ReplyDeleteBetty
Great mysterious photos, but I know how frustrating these mysteries are when you've applied all of the facts that you have and made all the educated guesses you can. Of course, when these were taken no one was thinking about how we would pour over them all these years later and want to know the details so badly!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, so many unanswered questions. Is John carrying a little spade? I think there’s a bucket by his side too.
ReplyDeleteYup, it's a bandage. This is going to drive you nuts, isn't it, Wendy?
ReplyDeleteYes, it has been a while that you've been agonizing over this New York bunch! Hope another photo shows up with all the missing evidence. A turnkey operation. Wouldn't that be grand!
ReplyDeleteYou could really drive yourself crazy if you agonize too much.
ReplyDeleteJohn Jr has a rather large bandage. Something major has happened to the lad but it looks like he's recovering OK. He's wearing the same clothes in both photos so maybe they were taken the same day.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing, that's all I can say.
ReplyDeleteDid he get his ears fixed?!?
:)
It looks like a bandage to me, but the mop cap is the more curious headgear. Was it a Betsy Ross costume for July 4th or Flag Day, and John Jr. is the wounded revolutionary soldier?
ReplyDeletehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fe/Spirit_of_'76.jpg?1445087542493
The head bandage certainly makes it look as though it may have been a trauma to the head although he looks quite well in the photograph, so perhaps it is 'dress up' as suggested by Mike.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting take on the prompt, yet still in keeping with your sleuthing to find out who the people - besides John Jr. - are. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteSometimes we just have to settle for not knowing, but knowing how good of slueth you are, I'm betting you'll discover the answer!
ReplyDeleteIntriguing.
ReplyDeleteI had a thought similar to Mike's but I was thinking along the lines of Halloween or some other masquerade event. It's hard to imagine what kind of ailment/accident/surgery he could have had (in 1920) that would have required his head to be bandaged as it is. At least you have a name....
ReplyDeleteThat really is a curious pictures and raises a ton of questions. Oh the endless list of mysteries we genealogist all have....if it isn't a mysterious record, it is a unexplained photo.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking costumes, too. Or it really is a bandage and Lillie has her head "wrapped" as a form of solidarity?
ReplyDelete