Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt expresses the joy of
summer at the beach with a man jumping over a twisted beach towel held by two
women. My photo contains some of the same elements: a dog and a man who is not
jumping, but judging by his tan, it must have been summer.
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| Stephen Barany |
The man is Stephen Barany. In an earlier Sepia Saturday post I told about his marriage to my grandaunt Catherine Walsh Barany, about
his being a bookie, and about their eventual separation. I thought there was
nothing else to learn. But then I was given two scrapbooks that had belonged to
my great-grandmother Mary Theresa Sheehan Killeen Walsh. In them she had glued
greeting cards. That’s when a sentimental Stephen Barany emerged.
Even though Aunt Cat signed both of their names to cards sent
to her mother, Steve sometimes sent his own. According to family lore, Steve
and Mary Theresa had a special bond, far from the stereotypical
mother-in-law/son-in-law relationship.
In the movies and on television, bookies are often
portrayed as the slimiest of low-life beings. Funny how a sweet vellum card can
remind us that people are much more complex than images coming out of
Hollywood.
Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
I love that you discovered another side of this man through family scrapbooks.
ReplyDeleteJust goes to prove you can't judge a book by its cover, or a man by his title. :)
ReplyDeleteYou also must know, Wendy, that if the dog loves the man he has some qualities worth loving! How nice to add more to the story than bookie and divorced from your grandaunt.
ReplyDeleteThis is the stuff from which novels are made...I might have to use him in a book someday!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a treat getting to know people, especially the unknowns! Great post Wendy, and I adore that first photo!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet! I like that special relationship they had. He just found a business that was needed and probably did well with it.
ReplyDeletebetty
What great information to have, added to the knowledge you already had about your great uncle by marriage and how the cards made a difference!
ReplyDeleteAlways a good bet you'd have a horse in this weekend's race, but gosh, what are the odds that you'd have a winning photo?
ReplyDeleteHe picked sweet cards, hopefully he was sincere when he sent them and wasn't just trying to get in his mother-in-law's good books.
ReplyDeleteSounds like he really cared about her, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteJust shows Wendy, sometimes the ‘available evidence’ can paint a completely inaccurate picture of someone – glad you found these cards proving what a sweet man Stephan really was.
ReplyDeleteI just love finds like these. You never know what you'll turn up that will give you insight into an ancestor or family member's character.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find. It's so easy to make the wrong assumption when our info is limited. I've had similar experiences when more information was found that painted a different picture from what I had initially thought.
ReplyDeleteMy project this year being vintage cards, I have to say I love both cards but the iris is especially nice. So glad you found the softer side of Steve.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of what I was taught about writing characters. Yes, the fella might kick dogs, but he might also be a stamp collector who loves roses. There's always more depth to a person than we give credit in passing.
ReplyDeleteNever judge a book by its cover. I guess it is a people thing to judge and make presumptions about others, certain looks, dress or professions. It is not an accurate assessment, that's why it is not recognized in court proceedings.
ReplyDeleteThe white lines on his chest are interesting - wonder what caused that?
ReplyDelete