Helen Rowley, Ninth Street, Reading, PA

This photo is of Helen Rowley, she lived in Reading, PA and was a friend of Arlette Koenig and June Reifsnyder.

In 1940 Helen Marie Rowley lives with her mother Peggy and her sister Jean Louise at 134 Ninth Street in Reading. This is in Ward 8. Her mother owns a beauty shop. The mother is listed as married but no husband is listed.

In the 1930 census she is 11 months old, making dob about May, 1929. Her father is William, her mother Margaret. They live at 235 Ninth Street, Ward 9. Her father works on road construction.

She may have attended Catholic Central High School in Reading. She is not the Helen Rowley who married  Francis Chapman, as she is younger and has a different middle initial.

Update: 24 March 2024: Helen's sister Jean Louise was engaged to Paul Reinig. Helen threw her a bridal shower. Article in Reading Eagle dated 29 Aug 1948. They married in September, 1948. Paul J. Reinig and Jean L.Reinig are in the 1950 census living in Reading. They divorced in 1976 in Colorado.

There is a Helen Rowley Hiester,  husband E. Gregory, who had twins (boy and girl) in December 1951 (specific date not listed), at St. Joseph Hospital in Reading. Notice in 22 Dec 1951 Reading Eagle. They had a daughter in Jan or Feb 1962.

Wayne Strasbaugh's 4th Birthday Party

This photo was in a batch of random photos from the Reading, PA area, I bought the photos at Goodwill. It was taken in August, 1953.

I think I found Wayne on Facebook and have sent him a message.

Four Generations, Kershner Family,

 This is a four generation photo of a family that lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The oldest member is Carrie Hildebeitel Kershner, she died in 1960. Her daughter is Esther M. Kershner Wolf, who died in 1982. Esther's daughter is not named on this photo but given her daughter is listed as Baby Dar, she has to be Dorothy Wolf Rump, who died in 2012. And sadly, the baby in this photo, Darlene Rump Staudt died in 2021. Darlene was born in April 1941 so this photo must have been taken in the summer of 1941. Darlene was survived by three children so hopefully I can locate one of them and return the photo.

Canadensis, PA Group Photo, August 1950

Canadensis is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Canadensis is home to a few small shops, restaurants and churches. The "crossroads", which is the intersection of Pennsylvania Routes 447 and 390, is the center of the community. This is a group photo taken on 8 August, 1950.

Front Row: Mrs. Hetzel, Nan Lovett, Frances Sapiescza, Mom

2nd Row: Tom Lovett, Walt Addis, Mill Ferrari, Nick Ferrari, Lill.

Louisa Endebrock Cummings

This photo is in very fragile condition. I do not know where I got it, probably Goodwill. The writing on the photo has her maiden name as Enderbrock but according to her Pennsylvania death certificate the spelling is Endebrock. She was born in November, 1850, and died 27 January, 1937. She was married to William Taylor Cummings, who died in 1919. They are buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia. I have posted the photo to her Find A Grave memorial.

Fort Knox, Wilder, and Covington, KY; More About Ed Ferring

This photo was taken in 1969 and is labelled Printing Master Craftman Awards. In 1969 Wilbert Rosenthal, president of S, Rosenthal & Company, in Cincinnati was named Outstanding Craftsman of 1969 by the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen, Inc. In the photo it looks like Ed is either handing a certificate to someone or receiving it. The other man is Wilbert Rosenthal, based on a photo I found in the newspaper.

What I know so far: Ed was probably born between 1935 and 1940, he grew up in the Covington, KY area. In the late 1950's he went to boot camp at Fort Knox, and was apparently in the Army reserves rather than regular Army. He has a sister who is about 10 years younger. They had family in Versailles, Indiana. He married sometime between late 1950's and early 1960's. He and his family, with his little sister, went to Miami Beach in 1956. Please refer back to previous blog entries for other photos.

Edited 3/6/2024: The name is Edward Ferring, he was born 10 June 1936 and died in 1987. He did not have a little sister, the little girl who went to FL with him and his parents in 1956 is likely a 1st cousin, whose mother's name is probably Imogene. They lived in Versailles, IN.

The second photo here is an 8X10 from a wedding, no names. 

Edited 3/21/2024: I believe the wedding photo is of Carolyn Spears and Robert Schmerge. I believe they married about 1958.

Fort Knox, Wilder, and Covington, KY: Wilder, KY Fire Station Dedicated

These photos were developed in October 1967. The soldier Ed Ferring is in several of the photos, and is at the podium in one of them.

Fort Knox, Wilder, and Covington, KY: House Fire 1957

After no results on other photos from this album, which I posted in 2015 I thought I'd scan some more photos from the same album. To see other photos from this album search Fort Knox, Wilder, and Covington, KY. These photos are of a house fire, dated 1957. No other notations as to location.

This could be a training exercise for the Wilder, KY fire department as there are photos in the album from the grand opening an dedication of a fire station in Wilder in 1967. I'm not sure if they did training fires in 1957 like they do now.

Yarger at Great Lakes Naval Hospital 9 South 1965

I bought a photo album on eBay about 15 years ago. It had belonged to a Navy Nurse named Catherine Cirilli Casey, who was career Navy. So far I know she was stationed at Chelsea, Oakland, Guam, and Great Lakes. I did locate her family, which consisted of step-children, who had no interest in the album or the photos. Most of the photos are undated and no names but this photo is dated and includes two names: Yarger and Williams, Don. I don't know if Yarger is the man standing, who I assume is a corpsman, or the nurse at the desk. The nurse is an ensign. I am thinking, because of the way the writing is that Yarger is more likely the nurse but I am not positive. The date is 2 June, 1965.

Peggy Foss Tugboat/Foss 204 Carrier Ship

This photo album, which I bought on line several years ago has zero names of individuals in it. The photos are of a couple with a young son who seem to live aboard a ship or boat of some type. The photos are taken in the mid to late 1950's. There are several photos of a Peggy Foss boat, which google shows is a tugboat although it looks different than what I think of as a tugboat, and a larger ship Foss 204. Google shows these belonged to Foss Maritime Company. This seems like a needle in a haystack but maybe this family can be identified and the album returned. There are about 75 photos.

Update 7/25/2023: One of the photos of the little boy has the name Kevin on the back. They seemed to be in the Seattle area. 

There's also the name Barbra (sic) Paull on the back of one photo, a photo with no person in it. And there's an address, which can only be partly seen because of tape. The address is 92 ?, Seattle. There is a Barbara Paull in the 1940 Census who lives at 924 Sixteenth Avenue, and she works for a steamship company. There is a Barbra Paull Gordon died in 1992.

Homer Ornsby

This is a stand alone photo postcard, which I will send to a documented family member. The postcard was printed by Rensler's, 925 Vine Street, Cincinnati. The photo was in the Asher/Slusher/Howard/Dickson photos from the area of Pineville, KY and purchased in a bag of photos at a Goodwill store. It is labeled Homer Ornsby.

Emerson Album: Some Random Photos

Willard is misspelled. Willard Beach is in Portland, Maine.

Dec 20, 1932. Nelson is the one with his mouth open, the other is Alex

Another photo taken at the Emerson House

Emerson Album List of Names

This is a list of all the names in the Emerson Album. I will try to list them in alphbetical order by first names. There is one unnamed photo of a man at Ohio State. Several of the women were art students in a college in a city, possibly Boston or NYC, there are many photos of beaches in Maine,  and summers seemed to have been spent at an Emerson House or Emerson Dorms.

Alex

Alice

Ann

Bea

Billy Van Hoewyk

Billy Verril

Bob Hatch

Bob Rigby

Clifford Willingham

Clyde

Dr. Wright

Dot

Eva

Faith

Franny

Fred

George Evans

Gloria

Hilly

Joe Huber

Josiah Tubby: newspaper clipping with Lillian Welch, seems to be late 1940's

Lillian Welch: newspaper clipping, the Hayloft on Congress Street, seems to be late 1940's

Lou Wells

Mae

Marge

Mary

Maurice

Nelson

Nora (Aunt)

Ralph

Rita: many photos

Rob

Rosemary

Sally: taken in Pinehurst, N.C. 1935

Scott Hamlin

Scotty

Stacia 

Sue   

Vera  

Emerson Album: York Harbor 1936: Van Hoewyk, Scotty, Ralph, Bob Rigby, Lou Wells, George Evans

More photos from the Emerson album, two are labeled 1936.


      

Emerson Album: Marshall House, Rita, Joe Huber, Haverhill

The Marshall House photo, taken in 1934, is in York, Maine. Rita, who is in many photos is dark haired, probably in her early 20's. The man in the uniform is probably her father, the uniform appears to be that of a train conductor but possibly a police officer or firefighter. Joe's last name is hard to decipher, I think it's Huber.

     

Emerson Album, 1936: Van Hoewyk, Grover, Red Fox, Faith Croseman, Fran Dona

These are yet more photos from the Emerson album, the name chosen because many of the photos are taken at a place sometimes called the Emerson House, sometimes the Emerson Dorm. I believe this house is in either the York, Maine area or Haverhill MA/NH area.

There are several photos of a Billy Van Hoewyk. I find a William Van Hoewyk who lived in Brockton, MA, he was born in 1905 and died in 1977, putting him in the right age range. Other people in the photos include a Phil Grover, Red Fox, Faith Croseman, and a Fran DonaXXX (can't read last 3 letters). These particular photos were taken in 1936 and are very small, 2" X 3".

Please put Emerson in the search box to see other photos from this album.

            



         


 

Trips I Made 1927, 1928, 1929: F.K.B., A.F.H.

This is an album I bought many years ago on ebay. It is very unusual in that whoever compiled the album was very artistic and has drawn various designs on many of the pages. Today that person would no doubt be a serious Creative Memories scrapbooker. It's an album of vacations and road trips. There is not a single name in the entire album, sad to say. I would guess the people were upper middle class given the trips were taken in the late 1920's and included a variety of locations and many photos.

The only clue is there is a piece of birchbark on which there is a heart and two sets of intials: F. K. B. and A.F. H. The birchbark is dated 5/11/1927 to 5/15/1927.

I do see a photo that says: "The Romantic Chandler - Oyster Bay Fame" so maybe Chandler is the last name of the woman in the photo.

The album cover is embossed with the title "Trips I Made". The last page has a drawing "To be continued."

Trips: Great Falls, Va  May 14, 1927

Scenes along the highway from Wash, D.C. to W. Va   May 16, 17, 1927

New Jersey, Budd Lake, Rockaway Lake  May 18, 1927

Along the Bronx River Parkway and Kensico Dam May and June 1927

Liberty, Watkins Glen, Walton, NY  July 1, 2, 3, and 4 , 1927

Albany, Montreal, Springfield (VT)   September 2 to 7th, 1927

Boyd's Dam   May 14, 1928

Chester, VT, Holyoke, MA   Memorial Day 1928

1,000 Islands, Niagara Falls, Letchworth, Rondaks, Blue Ridge, Florries Knob, Poconos  July 7 to 23, 1928

Conn, Mass, N.H., ME, VT, NY   September 1 - 9, 1928

Atlantic City, NJ Feb 22 - 25, 1928

Groton Reservoir   March 25, 1929

Greenwood Lake, NJ   July 21, 1929

Wading River, Long Island   August 18, 1929

Lake Ronkonkoma   September 2, 1929


EDITED: I don't know how I missed seeing this on the 1st page of this album: "Florence and Milly v.s. the B.Fs."  So, it appears the women on the trips are Florence and Milly. Florence could be the F.K.B. initials on the birchbark.



               

Missionaries to China, Probably from Kentucky

These are three small photos taken in China, probably in the 1920's. They were with the Asher/Slusher/Howard/Dickson photos from the area of Pineville, KY so assume they were sent to or by a member of one of these families.

The photo of the children says on the back: "Some of the kindergarten children. Some of the girls in our school take the normal course and learn to teach the little children."

A photo labeled "street in China" on the front says on the back:"for Matt, camels in the streets in Peking."

The last photo is of a group of adults labeled "a group at Liling out for a picnic." Liling is in Hunan Province.

Prospect School 1st Grade 1966/67: Miss Kostlevy

This is a class photo that is not in very good shape. It was in a bag of photos purchased several years ago on-line from Goodwill. The rest of the photos in the collection are of Ashers, Slushers, Dickinsons from Clay County, Kentucky and from an earlier time period than 1966/67. The only name on the photo is that of the teacher, Miss Kostlevy, which seems to be a Wisconsin name.

Update 8 January, 2025: there is a name on the back, in a child's printing; Sottel C

The teacher was Miss Clara A. Kostlevy.