Unforgotten...

Unforgotten Finds

2012-03-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

A postcard by Harry Whittier Frees
Image via Wikimedia Commons

Many times coming across an interesting link I thought I could share it with my readers. So, today I'm starting a new weekly post, *Unforgotten* Finds, where I will be sharing useful and inspirational news links about history, genealogy, books, art, culture and, of course, old photographs and postcards, and publishing it every Sunday morning. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

The last week was pretty amazing, from The Oscars to the Who Do You Think You Are? heart-breaking story with Reba McEntire and my real birthday in between. My personal genealogical research brought some unexpected results (while looking for a completely different thing) including the place where my husband's great great grandfather died, which is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Quincy, Illinois, and a biography of a distant relative discovered in the 1908 book titled Historic Rock Island County.

How about you? What inspirations did you find last week?

Georges Méliès's 1902 Classic, 'A Trip to the Moon'
The Atlantic shares clips of restored black-and-white and colorized versions of the 1902 short film "A Trip to the Moon" that inspired Martin Scorsese's Hugo.

Photographs: Enrich your family history
James L. Tanner, a guest blogger on MyHeritage.com blog, writes about how old and contemporary photos may be valuable to reconstructing your family history and how and where to look for them.

From Invisible Ink to Cryptography, Lessons in Spycraft and Privacy-Hacking from the American Revolution
Michelle Legro from Brain Pickings describes five key ways used by the British and the Americans to dupe each other and hide their personal data during the American Revolution.

Snapshots of New York City Street Scenes, 1936-1951
From Flavorwire: a preview of the expressive photo exhibition 'The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936-1951' that runs until March 25 at The Jewish Museum in New York City.

Genealogist Shares Her Genealogy Research Success Story!
A newspaper success story shared by GenealogyBank member Michele Lewis.

The London Library
A beautiful and nostalgic article by Orlando Whitfield from the Paris Review blog about his joyful addiction to the London Library.

British vs. American: Readers Weigh In
Quiz results on Photo Detective by Maureen Taylor. Readers were asked to compare two old photographs and find the difference between American and English fashion.

25 Vintage Cats And Dogs Dressed As People
BuzzFeed shares ridiculously cute old photos of dressed cats and dogs taken by Harry Whittier Frees (1879–1953). This photographer created novelty postcards and children's books based on his photographs of animals, which are highly collectible today.

Are You a Deltiologist?
A very interesting and educational article by Carolyn L. Barkley from Genealogy and Family History blog. I was surprised to find out that the term deltiologist means a postcard collector. It is fascinating how postcards can help genealogists to provide visual documentation and important facts for their research. I myself often posting old postcards can confirm how incredibly helpful they are for my research.

The Anti-Flirt Club
From Lists of Note: 10 hilarious rules by the 1920s Anti-Flirt Club - "young women and girls who have been embarrassed by men in automobiles and on street corners".

Enjoy!

1908 German Postcard

2012-03-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

A beautiful countryside scene, I think, somewhere in Germany. The artist's signature is written in the lower right corner but it's hard to see the name. Looks like the last name starts with "Mo" and the first name might be Hugo.

This postcard was sent to Katherine Shean from Ahart Martin, a brother of Mary Martin and a son of Mathias and Katherine Martin. They lived on a farm in Bowling Township, Rock Island County, Illinois and were neighbors of the Bauer family (Katherine's cousins). The postcard is dated November 23, 1908 and was sent from Milan, Illinois.

Rose Shean, abt. 1909

2012-03-02T11:14:00.001-07:00

This is my 100th post and today's photo is of my husband's grandmother Rose Ann (Shean) Coomes taken abt. 1909 when she was 15 years old and lived in Omaha, Nebraska. This is her earliest photo portrait we have. She looks shy. The first thing that draws attention is her beautiful eyes and a nice little smile.

1908 Postcard - Hawthorne School, Rock Island, IL

2012-03-01T13:26:00.001-07:00

This postcard is dated November 19, 1908. It came to Katherine Shean from her friend Bertha Bysinger who lived in Rock Island, Illinois.

Infortunately I couldn't find much about this school. It was one of Rock Island public schools and probably demolished long time ago. It's briefly mentioned in the book Historic Rock Island County, 1908, p. 131: Hawthorne School, Eighth Street and Third Avenue. L. C. Daugherty, principal; Mary E. Entrikin, assistant principal.

1909 Happy Birthday Postcard

2012-02-29T13:24:00.002-07:00

Today is my birthday and I wish everyone who was born on February 29th to have the Best Day Ever!

This lovely postcard with a beautiful rose surrounded by a blue flowers heart was printed by S. & M., New York & Berlin, and made in Germany, No. 192. It came for Katherine Shean's birthday from her aunt-in-law Ruby (Lancaster) Shean who lived in Rock Island, Illinois and was postmarked March 17, 1909.

Dear Katie,
I was going to send you a card on your birthday but did not know it was past until today, so thought better late than never. How are all the folks. We are all well. It is nice and warm here at present. Good bye. R.S.

William O. Shean

2012-02-29T11:45:00.002-07:00

This is a photo of William O. Shean, son of Dennis Shean and Ruby Lancaster. William was born on July 11, 1892 in Rock Island, Illinois. Unfortunately I didn't find much information about him. From census records and old letters, written by his sister Myrtle, we know that he married abt. 1923, and his wife was named Mae who died in 1963 in Chicago. William and Mae had two sons, William and Vernon.

The photo was printed as a postcard by Kerr Studio which is indicated on the back. Also written in pencil: 104 13th Ave., Howard. I don't know what it means, maybe another photography studio. Most likely the photo was taken in the 1910s.

Myrtle Shean

2012-02-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of Myrtle Shean at age 14, a cousin of my husband's grandmother Rose (Shean) Coomes. Myrtle was born on December 25, 1896 to Dennis Shean and Ruby Lancaster in Rock Island, Illinois. She married Carl Thiele in 1925. She had a long life and died at age 93 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The photo was taken on March 18, 1911 and printed by Kerr Studio.

Below is another photo of Myrtle taken in the 1910s and printed by Smelser Studio, Rockford, Illinois.

Unidentified Photo # 35

2012-02-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

Here is another mystery. This woman is wearing a very interesting dress or a blouse with straps and buttons all over it, kind of like a uniform. I've never seen anything like this. She is also wearing glasses and a bow in her hair. I would say she is in her 20s. This photo must be from the early 1900s. It is printed by Owen Studio, Dansville, New York.

I suppose this woman is a relative or a friend of our Coomes or Shean ancestors but none of them lived in Dansville. I found two towns in New York State named Dansville, one is located in Steuben County and another one is in Livingston County. I checked census records for both of them and couldn't find a photographer with the last name Owen. However there was a publisher living in North Dansville, Livingston County, named Frederick A. Owen, 52 years old in 1920.

1908 Victorian Postcard

2012-02-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

A postcard from another mysterious friend of Katherine Shean, named Ida Rogge. The card is dated November 15, 1908 and came from Milan, Illinois. I can't find this Ida Rogge in census records, no Rogge family in Rock Island County where Milan is located.

Dear Friend Katie,
I received your postal some time ago and thank you very much for it, and was glad to hear from you that you got home all right and half left glad to get back to your old beau. I bet he was glad to see you when you got back home. I hope you will like this postal. We are all well. Hoping these few lines find you back. Your Friend Ida Rogge.

Beau? Which means boyfriend. I don't see this word often. It's new to me that Katherine had a boyfriend. That's why Ida sent a postcard of a sweet couple.. Katherine never married though.

Ruby and Vernon Shean

2012-02-25T12:52:00.002-07:00

These photos were taken about 1915 in Rock Island, Illinois. The first photo shows Ruby (Lancaster) Shean and her son Vernon (see my previous post) in front of their house at 310 4th Street. The house looks pretty big and has a Victorian style porch. I was able to zoom enough to see the house number, then checked the 1920 census for their family and it shows the same number and also the street name. Pretty cool.. Too bad the house probably doesn't exist anymore.

Below is a photo of Vernon in the same outfit holding a baseball bat.

Dennis Shean Family

2012-02-24T13:01:00.003-07:00

Ruby (Lancaster) Shean and children Myrtle and Vernon

This photo was printed as a postcard and doesn't indicate any photo studio. It was taken on June 29, 1912 and shows Dennis Shean's family. Dennis was a younger brother of my husband's great grandfather William Shean. He worked as a machine operator at Rock Island Arsenal. Dennis is not in this photo, in fact we don't have a photo of him unfortunately. His wife Ruby (Lancaster) Shean was born in 1870 in Moline to Thomas Lancaster, farmer, and Sarah Tolan.

Ruby is sitting and holding her son Vernon who is about 3 years old in this picture. Beside them is Ruby's daughter Myrtle, who was born in 1896. They are wearing summer dresses and hats. Vernon's outfit is so cute, he is wearing a tie.

The photo was sent to Katherine Shean, Dennis' niece in Omaha, Nebraska. Ruby wrote on the back:

Dear Kate, Will you excuse me for not writing, when you come back I will tell you everything I can think off. Willie [Dennis' oldest son] is camping. He commences his vacation Monday. All are well. This card looks like I was drunk but I am only in a hurry. I am not sending the picture because it is good. I want to get rid of it! R. S.

What do you think of that!?

Below is a photo of Vernon when he was a baby, taken abt. 1910. He was born on October 2, 1909. He looks adorable. The photo was printed as a postcard by Kerr Photo Studio. Printed on the back: KERR over Dolly's Shoe Store, 1807 2nd Ave. Rock Island, Ills.

Ruby wrote:

Dear Katie, I am sending you a postcard of Vernon. Don't you think it is good? I will write you a letter soon. Good bye. Aunt Ruby.

Vernon D. Shean

The photographer Ernest N. Kerr was born in 1866 to Wiley and Mary Kerr in Bloomington, Illinois. He married Carrie M. Clute (daughter of Charles M. Clute and Jane E. Hamm) abt. 1890 and had a son named Norman. Apparently he left his photography business some time before 1920 as he worked as a draftsman at Rock Island Arsenal at that time.

1908 Postcard - Old Indian Trail near Rock Island, IL

2012-02-23T18:44:00.000-07:00

A nice postcard picturing an old Indian trail in fall colors and cute little children dressed in Native Americans costumes. It was published by the Rock Island Postcard Company.

The card was sent to Katherine Shean who lived in Omaha, Nebraska from her friend Bertha Bysinger of Rock Island. Dated October 18, 1908.

1908 Postcard - Curtis Turner Park, Omaha, NE

2012-02-22T14:21:00.001-07:00

After visiting her cousin Sadie Bauer and her uncle James Shean in Rock Island, Illinois, Katherine Shean was still staying in Rock Island, in her uncle Dennis Shean's house at 528 7th Avenue. This is the last card from Katherine's trip to Iowa and Illinois that started in May and ended in September of 1908. Katherine was 22 years old at that time. Her sister Rose living in Omaha sent her this card on September 5, 1908. After this date Katherine went to Chicago and then returned to her home in Omaha.

My Dear Sister,
I thought I would drop you a postal to see if you left yet, am writing to Myrtle [Dennis' daughter]. How are you feeling. I have been feeling bum all this week. Drop me a postal soon. Weather is awful hot. I guess I won't write till you're in Chicago. Drop me a postal when you get there, to let me know you didn't get swallowed up by a fly. Good-bye. R. S.

The image on the card is black-and-white and slightly tinted blue.

From Nebraska Memories:

Curtiss Turner Park covers an area of 7.58 acres. It is bordered by Farnam, Dodge, 30th & 31st Streets. It is now commonly known as Turner Park and has often been spelt Curtis Turner Park. The land was donated to the city by Mrs. Charlotte M. Turner in 1900, and was developed as Curtiss Turner Park with Turner Boulevard running along its eastern edge. The son of Charlotte and her husband Charles, a real estate developer, Curtiss was a civil engineer who died in an 1898 avalanche in Alaska, and Mr. and Mrs. Turner wanted the land donation to be used as park to memorialize their son.

1908 Best Wishes Postcard

2012-02-21T10:21:00.001-07:00

A pretty postcard with horseshoes and purple flowers, printed in Germany. This card was sent to Katherine Shean and it's a mystery who it was from but it came from Taylor Ridge, Illinois and was postmarked July 24, 1908. Address on the card: Preemption, Ill., Care of Miss Sadie Bauer. So, after staying with her grandmother in Rock Island (see previous postcards) Katherine went to visit her cousin Sadie Bauer who lived on a farm north of Preemption, IL.

Hello Katie,
How are you these days. I got your card all right. Am working 1 mile west of Hilda's now. I thought I would let you know where I was as you're going to the Tower Sunday, 26. Now don't forget to write my address in. Care of O. C. Bateman, Taylor Ridge, R.R No. 1.

According to the 1910 census O. C. Bateman was Omer C. Bateman, 48 years old, farmer, living in Edgington Township, Rock Island County, with his wife Celia and children Garland and Laura.. Still a mystery..

Unidentified Photo # 34

2012-02-20T11:14:00.001-07:00

This is one of Rose Shean's friends from Omaha, Nebraska. My mother-in-law says her name might be Maud but she doesn't know for sure. The photo was printed by Clyde B. Trussell Photo Studio, probably in the 1910s. It is enclosed in a nice folding picture frame.

1908 Postcard - Jefferson Square, Omaha, NE

2012-02-18T14:09:00.003-07:00

Six days later Rose Shean sent another postcard to her sister Katherine who was visiting her grandma in Rock Island, Illinois. Dated June 20, 1908.

Dear Katie,
I am answering your postcard now. How are you? School never let out until the nineteenth. It has rained every day this month but today & yesterday and day before. I am going to write to Myrtle and Clara [cousins] today. I would write to Ada [cousin] if I knew her address. Good bye. Rose Shean.

Well, today's postcard is a view of Jefferson Square, 16th & Chicago Streets, Omaha, Nebraska.

From Nebraska Memories:

In the foreground is a circular walkway around a fenced in planting bed. The other side of the walkway has an expanse of lawn which leads into a row of large trees in the background of the image. There are some tall buildings seen through the trees.

From Wikipedia:

The original dimensions of the park, as surveyed by Alfred D. Jones, were 264 by 280 feet (85 m). After being platted in 1856, the park was formally opened in 1865. It was one of three parks originally platted for the downtown area. Early settlers reported finding black bears at the park, and later complained when there were no bison there to hunt.

The first public school in Omaha was built on the southwest corner of Jefferson Square in September 1863. It was a small, one-room wooden structure, and was moved in 1865. In 1875 the park hosted the launching of the Omaha Bee hot air balloon, an advertising stunt by businessman Edward Rosewater. The balloon was the first in the city, and caused a stir when it was launched across the city.

In 1893 the Government of Omaha drew a lawsuit from a local citizen when they began constructing the Omaha Market House at the park. The case quickly veered public sentiment and legal favor, with a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling effectively preventing the city from building on the land "in perpetuity." The park hosted some events for the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition, as well. In the 1910s the park was said to host "thousands of people daily."

By the 1930s the park had become a congregation place for homeless people. The city erected public baths which became very popular. By the end of that decade the park was regarded as "less than desirable" and "disreputable" and was the target of city planners for redevelopment.

By the late 1950s the park was targeted for demolition to accommodate the new Interstate Highway System. When the park was demolished in 1969 to make room for Interstate 480 it was the focus of intense preservation efforts led by Omaha citizens. However, their efforts failed, and the park was lost. Read more >>

1908 Postcard - Douglas County Hospital, Omaha, NE

2012-02-17T13:14:00.001-07:00

Katherine Shean was still visiting her relatives and staying in her grandma's house in Rock Island (same address as shown here) when her sister Rose from Omaha sent her this postcard that is dated June 14, 1908.

Dear Katie,
We received your letter and were glad to hear from you. I am going to write a letter but I thought I would send a postcard too. I have no more of those pictures but I am going to have some in about two weeks.
Tata. R. S. Ans. soon.

The postcard is one of black-and-white series of Omaha postcards and has no publisher name on it. I have four of them.

Douglas County Hospital, started as a "pest house" in 1886, no longer houses hospital functions. The building was designed by E.E. Myers, a Detroit, MI, architectural firm, and constructed by Ryan & Walsh with the total cost $132,456. It was finished in May of 1892.

Since that time the hospital had many functions, such as caring for individuals with tuberculosis, children with disabilities, aged and disabled people, providing emergency care, rehabilitation services, general medical-surgical services, also providing one of the first Polio treatment centers in the area and the first contagious disease unit in the city.

In June of 2001 Douglas County Hospital changed its name to Douglas County Health Center and primarily focuses on the provision of Assisted Living, Long Term Care, and Skilled Nursing Services.

Sources:
http://dchc.douglascounty-ne.gov/
http://memories.ne.gov/

1908 & 1909 Postcards - Black Hawks Watch Tower, Rock Island, IL

2012-02-16T14:48:00.002-07:00

Entrance to Black Hawks Watch Tower, Rock Island, Ill.

This postcard was sent to Katherine Shean from her cousin Sadie Bauer who lived near Milan, Illinois, dated June 6, 1908. Remember from previous postcards Katherine was traveling at that time and in May she stayed in Des Moines, Iowa for about a month. Then I guess she went to Rock Island to visit her relatives. On this postcard her address is 1013 11th Ave., Rock Island, Ill. That's where her grandma, Celia (Noel) Shean, lived.

Sadie wrote:

Hello, how are you. Are glad to know you are so near us. You had better come to Preemption & tell the agent to call us by telephone when you arrive so I can meet you. Tell him where you want to go. I was in R.I. last Tuesday. Good bye. Sadie Bauer. Milan.

The postcard was published by the Rotograph Co., N.Y. City and printed in Germany.

Black Hawks Watch Tower From Rock River

Another postcard showing Black Hawks Watch Tower. It was sent to Katherine from her friend Bertha Bysinger and postmarked August 1909.

You can read a very interesting story about Black Hawks Watch Tower Amusement Park here, with many old photographs.

Unidentified Photos # 32 & 33

2012-02-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

One of Rose Shean's friends. Most likely these photos were taken in the 1910s. Both photos are enclosed in folding picture frames. The first one is printed by Trussell Studio, Omaha, Nebraska. View similar photos here.

1908 My Valentine Postcard

2012-02-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day to my Readers!

This charming postcard made in Germany was sent to Katherine Shean from her friend Bertha Bysinger of Rock Island, Illinois. Postmarked February 12, 1908.

Bertha wrote: "Hoping you received lots of pretty Valentines."

1907 Souvenir - The Heart of Rock Island, IL

2012-02-13T13:56:00.001-07:00

From Katherine Shean's collection. This cute Valentine's Day souvenir is made of two red paper hearts tied together with a red tassel, with 24 unfolding little photographs of Rock Island hidden between the hearts. The size of the hearts is about 3 1/4" x 3 1/4". Patented 1907.

The photographs are black-and-white copies of Rock Island postcards:

Second Avenue Looking West
City Hall
Court House
Public Library
High School
Post Office
Broadway Presbyterian Church
Rock Island Club
Harper House
Y.M.C.A. Building
Augustana College
Head Office, Modern Woodmen of America
Harms Hotel
Rock Island Arsenal Shops
Old Davenport House, Rock Island Arsenal
The Inn at Black Hawks Watch Tower
Power House & Dam, Rock Island Arsenal
Golf Club House, Rock Island Arsenal
Davenport Ferry
Gateway Entrance to Rock Island Arsenal
Steamer "J.S.", Steamer "W.W." & Barge
Government Bridge Across the Mississippi River
Circus Day
Spencer Square

1908 Postcard - High School, Omaha, NE

2012-02-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

Another postcard that Rose sent to her sister Katherine Shean from Omaha, dated May 25, 1908. Katherine was still staying in Des Moines, Iowa.

Dear Kate,
I received your two post-cards. We are all well. It rained nearly every day last week and this. How are you getting along? I am going to send you a letter. I guess it's from Grandma. Good-bye. Ans. soon. Rose.

The postcard was published by the Simplicity Co., Chicago, IL.

What an impressive building for a high school! Omaha High School was founded in 1859 and built on Capital Hill. The postcard must have been published before 1900 because the current building, located in downtown, was built between 1900 and 1912 and looks a bit different. It is the oldest active high school building in the city and was designed by John Latenser, Sr. (1858-1936). Read more on Wikipedia.

Omaha Central High School today. Image via Wikipedia.

1908 Postcard - Burlington Station, Omaha, NE

2012-02-10T10:01:00.004-07:00

This postcard is dated May 6, 1908. It was sent to Katherine Shean who was traveling at that time and stayed at 740 17th Street, Des Moines, Iowa. I wonder what she was doing there. Her sister Rose (my husband's grandma) sent this card from her home in Omaha.

Dear sister,
I received the card you sent me. We are all pretty well. The weather is horrible. There is a letter from Sadie [cousin Sadie Bauer]. Should I send it to you or keep it? Good-bye. Write soon. Rose.

The postcard was published by the Simplicity Co., Chicago, IL. The Burlington Train Station was pretty new at that time, only about 10 years old.

From Wikipedia:

This Italianate style building, designed by Thomas Rogers Kimball, was hailed by newspapers around the world for its grand architecture and accommodations...

This new Burlington station opened on July 4, 1898, in time for the Trans-Mississippi International Exposition, a glittering international showcase that attracted visitors to Omaha from around the world. The main lobby featured a grand circular staircase that led passengers downstairs to track level and the trains. A large canopy, a first for an Omaha train station, covered two tracks and kept passengers from the elements. The spacious lobby included new amenities, such as separate men's and women's waiting rooms, a gentleman's smoking room, and a sit-down lunch counter. The interior featured Sienna marble columns, and mosaic floors with the staircase accented with bronze castings of Rocky Mountain Sheep heads. The total cost of the station was $408,000, a very impressive amount for the day.

The building attracted considerable attention for its pristine beauty. The accolades were universal. A German commission judged the Burlington Station to be America's finest railroad station, and in 1908, the Chicago Record wrote, 'The handsomest railway station ever seen is the Burlington Station at Omaha. It is an artistic gem and looks like a Grecian Temple.'

Although great attention was lavished on the classic proportions and styling of the station, functional considerations were also important to the design. Since the two-story depot was built next to the 10th Street viaduct, the main entrance to the station was from the viaduct to the second floor. This portico featured twenty-eight massive Colorado granite columns. The walls of the depot were built of light gray brick and buff Indiana limestone; the roof was covered in red glazed tile...
Read more >>

1908 Postcard - Lafayette Square, Davenport, IA

2012-02-08T10:11:00.001-07:00

Lafayette Square was named after Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), a French soldier and statesman who fought for American independence. At the time the city of Davenport was laid out (1835) it was the custom to choose names of famous soldiers for the new streets. The original town was platted in the conventional fashion of a grid pattern of 36 squares by Antoine LeClaire (1797-1861), the principal founder of Davenport. Lafayette Square was set aside as a public square along with two other squares, Washinton and Bolivar.

Today Lafayette Square is a public park with 2 acres of land that features ball fields, a basketball court, and playground equipment.

This postcard was sent to Katherine Shean from her friend Bertha Bysinger of Rock Island, Illinois and dated April 24, 1908. It was published by the Souvenir Post Card Co., New York, and printed in Germany.

1908 Postcards - Central Park, Davenport, IA

2012-02-05T14:30:00.001-07:00

Main Street Entrance to Central Park, Davenport, Ia.

Central Park in Winter Time, Davenport, Ia.

These postcards were sent to Katherine Shean from her friend Bertha Bysinger of Rock Island, Illinois, and dated April 6 and April 13, 1908. They were published by the Souvenir Post Card Co., New York, and printed in Germany.

Central Park was established in 1885. The city of Davenport purchased the land for $13,000 ($316,719 in 2012 dollars). The park was built on the old Scott County Fairgrounds land and modeled after New York City’s Central Park.

In 1912 the park was renamed after the first secretary of the Davenport Park Board of Commissioners, A. W. Vander Veer, and became Vander Veer Park. It is a 33-acre botanical garden and is believed to be one of the first botanical parks west of the Mississippi River. A conservatory, music pavilion, and decorative fountains were added after World War I. The park was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on August 4, 1993.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vander_Veer_Botanical_Park