Louise And Sylvester Furtado, San Jose, CA

Louise And Silvester Furtado San Jose CA pc1Louise And Silvester Furtado San Jose CA pc2

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, unused with writing. SOLIO stamp box. Photo dated 1908.

Availability Status:  SOLD

“Aunt Louise & Uncle Sylvester Furtado. One of six sisters including my mother Caroline. 1908.”

From an Ancestry.com tree with photos, we were able to easily match up this married couple who are:  Louise (Baptista) Furtado, (1876 – 1979) born in California, and Sylvester Furtado (1874 – 1953) born in o Jorge, Azores, Portugal.

The photographer’s stamp on the back of this Real Photo Postcard shows:

“E. Bambocci. Premiato Con. 21 Medalie D’Oro. 27 North Market St., San Jose, Cal.”

A 1910 San Jose city directory reveals that this was Enrico Bambocci, 27 N. Market, residence address 271 San Augustine. A quick search shows a long career in photography for Enrico and we’ll find out more in the next post.  “Premiato Con. 21 Medalie D’Oro”  translates from Italian as  “With Award-Winning 21 Gold Medals.”

Source:  Polk-Husted Directory Co.’s San Jose City and Santa Clara County Directory, 1910-1911. p. 75. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Bird’s Eye View, Utica, New York

Birds Eye View Utica NY pc1Birds Eye View Utica NY pc2Portuguese Writing2

This is the third of three in the small Cunha Family Collection (we may find more, you never know.) The sender has written in Portuguese to his friend, Mrs. John Cunha who is Mary (Azevedo) Cunha. The family name also appears as Da Cunha.

If anyone can translate the message, do please reply to this posting. The handwriting is a little difficult to read. It starts out,  “Utica NY. September 3, 1908. My good friend…”  and is addressed to:

“Mrs. J. Cunha, 115 Sumner St, Taunton, Mass.”

This postcard view is a pretty common one online, in black and white and the colorized version above. It shows up as early as 1906, and a later, somewhat different view, identifies the prominent street as Genesee. The sign on the building on the left  “Warnes, Pianos”  is advertising the establishment of William Warnes, who shows in city directories under the heading “Pianos and Organs” at the business address of 3 Gardner Block

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked September 4, 1908 from Utica, New York. Publisher:  Utica Paper Co., Utica, N. Y. Made in Germany. Series or number 41596.

Price:  $5.00

Source:  Utica Business Directory, 1907. p. 782. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, Mass.

Johney Cake Hill New Bedford Mass pc1Johney Cake Hill New Bedford Mass pc2

“New Bedford, Mass. One of New Bedford Quaint Streets. Johney Cake Hill, Corner Union and Bethel Streets.”

This is the second of three cards in The Cunha Family Collection. The sender wrote:

“My Dear Friend, I drop this post card so to let you know that you might see a friend Sunday, that you havn’t seen for some time. Yours Truly. M.S.”

Sent to:   “Mrs. Mary Cunha, 115 Sumner St., Taunton, Mass.”

Behind the name

The definition of “bethel”  is a holy place or a chapel for seamen. The street name Bethel is present-day Johnny Cake Hill; the address of 15 Johnny Cake Hill being home to the Seaman’s Chapel whose facade bears a plaque with a quote from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. (See below for an interesting 1928 newspaper article from the Emporia, Kansas’ Emporia Gazette.) A Wiki article on New Bedford tells us that the city’s nickname is “The Whaling City” because it was one of the most important whaling ports during the 19th century; also that the area that includes New Bedford, Greater Providence and Fall River is home to the largest Portuguese-American community in the U.S.

The Bethelen Cafe

Always intrigued by the small shops and restaurants that appear in these town views, we looked for the Bethelen Cafe that shows on the corner there, but didn’t find any specific mention of it in city directories, Google books, or historical newspapers currently online. Perhaps it was replaced by The New Bedford Whaling Museum? No, the well-known museum is up the street a ways. But check out the following page from Roger Chartier’s WhalingCity.net  which shows a detailed history with several wonderful old photos of the corner of Union and Bethel, including one of the St. Helena restaurant. You’ll be able to take in the detail of the fountain in front of the restaurant – note that there is also a fountain in our postcard image but it’s a different one. Since our postcard was sent in 1909, an estimated time-frame for the card’s view would be that year or within several years prior. We might guess that the Bethelen was a brief successor to the St. Helena Restaurant, with the name Bethelen being a combination of Bethel and Helena.

1928 newspaper article re the Seaman’s Bethel (courtesy Newspapers.com).

Moby Dick Mast Article

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked October 3, 1909 from New Bedford, Mass. Publisher:  The Metropolitan News & Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. and Germany. No. G 15 121. Made in Germany.

Note:  At the time of this posting, surprisingly, no other postcards of the same view are showing up online.

Price:  $15.00

Sources:  New Bedford, Massachusetts. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bedford,_Massachusetts. (accessed October 25, 2015).

Chartier, Roger. “St. Helena Restaurant – Cafe…” WhalingCity.net. (Web accessed October 25, 2015.)

“Moby Dick” Mast In Tars’ Pulpit Must Be Torn Down. Emporia Gazette. 19 Jan 1928. Thur, p. 6. (Newspapers.com)

Stone Bridge Cottage, Tiverton, Rhode Island

Stone Bridge Cottage Tiverton RI pc1Stone Bridge Cottage Tiverton RI pc2

Portuguese message1

Stone Bridge Cottage was a popular hotel and restaurant which later became known as Stone Bridge Inn. The Inn appears to have survived as an establishment at least until August or September of 1976, according to a newspaper ad for the Inn as a musical venue to include buffet lunch and champagne. The open, roofed porch that encircled the building would later have been enclosed. According to authors Nancy Jensen Devin and Richard V. Simpson, the building shown here in this 1909 postcard would have been the third structure, described as,  “…a large, wood-shingled, two-and-a-half story hotel occupying a corner lot at the east end of what was once the Stone Bridge….The once-fashionable resort catered to vacationers and travelers for almost two centuries.” 

The first in The Cunha Family Collection:  This card was sent by Miguel S. Cunha, presumably a relative of the addressee. Two of the three are written in Portugese (and if anyone can translate them we’d surely appreciate it.) The translation is difficult due to the sender’s handwriting, and the possibility of misspelled words or even a change in spelling over the years. This one appears to be about someone named Mathes going (or who was going) to California with (or to see?) Miguel’s brothers, and something regarding a letter being sent to Miguel’s father? Also, someone named Jose Antonio is mentioned.

The card is addressed to:   “Jose Silveira da Cunha, 115 Sumner St, Taunton, Mass.”

The likely fit for the addressee shows in Massachusetts Marriage Records, for Jose Silveira Da Cunha, born about 1878 in the Western Islands (of the Azores). Married on November 10, 1906 in Taunton to Maria S. Azevedo, born about 1880 in the Western Islands (of the Azores). The groom’s parents are Joao Silveira Bettencurte Cunha and Rosa Margarida Da Silveira, and the bride’s parents are Manuel Vieira Siceira and Mariana Azevedo. The next two postcards in this small family group are addressed to Mary Cunha and Mrs. J. Cunha at the same Sumner Street address.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked October 6, 1909 from Newport, Rhode Island. Publisher:  The Metropolitan News Co., Boston, Mass. and Germany. No. 9259 (44078).

Price:  $5.00

Sources:  “The Stone Bridge Music Festival.”  The Berkshire Eagle, 27 Aug 1977, p. 64. (Newspapers.com)

Jensen, Nancy and Richard V. Simpson. Images of America:  Tiverton and Little Compton. Charleston:  Arcardia Publishing, 1977. (Google eBook.)

Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. (Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915.)

217 E. 11th Ave, Hutchinson, Kansas

217 East 11th Ave Hutchinson Kansas pc1217 East 11th Ave Hutchinson Kansas pc2

This Prairie-style house is still standing and beautiful today! It shows up on Zillow, the real estate website, as being constructed in 1913, though it may have been 1910. The 1910 is the earliest city directory listing for this address and shows that the inhabitants were Parmer P. and Mary Lorimor. And with closer scrutiny of the present-day house it looks like an upstairs addition was added on in the back at some point.

This particular photo, from a cropped Real Photo Postcard, shows an AZO stamp box on the back, with two triangles up and two down, giving a broad estimate from around 1910 – 1930. However, we can see two ladies posing on the porch for the photo, and judging by their dress style, I would say it would have been taken in the 1910s (not necessarily 1910 as the house doesn’t look brand new) or maybe very early 1920s. Likely the two women are either Mary A. Lorimor and her daughter Eloise, or Minnie Siler and daughter, Mabel, Lettie or Flossie. The Lorimers lived there from around 1910 to about 1915; the Silers from about 1917 to about 1920, and the Nichols family moved in sometime between 1920 and 1924.

1910 – Federal Census. Parmer P. and Mary Lorimor

1913 – Parmer P. and Mary A. Lorimor; Eloise Lorimor (student).

1915 – Palmer P. and Mary Lorimor; Eloise Lorimor (student).

1917 – George K. and Minnie Siler; Flossie E. and Mabel O. Siler (students).

1919 – George K. (trucker for the C R I & P Railroad) and Minnie E. Siler; George and Minnie’s three daughters, Flossie E., Lettie E., and Mabel O. (teacher) Siler. The entry for George and Minnie shows 217 11th Ave W. for West – just a typo.

1920 – Federal Census – George and Minnie and their three daughters, Mable, Lettie and Flossie.

1924 – Della (widow of Henry) Nichols; living with Della are Marie Nichols (stenographer for the Hutchinson State Bank) Whitney Nichols (student) and Wilbur L. Nichols (salesman for Kansas G & E Company).

Divided back, cropped, Real Photo Postcard, unused with writing. AZO stamp box. Circa 1913 – 1920.

Price:  $20.00       Size:  3 and 1/2 x 2 and 1/2″

Sources:  R. L. Polk & Co.’s Hutchinson City Directory, 1910. p. 209. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Hutchinson Ward 6, Reno, Kansas; Roll: T624_453; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0173; FHL microfilm: 1374466. (Ancestry.com)

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Hutchinson City Directory, 1913. p. 220 – 221. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Hutchinson City Directory, 1915. p. 211. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Hutchinson City Directory, 1917. p. 311. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Hutchinson City Directory, 1919. p. 325. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Year: 1920; Census Place: Hutchinson Ward 6, Reno, Kansas; Roll: T625_546; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 182; Image: 893. (Ancestry.com)

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Hutchinson City Directory, 1924. p. 284. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

McAlester, Virginia, and Lee McAlester. A Field Guide to American Houses. 1984. New York:  Alfred A. Knopf, 1990. Print.

Mrs. Antoinette Skelton’s Dining Room

Mrs. Antoinette Skeltons Dining Room pc1Mrs. Antoinette Skeltons Dining Room pc2

“Dear Mrs. Brown – May I have the pleasure of your and your daughter’s (both) company to 1 o’clock luncheon on Wednesday, May 27th? Come as early as you can. Sincerely, Antoinette Skelton, 497 S. El Molino Av. Pasadena. May 22 – 08.”

Addressed to:   “Mrs. T. W. Brown, 2659 Romeo Str., Los Angeles, Cal.”

What a nice way to send a luncheon invitation – via a Real Photo Postcard of the dining area of the hostess. This home, alas, is no longer in existence:  it’s address – 497 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, is now an apartment complex. Antoinette Skelton appears to have been Mrs. Antoinette H. Skelton, widow of L. L. Skelton according to city directory listings. Mrs. T. W. Brown is Mrs. Ophelia Brown, of 2659 Romeo St., Los Angeles, widow of Thomas W. Brown. The 1910 Federal Census for Los Angeles shows Ophelia and her two daughters, Rolla A. and Ruth W. Forward (Ruth later shows under the last name of Brown.)

As to the dining room, probably most or all of the items, (furniture, paintings, the room screen, clock etc.) could be identified for style and period by experts in their respective fields of antiques….but without getting technical it’s been fun to look at the room in detail and ponder….who’s likenesses appear in the paintings above the mantel (these gentlemen look familiar), what is that message in the framed embroidery?, what type of chandelier would hold a place for houseplants (was this just a temporary decorating flourish by the hostess or was the chandelier designed this way?) who were the small framed photos of (on the mantel) and how about that whimsical pottery-type face that hangs on the wall, and the mantel and faux? fireplace itself with the unusual indentation for small decorative objects….

Divided back, used, Real Photo Postcard. Postmarked May 22, 1908 from Pasadena, California.

Price:  $20.00

Sources: Los Angeles Directory Co’s Thurston’s Residence and Business Directory of Pasadena, 1915 – 1916. p. 369. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Los Angeles City Directory Co’s Los Angeles City Directory, 1909. p. 213. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989.)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Los Angeles Assembly District 70, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_80; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0221; FHL microfilm: 1374093.

John G. Feeser, Photographer

See Girl With Bow post and Young Woman In Hanover, Pennsylvania post.

Feeser’s Studio, 24 E. Middle Street, Hanover, PA was the forerunner to the present-day Poist Studio and Frame Shoppe, 20 E. Middle Street.

Hanover city directories would need further (local library) exploration to fill in the gaps for missing years:  John Feeser’s occupation in directory listings is shoemaker in 1881 – 1888, and the next directory found online is not until year 1898, when he is then listed as a photographer. But, according to a genealogical society publication on York area photographers, Feeser started in 1883 and son-in-law Joseph Poist took over in 1919 when John Feeser died. However, the 1910 Federal Census for Hanover gives John G. Feeser’s occupation as retail merchant at a [variety?] store with son-in-law Joseph, living next door, occupation photographer. So, unless John was working as both photographer and shoemaker at the same time, it would seem he started in the photography business sometime between 1888 and 1898, and then with his son-in-law taking over from him possibly as early as 1910. Here’s a brief timeline compiled from online records:

20 September 1849 – John G. Feeser born in Maryland to Daniel Feeser and Carolina Yengling[?] both also native to Maryland.

21 December 1879 – marriage to Sarah “Savannah” C. Yeiser at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Hanover, PA.

1881 -’82 – John Feeser, shoemaker, Fountain Square, corner of Frederick, Hanover.

1883 – ’84 – John G. “Fesser”, shoemaker, Fountain Square, corner of Frederick, Hanover.

1886 – John G. Feeser, shoemaker, Fountain Square, Hanover.

1887 – ’88 – John G. “Fesser”, shoemaker, Fountain Square, corner of Frederick, Hanover.

1898 – John G. Feeser, photographer. 24 Middle St., residence the same.

1900 – Federal Census, 26 E. Middle Street, Hanover, PA. John G. Feeser, photographer; wife Savannah C. Feeser, milliner; daughter Goldie M. Feeser, milliner; brother Frank Feeser, day laborer.

1910 – Federal Census, 26 Middle Street, Hanover, PA. John G. Feeser, retail merchant at a [variety?] store; wife Savannah C. Feeser, milliner; brother Frank [Y. or L.] Feeser, laborer[?] at a printing[?] office; Maria Weiser, mother-in-law to John. This census shows that John’s marriage to Savannah is his second marriage and her first. Living with them is the Poist family:  Joseph E. Poist, photographer; Joseph’s wife, Goldie M. Poist, retail merchant at a millinery store; their children, Francis M., Elbert J.[?] and Evelyn L. Poist.

September 15, 1919 – Death, John G. Feeser, Hanover, PA; occupation on death record is retired[?] shoemaker. Buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Hanover.

Note:  The website Find A Grave shows the gravestone photo for John G. Feeser with the date of death as September 16th, rather than the 15th. John’s entry has a link for his wife, Savannah C. (March 4, 1855 – April 24, 1927.)

Sources:  “Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2XW-P67 : accessed 17 October 2015), John G. Feeser and Sarah C. Yeiser, 21 Dec 1879; citing Saint Matthews Lutheran Church,Hanover,York,Pennsylvania; FHL microfilm 823,598.

Boyd’s York Directory, 1881 -1882. p. 242. (Ancestry.com U. S. City Directories, 1822 -1989.)

York Area Photographers, 1840 – 1997. South Central Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, 1998. Google Books (snippet view).

Boyd’s York Directory, 1883 – 1884. p. 228. (Ancestry.com U. S. City Directories, 1822 -1989.)

Boyd’s York Directory, 1887 – 1888. p. 313. (Ancestry.com U. S. City Directories, 1822 -1989.)

Young’s York City & County Directory, 1886. p. 289. (Ancestry.com U. S. City Directories, 1822 -1989.)

R. L. Polk & Co’s Directory for Hanover, 1898. p. 511. (Ancestry.com U. S. City Directories, 1822 -1989.)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Hanover Ward 1, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1501; Page: 22B; Enumeration District: 0150; FHL microfilm: 1241501. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Hanover Ward 1, York, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1433; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0058; FHL microfilm: 1375446. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963.

John G. Feeser, Memorial #136531756. (Find A Grave.)

Savannah C. Feeser, Memorial #136531665. (Find A Grave.) 

An Inviting Porch

An Inviting Porch pc1An Inviting Porch pc2

What a beautiful spot! An long, inviting, shady front porch, with two rockers, one large and a smaller children’s size, a lovely wooden bench (have you seen one with the slats this far apart?), pots of flowers, is that a small bunch on the wall next to the door on the far left? How about that fence? There’s nothing like the old metal ones from the early 1900s, and why do we rarely see them anymore? They’re the perfect type for fencing in a small garden (if you have say, a medium-sized to small dog that likes to chew rose bushes or eat all your tomatoes – lets the sun in but keeps the marauder out.) But of course, they’re just as nice framing a beautiful old home like this one. I’m not sure of the architectural style. Maybe Folk Victorian. Note the uncommon placement of the chimney in the center above the roof line. But what is most unusual is the fact that there are two single, front doors, next to each other. What was the story behind the design? Did the family have a lot of kids constantly running in and out and the parents made an “in” and an “out” door?

Divided back, unused, Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box, all four triangles up. Circa 0907 – 1918.

Price:  $5.00

Little Girl On Porch Steps

Little Girl On Porch Steps pc1Little Girl On Porch Steps pc2

Awwww! Well, it looks like this little girl is having kind of “a moment.” She was unhappy about something when the photo was taken. I love the dress (was it handmade?) with the contrasting sash-like piece and the matching cuffs and waistband. She wears a hair bow also, and dark leggings. No identifying information on the back; probably the name “Bell” was the dealer who was selling this card at some point. There are no clues to the location, but we might think Midwestern farm country due to the flat expanse that we have a glimpse of beyond the well-built looking porch (note the rough-hewn stone steps and support) and house. There’s a nice little school-house type desk and seat in front of the window, and if you look closer you’ll notice how the iron scroll work of the desk is similar to the shadow showing for the porch bracket, and how the shadow just happens to be placed (as if by design) “attached” to the window frame.

Divided back, unused, Real Photo Postcard. AZO stamp box with all four triangles pointing up, circa 1907 – 1918.

Price:  $5.00

Aunt Ida’s Son

Aunt Idas Son pc1Aunt-Idas-Son-pc2

In 1909, when this postcard was sent, little boys were still wearing dresses, so this photo would not seem at all unusual back then. Dresses for infants and toddlers were gender neutral and white clothing, and of course diapers, were able to be bleached. The sweater he wears perhaps made the dress stick out more than it normally did. And we’re just going by what the back says for i.d. – someone later on had written in pen,  “Aunt Ida’s Son.”  But it’s a beautiful photo of a happy baby on the porch steps. His name is unknown, as confirmation was not found on the addressee, nor for Ida’s last name. The postcard was mailed from Stockbridge, Wisconsin, which is about sixty miles south of Oconto Falls, and the sender writes:

“Talk about being surprised. I certainly was, accept congratulations. It’s a wonder you wouldn’t say something. Will be up home some time next week. How do you like this card. Well so long love to all. Ida.”

Addressed to:

“Mr. & Mrs. L. Hanly[?] Oconto Falls, Oconto Co., Wis.”

Divided back, used, Real Photo Postcard. Postmarked 1909 (exact date unreadable) from Stockbridge, Wisconsin.

Price:  $5.00