Great-grandmother Caroline Herzler Goetz with her first grandson---who is our first cousin once removed. (I see Matt Judge in that face.)
I'm not sure who these characters are. Gran Goetz saved this photo post card for SOME reason. And the man in the front with the ears COULD be her brother George. Hmmmm....
Where ARE they? And WHAT are they doing?
Aunt Marie Croudle (on the right) lighting up with friends. Looks like the 1920s to me. I'm pretty sure smoking was tabu for young ladies from "good homes." I wish I could read what's printed on the girls' headbands.
The back of this picture post card just says "Taken in France." Must be 1914 or so. I guess that's George in the last row.
Two identifiable people, for sure. Grandfather Goetz (back row, 3rd from left), Grandmother Goetz (front row, last woman on the right.) But, who ARE all those others?
Wish I knew who this cute boy is. This photo was saved for a reason. And who's the woman in the background watching him? Looks like 1920s to me.
Gran Goetz---age 19.
I'm still looking for more information about Glen Island.
Gran Goetz in her youth. Could she be in Central Park?
William in his early 20s
The back of this one has---in Gran Goetz's handwriting---"age 21 years Jan. 16 1915."
The back of this photo says "Lake Hopatgong June 29, 1913." The lake name is a little hard to read---I might have it not exactly right. But, the date is very clear. That's our grandfather Goetz. If you look closely---background right---you can see a couple with their heads together.
I love the bit of whimsy---the swing---interposed with this very staid portrait of two of our grand---and one of our great---grandparents.
Grandfather Goetz. He looks about in his thirties here. So this must be from the 1920s.
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That's Grandfather Goetz in the back with Gran Goetz wearing the little cap. I think that's her mother with the other woman leaning on her. Hmmm... I see Aunt Marie Croudle in there. But, who are the other people?
I found this behind some old pictures on my wall. I had written "Margaret Goetz" on the back. I must have gotten it a long time ago from Gran Goetz or Aunt Marg. Gorgeous baby.
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That's two Slade women in the back row: Grandmother Goetz and her mother, Catherine McNamara Slade. The man with the derby kind of hat probably belongs to the Slades. They're at a boardwalk. What's interesting is that the other people look like circus performers. Looks kind of 1920s to me.
Sister Genevieve was Gran Goetz's aunt---her mother's sister. (So, that would make her our great-great aunt.) I was named for her. This is a letter she wrote just after I was born. The "Margaret" she wrote to is Mom.
This is Sister Genevieve. (Before she went into the convent she was Annie McNamara.) I think the other woman is her sister, our great-grandmother Kitty McNamara Slade. The little boy is likely one of the children Sister Genevieve cared for at St. Joseph's Home for the Blind in Jersey City. The clothing dates the photo from the 1930s, I think.
Just going by his ears, could that be our great-uncle George Slade in the back right? Who the other people are, I don't know. They reoccur, though, throughout all these old photos.
That's Aunt Margaret in the front. And our grandparents in the back. Aunt Marie Croudle is just behind Aunt Marg. Who those other two women are, I haven't a clue. They both seem to be pregnant, though, don't you think?
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The Elmhurst address was 94-20 54th Ave. But, if you look closely at this picture, you can see a 155 address just above 94-20. I wonder what that means.
Mom on her brother John's lap. I think that's brother Larry on the chair. And the boy standing is Ed.
Definitely Grandfather Goetz in the shed. But, I'm not sure the woman is Gran Goetz. Probably is. She's tall enough. But she looks different. (Click on it for a bigger image.) I wonder where they are. Somebody's vegetable garden, I think. And the houses in the back are too close and too tall---more like apartments---for the Elmhurst backyard. Maybe Brooklyn?
Eileen McNamara is our second cousin once removed. (Her father, Jimmy McNamara, is Gran Goetz's cousin.) Eileen's kids and our kids are third cousins. This is Eileen's 1964 or 1965 wedding in Brooklyn. (I'm the bridesmaid on the lower step.) Eileen married Dick, whose last name---I'm pretty sure---is either Hessler or Kessler.
Peggy will remember Aunt Marie's dolls. And, I LOVE the white oxfords.