Scarborough Students’ Summer Fun – 1930s Style.

Photo Friday
The Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, Part 078
Album 2023.02.05.

By Don Taylor

As part of my ongoing work with the Linwood Dyer Collection, I look at photos from his collection. Looking at a well-worn burgundy album, most of the images within are “staged snapshots.” Some of the pictures originally in the album are now elsewhere, and the remaining photos are nicely identified. The Scarborough Historical Society maintains the original photographs in the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.

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Picnic at Sewells – June 1937

This vintage photograph, titled “Picnic at Sewell’s – June 1937,” captures a moment of camaraderie among a group of young adults enjoying a summer gathering in the woods. Seven individuals are perched and posed on the rear bumper, trunk, and roof of a car, likely a mid-1930s model, parked in a wooded area beside a small cabin.

The two young women in front are dressed in printed summer dresses with short sleeves and knee-length hems, typical of the late 1930s. Their hairstyles and striped ankle socks add to the period charm. Seated between them is a young man in a short-sleeved shirt and boldly striped tie.

Behind them, four young men are arranged casually, standing or sitting on the trunk and roof of the car. They are dressed in short-sleeved shirts and ties, reflecting a blend of casual and formal picnic attire of the era.

The scene is framed by tall pine trees, with a rustic cabin visible in the background, suggesting the location may have been a summer retreat or family property. Two cars are visible, both bearing 1937 Maine license plates.

Names identified with the group are:

• Earl Leary
• Albert Sewell
• Ted Newcomb
• Donald Sewell
• Elva Pooler
• Norm Harmon
• Jeanette Johnson

This photograph serves not only as a record of a social gathering in pre-war rural Maine but also as a valuable genealogical artifact, preserving the faces and fashions of a bygone era.

Further research revealed:

• Earl Leary – Earl Jr. was Scarborough High School (SHS), Class of ’37. He later married Margarite Jackson.
• Albert Sewell – SHS Class of 1936. Albert Grattan Sewell was born on July 12, 1918. He was a stage manager for the Senior Class play, “Miss Adventure.”
• Ted Newcomb – Also known as Frederick Melville Newcomb, “Ted” was born on 18 Feb 1920. He was a 4H Club county champion in Dairying (1936) and graduated from SHS Class of 1937.
• Donald Sewell – SHS Class of 1938, Donald Nelson Sewell was born December 31, 1919.
• Elva Pooler – SHS Class of 1938, Elva Margaret Pooler was born June 18, 1818,
• Norm Harmon – SHS Class of 1938 – Norman Dennison Harmon “Norm” was born August 11, 1920.
• Jeanette Johnson – SHS Class of 1938 – Jeanette Johnson “Jettie” was born on 7 November 1920.

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Three On a Rope (swing) – Marion Wood, George Townsend, Geneva Plowman – June 1936.

This warm and candid photograph, dated June 14–20, 1936, captures a lighthearted summer moment shared among three young friends: Marion Wood, George Townsend, and Geneva Plowman.

The trio is seated together on a rustic wooden rope swing, suspended between two sturdy trees in what appears to be a forested retreat or lakeside camp. The swing hangs low over a wide plank board set on uneven stone, likely used for pushing off or balancing. All three individuals are smiling and lean comfortably into one another, conveying a sense of genuine friendship and youthful joy.

Marion, on the left, wears casual summer attire—shorts and a short-sleeved top. George, seated in the middle, wears a light-colored sleeveless sweater and dark trousers, typical of casual men’s wear of the 1930s. Geneva, on the right, wears a stylish plaid halter romper, and her socks and saddle shoes further evoke the decade’s popular fashion.

In the background, a rustic shingled cabin with gabled rooflines and screened windows blends naturally into the wooded setting, indicating a summer getaway or seasonal camp—possibly in rural New England. The photograph is softly lit by the sun filtering through the trees, adding to its nostalgic charm.

This image stands as a joyful snapshot of Depression-era recreation, reflecting the enduring human desire for companionship, leisure, and the simple pleasures of summer.

Further research revealed:

• Marian Louise Wood “Woodsie” was born on 23 Nov 1920. She graduated with the Scarborough Class of 1938.
• George Everett Townsend was born on 19 Sep 1919 in Westbrook, Maine. He lived in Westbrook during the 1930, 1935, and 1940 Census.
• Geneva Estelle Plowman “Geva” was born on 20 August 1921. She graduated with the Scarborough Class of 1938.

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Two Pails & Four Girls – Marian Wood, Nell Newcomb, Vivian Plowman, & Jeanette Johnson

This charming, candid photograph captures a group of four young women—Marian Wood, Nell Newcomb, Vivian Plowman, and Jeanette Johnson—engaged in what appears to be a lighthearted chore or mock reenactment of water carrying, set in a wooded outdoor setting.

The girls are posed with a long wooden pole balanced on their shoulders, from which hang two pails and several glass jugs and metal pitchers, possibly meant to represent the act of fetching water from a nearby spring or pump. Their expressions range from amused to playful, suggesting that this was a staged or jovial moment rather than serious labor.

The young women are dressed in 1930s casual summer clothing—light sundresses, halter tops, and high-waisted pants—typical of the era’s warm-weather attire. Their hairstyles are soft and natural, reflecting the fashion of the mid-1930s. Behind them, a rustic split-rail fence and thick woods create a bucolic backdrop. Notably, a sign tacked to a tree reads “Private Property – Keep Out,” adding a humorous tension to the scene as if they were trespassing or skirting boundaries for fun.

The composition and setting suggest this may have been taken during a summer outing or vacation at a rural cabin or camp, where leisure mixed freely with fun and make-believe. Like the others in this group of vintage photos, it offers a snapshot of the camaraderie and spirited nature of Depression-era youth during moments of respite and recreation.

Further research revealed:

• Marian Louise Wood “Woodsie” was born on 23 Nov 1920. She graduated with the Scarborough Class of 1938.
• Nell Newcomb “Nell” – Nellie E. Newcomb graduated from Scarborough High School, class of 1935.
• Vivian Plowman “Ve” – Vivian Plowman graduated from Scarborough High School, class of 1935.
• Jeannette Johnson “Jettie,” was born November 7, 1920, and graduated from Scarborough High School, Class of 1938.

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Geneva

“Geneva Plowman – June 14–20, 1936,” presents a summertime portrait of a young woman standing just outside a modest wooden cabin, likely at a lakeside or woodland retreat.

Geneva Plowman is pictured facing the camera, standing confidently and smiling faintly in the bright sunlight. She is dressed in a sleeveless, plaid halter playsuit—an outfit fashionable for young women in the mid-1930s, designed for comfort and casual outdoor wear during hot weather. A dark collar or choker accentuates the neckline, and her short, softly waved hair frames her face in a typical 1930s style.

The backdrop reveals a wood-sided cabin with clapboard siding and a screened door behind her. To the right, a window with sheer curtains offers a cozy domestic detail. The shadows and overexposure in the image suggest the photo was taken in strong mid-day light, giving the image a bright, washed-out effect characteristic of amateur snapshots from the era.

This photograph serves as a quiet yet expressive record of an individual during a week of summer leisure—one frame in a larger story of friendships, rural adventures, and Depression-era youth culture preserved in these vacation snapshots.

Further research revealed:

• Geneva Plowman “Geva” – Born August 20, 1921 – graduated from Scarborough High School, Class of 1938.

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Marian Wood.

This photograph features Marion Wood, captured in a relaxed and slightly playful pose, standing barefoot atop a large rock in a sun-dappled clearing. She carries a traditional wooden yoke across her shoulders, from which hang two metal water pails, suggesting either a staged chore or a reenactment of rural domestic life—common motifs in Depression-era snapshots.

Marion is dressed in a sleeveless, checkered summer dress that falls mid-calf, cinched at the waist with a dark belt. Her hair is neatly styled in soft waves, characteristic of the 1930s, and she wears socks but no shoes, emphasizing the informal, down-to-earth tone of the image.

Behind her stands a charming two-story summer cottage with shuttered windows, open to the warm air. The building is surrounded by leafy undergrowth and tall trees, likely part of a lakeside or wooded vacation area frequented by friends and family. The late-afternoon shadows and strong sunlight highlight the carefree feeling of the setting.

This image of Marion Wood not only offers a glimpse into 1930s summer life but also preserves a moment of strength and quiet self-assurance, suggesting the pride and independence young women of the era often embodied—even in staged or playful tasks.

Further research revealed:

• Marian Louise Wood “Woodsie” was born on 23 Nov 1920. She graduated with the Scarborough Class of 1938.

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Connection Invitation

If these photographs represent previously unseen images of your family members, we would love to hear from you. Just use the comment feature below. Feel free to incorporate these photographs into your genealogical research, citing “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”

Portions of this article were prepared with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, to support research and drafting.