Category Archives: Research

Faces from the Past – Bridges, Brown, Fielding, Harrison, Pedneault, and Four Jack Jr. HS Students

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Don Taylor

Explore this installment of “Faces from the Past,” which features Annie B. Harrison, William Fielding, Mable Evelyn Bridges, Marie Louise Brown & Charles Pedneault, and Jack Junior High students from 1957. Reuniting these portraits with descendants keeps local history alive. Continue reading →

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Faces from the Past – Allen, Blaine, Bragdon, & Varney

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Don Taylor

Explore four remarkable photos from the Scarborough Historical Society collection, featuring Eugene Allen (SHS Class of 1938), Caroline J. Blaine of Taunton, Massachusetts, John & Georgianna Bragdon with young Orville Varney, and a house in Portland, Maine. This post uncovers the stories behind the faces and connects them with family history records. Continue reading →

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A Case of Mistaken Identity? Mrs. Montran (or Montrose?) in Vicksburg, 1901.

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Don Taylor

Montran MondayBy Don Taylor As part of my ongoing Montran Monday series, I search historical newspapers for any mention of individuals bearing the Montran surname. Each brief reference is another clue in the larger puzzle of my maternal grandmother’s elusive … Continue reading →

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Joseph A. Holdsworth: A Tangle of Business, Bankruptcy, and Betrayal.

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Don Taylor

The story of great-grandma Ida’s third husband, Joseph A. Holdsworth, is a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century business and scandal. From managing a major paint company’s expansion to facing bank fraud charges and bankruptcy, Holdsworth’s tale is a lesson in ambition, deception, and downfall. Continue reading →

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Preserving Legacies: Blackstone, Bourgoin, Johnston, Skillings, & Stevens

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection (Part 069)By Don Taylor Continuing with the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection, two photos are from “High School Graduation Portraits.” I have a handful of other pictures from that group that require further work to identify, because the … Continue reading →

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