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

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Don Taylor

SHS Photo Collection – Part 001
By Don Taylor

The Scarborough Historical Society has an extensive collection of photos featuring various individuals. Today, I look at four pictures from that collection.

Eugene Allen – SHS Class 1938

Graduation Photo of Eugene Allen, SHS Class of 1938.
Eugene Allen, 1938

Photographer: None
Inscription: Eugene Allen, SHS Class 1938.
Description: High school graduation photo of Eugene Allen
Research:

  • The 1938 Four Corners yearbook confirms Eugene Woodbury Allen “Gene” was born on October 30, 1920.
  • Ancestry Trees suggest Eugene died on May 25, 2003, in Hesperia, San Bernardino County, California.

I added this photo to SHS Photos – 2025 on Ancestry.com.

Carrie Blaine

Photo of Caroline "Carrie" Blaine, September 1899.
Caroline “Carrie” Blaine, 1899

Photographer: Choicenter, 62 Main St., Tauton, Mass.
Inscription: Don’t forget Monday Morning – September 11, 1899, Carrie Blaine.
Description: A middle-aged woman dressed in style common to the late 1890s.
Research:

  • The 1880 US Census lists Caroline B Blain, the 24-year-old daughter of Jeanette H Blain, a widow.
  • The 1892 Boston City Directory lists Carrie Blaine living at 16 Longmeadow. Also living at 16 Longmeadow is Mrs. Jeannette H Blaine. At 18 Longmeadow is James W. Blaine, a roofer.
  • The 1900 US Census lists Carrie J.B. Blaine, a nurse living at 46 Pleasant in Taunton, Bristol County, Mass. She was single, age 42, born in March 1858 in Scotland. She immigrated to the US in 1861.
  • The 1914 Taunton, MA City Directory lists Carrie Blaine boarding at 68 Dean.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Carrie Blaine, living with her sister Jessie H Blaine, at 178 Westminister Ave, Arlington, Middlesex, Mass. She was 75 years old, Scotland born, and immigrated in 1860.
  • The Boston Globe, October 20, 1949, reported that Caroline J Blaine, 97, a retired nurse, died on October 16th.

I am quite sure this photo is of Caroline J Blaine, taken in 1899. I added this photo to SHS Photos – 2025 on Ancestry.com.

Mr. & Mrs. John Bragdon & Orville Varney

Photo of John & Georgianna Bragdon & Orville Varney, circa 1900
John & Georgianna Bragdon & Orville Varney (c. 1900) (ChatGPT Enhanced)

Photographer: None.
Inscription: Mr. & Mrs. John Bragdon & Orville Varney.
Description: The man and his wife appear to be in their 50s to early 60s. The child appears to be 3 to 5 years of age. The clothing, furniture, & wallpaper suggest the photo was likely taken circa 1890-1905.
Research:

  • Ancestry Trees identify Orvilla Linwood Varney, born 24 May 1895 in Scarborough, Maine.
  • The 1900 Census list 51-year-old John Bragdon and his wife Georgianna living in Scarborough, Maine. John’s Daughter-in-law, Mamie E Trip lives with them. The next family on the page is Albert & Annie Varney, with their 5-year-old son, Orville L (born May 1895).
  • Ancestry trees suggest the Bragdons and the Varneys are not related.

I am quite certain that this photo shows John and Georgianna Bragdon, along with the neighbor’s child, Orville Varney, about 1900. I added this photo to SHS Photos – 2025 on Ancestry.com.

House at High & Spring, Portland, ME, 1899 (Louise Armstrong in foreground

Photo of Louise Armstrong, 1899, and house at the SW corner of High & Spring, Portland, Maine.
House at corner of High & Spring St., Portland, ME

Photographer: None.
Inscription: Aug 16, 1899, SW cor High & Spring, Louise Armstrong.
Description: A young woman walking with a house in the background.
Research:

  • The 1900 US Census lists 19-year-old Louise Armstrong living with her parents Walter & Charlotte Armstrong at 78 High Street, Portland, Maine. The house at the SW corner of High & Spring Street would have been about a block away from where she lived.

Since Louise’s face is not visible in this photo, I will only post it here.

Conclusion

I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before. Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the pictures with family members who may have never seen the image.

 Sources

Disclaimer
This post was aided by the use of ChatGPT and edited with Grammarly.

Posted in Photo Identification, Maine History, Scarborough Historical Society and Museum, Genealogy Research, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Donna Darling at the Palace Theater – Superior, WI (April 1924)

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Don Taylor

by Don Taylor

In the rich tapestry of early 20th-century entertainment, vaudeville performers like my grandmother, Madonna Montran (also known as Donna Darling), carved out vibrant careers that often went unrecorded beyond local newspaper archives. Recently, I discovered a fascinating glimpse into her professional life through Evening Telegram clippings that document her performances at the Palace in Superior, WI.

In the News

Newspaper photo of Donna Darling and Boys
The Superior Wisconsin Evening Telegram, April 29, 1924, Page 7.
(Image enhanced by ChatGPT )

The accompanying news clipping is a review of Donna Darling’s show Song and Dance Romance. It praises Donna and her two male partners for their lively performance, highlighting her warm personality, singing, and the dancing of all three. The reviewer notes that whether the audience is captivated by Donna’s charm, her voice, or her energetic dancing, the result is the same—people enjoy it from start to finish and regret its end. The piece also mentions that Donna wears attractive costumes and that the show features elaborate and appealing stage settings.

Performance Details

  • Venue: Palace, Superior, Wisconsin
  • Dates: April 28 – May 1, 1924
  • Act: “Donna Darling & Co., In a Song and Dance Romance”
  • Other Acts:
    • Bill, Vic and Dell “Fun and Music”
      • Jean & Jack “Songs, Smiles, Syncopation
    • Paul Mix “An Unusuality”

This archival discovery adds another rich detail to understanding the dynamic world of 1920s vaudeville performance, showcasing the creativity and artistry of traveling entertainment troupes during a transformative period in American show business.

Research credit: Newspapers.com

Posted in Song & Dance Romance, Donna Darling & Co., In the news, Vaudeville | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Faces from the Past – Bloomer, Brown, Curtis, Fearns, Monroe, & Rhonehart

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Don Taylor

The Linwood Dyer Collection, Part 085
By Don Taylor

This remarkable collection encompasses hundreds of images, documents, and genealogical records of people who lived in Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. My mission is to connect these historical photographs with descendants who may have never seen these images of their ancestors. This post examines a set of loose photos discovered in the Linwood Dyer “white room.”

Annie Monroe, c. 1910s

These two photographs show an older woman standing in front of a white, two-story house with shuttered windows and a picket fence. She is dressed in a light-colored, long-sleeved blouse and an ankle-length skirt, typical of early 20th-century fashions (likely between the 1910s and 1920s).

The matte finish and candid style indicate an amateur snapshot rather than a formal studio portrait. Such casual family photographs became increasingly common when Kodak and similar companies marketed cameras for household use during the 1910s and 1920s.

Previous research in the Linwood Dyer Collection identified this woman as Annie (Fearns) Monroe (1858–1947), widow of George H. Monroe. George died before 1910.

Mollie Bloomer, C. H. Brown, Kate Curtis, Ada Fearns, Annie Monroe, & Miss Rhonehart.

Both photos are dated October 1, 1922.

The first photo is identified as: Ada Fearns, Kate Curtis, Mollie Bloomer, Annie Monroe, C. H. Brown.

Ada Fearns, Kate Curtis, Mollie Bloomer, Annie Monroe, C H Brown – Oct 1st 1922 (improved using ChatGPT)

Mollie Bloomer

Photo of 61 Upland Ave, Portland, Maine, circa 1910s.
61 Upland Ave, Portland, Maine, circa 1910s

The 1910 U.S. Census lists William H. and Mollie Bloomer living on Upland Avenue, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. Mollie was age 30 at the time.

Among the associated photos is a house marked 61 Upland Ave. on the reverse. This strengthens the identification of Mollie Bloomer in the group photographs. Based on her age and appearance, she is likely the woman in white with the broad smile.

C. H. Brown

The 1920 U.S. Census lists Clarence B. Brown, age 60, boarding with Annie J. Monroe and her brother John A. Fearns at 75 Elm Street.

The writing on the back of the photo identifies a “C. H. Brown,” but this is likely a mis-entry and should be “C. B. Brown.” He is the only man in both group photographs.

Kate R. Curtis

The 1920 U.S. Census records Kate R. Curtis, a 41-year-old widow, living at 49 Alba Street, Portland, with her 15-year-old daughter, Cordelia M. Curtis.

The 1923 Portland City Directory notes that Kate R. Curtis, widow of Albert, had moved to Boston. In the photographs, she is likely the woman wearing a dark stole and broad-brimmed hat.

Ada Fearns

John A. Fearns married Ada J. Maxwell on 22 May 1883 in Boston, Massachusetts, when both were 22 years old.

John and Ada Fearns appear together in the 1932 Portland City Directory at 75 Elm Street. Ada is identified in the photographs as one of the women present, likely holding a purse.

Annie Monroe

The 1920 U.S. Census lists Annie J. Monroe, age 62, living with her brother John A. Fearns at 75 Elm Street. In the photographs, she appears with glasses perched on her hat.

Miss Rhonehart

The photos list a “Miss Rhonehart,” but research has not confirmed her identity. No individuals with the surname “Rhonehart” or “Rhinehart” appear in Portland records during this era. She may have been a visitor or relative from away. She is possibly the taller woman in white.

Photo of five people, 1922, Portland, ME
C.H. Brown, Annie Monroe, Mollie Bloomer, Miss Rhonehart, & Kate Curtis – Oct 1st, 1922 (Image improved using ChatGPT)

Ages in 1922 (approximate)

  • Mollie Bloomer – 42 (probably in white, smiling broadly)
  • C. B. Brown – 62 (only man present)
  • Kate R. Curtis – 43 (likely in dark stole and hat)
  • Ada Fearns – 61 (likely holding purse)
  • Annie Monroe – 64 (glasses on hat)
  • Miss Rhonehart – unknown (possibly taller woman in white)

Connection Invitation

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who recognizes these individuals as their ancestors, particularly if these photographs represent previously unseen images of your family members.

Please feel free to incorporate these photographs into your genealogical research, citing: “Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society.”

Posted in Linwood Dyer Collection, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Donna Darling at the Moon Theater, Omaha, – September 24–26, 1925

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

After completing her engagement at the Columbia Theater in Columbia, Missouri, on September 22, 1925, Donna Darling and her troupe traveled roughly 310 miles to Omaha, Nebraska. They had September 23 for traveling before opening at the Moon Theater on September 24.

In reviewing newspaper coverage of this appearance, I found a curious advertisement in the Omaha Evening Bee of September 24, 1925 (p. 4). The paper announced:

“Bobbed Hair Bandits”
Make Raid at the Moon”

Dona Darling and Girls style themselves as “The Bobbed Hair Bandits of Vaudeville,” for advertising purposes. They are at the Moon theater for three days, Saturday inclusive, as feature attraction of the week-end vaudeville program. Other acts are Willis and Willis, Walsh and Crook in “Oh, How Pretty,” and Joe Deming, “The Singing Comedian.”

This is the only instance I have seen where Donna was promoted under the “Bobbed Hair Bandits” title. The phrase likely alluded to Celia Cooney, the so-called “Bobbed Hair Bandit,” a notorious New York criminal whose exploits in 1924–25 received widespread press attention. The bobbed haircut itself symbolized modern womanhood and new social freedoms of the 1920s. It seems that Donna experimented with the label briefly but did not continue to use it.

The Moon Theater, Omaha

Moon Theater, Omaha – 1922

1918 – Opened as Moon Theater.
1929 – Transitioned to burlesque programming
1933 – Renamed Town Theater
1958 – Remodeled as Cooper Theater (Cooper 70)
1974 – Closed
1975 – Demolished.

Today, it is the home of the Union Pacific Railroad Company offices.

Posted in Donna Darling and Girls, Vaudeville | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Howell’s in the Censuses – Henry, Gideon, and Peter

Posted on September 21, 2025 by Don Taylor

Howell Research
The Father of Peter M. Howell
By Don Taylor

In my wife’s Howell line, the father of Peter M. Howell is still unknown. In “Searching for Peter M Howell’s father,” I knew that Peter’s father:

  • He was probably born between 1760 and 1785.
  • Resided Charlotte County, VA. 1805.
  • Resided Buckingham County, VA 1807.
  • Died Buckingham County, VA 1817-18.
  • Based on the 1810 Census, his father is likely either Gideon or Pleasant.

In The Life and Travels of Peter Howell, Page 14, Peter mentions, “we settled on my brother Henry’s land, where we lived until the fall.” So, I thought researching Henry might provide clues to his and Peter’s parents.

Census Evidence

1870 Census – Virginia, Buckingham County, Marshall Township, Page 26 – Lines 22, 23:

  • Howell, Henry    63 M W. Farmer 500//100  Virginia – Citizen
  • —, Judith         72 F W. Keeping House,     Virginia
  • Call, Susan       21 F W Domestic Servant   Virginia – cannot read or write.

1860 Census – Virginia, Buckingham County, District 2, Page 36 – Post Office: New Canton:

  • Howell, Henry    53 M W. Farmer 500//2000 Virginia
  • —, Judeth        55 F W.                         Virginia

The Agricultural Schedule indicates his farm is one of the smallest farms in the area. It comprised 77 acres; 40 acres of his property were improved, and 37 were not. He had three horses, one cow, and seven swine. He grew corn, oats, tobacco, and potatoes.

The 1860 Slave Schedule indicates that Henry had four enslaved individuals—a 65-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man, an 18-year-old mulatto woman, and an 11-year-old mulatto boy.

1850 Census – Virginia, Buckingham County, District 1, Page 739, Lines 25-28:

  • Gideon Howell           42        Farming          $375
  • Mary                           50
  • James                          18        Labourer
  • Henry                         43        Labourer

It appears that Henry is living with his brother (possibly a cousin) Gideon and Gideon’s apparent wife, Mary. Gideon has an apparent son, James, living with them. The indexer indicated that James’ middle initial is S, and Henry’s is I. However, I don’t see enough difference between the enumerator’s S, I, and J to be confident of either’s middle initial.

1840 Census – Virginia, Buckingham County, District 2, Page 16.

Gideon Howell – 1 – – – 1 – – – – 1  || – – – – – 1 || 2 1 – – – – || 2 – – 11

  • Males
    • 5-10    Apparently, James, age 8
    • 30-40 Apparently, Gideon, age 38
    • 80-90  Unknown. Because I suspect Peter and Gideon are brothers and Peter’s father died in 1917, I suspect this person is more likely to be another family member.
  • Females
    • 30-40  Apparently, Mary, age 40.
  • Free Colored People 
    • 2 Males Under 10
    • 1 Male 10 -24
    • 2 Females under 10
    • 1 Female 36-55

Peter Howell – 1 – – – 1 || 1 1 – – 1  ||- 1

  • Males
    • 1 5 to 10         Apparently, Phillip, age 7
    • 1 30 to 40       Apparently, Peter, age 35
  • Females
    • 1 under 5        Apparently, Elizabeth, age 5
    • 1 5 to 10         Apparently, Lousianna, age 10
    • 1 20-30           Apparently, Caroline, age 28
  • Free Colored People
    • 1 10 to 24.

Important Notes

–       Do not confuse this Henry Howell with Henry Howell, born about 1807 in Halifax County and died 13 Oct 1856. He served in the 4th Colored Infantry.

  • Several researchers suggest Henry Howell married Susan Tyler on 2 Apr 1829 in Goochland County, Virginia. Because I believe my Henry Howell lived in Buckingham County and had a wife named Judith, I think this is probably a different Henry Howell.

Conclusion

It has been a lovely couple of days of work, and I’ve learned much about Henry, Gideon, and Peter Howell. Hopefully, this will help me determine who Peter’s parents are.

Also, I am delighted to see that both Peter and Gideon had Free Colored People in their households in 1840 and not enslaved people.

Posted in Brick Wall Ancestors, Howell-Hobbs, Censuses | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments