Faces from the Past – The Portland Men’s Singing Club at Poland Spring (1919)

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 095
By Don Taylor

Introduction

Occasionally, a photograph captures not only individuals but an entire community moment. Such is the case with this remarkable panoramic photograph showing members of the Portland Men’s Singing Club gathered for a spring outing at Poland Spring, Maine, on May 24, 1919.

The photograph includes roughly seventy to eighty people, arranged in three rows on the lawn in front of the grand Poland Spring House, one of Maine’s most famous resort hotels. While the club itself was composed of men, the presence of many women in the photograph suggests that wives, family members, and guests joined the excursion.

Panoramic group photograph of the Portland Men’s Singing Club and guests at Poland Spring House in Poland Spring, Maine, May 24, 1919, showing approximately seventy men and women arranged in three rows on the lawn in front of the resort hotel.
Members of the Portland Men’s Singing Club and their guests at Poland Spring, Maine, May 24, 1919.

If you recognize anyone in this photograph—or have family stories about the Portland Men’s Singing Club—please leave a comment below. Your information may help identify the individuals and preserve their stories for future generations.

The Photograph

The handwritten caption across the bottom reads: “Portland Mens Singing Club, Poland Spring, Maine, May 24th 1919.”

At the far right margin appears the photographer’s credit: “Photo by T. H. Merritt.”

The group is carefully arranged in three tiers:

  • Front Row: Men seated on the grass, many holding their hats in their hands.
  • Middle Row: Men and women seated in chairs.
  • Back Row: Men and women standing.

Poland Spring House

Behind the group stands the impressive Poland Spring House, a landmark resort hotel that dominated the Maine tourism industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The Portland Men’s Singing Club

Male choral societies were a common feature of American cultural life during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Organizations such as the Portland Men’s Singing Club promoted musical performance while also providing social fellowship for their members.

Music clubs helped enrich the cultural life of communities, and Portland had a particularly strong tradition of amateur musical societies.

The Photographer

The photograph was taken by T. H. Merritt, who appears to have specialized in large panoramic group photographs.

Historical Context

The date of the photograph—May 24, 1919—places it only months after the end of World War I.

During the war, many civic activities had been reduced or suspended. By the spring of 1919, communities across the country were resuming their social and cultural traditions. Gatherings such as this outing to Poland Spring likely represented a renewal of normal community life after the war’s disruptions.

A Community of Faces

Each individual in this image represents a life connected to Portland and the surrounding communities more than a century ago. Many of these men were likely members of Portland’s business and professional community, and some may have had ties to nearby towns such as Scarborough, Westbrook, South Portland, or Cape Elizabeth.

Numbered identification map of the Portland Men’s Singing Club group photograph taken at Poland Spring, Maine, May 24, 1919, showing each individual labeled to assist with identification.

Help Identify the People in This Photograph

Historic group photographs often contain many unidentified individuals. If you recognize someone in this image of the Portland Men’s Singing Club at Poland Spring (1919), please leave a comment indicating the row and number (for example, “Front row #56 – my grandfather William H. Brown of Portland”). Your contribution may help reconnect these faces with their families and preserve their stories.

Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly for editorial review and copyediting.

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

Faces from the Past – Cole, Dyer, Hersey, Quimby, & Sawyer

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection, Part 093
By Don Taylor

Introduction

The Scarborough Historical Society maintains several important photographic collections documenting people, places, and events. In this installment of Faces from the Past, I examine photographs from an album labeled “Dyer” in the Linwood Dyer Collection.

Spine of a worn cloth-bound photograph album labeled “Dyer” from the Linwood Dyer Collection.

This album consists primarily of cabinet cards. Of the first forty photographs in the album, twenty-nine are cabinet cards, but unfortunately only six include identifying names. The images presented here represent five individuals whose identities can be reasonably inferred through inscriptions, family relationships, and supporting genealogical research.

Brainard Dyer, circa 1887

Cabinet card portrait of young Brainard Dyer, son of Clifford W. Dyer, holding a small metal pail and wearing a sailor-style outfit, Portland, Maine, circa 1887.
Brainard Dyer, circa 1887

Photographer: Lamson (reverse of card blank)
Photo Type: Cabinet Card

Inscription:
A separate paper slip with the photo reads: “Brainard Dyer (son of Clifford W. Dyer).”

Description
A sepia-toned cabinet card with a soft vignette. The young child has short, straight hair cut in a bowl or fringe style. He wears a dark sailor-style outfit with a large decorative bow or neckerchief at the collar and appears to be holding a small pail.

Estimated Age: approximately 2–4 years old

Research
From previous research into the Dyer family, I learned that Linwood Dyer’s great-grandfather was Howard E. Dyer (1853–1939). Howard had a brother, Clifford W. Dyer (1851–1888).

Clifford married Florence May Perry (1857–1926) on 4 October 1882 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Their son Brainard Dyer was born 20 June 1883 in Cape Elizabeth (later South Portland), Maine.

Interpretation
Based on Brainard’s birth date and the child’s apparent age, this photograph was likely taken about 1887.

Eleanor B. (Dyer) Cole, circa 1891

Photo Type: Cabinet Card
Studio: Lamson – Portland, Maine

Reverse Marking: Lamson – Opposite Falmouth Hotel | Copyrighted 1889

Inscription:
A separate slip reads: “Mrs. Cole | Leon’s mother.”

Description
A studio portrait of a woman who appears to be in her twenties.

Research

  • FamilySearch identifies Leon Hall Cole (1893–1969) as the son of George W. Cole (1867– ) and Eleanor B. Dyer (1871–1958).
  • Eleanor B. Dyer was born January 1871 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
  • She married George W. Cole on 7 December 1891 in Cape Elizabeth.
  • Their first child, Ralph, was born 12 June 1892 in South Portland.
  • Their second child, Leon, was born 5 December 1893.

Conclusion
Based on the inscription and the timing of her marriage, I believe this photograph likely depicts Eleanor B. (Dyer) Cole around 1891, shortly after her marriage. At present, I have not yet established her exact relationship to Linwood Dyer.

Henry Hersey, circa 1893

Cabinet card portrait of young Henry Hersey wearing a Fauntleroy-style suit, photographed at H. M. Smith studio, 478 Congress Street, Portland, Maine, circa 1893.
Henry Hersey

Photo Type: Cabinet Card
Studio: H. M. Smith, 478 Congress Street, Portland, Maine

Inscription:
A separate paper slip reads: “Henry Hershey.”

Description
A young boy, approximately 3–5 years old, wearing a Fauntleroy-style suit.

Research:

Portland city directories indicate H. M. Smith operated at 478 Congress Street from 1892 to 1898.

In earlier research on a photograph of Alice Hersey (later Wright), I determined that she was the daughter of P. C. and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Milliken) Hersey. Alice had a brother, Henry Hersey, born 7 August 1889 in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Identification:

Considering the studio dates and Henry’s birth year, this photograph was likely taken about 1893, when Henry would have been about four years old.

Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer — August 1905

Photograph of Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer seated on the steps of a house near a garden, taken in August 1905.
Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dye

Photo Type: Snapshot photograph
Inscription (reverse): August 1905

Additional note: A separate slip reads,“Mary W. Quimby – Westbrook | mother.”

Description
An elderly woman seated on the wooden steps of a house.

Research

Based on the other photographs and known family relationships, I believe this album was likely assembled or maintained by Howard E. Dyer (and possibly his wife Ella).

Howard’s mother was Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer.

Interpretation

The reference to “Westbrook” may indicate the location where the photograph was taken, rather than the subject’s surname or residence. It may have been taken at the home of one of her six surviving children.

I am reasonably confident that this image depicts Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer in August 1905.

Eva Beatrice Sawyer, circa 1890

Cabinet card portrait of Eva Beatrice Sawyer as a young woman, photographed by Lamson studio in Portland, Maine, circa 1890.
Beatrice Sawyer

Photographer: Lamson
Studio Mark: “Located opposite the Falmouth Hotel”
Card marking: “Copyrighted 1889”

Inscription:
A separate slip reads:
“Beatrice Sawyer.”

Description

A bust-length portrait of a young woman in sepia tone with a soft vignette. She wears a dark high-necked dress with a row of small buttons or studs along the collar and what appears to be a decorative brooch at the neckline.

Her hair is styled high in a voluminous curled arrangement typical of late 1880s to early 1890s fashion.

She appears to be in her late teens or early twenties.

Research

  • Ancestry family trees indicate Eva Beatrice Sawyer, born January 1874 in Cape Elizabeth, the daughter of George Gilbert Sawyer (1844–1915) and Almeda Smith (Dyer) Sawyer (1846–1918).
  • FamilySearch profile KZLG-BYR identifies Almeda Smith Dyer as the daughter of Greeley Hannaford Dyer and Mary Weeks (Quimby) Dyer.
  • Greeley and Mary have already been identified in my Linwood Dyer Collection research as great-grandparents of Linwood Dyer.
  • Almeda married George Gilbert Sawyer on 15 October 1868 in Portland, Maine.
  • Their children were:
    • Georgie A. Sawyer (1871–1871)
    • Eva Beatrice Sawyer (1874–1956)

Interpretation

Eva Beatrice Sawyer would therefore be Howard Dyer’s niece and Linwood Dyer’s first cousin once removed.

Based on the Lamson studio imprint and her estimated age, this photograph was likely taken about 1890, when Eva Beatrice would have been approximately 16 years old.

This photograph has been added to the Linwood Dyer Collection tree on Ancestry.

Conclusion

Although only a few photographs in the “Dyer” album include names, combining inscriptions, studio information, and genealogical research allows several individuals to be identified with reasonable confidence. These portraits collectively document members of the extended Dyer family network of Cape Elizabeth and Portland, Maine, during the late nineteenth century.

Further research may reveal additional relationships among the unidentified photographs in the album and help clarify how all of the individuals represented were connected within the broader Dyer family.

Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly was used for editorial review and copy editing.

Posted in Scarborough Historical Society and Museum, Linwood Dyer Collection, Genealogy Research, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faces from the Past – Plummer-Roberts (& Hunnewell &Mains)

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Don Taylor

Linwood Dyer Collection, Part 092
SHS Accession #2026.01.06[i]
By Don Taylor

Introduction

The Scarborough Historical Society maintains several important photographic collections documenting people, places, and events. In this installment of Faces from the Past, I examine the last three photographs from the” Nellie Plummer Roberts album”.

Nellie (Plummer) Roberts, circa 1872.

“Nellie A. (Plummer) Roberts as a child, circa 1872 tintype in decorative paper sleeve.”
Nellie (Plummer) Roberts, circa 1872.

Process/Type: Tin type (Ferrotype) mounted in a paper sleeve.
Inscription:  A paper slip that accompanies the photo says “Nell (P) Roberts.”
Description:

  • A young girl, approximately three years old.

Research:

  • Tin-type photos were in use from about 1856 through the early 1900s, with a peak in decorative sleeve use in the 1870s and 1880s.
  • From past research, I’ve learned that Nellie A Plummer (1869-1955) married Alvin Charles Roberts in 1891.

Identification:
I am quite sure this is Nellie (Plummer) Roberts about 1872.

Because of how Nellie is named in this photo, I no longer believe this album was Nellie’s photo album. Rather, I believe this album was more likely her sister’s, Sarah Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Plummer) Wright’s album. All other relationships mentioned in the album would remain consistent.

Mary Mains (Undetermined).

“Mary Mains, unidentified woman, carte de visite by Geo. E. Brown, Portland, Maine, circa 1885.”
Mary Mains, circa 1882-1888.

Type: Carte de Visite (CDV)
Studio: Geo E. Brown, Photographer, 235½ Middle Street, Portland, ME (operated at address from 1881 to 1908)
Photo: circa 1882–1888 (based on being a CDV and Photographer dates at address)
Inscription:  Mary Mains
Description:

  • Mary is shown in a tight head-and-shoulders studio portrait against a plain, softly vignetted background. She faces directly forward with a composed, unsmiling expression typical of formal studio photography of the period.
  • The woman in the photo appears to be about 45 to 55 years old.

Research:

  • Ancestry indicates a Mary Agnes Smith of Portland, who married Charles W Maines on 10 Jan 1883. However, she was born in March 1857. She would have been between 25 and 31 years old when the photo was taken. However, they woman appears to be considerably older so, I don’t think this photo is of her.
  • Charles’s mother, Maria (Batcher) Maines, would have about 59 years old, older than my estimated age of the woman in the photo.
  • Charles had a sister who was born about 1853 named Mary. She would be about 32 years old in 1885. Also, a little young to be the woman in this photo.

Identification: Because it is unclear which of these or another Mary Mains this may be, I have failed to identify the individual in this photo.

Polly Hunnewell (Undetermined)

“Elderly woman identified as Polly Hunnewell, tintype portrait circa 1875.”
Polly Hunnewell, circa 1875

Process/Type: Tin type (Ferrotype) mounted in an oval mat paper sleeve. As such,  the likely photographic window is circa 1865–1885.
Inscription:  A paper slip that accompanies the photo says “Polly Hunnewell.”
Description:

  • An elderly woman in a three-quarter seated pose against a plain studio background. She faces slightly to her right while looking directly toward the camera. Her expression is composed and solemn.
  • The woman appears to be approximately 65–75 years old, with a most likely age around 70 years.
  •  If she were 70±5 when the photo were taken circa 1875±10, that would put her birth c. 1805±15, or 1790 to 1820.

Research:

  • “Polly” is a common 19th Century nickname for “Mary.”
  • FamilySearch shows a Polly Hunnewell (ID KZBB-981), the daughter of Richard and Hanna (Wescott) Hunnewell was born about 1800. Ancestry Family Trees confirm Mary Polly Hunnewell, daughter of Richard and Anna (Wescott) Hunnewell was born in Scarborough Maine.

Identification:
I suspect this is a photo of Mary “Polly” Hunnewell (1800-1876) of Scarborough. However, without additional information, I cannot be certain it is not another Mary who married a Hunnewell.

Conclusion

In the photo album, there are two tintypes of Polly Hunnewell, and they are the first two photos in the album, suggesting an important relationship to the album’s creator. The album’s probable creator’s, (Sarah Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Plummer) Wright) mother was Elizabeth (Hunnewell) Plummer. So it is possible that Polly Hunnewell could be a great aunt or some other important relation. With further research, it might be provable.

If any of the individuals shown here are familiar to you, I would be pleased to hear from you. I love hearing the stories these people.

My continuing goal is to reconnect these images with the families and communities to whom they belong—ensuring they are preserved, understood, and shared for future generations.

Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly for editorial review and copyediting.

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

“The Scintillating Beauty”: Donna Darling’s Week at Jackson’s Capitol Theatre, 1926

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Donna played at the Capitol Theatre in Lansing, Michigan, from March 4th to 6th. She and her “Little Jewel Revue” then headed the 40 miles south to play at another Capital Theatre in Jackson, MI.

A Split Program

Ad for Capitol Theater showing "Tessie."

Sunday through Wednesday (March 7 to 10), the bill consisted of:

Motion Picture: Tessie – starring May McAvoy (Arrow Pictures)

Vaudeville

  • Delano Dell and “Clem” (Clem Wilson) and their Merry Gang in a novelty presentation.
  • Donna Darling is presenting “Her Little Jewel Revue.” She was billed as “The Scintillating Beauty” and featured Singing – Dancing – Comedy.”
  • Frazier Bros. – “Athletic Artistry”
  • Bert Chadwick – “The Eccentric Ethiopian”
  • Mahon & Scott with their Aguinaldo Serenaders featuring Eileen Dee Cee. They were billed as “America’s Foremost Apache Sensation.”
Ad for Capitol Theater for movie "His Master's Voice."

The second half of the week, Thursday through Saturday (Mar 11-13), Clem and Dell, along with Donna, stayed over; the movie and the other three acts were replaced. The new the bill consisted of:

Motion Picture: Thunder in His Master’s Voice – starring Thunder the Marvel Dog (Gotham Productions)

Vaudeville:

  • Alvin and Alvin “European Clowns and Fun Makers”
  • Miller-Packer and Seltz “The three Yaps”
  • “Clem” and “Dell” and their Merry Gang in a Musical Dancing Novelty with Donna Darling and Her Girls.  “Her Little Jewel Revue.
  • Marian’s Dogs – 150 of the Cleverest Dogs in Vodville Today. The act was billed as “the greatest of all canine acts.”

Citizen Patriot Articles

The Jackson Citizen Patriot, dated March 7th, indicated that “Clem” and His Merry Gang would be assisted by “that scintillating beauty, Donna Darling, and her “Little Jewel Revue.” Miss Darling, who has appeared at the Capital before, is known as one of the most beautiful girls in vaudeville today, and her assisting artists are also easy on the eye. They will offer a combination of singing, dancing, and comedy numbers with elaborate costumes, and the whole presentation will be given in a very attractive stage setting.[i]

Ad for Bathing Girl Contest

On the 11th, Donna, a former Mack Sennett Bathing Girl, arranged and conducted a Bathing Girl Contest with a $25 cash prize for the Jackson County Lady who made the best bathing-suit appearance. They would even supply the suit!

A news article on the 11th also indicated that all of Donna‘s and her girls’ songs changed, as would the stage setting. It was like a different show. As a special attraction, Miss Darling and the girls offered a series of bathing girl pictures. The article also mentions the Bathing Girl Contest would be a masked event including girls between 15 and 30.

Capitol Theatre, Jackson, MI

1937 photo of the Capitol Theatre.

The Capitol Theatre was relatively small, seating only 869 people. It first opened as the Orpheum Theatre on Feb. 24, 1916, and was renamed the Capitol Theatre in 1922. It was damaged in 1937 during the construction of the Tower Building next door and was remodeled in 1938.[ii] The theater closed in 1973, and the building was demolished in 1975. Interestingly enough, the theatre’s front entry wasn’t razed and became the entrance at 128 W. Michigan Ave.[iii]

Location Today

Photo of the location of the Capitol Theater today (Google Maps)
Google Maps – Today’s location where the Capitol Theatre once stood. Today, the site is occupied by a (permanently closed) restaurant.
Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly was used for editorial review and copy editing.

Endnotes

[i] Sources: Jackson Citizen Patriot (Jackson, Michigan):
Sun, Mar 7, 1926 · Page 10,
     Sun, Mar 7, 1926 · Page 11,
     Thu, Mar 11, 1926 · Page 18 (via Newspapers.com).

[ii] Cinema Treasurers – Capital Theatre, Jackson, Michigan, United States, Movie Theaters. https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5269.

[iii] MLive – “Peek through time: The Capitol was a symbol of Jackson’s movie palaces,” by Leanne Smith (lsmith12@mlive.com) published Mar. 06, 2010. https://www.mlive.com/living/jackson/2010/03/peek_through_time_the_capitol.html

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Donna Darling in Rochester, NY: “Chin Chin” at the Lyceum, March 4th-6th, 1920

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Don Taylor

In the News
By Don Taylor

In early March 1920, Donna Darling appeared at Rochester’s Lyceum Theatre as part of the touring musical comedy Chin Chin, a production that had already enjoyed several successful seasons on the road. Presented as a half-week return engagement, the show played Thursday through Saturday, including a Saturday matinee, drawing on its established popularity to fill the house.

Rochester, NY, Times Union, 3/4/1920, Page 6

Chin Chin, produced by Charles Dillingham, was built around a fantasy framework inspired by Arabian Nights, featuring lavish scenery, colorful costumes, and a large ensemble cast. The leading comic roles were played by Walter Wills and Roy Binder, while the supporting company included a variety of specialty and character performers.

Donna Darling was cast as the Goddess of the Light, a named fantasy role that placed her prominently within the production’s visual and allegorical elements. While Rochester newspapers focused on the show’s spectacle and its principal stars, the Goddess of the Light was a role that required stage presence and distinctive costuming, underscoring Donna’s standing as a trusted ensemble performer in a major touring show.

Although critics noted that the revival did not fully recapture the magic of earlier versions of Chin Chin, the production was praised for its colorful presentation and familiar musical numbers. Donna’s participation in this engagement reflects her continued work in first-class theatres and her steady progress within the professional vaudeville and musical-comedy world of the early twentieth century.

Sources: All newspaper sources below are via Newspapers.com.

  • 1920-02-28 – The_Times_Union_pg_10
  • 1920-02-29 – Democrat_and_Chronicle Page_31
  • 1920-03-01 – The_Times_Union pg 24
  • 1920-03-01 – The_Times_Union pg 24
  • 1920-03-03 The_Times_Union, pg 28
  • 1920-03-04 – The_Times_Union, pg 24
  • 1920-03-05 – The_Times_Union, pg 26
Disclaimer: This article was researched and written by the author. ChatGPT was used as a research and drafting aid, and Grammarly was used for editorial review and copy editing.
Posted in In the news, Vaudeville | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment