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

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.”

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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.

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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.

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Mollie Bloomer

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”