Faces and Places of the Kinney Family, 1933–1939

Linwood Dyer Collection, Part 087
Eastman Negative Album #2025.02.42
By Don Taylor

As part of my ongoing work with the Linwood Dyer Collection, I recently encountered an Eastman Negative Album containing 100 original envelopes, nearly half of which held film negatives. Many of these negatives were larger than standard—measuring approximately 3½ × 4½ inches—and required special handling during digitization.

Many of the photos in this album document things like a visit to Quebec, and the backyard of a house during the winter or spring, and are not of particular interest. However, many of the negatives document friends and family of Margaret Cogswell Kinney. Margaret was born in 1911 in Portland, Maine, and died in Portland in 1995. As with all my work, my goal is to reconnect these historical photographs with descendants who may never have seen these images of their ancestors. The Scarborough Historical Society preserves the original negatives within the Linwood Dyer Photo Collection.

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37 Ship Channel Rd.

Home of Philip & Marion Hinkley, 1933.

This photo envelope is labeled “37 Ship Channel RD, 1933. This 2,896 sqft home that was built in 1920 is still there.[i] The 1937 Portland City Directory,[ii] indicates that Philip E and Marion Hinkley lived at that address. Philip was Margaret Kinney’s maternal uncle, so a photo of the house makes sense.

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Louise Kinney.

1937 & 1938.

Envelopes 13, 23. and 25, include photos of a young woman. In one photo, Louise is sitting on a short stone wall. In Spring 1938, she is sitting on the stairs to a house, and in another 1938 photo, she is sitting in an Adirondack Chair. The “Spring 1938” photo has no name; however, the other two photos are labeled “Louise, 1937” and “Louise, 1938” respectively. Based on other images, I am sure these are all photos of Margaret’s sister, Louise Kinney. Louise would have been 23 and 24 years old in 1937 and 1938.

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Portland Head Light.

Spring 1938

This black-and-white photograph depicts Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth, Maine, viewed from the landward side. The tall, conical stone lighthouse dominates the center of the image, its whitewashed masonry rising to a dark lantern room encircled by a metal gallery. The keeper’s house stands to the left.

To the right of the tower are several low service buildings, including one fitted with a fog signal apparatus, with piping and horn visible on the roof. Patches of snow remain on the ground, suggesting the photograph was taken in late winter or early spring. A person stands near the base of the tower, providing scale and emphasizing the lighthouse’s height.

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Trolley 211, Spring St.

Winter-Spring 1938-39

This black-and-white photograph shows the front end of an electric streetcar numbered 211, photographed at close range. The destination sign above the windshield reads “Spring St.”, indicating its route in Portland, Maine. Overhead trolley wires are clearly visible, confirming it as an electrically powered car.

The motorman stands at the open doorway on the right side of the image, wearing a uniform cap and coat, and looking toward the camera. The streetcar’s rounded front windows reflect bare tree branches, suggesting the photograph was taken in late winter or early spring. A metal safety gate and chain are visible at the lower front of the car.

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Mildred Goudy, Portland, ME

Winter-Spring 1938-39

This photograph shows the harbor vessel Mildred Goudy afloat in Portland Harbor. The vessel has a flat-decked, rectangular hull characteristic of a lighter, a type of workboat used for cargo handling and general harbor service. The vessel’s name, Mildred Goudy – Portland, is clearly painted across the stern.

Several men are visible on deck, dressed in work clothing and caps, engaged in routine operations. A tall mast supports rigging and block-and-tackle equipment, indicating the vessel’s role in lifting or transferring heavy loads. A rowboat is tied alongside, likely used for short trips between the lighter and shore or nearby vessels.

During the 1930s, the Mildred Goudy was used to deliver supplies to some of the islands, used as a fishing boat, and as a diving platform. The May 4, 1939, Portland Evening Express[iii] included a similar photo of the ship when it was acting as a diving platform to repair a submarine water-main break.

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Conclusion

These photographs provide a valuable visual record of the Margaret Kinney family of Portland and South Portland, Maine:

• Sister: Louise C Kinney (1914–1993)
• Uncle: Philip Edward Hinkley (1881–1962)

They also provide images of a Portland area lighthouse, a trolley car, and a “lighter” ship. All photos are from the Scarborough Historical Society,“Linwood D. Dyer Collection, Eastman Negative Album, #2025.02.42.

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Connection Invitation

I would be delighted to hear from anyone who recognizes these individuals as their ancestors—especially if these represent previously unseen images of your family members. Also, if you can add any additional stories regarding the Trolley car or the Mildred Goudy, I’d love to hear your stories. You are welcome to incorporate these photographs into your own research, with proper credit given:
Photo Courtesy: Scarborough Historical Society, Linwood D. Dyer Collection.

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Endnotes

[i] Zillow – 37 Ship Channel Rd, South Portland, ME 04106.
[ii] Ancestry – U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 – Portland, Maine, City Directory, 1937.
[iii] Newspapers.com – Portland Evening Express, May 4, 1939, page 1.