Ancestor Sketch – Beatrice Hennessey

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Don Taylor

Halcro-Varone Project
Varone-Hennessey Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Beatrice Hennessey is one of the most confounding ancestors I’ve researched. Besides changing her first name from Bridget to Beatrice, she appears to vanish after the 1940 Census. (More about that later.) All-in-all, I’ve probably spent more time researching Beatrice than any other ancestor I’ve researched, diving into rabbit hole after rabbit hole. At some point, it becomes time to move on. I’ll return to Beatrice sometime in the future, but this is what I’ve found for now.

Halcro-Varone – Ancestor #07

List of Grandparents

    • Grandmother: Beatrice Hennessey
    • 1st Great-grandfather: John James Hennessey

Beatrice Mary Hennessey (1893-___)

Birth

Born Bridget Mary Hennessey on 4 August 1893[i] in Providence, Rhode Island, she was the first of 12 children of John James and Margaret (Pendergast) Hennessy.

Children of John James Hennessey and Margaret Pendergast

Name Born* Married Died
Beatrice 1893 James Vincenzo Varone Unk.
Joseph P. 1896 Ellen H Cull 1957
Mary Ellen 1897 N/A 1898
Richard William 1898 N/A 1899
Margaret V. 1900 Never Married 1955
John P. 1902 N/A 1911
Thomas 1904 N/A 1911
Anna Mary 1906 (FNU) Buckley 1984
S. B. 1908 N/A 1908
James 1909 (Unknown) (after 1957)
(Unknown)[ii] Before 1910 N/A (Bef 1910)
William 1912 (Unknown) (after 1957)

* All children were born in Providence, Rhode Island

1900 Census

Bridget was six years old, living with her parents and younger brother, Joseph. Her mother, Margaret, has had four children, two of whom were living. Two of Bridget’s siblings (Mary Ellen and Richard William) were born and died between 1890 and 1900.[iii] Also living with them was Margaret’s sister, Mary Daly.

1910 Census

Sometime between 1900 and 1910, Bridget changed her first name to Beatrice. The 1910 Census reported sixteen-year-old Beatrice living with her parents and six siblings. She was working as a saleswoman at a dry-good store. Beatrice’s mother had lost two more babies between 1900 and 1910.

1911 – Two Tragedies

In July 1911, a heatwave gripped the country. On 5 July, the temperature in Providence reached the mid-90s. On 6 July, many shops, factories, and stores closed to let people stay cool in the 97-degree heat. To keep cool, Beatrice’s brother, nine-year-old John, went swimming with his older friend and neighbor Vincent White (age 11) at the John R. White and Son coal pocket in the Seekonk River. Vincent survived, but John drowned. His body was recovered later that day.

On 1 November 1911, Beatrice’s brother, seven-year-old Thomas, died of myotonia congenita, a hereditary muscle disorder. So, by 1911, six of Beatrice’s eleven siblings had died.

Marriage

Beatrice married James Vincenzo Varone on 23 October 1916 in Providence. She was 22, and James was 27 years old.

Children of James Vincenzo and Beatrice Mary (Hennessey) Varone

Name Born Married Died
Albert Anthony Varone Jul 1916[iv] (Unknown) (unknown)
Florence Josephine Jan 1919 (FNU) Depasquale Apr 1992
Anthony Frederick Aug 1921 Eileen L. Moile Aug 1991
Dorothy Beatrice Feb 1923 Laurence Halcro Nov 2008
Mildred C. 1926 Archie Di Nucci (unknown)
James V. Mar 1930 (unknown) (unknown)

1920 Census

I have been unsuccessful in finding Beatrice and James in the 1920 Census.

1925 Rhode Island Census

Beatrice lives with her husband, James, at the rear of 1233 Westminster Street, Providence, with their four oldest children, Albert, Anthony, Florence, and Beatrice (Mildred and James were born later.) Today, 1233 Westminster is the home of PPW – Paper & Provisions Warehouse, a restaurant supply superstore.

1930 Census

I have been unsuccessful in finding Beatrice in the 1930 Census[v]. James, however, is rooming at 327 Washington with many other roomers. Beatrice appears in the various city directories living with James in 1930, 1931, and 1932. However, it does not appear they were living together.

1940 Census

Beatrice appears as an inmate at the House of the Good Shepherd. The majority of the girls who entered the House were put there by their families as “a refuge and home for educating and reforming children (girls) exposed to dangerous influences regarding morality.”[vi] The preferred minimum confinement was one year to 18 months. The vast majority of the inmates at the House were teenagers. While at the House, inmates toiled without pay for 60 hours a week in silence, except for their morning prayer. They were only educated in laundry, sewing, and embroidery.[vii] Beatrice was, by far, the oldest of the inmates listed at the House during the 1940 Census. The House was at 189 Eaton Street.

Beatrice’s daughter, Florence, was a 21-year-old nursing student at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Beatrice’s other children live with their father and stepmother at 448 Pleasant Valley Parkway.

I have been unsuccessful in finding Beatrice in any records after 1940. However, it appears that after her release from the House of the Good Shepherd, she returned to using her maiden name of Hennessey.

In 1955, she was mentioned as surviving her sister’s (Margaret) and her father’s (John James Hennessey) deaths. She was also mentioned in a 1957 obituary as surviving her brother’s (Joseph) death.

Death/Burial, etc.

Unknown (See Further Actions)

Events by Location

    • Rhode Island, Providence County, Providence – All known events in Beatrice’s life (Birth—1894 to 1940) occurred in Providence.

Further Actions / Follow-up

    • Do a Census study of the neighbors living at and near 1233 Westminster in the 1920 and 1930 censuses to determine if Beatrice her kids were missed or erroneously entered.
    • Get a copy of the actual birth record for Bridget/Beatrice Mary Hennessey.
    • Attempt to acquire records of Beatrice’s time at the Providence House of the Good Shepherd.
    • Find/search for death records, and possible mention, in the obituaries for her sister, Anna Mary Hennessey Buckley, and her brothers, James and William Hennessey.
    • Do a deep search for Beatrice’s death record.

Sources

  • 1900 Census, Various, 1900 – John Hennesey – Providence, Rhode Island – ED-41, Sheet 7B, Line 76. “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M97R-JSB : accessed 12 November 2021), John Hennesey, District 1 Providence city Ward 5, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 41, sheet 7B, family 146, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,507. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M97R-JSB.
  • 1910 Census, Various, John Hennessy – Providence Ward 4, Providence, Rhode Island, ED 183, Sheet 3A. “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MP6L-L4X : accessed 10 November 2021), John Hennessy, Providence Ward 4, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 183, sheet 3A, family 48, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1442; FHL microfilm 1,375,455.
  • 1925 Rhode Island Census, Ancestry.com, 1925 Census – James Varone – Enumerated 22 April 1925. Accessed 25 September 2021. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=RICensus&indiv=try&h=2452863.
  • 1955-01-23, Page 58 – Obit – Margaret V Hennessy. Providence_Journal_1955-01-23_58 – Margaret V Hennessey., Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island (GenealogyBank.Com).
  • 1955-02-28, Page 15 – Obit – John J Hennessy. Providence_Journal_1955-02-28_15 – John J Hennessey.pdf., Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island (GenealogyBank.Com).
  • 1957-11-28, Page 70 – Obit – Joseph P Hennessy. Providence_Journal_1957-11-28_70 – Joseph P Hennessey.png., Providence Journal, Providence, Rhode Island (GenealogyBank.Com).
  • Rhode Island, State Births Index, 1819, 1852-1900, Family Search, Bridget Mary Hennessey – Birth 4 August 1894. “Rhode Island, State Births Index, 1819, 1852-1900”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8M9-Q4M : 4 November 2020), Bridget Mary Hennessey, 1894.
  • Rhode Island, U.S., Marriage Index, 1851-1920, Ancestry.com, Vincenzo Varone – Beatrice M Hennessey – 23 October 1916. (No Image). Ancestry.com. Rhode Island, U.S., Rhode Island, U.S., Marriage Index, 1851-1920. Marriage Index, 1851-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. https://search.ancestry.com/collections/4263/records/211974/.
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.com, Providence, Rhode Island, City Directory, 1928, Page 1332 – Varone. Providence [1928] Directory.
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.com, Providence, Rhode Island, City Directory, 1930, Page 1335 – Varone. For the Year Ending April 1931
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.com, Providence, Rhode Island, City Directory, 1931, Page 1269 – Varone. For the year ending April 1932.
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.com, Providence, Rhode Island, City Directory, 1932, Page 1276 & 1277 – Varone.
  • S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Ancestry.com, Florence Josephine Depasquale – Death Apr 1992 (No Image). Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
  • S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com, James Varone. Registration State: Rhode Island; Registration County: Providence. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/10913814:6482.

Endnotes

[i] The Rhode Island State Birth Index indicates Bridget was born on 4 August 1894, all other records indicate she was born in 1893. I believe the index is incorrect.

Source Entry Birth Year Suggested
1894 RI State Birth Index 4 Aug 1894 1894
1900 US Census Aug 1893 – Age 6 1893
1910 US Census Age 6 1893
1925 Rhode Island Census Age 31 1893

[ii] The 1910 Census indicates that Margaret had 11 children, seven of whom were living. One child whose initials were S. B., was stillborn on 23 January 1908. A second child, whose name is unknown was born between 1900 and 1910. The other two children  died before 1900 (Endnote iii).

[iii] The 1900 Census indicates that Margaret had four children, two of whom were living. Mary Ellen was born in 1897 and died in 1898. Richard William was born in 1898 and died in 1899.

[iv] Albert was born 6 July 1916, three and one-half months before James and Beatrice were married.

[v] My suspicion is that because Beatrice and James lived in the rear of 1233 Westminster in 1925, they were missed during the 1920 and 1930 Censuses by the census taker. I plan to do a neighbors census study to confirm this suspicion.

[vi] Internet – Wikitree – House of the Good Shepherd. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:House_of_the_Good_Shepherd.

[vii] The Providence Journal, Sept 6, 2021, “Labor Day observance commemorates women and girls who worked without pay at Providence home” by Katie Mulvaney. https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/courts/2021/09/06/women-toiled-without-pay-providence-house-good-shepherd/5747153001/

Posted in Halcro-Varone Project | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 57

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Don Taylor

Harris(4), Harrower, Haskell(2), & Hatch

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Katherine A. Hatch, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Katherine Hatch, 28 Ocean Ave #647.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Katherine A. Hatch, circa 1935.

    The 1933 Portland City Directory lists Katherine A Hatch as a music teacher (cello) at 28 Ocean Ave. so does the 1935 City Directory.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory indicates Catherine A Hatch married Clinton W Graffam, Jr.
  • Social Security Applications and Claims index lists Katherine Hatch Graffam was born on 25 December 1912. Her parents were Arthur F. Hatch and Ruby G Allen.

This photo is of Katherine Hatch about 1935.

Family Search identifies Katherine A Hatch, born 25 December 1912, as ID G4H7-V2G. Katherine Allen Hatch is found in 17 Ancestry trees

I have uploaded a photo of Katherine to her Family Search Memories. 

Pierre Etherington Harrower, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Pierre Harrower, 139 Neal St #86.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Pierre Etherington Harrower, circa 1934.

    The 1934 and 1935 Portland City Directory lists Pierre Harrower as a radio singer residing at 74 Deering.

  • Pierre does not appear in the 1936 Portland City Directory; however, the 1937 City Directory lists Pierre E Harrower, a music teacher living with his wife, E. Hope Harrower at 339 Danforth, apartment 8.
  • The World War II Draft Registration Cards list Pierre Etherington Harrower, born 26 December 1889 in West Brighton, Staten Island, NY. His next of kin was Emma Hope Harrower, also living at 48-9 Ave. Pierre wears glasses.

I am confident this is a photo of Pierre Harrower, circa 1934. Additionally, an image of Pierre Etherington Harrower in Ancestry family trees shows the same individual in a 1915 newspaper clipping.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Pierre Etherington Harrower; however, he is found in 9 Ancestry trees.

Besides this photo, I have added another photo of Pierre to Dead Fred and a third photo to my Flickr photostream.

George Atwood Haskell and Richard Wilson Haskell, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Frank W. Haskell, 14 Williams St, #813.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • George Atwood Haskell and Richard Wilson Haskell, circa 1936

    World War I Draft Registration Cards indicate Frank Wilson Haskell, born 5 October 1882, living at 14 William. His father is George Pinkham Haskell residing at the same address.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Frank W Haskell, age 57, living at 14 Williams Street with his wife Maude H Haskell and two sons George A and Richard W Haskell. George is 16, and Richard is 11.
  • Ancestry Family Trees indicate George Atwood Haskell was born 4 January 1924
  • Ancestry Family Trees indicate Richard Wilson Haskell was born on 18 February 1929.

The photo ID Number 813 suggests it was taken about 1936 when George was about 12 and Richard was about 7.

Family Search identifies George A. Haskell, born 1924 in Maine as ID 9WGX-F73. Fourteen trees at Ancestry.Com refer to George Atwood Haskell; fourteen trees at Ancestry refer to Richard Wilson Haskell.

I have uploaded two photos of George and Richard to their Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo of them to my Flickr photostream.

Mortier D Harris, Jr., circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. M. D. Harris, 35 Clifton, #818.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Mortier D Harris, Jr., circa 1936.

    The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Mortier D (& Edna B) Harris living at 33 Clifton.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Mortier D and his wife Edna B., Harris living at 169 Harriet. Living with them is their seven-year-old son, Mortier D. Jr., and Mortier Sr., father-in-law, Bert Davis.

Based on the Photo ID (#818), the photo was taken about 1936, when Mortier junior was about 3 or 4.

Family Search identifies Mortier D Harris, son of Mortier Doroc and Edna B (Davis) Harris, as ID LVZC-LL9. Mortier Harris, Junior, does not appear to be in any Ancestry trees. However, his father, Mortier Dorace Harris, Senior, is found in 46 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded one photo of Mortier to his Family Search Memories.

Richard, Shirley, and Patricia Harris, circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Stuart Harris, 62 Fessenden St, #388.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Richard, Shirley, and Patricia Harris, circa 1935.

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Stuart F (& Helen S) Harris living at 62 Fessenden.

  • The 1940 US Census lists Stewart Harris, and his wife Helen, living at 752 Ocean Avenue. With then are four children, Richard (age 12), Shirley (age 10), and Patricia (age 6).

The photo ID number of 388 suggests this photo was taken about 1935 when Richard was 7, Shirley was 5, and Patricia about 1.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Stuart Franklin Harris or his children. However, Richard Stuart Harris, born 24 March 1928 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine appears in one Ancestry tree; Shirley Elaine Harris, born 27 March 1930, appears in three Ancestry trees. Patricia does not appear to be in any Ancestry trees; however, her father, Stuart Franklin Harris, appears in 22 Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded a photo of the three children to Dead Fred.

This photo identification was confirmed by a daughter of one of the children.

Conclusion

  • I identified four individuals with Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Family Search
  • I also identified four individuals that do not have Family Search profiles, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred.
  • I had “extra” photos of two individuals and posted those photos to my Flickr photostream.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Beatrice Hennessey & the Censuses

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Don Taylor

Census Sunday
Halcro-Varone Project
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Sometimes you run into things you’ve never encountered before. In my Halcro-Varone project, I discovered a name change that I found confusing. I knew Beatrice M Hennessey[i] married Vincenzo Varone on 23 October 1916. I thought, “Ah, easy; I’ll just follow her back and see where she lived before her marriage.

Comparison – 1900–1910 Censuses

I quickly found her in the 1910 census with her parents, but when I saw her in the 1900 census, I became confused. Could it be, she changed her first name as a child? I decided that using charts of the family would probably show the error of my ways.

Name 1900 Census
Age & Birthplace		 1910 Census
Age & Birthplace
Head – John Hennessey 29 – Ireland 39 – Ireland
Wife – Margaret 29 – Ireland 39 – Ireland
Dau. – Bridget/Beatrice Bridget
age 7 – Rhode Island		 Beatrice
age 16 – Rhode Island
Son – Joseph 4 – Rhode Island 14 – Rhode Island
Five other children
Ages 1 thru 9, all born in Rhode Island

The confusing thing was that Beatrice in the 1910 Census was Bridget in the 1900 Census. There was no change in address for the family; it was 236 Richmond Avenue in both censuses. My next thought was that the census taker in 1900 must have gotten the name wrong or transcribed it incorrectly. Then I found the birth registration for Bridget Mary Hennessey, daughter of John and Margaret (Prendergast[ii]) Hennessey. Bridget was born on 4 August 1894. In all of the records I’ve encountered, the child is Beatrice from the 1910 Census on and Bridget before the 1910 Census. I’ve just never encountered a name change like that before.

Beatrice appears to live with her husband and children in 1920, 1925 R.I., and 1930 Censuses. She seems to have separated from her husband about 1932. (Her husband, James Varone, began living with another woman, Albertina, about 1933.) In the 1940 Census, she appears as Beatrice Varone but as Beatrice Hennessey in records after 1940.

Conclusion

It appears Beatrice had severa names:

    • Bridget Hennessey 1894-1909
    • Beatrice Hennessey 1901-1916
    • Beatrice Varone 1916-1940
    • Beatrice Hennessey 1955-to her death?

When she switched back from Varone to Hennessey isn’t clear yet.

Sources:

“United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M97R-JSB: accessed 12 November 2021), John Hennesey, District 1 Providence city Ward 5, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district (E.D.) 41, sheet 7B, family 146, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,507.

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MP6L-L4X: accessed 10 November 2021), John Hennessy, Providence Ward 4, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district (E.D.) ED 183, sheet 3A, family 48, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1442; FHL microfilm 1,375,455.

Endnotes:

[i] The surname Hennessey and Hennessy are used interchangeably in various records.

[ii] The surname Prendergast, Pendergast, and Penderghast are used interchangeably in various records.

Posted in Halcro-Varone Project | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 56

Posted on November 26, 2021 by Don Taylor

Harkins(2), Harkinson, Harlow, Harriman, and née Phinney

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Virginia Harkins, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Virginia Harkins, 62 State St. #852.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Virginia Harkins, circa 1936

    The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Virginia Harkins, a student nurse at 62 State and residing at 52 State. Note that 62 State was the address for the State Street Hospital.

  • Virginia Harkins married Hugh Alton Curry in Andover, Victoria, New Brunswick, Canada, on 22 May 1937.
  • Virginia appears in the 1940 Portland City directory as a graduate nurse living at 112 Park. Hugh does not appear in the directory.
  • In the 1940 US Census, Virginia also appears as the 26-year-old head of household at 38 Franklin Terrace in South Portland. She is the night superintendent at a Hospital. Living with her is her 48-year-old mother, Virginia Parker. Both mother and daughter lived in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, in 1935.
  • The 1930 US Census lists both Virginia’s living in Chicago with the surname Harkins.
  • A photo of Virginia Eleanor Harkins in Ancestry Trees confirms this is the same young woman.

This photo is of Virginia Eleanor Harkins, the daughter of Michael John and Ida Minnie (Tibbetts) Harkins, born 19 March 1914 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine

Virginia Eleanor Harkins is found in 11 trees at Ancestry. Family Search identifies Virginia Elenore Harkins as ID 9V73-X1F.

I have uploaded a photo of Virginia to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded two additional photos to my Flickr photostream.

Verified to be Virginia (Harkins) Curry by a granddaughter.

Morris Harkinson, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Morris Harkinson, 193 Congress St. #455.”

How I searched for this individual.

  • Morris Harkinson, circa 1935

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists nine people living in ten apartments at 193 Congress Street. None of them is surnamed Harkinson nor with the first name of Morris.

  • Likewise, the 1936 Portland City Directory lists 11 people, none of whom have the first name of Morris or a surname of Harkinson. Also, there are no Harkinsons listed.
  • And the 1937 Portland list no one named Morris nor Harkinson at 193 Congress Street.

I am confident that the name listed on the envelope the negatives for these photos says Mr. Morris Harkinson. Also, this photo is of a man in his late 20s or early 30s who was transitory in Portland.

Alternative individuals:

In 1905 a Morrie Harkinson was living in Philadelphia with his (apparent) wife, Rachel. The Morris in the photo is much too young to have been married in 1905.

Other than the supposed name on the negative envelope, I could not identify this man, so I uploaded his photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded one additional photo of him to my Flickr photostream.

Constance Harkins, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Ethel Harkins, 150 Grafton St, #824 | Constance Harkins.”

Constance Harkins, circa 1936

Last week, in Ethel Wight Collection – Part 55, I looked at another photo for Ethel Harkins that would have been taken the same day as the photo of John Harkins.

According to Ancestry Family Trees, John had two sisters, Frances Evelyn Harkins, born 9 May 1928, and Constance A Harkins, born 10 October 1933. Additionally, the negative envelope has “Constance Harkins” written. So, this photo is her.

Five public trees on Ancestry list Constance A Harkins. Again, Constance Harkins does not have a Family Search profile, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.

Jane Harlow (née Phinney), c. 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Jane Phinney Harlow, 100 Brentwood St. #641.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Jane Harlow (nĂ©e Phinney), c. 1936

    The 1934 Portland City Directory list Mrs. Jane P Harlow residing at 100 Brentwood.

  • The 1940 US Census lists 52-year-old Jane Harlow living with her mother, Clara L Phinney, at 100 Brentwood. Jane is divorced

This photo is of Jane Harlow (NĂ©e Phinney) about 1936.

Jane Pinal Phinney is found in eight Ancestry trees. Family Search identifies Jane Pennell Phinney, daughter of Clara Luella (Pennell) Phinney, as ID LTDF-8WD.

I have uploaded two photos of Jane to her Family Search Memories. 

Stephanie Harriman, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Merton Harriman, 407 Cumberland Ave. #886.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Stephanie Harriman, circa 1936

    The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Merton N Harriman, a painter living with his wife, Dorothy B, at 4 Mechanic.

  • The Maine Marriage Index indicates that Merton N Harriman and Dorothy B Foster were married on 16 April 1932. Both lived in Portland, Maine, before the marriage.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Merton N Harriman as a lodger, with 19 other lodgers at 223 High Street. The New York-born 27 year old is divorced.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Dorothy Harriman, living in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with her 58-year-old mother (Ella Foster) and her two children, Stephanie, age seven, and Garry, age two. Dorothy, Stephanie, and Ella lived in Lewiston, Maine om 1935.
  • Stephanie Harriman was born in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, on 10 December 1932.

Garry is too young to be the person in this photo. Based upon the number (#886), the photo was likely taken about 1936 when Stephanie was about three years old.

Two public trees at Ancestry refer to Stephanie Harriman, daughter of Dorothy Bell Foster. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Stephanie.

At first, I was concerned the photos I had for Stephanie were of two different children; however, the child is wearing the same skirt and tights in both sets of images; only the addition of a sweater changes the child’s appearance.

I added one of her photos to Dead Fred and the other to my Flickr Photostream.

Confirmed to be Stephanie Harriman by a half-brother.

Conclusion

  • I identified two individuals with Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Family Search
  • I identified two other individuals that do not have Family Search profiles, so I posted their photos to Dead Fred.
  • Other than a supposed name, I failed to identify one individual; consequently, his photo to Dead Fred.

For all of the Ethel Wight Collection analysis, please see here.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Donna 100 Years ago – The Stroud – Stroudsburg, PA

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Don Taylor

A Great Thanksgiving Program.

100 Years Ago
Donna Montran & Co.
Vaudeville
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.“Donna 100 years ago” is my reporting events relating to my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). Hers was the exciting world of 1920s vaudeville. She crisscrossed the country with her many shows.

The Donna Darling Collection (See Part 76) yielded two articles that put Donna at the Stroud Theater in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, for Thanksgiving 1921. A review of Newspapers.com, Genealogy Bank, Newspaper Archives, and Chronicling America failed to reveal any newspapers from Stroudsburg for that period. Likewise, The Ancestor Hunt was unable to indicate any Stroudsburg papers online for 1921. As such, the only evidence I have that Donna played at the Stroud Theater in Pennsylvania is her clippings.

The Stroud

Great Thanksgiving Week Program

Today and Tomorrow
5—Big Vaudeville Acts—5  

Special Thanksgiving Engagement – The Barry Jazzers
Three Walceys – Acrobatic Novelty
Whynot & Brady – Musical Act
Phil Davis – Southern Songster
Dona Montrim & Co – Singing and Dancing.

Another Clipping Donna had said

Holiday Week Program at Stroud is a Sure Fire Winner

The article goes on the say that:

“Dora Montrim & Co. have a dance and song revue with very special stage settings and costumes of Miss Montrim that are pleasing.”

We don’t know much about her show, but we know she was at the Stroud Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on November 24th and 25th, 1921 – One Hundred Years ago today.

 

 

Posted in Donna Montran, Vaudeville | Tagged | Leave a comment