Originally Published: Oct 29, 2015 UPDATED: May 20, 2021
The Boston Glove – Â July 22, 1915, Page 8
TO FLY OVER COMMON
Miss Donna Montran Expects to Drop Pennants and Tickets for Show From Biplane,
Miss Donna Montran, one of the pretty “belles of 1861” in “The Birth of a Nation,” at the Tremont Theatre, is anticipating the time of her life this afternoon, when she expects to make two round trips between Saugus and Boston Common with Capt J. Chauncey Redding in his biplane, incidentally showering “Birth of a Nation” pennants and free tickets for the Tremont Theatre on the heads of the crowd that will witness the flight from the Common. The two flights over the Common in the vicinity of the Tremont Theatre are scheduled, one for about 1:30, or not long after, the other a short time before the matinee performance is over, probably about 4:30. During the first flight the biplane will circle about above the State House dome.
Miss Montran will be attired similarly to the lobby girls at the Tremont Theatre, though without the hoopskirt. She will drop 100 pennants on the Common, 25 of which will have tickets for the theatre attached to them. The distribution will take place during both flights, and those who capture the tickets will be able to see “The Birth of a Nation” free of cost.
Sadly, she wasn’t able to make that flight. Â The theatre was unable to get approval for the flight over Boston Common and the State House. They did, however, get approval to drop the pennants over Revere Beach the following Day. This was a really big deal and the Boston Globe covered it with a photo article on July 23rd.
Source: Boston Globe 23 July 1915, pg 5 – “Free Tickets From the Sky” via Newspaperarchive.com
According to the article, rather than wearing a Tremont Theatre lobby girl’s outfit as reported she would the day before, she wore an aviator’s trim costume. Also, the article says, “On the descent of the machine Miss Montran expressed herself as delighted with her 50 minutes in the air.”
There were articles in other papers including The Boston Herald, 23 July 1915.
Boston Herald, July 23, 1915 Via Genealogy Bank
“Actress Make Two Flights in Biplane.”  She flew in Capt. J. Chauncey Redding biplane on July 22nd.
A google search for J. Chauncey Redding yielded a photo of the plane. The photo was taken the week of 6 September, just six weeks after Donna’s flights. If you wonder how dangerous was it to fly in a biplane in 1915, the pilot, Capt. J. Chauncey Redding, died on October 21st when his biplane collapsed while in midair while over the Lynn, MA, marshes.
Washington Herald August 15, 1915 Via Library of Congress
Another article appeared in the Washington Herald a few weeks later. Â That article indicates that the plane was a Burgess-Wright aeroplane as reported in Aerial Age Weekly. It also mentions that Miss Montran was, “delighted with her fifty minutes in the air.”
I was able to find Aerial Age Weekly online at Google Books. The Washington Herald article is a reprint of the same article and provides no additional information..
J. Chauncey Redding’s aeroplane on the beach, Week of 6 September 1915. (about six weeks after Donna’s Flight) — Photo Courtesy: Gertrude Palmer. From HAMPTON: A CENTURY OF TOWN AND BEACH, 1888-1988 by Peter Evans Randall
Finally, I was able to find a photo on Wikimedia photo of the Wright Model B which was licensed to Burgess to make the Burgess-Wright Model F. Â This was the exact type of aircraft J. Chauncey Redding used during Donna’s flight.
Donna’s stunt not only made the local newspapers, it was also reported in both Moving Picture World and in Pictures and the Picturegoer.
Moving Picture World – August 21, 1915, Page 1306
We do not like to realize that there is anyone in the Hub who has not seen “The Birth of a Nation,” which I have had the good fortune to see several times, always finding something new and wonderful to fill the eye. The last weeks are announced. A novelty in the way of advertising this picture was put forth the other day when one of the pretty girls of ’61, gowned as in the play, went up in an aeroplane and scattered pennants, some of them having free tickets. She was dainty Donna Montran.
Pictures and the Picturegoer – 4 September 1915, Page 420.
Donna Montran. a player in The Birth of a Nation (a picture we all hope to see) has been making aeroplane-flights and dropping pennants bearing the sign, The Birth of a Nation, to which were attached free passes, and worth picking up.
Caswell, Cederstrom, Celli, Chamberlain, and Champagne
Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor
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.
Ethel Cederstrom (1911-___) circa 1937, age 25
Ethel Cederstrom (1911-___) circa 1937, age 25.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Ethel Cederstrom, 549 Cumberland Ave, Portland, #389.”
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Ethel G. Cederstrom as a clerk at 586 Congress, residing at 529 Cumberland Ave, Apt. 2.
Ethel Glenny Cederstrom was born 19 August 1911 to Rudolf and Alida Cederstrom.
In the 1940 Census, she is married to Laurence Hawkins, and her mother, Alida Cederstrom is living with them.
The 1930 Census shows 51-year-old Gertrude Cederstrom (head) living with her two daughters, Ethel and Verna Cederstrom, ages 18 and 13, respectively.
The 1920 Census shows 51-year-old Rudolph Pederstrom (head) living with his wife Alida, son Rudolph (Jr.), and two daughters Ethel and Verna Pederstrom.
I believe this is Ethel Glinny Cederstrom about 1937, before she married Laurance Hawkins on 4 October 1937 when she was about 25 or 26 years old.
Ethel did not have a profile on Family Search; however, her father, Rudolph Cederstrom, has a profile, GCYX-FZB. Her mother, Elida (or Alida), has a profile GCYX-892. So, I created GZHP-T45 as the daughter of Rudolph and Elida Cederstrom. I uploaded two photos of Ethel to her Family Search profile and a third photo to my Flickr Photostream. I did not find any Ancestry Trees that included Ethel Glinny Cederstrom.
Hortense Caswell (1916-1980), circa 1937, age 21.
Hortense Caswell (1916-1980), circa 1937, age 21.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Hortense Caswell – St. Barnabas Hospital, Portland, #564.”
The 1936 and 1937 Portland City Directories list Hortense Caswell as a Student Nurse at 231 Woodford and residing at 20 Norwood.
The 1938 Portland City directory lists Hortense as a nurse at 19 Dow, Apt. 5, and residing at the same place.
The 1930 Census lists Hortense A. Caswell, the 14-year-old daughter of Claude E. and Alice M. Caswell living in Gray, Cumberland County, Maine.
This photo was probably taken about 1937, as she graduated from St. Barnabas Hospital when she was about 21 years old.
Family Search identifies Hortense A. Caswell as ID:Â LTBG-GLN. I am quite sure this is her about 1937. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. I have also uploaded one additional image to my Flickr Photostream. Hortense Caswell is found in five Acestry Trees.
A niece confirmed this photo is of “Auntie Hon.” (She disliked the name “Hortense.)
Marjorie Chamberlain, circa 1937
Marjorie Chamberlain, circa 1937
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss M. Chamberlain, State St. Hospital, Portland #838.”
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Marjorie Chamberlain, a student nurse at 62 State, residing at 52 State Street.
The 1935 Portland City Directory does not list a Marjorie Chamberlain.
Page 208 of the 1936 Portland City Directory, where I would expect “Chamberlain” to be listed, is missing from the Ancestry City Directories.
Pages 192 and 193, where I would expect “Chamberlain” to be, are missing from the 1938 Portland City Directory.
Marjorie Chamberlain is not listed in the 1939 Portland City Directory.
The 1940 Census
There was a 23-year-old Marjorie T. Chamberlain, who was a school teacher in Westborough, Worcester, MA.
There was a 25-year-old Marjorie Chamberlain who was a school teacher in Windsor, Shelby County, Illinois.
There was a 27-year-old Marjorie Chamberlain who was a bookkeeper in Towanda, Pennsylvania.
There was a 27-year-old Marjorie Chamberlain who was a typist in Worcester, Massachusetts.
None of these Marjorie’s were in Maine during 1935 and none of them were nurses in 1940.
There was a Marjorie Louise Chamberlain who married Maurice Eldridge Boardman in Vermont in 1937. However, she was only 16 years old, too young to be this Marjorie.
So, I have been unsuccessful in determining the identity of the Marjorie Chamberlain, who was a student nurse at State Street Hospital in Portland, Maine, in 1937.
This negative envelope says, “Miss Marion Champagne, Queens Hospital, Portland, #303.”
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Marion E. Champagne as a student nurse at 218 State, residing at 681 Congress Street.
Page 208 of the 1936 Portland City Directory, where I would expect “Chamberlain” to be listed, is missing from the Ancestry City Directories.
Marion is not listed in the 1937 Portland City Directory.
Marion E Champagne does appear in the 1938 Waterville, Maine, City Directory working as a nurse and residing at 7 Pleasant. Also at 7 Pleasant are Catherine, Dorothy E., Joseph A (Minnie), and Maurice.
The 1930 US Census enumerated Joseph A. Champagne living in Fairfield, Somerset County, Maine. With him is his wife Minnie, two sons, and four daughters, including 17-year-old Marian E. Champagne.
I am sure this is Marion Champagne, daughter of Joseph and Minnie, about 1936, when she was about 23 years old and graduating from nursing school.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Michael Celli, 14 Mayo St, Portland, #614.”
Michael Celli does not appear in 1934, 35, 36, or 37 Portland City Directories.
The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Catherine, Mary, Thomas, and Martin Walsh living at 14 Mayo.
The 1936 Portland City Directory again lists Walsh’s living at 14 Mayo
Finally, the 1937 Portland City Directory lists Catherine Parks, Martin Walsh, John & Margaret Murphy, and Peter & Shoughan Mouradian living at 14 Mayo.
Michael Celli, circa 1935.
A review of the 1930 Census yielded five individuals named Michael Celli.
A 29-year-old from Italy, living in Leominster, Massachusetts.*
A 19-year-old born in New York and living in Brooklyn, New York.*
A 12-year-old living in New York.
A 10-year-old living in Michigan*
A one-year-old residing in New Jersey.*
Besides the four individuals marked above with an asterisk (*), there were two additional Michael Celli’s enumerated in the 1940 Census.
A 50-year-old, born in Italy, living in New Jersey.
A 43-year-old, born in Italy, residing In Ohio.
Also, none of the Michael Celli’s in the 1940 Census indicate they lived in Maine in 1935.
Additionally, none of the wives of the Michael Celli’s in the 1940 Census indicate they lived in Maine during 1935.
Because the man in the photo appears to be about 30 years old and because the photo was probably taken about 1936, it is most likely the Leominster, MA, Michael Celli. However, without supporting evidence, I can’t make that determination.
Three successful identifications where I could post images to Family Search.
I posted two partial identifications to Dead Fred.
For the first time, I had an identification on Family Search where the individual does not appear to be in any Ancestry trees.
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.
In my research for Mary (Wolcott) Parsons, I speculated Mary was living with Albert Parsons during the 1830 Census. I also wanted to determine just who Albert was in relationship to Mary and if made sense for Mary to be the female 50 to 59 in his household.[i]
Albert Parson’s entry on Find-a-Grave showed his relationship. He was born in 1795 in Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Timothy and Huldah (Porter) Parsons. Timothy Parsons and John Parsons were brothers. Thus, Albert was Mary Parsons’ husbands nephew. Albert Parsons’ profile on family search is 9KBZ-FLK. The other key fact to note is that Albert’s mother, Huldah (Porter) Parsons died in 1817, so the female 50 to 59 in his household couldn’t be Albert’s mother.
So, it does make sense that Mary was living with Albert Parsons during the 1830 Census.
Mary Wolcott was born in 1767. She married John Parsons in 1788. After she was widowed in 1813, Â Mary lived another 43 years living in several households. She died in 1857 at the age of 89.
Different researchers seem to disagree about where Mary Wolcott was born, but all seem to agree she was born 20 May 1767 to Samuel and Prudence (Robbins) Wolcott. I’ll know more when I research Mary’s parents. Chandler Wolcott, in Wolcott Genealogy, indicates that Samuel Wolcott located to Sandisfield, MA, in 1764, three years before Mary was born, so it is my current opinion that Mary was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
Childhood
Mary was the third of seven children. Her siblings included
Prudence Born 1763Â Â Â Â Â Married John Baxter
Samuel Born 1765Â Â Â Â Â (the 4th generation named Samuel Wolcott)
Mary Born 1767Â Â Â Â Â Married John Parsons, Jr.
Thomas Born 1769
Abiathar Born 1772
William Born 1774
Abigail Born 1781Â Â Â Â Â Married John Chapel.
Her father was a patriot, serving in the revolutionary war when Mary was only 9-years-old. It hat to have been an exciting time for a kid to grow up.
Marriage
Mary married John Parsons, Jr., in 1788 in Sandisfield, and the couple had their first child, Samuel, the following year. Their first five children were born in Sandisfield.
Samuel Born 1789
Polly Born 1792Â Â Â Â Â Later married Jeremiah Miller.
Orrin Born 1794
John Born 1796
Chester Born 1799Â Â Â Â Â My 4th Great-grandfather.
The Columbia Turnpike opened up in 1799 from Berkshire County to Catskill, in Greene County, New York.[1]Â In the spring of 1802, the Parsons located to Windham, Greene County, New York, probably using the Columbia Turnpike. Consequently, their next two children were born in New York.
Permelia (?) Born 1805Â Â Â Â Â Married (FNU) Clark.
Prudence Born 1811Â Â Â Â Â Possibly married Benjamin Miller.
Mary’s husband John died on 7 April 1813 in Windham, Greene County, New York.
I have not been successful in finding Mary in the 1820 Census. (See: Mary Parsons & the 1820 Census.) However, I am pretty sure that Mary was living with Albert Parsons during the 1830 Census. I am still hoping to determine precisely who Albert is.
In 1840, Mary was the head of the household comprising of her and a male 50 to 60 years old. I believe this male to be her son, Samuel.
In 1850, Mary was living in the household of Samuel Parsons (her eldest son).
In 1855, Mary is still living with Samuel in Greene County, New York.
Death
Mary (Wilcott) Parsons died on 26 Marth 1857 at the age of 89 years, ten months, and six days old. She is buried with John at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, Greene, New York.
Events by Location
Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Sandisfield – Birth, 1790, 1800
New York, Greene County, Windham – 1802, 1830, 1840, 1855, Death
Further Actions / Follow-up
Determine who Albert Parsons is
Find John & Mary Parsons in the 1810 Census.
Find Mary Parsons in the 1820 Census.
Sources
1790 Census, 1790 Census – Page 34 – John Parsons, Jr. & John Parsons (Sr.) – Sandisfield Town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. “Heads of Families – 1790 Census – Massachusetts – Page 34, Column 1, Persons 3 & 4. – Accessed 2 August 2020. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1907/dec/heads-of-families.html.
1800 Census (FS), Family Search, 1800 – John Parsons Jr. – Sandisfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts (3rd from bottom). “United States Census, 1800,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRZ-J6J : accessed 31 March 2018), John Parsons Jr, Sandisfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States; citing p. 175, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 13; FHL microfilm 205,611. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRZ-J6J.
1830 Census (FS), Family Search, 1830 – Albert Persons – Windham, Greene, New York. “United States Census, 1830,” database with images, FamilySearch ( : 20 February 2021), Albert Persons, Windham, Greene, New York, United States; citing 99, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 110; FHL microfilm 17,170. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHP7-SGK.
1840 Census (NARA), 1840 Census – Mary Parsons, Southern, Greene, New York. “United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRP-CWF : 8 December 2020), Mary Parsons, Greene, New York, United States; citing p. 149, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRP-CWF.
1850 Census (NARA), 1850 – Samuel Persons – Windham, Greene, New York. “United States Census, 1850,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCYF-ZJR : 23 December 2020), Samuel Persons, Windham, Greene, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCYF-ZJR.
1855 New York Census, Family Search, Samuel Parsons – New York, Greene, Windham. “New York State Census, 1855,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6S5-GCD : 3 March 2021), Samuel Persons, Windham, Greene, New York, United States; citing p. , line #7, family #130, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 480,076. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6S5-GCD.
Daughters of the American Revolution, “Ancestor Search”, DAR, Parsons, John – Ancestor # A088240. Accessed 31 July 2020. . https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/default.cfm?p_id=A088240.
Daughters of the American Revolution, “Descendants Search”, DAR, Ruth Evelyn Hill Carr – Nat’l #: 445593 – Ancestor #: A016639.
Daughters of the American Revolution, “Descendants Search”, DAR, Ruth Evelyn Hill Carr – Nat’l #: 445593 – Ancestor #: A088240. Accessed 31 July 2020.
Find a Grave, Internet, Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons – Memorial 118318771. Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/118318771/mary-parsons : accessed 28 April 2021), memorial page for Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons (20 May 1767–26 March 1857), Find a Grave Memorial ID 118318771, citing Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, Greene County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Mookie (contributor 47515129). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118318771/mary-parsons.
History of Washtenaw County, Michigan (Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), Google, Pg 1371. Chas. C. Chapman & Co. (2012). History of Washtenaw County, Michigan: Together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history ; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan : embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, aborigines, French, English and American conquests, and a general review of its civil, political and military history. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company.
History of Washtenaw County, Michigan (Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), Google, Pg 1405. Chas. C. Chapman & Co. (2012). History of Washtenaw County, Michigan: Together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history ; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan : embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, aborigines, French, English and American conquests, and a general review of its civil, political and military history. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company.
Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, Family Search, PAGE 335 – 4TH SECTION (After Manley, Crane, & Spelman) – PARSONS (John Parsons, Jr. and Mary, his wife.
New York, US., State Census, 1855, Ancestry, Greene County, Windham, Image 8 of 34, Lines 7 – Samuel Parsons.
Chandler Wolcott, Wolcott Genealogy – The Family of Henry Wolcott (, 1912), Internet Archive, Page 119 – LXXIII – Samuel Wolcott.
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.
Mildred Flora Elizabeth Cassidy, circa 1937 (age 23)
Mildred Flora Elizabeth Cassidy, circa 1937 (age 23)
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mildred Cassidy, State St. Hospital, Portland #941 – DSCN2855.”
I found:
Mildred Cassidy appears in the 1937 Portland City Directory as a student nurse at 62 State and living at 52 State.
Mildred Cassidy appears in the 1940 Census as a practical nurse living at 120 Spring St. She is 26, born in Canada.
According to her naturalization “Declaration of Intention,” Mildred Flora Elizabeth Cassidy, was born 6 Jan 1914 in Newcastle, New Brunswick.
Family Search did not have a profile for Mildred Cassidy, so I created ZWQ-21R and uploaded a photo of her to that profile. She also is found in 10 Ancestry Trees.
Lawrence Edgar Casey, c. 1934 (Age 16)
Lawrence Edgar Casey, c. 1934 (Age 16)
The envelope this negative was in says, Mr. Lawrence Cassey, 8 Wescott St, Portland #226.”
My initial search yielded no results. Searching for anyone living at 8 Wescott in Portland, I found that Mrs. Margaret A. Casey lived at 8 Wescott in 1935.
The 1934 Portland High School Yearbook, shows Lawrence Edgar Casey’s photograph which is identical to one of the photos in this collection.
S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 reports Edgar Lawrence Casey was born 7 July 1917 in Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine to Edgar L and Margaret A. (Ward) Casey. He died 7 October 1988.
Family Search has a profile for Edgar Lawrence Casey as KZZP-611. I uploaded two photos of Lawrence to his Family Search profile. Edgar Lawrence Casey is found in 27 Ancestry Public Trees. I also uploaded three more photos of Lawrence to my Flickr Photostream.
Richard Earl Parsons, c. 1936 (age 3)
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs Fred A Carsons – 930 Forest Ave, Portland #723.”
Richard Earl Parsons, circa 1936 (age 3)
My search for Fred Carsons was unsuccessful. Luckily, Ancestry allows searching City Directories based upon Address only. That search found Fred A., and Katherine M. Parsons living at 930 Forest Ave in the 1935 Portland City Directory.
The 1940 Census found Fred living with his wife and five children, four boys, ages 17, 17, 15, and Richard, age 8. This photo was taken about 1936, so it must be two-year-old Richard as the child is too young any of the other boys.
Family Search has a profile for Richard Parsons as LBSD-L6W. I uploaded one photo to that profile. He is also in nine Ancestry Family trees.
Leo Carrier, ca. 1936 (Age 2)
Leo Carrier, ca. 1936 (Age 2)
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Leo Carrier, 86 Sudig St., Portland #716.”
Sometimes I’m reminded that everyone makes mistakes. In the case of “Mrs. Leo Carrier” I learned that the person was actually Mrs. Romeo Carrier and the child in the photo is Leo Carrier. I also learned that India can look like Sudig (or Dudig). It was a frustrating search but I got there eventually.
My search for Carrier and the number 86 in the Portland City directories yielded Romer and Antoinette Carrier living at 86 India.
There does not appear to be a profile for Leo or his parents on Family Search. However, Leo P Carrier, born 15 Aug 1934 to Romeo J. and Antoinette Bridget (Spaltro) Carrier is found in 8 Ancestry Family Trees. I have uploaded the photo to Dead Fred.
Beverly Binnette, circa 1934 (Age 1)
Beverly Binnette, c. 1934 (Age 1)
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Mabel Carpenter – 175 Congress St., Portland #527.”
The 1935 Portland City Directory list Mable L. Carpenter as the wife lf L. Thurston Carpenter residing at 1 Haskell in South Portland. Note. The 1934 Directory shows L. Thurston Carpenter but does not mention Mabel.
The 1936 Portland City Directory lists a Mrs. Mabel L Carpenter, a waitress at 82 Free who resided at 57 Danforth. There were no Carpenters listed at 175 Congress.
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Mabel L. Carpenter, married to Edgar Binette and moved to Saco.
The 1940 Census shows Edgar Benette and Mabel living at 7 South Street with their two children, Beverly, age 6 and Patricia, age 2.
Based upon the photo number, 527, it was taken about 1934 or 1935, so this must be a photo of Beverly and not Patricia. Further research found that Beverly was born 26 October 1933.
Mabel Louise Grace married Joseph Edgar Binette on 28 November 1936, well after Beverly’s birth in 1933. Mabel Louise Grace married Lawrence Thurston Carpenter on 9 November 1934. So this photo was likely taken after that when Beverly was about a year old. Mabel married James I. Dixon on 19 November 1929.
Beverly does not appear to have a profile on Family Search, however, Mabel Louise Grace is ID LYN1-LWK. Because I am not entirely sure who Beverly’s father is (Dixon, Carpenter, or Binette), I did not add a profile for Beverly in Family Search. Regardless of the name Beverly was born with, she clearly grew up with Binnette as her surname.  Mable Louise Grace, wife of Edgar H. Binnette is found in 19 Ancestry Trees.
I have added Beverly Binnette’s photo to Dead Fred.
Conclusion
I had a good week with:
Three successful identifications where I could post to Family Search
Two successful identifications where I needed to post the image to Dead Fred.
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.
This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection
