Ethel Wight Collection – Part 23

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Don Taylor

Brisson, Broderick, & Brown (3)

Photo Friday
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 of the individual who paid for the photograph session, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the photo and information to positively identify the photographs.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the pictures with family members who may have never seen the image.

Stanley, Robert, & Donald Brisson, circa 1937.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Leon Brisson, 1883 Washington Ave, Portland, #920.”

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Leon F. Brisson and his wife Merna J. living at 1887 Washington Ave. Leon was a fireman with the MC RR. The 1940 U.S. Census enumerated the Leon F. Brisson household consisting of Leon, his wife Myrna, three boys, Robert J (Age 12), Donald L (Age 11) and Stanley W. (Age 10), and a young daughter (age 2). The three boys in this photo are Robert, Donald, and Stanley.

Family Search identifies Robert Brisson (1928-___) as ID: LTTT-G8H, Donald L Brisson (1929-2006) as ID: LTTT-7NV, and Stanley (1930-___) as ID: LTTT-C84. I have uploaded a photo of the trio to their Family Search profiles. Forty-one trees on Ancestry refer to Leon Freeman Brisson.

Mary Broderick (1900-1950), circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mary Broderick, Exeter Hospital, Exeter, N.H., #539.” The photo appears to be of a woman in her mid-30s.

Mary Broderick of Exeter, NH

Mary A. Broderick, the 31-year-old single daughter of Daniel and Katherine Broderick, lived with her parents at 5 Cottage Street, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, during the 1930 Census. She was working as a stenographer for the Electric Company. The 1941 Exeter City Directory indicates that Daniel died March 1939. Mary Agnes Broderick was born on 18 June 1900 in Exeter. The 1940 Census finds “Agnes” still ling at 5 Cottage Street, now with her brother, Joseph T. Broderick. In 1940, Agnes was working as a stenographer at N.H. Gas & Electric, Co.

I am reasonably confident that Mary Agnes Broderick, the daughter of Daniel Patrick Broderick and Catherine Donahue, is the same Mary Broderick in the photo. However, I have been unable to find any connection between Mary and the Exeter Hospital, a Family Search profile, or a specific tree on Ancestry. As such, I have added her photo to Dead Fred.

Either Rena Ione (Redmond) Brown (1900-1992) or Constance L. (LNU) Brown (___-___), circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Blanchard Brown, 166 Brentwood St., Portland, #771.”

This timeline is somewhat convoluted, but here goes:

1930 – Blanchard H. Brown married Rena Ione Redmond on 20 August 1919 in Portsmouth, NH. They were living together as husband and wife during the 1930 Census living at 28 Pleasant Ave. Blanchard was 37, and Rena was 29. They had been married for ten years.

1935 – The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates that Blanchard and Rena are living at 166 Brentwood.

1936 – The 1936 Portland City Directory is missing pages 173 through 177, which are the pages I expect to find Blanchard and Constance on. I need to follow-up and view the 1936 Directory.

1937 – The 1937 Portland City Directory does not list a wife for Blanchard H. Brown. It does list Mrs. Rena I Brown living at 15 Rackleff.

1938 – It is the 1938 city directory that puts everything into chaos. It lists Blanchard Brown and Mrs. Constance L. Brown living at 166 Brentwood. Note that Constance Brown was not listed in the 1937 directory.

1939 – The 1939 Portland City Directory lists Blanchard H Brown and his wife, Constance L., living at 166 Brentwood. All would seem fine except that Blanchard married Philomena K. Curato on 2 October 1939 in Portland.

1940 – The 1940 U.S. Census lists Blanchard H. Brown, and his wife Philomena, living at 166 Brentwood.

So, who was Constance? I have not found any records of Blanchard H. Brown marrying someone named Constance. I suspect that Constance was a live-in significant other that was only reported as his wife to keep appearances. If that is the case, then who is the photo of.  Based upon the number (771), the picture is likely to have been taken about 1937. If that is the case, I think it is likely a photo of Rena. However, If Blanchard married Constance about 1937, it could easily be a photo of his new wife at that time.

Maybe a family member of Rena can confirm it is a photo of her, or perhaps a family member of Blanchard can confirm his having another significant relationship.

Rena Ione Redmond has a profile on Family Search of LKR3-QBR. Over 40 Ancestry Family Trees refer to Rena Ione Redmond Brown Marshall. Without finding a marriage or divorce record for Constance L [Brown], I cannot find her on Family Search. Likewise, none of the 30-plus trees on Ancestry show Blanchard Hilchey Brown indicates a spouse name, “Constance.” As I believe this photo could be either Rena or Constance, I have not posted it to either place.

Orrin Richard “Dick” Brown (1929-1999), circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. D. J. Brown, 8 Grand St., Portland, #151.”

I thought the name was D.J. Brown; however, a review of the 1933 Portland City Directory found Orrin J. Brown and his wife Irene living at 8 Grand, which convinced me it was “O. J. Brown.” They were still living at that address for the 1940 City Directory. The 1940 Census found “Arrin J.” and his wife Irene Brown living at 8 Grand Street in Portland. With him was his wife and two sons, Richard L and Robert, ages 11 and 8. As this photo was taken about 1937, and the boy in the photo appears to be more likely an eight-year-old than a five-year-old, I believe it to be Richard and not Robert.

Family Search identifies Orrin Richard Brown (1929-1999) as ID: LT6J-FFL. I have uploaded a photo of him to his Family Search profile. (I have a similar image of Richard; however, it is pretty blurry.) Three Ancestry trees also refer to Orrin Richard Brown.

Dorothy Brown (1926-___), circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Dorothy Brown, 22 Paris St., Portland, #193.”

The 1938 Portland City Directory recorded Edward R. Brown, and his wife Ethel R., living at 22 Parris. The 1940 Census finds Edward R and Ethel living with their 14-year-old daughter, Dorothy E. Brown, living at 24 Mechanic Street, Portland. This photo was of Dorothy about 1936 when she was about ten years old.

Family Search identifies Dorothy E. Brown (1926-___) as ID: LT6X-H25. I have uploaded a photo of Dorothy to her Family Search profile. No Ancestry trees refer to Dorothy; however, nine trees identify her parents, Edward Russell and Ethel M (Denbow) Brown.

Conclusion

I had:

      • Five successful identifications where I could post to Family Search
      • One probable identification that I posted to Dead Fred and contacted other researchers for confirmation.
      • One inconclusive identification (two potential candidates).

Final Note

If any of these photos are of a family member, I would love to hear your reaction.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. All photos are ©Copyright Heirs of Ethel Wight.

My thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt for genealogical purposes.

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

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 80

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Don Taylor

The South Broad Theatre 

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Thursday, I’m looking at a clipping from the Donna Darling Collection.

Clipping discovered to be from the Trenton Evening Times dated January 9, 1922.

SOUTH BROAD—“KAZAN”

Delightful screen and vaudeville entertainment will be provided at the South Broad Theatre for three days beginning today when the James Oliver Curwood drama, “Kazan” and a series of new acts will be presented, together with comedy films and other events.

Of course, there is a delightful man and woman romance in this refreshing Curwood story, but its greatest power lies in the parallel drawn between human and animal life, and without a remarkable dog to interpret the role of “Kazan” the production could not have been made. But such a remarkable dog was found, and Director Bertram Bracken was enabled to accomplish the so-called “impossible.” The result is declared to be one of the finest photoplays of the North country.

The new vaudeville will be headed by Doona Montram [sic] and Her Boys in a musical comedy review, called “As You Like,” supported by Thomas Doray and Edna Sarlini in “by Heck,” the Novilions, a comedy acrobatic team, and John and Dave Mills, musical comedy duo.

Tomorrow night will be “Ye Olde Country Store” night, when 25 presents will be given away free to members of the audience.  

“Kazan,” written by James Oliver Curwood, was released in October 1921. Additionally, the two other clippings on the same page in Donna’s album related to the Stroud Theatre, Stroudsburg, PA, where she played on November 24th and 25th. See DCC-76

Donna didn’t begin using Darling until 1922, so this clipping is clearly from 1921.

Searching for “Thomas Doray” I found an article at Genealogy Bank that spoke of the delightful vaudeville card composed of Donna Montram [sic] and Her Boys in a musical comedy revue, called “As You Like.” Supported by Thomas Doray and Edna Sarlin, in “By Heck….” It was in the January 11, 1922, Trenton Evening Times.

Key features:

  • The venue is the Broad Theatre in Trenton, New Jersey.
  • The show is the “Donna Montran and Her Boys in “As You Like [It]”
  • Also, on the bill:
    • Thomas Doray and Edna Sarlini in “by Heck,”
    • Novilions, an acrobatic comedy team,
    • John and Dave Mills, a musical comedy duo.
  • The movie showing was the James Oliver Curwood story, “Kazan,” staring Jane Novak

Conclusion

I added a new venue for Donna’s vaudeville career:

  • January 9-11, 1922 – Trenton, NJ – South Broad Theatre – “Donna Montram [sic] and Her Boys in “As You Like” – DDC-80.
Posted in Treasure Chest, As You Like It, Vaudeville | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Joel Cruff Taft & the 1810 Census

Posted on March 28, 2021 by Don Taylor

Roberts-Barnes-Taft
Census Sunday
By Don Taylor

Following families in the early census records is always tricky. Finding children in pre-1850 Census records is particularly challenging. Such is the case of Joel Cruff Taft and the 1810 Census.

Expectations

Joel Cruff Taft was born 25 December 1800 the fourth child of Asa Taft (1774-1839)

I would expect the Asa Taft household of 1810 to include 9 year-old Joel, his two sisters, Lurancy (age 14) and Amanda (age 11), and three brothers, Asa (age 15), Seth (age 7), and John (age 5). Asa should be about 36 and his wife was 36 also. Joel and his younger siblings were born in New York, so Asa should be found in New York during the 1810 Census.

So, I would expect a household looking like: 3-1-0-1-0 || 0-1-0-1-0. There may be others in the household

An initial search for Asa Taft in the 1810 Census was unsuccessful.

A search for any Taft in New York during the 1810 Census yielded 11 results. None of the results were located in Broome County (established in 1807) or Tioga County that Broome County was split off from. A review of the enumerated Tafts failed to yield a viable candidate to be Asa.

Name Location Family Comment
Robert Taft Bloomfield, Ontario Co. 0-2-2-0-1|1-0-2-0-1 No males under 10
Dane Taft Otsego Co. 3-1-1-1-1|1-2-1-0-0 No females 26-45
D Saft [Taft] Otsego Co. 4-0-2-1-0|1-2-1-1-0 No males 10-16
Pitts Taft Palmyra, Ontario Co. 0-0-1-0-0|0-0-1-0-0 No children
Matthew Taft Hartford, Washington Co. 2-1-1-1-1|4-0-0-1-1 Not enough males under 10.
Josiah Taft Bloomfield, Ontario Co. 2-0-1-1-0|1-0-0-1-0 Not enough males under 10.
Jesse Taft Bloomfield, Ontario Co. 1-0-0-1-0|0-0-1-0-0 Not enough males under 10.
Eleazer Taft Johnstown, Montgomery Co. 0-1-2-0-1|0-1-1-0-1 Not enough males under 10.
Grindall Taft Pittstown, Rensselaer Co. 0-1-0-1-1|0-2-1-0-1 Not enough males under 10.
S Taft Middlefield, Otsego Co. 1-1-0-1-1 | 0-1-0-1-1 Not enough males under 10.
Widow Toft New York, New York Co. 0-0-2-1-0|0-1-2-0-1 Not enough males under 10.

It seems clear to me that Asa Taft doesn’t appear in New York during the 1810 Census, nor does it appear that he is living with any of his Taft family members in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Name Location Family
Lovet Taft (Sr.) Sheffield, Berkshire Co. 1-2-2-0-1|2-1-1-0-2
Daniel Taft Sheffield, Berkshire Co. 1-0-0-1-0|1-1-0-1-0
Lovett Taft (Jr.) Sheffield, Berkshire Co. 2-?-3-0-0|0-0-1-0-0

I am going to cease my search for Asa & Joel in the 1810 Census for now. Also, Joel was born after the 1800 Census, so I wouldn’t find him there.

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 22

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Don Taylor

Berry, Brandt, Brewer, Brewster(2), & Bridges (2)

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 important 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.

Warren D. Brewster (1932-2020), circa 1937 (Age 4)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Harry Brewster, 138 Highland St, Portland #1053.”

Warren D. Brewster

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Harry L Brewster, employed at 70 Free, residing at 138 Highland. Also at the same address is Harry V Brewster, a carpenter, and his wife Wilda M.

The 1940 US Census enumerated Harry V. Brewster, still at 138 Highland St., with his wife Wilda M., 21-year-old son Gerald S., and 7-year-old Warren D. Brewster. I am confident this is Warren about 1937, at approximately four years old.

Further research discovered that Warren D. Brewster, son of Harry Vane Brewster and Wilda Lachance, died on 14 January 2020. I created a Family Search profile for him, GCWF-7YW. Warren is also identified in three Ancestry Trees. Of the two photos I have of Warren, one was severely out of focus, so I only uploaded one image to Family Search.

George Berry, Lorraine R. Bridges, & Joan M.  Bridges, circa 1937 (Ages 10, 6, & 3)

The envelope the negative of this photo was in says, “Mrs. Geo Bridges, 297 Brackett St. Portland #717.”

George Berry, Lorraine Bridges, and Joan Bridges, circa 1937.

The 1938 Portland City Directory lists George M. Bridges, Jr. and his wife Emily M. living at 301 Bracket.

The 1940 US Census shows George M. Bridges still living at 301 Brackett. Living with him are his wife, Emily M., his stepson George E. Berry (age 14), his daughter Lorraine R. Bridges (age 10), daughter Joan M. Bridges (age 6), and two other daughters too young (4 and <1) to be in this photo. Based upon the photo ID, this photo was probably taken about 1937, when Joan was three, Lorraine was six, and George was ten.

Family Search did not have a profile for these children, so I have added the photo to Dead Fred.[iii] George M. Bridges, married to Joan (Small) Berry Bridges, appears in over a dozen Ancestry Trees.

Albert & Florence (McFarland) Brewer, circa 1938.

The envelope the negative of this photo was in says, “Mr. & Mrs. A. E. Brewer, 39 Rosedale St., Portland, #1004.”

Albert & Florence Brewer, circa 1938

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Albert E. and Florence H. Brewer living at 39 Rosedale.

Albert E. Brewer and Florence H. McFarland married on 25 December 1921.

Albert was born in 1895, and Florence was born in 1900. This photo was taken about 1938 when Albert was about 43, and Florence was about 38.

In Family Search, Albert Edward Brewer is ID L1Q9-TQS, and his wife, Florence H. McFarland is ID LKLR-KNS. I have uploaded a photo of them to their Family Search profiles. The couple also appears in two Ancestry family trees.

Hilda Brandt (1916-1989), circa 1937

The envelope the negative of this photo was in says, “Miss Hilda Brandt – St. Barnabus Hospital, Hospital #1012.”

Hilda Brandt, circa 1937

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Hilda Brandt as a student nurse at 231 Woodford (St. Barnabas Hospital) and residing at 24 Norwood. The 1941 Portland City Directory lists A. Hilda Brant, a nurse who married ard J. Burke.

Alma Hilda Brant, the daughter of Carl August and Elizabeth (Schneider) Brandt, born 15 October 1916, married Edward Austin Burke in 1940.

Based upon other photos of Hilda (yearbook and wedding announcement), I am confident these photos are of Miss. A. Hilda Brandt (1916-1989) circa 1937.

Hilda has profile LR1Q-LBP on Family Search. I uploaded two photos of Hilda to her Family Search Profile. I also uploaded two additional pictures of Alma to my Flickr Photostream. Alma Hilda Brandt, the wife of Edward Austin Burke, appears in 10 Ancestry Trees.

Confirmed to be Alma “Hilda” Brant by a great niece.

Bishop Benjamin Brewster (1860-1941), Christmas 1940.

The envelope the negative of this photo was in says, “Copy of Bishop Brewster – 1944.”

Bishop Benjamin Brewster, Christmas 1940

The bottom of this photo says, “Christmas, 1940 – Faithfully Yours, Benjamin Brewster.”

I thought it was odd that Ethel Wight would be copying a 1940 photo of Bishop Brewster in 1944. That is until I found out that Bishop Benjamin Brewster, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, died in 1941.

Benjamin Brewster has an article about him on Wikipedia. Family Search lists his profile as KH9T-CXK. I uploaded one photo of Bishop Brewster there.

Conclusion

I had:

      • Five successful identifications (including a Mr. & Mrs.) where I could post photos to Family Search.
      • One identification of three individuals, which I posted 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.

[iii] A second photo of the Bridges children was out of focus and not uploaded but is available if requested. Reference photo: Mrs. Geo Bridges, 297 Brackett St. Portland #717 – DSCN2769PL.jpg.

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 79

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Don Taylor

Terrace Theatre – Beautiful Bathing Girls

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Thursday, I’m looking at a second clipping from the Donna Darling Collection relating to the Terrace Theater.

BATHING GIRLS NOW PLAYING AT THE TERRACE THEATRE

Miss Donna Darling, star with Beautiful Bathing Girls from the Motion Picture Studios, now playing at the Terrace theatre.

The stellar act at the Terrace theatre the first of the week is the Beautiful Bathing girls from the Moving Picture Studios, headed by Donna Darling. Fashions in bathing suits from 1860 down to the present are shown by these girls, who also give a good account of themselves in several dance numbers. Probably the largest early week night audience in many fonths [sic] witness the performance Monday night. Two other good acts and a feature picture, “So This Is Marriage,” complete the Terrace bill.

The silent film, “So This Is Marriage,” was released in 1924, confirming that this showing was from 1924 or 1924 and not any of Donna’s earlier Bathing Beauty shows.

Cinema Treasures reports there were 41 Terrace theatres in the United States. Thirty-seven of them opened after 1925. One was in Vallejo, California; Donna didn’t tour the west coast with this show. One, the Airdome, was a second listing for the Terrace in Danville, Illinois. The last one was the Terrace Theatre in Chicago. This is clearly a clipping from her show at one of the two locations, either Danville or Chicago.

Because Donna played the Empress Theatre in Chicago in October 1924, I suspect that this clipping is from her probable show in Danville in October 1924.

Key features:

  • The venue was the Terrace Theatre in (Probably Danville, Illinois) but possibly Chicago.
  • The show was the “Beautiful Bathing Girls from the Motion Picture Studios” staring Donna Darling.

Finally, a review of the newspapers of the time yielded none currently available online for Danville, Illinois.

Conclusion

Date Unknown (Fall 1924- Spring 1925) – Danville, IL, Hollywood Revue of Bathing Beauties.

Posted in Treasure Chest, California Bathing Girls (1925) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment