Cute Little Kids (Mystery Photo #22) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image.  Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Photograph and Text, Copyright (c) 2013 Cynthia Shenette) My mom, Christine (Szerejko) Shenette, is the little girl on the left holding the doll.  I don't know who the other children are.  Friends from Worcester's Vernon Hill neighborhood? Cousins perhaps?  My guess is it's not a school photo, because I doubt my grandmother would let my mom take a doll to school.

Mom was born on 20 July 1921, and clearly the photo was taken in the warmer months.  I wonder if it was a birthday party, and maybe the doll was a present.  I'm just guessing, but my mom looks about six or seven years old in the photo which would date the photograph to about 1927 or 1928.  The building in the background is also interesting.  It doesn't look like a house with those bricks or that type of window.  I know my mom won a doll dress sewing contest at the Quinsigamond branch of the Worcester Public Library, but that doesn't explain all the boys. Maybe the photo was taken in front of the library or perhaps in front of the brick St. Mary's school building.

If your parents or grandparents were kids in the 1920s and grew up on Vernon Hill take a look at my photo, and maybe you will recognize someone you know.  Family names for possible cousin connections include Bulak, Bullock, Szerejko, or Kowalewski.

If you do recognize any of the children in this photo I'd love to hear from you!

A Cute Trio (Mystery Photo #19) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2013 Cynthia Shenette.)  Aren't they cute?  I wonder who they are.  These children were probably the children of members of Worcester's Polish community.  Look at the fancy clothing!  Are they wearing their Easter best?  Clearly they look like they are dressed up for some sort of special occasion.  My grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko (1896-1990) was a seamstress.  I've seen other formal wear that she made with the same kind of point design as the little girl has in her dress.  I'm not certain, but my guess is my grandmother may have made the clothing that  the children are wearing in the photograph.  The photo was probably taken around 1920. Unfortunately there isn't any photographer information on the photograph itself.  The original is on a postcard backing.

If you recognize any of these little cuties I'd love to hear from you!

Wedding Time! (Mystery Photo #11) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photography Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) Two years ago I started posting wedding photos from my "mystery collection" on my other blog, Heritage Zen. Here is one of the photos I posted there a while back.  My guess is this photo was taken sometime in the 1920s, judging by the style of clothing. Though I don't know for certain, it was probably taken in Worcester, MA and the wedding probably took place at St. Mary's Church (Our Lady of Czestochowa). The maid of honor next to the bride resembles my grandmother, Anna (Bulak) Szerejko, but I don't think it is her. There is a definite Bulak resemblance though. The bride and the other bridesmaid have similar features, so they could be Bulak (sometimes spelled Bullock) relations as well. If you recognize anyone in this photo let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

First Communion Girl (Mystery Photo #9) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette. Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) What a cute little girl!  I don't know exactly when the photograph was taken, but my guess is sometime in the 1920s.  The girl and her family were probably members of the Polish immigrant community of Worcester, MA, and were parishioners of St. Mary's Church (Our Lady of Czestochowa).

Take a closer look at the photo.  Do you notice anything interesting about the dress?  Look at the huge hem.  There also seems to be a lot of material built into the sides of the dress.  My guess is the extra material was added intentionally so the dress could be let out and lengthened to wear again as the girl grew.

If you recognize the little celebrant in the photo and can put a name to her face I'd love to hear from you...

A Family Portrait (Mystery Photo #7) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette)  Isn't this a lovely family portrait?  I wonder who these people are.   Once again, I suspect they are members of Worcester's Polish immigrant community.  Unfortunately there is no photo studio information or information of any kind written or stamped on the photo. Judging by the style of dress my guess is the photo was probably taken some time in the late 1910s.  I love the Mary Pickford style curls on the older girl and the hair bows on both girls.  It's kind of hard to tell because her face isn't showing, but I suspect the girl with the curls might be the oldest child.  The children look to be about two years apart in age, and the baby (who I think is a boy) looks to be about two.  Given the ages of the children, the man and woman were probably married around 1908, give or take a couple of years.

If you recognize any of the people in my photo I'd love to hear from you!

Little Blond Girl and Her Dolly (Mystery Photo #5) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held by Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) What a beautiful little girl!   I wish I knew who she was.  I don't have any photographer information for what is obviously a studio portrait.  It was probably taken in Worcester, MA, sometime in the 1920s.  The little girl looks to be about two or three years old.  If you recognize the girl (or her dolly) for that matter, please let me know!

Grumpy Little Girl on a Pony (Mystery Photo #2) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held by Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette.)

I think it's pretty safe to say this little girl does NOT want to be on that pony!  What do I know about this photo?  Not much.  The photo is mounted on card stock, but there isn't a photographer's stamp to indicate who took the photo.  My guess is the photo was probably taken sometime in the  late 1910s or in the 1920s.  I have seen photographs of children on ponies and in goat carts that have a similar feel to them.  My understanding is traveling photographers would travel with ponies or goat carts and take photographs of children with them for a fee.  Often the photographer would travel the same geographic area, so someone else out there in Massachusetts or New England may have a photo of a child on this same pony. The pony's markings are pretty distinctive.  The pony is also very fuzzy, almost like he has a winter coat. The little girl is also dressed for cooler weather.  If you recognize either the little girl (or the pony) I'd love to hear from you.  That said, I hope the little girl had a better day after she got off that pony...

First Communion (Mystery Photo #1) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held by Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette)

Isn't this photo beautiful? I love the girls' faces, the flowers, the veils, and the dresses. I wish I knew who they were. My best guess is the girls and their families were members of Worcester's Polish community. I suspect, but I don't know for sure, that the photo was probably taken some time in the 1920s. The First Communion itself probably took place at St. Mary's Church (Our Lady of Czestochowa) in Worcester. Why did the girls have their photos taken together? Are they sisters? Twins? Cousins? There definitely seems to be a resemblance between the two girls.  If you recognize either of these lovely young ladies I'd love to hear from you.

Update 3/10/12 - I have learned that large sprays of flowers, such as the ones shown here, are more typical of the 1920s than of the decades previous.