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!

Young Lady in Fur and Feathers (Mystery Photo #18) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2013 Cynthia Shenette) I hate to say it, but I wonder how many animals died to make this young lady's outfit.  She has a fur muff and a fur stole, and her hat appears to be made out of some kind of furry material.  Given the popularity of ostrich feathers back in the day I hope the feather harvesting process was not unkind to the ostrich.  I don't know who the young woman is, but she does resemble my grandmother's family somewhat, so she could be related to the Bulaks or Kowalewski's of Worcester, MA.  The photograph was probably taken in the late 1910s.

If  you recognize this very warmly (and fashionably) dressed young woman I'd love to hear from you!

Young Man In A Fur Coat (Mystery Photo #17) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image.  Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2013 Cynthia Shenette) I will admit I couldn't wait for a cold day in January to post this photo!  Brr.  I love this man's fur coat.  My how snappy he looks with his top hat, tie, and cane!  Who is he I wonder?  This photo is from my grandmother's collection of photos so my guess is he was a member of the Polish immigrant community of Worcester, MA.  Take a look at the bottom of the photo and you will see an embossed head that is part of the photographer's stamp.  The photographer was Le Roy, 34 Front St., Worcester, Mass. and the photograph was printed on postcard stock.

If you recognized this dapper young man I'd love to hear from you!

Rt. Rev. Boleslaw A. Bojanowski - Funeral Card Friday

(Digital Image. Card Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette)

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Rt. Rev. Boleslaw A. Bojanowski
Died June 9, 1964
Age 88

I have several funeral cards for Father Boleslaw Bojanowski in my collection.  Father Bojanowski was the long-time pastor at St. Mary's Church (Our Lady of Czestochowa) in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He served in the parish from 1913 until his retirement in 1956.

World War I Red Cross Nurse (Mystery Photo #16) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette. Photograph and Text, Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) I think this young woman was either a friend, a relative, or a neighbor of my grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko.  My guess is the photograph was taken around World War I, obviously in the winter, so perhaps sometime during the winter of 1918 would be a good guess.  I don't know for certain, but I believe the young woman is standing in front of one of my grandmother's homes on Endicott St. in Worcester.  I have other pictures in my collection that show the same Greek Revival home in the background.  My grandmother lived at 139 Endicott St. from 1913 to 1917 and at 137 Endicott from 1918 to until February of 1920.  I think the house in the background is the home at 139 Endicott.  The young woman was probably a member of Worcester's Polish community and a parishioner of St. Mary's Church.

If you recognize the nurse in the photo or can confirm the location of where the photo was taken I'd love to hear from you!

Young Lady In A Pretty Dress (Mystery Photo #15) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image.  Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) This young woman was probably either a friend of or related to my grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko.   In reviewing my photographs I believe she may be the bridesmaid in this photograph on my other blog, Heritage Zen.  The bride in that photograph also appears in this photo here.  My guess is the photograph above was probably taken in the late 1910s, and the young woman was probably a member of Worcester's Polish community.

Many of the photos I have in my possession don't have any photographer information, but this particular one does.  "Schervee Worcester, Mass." is embossed on the mat of the photograph.  I did a quick search on Schervee and learned that Herman Schervee was a relatively well known and regarded photographer. According to his obituary he photographed a number of famous people including presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.  He is also responsible for the famous group photo taken during Sigmund Freud's visit to Clark University in 1909.  Herman Schervee's obit says he died on July 30, 1923, so my photograph was probably taken before that date.

If you recognize the pretty young woman in my photograph or have additional information to share about photographer Herman Schervee I'd love to hear from you!

Young Lady in Costume (Mystery Photo #14) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image; Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) Since it it almost Halloween I thought a costume photo would be appropriate for a post.  This young woman looks very much like my grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko, but I don't believe it is.  I suspect that she is probably related to my grandmother somehow, either from the Bulak side of the family or the Kowalewski side of the family, though given the resemblance I suspect the Bulak side of the family is most likely.  My grandmother said she performed in many amateur theatricals at St. Mary's Church in Worcester.  I have photos of my grandmother in similar costumes here and here.  While the woman in the photo looks quite young she is old enough to be engaged.  There appears to be an engagement ring on the ring finger of her left hand.  I suspect this photo was taken in the late 1910s.

If you recognize the young woman in the photo or know about the history of theatrical productions at St. Mary's Church I'd love to hear from you!