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...

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.