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!

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 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!