A Mystery Sort of Solved (Mystery Photo #23) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Photograph and Text, Copyright (c) 2013 Cynthia Shenette) Several weeks ago I posted a photo of a group where many of the young ladies (and one gentleman) were wearing bows.  I thought the photo seemed a little funny at the time with everyone wearing similar hair bows.  I decided to go back and take another look at the page in the album in which the original photo appears.  The parade photos in this post appear next to the bow photo in the previous post.  On reflection my guess is all the photos were taken on the same day at the same event.  Apparently the people in the photos were involved in a parade in Worcester, MA. 

The parade route was heading north on Main St. in Worcester.  You can see Worcester City Hall in the background on the left in the top photo along with a long line of ladies carrying parasols.  The photo looks as if it was taken from one of the taller buildings on Main St. along the parade route.  The bottom photo is a close up shot of several of the young ladies in which you can clearly see them holding parasols and wearing neck bows!  My guess is the parade photos were taken earlier in the day, and the photo of them wearing the bows in their hair was taken after the parade, possibly at a post-parade picnic.  Also interesting is the Slater Building in the background of the bottom photo.  If you zoom in you can clearly see "Slater Building" above the arcade sign.
 

One mystery for Mystery Photo #21 is partly solved.  I think I now know why everyone had the same bow in their hair.   Now I want to know what the parade was for or about.  It looks like the same group, so the marchers probably represented St. Mary's Church in the parade.  The parade happened during the warmer months, maybe spring because the ladies are wearing light/white dresses.  The photo was probably taken in either 1916, 1917 or 1918.  My grandfather, Adolf Szerejko, was in the army by spring of 1918, and he is in Mystery Photo #21 .  Some of the business signs along the parade route are clearly identifiable.  It may be possible to narrow down the date further with additional research in city directories.

If you recognize anyone in either Mystery Photo #21 or Mystery Photo #23 or have some information about the parade I'd love to hear from you!

Beaux and Bows (Mystery Photo #21) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Photograph and Text, Copyright (c) 2013 Cynthia Shenette) Hair bows definitely seem to be the fashion!  I'm not sure if almost all of the ladies are wearing bows for a particular reason or they just happened to wear all those bows by coincidence.  One of the young men in the top row seems to have gotten in on the bow action.

I thought I would post this because it is such fun photo and a nice group shot.  I recognize three people in the photo.  My grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko, is the young woman in the middle of the bottom row with her head turned to the side.  My great-aunt Helen Bulak, my grandmother's sister, is the young woman in the second row almost directly behind her.  My grandfather, Adolf Szerejko, is the first young man on the right in the second to top row.  I don't recognize any of the other ladies or gents.  My guess is the photo was taken at one of St. Mary's (Our Lady of Czestochowa) parish picnics sometime between 1916 and 1919.

If you recognize anyone in my 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!

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!

Three Young Ladies (Mystery Photo #13) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image; Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette)  Are these three ladies sisters, cousins, or friends?  I don't really see a lot of a resemblance between the three.  The young woman seated appears to be the same young woman named Kasi or Katherine in this wedding photograph here.  The young lady standing on the left is almost painfully thin.  I wonder if she had recently recovered from an illness when the photograph was taken.  The photograph was probably taken in the late 1910s.  Again, I believe all of these young women were members of Worcester's Polish community.

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

Update 10/29/12 - I recently noticed that the the thin woman on the left is the bride in a wedding photo posted on my other blog, Heritage Zen.  Thankfully, she looks healthier and is clearly not so thin in her wedding portrait.

Bathing Beauty (Mystery Photo #12) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image.  Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette. Photograph and Text, Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) Here is a lovely young lady in her beach costume.  I don't know who she is, but I do know she was a friend or relative of my grandmother, Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko.  She was probably from Worcester, MA and a member of Worcester's Polish immigrant community.  I don't know exactly when the photo was taken, but I suspect about 1918 or 1919 given hints I have from other photos in my collection. Notice the high breakwater in the background.  Does that look familiar to any of my New England Geneablogger friends?

If you recognize this bathing beauty or can place the location of photo please let me know.  I'd love to hear from you!  

I sure bet those stockings were comfortable when wet...

Submitted for the 119th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy.

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!

Pretty Girl with Flowers (Mystery Photo #8) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) What a pretty young lady.  She looks like she's celebrating some kind of special occasion.  A graduation or confirmation perhaps?  The style of clothing looks like the photograph was taken in the late 1910s.  I don't have any photographer information, and nothing is written on the back of the photograph.  She and her family were probably members of Worcester's Polish community.  If you recognize her let me know.  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!

Easter Bonnet (Mystery Photo #6) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held by Cynthia Shenette; Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) I don't know if this is an Easter bonnet or not, but it has plenty of frills upon it and is a fun photo to post for Easter week!  I love the woman's fancy hat, and given that she is holding a large bouquet of flowers it is probably a special occasion of some kind.  An engagement perhaps?  The photo is on a cardboard mount stamped with the following photographer information: Park Audia, 503 Main St. Worcester, Mass., H.W. Karlson Prop.

A Bride Named Kasi or Katherine? (Mystery Photo #4) - Mystery Monday

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

This photo appeared on my other blog, Heritage Zen, in one of my  "mystery bride" posts.  This young woman also appears in this photo here.  I love the wedding ensemble--the short wedding dress, cloche-style veil with train, and the abundant spray of flowers.  Look at the leaf trim on the dress.  The photographer signed the photo, but it is an unreadable scrawl.  There is an inscription at the bottom of the photo which says, "Dla Heli od Kasi 1921(?)" or "To Heli (my grandmother's sister, my great-aunt Helen Bulak) from Kasi 1921."  Perhaps Kasi is short for Kasia or Katarzyna or Katherine.  I believe the date is 1921, but it is a bit difficult to read.  The bride was probably married at St. Mary's Church (Our Lady of Czestochowa) in Worcester.

A Lovely Young Lady (Mystery Photo #3) - Mystery Monday

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

This young lady looks as if she is celebrating a special occasion of some sort.  A graduation or a confirmation perhaps?  Might the white/light dress indicate a spring or summer activity?  I love the pearls, the bracelet, and the gloves.  Enlarge the photo, and take a look at the lovely pattern in the fabric and the overall detail of the dress.  The style of dress seems to indicate the photo was taken sometime in the mid to late 1910s.  Photographer information is not printed on the photo.

Welcome!

My Grandparents, Adolf Szerejko and Antonina (Bulak) Szerejko, February 11, 1920

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

Welcome to my new family history blog, Faces of Worcester Polonia!

In 1990 my grandmother, Antonina "Anna" (Bulak) Szerejko, died and left a treasure trove of photos of people connected to Worcester's early twentieth-century Polish immigrant community. While I have posted a number of photos of my family on my genealogy blog, Heritage Zen, I've come to realize that I have many "mystery photographs" of people I believe may be family, friends, and acquaintances of my grandparents and great-grandparents.  I plan to post my mystery photograph collection here.  The majority of my photos date between 1900 and 1930.  If you are related or recognize anyone in any of my photographs I'd love to hear from you!