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!

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.

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!