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!

Pomp and Circumstance (Mystery Photo #10) - Mystery Monday

(Digital Image. Photograph Privately Held By Cynthia Shenette. Text Copyright (c) 2012 Cynthia Shenette) I bet his parents were proud of him, whoever they were.  I have no idea who this handsome young man is, but once again I suspect that both he and his parents were members of the Polish immigrant community of Worcester, MA.  There is no identifying information on the photograph.  The graduate looks so young my guess is the photo was taken to commemorate a high school graduation, but I'm not certain.  If it is a high school photo then he probably graduated from a high school in Worcester.

If you recognize this young man I'd love to hear from you...

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...

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!