To the editor:
Buddy was the cousin who became a good friend and asked me to be the sister he never had in a family of five boys. As the self-appointed genealogist on my mother’s side, he had amassed much data.
About 10 years ago he emailed me a photo of a large group picnic in the woods, perhaps a park, asking me who the people might be. From the clothing, the era appeared to be around the turn of the 19th century to the 20th.
“If that’s Grampy down in front, who do you suppose the blonde kid in his lap is?” he asked. I tried to adjust the calendar in my head, but failed. I did decide that it must have taken place in Hodgdon. I asked if I might check with the Pioneer to try the photo for reader recognition. Sure, he said, great idea. I am sorry to say he died before I was able to follow through on the plan.
Then, recently, while identifying people in a photo album Ina left, I noticed a small picture that looked like the other picnic, and soon said aloud, “It’s the same, the very same one!” It came out of the album, with effort, to be scanned and copied. However, Grammy and Grampy (John B. and Edith Tracy Hand), who I had thought were at either end of the table, really looked like neither, and there is no other person that I actually recognize. Ina had labeled many of the photos and I was muttering to myself until I realized that she did not because she could not. It was mounted in a Porter Studios folder, but the photo could not have been taken by Porter, as it was way too early for him, so perhaps someone had brought it in for a copy print and ordered copies for family members.
That knocked out Hodgdon, so the picture could have taken place anywhere of any people. Too many questions, too few clues. Why did Buddy have a copy? Who knows? It is intriguing to think that someone in this area at least saw a copy of the photo and could identify someone, anyone.
If so, please write to the Pioneer or contact me at PO Box 18456, Rochester, N.Y. 14618 or BMPo-231@bluefrog.com. I will reply and will remain ever grateful.
Byrna Porter Weir
Rochester, N.Y.
