To the editor:
Following is the email correspondence that resulted from my request for any information about the “Mystery Photo,” in the April 19 Pioneer Times.
Diane Hines, Town Manager of Ludlow and Reed Plantation, replied: “This looks a lot like a photo that I have on display in my Ludlow Town Office. The Hemore family up the Hemore Road was large and had events on such a table and the hats could be a give away. Just maybe?”
Later the same day, she wrote, “Here is the photo that I scanned this morning. There were Hands settling in Ludlow and many other families such as Cummings, Mooers, Stevens, Stephenson, Murray, Thompson, the list goes on and on. What was your cousin’s name? Sincerely, Diane”
(The photo was identical to mine, same table, same setting, but with different people.)
I replied, “Thanks so much for writing. I’ll take it as the definitive answer — beyond my wildest hopes that anyone would respond. Such a big affair in such a smallish place must’ve been really something.
I would like to think that we had a relative there, just to explain why my cousin had a copy — and my mother, for that matter.
“Both he and another cousin did a fair amount of genealogical work, but I never heard the name Hemore before.
“I envy them their hats. A woman here known for hers, had a line in her obituary notice requesting that women wear them to her funeral. Time was when it would be normal, but by the time she died, it was not guaranteed.
“I’m really excited about hearing from you.”
I later replied to her questions.
“My cousin was Clayton Hand, and our grandparents were John B. and Edith Tracy Hand, who lived in Hodgdon on a farm and he had the general store. When times became difficult, they moved down to Carmel. The other cousin who did research was Edith Collins, daughter of Vera Hand Hichborn. My mother was Ina Hand, who married OB Porter, Houlton photographer (portrait studio). Linwood Hand, a lawyer, was a second cousin. I don’t recognize any of those other surnames as known relatives.
“Ina had the small photo, but put it into an album with no ID when she was labeling photos. It seemed as if she would’ve written something on it if she recognized anyone, but who knows?”
This has all been so rewarding. Special thanks to the Pioneer and to Diane Hines for their help.
Byrna Porter Weir
Rochester, N.Y.
