Old family photos from Poland

[Mary]

Mary,
The ribbon he is wearing on his collar may give us a clue about his military service - we are (as in Wayne) doing some research to find out more about that particular decoration. it may or may not be of interest - just thought I'd let you know.

PS
Do you know where Mt. Oliver is?

Thank you both so much! I have wondered about the pin/medal also and never got far with it. I hope you can find an answer.

No, I don't know where Mt. Oliver is. Is it in Poland?

Mary

[hollister]

generation3 said:

No, I don't know where Mt. Oliver is. Is it in Poland?

Mary

Oops! I should have give you a bit more of a clue there! No, Mt. Oliver is in Pittsburgh.

[Mary]

hollister said:

generation3 said:

No, I don't know where Mt. Oliver is. Is it in Poland?

Mary

Oops! I should have give you a bit more of a clue there! No, Mt. Oliver is in Pittsburgh.

Oh yes I've heard of it in Pittsburgh. Sure I could find it, I'm only about 2 hrs away.

Hey, the picture of my great uncle in uniform is on like a postcard. He wrote on the back. I had it interpreted but the lady that did it for me said some was hard to understand. If I scan & post it do you think you or someone else might get some clues from it?

Mary

[kaima]

Mary,

It is always good to keep in mind that these are period photos. Imagine what they will think in 70 or 100 years when they see family photos with t shirts and big bellies sticking out all over the place!

The world economic crisis / great depression hit all over the world, so if any of the photos were taken in the 1930's, then the people were not doing too bad at all. I seem to remember the phrase "we were tattered but we were always clean" as I was growing up.

In reading histories of Hungary, there seemed to be series of parallel fashions at any one time that would correspond with our experience today: the people dressed as if they stepped out of Vogue or New Yorker magazines, the professional & business class, the upper working class and then the lower working class. It was to be seen 100 years ago and it it to be seen today, perhaps with the t shirts and casual (read 'sloppy') dress standards far more widespread today than ever before.

Oh, another peculiarity today is that everyone in a photo is expected to be smiling. 100+ years ago they were expected NOT to smile. In that regard I particularly like the smiling wife and dour husband photo.

Thanks fro sharing!

Kai

[rdywenur]

Hey, the picture of my great uncle in uniform is on like a postcard. He wrote on the back. I had it interpreted but the lady that did it for me said some was hard to understand. If I scan & post it do you think you or someone else might get some clues from it?

We can give it a shot. Between all of us I'm sure you will come up with something. It's amazing you so many photos from so long ago. Many people are lucky to have one or a couple only.

My own opinion from looking at some of my mom's photos I notice that many take their pictures outside of where they live..probably for daylight as they may not always have had flash.

[kaima]

On the medal / ribbon: It is NOT a German Service Medal from 1914-1918. A friend in Germany gave me one from his grandfather's service & asked me to check the market for selling it. The ribbons do not match.

[Mary]

Kai,

Thanks, and I'm glad you have enjoyed the photos. I think the thing that strikes me the most is that in the photos that seem to be post war, so many look just beaten down...with that hollow look in their eyes. When I look at them I feel sad.

Yes my Great Aunt (smiling) just looks like someone sweet and full of love, doesn't she. On the other hand her husband looks rather unhappy with it all.

Mary

[Mary]

Well..here we go:

This is the back of the photo. At the very top, he wrote something, squeezed it in, so to speak, by turning the card upside down. I scanned that and cropped it so you might be better able to read it.

[Mary]

Here's a cute one. Check out the shoes.

This is my father's first cousin Leonard Falbriski. This was taken in Warren PA. He lived his whole life in Clarendon, PA and was one of their most outstanding citizens. He was the Fire Chief for most of his adult life, must be about 90 yrs old now and still getting around well.

[Mary]

Anyone sick of me yet???

This is the first of my fathers family to have been born in the USA.

My Uncle Vic (Victor):



Chunky little fellow....

[Mary]

Ok, for you Catholics, this should bring back memories of your own.
I think these kids belong to 2 of my grandmothers nieces. Probably the two girls with the fancy hats and in also pictured front of their home. They had sent my grandmother letters and pictures when they were grown and had kids.

I also post the notes from the backs....

[rdywenur]

Mary as best as I can make this out and translate to you:

Writing you dear sister and sending you this fotograph because maybe already we won't be seeing each other and will not have a momento,Dear Sister. Want to send my address but I don't know if I'll be in this place. will send address.
For now dear sister and __name????___ Sincerely greet and thinking of you. Stay with God. Your brother Antoni

The bottom one says "and sending greetings to all and sister and brother and the whole family"

generation3 said:

Well..here we go:

This is the back of the photo. At the very top, he wrote something, squeezed it in, so to speak, by turning the card upside down. I scanned that and cropped it so you might be better able to read it.

[rdywenur]

going to the communion photos

first one says...this is my son Roman and daughter Wala (Vala)

2nd one says.....these are my daughters, Danusha and Bernadette

[Mary]

Thank you Chris for the translations, yes it is very close to what the woman who looked at them for me said.

Rather sad isn't it, that families have to be so far apart. And back then the communication wasn't like it is today with everyone having phones and internet. I don't think I could bear it. Especially from my 3 kids and 7 grandkids. I would just die if my daughter ever moved away.

Mary

[kaima]

The one photograph is taken in Lowenber,
Lowenberg. . . . . ..Silesia today Lwowek Slaski

The rest is the photographer's anem and studio (atlier)

A large map of the area is at
www.dzpk.pl/addhtml/mapy_parkow/mapa_dolina_bobru_zrodlo.jpg


I didn't see where you were questioning the location of the family, but thought I would volunteer it. So you and Jaga are Silesians ...