Members of the Frenchtown Presbyterian Church's Junior Christian Endeavor had their picture taken on May 22, 1904. Back in 1979, one of the kids, May Ruth Apgar was kind enough to cast her mind back 75 years and identify them for readers of the Delaware Valley News.
The arrows point to a couple of kids who would eventually marry -- Esther Haney and Bill Johnson. For the enjoyment of their descendants, here's who the rest of them are:
The boys sitting on the ground are (left to right) Alfred Taylor, George Britton (died in WW I), Lester Kerr (drowned in the canal in a 1922 car wreck) and future doctor Byron Harman. Peeking over Esther's shoulder is Elizabeth Schwindt, and sitting beside Esther are (from left) Mary Aberle, Elsie Ulmer, Hazel Shields and Christian Schwindt. Standing beside Christian is Mala Manners. Beside Esther, and slightly to the right is Ida Scott. Beside Ida (to the right) are Helen Radcliffe, Bertha Eddy, and Elizabeth Apgar holding Louise Schwindt on her lap.
Behind Bill Johnson is John Hoffman, and behind him is Roscoe Nash (another casualty of WW I), and beside him with a propeller hair bow is Emily Radcliffe. Behind her is Charlie Aberle, and next to him is Lloyd McIntyre, and next to him is future hardware merchant George Eddy, and next to him is Herbert Scott.
At the upper left is Chester Alpaugh. In front of him is Helen Eddy, and in front of her is Frances Lance, and beside her is Lillie White. In front of Lillie is Alma Ulmer, and in front of her is Shirley Shields (Niece). At the lower left is Grace Eddy. Going back to the top row and the boy second from left (remember Herb?): In front of him is Alma Hoffman, and in front of her is Myrtle Taylor, and beside her to the lower right is Marian Laire. Ruth could not be sure of the name of the girl with the bow in her hair beside Marian, but she said she looks like a Schwindt. Beside her is Ruth's sister Lillian, and to the left is my guide back across the decades, Ruth Apgar herself. The face mostly hidden behind Ruth's shoulder belongs to Wilmer Scott. A state Census of 1905 suggests that the suspected Schwindt is Katherine, age 7, and that yet another Schwindt, Wilhelmina, age 4, is home in reserve.
Last week I was reunited with the photo that Ruth and I puzzled over 41 years ago when her great-niece Liz Evans gave me the photo to preserve and share. Thanks, Liz.
Note to group-photo photographers: Please put your subjects in rows!
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