Bits of history: A Boy and his dog

Today’s photo, a cute but slightly over-exposed picture of a boy and his dog, is a shot of my grandfather Tex De Haven and his dog Old Jack in his youth in Nebraska. Normally, such a shot would elicit feelings of warmth and affection but to me, this is a profoundly sad photo. It’s sad because I know a few years after this photo Tex’s mother will pass away and then a couple years after that his father will die as well, robbing him of the rest of his childhood. After the deaths of his parents I heard that Tex was taken in for a while by relatives but when they couldn’t afford to support him, he was on his own in his mid-teens. I can only piece together through family stories a general idea of what his life was like after that but it was certainly hard.

Happy Belated 4th of July

It's a few days late but Happy 4th of July, everyone! These two pictures are actually from my mother's side of the family. Unfortunately, the identities of these relatives have been lost to the past. Still, I like these shots from the 4th of July in 1919, probably taken around Geneseo, Illinois.

Bits of History Revealed in Photo Form: The Pie Eating Contest

Hi, everyone. Recently, I was finally able to make a trip back to the United States (I live in Japan) and while visiting my mother in California I also was able to visit my aunt Joyce in Texas for a day. Although it was a short visit, it was truly a magical time. We were able to go through the hundreds of old photos that she had and she shared even more stories of our family history. In the next few weeks I think I’ll share some of the great photos that we came across. This week I’ll start with this funny one. 

The laughing girl you see in the middle of the photo is my aunt Joyce. Apparently she had just won a pie eating contest! I believe she said it was boysenberry or blueberry, something that leaves horrible stains. The photo was probably taken in Skagway, Alaska. I just love the joy on her face while her competitors are still face down in pie! The photographer (grandpa Tex perhaps?) really captured the moment.