30's Picnic (c)

Let the eating commence! I'm not 100% sure this is the same group of people as in the image two pics above this one. The cars in the background help to date this photo. Update from Ellen : I think that's my mother on the left with her back to the camera and Janet in the high chair. This doesn't seem like the same group as before.

30's Picnic (d)

And this photo may be totally unrelated to the other three. Or not. I have no idea where this is, not for that matter, even what this is.

Model UN Club (a)

One of my high school club activities was Model UN Club. This was back in the mid-60's, when most everyone believed in, and supported the UN.

This particular set of pics were taken at a regional Model UN Conference. IIRC, this was held in either Buffalo or Rochester.

Model UN Club (b)

This is Scott Keller, who was president of our High School Model UN Club in 1967-68. The flag he's holding is (was, actually) the Bulgarian flag. I'm guessing that means that was the one of the countries we were representing at the regional convention.

In Berks County, Muhlenburg High School was a "heavyweight" Model UN Club school, meaning in county conventions, we'd get at least one major nation. USA, USSR, UK, etc. Plus about 6 more 2nd-world and 3rd-world countries.

At Rochester, I think we got only one or two countries, and they were minor ones. But hey, High Schools from all around the mid-Atlantic were there, and there are only so many UN members to divvy up.

Model UN Club (c)

This is still at the Regional Model UN Club gathering. Apparently this was the nightly entertainment - a dance. The band looks rather 'tame', even for the mid-60's. The girl in the chintzy box on the left is evidently a go-go girl.

Model UN Club (d)

And there she go-go's. Boogeying away, most likely to something like "Ferry Cross The Mersey". We're still a couple years away from groups like The Doors, The Velvet Underground, and Jimi Hendrix.

Lititz - 1950 (a)

Ah! Fourth of July at Lititz! Pleasant memories from the distant past. Although these pics are from 1950, so I wasn't quite born yet.

Lititz - 1950 (b)

This is Uncle John & Aunt Doris, and their son, Jim. I have no idea who the girl is, though.

Lititz - 1950 (c)

I remember the routine. Drive down in the afternoon; have a picnic; wait till it turned dark; see Fantastic Light Show #1 - a gazillion candles floating in some waterways; see Fantastic Light Show #2 - lots and lots of fireworks. What a way to do the Fourth!

Good luck to anyone who can name all the people in these four pics. And what is that covered up stuff in the foreground of this photo?

Update : From left to right : (my) Uncle Charlie, Aunt Hazel, Uncle Bob, my Mom (Doris), Aunt Doris, Uncle John, Beulah Paul (Aunt Doris's mother), Jim, and ??. Thanks, Ellen!

Lititz - 1950 (d)

After the fireworks, us kids got to sleep on the drive back home. Do they still hold gala July 4th celebrations like this at Lititz?

Cherry Hill Mall (a)

A bit of a break from the family photos. This is the Cherry Hill (NJ) shopping mall, whose opening in October 1961 was a major event. It was the first giant indoor shopping center on the East Coast. At some point a few weeks/months after it opened we drove down from Reading "just to see the shopping mall".

We stood in the parking lot just in awe of the size of it. This shot shows one of the anchor stores - Bambergers (sp? Never heard of it.) at one end of the mall.

Cherry Hill Mall (b)

We're panning to the left from the previous pic. That's dirty, plowed snow in the right-hand of the pic, which makes me wonder if we didn't combine this visit-to-the-shopping-center with some Christmas shopping. Note the car to the far left here...

Cherry Hill Mall (c)

...cuz it shows up to the far right in this pic as we pan further to the left. Woolworth's apparently was another one of the anchor stores. Does Woolworth's even exist anymore?

Cherry Hill Mall (d)

At last, the other end of the mall. Impressive, even now. There aren't a lot of cars, so I'm wondering if we went there on a weekday. And I'd be tempted to call the cars in these four pics "vintage", but they're cars I grew up with.

Cherry Hill Mall (e)

A single inside shot. A very kewl fountain in front, and some sort of clothing store behind it. Cherry Hill Mall still exists today, albeit with a completely different set of stores. It even has its own entry in Wikipedia (how many shopping malls can claim that?), which is where I got some of the background info for this pics.

Hamburg kids (1949)

We have a definite date for this pic - September 08, 1949. Nancy is in the center; and Tom's on the far right. So...
Who are the other three kids and...
What is that contraption (with the tank) across the fence?

Hidden Pictures (a)

I found three "hidden" pictures in this set of photos. This is where a newer photo was for some reason pasted over an older one. There were two like this of Grammy Ludwig; and then this pair of Tom and Nancy. This portrait is probably from around 1944.

Hidden Pictures (b)

But when I took the above picture out of its frame, voila!, there was this earlier portrait. The studio's logo (bottom right) had a "43" in it, which I presume was the year this was taken.

Gerbers (01)

These are my maternal grandparents - Anna & Ed Gerber. Judging from his uniform, I'd say this was taken in the World War I era, 1914-1918. Grammy Gerber was born in 1889, so she's probably 25-30 years old here.

Gerbers (02)

Grandpa Gerber, probably from about the same time as the previous picture. These were taken at a South Dakota studio. I'm not sure if Grandpa G was born there, or just lived there for a while after being out on his own. I have a vague memory of someone telling me he worked on a ranch out there for a while.

Grandpa and Grammy Gerber lived on Washington Street as well, just "up" the street from Grammy Ludwig (towards 2nd St. - thank you, Mick!).

Gerbers (03)

The name on the back of this pic is : Marguerite Wagner Luckenbill. Since Grammy Gerber's maiden name was Wagner, I'm going to assume this is her sister. But did she live in South Dakota? Hamburg? Somewhere else in Pennsylvania? I haven't a clue.

Gerbers (04)

Well, this may or may not be the oldest photo I have - but it is the oldest person - Grandpa Gerber's mom. I think Grandpa G was born in the 1880's, so this makes his mom born when - maybe during the Civil War?

Ludwig Siblings - Portrait

The last of this set of sepia portraits - the Ludwig siblings. From the top, clockwise : Charles, Hazel, Bob, and John. I'm guessing this is in the range of 1925-1930.

30's Parade (a)

Let's go to a parade! I think this is from the 1930's. This bike was old even then.

30's Parade (b)

The sign reads "Zion First Pipe Organ". The float decor is "minimalism". This ain't no Rose Bowl parade.

30's Parade (c)

The only "Hyde Park" I know of is a suburb of Reading. So I'm wondering whether this parade is in Hamburg or Reading. If anyone recognizes the background in these pics, let me know.

30's Parade (d)

I'm not sure who these are. Highway patrol perhaps?
BTW, you'll see in most of these pics that the center of the pic is the most in focus, and the fringes (usually the sides, but sometimes the top and bottom) are out-of-focus. This is deliberate. My dad was playing around with a "pan effect" in these photos. I'm not sure how he did that.

30's Parade (e)

Well, this is "Ben Himself". Maybe it's a take-off of "Ben Hur"? Maybe not. I thought the Ben-Hur movie was made in the 50's. But I'm not sure when the novel came out. Perhaps the book was a big hit in the 30's.

30's Parade (f)

The girl scout float. Does anyone recognize the buildings in the background here?

30's Parade (g)

Well, this looks like a local police department. Or a fire department. Oh yeah, all these parade pics were originally 1"x 1", so the resolution may leave a bit to be desired.

30's Parade (h)

This is cool. Some sort of "Junior Navy Drum Corps".

30's Parade (i)

The partial banner reads "...re Co.", so I'm guessing this is a Fire Company. The background here might give a clue as to where this parade was held.

30's Parade (j)

Oooh, this parade even has an Indian in it. But it is a strange sight - you don't normally see Indian riders using stirrups. ;-)

30's Parade (k)

Another drum corps. You can really see the "pan effect" here. Both sides of the photo are quite blurry. Again, anyone recognize this street?

After the parade (a)

The parade's over. Hey, let's all head over to Schlenker's for a root-beer float. Not that I have any clue where Schlenker's is/was.

After the parade (b)

I'm presuming this is the inside of Schlenker's. I like the old coke bottle with two straws in it.
It looks like the camera was setting on the counter when Dad snapped this. Maybe he was trying to get a candid shot.
No one in the pic looks even remotely familiar to me. Anyone who has an inkling, feel free to leave a comment.

Mo

Every boy, when he's growing up, should have a dog.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (a)

Here comes the bride! And her bridesmaids.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (b)

Some of the guests arriving. I blew this photo up to try to read the cross-streets on the sign. This is 3rd Street and ??

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (c)

I also enlarged this one to read the name of the church : Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church. And the Pastor's name is Paul Beck, Jr.
By blowing it up, I could identify the people here. This is Aunt Hazel and Uncle Charlie for sure. So I think the boy in the front is Bill. And I'm guessing the girl with her back turned is therefore Ellen.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (d)

The only inside shot from this set of photos of the wedding.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (e)

It is my pleasure to present to you : Mr. & Mrs. Janet & Chuck Barr. Ducking a barrage of rice.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (f)

This is presumably the Maid of Honor.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (g)

The rest of the wedding party. I don't recognize anyone here, but I'd be surprised if I did. BTW, what year is this?

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (h)

Good luck on identifying any of the boys in the foreground.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (i)

The only crowd shot from this set of pics. Since its everybody's backs, I'm doubting that anyone can be ID'd.

Janet & Chuck's Wedding (j)

Last pic from this set. I don't know where the reception was held. I'll leave it to Janet & Chuck to identify the various folks in the wedding party.

Ride 'em Cowboy!

This is at the Pittsburgh kiddy zoo in the summer of 1955. It looks like I'm about to dig my heels into my intrepid steed and give a shout of "Hiyo Silver!". The poor kid leading us has no idea he's about to get crushed by a galloping horse.

Lenhartsville house (01)

This is our house in Lenhartsville, presumably during renovation work prior to us moving in. Well not me actually, I was not yet born. I never knew about the big tree (stump) in the foreground. Is that an outhouse in the background? That fence was still there as of 1993, when we revisited the place. I'm not sure of the year of this pic.

Lenhartsville house (02)

Mom's note says this is me. And I'm sure that's Granny Sawyer holding me. So this is 1951. The renovating from the previous pic must be done by now. Its strange seeing the backyard without those hexagon-shaped cement blocks Dad laid down as a patio.