Tag Archives: Glenn Hockensmith

Sepia Saturday – Men in flat hats

Posted on by
14

 

This week’s prompt image for Sepia Saturday is a group photograph of “Big Mac” Caddy Master and caddies at Shaughnessy Golf Club – February 1921.

The prompt reminded me of a few photos I have of men in flat caps, some of whom are sitting or squatting like the fellows pictured.

The first to come to mind is this photo of three chums sitting and smoking pipes. I don’t know who the fellow is who is wearing the cap. The only person identified is the man on the right, John Elgey. This photo was in the possession of my maternal grandmother (Eveline), who corresponded with her Elgey first cousins in Durham, England.

Below is a photo of my step-grandfather Glenn Hockensmith and his two sons – my dad on the left and his brother on the right. Glenn was a dairy farmer in Kansas. It looks like a cool fall or winter day for working on the farm. I hope there was also some time to play. I like that they are not scrubbed and dressed up for a photograph. I am curious as to why a photo was taken on this particular day.

I’ll close with my husband, posing here in his favorite hat in his parents’ home sometime in the 1970s.

Here he is again (I told you it was his favorite hat) – this time outside an old home in Waco, TX.

No golfers in the bunch, although dad (Jim) did grow up to enjoy playing golf. And because he enjoyed it, I took it up for a few years when we lived in Joplin, MO.

I’m light on stories and insights today…

You can see how others interpreted the theme by visiting Sepia Saturday.

Sepia Saturday – Wheeled Baby Transport

Posted on by
26

The prompt from Sepia Saturday this week had me looking through the family pictures on my computer for babies being transported – or at least posing in a carriage or stroller. Here’s what I found….

Bernard Coates (1908-1998)

Bernard Coates was my grandmother’s brother. I called him Uncle Bernie.

What is that expression on his face?  I don’t want my picture taken… This big bow is a bit much… I’ll sit here for the picture, but I won’t like it.

The strap across the front of the stroller seems more of a suggestion to the child to stay in the stroller than an attempt to keep him restrained. At least it doesn’t wrinkle his clothes.

Wilbur Hoskins (1924-1930)

Wilbur Hoskins was the first-born child of my grandparents, Eveline Coates Hoskins and Thomas Hoskins. My grandparents left their home in Mystic, Iowa and traveled to Rockford, Illinois so that my grandfather could find work. Wilbur came with them; they left their young son, Albert, in the care of his grandmother; Eveline was pregnant with my mother. During their stay in Rockford, Wilbur got the measles, suffered kidney failure, and died at the young age of five years. I think he resembles his father.

The stroller itself is very interesting – looks like a seat within a seat. It looks like the handle for pushing the stroller has been swung over the top of the stroller and is on the ground in front.

Birthday Goodies

On a lighter note – here is a picture of me chatting it up with someone about my birthday haul which includes a baby and a baby buggy.

Fun on the Farm

So this last one isn’t a baby buggy or stroller, but it is a fun form of transport for a kid. This is my (step)grandfather G. A. Hockensmith and two of my sisters getting a ride during a visit to our grandparent’s farm. I love this picture because everything looks just as it was – no posing, nothing cleaned up or hidden from view for the picture, my sister’s joyful smile during her bumpy ride.