Buffalo Zoo 1950's

Wish I could tell you who all the kids are, but I think it's a great shot. I have always loved the Buffalo Zoo, and it's neat to see previous generations enjoying it too!

Unlce Walter 1940's

My grandpa's brother in his Army uniform.

 

Uncle Walter 1940's

Looking dapper in his smart Army uniform!

 

Kleinhans 1938

In Buffalo, Kleinhans means two things: The Buffalo Philharmonic and fine men's clothing.
This receipt for my great-grandfather is obviously from the latter.

 

?, ca. 1937

If anyone knows what building this is, please let me know. At first I thought it was the White House, but it seems too small.

Capitol Building, ca. 1937

 

Washington Monument, ca. 1937

 

The Mall, ca. 1937

The Washington Monument from the Lincoln Memorial.

 

Our Nation's Capital, ca. 1937

The Lincoln Memorial.

 

Kings of the Hill

I've always had this photo in with the other Adirondacks pictures, but now I'm not so sure it's from the same time. That's my grampa in the front, lying down, but he looks younger and is wearing a different shirt. The knickers in the back make me think it's the 30's. Perhaps it is.
In any case, I have to admire them for hiking up the mountain in dress socks and regular shoes.

Knickers 1936

I don't know who this chap is, but I can't get enough of those knickers!

Grampa Kelly 1936

My grandma's father in the Adirondacks.

Walter and Charles 1936

My grandfather and his brother in the Adirondacks.

Setting Off 1936

From near to far:

George Kelly (my grandmother's father), Charles Howell, Walter Howell (his brother).

Hiking Gear 1936

I don't know who this young lad is, but I love the cars and the woven basket. Do I note a hint of color on one of those cars?

Adirondacks 1936

I couldn't tell you who these folks are, but I imagine they are friends or relatives of my grandfather. My great-grampa Kelly is on the trip, so they may be from that side too.

By the way, the Adirondacks is what "Upstate" means to me.

Burt W. Howell 1940

My great-grandfather's obituary photo.

 

Swings!

Richard and Friend ca. 1940

 

Richard and his Trike, 1938

 

Mary Ann Cooper Pilkey 1936

I love this photo.
My great-great-grandmother at the cottage in Crystal Beach, Ontario

 

Crystal Beach 1936

"4 generations Great Grandma Pilkey
Grandma Howell, Charles Howell
Richard Howell age 1 1/2"

Dick, Charles, Edna Jean Pilkey Howell, Mary Ann Cooper Pilkey

The Kelly's 1935

Another picture from the same day:
Charles, Leon Kelly, George Kelly, Allie Sloat Kelly, Naomi and Dick

 

Grandma Sloat and Dick 1935

Taken in the summer of 1935. I can only assume that this was the Sloat farm.

 

Four Generations

Dick, my grandma, Allie Sloat Kelly and Estella Kemp Sloat

 

Grandma and My Uncle Dick 1935

Grandma and her new baby.

 

Naomi in her Wedding Gown, 1931

My grampa had this picture in an old frame on the dresser in his room at the nursing home. Even though he couldn't turn his head to look at it.

Charles and Naomi ca. 1927

I always thought this picture was taken at the Buffalo Zoo - because of the stone and the railing (even though the railing isn't like that, at least not anymore). I'm not really sure where it was taken.

 

Charles ca 1926

If the previous post was my grandmother's yearbook pictures, then I think this was my grampa's.

Naomi 1920s

This photo was probably taken around 1928, and it may have been her yearbook photo.

My grandparents graduated from Fosdick Masten High School in the 20's (1926 and 1928, I believe). In 1994, when I graduated, it was City Honors School (and still is). In the Nahoma Moss Room, a room dedicated to the building's history, there are yearbooks from my grandparents' years. How neat to find their pictures in the books and show my friends!

On the Farm

I'm not sure who the other woman is, although it might be Frannie Greene.

 

Sall's Garage 1920's

" ____ & I
Buffalo Sall's Garage"

 

Grandma and the Roadster

"Me in Charlie's car. taken Sunday, June 3, 1928"

 

Downtown Buffalo 1920's

I can only assume my grampa or his father took these shots of downtown Buffalo. I haven't taken the time to figure out where it is... Perhaps Washington or Ellicott Street. It seems like I should know...

 

At the Beach 2

I love these pictures of my grandparents at the beach. I have gotten a pretty strong idea of what their personalities were like when they were young. You can tell from the way they appear in all of these pictures: my grampa smiling and silly at times, my grandma many times demure and not looking directly at the camera.

I have a feeling, however, that my grandma secretly had a great sense of humor. Note the slight smile on her lips... I remember one surprisingly funny thing that my grandma said when we were young. We were having dinner at their apartment in Williamsville, she, my mom, brother and I, most likely Swiss Chalet because we often got that when we went to eat at their place. Referring to an item that no one had room for, she said: "Well, better not let it go to waste. I'll let it go to my waist." My mom got a great kick out of that.
 

At the Beach

I can only assume that this is Crystal Beach in Ontario. From pictures it seems that my dad's family (parents and grandparents) apparently spent time there regularly, and it is the place for Buffalonians to "hit the beach."

My grandfather looks very handsome in this picture!

Avery & Klein

This photo envelope has some pictures, unrelated negatives and a bus or train ticket in it.

 

Boys at the Beach

My grampa and some friends (?) by a lake.

 

The Roadster and Friends

"Frannie, Ruth, Vic, Dix & I"

(to or from) Warren, PA 1926

 

Trading Hats

and coats!

My grandparents, with Frannie and Harry, ca. 1925, in a typical Buffalo backyard.

 

With the Greene's

Harry, Frannie, Naomi, Charlie.
ca. 1925

 

Naomi and Charles 1925

Such a cute picture of my grandparents.
There's another one of Harry and Frannie in the same pose.

 

Charlie and Harry 1925

"Charlie and Harry
1925 - Warren"

Harry Greene and his wife Frannie were good friends of my grandparents during these years. They show up in many photos.
It's neat to see my grampa being so goofy in these younger years. He was always so reserved and proper when I knew him.

 

Tremaine Ave. 2001

Here is a view of the street. That's how much trees can grow in 75 years! Not the houses on the left side, where once there were none.

 

400 Tremaine Ave.

Here is the same home in Kenmore, the red house on the right, as it looked in 2001.

The front walkway has been diverted to the driveway. It kind of makes sense, if you are familiar with Buffalo winters. No need for extra places to shovel.

Leon and the Roadster ca 1927

My great-uncle Leon in my grandather's car.

I originally thought this photo was from the same batch as some others from June 3, 1928, but thenI realized that the grass in this photo has only recently been planted (note the stakes), wheras in the other pictures there is grass aplenty.

 

Susan Rowlee Kelly 1928

Susan Rowlee Kelly and Ned the Dog, June 3, 1928
My father's mother's grandmother.

This photo helps my point from the previous post. Note the absence of homes across the street and the tiny trees. This area was only recently being developed during those years.

 

Kelly Family ca. 1924

Leon, "Burke" and family, Naomi, Allie and George

I just realized that, while this very well may have been taken in the country, Buffalo was still being developed at that time, and homes in what are now parts of Kenmore, for example (a suburb of Buffalo) may not have existed in 1924, making it look like the country.

284 Riley St.

My grandmother also lived in this home for a time, with an aunt, I believe.
My dad and I did something of a "drive-by shooting," as the neighborhood is rather sketchy, and I feel uncomfortable taking pictures of other people's homes.

 

41 Emerson Place

The Emerson Place row houses as they looked in spring 2001, part of a restoration project.

 

Naomi 1922

My grandmother in her graduation dress.
"Naomi on Emerson Pl."

 

Naomi in Graduation Dress 1922

My grandmother graduated from 8th grade in 1922.

 

The Kelly's at Albright Knox ca 1920

My grandmother with her parents on the steps of Albright Knox in Delaware Park, Buffalo.

 

Charles' Sixth Grade Class

My grandfather is second from the front in the right row.

 

Charles and Milton Mills, ca. 1920

My grandfather and a friend out in the country.

 

Charles ca. 1920

My grandfather around age 12.
Such a cutie pie.

 

George Kelly ca. 1914

My grandmother's father.

 

Sunday School Teachers (Back)

Notes on the back of the Sunday School Teachers photo.
"Sunday School Teachers
First E.U.B. Church, Buffalo
Corner Laurel and Masten"

 

Sunday School Teachers, ca. 1918

My great-grandfather, George Kelly is the gentleman on the left in the center

 

Naomi and Leon ca. 1917 Outside

On a brand new walkway. I don't know what part of Buffalo this was taken in as my grandmother lived in several places growing up. It may have been on the East Side, as that is where she spent much of her childhood.

Naomi and Leon ca. 1916

My grandmother and her younger brother, Leon.

In this picture my grandmother looks very much like my father as a baby.

George Kelly and Family 1915

My great-grandparents, George and Allie (Sloat) Kelly, my great-uncle Leon and my grandmother.

 

Charles' First Grade Class 1914

My grandfather is second from the back in the right row.

Naomi at the Piano 1914

With pictures like this I feel so fortunate that my great-grandparents had a camera and knew how to use it. There is so much in this picture besides my grandmother. And her hair looks like I could reach out and touch it.

Naomi 1912

I'm not sure where this farm was, but my grandmother was raised a city girl (Buffalo, that is). I find the sidewalk curious, and it looks like it had been there for a while.

The Sloat's

My grandmother as a baby, her mother, Alvaretta (Sloat) Kelly, and her grandparents, the Sloats.

1909

Grandma Howell's Birthplace

 

Charles 1909

Charles 1909

I'm not sure who the little boy in the second frame is.

Charles 1908

 

William Henry and Mary Ann (Hatch) Howell

My paternal great-great-grandparents, ca. 1925.

Mary Ann Cooper Pilkey ca. 1910

My great-great-grandmother, wife of Jack Pilkey.
Mother of Edna Jean Pilkey, Burt Wm. Howell's wife.

 

Charles "Jack" Pilkey

My father's father's mother's father. Ca. 1905-1910

I might have liked to have met this jovial old chap!

In the first picture he actually looks a lot like my grandfather as he got older.

William Henry Howell

My paternal great-great-grandfather, ca. 1910.

I have to assume the "younger" gentleman in the two left pictures was a son, although not my great-grandfather.

My dad has those blue eyes!

Burt Wm. Howell

My paternal great-grandfather.

This photo was taken I'm guessing around 1890. I'm not sure why it was taken in Illinois - there are many Howell's in the Midwest, but my family came from Canada.

Charlie and Naomi

This blog is an online version of the album of pictures of my father's family that I put together a few years ago. It was something of a personal journey, seeing their lives played out before me in black and white, and by the time I was finished I felt much closer to them than I had ever been. In a sense, they became more alive to me than they had ever been.

And so, I dedicate this page to the memory of my grandparents,

Charlie and Naomi.