Edward McKenna on a swing. RPPC. Private Collection.
A quaint photo of a lad nicknamed ‘Big Ed’ posing on a swing with his creased hat he forgot to straighten up, and a pair of gloves in his left hand. He’s wearing a dark colored scarf around the neck instead of the typical collar and tie
‘Big Ed’ seemed big by yesterday’s standards probably because he was tall. This RPPC has a note Ed died.
His name + note
RPPC: AZO 1907-1914
Indian man with Western one. Circa 1905. RPPC. Private Collection.
A British man in India? It looks like these two are standing on a dock in front of a cargo container. They may have been trading partners.
RPPC: Cyko 1904-1920s
1910’s Postcard of home wake. Private Collection. Click for larger image.
The third one lifted her at once
And he kissed her mouth, so pale.
“I still love you today, I love you more than ever.
I will love you in eternity!”
This image is very touching, the composition was very carefully balanced between the lover’s intimate goodbye and the rest of the family.
To the left in the foreground, the mother of the deceased young woman is mourning with her head and eyes lowered. She’s holding a white handkerchief in her hands and has a set of house keys hanging off her waist. She stands with the brothers of the kissing man -since he’s referred to as the third. The young man in the middle is offering the mother needed physical comfort with his arm on her back, his hat still in hand. The other looks to be comforting her with words instead.
In the background and behind curtains the third grieving gentleman and sweetheart of the deceased woman left his hat on the steps to give his lost love a last kiss goodbye. She lays on the bed with a wraith matching white flower in her curly hair.
This Edwardian postcard approaches this sad human experience with subtle yet powerful imagery. There’s a touch of comfort too: their love is eternal and unwavering, even after death. Again this all feels timeless, yet today you would see this sort of scene at the hospital instead.
Note on back.
This card was posted at the dawn of the first World War from Frankfurt, Germany on October 26th, 1914. The sender was Nach Langer and the recipient Miss Elisabeth Kunst.
“Careful there, pal!”
This time I’ll have the RPPC after the cut.
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William B. Edgar circa 1880. CDV. Private Collection.
The signature was digitally added onto the photograph from a part of the sleeve that came with the CDV.
This gentleman from Fall River was born October 14, 1856 in Maine, of William Edgar and Marion E. Hanlon Buffinton. His father passed on February 3rd, 1858, leaving his mother to care for him alone. William Jr wasn’t even 2.
Not just a pretty face, he enlisted and went on to have a long military career, serving during two conflicts; the Spanish War and WWI, first as an ensign aboard the U.S.S Catskill and later on in life as the high ranked Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Naval Training Camp in Hingham, Massachusetts. From 1918 to 1921 he was the Captain of the United States Naval Reserve Force.
He settled in his hometown where he also ran a firm, ‘Edgar & Buffinton’, selling electrical supplies like gramophones with his partner and family member, Elisha Wilbur Buffinton from his mother’s side, maybe a cousin.
William married Eliza Lord and had two children: William L Edgar in 1889 who unfortunately didn’t survive his first year, and a daughter in 1895, Marion L Edgar, who went on to live until 1956. His own wife tragically passed in 1889 at the age of 35, leaving him to mirror his own mother and raise his 3 year old daughter as a single parent.
He passed on November 17, 1938 having lived a full life to the age of 82.
Photographer: Gay’s Gallery of Art. Cor. Main & Borden St. Fall River, Mass.
His memorial at Find A Grave.
Bowlers And High Collars 