A Photo Saved

This photo means so very much to me. To me it represents Mom and Dad together when they were young. They had so much to look forward to and the cares of the world hadn't begun to weigh on their shoulders. They got married raised my brother and I and lived their lives as best they could. They faced a lot of trials and eventually went their separate ways. In that time together though there was a lot of happiness and fond memories. I am so glad my Mom saved so many of her photos and of the ones I got from my Dad. There is so much family history. So many things I can remember and a lot before my time.
When I first scanned this photo it was in rough shape. Tiny dots and fine scratches all over it to the point I thought it might never be presentable. Then I discovered a process called noise reduction. Using it most of the fine dots and scratches disappeared. It still needed a lot of work and still does. I don't know if it will ever be restored enough to put on the wall but that's ok, it hasn't been lost. I have been wanting to post for a long time though so here it is.  

A Road Trip

This is my Dad, Mom (right), and Aunt (left). The photo was taken by a friend who was on a trip with them. I think they may have been going from Saskatchewan to Seaside as there are a lot of photos with them together where it looked like they were traveling. I don't know where this is, it looks like they stopped in the middle of nowhere for a stretch. There were a few photos at this little rock. They all looked so happy in the photos.

Berry Picking

 

This is my Grandmother on my Dad's side. My brother is standing next to her. I was still young when I last saw her and was quite surprised when I found out later in life she was 4'11". I had always thought of her as fairly tall. 

Let's Go For A Drive

 

What kid wouldn't take the opportunity to mess around in a car or truck. Look how the little guy has the seat set up and his legs through the stearing wheel. Not sure where this was taken or who the kids are. The little one below might be a cousin.

Seaside Parade

Seaside Oregon is a resort town at the end of the Lewis and Clark trail. I have family there and have made visits ever since I can remember. There are changes but it is still very familiar to when I was a child. When we were walking down the main street in April this year I was thinking about this and a couple other photo's from a parade. I am sure this spot would be easy to find today, the little bridge is still there. 

Now Why Would They Do That?

 

I'm not sure who this lady is. It's from my Mom's photo collection and I think it may have been taken in Seaside Oregon. I found it an engaging photo. That's my Mom in the background sitting on a swing. It struck me as I was cleaning up the scan for the blog. She is sitting on a swing. On the porch. Directly in front of the door.

Take Me Out To

I pondered this photo for some time. I don't know anyone in the photo. It is obviously in the Prairies. I am pretty sure the license plate on the truck says Saskatchewan. But what could these people be doing? My first thought was they were at a rodeo. That just didn't feel right. Why would people dress up and go to a dusty field to watch some event? It hit me like a wild pitch a couple weeks ago. A ball game. It had to be a baseball game. Baseball was big in the day. I don't know anything about how it worked back then but maybe it was a couple farm teams touring the area. Just think in that era people dressed up in their finest to watch a game. Who does that now?

The Road Crew

I have mentioned in the past my Dad and my Grandad (Mom's side) were railroaders. This is my Grandad with his road crew. I got this from my Mom's photo's, I don't know who would have taken it.

Echoes Of War

(Department of National Defence photograph)

On the night of July 2nd, 1944 returning from patrol with MTB 465, MTB (Motor Torpedo Boat) 460 struck a mine and exploded. 6 crew were rescued and 10 were killed. My uncle Peter Thompson (R.C.N.V.R.  O.N. V-11965 Telegraphist) was one of the crew killed. 
When I started looking into my family history I knew I had an uncle that died in the war but really nothing beyond that. My father showed me this photo of the MTB 460 and I became intrigued. There isn't a lot said about these boats but they were vitally important to coastal defence and by any account I have read were pretty exciting to serve on. 
The stories I read have these young men charging about the English channel tackling German E-Boats and challenging destroyers, tracer bullets flying in in the night sky and the smell of cordite in the sea air. When I look at the photo above I like to think maybe that was my uncle on the flying bridge enjoying the moment riding the waves with the salty wind in his face.

 My Dad thought maybe Uncle Peter had a couple beers when he had this photo taken. His hat was tilted back which wasn't regulation but his smile was brilliant. He was a fun loving man popular with the girls. One afternoon while we sat at talked about him my Dad started crying, remembering and mourning his big brother, nearly 50 years after the war.

A Royal Visit

As William and Kate pay a visit to Canada I thought it would be nice to show a little photo from a previous Royal Visit. I am pretty sure this is the 1939 tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. It's from my Mom's photo collection. This is the CNR station in Leney Saskatchewan.

Those Eyes

This is my Dad and my older brother. What always stood out to me in this photo was my Dad's eyes. Not sure if it

was the angle or light or what but they are quite piercing in this shot. Like on the silver screen of old.

A Recollection

This photo sits at the very edge of my memory. So vague it could almost be my imagination. I remember feeling very important because I was allowed to use big people tools to do the very important job of breaking up the rocks in the middle. That was my Grandad with the rake.

A Prairie Garden

This was a common sight during the Great Depression. As far back as I can remember and I do have photo's, my Grandparents always kept at least a small garden. I think this would be in Leney Saskatchewan.

A Snowplow In The Age Of Steam

Both my parents grew up on the prairies. My Grandfather on my Mom's side worked for the railroad. My Grandfather on my Dad's side came over from England to work a farm. There will be lot's of photo's from the prairies in those days. When I went through my Grandparents photo albums there were photo's I considered favourites. I would always anticipate them when I looked. This was one of them. I do believe this would be early in the winter because the snow isn't very deep. Look for the people.

Why Am I doing This?

When I was growing up I had a routine when I went to my Grandparents of looking through their photo albums. Photo's from when I was younger, to when my parents were younger, and their parents. I always loved looking at the old black and white's seeing my aunt's and uncles and grandparents, it gave a sense of history to my family.


My Mom always like taking photo's and usually had her camera with her at family events and traveling. When I inherited her and my Dad's collections I had the intention of scanning them into the computer. I have done a lot and have them on the computer in no particular order. I've had grand ideas of sorting them and distributing them to family members who might like them. However just getting them on the computer has been time consuming and I still have photo's in boxes. I have another blog where I've been posting photo's I've taken. I got the idea that a lot of these photo's although snap shots then really are classic in their own right. I felt they should be seen.


So, here is the first photo. I chose it because I think it's one of the oldest ones I have scanned. I am actually lucky as it's one I scanned years ago for some reason and returned the original. I don't know where that is now. It is of my Grandmother when she was around 5 years old and is taken most likely in Missouri or New Mexico somewhere. I can only presume the man holding her is one of her Grandfathers. 

 circa 1912(?)

 I expect I will be postng photos from the 20's right through the 60's. Most will be black and white. There may be the odd colour one though. I hope you enjoy seeing these photo's and return to see them often. I promise there will be a lot less talking in future.