Friday, October 31, 2014

52 Ancestors #44: Ice Boating in Windsor, Ontario

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.” 

My grandmother Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan's (1902-1992) photo album has been a wonderful inspiration for my #52Ancestors blog posts. Some of the pictures most fondly remembered by my father are pictures of his mother Rhea iceboating.

This blog post is devoted to the subject of my grandmother ice boating in the early 1900s.

Here is the photo page that my father fondly remembers:

The "Iceboating" page from my grandmothers photo album
circa 1920s
My grandmother Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan
iceboating (Windsor, Ontario)
(circa 1920s)

The Thrills of Ice Boating 

I love that my grandmother was so adventurous in the 1920s when she was in her twenties! And the sport was generally enjoyed by men! It is uncommon to find photos of women engaged in ice boating. 

Read the charming account of ice boating (below) from the Windsor Evening Record in 1908

Iceboats would go forty miles and hour and the sails and tiller on ice would react much more quickly than sails and a tiller would on water. Skill was required or these craft would easily tip. And there was the danger of falling through the ice if the ice boat wandered on to thin ice!

From the Windsor Evening Record
Rhea's family moved from Wallaceburg to "Ford City" in 1918 (when Dominion Glass moved to automation sending glassblowers like Rhea's father looking for other work).

I am unable to place these photos in a specific time or place. The photos themselves offer few additional clues. There were a lot of ice boats on Lake St. Clair during this period of time. Both on the Michigan and Ontario shores.






The 1894 article "On Wings of the Wind" (below) tells us of the dangers and the pleasures of ice boating and advising "Don't go sailing with a novice unless suicidally inclined". We also learn that Poughkeepsie and Red Bank hold the ice boating speed records.

"There is no civilized sport more intoxicating than the form of sailing pictured herein today...the novice that is not swathed in newspapers, woolens, and warm furs will freeze....there is no protection from the wind on those skeleton shells...So when preparing to go ice boating it is wise to tuck a newspaper across one's chest and another across one's back, tie your coat sleeves tightly about your wrists, muffle up your head and ears and still expect the wind to whistle through you like a sieve."

"The sport is very popular in the Canadian Queen City and the fleet is numerous. Erie, Pa., Hamilton, Ont., Newburg - Poughkeepsie, Detroit, Mich., and Red Bank NJ all have lively ice boating clubs says the Buffalo Express. "

"Red Bank and Poughkeepsie hold the American Championships. The record for 15 miles is 20 minutes and 40 seconds....."

The Windsor Evening Record

The ice boats were also used to deliver mail and run whiskey during U.S. prohibition.



Postal History Corner



LINKS:
VIDEOS:


Thursday, October 30, 2014

52 Ancestors #43: The Photographic Camera and a Photograph Album

"Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.” 

This weeks post is about my grandmother 
It is filled with pages and pages of nameless faces. 

Photo album belonging to Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan

I thought about many things. 
When did folks start having their own cameras 
to shoot the kind of candid photos that are found throughout her album? 

By the early 1900s and certainly by the 1920-1930 it is possible
 that there was a hand held camera available in the Coughlin home.

I came across this lovely infographic on the history of the photographic camera:



Looking through the following pages (in the order they appear ), 
I felt that there may be more Poughkeepsie clues contained within the pages:



I was particularly interested in the cross in one of the photos:


And how it bears a close resemblance to the cross at Saint Peters Cemetery in Poughkeepsie:



Saint Peters CemeteryPoughkeepsie NY
Could this pier photo be taken somewhere along the Hudson River?


Could these photos be of a young William Henry Coughlin?




Wednesday, October 29, 2014

52 Ancestors #42: Trick or Treating .


No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.” 

This post is about Hallowe'en love through the generations.

I love that I have photographs of my grandmother Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan (1902-1992) dressing up for Hallowe'en! It's a family tradition that has been loved through all the generations. My best guess for dating these two photos would be between the mid 1910 to the mid 1920s. That's roughly one hundred years ago!

The practice of Guising at Halloween in North America is first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario reported children going "guising"  .. According to the Atlantic, trick or treating is a relatively recent phenomenon starting around the 1940s.

Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan dressed up (wearing a wig) for Hallowe'en

Could this costume be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz?
This photo would have pre-dated the famous Judy Garland movie (1939)
but not the 1900 illustrated book?

Close up of "Dorothy"

Rhea Fern (Coughlin) Moynahan dressed up (wearing a wig) for Hallowe'en II

Above, Rhea (in an earlier photo) is dressed as a maid.


Trick or Treating 70's style

The photo above was taken in the 1970s.
It is me (far left) with my sister and brother
Back of photo says: "
Sergeant Frisk and the two cooler queens - Droopy Pants and Truthful.
 (Clearly Kelly was truthful)


Newspaper clipping of my brother and sister dressed up for Hallowe'en around 1967
"WITCHES AND GOBLINS who want a trick or treat handout this Hallowe'en are welcome at the Lakeshore Fire Halls - firemen have laid in a supply of treats. Shown here from left to right are: Capt. Bristes, Ricky Lang, Lori Lang and John Lang of Elma St. and Kelly and Patrick Moynahan of Melville Ave."

LINKS


Haunted Windsor and Essex County
CBC Digital Archives: The Evolution of Halloween

HALLOWE'EN NEWS

1910
Essex Free Press Oct 28, 1910

1911

Essex Free Press

1912
Essex Free Press

1913
Essex Free Press November 7, 1913

 RHEA COUGHLIN'S PHOTO ALBUM

Photo Album belonging to Rhea Coughlin

Hallowe'en Page


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

52 Ancestors #41: Coughlin Golden Anniversary 1949

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.” 

This blog post is dedicated to a wedding celebration, a mother's note of thanks and advice to "Always stick together".

Windsor Star (original) November 26, 1949

"The celebration dinner was held at the home of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Ernest Moynahan of Marentette avenue who will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary the same day."

The reception was held at 1025 Hickory road...."Pouring tea will be Mrs. Mary Brick, Mrs. William Boucher and Mrs. Philip Schwemler."

"They were married by the Rev. Father Roan in Our Lady of Help Church on November 27, 1899."

Here are some photos from that day:

William Henry and Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin

The Coughlin Clan


The Coughlin sisters

The Moynahans

A Note of Thanks 
"Always Stick Together"

Letter to Ernie , Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan and grandchildren thanking them
for the Golden Anniversary celebrations



52 Ancestors #40: My GG Mary (Broderick) Moynahan

No Story Too Small has issued a New Year's Challenge: "Have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.” 

This week's post is about my great grandmother (GG) Mary Anne Elizabeth (Broderick) Moynahan.
.
Pictured left to right: Cindi Moynahan,
great grandmother Mary (Broderick) Moynahan and Lori Moynahan.
539 Campbell Ave. Windsor, Ontario (circa 1959)
I have four great grandmothers:


Great grandmother Moynahan was the the only GG alive when I was born and I am so grateful that I had a chance to meet her.

Birth certificate
Mary was the daughter of Martin Broderick and Mary Hussey
Mary Broderick on her wedding day 10 May 1898 with John Moynahan

The children of John and Mary
John and Mary

Mary (Broderick) Moynahan

Mary (Broderick) Moynahan

Rear (L to R) Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan, Bernard Moynahan, Mary (Broderick) Moynahan
Front (L to R) Patricia Moynahan, John Moynahan, Ernest Jr Moynahan
I love that she had this photograph taken with her dog!


Windsor Star
December 21, 1960
(Page 8 of 60
)

Obituary

Funeral card
LINKS

Mary's Husband John Moynahan
Mary's Father: Martin Broderick
Mary's Mother: Mary (Hussey) Broderick