On 26 Oct 1956 in Watertown, New York, a great aunt of mine (Harriet “Hattie” Rosa Hungerford SH257c) passed away. This is her sitting in a goat cart – one of the 14 images purchased. Sometime after her passing--as a part of the last steps in closing out her estate-- an estate sale was held. As a young lad the eBay seller accompanied his mother to this sale and witnessed her buying these family heirlooms.
Fast forward some sixty odd years and he inherited her possessions--which still included these photos! I was lucky enough to be perusing eBay when he offered them on the auction website and I snapped them up. What are the odds?
Per Watertown and area expert Jim Barker who replied to my inquiry regarding this photo:
"The one with Art Gallery, Museum, and Mother looks like it may have been at the State Armory on Arsenal Street, or perhaps the City Opera House. It looks rather theatrical. I'll have to see if I can find any further information on it. "
Submitted by Richard Hungerford at 5:59 PM on December 21, 2024.