Sepia Saturday 257: 6 December 2014


Alan from Sepia Saturday says:


There is something for everybody in Sepia Saturday 257 (post your posts on or around Saturday 6th December 2014).  There is a father and son, there is a dog, there are some wooden steps, and there is even a little cowboy with a lasso. The 1916 picture comes from the Flickr stream of the Provincial Archives of Alberta. If you can match some aspect of the theme image do so. If not, don't worry, just post any old photo and tell us a little about it.

little girl wearing hat playing with small christmas tree on concrete steps
Barbara McLoughlin playing with Christmas Tree
at Rocco Court Flats National Park Street Hamilton Newcastle circa 1937


Here is my mother playing with a very small Christmas tree.  She was born on 7 December 1935 so I'm guessing this was taken circa 1936 or 1937.  This is what is written on the back in her handwriting.  I wrote Hamilton.




Steps seem to have been a popular setting for family photos in the McLoughlin and Wingfield families.  

I haven't managed to find any photos featuring a cowboy but I have found ones with dogs.



Two women seated with a black spaniel and a terrier
Joyce and Belle Wingfield with dogs

Here is my mother's cousin Joy and her Aunt, Belle, twin sister to her mother. I think the dogs were called Pal (spaniel) and Topsy (Jack Russell).

two couples, a daughter and a dog sitting on stairs
Tom and Kit McLoughlin, Shirley, Bill and Belle Wingfield

Here are those stairs again...see what I mean.  they are a good way to arrange people - aren't they?  So Tom and Kit are my maternal grandparents. Kit is the twin sister of Belle in the front row.

I think those stairs are at the back of 167 Brighton Avenue Toronto.  Here's what the place looks like today from Google Maps.  It's the weatherboard place on the left.







Here is a picture of Janine and Noelene.  I wish I knew who they were.  I admit these are probably not steps exactly...they look more like planter shelves for pots but they are stepped and made of timber, yes?

two little girls sitting on timber shelving against a timber fence
Janine and Noelene


And a couple more of my lovely Mother who died 19 years ago today.  Still missed. xx


little girl sitting on a single step with stuffed toy Pluto
Barbara and Pluto circa 1941

little girl dressed in overalls sitting on step with black spaniel
Barbara and Pal circa 1942

For more stairways to heaven or otherwise go here.


Comments

Wendy said…
Those are some tall steps. I guess the white steps and lighting make it look like a giant slide instead of steps. Wouldn't that be fun?
Unknown said…
The shot of your mother and Pluto rips my heart out...sweet, sweet photo!
ScotSue said…
You matched the prompt so well with tales of steps and pets.
Postcardy said…
I agree--steps are a good place to pose people for photos.
La Nightingail said…
Steps are, indeed, a perfect place to photograph people. I once photographed an entire chorus standing shoulder-to-shoulder on a flight of stairs that couldn't have come out more perfect.
Rosie said…
Placing people on steps to get their pictures taken would almost always ensure that all their faces could be seen to the photographer. Lovely pictures and a great post.
Jofeath said…
What great stairs, perfect for posing group photos! In the second and third photos, you can't see the individual steps, and could imagine the people being at the bottom of a big slippery dip. You don't say where those stairs were.
Anonymous said…
Those houses raised off the ground with steep front steps have a ertain aura about them, and such a good place for photos. Lovely photos of your mother and happy memories.for you.
Alex Daw said…
They are quite steeply angled aren't they Wendy? Yes, I used to enjoy slippery slides in my youth. Except when there was a bull ant on the top of the handle of one particular slide.
Alex Daw said…
Yes, I think she was a much loved only child and niece. And mother.
Alex Daw said…
Thanks ScotSue. At first I thought I was a non-starter but then I persevered.
Alex Daw said…
Yes Postcardy. I'll be looking out for them in future!
Alex Daw said…
We have a great photo from our wedding of all the congregation standing on the steps at the church.
Alex Daw said…
Thank you Rosie. It was fun to put together.
Alex Daw said…
Jo...you are right....I forgot to say where the stairs were....after a bit of researching and looking at notes from other family members on shared drives, I reckon the stairs for the majority of the photos were at 167 Brighton Avenue Toronto, Newcastle. I might just amend the post accordingly for posterity.
Alex Daw said…
Indeed boundforoz. Indeed.
Anonymous said…
I especially like the photo of your mother and Pluto too.
Wow those steps do look steep! It makes me think of how often in my clumsily eagerness to get somewhere, I fell down stairs---I can only imagine how disastrous those stairs would have been for me! Stairs are so perfect for photos though. I think every single one of our kids had wedding pictures of the group taken on stairs. It's perfect way to see everyone.
Kristin said…
That is a very small tree! My sister was born on December 7, 1948 and tomorrow we will be sharing a birthday toast.
Alex Daw said…
Ah Michelle. I have a friend who we used to joke liked to take a trip everywhere. Eagerness, as you say, is to blame. But I would prefer eagerness and accidents to boredom and none. Stairs are perfect for photos I agree.
Alex Daw said…
It's a classic photo isn't it Kathy?
Alex Daw said…
Kristin - isn't it a small tree. A function of the war years I suppose. People born on 7 December are pretty special I find.
Little Nell said…
How lovely to be able to remember your mother in this way. There’s something about steps for sitting on and porches for perching on!
Bob Scotney said…
Steps are a magnet for anyone taking a photo, with or without people and/or dogs. Tom, Kit, Shirley, Bill and Belle could almost be on an aircraft's escape chute.
Those were some very steep steps. I hope no one ever took a tumble!
Mike Brubaker said…
An excellent group of photos to fit the theme. I think everyone has a few family photos on steps, but dogs always make them more memorable.

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