This week's Sepia Saturday photograph shows ladies having a picnic on the grass. That reminded me of photographs of picnics at my Grand Aunt Wava's house in Ohio. She & Uncle Alvin had a terrific old farm house with a long porch along the side. Many family picnics were held on the farm. Aunt Wava & Uncle Alvin had warm hearts and always welcomed family. They loved to host gatherings when we folks from New York State came to visit. There would be a long table in the house that could barely hold the weight of all the home made food. There would be people scattered through the yard holding plates full of food and catching up with the family news.
1955
Second from the left is my great grandfather, Thomas K Mark. He was my father's maternal grandfather.
Thomas K Mark is in the center of this photo with Roy Nee, son in law, on the left and Eslie Guy Mark, brother, on the right.
1993
Here is the same farm house in 1993 with my children playing together. My father, my children & I were visiting & I was collecting genealogy information & copying family photographs.
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Good Post. Most pictures were taken outside back then for the lack of a decent flash I guess. I notice that all the men are wearing hats, but not so the women...
ReplyDeleteYes, photos came out better outside. I like the men wearing hats; a bit formal for an informal gathering.
DeleteWonderful to have pictures of the same porch and think how many family gatherings have taken place there.
ReplyDeleteAunt Wava's house seemed to be the gathering place for everyone so I'm sure that porch held up under many celebrations.
DeleteThose family gatherings must have been great fun. Love the idea of a table groaning under the load of food.
ReplyDeleteThey were all great cooks, growing & making everything.
DeleteJudging by the clothes the farmers are wearing, I am guessing it was Sunday.
ReplyDeleteLove the way people dressed for picnics in all the postings this week. Today it would be shorts & jeans.
DeleteLooks like a wonderful family home to visit, and I'm sure the gatherings were great fun.
ReplyDeleteThere'd be lots of laughing & catching up. There'd be 'Look how you've grown' & 'You look just like...' for the kids.
DeleteGreat memories and even greater that you have photos to reinforce it all.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture you created of the table groaning under all that food.
I think my father would have made the long drive for the food alone. ha!
DeleteThere is history within the very grain of the wood. Great pictures - and what great hats the men are wearing.
ReplyDeleteIf only the porch could talk...
DeleteThere's nothing like a large family picnic.
ReplyDeleteLoved the then/now pictures.
Thanks! It is great to find something that remains unchanged through the years, a place, a memento, a family recipe,...
DeleteLoved the line, "when we folks from New York state come to visit." As if traveling halfway across the country to visit was an everyday occurrence. That means a Tight family. How wonderful for you.
ReplyDeleteMy paternal grandmother's parents and most of her siblings stayed in Ohio. Many are still there. But my grandfather found work in New York State but Grandma stayed in touch with all the Buckeyes.
DeleteThe American porch stoop is a feature in many vintage photos. But they don't seem to be part of modern house design. I live in a vintage house built in 1914, and our family photos always get posed on the stoop or the porch.
ReplyDeleteHouses without a porch are definitely lacking something important. They certainly are the perfect place to gather; to relax & watch the world go by & to pose for photos.
DeleteSounds like some wonderful times.
ReplyDeleteWendy, when family is together fun is guaranteed.
DeleteThose family get togethers and picnics sounded like wonderful times. It is great you returned to collect photos and data for this great blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Picnics are fun, with or without ants! ha
DeleteAdding the photo off the house really put the first two pictures in context.
ReplyDelete