A couple of years ago we digitized the glass negatives of photos taken by Joseph DeKorn. In those photographs I found many children who remain unidentified. Because children change their looks rapidly–some kids more than others–they are harder to pin down than adults.
Here are a few:
This is just a sampling, but it’s important to concentrate on the details, so three is enough for now. All of these would have been taken in or around Kalamazoo, Michigan. I am fairly certain they were taken on DeKorn property on Burdick Street.
I looked through my family tree, as it stands right now, and the kids who are closest in age would be the youngest DeSmit children (children of John and Mary DeKorn DeSmit). Could it be Frances herself or a younger sister? Or are they unrelated neighbor children? Because the bottom two photos seem to be the same girl, at least, I suspect they are family.
Why would the boy in the top photo be wearing overalls and a straw hat? This seems more casual than the kids usual dress. Was he ready to go fishing? If so, wouldn’t he have a pole in his hand?
The Van Lieres, another branch of the family, had a bus load of kids, starting in 1902, but from everything I can find they were all boys, and I think this photo is too early for them.
Any details which speak to you?
The Family Kalamazoo 
Loved all these photos Luanne! Really fabulous!! Last night I visited one of my cousins who is almost 90 years old. She gave me two pictures of her grandmother whoi is my great-grandmother. I was thrilled to get them!
Sheila, I would imagine you WOULD be thrilled to get those pix. So nice that you were the one to receive them!
Those are great photos. The little boy in overalls….maybe working in the yard? Are those people related to the Flipses? The Flipses had their greenhouse on Burdick. Could he be dressed to work in the greenhouse? There’s a wheelbarrow, a wooden pallet, wooden boxes, a shed.
There’s something rural about those photos with all the grass and little fences. Huge yards!
The boy could be going fishing. If this is Burdick, there are ponds, Portage Creek, and Kalamazoo River not too far away.
The thing is, the family wasn’t related to the Flipse family until they married at some point after these pix were taken. But I am wondering if that little girl could be Frances, who became a Flipse and who was herself a florist after that point. She would have been a DeSmit as a kid. Interesting that you’re wondering about a greenhouse. The DeKorn property there at the corner of Burdick and Balch had out buildings on it, plus other family members lived in other houses adjacent and near to it. I do think he looks like he’s going to go fishing. My grandfather used to love to go fishing, but this would be before his time and it’s not him anyway. These kids all dressed up a lot more than that on a daily basis. That would be very unusual dressing unless it was a special activity like fishing. Or unless he was actually working?
The boy up top looks almost like he was forced to pose. He looks just about as “happy” to be in the picture as the other boy.
Hah, so true! Maybe they didn’t want to hold still that long!
Flipse’s Florists was quite near Crosstown and Burdick. They were bought out a few years ago by Vandersalm’s at 1120 S. Burdick. Check this out:
http://www.yellowpages.com/kalamazoo-mi/mip/vandersalms-flipse-flower-shop-garden-center-9752260
Here is a giant sidetrack that I add only because the story consumed me for so many years. Anna Gipson (not Gibson) Lewis, who worked for Flipse’s, was brutally murdered along with her parents, the Poldermans. There is also a Polderman’s Greenhouse in Portage.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91187300
I remember Mr. Flipse — I think Fred Flipse? — who ran Flipse’s for a time. He was very generous, donating little plants and bigger ones to RSVP to honor our senior volunteers. One of my very best volunteers (and a very funny, entertaining guy), Jim Amos, said he was related to that Mr. Flipse.
Oh my. What a horrible story. Also, I’m sorry they were bought out. I don’t know about Amos–maybe on the actual Flipse side and not the DeSmits. I don’t know about Fred. Is he a descendent of Richard, son of Jacob and Frances? Not sure. Darn the censoring of the 1950s and 60s censuses ;). That was great to get those plants donated for the seniors.
Fascinating photos… I’m thinking that the body language of the boy and girl says they don’t really want to be photographed together. They don’t seem to be brother and sister… maybe cousins, or family friends? Maybe they don’t like each other much… or maybe they’re a bit “sweet” on each other and slightly embarrassed… ???
Yes… seems that the girl is the same and in the bottom picture and maybe the two younger boys are brothers or younger cousins with whom she’s very comfortable and knows well ???
The lad’s overalls look quite new and he doesn’t look very happy… Maybe he just doesn’t like being photographed or maybe he’s all dressed up in his fresh “work clothes” to begin taking responsibility for some new sort of outdoor work?
Of course, I could be totally wrong but I enjoyed the photos and enjoyed trying to interpret them… many thanks 🙂
Catherine, what an excellent analysis! The boy in the overalls does not look happy–you’re right! It’s like he’s pouting and mad he has to do some nasty chore he isn’t looking forward to!