Some of you might remember the beautiful scrapbook of photographs that I was given by a very kind stranger. It belonged to one of the two adult daughters –Rhea or Lela–of my great-great-grandfather’s sister Jennie DeKorn Culver.
At least one of the three Culvers moved from Kalamazoo to Seattle on August 20, 1918. If only one Culver moved at that time, it wasn’t long before all three were living in the state of Washington. I have not been able to figure out exactly how the move occurred–or why–but it doesn’t stop me from being fascinated with the photos.
Although the majority of the photographs in the album are from 1917 and 1918, this one is marked 9-4-1915. It says it is on Riverside Drive. But what are those initials after the street?
In 1910 Jennie lived with her two daughters at 59 Kalamazoo Avenue in Kalamazoo. She was a seamstress in a corset factory. Rhea was 19 years old and a stenographer in a “paper stock company.” Lela, 21, was a teacher in a public school. I would really love to find out if Lela went to Western Normal School to become a teacher.
So is this Riverside Drive in Kalamazoo or elsewhere? According to Mapquest and Google, there is a Kalamazoo Avenue in Kalamazoo, but not Drive. Both Kalamazoo Avenue and Riverside Avenue are on the east side of Kalamazoo. There’s a famous Riverside Drive in NYC. I’m going to make a guess that those initials say N. Y.–New York City. Do you agree?
And is this one of the sisters? Unfortunately, I would say NO as both sisters had narrow faces. My guess is that this is a friend of the scrapbook owner.
On a slightly related subject, I just wanted to say:
CONGRATULATIONS to the WMU Broncos!!!
They are undefeated this season!!!! This is my alma mater. This is the alma mater of so many of my relatives. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you want to get hyped up, watch the video and ROW THE BOAT!
Related articles
- What Did Lela and Rhea Culver Do at the Orphanage? (thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com)
- Is This Jenny DeKorn Culver in A Velvet Coat? (thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com)
- Why Did Jennie Move to Seattle? (thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com)
I say NY. Did any of the Culver’s stay in Kalamazoo? Went to school with Art Culver who was a jet pilot in the air force and commericial.
Jennie DeKorn’s husband was John Culver. Oliver and Almira Culver, both born 1825, were John Culver’s parents. The places associated with them were Climax and Pavilion Township. They had several children, but I’m not sure how many survived past childhood. His younger brother William Oliver Culver definitely survived and was married at least twice. He had at least one child with Ida Fry and then at least two children with Sarah Cone. Newton Oliver Culver was one of these children. The other children I’ve found were girls. Newton had 4 children on the 1940 census. They lived in Allegan. So Art could be descended from another Culver relative, but not John and not William. The reason I don’t think it’s John is because it is possible that he remarried—and if he did, it looks like he had a girl, but no son. So: maybe? heh
Definitely looks like NY to me, and I immediately thought of Riverside Drive in NYC when I saw the post title. It’s probably taken in Riverside Park somewhere uptown. https://www.nycgovparks.org/park-features/riverside-park/virtual-tour
It’s a concensus: New York it is! Thank you for the link. I think I need to compare this woman’s face with the other people in the other photos and see if I see her showing up in other places–Kalamazoo, Seattle, travel. Her face looks too full to me to be the Culver sisters.
Good luck! Photos are always a challenge for me since I always worry that I see what I want to see. But post some and maybe we can help.
When I get them scanned, switched from tif to jpg, and watermarked, I will take you up on that, Amy!
It looks like NY, so my guess would be it’s New York. She looks pretty happy to be there!
It’s a beautiful photo, I think, and so nice that it’s labelled!
Yes that is N.Y and. If one was a teacher, she would not be in NY on September 4 school would have already been in session; so you might be right it is some other lady.
That’s true, although I looked up a September 2015 calendar, and the 4th was Saturday, the Saturday before Labor Day, so it is possible, but in general I’m sure you’re right because it’s too close to the start of the school year, assuming school started after Labor Day . . . .
I saw it as NY before I even read the post.
Thanks, Su! Apparently Riverside Drive is a well known address in NYC!
I didn’t know that! I do love seeing these old photos 🙂
Me too :).
New York, indeed! I agree.
I think it’s a consensus!
As soon as I saw the caption, I also thought that it was NY.
Apparently that is a street very famous to NYC!
Way to go Western Michigan!! College Game Day, too – very BIG DEAL…I shall have to look up what happened!!
Gosh, the photo is gorgeous…It looks like NYC to me, too, but I’m not sure…very interesting…
Well, they WON!!!! yes!!!!!!! December 2 will tell us if they are heading to the Cotton Bowl or not!
12 – 0 !!! I am now an official Western Michigan fan – good luck!!
They won yesterday. Won the MAC. Undefeated. Now read this and weep https://www.google.com/amp/www.cleveland.com/articles/19771560/western_michigan_talking_cotto.amp?client=safari
Congratulations, Western Michigan alum!!!! Cotton Bowl bound?? Will you go??
They are going! Alas, no, but so excited!