10/12/2009: Here we have a very rare photograph that I recently found on Ebay. I'm pretty sure it's a picture of Sugar Notch, PA people taken some time around 1900-1910. The photographer's stamp on the back says "William M. Williams, Sugar Notch, Luzerne County" and the lady in the straw hat in the center with her arm around the guy is wearing a Sugar Notch baseball (?) jersey. So now comes the question: Does anybody out there know who these folks are?

This a real interesting photo and a number of people who have no connection to Sugar Notch are intrigued by it. It's a high quality photo for the time and it was taken indoors, in the parlor, which means the photographer used a powder flash. It must have been a special occassion for them to hire a professional photographer. The real unusual thing about this is the spontaneity of the subjects. In the early 1900s people usually posed very stiffly in front of cameras. The relaxed poses and smiles add to this photo's charm.

You will notice that at least three of the "men" in the photo are women dressed as men. The girl in the baseball jersey and the guy in the bowler hat with his arm on her knees appear to be brother and sister, perhaps twins. The young girl and the lady with her legs crossed in front may be siblings as well. The woman in the rear center has a matronly look about her and there's an older guy peering over shoulders by the door at right. Is this some kind of theatre or minstrel group? Or high school class?

Assuming that these young folks were born in the 1880s, they could have easily still been living in the 1950s or 60s. Some of them must be somebody's grandparents or great grandparents. If you know who any of these people are, e-mail me at njc@nealjconway.com .

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