Smiling Carrie

Most of the photos I've seen of Carrie Waite show a stern-looking woman. But I've been told that she was quite warm and caring, which rings true based on what I know of Grandma Carrie (indirectly) through my mom, Eva, and conversations with relatives through the years. In any case, here are a few photos of Carrie where she's smiling, or close to smiling. Unfortunately the quality of the photos isn't great, although if you click on the photos they'll be enlarged for easier viewing.

You can make out a bit of grin in the following.

The first is one of a series taken in mid-1940s, or so I'm guessing. Apparently there was a family get-together, or possibly a few snapshots after church.

Here's another photo from the same session, this time with my mom (Eva).

Finally, here's a photo from a few years earlier. Carrie's standing on the right. I believe that's my mom (Eva) standing in the middle, with Carrie's husband, Grandpa Sidney Waite, standing on left. Not sure about the front row (any help would be appreciated!), but that may be Edith Waite kneeling on the right, under Carrie.

Amos Craigen Aldrich

Here's a photo of Amos, which appears to be taken in the late-1800s. But there's a bit of a mystery, at least for me. Hopefully, someone can provide some clarity. At issue is whether this is the Amos Craigen Aldrich born 1819, died 1896 in Webster, Mass (according to Larry's research), which would make him Frank Aldrich's father. But Larry's family tree research shows that the father of Amos the younger had the same name. The elder Amos was born 1787 and died in 1863 in Oxford, Mass.

The back of this photo indicates (via hand-written note) that the Amos in this photo married Mary Gardner Walden, which suggests this is Amos the younger (d. 1896). But the younger died in Webster, Mass, not Oxford, Mass, which is written on the back of the photo. Hmmm... a bit of a conflict.

I'm guessing that because Amos the elder died during the Civil War, the quality of this photo implies a much later portrait, i.e., Amos the younger.

But enough of my musing. Can any one straighten this out? Feel free to post a comment.

Eva and Ethel circa 1925

This was probably taken mid-1920s, perhaps a bit earlier, when my mom (Eva Waite) is 3 or 4 years old. Aunt Ethel, of course, is bright-eyed and cheery as ever. Looks like a summer day when all was well in those halcyon years before the darkness of the '29 crash and Great Depression descended across the landscape.

Frank Aldrich & Sons

Frank Aldrich and sons (or is it grandsons?). I recognize the handwriting on the back of the photo as Aunt Ethel's. She also lists the following names: Frank, Arthur, George and Charlie.