I admit I have spent a significant amount of time viewing this photo. The photo has a time-stamped date on the back from when the image was developed, August 6, 1937. I cannot read the entire photo service stamp. But the location of the photo development service was located in Portland, Maine. I was actually surprised to see the location.

The other photos and negatives were from California or military locations. I do take into consideration, the box was a mixed lot from an estate sale. So, the images could have originated from several sources.

Let’s get some perspective about the time frame of this photo. In 1937, Gas was only 10 cents a gallon. Can you imagine? A loaf of bread was 9 cents. A new home ran an average price of $4100.00. Of course, an average year’s wage was only around $1800.00.

1937 was the year Amelia Earhart went missing over the Pacific Ocean. The passenger aircraft, the Hindenberg, caught fire in Lakehurst, New Jersey. And, J.R.R. Tolkien’s, The Hobbit was published in September.

I wished I could have cleaned the image up more. But the photo was small and damaged. The corresponding negative was in worse condition.

What I noticed about the photo…

• The people are in the photo are all ages.
• The gentleman on the far left looks to be an artist, a painter. I wonder if the group is watching him paint. Or, is he painting a portrait of the group?
• The young man in the front row (laying down) seems extremely relaxed about the whole ordeal. I am only guessing. But the other young man sitting beside him seems to be his best friend or maybe his brother. They seem to be talking to each other.
• The young girl sitting by the two young men seems extremely interested in their conversation. I wonder if she is or wants to be a girlfriend to the man sitting up.
• Now the girl sitting next to her looks bored. I am assuming she is the friend of the girl interested in the conversation.
• I wish I could see the faces of the two people with large hats. I am intrigued.
• The women sitting toward the back, I can see the one’s slip. As my great aunts would say, she is properly dressed. There is a child clutching on to the one woman.
• The gentleman standing against the wall look as if they would like to be anywhere but there.
• The man sitting next to the two women is bending down. I think he is petting a dog. While his wife is watching contently.
• The rest of the group seem to be watching an event or engaged in idle conversation.

I would like to guess the photo is part of a family reunion or a wedding. I know, I will never know. But I enjoy imagining their lives.

Until next time…peace