>From a barn near Swedesboro/Becket....and I hadn't the heart to see them ruined, or trashed, if there was a slim chance I could find them a home. Large, faded, once red velvet covered album, now mostly brown. The word Photographs appears to have adorned the front cover, which has also a large metal clasp. Ones I could identify were made at J.P. Silvers, formerly Potters at Philadelphia, one has M. Herbert Bridle, Photographer at Second above South. I'm assuming that is also a Philadelphia studio. However, many others don't appear to have photographers marks, may have been done locally or in NJ.. I didn't want to risk further damage to the holding sheets, which are getting brittle, in order to pull each photo out. First pic in the album is of something entitled "Mammoth Pennsylvania Clock" Ring any bells for time frame? I'm assuming that was something of a curiosity in it's day. World's Fair or something? Only one tin type of an old gentleman, the rest seem to be hand colored or regular sepia toned photos. A few loose penny postcards are the only other clue. Gen. Mead's Headquarters in Gettysburg, Pa., pub. by A.C.B & Co, no location, - not used. Another that appears to be of a young woman in Indian or is that flapper era feathered headdress? Also seems as if someone not too subtly painted or inked over in color, and her face is marred, pub by Schlesinger Bros., NY. And finally, the only clue I have to link to a family, a colorized post card of the Court House at 10th and Market SSTs, Wilmington, Del. This one is postmarked Wilmington on April 20, 1930 and addressed simply to Mr. Leslie Vierck, Swedesboro, NJ. So many great photos in here, of old people and babies, young men and women, most in the formal study the photographer's studios presented. Little boys in dresses, one baby, sleeping ( I hope) in what appears a forest scene...someone went to great expense and trouble to record these, but failed to identify a single soul by name...seems such a waste. So, if you think you know who Mr. Vierck was or have a similar album in your family, and know you had relatives in the Swedesboro area in general, maybe we can find this thing a rightful home. I was lucky in my own family, my grandmother was able to identify many of her grandmother's relatives, and when I met a cousin from Delaware, he we were able to fill in many blanks by cross referencing from the book he had of his direct lines. Anyway, I just had to give it a shot... Val

"Valerie N. Caulfield" wrote: > >From a barn near Swedesboro/Becket....and I hadn't the heart to see them > ruined, or trashed, if there was a slim chance I could find them a > home. Thank you all, individually and collectively, who took the trouble to reply. I think we found a winner...<g> I just left a message on her machine. A gal who's last name I didn't remember, but did the Halloween trail after I left Stecher's a few years ago, is the likely donor of the album, as a prop for the haunted house. When she left, it was apparently forgotten, got packed away for several years and was on its way to being ruined by weather. When I went back for a return engagement last fall , I found it, put it in my car and brought it home, hoping to find a clue...but hadn't followed through until clearing a shelf today. I called our old boss, got her number and hopefully it will be back in the family before the week's out. Boy, do I feel good! <g> You all should too.... thanks, Val ps - the name is now spelled Vierck, there is actually a Leslie still in the vicinity, and the clock may have been on display at the Centennial exhibition in 1876 in Philadelphia. More of life's little mysteries solved.... vnc