Hats in Time

Believed to be the wedding of Edith Bound and Eduard Geyer in 1886

 

In days of old, a hat did hold

A charm and grace, a tale untold.

Upon the head, it sat with pride,

A symbol of style, a dashing stride.

Eva Pilgrim (nee Blythman)

A gentleman's hat, so debonair,

Topped with feathers or ribbon fair.

A touch of class, a dash of flair,

A hat that spoke of savoir faire.

Bessie and Abel Bound with Mrs Excell and Ruby Bound
Estimated to be 1890

For ladies fair, a hat adorned,

With flowers, ribbons and lace adorned.

A fashion statement, a work of art,

A hat to captivate every heart.

Unknown Lady, Great Aunty Eve Walker and Great Aunty Madeline Walker

In times gone past, a hat was worn,

To shield from sun or bracing morn.

A protective shield, a shield of shade,

A hat to don on every escapade.

Great Grandparents Mary and Ambrose Walker with horses Buzz & Silver
We believe the child is Aunty Phyllis Walker - about 1930

Oh, hats of old, we long to see,

The elegance and grace you used to be.

Though fashion changes, trends may sway,

Your timeless charm will never fade away.

I love the way that my grandfather, Gordon Walker, is looking at my nanna, Rita
At the wedding of my Aunty & Uncle in 1965

So let us raise our hats up high,

To bygone days and days gone by.

For in those hats, a story told, 

Of fashion style, and stories old.

Caroline "Carrie" Warner

Inspired by Sepia Saturday Click to see more posts.

                                       

Hoarder? Collector? Keeper of Memories?

 Did you know that the days & dates in 1966, 1977, 2005, 2011, and 2022 align?  

My father recently located a number of old calendars.  I immediately put the 1972 calendar on the wall thinking that it matched this year (2022).  However, I turned the page today and realised that 1972 was a leap year!  So the calendar is only useful January and February in 2022!  And what are the chances, but I am missing the years that I could use!  Darn!

I shall keep the calendar on the wall until the end of February 2022

Around every corner in our home, is a different memory.  EVERYTHING on display in our home has a meaning or memory. 

No longer are collections hidden in the cupboard.  They are on display for our enjoyment.

For years the badges were in a container in the cupboard,
but they are now on display

The bookcase below is older than I am.  Mum always had medical encyclopedias in it. Now it contains World Book encyclopedias.  My inlaws invested in these encyclopedias in 1972 to assist my husband and his brother with their learning. 

I am extremely grateful to my cousin for giving me the beautiful ruby block butter dish.  It is EAP Glass which was produced from 1850 to 1914.  This one is estimated to be from 1894. I suspect that this may have been a 40th wedding anniversary gift, passed down through several generations.  Perhaps a gift from my Great Grandparents Ambrose and Mary Walker (nee Mottram) to my Great Great Grandparents Alexander and Ellen Walker (nee Rowe) who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on 20th July 1908.  Or was it a gift to Mary's parents, my Great Great Grandparents, Samuel and Elizabeth Mottram (nee Gourley), who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on 27th January 1915?

My father has made me two replicas of this bookcase for side tables in the loungeroom

Every time that I look at the pair of candelabra I think of a deceased friend, Bill Terhorst.   Bill was an engineer and very clever.  He learned blacksmith skills from one of his relatives and made two of these, with the assistance of my husband.  

The good luck charm was purchased in China while I was on a trip with my daughter.

Hand-made by Bill Terhorst.

The small tea-pot belonged to my Nanna.  Several of her grandchildren remember cups of tea being made in it.
The kettle with the green lid was always on our stove growing up.  The fruit bowl (full of knick knacks) belonged to my nanna also.

The tea tin was a container for cereal when we were children.
The canisters were purchased from Bendigo Pottery when we visited friends.
The coffee grinder belonged to my husband's parents (and is of German origin)
The scales were from my days as a bank teller before coin-counting became digital.

The crystal cabinet belonged to Great Grandma Walker and was given to me by another cousin for safekeeping.  It was one of the first things I saw when I walked in the front door of my grandparents.  Nanna always had jelly beans for us, hiding behind a picture on the crystal cabinet.

The dancing doll in the bottle is another beautiful memory of my nanna, who would wind it up for me over and over again when I was a little girl.

The above barometer is one of a large number of pigeon flying trophies. 
My father in law won the VHA Long Distance Average in 1977

The dining room is full of memories. These are only a few examples.
On our honeymoon, we were chased down the road by a vendor eager to sell his wares.  We ended up purchasing the hand-carved cobra walking stick for $5, to stop him from following us.
The ice bucket and trays are VHA pigeon racing trophies.
The cup was given to my parents upon my birth by the masonic lodge.
The crockery is part of a set that belonged to my maternal great grandmother, Mabel Pilgrim (nee Geyer), but it has been broken up and shared among the family.
The goblets belonged to my mother in law.  They were always on display in her wall unit

The purple lamp was used on the kitchen table by my grandmother prior to electricity.
The iron lamp was a wedding present to my Great Grandparents,  Ambrose and Mary Walker, from the bride's father, Samuel Mottram.
The copper picture brings back memories of my grandfather, Gordon Walker, as it was on the wall of my grandparents home when I was a child.
Just out of view is a picture from Disneyland, a scent lamp which a gift from past colleagues/friends, and an urn from a visit to Turkey.

The knitting machine and cupboard belonged to my maternal grandfather, Allan Scott, who purchased them when he returned from World War II, to make socks for the soldiers.
The piano accordion (in the case) was my mothers when she was a child.
The hat was from when my husband was in the army.
The handbag belonged to my mother-in-law.
Mum made the tablecloth with hobbytex

I have given you a small taste of our eclectic style.  Some may think that I am a hoarder.  Others with say that I am a collector.  But I consider myself to be the keeper of memories. I have a book of photographs of all the memorabilia, which includes a description of its origin.  If something happens to me, others will also know the significance.

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This post was inspired by Sepia Saturday 606.

It started with calendars but finished with memorabilia!

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Favourite Photos

I often say that my favourite photo is yet to be taken.....but maybe it was taken near 100 years ago?

I received my first camera in 1978, to take on a school 'train trip' from Stratford to Swan Hill (Victoria, Australia) and return.   Although those first photos were terrible (blurred and on an angle with no thought about composition), I was addicted, and have been taking photos ever since.

Was it that school train trip that inspired my love of taking photos (recording memories) or was it genetic?  Although I knew that my maternal grandmother was keen on 'taking snaps', I did not realise that she had real talent and had been taking photos since her teens.  It was only after she died in 2006, that I became aware of some of her photo albums.  The earliest of Gran's photos were taken in 1927 when she would have been 17 years old, and continued until her later years.

One of Gran's earliest photos, which was taken with her Box Brownie. 
Gran took many wonderful photos of farm life. 
1927 Edna Pilgrim on Kit, Hazel Pilgrim on Benny with Joker the dog

I have just realised another similarity to my grandmother; I carry my camera around with me often too. 
There are many photos of gran with her box brownie in her hand (which I now own).
Future generations will also see many photos of me with my camera in hand!

There are many wonderful photos in my grandmother's albums, which give a fantastic insight into a different time.  I am not sure now where the below photo came from, but I believe that it came from my Great Aunty Mavis' photo albums. It has always appealed to me and is the background for this blog. I don't know when it was taken or where, but it speaks to me of a different time. It may not be of great quality but look closely as there is so much detail in this photo.  For me, it tells a story, but it also makes me wonder.......

What stories does this photo bring to mind?
What questions arise?
How does it make you feel?

The photo below is another of my favourites.  Look at the size of those horses!  Even the chook in the background is big! Does anyone recognise the hill in the background? Could this be taken on Lloyd Street, Moe?

Mary and Ambrose Walker with grandaughter Phyllis
The horses are Silver and Buzz
Late 1920s or early 1930s
According to the Electoral Roll, they lived at Lloyd Street, Moe, Victoria

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This is the third post of the 52 ancestors in 52 weeks challenge.  

#52ancestorsin52weeks

This weeks prompt is "Favorite Photo" but I could not limit it to one!

Violet May Jolley

Jolley Family -  c1916
Reg, Alf, George, Annie Emma, Violet, Roy, Lucie, Alfred, Fred, Emma and Leslie

Violet May Jolley is my 2nd cousin, twice removed.

Vi's grandmother and my Great Great Grandfather were siblings.

Violet May Jolley was born on the 2nd August 1912 in South Australia.  She married Henry Frank Hicks on the 15th March 1958.  She died 3rd February 1993.  Please note that these details are from word of mouth and not yet confirmed.

Relationship Chart
Violet is my 2nd cousin twice removed

Siblings Fred and Vi Jolley
c1914-1918

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Nina Beryl Tucker

Nina Tucker (Centre) and her first cousins once removed
(Eva & Lloyd's mother is a cousin to Nina)

Have you ever wondered what "First Cousin Three Times Removed" means?

Nina Beryl Tucker is my cousin, three times removed.  To determine the relationship, we therefore need to step back three generations of cousins.  

My mother's cousins are my first cousins once removed 

     (My Great Grandmother is their Grandmother)

My grandmother's cousins are my first cousins twice removed

     (My Great Great Grandmother is their Grandmother)

My great grandmother's cousins are my first cousins three times removed

     (My Great Great Great Grandmother is their Grandmother)

22nd January 1921
Sophie Geyer, Nina Tucker, Vic Presser, Lil Geyer, Eva Pilgrim and possibly Albert Presser

Genogram showing the relationship between those in the photo
with Eva Pilgrim being my Grandmother

Nina Beryl Tucker was born at Nhill on 13th July 1907 and died 3rd July 1978 at Horsham.

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Ivy Mary Pilgrim

Ivy Pilgrim  - 1914
Photo from Mavis Pilgrim

Stan & Ivy Pilgrim
1916
Photo from Mavis Pilgrim

Ivy was the first of five children born to Percival Walter Pilgrim and Ruby Florence Moulden.  Unfortunately, pretty little Ivy did not survive past 3 years of age, as she died from Septic Pneumonia.  Her two elder sisters and an elder brother did not even get to meet her as she died before they were born.

According to the death certificate, she had been unwell for a month.  Ivy's eldest sister (who is my Great Aunty and also my first cousin, twice removed) told me that when Ivy's condition worsened in the middle of the night,  her Grandfather, James Pilgrim, took Ivy and her parents into the hospital in the horse and buggy, which took time to yoke up. Ruby stayed with her daughter for the duration of the illness, while the younger son, Stan, was likely cared for by a neighbour.

Ivy Mary Pilgrim

Source: www.nla.gov.au

Relationship: First cousin, twice removed
Born: 21st June 1914 at Nhill, Victoria, Australia
Died: 7th June 1917 at Nhill from Septic Pneumonia.

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Gladys Alice Pilgrim

How cute is little Gladys Alice Pilgrim?  I wonder what she is thinking?  She looks very alert and nearly ready to smile!

Poor little Gladys died of Gastroenteritis when she was only 14 months old.

Gladys was the fifth of the six children of my Great Grand Uncle, William Thomas Pilgrim and Mary Ann McPherson.
She as born at Winiam, Victoria, Australia on 12th August 1912 and died at Nhill on 29th October 1913.

Gladys is my first cousin, once removed.

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Guess the Weight

"This pet sheep was led one mile to the Winiam Hall Sports, for the weight guessing.
The owner is Miss Nellie Ervin (later Love)
2nd Left is Walter Weir, 3rd is Perce Pilgrim
Far Right is Jim Pilgrim then Mr Bob Weir
Taken 5th April by Miss E.J. Pilgrim 'Almond Dale' Winiam Via Nhill"

This post has been inspired by Sepia Saturday
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The Women In My Life

Agnes Scott, Rita Walker, Mary Jane Walker, Elizabeth Mottram,
Charlotte Drayton, Danielle, Ellen Walker
Mary Ann Scott, Me , Joy, Eva Scott
Jane Warrick, Mary Ann Pilgrim, Edith Geyer, Mabel Pilgrim

Girls commencing work today would not believe how things have changed in the past 30+ years!

When I started working, what we today know as "discrimination" was accepted as normal practice!

As a junior,  I made the coffee for all the men in the office every morning and afternoon.  It was an accepted part of my role to be the "gopher".  In the days before every branch had a photo copier, it was my job to run across the road to get any photocopying done!  I didn't mind as being a smoker back then, it gave me the opportunity to have a cigarette, as females were not allowed to smoke in front of customers (but the men could).  In the early years of banking,  I remember being disciplined for coming to work in trousers!

I was ambitious from a young age but had many doubters.............and they were not afraid to tell me either!  That just made me more determined!  When I was 20 , I was told that I could not have a supervisors role because "You are female and under age 21" even though I had been successfully relieving in the role for months!   Hard to imagine today!

A male colleague actually laughed at me one day and told me that I would never be a manager as I would "just get married and have babies".  I did get married and have babies but continued working! I achieved my ambition to be a Manager before I was age 30 and am proud that I was the first female branch manager in Gippsland.  How I hated playing golf after manager's conferences!  However, it was something that I needed to do to be considered an equal.  In reality,  I feel that I had to work twice as hard as my male colleagues to be considered equal!

I do not write this to complain but instead to highlight how things have changed. We have come a long way but unfortunately we still have a way to go until men and females are equal in the workplace.

However, I have had it easy compared to my female ancestors pictured above. Every one of the ladies above (except my daughter) has a story of adversity and courage.

My Great Great Great Grandmother, Jane Bound, was 39 years old with 8 children and another on the way when her husband died.  Jane was too old to come to Australia from England, but did not take "no" for an answer and successfully applied for a special dispensation from the Queen to bring her family to Australia in 1878.  That took courage!

When I chose to be a working mother, I did not realise that my Great Great Grandmother, Edith Geyer, was one of the first working mothers.   After her husband died of typhoid in 1899, she needed to work to maintain custody of her seven children.  The family faced further adversity and nearly died when the family went by wagon to Mildura to pick fruit.  You can read about it here.
Nurse Edith Geyer later built a successful private hospital business (with no formal education).  She was certainly an early survivor and entrepreneur.

March is Women's Family History Month and Tuesday March 8th is International Women's day. I would like to take this opportunity to remember and thank the strong women in my family.  I am proud to come from a long line of determined and resourceful women.  Maybe I have inherited my resilience, determination and work ethic from my fore-bearers?

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"Off for a Shot"

"December 1929 -  C Pilgrim, H Rowett, C Smith, L Pilgrim"
From the album of Eva Jean Pilgrim (sister of Lloyd Pilgrim)

Albert Clarence Pilgrim (known as Clarrie) was 19 years old and his cousin Lloyd James Pilgrim was 17 years old in 1929.  The middle two young men are not related to me, as far as I know.

I believe that this photo was taken at Almond Dale in Winiam.  The stable in the background looks very similar to the one pictured in other photos in my grandmothers album.   Did you notice that C Smith is wearing a tie?  He has an aura of confidence about him.  

The four young are men standing in among the flowers, which I imagine would have looked fantastic in colour! 

I find it to be a very interesting photo, but do wonder if it has been staged by my grandmother?  

What do you think?

This Post has been inspired by Sepia Saturday.  Please click fir more posts.

Smile for the camera

Eva Pilgrim  with her Box Brownie
Easter 1928 - Age 18
Stawell Gift

My grandmother, Eva Scott (nee Pilgrim), loved her "snaps".  She was proud that she had saved for her Kodak Box Brownie, which I now own.

There are albums and albums full of Gran's photos.  The old albums and photos taken with the Box Brownie in the earlier years are my favourite.  She was naturally a great photographer!  Anyone who reads my blog regularly will have admired many of her photos, which provide an insight into a different time.  

Gran received several awards at the Nhill Agricultural Show for her photos.  She also had many photos published in the Weekly Times.  I am looking forward to further issues of the Weekly Times being digitised, so that I can view them on the National Library of Australia archive Trove.

Many of the earlier, so called colour, photos in her albums have turned pink or orange. In later years she purchased postcards on her travels, rather than taking photos.

I would love to be able to talk to my grandmother now!  We have more in common than I ever realised!  Maybe my love of travel, photography and family history is genetic?   Did she recognise that we have a lot of similarities?  I will never know!

Eva Pilgrim, with her Box Brownie, at her Grandmother's home in Baille Street West, Horsham
June 1930
Is that steam coming from a laundry?

Pilgrim Family Gathering - Winiam 1934
Eva Pilgrim with her Kodak Box Brownie

My first camera looked like this (a Kodak also)

Gran's first camera - Kodak Box Brownie - remains
in excellent condition (with a use manual)

Me on a theme park ride in 2013

My Grandmother, Eva Scott, in 1990 (age 80)

The camera is never far away!

I was  snapped snapping in 2015

My daughter took this and said (A typical Mum pose)

This prompt was inspired by Sepia Saturday.  Click for more posts.