And here I am - another girl !!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Speaking of weddings
Look at this - the printing plate for the wedding invitation for my great grandparents, Bertha Schwartz and Abraham Gunzendorfer!
It needs to be cleaned (118 years will do that) but I'm afraid to touch it.
RSVP
I originally wrote about Bertha and Abe's wedding here.
And then there was this little tidbit.
It's hard to read but it shows Santa Cruz, September 9, 1894. Subscription: Free, Gratis, Nix, Nothing.
Under the Editor's Introduction it says:
THE GUN is published daily, except on Sundays, Week Days and Holidays, and is fired on this festive occasion with a right royal salute in honor of the two principals
whose union adds lustre to this glorious California day, and which gives our Golden State another reason to make this forever a gala day in its history. The Editors hope that those who have been so unfortunate as to have been within range and hit by the shots fired from THE GUN are not seriously wounded, and we believe that if they will but consider, they will soon realize that the ammunition used was with the intention of striking, if possible, the bulls-eye of their risibilities, rather than for the purpose of inflicting pain. To those, however, suffering more than others, we recommend the salve of geniality of our hostess or balm of a bewitching smile from the fair bride.
The last page (of four) is pretty clever.
On the right side there are some 'telegrams' - here are a few:
Pekin, September 9th, 1894
I regret I cannot be with you today. I lost my only little yellow jacket and have nothing else to wear suitable for the Chassne. Seit mir gebenscht Kinder. Li Hung Chang, Viceroy to China
Balmoral Castle, September 9th, 1894
My last Great Grandchild has cost me all my Milchding Silver. I can only send you my blessing.
Pruh, Urvuh
Queen Victoria
St. Petersburg, September 9th, 1894
For this day and your special benefit I cast aside all my Risches and say with the Rabbi Jevorechecho.
Alexander III, Czar of Russia
Washington, September 9th, 1894
We extend to you our best wishes. We hope you will do your duty to your country as we have always tried to do ours.
Grover and Frances
Someone had quite a sense of humor!
It needs to be cleaned (118 years will do that) but I'm afraid to touch it.
Mrs. R. Schwartz
invites you to be present
at the marriage of her daughter
Bertha
to
Mr. A.B. Gunzendorfer
Sunday evening September ninth
Eighteen hundred and ninety four
at eight o'clock
at her residence
99 Mission Street
Santa Cruz
California
RSVP
I originally wrote about Bertha and Abe's wedding here.
And then there was this little tidbit.
It's hard to read but it shows Santa Cruz, September 9, 1894. Subscription: Free, Gratis, Nix, Nothing.
Under the Editor's Introduction it says:
THE GUN is published daily, except on Sundays, Week Days and Holidays, and is fired on this festive occasion with a right royal salute in honor of the two principals
Bertha (nee Schwartz) and Abe Gunzendorfer
whose union adds lustre to this glorious California day, and which gives our Golden State another reason to make this forever a gala day in its history. The Editors hope that those who have been so unfortunate as to have been within range and hit by the shots fired from THE GUN are not seriously wounded, and we believe that if they will but consider, they will soon realize that the ammunition used was with the intention of striking, if possible, the bulls-eye of their risibilities, rather than for the purpose of inflicting pain. To those, however, suffering more than others, we recommend the salve of geniality of our hostess or balm of a bewitching smile from the fair bride.
The last page (of four) is pretty clever.
On the right side there are some 'telegrams' - here are a few:
Pekin, September 9th, 1894
I regret I cannot be with you today. I lost my only little yellow jacket and have nothing else to wear suitable for the Chassne. Seit mir gebenscht Kinder. Li Hung Chang, Viceroy to China
Balmoral Castle, September 9th, 1894
My last Great Grandchild has cost me all my Milchding Silver. I can only send you my blessing.
Pruh, Urvuh
Queen Victoria
St. Petersburg, September 9th, 1894
For this day and your special benefit I cast aside all my Risches and say with the Rabbi Jevorechecho.
Alexander III, Czar of Russia
Washington, September 9th, 1894
We extend to you our best wishes. We hope you will do your duty to your country as we have always tried to do ours.
Grover and Frances
Someone had quite a sense of humor!
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Will you marry me?
Look at that - the wedding announcement for my paternal grandparents, Mildred Loraine Gunzendorfer and Sigmund Levy! I found this little gem folded in the original envelope and just ready for mailing, even if it is nearly 100 years later.
My grandmother apparently hated the name Mildred and always used her middle name - looks like she hated it enough to leave it off of her wedding announcement.
The engagement wasn't a long one as I found the newspaper article announcing their engagement in the San Francisco Chronicle, November 10, 1918. In my treasures I've also found many, many letters of congratulations from their various friends.
I don't know the exact dates of these photos but they seem to be from about the right time period.
 |
| Loraine Gunzendorfer |
 |
| Sigmund Levy |
I also found some newspaper articles tossed in with the pile of photos I have. I have no idea of the dates or the newpaper(s) they were printed in but here's a sample of one of them.
It's so fun to find these treasures - it takes me back to another time and makes the stories of my ancestors so real.
Congratulations Sig and Loraine!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
And one from the men......
Who knew men had autograph books? Here's the book from my paternal grandfather, Sigmund Levy.
What's interesting about this book is that is appears that it went into adulthood. Look at this......
Robert was Sig's oldest son and my dad's older brother. Robert was born November 3, 1920 so this entry would have been right after his ninth birthday. Doesn't it seem odd to have your son sign your autograph book?
And there was this entry by Sig's brother, Leon. Leon was #2 of the boys, Sig was #3.
This is a really cool autograph......
Yep, that's Sig's father, Herman Levy, and my great grandfather! He's definitely been a brick wall for me - why couldn't he have signed it "Herman Levy, son of XYZ Levy"?
And here's Sig's mother, Goldie Benas Levy.
So now I have the signatures of four of my great grandparents plus one of my great great grandparents - how cool is that?
What's interesting about this book is that is appears that it went into adulthood. Look at this......
Robert was Sig's oldest son and my dad's older brother. Robert was born November 3, 1920 so this entry would have been right after his ninth birthday. Doesn't it seem odd to have your son sign your autograph book?
And there was this entry by Sig's brother, Leon. Leon was #2 of the boys, Sig was #3.
This is a really cool autograph......
 |
| Best Wishes From your loving father Herman Levy Sigmund....1901 |
Yep, that's Sig's father, Herman Levy, and my great grandfather! He's definitely been a brick wall for me - why couldn't he have signed it "Herman Levy, son of XYZ Levy"?
And here's Sig's mother, Goldie Benas Levy.
 |
| Dear Sigmund What are the best days in memory? Those in which we meet a companion who was truly such. Your Mother Fresno, June 24, 1901 |
So now I have the signatures of four of my great grandparents plus one of my great great grandparents - how cool is that?
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Like mother, like daughter
It appears that autograph books were quite the rage at the turn of the century. After finding the autograph book of Bertha Schwartz (my great grandmother), I have now found the book of Mildred Loraine Gunzendorfer, Bertha's daughter and my paternal grandmother.
I wonder if that was her writing on the first page. I'm guessing it was because it looks like something an 8 year old might have written.
And I wonder what this means. Was that someone's signature?
This page cracks me up! Mildred Riecks wrote on Jan 25, 1905....
Dear Loraine
When you are old
And cannot see;
Pick up your specks,
And think of me.
Your school mate, Mildred Riecks
It seems that 100 years ago kids were called 'schoolmates' rather than 'classmates'.
Even little brother Wilton Gunzendorfer got into the act. He wrote this on October 27, 1908.
There is lots of forget me not in the garden of Loraine.
And look at this - Ferdinand Gunzendorfer, Loraine's grandfather and my 2nd great grandfather, signed the book on February 25, 1904.
I knew that Ferdinand spoke many languages and these pages show that - just not sure what language they're in.
Even the men had autograph books. Next time we'll see one of those.
I wonder if that was her writing on the first page. I'm guessing it was because it looks like something an 8 year old might have written.
And I wonder what this means. Was that someone's signature?
This page cracks me up! Mildred Riecks wrote on Jan 25, 1905....
When you are old
And cannot see;
Pick up your specks,
And think of me.
Your school mate, Mildred Riecks
It seems that 100 years ago kids were called 'schoolmates' rather than 'classmates'.
Even little brother Wilton Gunzendorfer got into the act. He wrote this on October 27, 1908.
There is lots of forget me not in the garden of Loraine.
And look at this - Ferdinand Gunzendorfer, Loraine's grandfather and my 2nd great grandfather, signed the book on February 25, 1904.
 |
| From your loving grandpa To his dear grand daughter Loraine F. Gunzendorfer |
I knew that Ferdinand spoke many languages and these pages show that - just not sure what language they're in.
Even the men had autograph books. Next time we'll see one of those.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
May I have your autograph?
Remember autograph books? I remember my kids taking one throughout Disneyland hoping for that perfect "person" to come around so they could get their autograph. What a thrill to have Ariel or Mickey sign the book! And then there were yearbooks where we had all of our friends sign and tell us to be cool, have a nice summer and see you next year.
But I never thought about autograph books in the late 19th century. Of course that would make sense since people didn't have the communication methods we have today but who knew I would actually run across one? But there it was, in the boxes of things from my mother's storage unit.
It looked pretty beat up and I almost missed it but when I opened it up, I saw this...
And on the next page.....
Yes, this little gem was the autograph book of Bertha "Birdie" Schwartz, my great grandmother. I've written about Birdie here and here and have found her to be quite an interesting woman.
So what else was in Birdie's autograph book?
Did you know there were dudes in 1888? I was surprised to see the word here on the first page.
Lillian A. Howard was quite an artist.
I wonder if Birdie was a dancer because L. Folk suggested she keepadancing.
There are lots of different autographs, although none as creative as those above. But nothing, NOTHING compares to this page which was written by Abe Gunzendorfer, Birdie's future husband. I wonder if this was when they first met as Birdie was just 17 years old when Abe wrote this.
Is that not the sweetest thing ever?
Stay tuned for more treasures around Birdie and Abe's courtship and wedding.
But I never thought about autograph books in the late 19th century. Of course that would make sense since people didn't have the communication methods we have today but who knew I would actually run across one? But there it was, in the boxes of things from my mother's storage unit.
It looked pretty beat up and I almost missed it but when I opened it up, I saw this...
And on the next page.....
Yes, this little gem was the autograph book of Bertha "Birdie" Schwartz, my great grandmother. I've written about Birdie here and here and have found her to be quite an interesting woman.
So what else was in Birdie's autograph book?
Did you know there were dudes in 1888? I was surprised to see the word here on the first page.
I'm a dandy but I'm no dude.
Yours respectfully, Who?
Yours respectfully, Who?
Santa Cruz, Cal. Jan 12, 1888
Lillian A. Howard was quite an artist.
I wonder if Birdie was a dancer because L. Folk suggested she keepadancing.
There are lots of different autographs, although none as creative as those above. But nothing, NOTHING compares to this page which was written by Abe Gunzendorfer, Birdie's future husband. I wonder if this was when they first met as Birdie was just 17 years old when Abe wrote this.
To Bird:
Always remember the pleasant times spent during my sejourn in Santa Cruz.
Yours Respectfully,
Abe Gunzendorfer
Santa Cruz
Aug. 14 - 89
Is that not the sweetest thing ever?
Stay tuned for more treasures around Birdie and Abe's courtship and wedding.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy
Look what I got - OLD STUFF! I know to many people, my husband included, this looks like a bunch of junk. But to me it is GOLD!
I got stuff! Old pictures, letters, newspapers, wedding announcements, obituaries, death certificates. STUFF! This stuff has been in a storage unit of my mother's for more than 30 years and has just been waiting for me to find it.
And the 1940 census is out. And I'm finding some of my people. I feel like I'm in genealogy heaven!
When I first opened the box I saw a picture and I immediately hoped I knew who they were. I thought to myself that this must be four generations of women in my family. I hoped I was right!
And then I turned the picture over ever so slowly, held my breath, and read.....
THE FOUR GENERATIONS
Santa Cruz Aug 1896
Grandma Steen Great Grandmother
Grandma Schwartz Grandmother
Mama Mother
Baby Loraine Baby
Baby Loraine is my grandmother, Mildred Loraine Gunzendorfer Levy! And her mother is Bertha Schwartz Gunzendorfer, her grandmother is Rebecca Steen Schwartz, and her great grandmother is Hannah Plotzky Steen. So now with my own family (father, me, daughters, grandchildren), I can actually see 8 generations of my family starting with Hannah!
I feel like I've won the lottery!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)