pictures from our past- our world-
A summer at the beach (Part 2)
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Playtime And An Afternoon Swim
The fishing party returned sometime before noon. After cleaning their catch, themselves, and changing their cloths they sat down to the principal family meal of the day. Since the preparation had been in progress before the fishermen's return, it is unlikely that the mornings catch was served. It might have been yesterdays catch, or if there was no yesterdays catch, something purchased at the local grocery store. It was a full course sit-down dinner possibly including a hot soup and a desert. . Dinner was followed by a siesta period. After all many of the group had been up since dawn. Perhaps some of the young not inclined to nap, played dominos or cards on the porch. Maybe some of the more ambitious went outside to toss horseshoes. There are no pictures of these activities except possibly the first picture that may be a shot immediately following a horseshow toss. Granted there is no physical showing of horseshoe paraphernalia appearing in the picture, but the pose suggests the follow-up following a toss. Perhaps more likely, this guy was messing around and was feeling the rather hot dry sand burn his bare feet. The term "Huertistas," refers to the followers of a Mexican General Huerta who had seized power in Mexico in 1913. Border friction on the Texas/Mexican border prompted Federal steps to protect the Texas Border with that country. I am sure the event had received wide publicity and interest in South Texas. Along about 4:00 in the afternoon all except the very old donned their bathing suits for an afternoons swim. Note that by that time, a rising 20 to 30 mph afternoon wind is likely to have stirred up a considerable surf. Do note the contrast between the condition of the bay in some of these afternoon swim pictures with the flat calm of the morning fishing shots. Also note the classic pose of the couple in the third picture to the right. The guy in particular is posing in the manner of a well publicized Rudolph Valintino shot. Refreshed after their swim the family returned to the house where they dress. The women prepared an evening meal which was less pretensions than the noon dinner. Often it involved leftovers and was generally somewhat on the light side. After WWII the North Beach Area deteriorated badly becoming an area of Seamen bars and third rate old hotels and motels. In the late 1950's the construction of a high automobile bridge over the harbor turning basin replacing the ancient draw bridge had effectively isolated the area from the mainstream. The breakers Hotel that was one of the few structures to survive the 1919 hurricane made it through the 1960's. The area has now been subject to some renewal but I have not been to the actual 1913 vacation site for several decades. I did come close about 1996 when I visited a new Art Museum about a half mile south from the old vacation site. At that time, a friend took a picture of me with an interesting background that definitely was not there in 1913. This picture is now part of my Texas Net home page. (Click the link to connect).
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Grouping
All events involving members of the extended family required many group pictures to be preserved for posterity. Many of the shots previously exhibited involved groups. Here are 2 more from the 1913 North Beach vacation. The first shot on the beach is interesting because I am now pretty certain about the identity of 10 of the 15 people pictured. These include, Harold Henry Arnold, 2nd from left; Lilly Zirkel, 3rd from left; Grandma Johana Schlick, 4th; the baby Ruby Boezinger,5th, and Lula Zirkel Boezinger, 6th. Also the Couple in the center in a back row by them selves, are Henry Meier and his wife Stella Zirkel Meier while their three young boys at the right front are the couples children, Gilbert Meier, Russel Meier (obscured by deterioration of emulsion) and Clifton Meier. Also I wonder if the well dressed white suited gentleman on the left who appears too stout to be Edward Arnold is Otto Zirkel.? And perhaps the aging lady in the center row 4th from the right is Otto Zirkel's wife, Emma Schlick Zirkel. This lady appears to be a bit too old to be Emma's younger sister, Lula Schlick Arnold but I guess this idenity is also a possibility.. Today the group picture taking of all the attendants at a family event usually comes in late afternoon. Everyone gathers at an appropriate spot like the porch or steps while pictures are made with one or more cameras. This is the procedure followed just last Xmas at my nephews new ranch home near Terrill in North Texas. I claimed the distinction of being the first to take such a picture with a digital camera. |
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Continue With: A Trip to Chicago & Milwaukee |
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