George's Photos ca. 1896 page 1 of 5

One of the stories that my mother, Mary Potter Lavery (1911-1994), told about her father George Potter (1875-1943) was that he had tried his hand at professional photography when he was young. 

I recently found a collection of George's early photographs which perhaps represent work he intended to sell.  These photos are mounted on cardboard and most of the cardboard backings have pinholes, suggesting that they may have been displayed for show or for sale.  The photo papers seem to have been trimmed as they are slightly irregular in size; most are 4.5x6.5 inches (around 114x165 mm).  

The two photos below have a common theme.  They capture the resort area of Findley Lake, NY, which was the site of a "Lakeside Assembly" on the Chautauqua model at the turn of the past century.  Structures for lectures and concerts were on one side of the lake, while lodging for the visitors was on another; the two were connected by paddle-wheel steamboats.  The steamboat in George's photo matches up with one illustrated in the Findley Lake historical website:  

Steamboats of Findley Lake, NY

The vessel in these photos is almost certainly the "Silver Spray", which operated in this single-deck configuration during the 1896-1898 seasons.  It was converted to a two-deck plan after 1898 and continued to operate until 1910.

The titles in quotes are George's in his hand.

"Moonlight on Findley Lake"
Paddle-wheeler "Silver Spray"

"On Findley Lake"
Waiting for the next boat at Findley Lake.  The owner of the "Silver Spray" added a top deck for the 1899 season.

Mail Call: 14 November 1934 (Gladys)

From Gladys Potter in Sargent, MO to her daughter Mary in St. Louis.

Short note asking for the means to pay on the grocery bill in Cabool.

George Potter and Arch Brooks are hauling wood using Arch's mules.

Note:  Mrs Rivry is neighbor Arch Brooks' mother-in-law.

Mail Call: 5 November 1934 (David)

From David Potter in Sargent, MO to his sister Mary in St. Louis.

David doesn't need an offered suit or shoes, but wants corduroy pants and a "deerskin" jacket...a leather vest with sleeves and a zipper front.  Socks are a must.

Perhaps  this is something like the jacket in question.
I don't think Dave got one, though

David Potter
circa 1934

Third-page addition from George Potter to his daughter Mary:

"The old Buick has a bad case of jitters and I look for it to give a gasp and quit any time.  Dave is the only one that can make it run and he works with both hands & feet & sometimes then she stops on the road & then everyone gets out and pushes"

Signed J. Bascom Twitch

Sorghum cakes?

Sorghum Cakes (not Gladys' recipe),
background is a
Rag rug by Gladys Potter circa 1960

The previous two letters from Grandparents Gladys and George Potter mentioned sorghum production on the Sargent, MO farm and the desired end product, sorghum cakes.  That got me doing some research.  I don't have the Potters' recipe, but the following one is contemporary (from "A Taste of the Past" compiled by author Phyllis Connor in the 1990s from old-time cookbooks.)

The method is demented, but it produces a very good cake without milk or eggs.  The cinnamon also could be optional, since the sorghum flavor is rather strong.  If Betty the cow did not provide butter, I suppose any available shortening would work.

There are many more elaborate versions of Sorghum Cake with milk, eggs, additional spices, dried fruit and so on available from "Mr. Google," but this one is both minimalist and surprisingly good.

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sorghum syrup

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (Not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking soda (Not baking powder)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup water, boiling(!)

Preheat oven to 325F
Grease 9x9 inch cake pan

Cream butter and sugar
Add Sorghum syrup to butter and sugar

Sift together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, cinnamon)

Mix the dry ingredient mixture
into butter/sugar/sorghum cream...gently.

Add boiling water, stir until mixed well.  The batter will foam up somewhat.

Pour into pan, bake 45 minutes or until the top springs back and/or a toothpick comes out dry.

Let rest on a rack for 20 minutes then turn the cake out and let it cool completely.

Tech note:  The soda is reacting with acids in the sorghum syrup to provide leavening, the boiling water helps speed the reaction.

Mail Call: 23 October 1934 (George)

Letter from George Potter in Sargent, MO to Mary Potter in St. Louis, who was still working on a temporary basis and living with George's sister Dora and her husband Walt Bremerkamp in E. St. Louis.  The temp job is across the river in St. Louis itself and so carfare eats into her pay.

Johnny cake and fresh milk from Betty the cow for supper....with the promise of sorghum syrup for cakes.

Note: "Lucile and Em" are Emma Jane Potter Parker (1878-1953), George's sister,
and her daughter Lucille Parker Quested (1897-1968) back in Erie County, PA.

Note:  "Brooks" is neighbor Arch Brooks.

Mail Call: 14 October 1934 (Gladys)

Letter from Gladys Potter in Sargent, MO to her daughter Mary who is still working in St. Louis.

Late night bread baking..."Now can you smell it"...

Sorghum cane stripping on Oct 15 followed by syrup making (was there a cane mill in Texas Co.?)

David is "fixing flats for a pastime."

"Everybody has gone to bed but the cats & they are fighting"

"I have got to stop writing as the lamp is going out for the want of oil"

"If this letter isn't spelt correct, you fix it."

Note:  Brooks is neighbor Arch Brooks.  I cannot identify "Murdocks" or "Opal."
Mrs. Fieldens runs the grocery store which offers credit; there was at least one cash-only grocery in Cabool as well.

Note: Mrs  Brooks is Claudine Rivry Brooks, Arch Brook's wife.
I cannot identify "Paul Bird"
Dora is Dora Bremercamp, George's sister, in East St. Louis.

,

Mail Call: 4 October 1934 (Gladys)

Letter from Gladys Potter to her daughter Mary in St. Louis dated 4 October 1934.

Gladys has rescued an old red coat which George had given to the dogs and traded it to a neighbor for a bushel of wheat.  Grape picking by the creek then leads to poison oak and hands like a "horny toad."

Note:  Mrs. B is neighbor Arch Brooks' wife Celestine Claudia Brooks; the Mary who gets the dogs' coat is Arch Brook's daughter "Lizzie"

Note:  Dora is George's sister in E. St. Louis, married to Walt Bremerkamp