Some mystery photos to ponder

This week, some historic photos and some mystery photos were found in the files of the Westfield Republican and passed on to the Westfield Historian. Since a lot of alumni of WACS are home for the Ox Roast and various class reunions, several of these photos are being circulated among the alumni by their interested former classmates to try to identify the people and approximate dates of these photos. Four of these photos are being published in Buzzings from BeeLines, hoping that readers may be able to assist in this project.

First, a photo of a male jazz band (HB?) with female vocalist, from approximately 1945-1950. Only one person is positively identified – David Stratton at left on sax.

Second is a “back to school photo” from approximately 1956-57 of children who were to be the WACS class of 1969. In this photo, two people are positively identified – front row left is Tom Marsh and front row center is Jay Stratton.

Third is a post WWII photo of a horse team-drawn hay wagon float with employees of Planter’s, a former fruit processing plant in Westfield, on the float. The team being driven by Gene Felton, father of Dick Felton, who originally submitted the photo in 2004, or perhaps Vinnie Calarco may have submitted the photo as his name is on the envelope as well. The requested caption for the mystery photo was, “Do any of the readers recognize anyone?”

Fourth is a photocopy of a battered photo of school children in front of the old grade school, which stood approximately where Westfield Family Physicians’ building and the Westfield Post Office building are now located — between Academy Street and Cottage Street, just behind Crosby’s and the WFP parking lot. This photo was submitted as “Augusta Issler Mystery Photo – Do you know these Westfield children? Contact John Issler.” There is no date, but would have to be before 1958 when the old school was torn down, and could be as early as the 1930s.

Please contact the Westfield Historian with the names and dates of any people in any of the photos. Future Buzzings from Beelines will include any identification info submitted.

Marybelle Beigh is the current Public Historian for the Town and Village of Westfield. Her office is located at 3 East Main Street in Westfield, N.Y, 14787 — inside Parkview Ice Cream Parlor. Her scheduled office hours are Monday through Friday 9 to 11 a.m.; other hours by appointment.

Beigh can be reached at westfieldhistorian@fairpoint.net or by calling 326-2457 (office), 326-6171 (home) or 397-9254 (cell).