Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Miss Humphrys

Aurora High School Teachers Photo Journey

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 05:08:08 +0000

A while ago, (June 2011) I have published post (Aurora, A History In Pictures Collectible Book Arrived With A Surprise, An Old Photo) about a photograph that arrived in the mail inside the Aurora, A History In Pictures, a book by W. John McIntyre I have purchased on Amazon.

In a matter of few days of posting about the photo I was contacted by the descendant and grandson of J.H. Knowles, former Aurora Councillor Bob McRoberts.

Book and Photo, Miss Humphrys & Mr. Knowles, Oct 18, 1943

Also, by talking/writing to a couple of people prior the telephone call, instead of having one descendant per family, that is Knowles and Humphrys, I had leads for two Knowles in town. My life was getting complicated, but only for a day or so. I like to sleep on my decision no matter how urgent they are. And what will few days of thinking do to the photo that not many knew about and was lost for many years. My scanner wasn’t working properly, so that helped to get that extra ‘decision’ sleep and get the photo to the right person.

By listening to Bob McRoberts family history and doing some research in the old Aurora Era newspapers from 1940s, a decision was made. I delivered photo to Bob McRoberts. Delivering by mail was out of question. The photo was lost for many years, so this time wasn’t going to happen. Not to mention the Canada Post was going on or was on strike around that time.

We made a surprise delivery to Mr. McRoberts. During our chat for few minutes, he also showed us another picture of his grandfather J.H. Knowles. It was a picture from the army. I couldn’t believe how prefect the photo was. I really mean perfect. No scratches, no nicks and no fading, and it was also older photo than the one I delivered to him. Well, there is an excuse for that, the photo of the teachers was on the road for many years, and only protection it had was a book.

The results of my findings were published in The Auroran this week (Week of August 02, 2011 Volume 11 Number 40). I wrote Letter to the Editor, Journey of the lost photo from Aurora (pg 6, pdf file) and Bob McRoberts let The Auroran publish the photo (pg 4, pdf file). Few words were written under the photo for which I am very thankful. That was definitely a big surprise. That was also my first ever Letter to the Editor published in The Auroran, and it was very generous of Ron Wallace to let mention my blog.

To find the new place for the photo was a joint effort of few people in Aurora, including Bob McRoberts himself. I also had a nice chats with David Heard (A Step In Time), emails with Chris Watts (Temporary Sanity), and Michael Suddard (Michael’s Blog) hit the nail in the head with his comment here and confirmed my findings. Michael is now residing in Richmond Hill; however, he always calls Aurora his home.

‘Anna, It just hit me. The person you may have a photo of is J.H. Knowles the former Principal of Wells Street Public School. He had a house on Catherine Avenue (J.H. Knowles House) and is related to former Deputy Mayor Bob McRoberts somehow (grandfather?). House reference here:
http://www.town.aurora.on.ca/aurora/index_e.aspx?ArticleID=478

Miss Humphrys may be a teacher at that time at Wells Street Public School at the time because of the context of the way the photos are referenced (Mr. Knowles & Miss Humphrys) as students would politly call them.
In the Aurora a History in Pictures there is a picture of Wells Street Public School with all the glee club in front with Mr. Knowles, the Principal, included.

Baldwin’s Restauarant has a small copy of the photo on their website near the bottom of this page: Baldwin’s Restaurant has a small copy of the photo near the bottom here: http://www.baldwinsrestaurant.com/history‘

That was a very interesting journey to be part of and I will always ask myself – why me?

Aurora, A History In Pictures Collectible Book Arrived With A Surprise, An Old Photo

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 05:10:07 +0000

Aurora, A History In Pictures book by W. John McIntyre arrived few weeks ago at my mail box. I ordered this book online from Amazon already used since this book is not in circulation.

At the arrival I read the FOREWORD by John McIntyre which I found very interesting and encouraging. ‘Our history is a fragile thing, too easily lost or forgotten.’ – he wrote. Tell you the truth I never liked history in school. However, I enjoy it more on my own time now. It all started when I got interested in the old family photos about 12 years ago. It took me about three years to scan all possible family photos from different sources. I think I got about 3000 of pieces digitally archived – yes we have a big family.

I also was restoring photos here in Aurora from my home. I did it for about 2 years as a small side business and got to know some very nice people. I really enjoyed it, but my arm could not take it anymore. It is in fact a very time consuming process. Sometimes it was tough for me because I would get impossible requests. It got to the point that instead of fixing the scratches or damages on the photo, I was actually restoring people on the photo. That I did not like at all.

Aurora, A History in Pictures by W. John McIntyre

Looks like I got side tracked a bit, so here we go – back to the book. The book itself is used in an excellent condition, but it is also a collectible signed by John McIntyre.

I did not read the comments very carefully at the time of purchase because it was a surprise to me when the book arrived with an old 68 year old photo of two people. The photo was inserted between the page 46 and 47 and matching the same person in a group photo in the book on the page 47.

Miss Humphrys & Mr. Knowles, Oct 18, 1943

The comment stated: ‘SIGNED COPY/ 1988 The Boston Mills Press oblong PB 144pp. approx. 10″ x 8″, flat signed by author on title page, near fine clean and bright copy with a hint of storage stress (minor curl to cover), also includes old 1945 photo of two teachers from Aurora High School / Ontario, CA.‘

I contacted the seller to find out more about the photo and how it got there. They kindly replied.

‘Anna, sorry but we do not know who the people in the photo are, we bought the book at a library sale and the photo was in the book. We thought maybe, the person who bought the book would know who the people were so we just left it in the book.‘

The purpose of me buying this book was because of the old photographs of the Aurora. I just love to compare the old to the new, therefore, no I wouldn’t know who they are or more like to whom that photo belongs to. I know their names because they are written with the fountain pen on the back of the photo: Miss Humphrys & Mr. Knowles, Oct 18 /43.

It will always remain a mystery to us all who was the original owner of this book and what was the purpose to leave a photo inside the book. A mistake? I think that on the end the photo should belong to the descendants of either one person on the photo.

Aurora, A History in Pictures

Therefore, dear readers if you happen to know anything about this photo please let me know, or forward to the people who may know. I will then give away photo to the right person. The photo may as well belong to two families, however, the first person to come forward will receive the original and digital copies. The second family will copies in a digital format.

PHOTO DETAILS

Description: A photo of Miss Humphrys & Mr. Knowles

Size: 5 x 7 inches with white border

Color: Black and White, a bit tint of Sepia

Back: Names written in Fountain pen

Dated: Oct 18, 1943

Here is touched up photo with contrast adjusted. My advice never frame and hang original photos on the wall, UV light will damage them. Hang copies only.