These photos were taken in 1937, whereabouts unknown. My father, Lee Doyle, had moved from Stoneboro, Pennsylvania, to Warren, Ohio in 1933. A year or two later he met my mother, Audrey Meinzen, on a blind date arranged by a friend of his. They began dating steadily.
My mother was in nurses' training until September, 1937. One of her classmates was Leona Paine, who was dating Earl Tuxford, known as Tux. They're pictured to the right with Lee and Audrey on the left.The two couples double dated. From a scrapbook Mom compiled it seems possible that they took weekend jaunts to various locations around Ohio and neighboring states.
Mom wrote that she received a camera from Dad's cousin and her husband when she graduated from nurses' training. I don't know if that camera was used for these photos or not. It's very possible since for many years afterward, the photos in her album are of similar size. I don't think either of my parents were very great photographers: her photo album is filled with slightly out-of-focus and/or blurred images. I'm sure she kept them because they were the only ones she had. (Don't you love digital cameras?!)
Lee and Audrey married in September, 1938. Leona and Tux also married, though I don't know when.
I love these photos of my parents. I love the possessive and loving way in which my father's arms circle or rest on my mother. It makes me smile to know that they had times of happiness when they were younger. The years seemed to bring struggles and challenges that took a toll on their joy.
The photo to the left was taken on the back porch of their house in Mineral Ridge - the one they lived in the rest of their lives. They had already had a son several years earlier and in this photo Mom was probably pregnant with a daughter, born in 1943. And they're still smiling.Don't you love the way my mom used ball point pen to write on the photos! Who knew about archival anything 30 years ago?!
Do you have photographs of your parents taken while they were courting and/or during the early years of their marriage?
This is a Sepia Saturday post. I encourage you to view the posts offered by others.
These are great photos. It is fun to see the hair styles and clothes and yes, they seem very happy and loving. I know you treasure these very much. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery nice photographs. I especially like the one with both couples, side by side. Your parents obviously had a lot of affection for one another. That shines through in each shot.
ReplyDeleteVery loving photos! Yes, it's always nice to see back to a time when people were young and in love -- before their troubles began.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the photos. Digital photography may be much easier and give us many more photographic memories, but I sometimes worry that - just because of the number of photos and the digital format they are in - they will not stand the test of time as well as these old photos of ours. Thanks for yet another fascinating post.
ReplyDeleteI wish I did have photos of my parents courting days. However, after a bitter divorce, I think that most such pictures were destroyed. It's sad, really. I, too, love the one of your father with his arms wrapped around your mother. You can see the love shining in theie eyes.
ReplyDeleteIt really is as if his loving arms are sheltering her and bringing her close to his heart. So touching! I'm now divorced from my sons' father but the photographs are tucked away, gifts to them in the future of their parents' love for one another that endured for many years.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs...love them!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos! They look so happy and very much in love.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to be able to actually see the love in the photos. It sounds like they ran into troubles later but at least you have these photos to be able to remember their love in the beginning.
ReplyDeleteNice post - and great pics! You're so lucky to have these photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and post (:
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and yes we have several pictures of my parents while they were dating. You've given me an idea for the next Sepia post.
ReplyDeleteI love the first picture of them! Grandma's socks are great! And it looks like she had very curly hair too.
ReplyDeleteI have a photo of my mom and dad when they were dating. It was the happiest time in their whole life and you can see it in the photo. Life got tough and they made it to the end but not smiling like in the first photo. You have great photos and a great story.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for coming to visit and leaving comments. I appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteMildred - It IS fun to look at the old styles of clothing, not just in the 1930s, but all the different time periods.
Martin H. - I like the photo with both couples, too. I wish I'd asked my mom who took it.
Vicki - I suppose it's true for nearly every couple that trouble come along and the love they felt when courting alters and looks different. I think love changes over time.
Alan - When I commented about digital photography, I was mostly thinking about being able to easily take many photos and delete all those that were less than excellent. My mom's album is fill with blurry, out-of-focus photos. I also wonder if the digitals will stand the test of time. I seldom make prints of mine, and there really is nothing like holding a photo in your hand or looking at a group of photos in a album. Also, with the modern way of printing photos, I just don't know what they might look like in 50 or 100 years. I love the old sepias that have been around for so long.
Nana Jo, that IS sad that their photos were destroyed. It's sad that when people divorce, they don't remember that the children might like to "remember" when things were good.
Meri, I'm sorry for your divorce but so glad you saved the photos. Your sons won't be like Nana Jo, without photos of loving parents.
Mary, Willow, Karen, and Brenna - thank you.
Barbara and Nancy - I think the troubles they faced were those presented by life. Their love continued, it just seemed to change over time and didn't look so rich and new.
Barry - I can't wait to see your photos!
Natasha, I think her hair was permed. If you look at childhood photos of her, her hair looked straight as a poker. Yes, the socks!
L.D. Burgus - Thanks. I think for most young couples, it's the happiest time, and then Life happens and love changes. My parents definitely look less happy in later photos.
Thanks again to all of you for visiting my blog and leaving comments. I appreciate it.
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