Not the Same Ol’ Grandparent Pictures
I didn’t know my paternal grandparents. Unfortunately they passed years before I was born. So the only visual images I have of them are the pictures in family albums. And like most family albums there are the lovely wedding pictures, staged family pictures, and conventional, ready-to-be-framed anniversary pictures. All of which paint a very respectable, church-going image of my grandparents. But then I found these pictures, which open a window to what must have been a whole other side of my grandparents that maybe their children didn’t even know about.
My paternal grandfather. Wichita, Kansas
This is my grandfather, William Francis (Bill) Watson. He was b. 1889, d. 1957 both in Wichita, Kansas.
I think the picture is very striking. It looks like it could have come out of a film noir movie or the Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie.
It was probably taken in the late 1910s or early 1920s as he sat outside a factory or warehouse in downtown Wichita. The photo adds personality and life to his story. At one point in his life he was a young man eager to make his way in the world.
Bill & Cathryn Watson on an early 20th Century motorcycle. c. 1920s, Wichita, KS
This picture is of my grandparents, William Frances (Bill) & Cathryn Ernstmann Watson. They were married in 1915 in Wichita, so this was probably taken in the late 1910s or early 1920s. I believe it is outside of their home.
That’s a motorcycle they are on! I just don’t think of ” my grandparents” on motorcycles! And look at the cap and goggles he’s wearing. They look like a very cosmopolitan “fun” couple. Not unlike the picture above they seem to be ready to take the world by storm.
These are just two samples of the unconventional pictures I’ve found of my family members. I would encourage you to look beyond the formal portraits in the albums to see what treasures may be in store. They may very well add an interesting dimension to the lives of your ancestors.
Happy researching!
Great photos! That’s one big motorcycle!
Seeing our grandparents as children, as teens, as young lovers and as new parents is just an amazing thing that only family historians can truly appreciate. Love the motorcycle picture! Reminds me of the scene in “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis.
Beth,
I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today’s Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/07/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-july-4-2014.html
Have a wonderful weekend!
Beth’s grandparents were my grandparents too, and truly attractive people (but what happened to THIS branch of the family tree? 🙂 ) They experienced such heartache and were such hard workers….it seems strange to see them at this point in their lives when they were carefree and young. I LOVE these pictures, Beth!
This is such a cool photo of your grandparents on the motorcycle. I think it’s a 1912 or 1913 Excelsior — it’s hard to tell without seeing the other side. It’s a 1000cc V-Twin motor, probably with a 3 speed transmission. Earlier versions had a big leather belt drive, but this is a chain. I think they sold for about $200. The company was owned at that time by the Schwinn bicycle company. They were used a lot on the wooden board tracks, and in 1912 an Excelsior became the first motorcycle to be officially timed at 100mph. Maybe your grandfather raced? I love the ‘buddy’ seat, and it looks like a saddle bag hanging off the back. What a treasure!
Terri,
Wow! Thank you so much for your incredible knowledge of the motorcycle. I wouldn’t know if grandpa raced, but what a thought!! I know he was a groceryman by trade….maybe with a racing side. Thank you again & have a super day.
Beth
No problem, Beth. Motorcycles are my husband’s passion and I guess a little has rub off on me You can find a picture of a 1913 here: http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/1913-excelsior-7-c-1.jpg. It really is a beautiful bike. Love the long, back-swept handle bars.
Notice the bicycle pedal? That’s the starter. You pedaled to get it going. The gear shifter is that rod that runs from the tank down. The round cylinder behind the light is actually the holder for the gas that fueled the headlight. My husband says they put a special powder in the cylinder and added water to make the gas — can you say no consumer protection? There are some subtle differences between your grandfather’s bike and this one…one is that on your grandpa’s there is a chain guard (so grandma’s skirts don’t get caught up in the chain!); the primary on grandpa’s is closed (the spot right in front of the bicycle pedal), and the paint job on the oil tank (the orange stripe right in front of the rear wheel on the 1913) is a little bit different. But, in the early days, those types of differences aren’t significant because when a new year came out, if the manufacturer had left over parts from a previous year they used them up. Can you imagine going 100mph on one of these?
Widipedia has a pretty nice write-up about board track racing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_track_racing.
Wow. You can really see how it evolved from a bicycle. And no, I can’t imagine going 100 mph on this. I’m impressed it went 20 mph!
Have a super day, and thanks again for sharing.
Beth