unknown 005

scanned over 200 photos from Bettie Baltimore Harlow's collection, her neighbors, family and friends. This picture stands out, not typical of the product that emerged from the local portraitists...

Moses Knight

Approximately fifty years after the photo above was taken, Moses asked Lola to marry. Lola said yes. Moses moved to the Woolen Mills. Moses left the Woolen Mills yesterday, age 103. A friendly man, a fine man, an excellent neighbor in every way.
click here for obituary

sisters?

In the case of a photograph made in a studio I presume the expense was more than nominal. Having a photo made with another person would be something to ponder. It wouldn't be done lightly. So who would a young woman have her picture taken with? Her cousin? Her sister. Above on the left, that is Virginia Starkes daughter Mamie. The other girl? I am thinking Lottie Starkes. Lottie moved away from the Place, moved out West.

unknown 004

Do you know the rules governing gifts in a textile mill village at the turn of the century? 1890-1910? When would it be appropriate to give a photograph of yourself to a friend, to a family member? Judging from physical items preserved, it appears that this giving of photographs was a common occurrence among the residents of the Woolen Mills.
Early on, the images were produced by one of the several studios in Charlottesville (Holsinger, Fischer, Wampler). As the years passed, the professional photographs were replaced with snapshots taken by Woolen Mills residents.

Woolen Mills Road

the simple address

Woolen Mills Road

Jean Baltimore looks out over Woolen Mills Road. 1607 WMRd is visible to the right of the frame, Chesapeake Street is in the distance.

unknown 003

This woman appears repeatedly. Possibly Mamie Starkes older sister Lottie.

unknown 002

Where are the clothing historians? I think the guy with three buttons is John Wesley Baltimore, bricklayer. Laid the brick for his sister's house at 1606 Woolen Mills Road. Laid brick at Scott Stadium. This photo isn't labeled, but it looks like John, circa 1900.

unknown 001

Sometimes photos are labeled. But more often they are left blank. The collector knows who is portrayed in the photo and that knowledge will endure forever because we are, of course, immortal.
Nope.
Label your photos, with names, dates, locations.
I am going to embark on a series of the unknown dead. Gentle reader, please help. You might not know the people by their countenance, but by their style of clothing, by accessories, by hair treatment, please tell me what you can.
This image is labeled "W.F.S."

November 1952

Sometimes a thoughtful individual, aware of mortality, aware of forgetfulness, will write names on the back of a photo. On the back of this photo, left to right, Ernest Bibb, Clarence Spencer, James Branham, Leo Johnson and John Drumheller.

35 new pages

The Woolen Mills site has been updated with materials from the ACHS show.
There is a 1920 "snapshot". A walk east down Woolen Mills Road, guided by the 1920 U.S. Census, oral history, deed books, mill records and old photographs.
Flu-Time, 1918, memories of a child, Roy Baltimore recalls his introduction to the neighborhood. In October-November of 1918 the Mill closed for 23 days due to flu.
Chronology, a time-line of Woolen Mills events.
Maps from the 1800 and 1900s.
Naturally, more to come.
We need volunteer research folk! Call 434-977-1243