Family History research is more than gathering names from our past. Family History research is about linking the present with the past, getting to know our ancestors and trying to understand about their lives. As we research about their lives, we come to understand who they were and why things happened in their lives. Then as we do so, we get to know them and our family that we knew little about slowly become our friends. It is an amazing process, linking the past to the future and and our gaining an understanding of the past. As one of my cousins recently put it, "Warts and all, we are family."
So, while in the Southern California area the last couple weeks, we have visited a few of Ann's cousins and an aunt and a few of Wayne's cousins to enjoy family relations, discuss past memories and share information. We also took two days to locate and photograph 32 houses and other locations that relate to both our families' pasts in Southern California.
I will share just a few:
325 W. 66th St., Los Angeles, CA
where Ann's grandparents lived when Ann's Dad was born
325 W. 66th St., Los Angeles, CA as it looks today. But due to the area of the city and the people hanging around, we did not stop the car and get out to take a picture
Below: 796 E. Mountain Street, Pasadena, CA where Wayne's Uncle, Donald Lee Cowley was born in 1910. Here he is with his mother and his nurse
Here is Wayne on the same porch over 100 years later.
Lillian Cowley, Wayne's grandmother and her two sons, John Palmer Cowley (on the lower step) and Donald Lee Cowley next to his mom, on the front steps of the same porch
and the house and the front porch today.
1319 W. Chandler St, Wilmington, CA where Ann's grandparents lived when her dad, Harlan Huff got married to Dana Rice in 1943.
Here are Ann's dad and grandfather in front of that house in 1942.
And here is Ann standing in the same spot 70 years later.
Ann's dad in front of the W. Chandler house
and Ann in about the same spot, but on the sidewalk.
877 Chapman St., Pasadena, CA where Wayne's grandparents lived when his father, Allyn Claude Cowley was born and where his father lived for 21 years as it looked then....
...and now almost 100 years later.
This spot was where many Cowley family pictures were taken
Here is one of those photos just to the right of where Wayne is standing above. R to L front are Allyn, Lillian, Joan and Vina Cowley. Behind Lillian is Leo and behind Joan is Donald. Do not know the black suit guy.
The street in front of the house now....
...and about 1919 with Wayne's dad in about the same spot.
Wayne's father, Allyn on an old Indian motorcycle in front of the Chapman house.
Wayne's dad on the corner of the front porch....
...and Wayne on the corner of the same front porch.
Many, many more pictures were taken of many other places in our histories to compare and link to the past. We grew closer to our past as we visited these many places that were important to our families as they grew, so many years ago.
Also, visiting current cousins was part of our fare for the 2 weeks spent here. Here is a meal we shared at Cousin Ginger's house in Santa Clarita. Starting far left and going counter clockwise are Elliott and Joan (Uncle Donald's daughter), Wayne, Ginger (Uncle John's daughter), Ann, Donna (Uncle Donald's daughter) and Frank. Spending time with them has been a wonderful experience the last three lunches we have had with them!
We forgot the camera when we visited Ann's cousins, but we sure had fun and shared a lot of family information. We love traveling and being able to spend time together.
We love our family and love getting to know them better, past and present!
Love the photo recreations!
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