Every Monday we share a vintage image on the Essex on Lake Champlain Facebook page and invite our viewers to play some Vintage Essex Trivia. These two portrait photographs show a married couple that once lived in Essex, New York. Do you recognize them? Or see a family resemblance to anyone living in Essex today?
It seems like no one recognized the couple, although we did have some guesses. Here’s what the community said:
Jill Seymour: Looks like the Martini
Susan Martini: Ha, wrong! Try again.
Susan Martini: Any relation to the Goff clan?
The couple is Mr. & Mrs. Wilhelm. Does the name ring a bell? The photographs were taken sometime in the 1880s, so they lived here a long time ago. But since you have a name now, please let us know if you know of any of their history or descendants!
These are cabinet card photographs. I believe the front identifies the photographer (or company?) as Harbers. Have you ever heard of it?
The front also lists an address: “354 Grand St. cor. Essex, NY.” Perhaps this was the home of the Wilhelms? Do you recognize the address? Where is that now?
The back of each photo has something written on it. Mrs. Wilhelm’s photo says: 44 years old, died Aug 30 1886. And Mr. Wilhelm’s photo says: (it looks like) 74 years old.
Share Your Essex Artifacts
If you want to share your old photos of Essex (or brochures; postcards; menus; tickets; any artifact) on the blog please email us at editor [at] essexonlakechamplain [dot] com.
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http://www.thelodownny.com/leslog/tag/51-essex-street
Just a thought? Corner of grand and essex in nyc.
Oh, that could be! Perhaps they lived there and in Essex too at some point? Or maybe they didn’t live in our Essex at all…
I’ll have to ask George what he thinks since he’s the one who found the photos!
Todd Goff may well have solved the mystery! While a wiser, more memoried Essex archivist than I should pass final judgment on the matter, I suspect the unfamiliar name (and the address clue) strongly suggest this handsome duo hailed from the Big Apple, not Essex, NY. Any sage Essex sleuths able to put this matter to rest once and for all?
Yes. I have some photos from this studio also and I have assumed it is 354 Grand Street at the corner of Essex Street in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY, NY. It makes sense that the photo studio was active in the 1880’s.
Never heard that name. Think Todd has the solution!