I've been scanning more post cards in to sell... which makes me think of the conversations Mom and I had about Aunt Laura (Granddad's sister, the artist. See picture above.).
The post cards from Hawaii especially got me questioning Aunt Laura. Some of those cards are SO BEAUTIFUL! Almost feel like silk, and I'm sure those post cards were from around 1915 or so. Now, I never heard that Aunt Laura ever went to Hawaii, so I asked Mom about it. I knew that Pat (Mom's sister) went over there in the 1950s, but I never heard of Aunt Laura going. So here's our conversations:
Me: When did she [Aunt Laura] go to Hawaii? Did she also go over there when Pat went over?
Mom: I don’t think she did, but she had many friends who might have gone and sent it to her – or maybe she found the card? She often picked things to keep that others had thrown away. But my guess some one who had been there gave it to her. You know her very good friend, Mrs. (John) Eleanor Nef was a daughter of the Bishop family. This family was one descended from the original protestant missionary families that went to Hawaii – like in the Book by Mitchner, “Hawaii”. So it probably came from her in some round about way. The Bishop family became very wealthy in the sugar business over there. The “C&H” sugar company. I think that Eleanor’s mother might have been related to the “C” in C & R – Cook, I think it was, and then she married into another old family, the Bishop family.
Me: GREAT information! I *knew* all this, but... now that I want to recall it, it’s all fuzzed in the brain, of course! Nice to have it in writing! I just looked up that poetry book... “Birthday Party”, by Mabel Wing Castle. The dedication is to her children, “Elinor Castle Nef” and “John Ulric Nef”. So does that help jog any more memories for you?
The reason why I asked if Aunt Laura actually went to Hawaii is because there’s a WHOLE STACK of cards from Hawaii – many of them “art” cards, like of beautifully drawn and painted fish. I can’t see anyone picking up cards like these (and old sunsets etc. from the 1920s) EXCEPT her. If it was Eleanor who picked them up for her, she REALLY knew Aunt Laura!! The couple of cards from the 1950s, then, I’m assuming Pat brought them. Maybe to give to Gramma.
Mom: Oh yes! The “C” in C & H sugar company is of course, “Castle”. And you spelled Eleanor, correctly as “Elinor”. Now you know why the Hawaiian post cards. Elinor of course. Maybe the cards could be framed for wall art? Look at the name of the artist or photographer or printing company on these cards, might be informative. I don’t remember the book you mention – “Birthday Party” – what was it? Cards from the 1920’s are probably VERY collectible. That was when the only way to get to the islands was by boat and the islands were part of a romantic and idealized vacation for wealthy Americans and Europeans. Did you know Bing Crosby started his singing with Hawaiian songs? Or was it country? Well, he was in there somewhere in the ‘30’s & 40’s however.
Me: Just did some research:
Founders of Castle & Cook: Samuel Northrup Castle, and Amos Starr Cooke. Both were missionaries. Samuel Northrup married Mary Tenney
C&H sugar is a sugar cooperative.
Castle & Cooke: Freight lines, part of the sugar coop, and in the 1930s (?) Dole pineapple. They also went into real estate and hotels.
Henry is one of “many” children of Samuel and Mary, although I have ONLY found his name as a child. He married a German girl who died a month after their daughter Dorothy was born.
Henry’s second wife was Mabel Wing, who was Elinor’s mother.
A month after Elinor was born, Henry (Elinor’s father) and her half-sister Dorothy were both drowned in a ship accident up in the North Sea. Henry never saw Elinor.
Thought this was interesting:
Kawaiahao Church Cemetery
The Kawaiahao Church was the first church on the island of Oahu. It was the mother church for all the missionaries that came here in 1820 and later. It is located on the corner of King and Punchbowl Street in downtown Honolulu.
The Cemetery is divided into three major parts . The first is the tomb of King Lunalilo on it the insciption reads:
The post cards from Hawaii especially got me questioning Aunt Laura. Some of those cards are SO BEAUTIFUL! Almost feel like silk, and I'm sure those post cards were from around 1915 or so. Now, I never heard that Aunt Laura ever went to Hawaii, so I asked Mom about it. I knew that Pat (Mom's sister) went over there in the 1950s, but I never heard of Aunt Laura going. So here's our conversations:
Me: When did she [Aunt Laura] go to Hawaii? Did she also go over there when Pat went over?
Mom: I don’t think she did, but she had many friends who might have gone and sent it to her – or maybe she found the card? She often picked things to keep that others had thrown away. But my guess some one who had been there gave it to her. You know her very good friend, Mrs. (John) Eleanor Nef was a daughter of the Bishop family. This family was one descended from the original protestant missionary families that went to Hawaii – like in the Book by Mitchner, “Hawaii”. So it probably came from her in some round about way. The Bishop family became very wealthy in the sugar business over there. The “C&H” sugar company. I think that Eleanor’s mother might have been related to the “C” in C & R – Cook, I think it was, and then she married into another old family, the Bishop family.
Me: GREAT information! I *knew* all this, but... now that I want to recall it, it’s all fuzzed in the brain, of course! Nice to have it in writing! I just looked up that poetry book... “Birthday Party”, by Mabel Wing Castle. The dedication is to her children, “Elinor Castle Nef” and “John Ulric Nef”. So does that help jog any more memories for you?
The reason why I asked if Aunt Laura actually went to Hawaii is because there’s a WHOLE STACK of cards from Hawaii – many of them “art” cards, like of beautifully drawn and painted fish. I can’t see anyone picking up cards like these (and old sunsets etc. from the 1920s) EXCEPT her. If it was Eleanor who picked them up for her, she REALLY knew Aunt Laura!! The couple of cards from the 1950s, then, I’m assuming Pat brought them. Maybe to give to Gramma.
Mom: Oh yes! The “C” in C & H sugar company is of course, “Castle”. And you spelled Eleanor, correctly as “Elinor”. Now you know why the Hawaiian post cards. Elinor of course. Maybe the cards could be framed for wall art? Look at the name of the artist or photographer or printing company on these cards, might be informative. I don’t remember the book you mention – “Birthday Party” – what was it? Cards from the 1920’s are probably VERY collectible. That was when the only way to get to the islands was by boat and the islands were part of a romantic and idealized vacation for wealthy Americans and Europeans. Did you know Bing Crosby started his singing with Hawaiian songs? Or was it country? Well, he was in there somewhere in the ‘30’s & 40’s however.
Me: Just did some research:
Founders of Castle & Cook: Samuel Northrup Castle, and Amos Starr Cooke. Both were missionaries. Samuel Northrup married Mary Tenney
C&H sugar is a sugar cooperative.
Castle & Cooke: Freight lines, part of the sugar coop, and in the 1930s (?) Dole pineapple. They also went into real estate and hotels.
Henry is one of “many” children of Samuel and Mary, although I have ONLY found his name as a child. He married a German girl who died a month after their daughter Dorothy was born.
Henry’s second wife was Mabel Wing, who was Elinor’s mother.
A month after Elinor was born, Henry (Elinor’s father) and her half-sister Dorothy were both drowned in a ship accident up in the North Sea. Henry never saw Elinor.
Thought this was interesting:
Kawaiahao Church Cemetery
The Kawaiahao Church was the first church on the island of Oahu. It was the mother church for all the missionaries that came here in 1820 and later. It is located on the corner of King and Punchbowl Street in downtown Honolulu.
The Cemetery is divided into three major parts . The first is the tomb of King Lunalilo on it the insciption reads:
LUNALILO
KA MOI
1874
The secound part is the Mission Houses Cemetery where all the missionaries and their families are buried in it can be found the following grave stones.
ELINOR CASTLE NEF
1894 1953
DAUGHTER OF HENRY NORTHRUP
& MABEL WING CASTLE
WIFE OF
JOHN ULRIC NEF 1894 - (NO DATE)
THEY WERE UNITED IN LIFE
AND BY DEATH THEY WERE
NOT DIVIDED
Mom: WOW! That is very interesting. Castle & Cooke, that’s right, I remember now. And Mabel “Wing” Castle, Pat & I met when I was about 11 or 12. She had a house in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles. At one time I imagine this was a very good area to live – wealthy people lived there, I think. “He married a German girl - - -“ was this Mary? Was there anything about the “Wing” family? Dad & Mom [Gramma and Granddad] & girls [Mom and Pat] were invited to lunch at their house because we were related to Aunt Laura. The invitation came by phone the evening before and Mom was upset because her girls did not have dresses and shoes that were appropriate, she thought. As I remember, we wore blue, cordoury pants suits. Also I remember the yard seemed neglected and that the table was set with “finger bowls” – bowls of water to dip your fingers into between each course and wipe them on your napkin.
Me: No, Mary was the second wife. The German wife’s name was Frida and she died “in a tragic accident” (just saw that it was while she was riding in a wagon and something frightened the horses).
Well, THAT’S an interesting story to remember about you meeting Mabel!! Great details!! Do you have an impression of Mabel? And did you get to meet Elinor? I can just imagine Gramma being upset over what clothes to wear!!! So funny!
Well, THAT’S an interesting story to remember about you meeting Mabel!! Great details!! Do you have an impression of Mabel? And did you get to meet Elinor? I can just imagine Gramma being upset over what clothes to wear!!! So funny!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment