A Tale of Two Albums – Part Seven
Summer is a distraction from my self-appointed position as historian of Maplewood. Long hours of daylight, the swimming pool, and my general preference to stay out of the air conditioning all combine to keep me away from my home computer where I compose these posts.
Last March, I began posting a series that I called A Tale of Two Albums. So far there have been six parts and a related post about Margaret L. Sutton. If you need a refresher here are the links.
A Tale of Two Albums – Part One
A Tale of Two Albums – Part Two
A Tale of Two Albums – Part Three
A Tale of Two Albums – Part Four
A Tale of Two Albums – Part Five
A Tale of Two Albums – Part Six
If you have taken a look back at Part Six, you’ll see that I closed that post with the following image.
This is image is on page 75 in Album 2.
This is the only image on page 82. It sure looks like the same automobile, right hand drive and all.
With the gas tank right behind the seats, this machine is very basic. It’s unlike the fancy family car seen in one of the earlier posts. Perhaps this one is an early hot rod?
Page 93 is the first of several pages that show some of the women dressed in the working garb (I’m guessing) of nurses. Since WWI was either happening or about to happen at this time in Europe, I suppose these ladies were preparing to serve. The women on the left are labeled Gen, Pearl and Mom. At lower right, they are comforting the patient with something to drink. These images were made in front of Mom’s home at 7477 Manchester.
Page 94 gives us a few more angles of the home. The nurse on the left now seems to have a (red?) cross on her headgear.
On page 95, the patient is taking the liquid, whatever it is. And we have a double exposure with what looks like a dummy baby.
On page 96, the liquid seems to have taken effect. Check out the image on the upper right. I’ll enlarge it next photo.
Amazing! Now they all have the crosses on their headgear. All of the images prior to this one were taken at the 7477 Manchester location. I’m not aware that it was ever on a streetcar line. Do you think that the photographer timed this shot to capture the passing streetcar?
On page 97, there is that bench again, an indicator that the location was still Mom’s side yard. Look at the third one at the lower left. An enlargement of it follows.
Doubly amazing!! Now the photographer has managed to capture partially the images of two streetcars in the backgound. That certainly must have been on purpose.
On page 98, the nurse is pouring a drink. No cross on her headgear in this photo. Hmmm.
There are many more images in these two albums that I believe this crowd will find interesting. Look for them in upcoming posts.
Today is Saturday. We are having some fantastically, beautiful weather. Try to get out and enjoy it.
As always, I appreciate your interest and support.
Doug Houser October 11, 2025
I wrote this last night with what I thought were humorous captions to the images but when I woke up this morning, I had clearer thoughts about them. So I edited them out. There was nothing funny about WWI and that time. If these women were preparing to go to the front or anywhere to help the astounding number of casualties, they deserve our deepest respect and reverence.
And remember who made it possible for us to use these historic images, fellow Maplewoodian Lauren Sallwasser, an archivist of the photographs and prints and the other very helpful people at the Missouri History Museum library on Skinker.
Sent by email from the historian of Richmond Heights, Joellen McDonald: In response to your article in 40 South about the WWI Women’s Red Cross Auxiliary members who showed up in the photos you posted. In the RH history that Ruth (Keenoy) and I co-wrote there is a picture of such a RH group. I think that much of what these women did was prepare packages to mail overseas (having knitted socks, hats etc.) and help families who had loved ones over in Europe or away, or returned injured or having been killed. They apparently always wore the white dresses and veils when they volunteered, much like the actual nurses who served in VA hospitals and near the front lines in Europe. Other than the first aid lessons you noted, I think most of these women had no medical training.
Thank you again Doug!! Love this❣️
You are welcome, Pickett. I’m glad you like it.
Look closely, all of the nurse’s hats have small crosses on them.
Good catch, Gary. I guess that at some point they switched from small to big crosses.
Quick observation: Where are the fenders in the wrecked car?
I’m slipping. Good catch, Doug.