Aunt Carrie (circled) & Aunt Francie Firth Carpet challenge

DaveFerro · Mem Joined: Jul 13, 2007 Posts: 131 Location: Auburn NY

Finally uploaded this picture of the Firth Carpet Finishing Dept. in 1948. My Aunt Carrie Wawro is circled in red; I tried to remove it with filters, etc. Her sister, my Aunt Francie is third from left in the row below her.

My Aunt Carrie Augello worked there too before the war and told me they made rugs and carpets for franklin Roosevelt (including two for his dogs) at the White House and for Frank Sinatra, who I've been told lived here for awhile when a boy (still checking on that).

The only other person Aunt Carrie Wawro recognized was the lady seated on the far right who she said was called Tiny.

When I had copies made, the guys at the store said some of these ladies look like real troublemakers by their smiling poses. Sure wish I could have talked to them.

So, what do you think, Liz?

Dave

Biff83 · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 1263 Location: Florida

Dave,

Was the Firth Carpet Company you mentioned located in Orange County near Orrs Mills in Firthcliffe, NY? The company was served by the New York, Ontario & Western Railway which was abandoned in March of 1958. Here's a pic of the station from 1959.

owrhs.org/FIRTHCLIFF2.jpg

Biff

DaveFerro · Mem Joined: Jul 13, 2007 Posts: 131 Location: Auburn NY

Biff,

The Firth Carpet Company (originally American Axminster) was on Columbus Street here in Auburn, NY. It was bought by Mohawk Carpet (Moshasco) and closed. My cousin said they smashed all the machines to make sure they couldn't be used again.

The Lehigh Valley station was nearby only the LV roundhouse is left) , across the street from the ALCO factory (sold to Bombardier and closed this year; was originally McIntosh and Seymour), which made many diesel engines for locomotives and submarines. The NY Central freight line used to run behind our house; occasionally a passenger train would get routed off the main line which followed the Erie Canal route north of here.

I have read your posts about WWII and railroads, esp in regards to the coal mining. Turns out a friend's family (Vivenzio) were miners in Hazle Town before they moved here, and my Uncle Al Impaglia's family is related to them, lived there too. The Black Diamond train went past Auburn to Geneva, but the freight line, called Southern Central, went straight through to the coal dock and pier at North Fair Haven on Lake Ontario. Most of this went to Canada.

I took out Robert Archer's book The History of the Lehigh Valley Railroad today to confirm the routes and photos.

Found this site though not much on the Auburn section:

Lehigh Valley Railroad

The Cayuga Museum put out several books of photographs of Auburn and Cayuga County with scenes of the interior of McIntosh & Seymour - the stationary steam engines were huge - and of the LV and NY Central stations. We have some postcards of these too.

A surveyor I worked with said he took the Black Diamond on his honeymoon.

Dave

chanchisfea · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 250

Hi Dave,

Here is the picture minus the circle Wink

Liz

nuccia

Sweet!

Dave is going to be so thrilled. Wink

DaveFerro · Mem Joined: Jul 13, 2007 Posts: 131 Location: Auburn NY

Liz,
Okay, how did you do it? Guess I'll have to get the same software and work five years to find out. Of course, you realize that we (I) post these impossible (to us) photo faux pas so you will help us. And we bow...you should be a magician for halloween. What ever happened to that picture anyway?

I added a "by Liz" to the other picture so you would get credit, is that ok? And in the summary part of properties also entered "fixed by Liz" and "at Gente"

Thrilled is right Nuccia, as now I can send and make copies for Aunt Carrie. My cousin Monica suggested I make Xerox copies so Carrie and Aunt Sara (Monica's Mom) can put them on their bulletin boards. They are both at the same nursing home, so I see them at the same time. Wait till they see it.

Thank you again,

Dave

Halloween reminds me of the parties in Calif. esp at Ted's in San Anselmo: one guy came with a kitchen table around him, complete with breakfast. Another had a big piece of green foam rubber on, his green face sticking out, a turban and loincloth. Kim asked what he was supposed to be and he said "Mahatma Gumby" The guy who used to animate Gumby lived around there, but this wasn't him.

chanchisfea · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 250

Hi Dave,

You are very welcome!

And you can do anything you want, credit is always good Wink

I use Paint Shop Pro (I have version 8 ) for all my graphics/picture restoration.

About the WW picture... Nuccia posted it somewhere in this forum...can't remember under what topic... I was wearing a cape Wink

Liz

DaveFerro · Mem Joined: Jul 13, 2007 Posts: 131 Location: Auburn NY

Liz,

Always want to give credit where it is due.

I think I have a CD with Paint Shop Pro on it (free or trial version) but old. Probably can search for it on the web.

I thought the Wonder Woman pic had been taken off and whoever got whapped. And I would too by asking about it.

My friend Maryea (a wasp-waisted Spaniard in Calif) gave me a toy whale that she called the wacka-whale for some reason. On the bookshelf to remind me of her. She used to wave it in front of me and say the name. Miss that.

Anyway many more picture to show as they get scanned.

This is the wedding banquet for Aunt Carrie and Uncle Joe. My parents are in the middle left with my Aunt Eloise, who had Down's Syndrome. The Wawros on the left except Uncle Sam Bissi. Uncle Joe's brother, John was the Best Man. Granma and Granpa Bissi right back with Uncle Joe and Aunt Frances DeMarzio with son Dicky; on left Uncle Charlie and Aunt Antoinette Bissi with son Johnny.

Dave

Just realized you didn't tell the secret of how you done it.