New York - Currach

New York

Nov4

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Dad On A Field Trip

Posted in: History, Media, New York, Photo, Serendipity

I took some time at lunch to catch up reading one of my favorite blogs (and the accompanying podcast), The Bowery Boys: New York City History. Their latest post is Photographs of Wonder from the American Museum of Natural History, which showcases several photos from the museum’s AMNH: Picturing The Museum image collection online.

Children doing Indian Dances in Plains Indians Hall, American Museum of Natural History, Image 291994, Bierwert, Thane L., 1939

They included some terrific photos from most of the earlier decades of the 20th century. My favorites are definitely the photos from the Education section of the collection, as they show students in various locations and activities in the museum, and reminds me of my own school field trips there in the 1970s.

I enjoyed them all enough to scroll back up to look at the photos again… then I saw him: My Dad in 1939, dancing with other students in Native American headdress in the Plains Indian Hall!

It is decidedly a sideways shot and not at the highest resolution, even on the AMNH’s own site, so I suppose there might always be some doubt.

But having scanned and worked with all of my family’s photos over the last several years, plus knowing what my brother, nephews, son, and I all looked like around that age: THAT is a Tierney face.

(Click on any photo to see it larger.)

Another instance of genealogical serendipity – More proof that if you keep looking long enough, someone you know will show up!
May10

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127 Years Later…

Posted in: Media, New York, Photo, Serendipity

Yesterday while in Manhattan with my family, we took a minute to take a fun photo.

First, an abbreviated back story: A few years ago when I started researching my great-grandfather Michael Tierney and family in earnest, I obtained his work records from the New York City Police Department. While working on that information and finding them in the various censuses under any number of poorly enumerated spellings and transcriptions, I also began scanning all of our family photos. In my brother’s album I found a single photo of Michael, standing on a rooftop in uniform circa 1904.

A few days later, I experienced an amazing instance of serendipity – browsing in my local library I flipped open a copy of The New York Irish and saw an 1887 photo of a group of policemen standing in front of the spanking new precinct on 67th Street.

One of them looked familiar.

To find out more, see my first two posts on great-grandfather in Michael Tierney – NY Policeman, Part 1 and the creatively titled, Michael Tierney – Policeman, Part 2.

Below is the result of our photo expedition. A surreal experience to stand in exactly the same place as your ancestor 127 years later.

For those of the historical architecture mindset, I suggest this interesting post about the precinct house at the Daytonian in Manhattan blog: The 1887 19th Precinct Station House — 153 East 67th Street.
For more detail, you can read the 1999 NYC Landmark Preservation Commission Report here – it is actually much more interesting than you might think! (It is for the 19th precinct, but was originally the 25th.)
May7

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Baby Racing!

Posted in: Fun, New York

Today, my friends, a reminder to get your babies in shape since baby racing season will soon be upon us. And be aware that with 18 children under he belt (so to speak), your baby will need to get up VERY early in the morning to beat Mrs. Minafo’s 7 month old.

Of course, babies tend to get up early anyway.

If you read the article, you will find that these are indeed actual baby races (to some extent at least) with prizes up to $50 for each of the three scheduled runs. er, toddles. um, crawls?

But, it was all in the name of teaching young mothers the importance of helping children build their bodies, and all of the babies were given doctor checkups prior to the race. Plus, there were apparently “milk stations” along the route.

Anyway, enjoy. AND I’VE GOT A SAWBUCK ON THE MINAFO KID.

You can read the original stories on the Library of Congress’ Chronicling America newspaper site here:
The evening world., July 17, 1913, Final Extra, Image 3
Sep25

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Dropped From The Veteran’s Home

Posted in: Canada, Ireland, Military, New York

I have been helping a friend lately by looking to see what I could put together for her family tree. Luckily for her, almost immediately a torrent of records began to pour from the online coffers, so the tree began to fill up quite nicely.

As is often the case, there are a few records that may be for parallel persons of similar name, so definitely some work to do on locking those down as properly vetted and assessed.

But, in the short run I found an interesting thing: both her great grandfather, and his father both seemed to have served in the Fighting 69th volunteer infantry – although the elder was before the Civil War, and the younger in World War I.

While looking at information for what appears to be the younger Francis Kearney’s stay in a a “National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers”, I found something slightly puzzling.

His history at the home lists him as being “Admitted” on May 4, 1925, and then on Oct 31, 1926 his Cause of Discharge is “Dropped.”

The images for these records come in pairs of pages, and I quickly noticed that the next fellow’s record has many entries for “Discharged” and “Transferred”.

Anyone out there in the genealogosphere have any knowledge on the term “Dropped” in this context? Hmm.

Record Citation:

“United States National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-21051-37678-11?cc=1916230&wc=MMRT-VYX:n30335972 : accessed 25 Sep 2013), Togus, Maine > Register no. 18000-19499 > image 262 of 771.
Sep11

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NYC Police Museum – 9/11

Posted in: New York, Ruminations

I visited the NYC Police Museum a few years ago when my son was about 7 years old. He was very interested in the 9/11 exhibit there, but was tough talking with him about it.

Our thoughts are with all that were lost 12 years ago.

That museum is a great one to visit – the exhibits are well done and it is located in the Old Slip police station near the South Street Seaport. Sadly, it has been closed since Hurricane Sandy – hopefully it will open again soon.

Thanks to the NY Public Library “The Pageant of America” Collection for the image of the Old Slip Police Station.