I’m sure he has something I’d like . Just curious, the trash department allows picking through junk? The family photos. My wife and I attended auctions for years. Always sad to see someone’s family photos going to the trash.
It truly is sad. Unfortunately, so many families have split and divided over the decades as they moved from one state to another. Another contributing factor is the low birth rate with some couples opting not to have children. When that branch of the family tree shrivels up, their family photos end up in the dumpster.
Such was the case 4 years ago when a long lost cousin passed away. The estate was properly disposed of except for the family photos. Now, coincidentally, at the same time, I was researching my great, great grandparents, who immigrated from France and Ireland. From a very young age, my grandmother recounted their story but had no photos of them; neither did any of my other living relatives on our shrinking family tree. In researching one of their children, Clara, I learned that she married later in life and bore a son. (That made him the grandson; hence, a strong possibility that he might have had photos.)
Equipped with his name, on a whim, I searched the SS death registry and learned that he had passed away only 4 months earlier. Now curious, I googled his obituary which provided the name of the funeral home that handled his funeral. With nothing to lose, I emailed them an inquiry on any family photos and papers that were left behind. (I carefully worded the inquiry so as not to convey the impression I was looking for money.) Several days passed before I received a response conveying sympathy on the loss of my cousin. The message then went on to say that my inquiry had been passed along to the Estate Executor.
As I made arrangements for a memorial mass for my cousin, 2 large boxes arrived. Inside each was the same letter from the executor. In it, the individual explained that the contents were all that remained from my cousin's estate. They had sent these to a local thrift store for disposal but they were returned. My inquiry arrived one day before the items were scheduled to be shredded!
One box contained personal albums from my cousin. My hands shook, however, as I sifted through the loose photos in the 2nd box. Some were labeled; many were not. Using clothing as a guide, I dug deep to find the oldest photos. Suddenly, I pulled up the photo of a woman from the turn of the century, professionally taken in a studio. On the reverse was the name of the studio which was only a few blocks from where my great, great grandparents resided in the worst Irish ghetto of NYC. Just below it was the photo of a man from the same period, taken by the same studio. No names were necessary as I immediately recognized them as my great, great grandparents.
These two immigrants came to America in hopes of a better life and were met with prejudice for their heritage and faith. Despite that, they raised 5 children in one of the worst ghettos, aptly named - Hell's Kitchen. Those photos are now framed and been assigned a place of dignity, sitting proudly on the mantel over my fireplace. Were it not for their determination and strength of character, I would not be here today. Remember to pray for your ancestors who sacrificed all so that you could enjoy the freedom and liberty offered in this country.