The original Elf on the Shelf, circa 1964

2014 is the 50th year, that this little fellow has adorned the family Christmas tree. He brings back many childhood memories.

One holiday season, many years ago, Joe and Norma had a holiday party to attend. Because of the hustle and bustle of the season, a babysitter was difficult to find. Grandma Rose agreed to watch the children, but she did not drive. Joe went and picked her up to bring her to our house. We always enjoyed every minute with Grandma, so we were looking forward to the evening. It was a cold December day and the snow laid thick on the ground.

Joe and Norma were off, and Grandma was left with my brother and I. While we sat and talked, she relayed how she wanted to buy us a gift for Christmas. So we bundled up in our winter clothes and walked in the cold and snow to U-tell. The store was warm, so we unzipped our jackets and walked the isles. We were both young, and money did not mean much to us. We would stop and say to Grandma, 'oh, I would really like this', but Grandma only had $2 and would say, I just don't have the money for that.

My brother and I finally settled for these elves, mine green, my brother's red. When we returned home, we hung them on the tree. Every Christmas they have returned to adorn the tree and bring back all those precious memories of Christmas past and Grandma Rose.

Phillip and Judy Desenis, College Years.

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Photograph provided by Jen Johnson.

Photograph provided by Jen Johnson.

Subjects: Top: Phillip A. Desenis and Judy Landa Desenis.
School: For Phillip, Elmhurst College
School Location: Elmhurst, Illinois
Year: 1948.
School: For Judy, University of Illinois
School Location: Urbana, Illinois.
Year: 1956.
Occasion: College Yearbook.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship to me: Maternal Second Cousins.

These photographs were given to me, by my fellow family history buff, Jen Johnson. We both have been trying to hunt more information on the Allen side of the family. Since Allen is a common name, this has been a difficult task. Phillip and Judy are currently still living, and are the children of the late Neil G. Desenis and Florence E. Allen Desenis. Phillip passed away in 2022, and the last known address I had for Judy was in California. 

I have many fond childhood memories of my first cousin Florence, and on occasion met my second cousin Judy, whom at the time lived on the East Coast. I also have been introduced to Phillip, who lives in Illinois and is a retired Minister.

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about these photographs.

Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay, 1960's

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Subject: Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay.

Date: 1960's.
Location: Cudahy, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Unknown.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship to me: Paternal Aunt and Grandmother

 

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing photographs of my paternal grandmother that were provided to me by my cousin Maria Sworske, that were from her mother Dawn and grandmother Margaret's collection.

 

This photograph was taken in the 1960's or early 1970's. I recognize the apartment of my grandmother. I recognize the wrist watch that she always wore. This photograph was taken in the small kitchen of her apartment. I remember the pots and pans hanging by the small stove and the dinette set to the right that sat by a window. I also remembered she lived near the airport and and you could hear the planes taking off and landing. I know this was an upstairs apartment in a home. I can not remember if it was on Sommers Avenue or Ramsey in Cudahy. I have many fond memories of visiting her and my aunt.

 

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay, 1965

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Subjects: Left to Right: Maria Sworske and Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay.
Date: 1965.
Location: Greendale, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Christmas.
Photographer: Albin Paskowicz.
Relationship to me: Paternal Cousin and Grandmother.

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing photographs of my paternal grandmother that were provided to me by my cousin Maria Sworske, that were from her mother Dawn and grandmother Margaret's collection.

This photograph was taken in 1965. I recognize the house of my Aunt Margaret. I can also remember when Maria was this age. My parents lived close to my Uncle Al and Aunt Margaret, so we spent quite a bit of time together. I have many fond memories of these visits.

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay, 1925

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Subjects: Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay.
Date: 1925.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Likely on the birth of her daughter Justine, June 15, 1925.
Photographer: S.Z. Grand Studio, 409 West Mitchell Street, Milwaukee, WI
Relationship to me: Paternal Grandmother

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing photographs of my paternal grandmother that were provided to me by my cousin Maria Sworske, that were from her mother Dawn and grandmother Margaret's collection.

This photograph was taken in the mid 1920's. It is one of the few photographs that I have of my grandmother during this era.

This portrait is quintessentially 1920s, and based on the exact cut of her dress, the photo matting, and her life timeline, this was almost certainly taken between 1924 and 1927 (most likely around 1925–1926, when she was in her late 30s).

What a fascinating, resilient history she had—navigating loss during the 1918 flu, relocating, building a new blended family, and running a boarding house in Cudahy!

The Photo Sleuth Clues:

1. The Iconic Drop-Waist Dress (Mid-1920s)

• The Silhouette: The classic tubular, loose-fitting "drop-waist" silhouette screams the mid-to-late 1920s. Notice how the horizontal seam sits low on her hips with those decorative flap pockets—that specific drop-waist style peaked right around 1924 to 1927.
• Hemline & Neckline: Hemlines rose higher in the 1920s than ever before, hitting just below the knee here. The soft sailor-style shawl collar with the long, dangling necktie or ribbon brooch was an immensely popular afternoon-dress style during these years.

2. Studio & Location (Mitchell Street, Milwaukee)

• The studio stamp at the bottom reads "Grand Studio, 409 Mitchell St."
• Historic Mitchell Street in Milwaukee was the bustling, primary shopping and portrait studio district for working-class immigrants and folks living in nearby South Side industrial suburbs like Cudahy. Even families on very modest incomes would save up a little money to go down to Mitchell Street to get a "good" official studio portrait made for a milestone event!

3. The Art Deco Cardstock Mount

• The heavy grey-green cardstock frame with the ornate green-and-silver arched border and stylized floral motifs is textbook 1920s Art Deco studio matting. Photography studios heavily favored these textured paper mounts between 1920 and 1928.
• A Window Into Her Life
• Even though I mentioned they struggled financially, she looks so neat, proud, and beautifully put-together here. It was very common for women running boarding houses—demanding, exhausting physical labor—to have one or two nice, stylish dresses kept carefully put away for church, family events, or trips to the photo studio.

Given that her daughter was born in June 1925, this portrait may very well have been taken to celebrate her complete family or mark that era after settling into Wisconsin life!

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay, 1970's

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Subjects: Left to Right: Mary Forrai Nowakowski and Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay.
Date: 1970's.
Location: Cudahy, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Unknown.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship to me: Paternal Aunt and Grandmother

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing photographs of my paternal grandmother that were provided to me by my cousin Maria Sworske.

This photograph was taken in the late 1970's. I recognize the house of my Aunt Mary. During this time, my grandmother spent quite a bit of her time with Aunt Mary. I have many fond memories of visiting her and my aunt.

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

Unknown Wedding

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Subjects: Unknown couple.

Date: 1950's.

Location: Wisconsin.

Occasion: Wedding.

Photographer: Joseph F. Forrai.

 

I came across this 8 x 10 photograph amongst my father's belongings. I have emailed it to several of my cousins to see if they could identify the couple. My father considered himself an amateur photographer, and this might have been an extra print from a wedding that he photographed.

 

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

 

My Cousin Dorinne Green wrote on a Facebook comment: It might be Mary Benson and Donald Borgwardt. Donald would be a second cousin to Caroline and me. Donald and Mary divorced, don't know when, and both are deceased, don't know the date. Caroline might be able to make a more positive ID. Cheers.

 

I have since sent the photograph to my Cousin Caroline, but have not received a response.