Good-bye, Old Paint

We learned about the c1941Ford coupe convertible in a Casimir at Kanty post, and, in relation to a similar vehicle, in the 1946 picnic post.  To me it's intriguing, as Marty and I never heard anything about this "old Ford," so it's almost like finding a long-lost relative.  

Emotions rise logarithmically when I recall my own first car, a 1968 Mustang, which I sure wish I had now!  I sold it because as a poor college student I could not afford to replace the "throwout bearing," whatever that is.  It might as well have been the canooter valve, for all I could then afford to replace it.  Painful recollection.

From the New Trove:

From the last PYC Monthly in our collection:

The final paragraph of the "Just Between Us" feature refers to a certain car:

          "We shall all rise now, in a minute of silent prayer, and mourn the departure of a faithful friend.  It was indeed a friend in great need and a veteran of many engagements, struggling through thick and "tin" (that's what it was made of).  So long, old Ford."

I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne, I'm off to Montan'.

Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne.

          Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a leavin' Cheyenne.

          Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a leavin' Cheyenne.

Old Paint's a good pony, he'll pace when he can,

Goodbye, old Paint, I'm a-leavin' Cheyenne;

And seat yourself by me as long as you may.

Go hitch up your hosses and give them some hay

My hosses ain't hungry, they won't eat your hay
My wagon is loaded and rolling away.

My foot's in the stirrup, the reins in my hand,
Good mornin', young lady, my hosses won't stand.

          

"Wartime" Series

The man who produced "Wartime" produced it as part of a series.

No. 1:
By the way, the fact that JPZ is perusing a scrapbook while EJZ is still off in China suggests that EJZ came home on leave after basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and U Chicago language school, brought photos with him, began the scrapbook, then deployed.

No. 2:

No. 3:

No. 4:
The framed portrait is Uncle Stanley, right?  JPZ's youngest brother.  Who is the monk in  the painting?  Notice the Polish Eagle on the cover of the book in JPZ's right hand.  I wonder what the one is that he's drawing forth with his left hand. Neither volume is upstairs in the trove.

In No. 3, the portrait on the wall looks to be of Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder and reformer of hospitals and schools, and the first American to become a Catholic Saint. Since Mother Seton died in 1821, that would have to be a watercolor, not a photo. Or am I blind, and that's a photo of a new relative?

In  No.4, we have Stanley Zdrojewski, right?

Also in No.4, the book being taken up is William Shirer's Berlin Diary.  A must-read.  Shirer broadcast radio from Berlin throughout the war.

Update:  JFZ notes:  "Julie,   Thank you for these pictures. It demonstrates how intellectual this man was despite having only a few high school courses! This may be Uncle Stanley since the picture more resembles him than Uncle Joe. But, the woman could be Julia Mostkowska Zdrojewska, a more likely  candidate for a picture in this location at this time (still in WWII) than Elizabeth Ann Seaton.

John"

Uncle Stanley and Eugene - closeup

Uncle Stanley, his parents, and his nephew Eugene

Ludwig and Victoria Zdrojewski had six sons; the youngest was Stanley.

Notice the double shadow behind Ludwig, cast by the hefty array of floodlights, set up no doubt by JPZ for this formal family Christmas portrait.

If we zoom in to the mirror on the wall behind them, we see a partial reflected image of the Christmas tree across the room.  Below the mirror, on the mantel, we see one of those little green toy Christmas trees, the bristly kind, with white paint splashed upon it, for snow.  They usually had a little red wooden pot, or disc, as a base.  In front of the tiny tree is one of the Magi, in that reverent pose as he approaches the Infant in the Manger.  So there is a Nativity scene set up on the mantel.

But it isn't always snowing in Buffalo!  Here in the back yard on May Street, important matters are receiving proper attention.  What's Gene using to trim Stanley's hair?  Grass trimmers?  Sheep shears?

Interesting shape of bottle: short and fat, maybe 16 ounces.  Can't read the label.  I'll have to fire up PhotoShop in my spare time.

Na zdrowie!
Julie

Uncle Joe, Aunt Julia, Joseph Jr.

Celine's birthday party, about 1947, correct? John was born in late 1947, so this is maybe 1948?  Next to the birthday girl is Paul Zadner, then his mother Cecelia, then Aunt Julia.  Julia is married to Joseph Zdrojewski, and maybe Uncle Joe is taking the photo.  Their son, also Joseph, sits in Julia's lap.  Next we have Eleanor Zdrojewski and her son John, aka "Electronics, Johnny."

Standing, back left, is Paul's and Celine's Daddy, Casimir.

Uncle Joe and Aunt Julia at their son Joseph's Christening.
Joseph Zdrojewski was the fifth son of Ludwig and Victoria.

What did Joseph do for a living? Answer:  see JFZ's Comment. Is this photo taken at Joseph's house, or on May Street?  I like Ludwig's snazzy tie.  And vests on gentlemen are  sexy, aren't they?  Sort of Bat Masterson-ish.

This isn't Joe at all, but rather Johnny, "JFZ," with his godfather, Uncle Stanley, and his godmother,  Emily.
See JFZ's Comment, below.

This is uncle Joe's house, Paul Zadner tells me.  Let's see:  Joseph Jr. in the rocker.  Check out those white shoes. My mother put bells on my brother Marty's white shoes.  Was it for fun, or to know where he was?  Delightful, anyway.  (Hey, I didn't get bells!)  Celine, looking dazed.  Aunt Julia, hands on rocker.  Eleanor and Johnny. The beautiful Cecelia, mother of Paul and Celine.  Paul in cowboy shirt.  Grandma Victoria with star at throat of her dress; Merry Christmas, dear.  Casimir by the window? Nope, JFZ says that's Uncle Joe.  Grandpa Ludwig, looking pretty happy.  Nice wallpaper and cabinetry:  look, joinery in the room divider, and a glass-fronted cabinet, all built into the house.  Even modest homes in those days had the work of craftsmen in them.

Upstairs on May Street

John sent a note about the Christening photos in the first couple of posts: " I believe the Christening photos were done upstairs (where Ludwig and Victoria resided) on 175 May St. in front of the twin windows in the living room."

Here's that upstairs living room, in a photo taken, most likely, by John P. Zdrojewski, and sent to me recently by Paul Zadner.  So JPZ photographs his mother Victoria.  Seventy years later, his nephew PZ sends the image to his granddaughter JZ.  Got that?  You can click on the link up top to view and correct a page I've started dedicated to the sorting out of who's who.

For Eugene, Casey, and John F., this was "Grandpa Ludwig." 

For the children of those three, this is Great-Grandfather Ludwig Zdrojewski.

For you fourth-generation whippersnappers, this is your great-great-Grandfather.

Whippersnapper Tye wrote recently to ask about the meaning of our family name.  His great-Uncle John Francis (Got that?  See my page!) replied as follows (I quote with permission: )

           "In Polish, zdroj means spring or brook. If you travel in areas of southern Poland you will see road signs saying "Zdroj this" or "Zdroj that" as in "Saratoga Springs" or Palm Springs". When they started using surnames the guy who lived near the brook may have taken on the name Zdrojewski. And the -ski was the masculine suffix; his wife and daughters were properly surnamed Zdrojewska, applying the feminine suffix.

For the record, your paternal great, great grandparents (Ludwig and Victoria) came to the US from a town near Poznan named Ling in 1903. They had $ 30 with them, a significant amount. This had been enabled by the fact that Ludwig's Uncle Stanley, who had come here in 1893, had paid for their passage. It is not clear to me whether their town was in German Poland or Austrian Poland (remember the partitions?) but apparently Ludwig had at one time been in the Austrian military. Their departure port from Europe was Hamburg however, clearly in Germany proper.

When we were in Poland some years ago, a guide surnamed Nowak indicated that she envied our name, rather aristocratic, hers being somewhat the equivalent of Jones."

Thank you, John.  And Tye, thanks for asking.  I remember my Dad sitting at the dinner table explaining how our name meant "from the place of the Spring."

Does anyone have information or a photo of Stanley?  

I'd like to frame his picture and light a candle in front of it.  Considering the history of twentieth-century Poland, this Stanley Zdrojewski is a hero of mine.

JZ