Postwar Buffalo

For a couple of years after their June 1948 wedding, Gene and Clara toughed it out, with Gene staying in a cheap dorm (they had those then) in NYC, and Clara living at home with her parents, sister, and Tom. She worked the books at a nearby hardware store.

This looks like coming home from church some morning.  Who is stumping up the driveway behind her?

Why, it's Tom in short pants.  Love it.  Who is the older boy coming along next?

Apparently this was a favorite family picnic spot.  What is Adam Matynka holding in his hand?

A camera body?

Clara as Sylvan Nymph, complete with Sylvan Nymph tablecloth.

That's quite the rootin' tooter on Tom's shirt.

Is this Genevieve?

Is this Genevieve and is she holding a movie camera?

Clara Matynka, CHM, as Goddess on a Stump.  Note the goddess's chariot yon in the dappled glade.  What manner of chariot is that?

Julie

Matynka, Zdrojewski, Columbia

Adam and Clara Matynka are out in the spring sunshine with their little firecracker, Tom.

Gene and Clara are there as well.

The corsage and boutonnier could be for Easter and their engagement, which occurred at the same time one year.  Or they could be for Easter a year later.  Or they could be for a wedding anniversary.  There are no dates on these photos; can we date them by Tom's age?  Help! 

Clara's and Gertrude's shoes are back in style now; you can order ones just like either of those online right now!  Don't do that yet, though; please read Gene and Clara's.

Mom, CAMZ, graduated Kensington in June 1947.  Gene and Clara married in June, 1948.  Gene graduated Columbia in June, 1949.  So when were these photos taken?

Cute little squirt.

So here's Columbia.  Is Clara down for a visit?  Or is this graduation weekend?

Julie

Matynkas, Mostly

Mystery lady at unknown location.  Nice saddle shoes.  

Pearls?  She wore pearls to the barn?

Mystery baby.  Is it Tom?

Mystery wedding party.  Is the groom Gene Norman?

Mystery Very Nice Girl.  She is not holding a candle; that white vertical is part of the house porch in the background.  I'd like a jacket like that.  Velvet, of course.

Mystery kid.

 Is this CAMZ?  I think so.  I like those really big paper dolls.

 

We conclude with three shots at a picnic. In the first, the lady is Gertrude Matynka.  Who is the gent?

Lots of serious women here.  The two gents seem cheerful enough, nevertheless.  The grown-up gent is Eddie Nietopski.

Left to right: Mystery Lady, Mystery Boy, CHM, CAMZ, Totally Mysterious Person; Gertrude, Mystery Blonde, Eddie.

If you wake up in the middle of the night suddenly knowing the identity of one or more of these people, please don't phone me, just send email.  'K?

Julie

Tom, the Lad - and Ray and Mary Lipinski

Poker game is going in Buffalo, 1949 or thereabouts:  Tom as a lad, CHM, Uncle Ray Lipinski, mystery little girl, Auntie Mary Lipinski, Gertrude Matynka.

[  EDIT: Mystery little girl must be Joanne Lipinski, daughter of Ray and Mary.  ]

This is my identification of Uncle Ray and Auntie Mary.  My memory of him is of a big and jolly giant who often had a cigar.  He was an electrician and handyman: he showed up one day in Marilla with a heavy piece of plate glass that fit my desk perfectly.  He did the wiring in the kitchen and in the bathroom where my Dad always shaved in the mornings.  Auntie Mary was petite, voluble, and cheerful.

Christmas!  CAMZ, Gertrude, Mary Lipinski, mystery little girl, CHM, Eugene Zdrojewski, Ray Lipinski.  Foreground: Adam, Tom, toy auto repair shop.

Elvis??!!    No, it is his contemporary, Tom.  A much nicer guy.

Tom and CHM admiring yet another mystery baby.

Two Claras and a mystery baby.

I love this school photo!  What a great kid!  And I love that rootin'-tootin' bowlegged cowboy on his shirt!

The early 1950s.  Check out the Stop-sign bolo tie.  It's wonderful.

Hard to believe, isn't it, that this darling, angelic lad would soon be showing his little nephew Martin Zdrojewski how to shoot arrows over the Marilla house?

Tom Kontak

Adam and Clara Matynka were overjoyed to have Tom.  They brought him home to his two older sisters; a dozen years later they were both still chortling to me about how delighted they were to do so.

Here are CHM and Tom.  What's the year?  1948?  1949?

Adam, Clara CHM, mystery guy,seated, and holding mystery object, Tom the Center of Attention, mystery lady;  mystery little girl and Clara CAM(Z).

Mystery girl and Tom.  Cute or what?

What's he on about?  Late nap? No bells on his shoes? The Coke and Ritz crackers are all right, but the food hygienist in me is getting upset about the milk in the clear glass bottle sitting in the sun.

Check out that train set around the tree!  And the toy auto repair shop!  And the toy phone!  Not to mention the tatting of the sofa doilies.  And this super generous terrific Dad has a mustache just like Clark Gable's.

Christmas is sure a lot of work for parents.  So is Christmas cheer.

Adam partied with the best of them, but was never loud.  I never heard him raise his voice.  He was always chuckling and talking, or smoking his cigar and thinking.