Not long ago, I found this photo from 1912. My great-grandfather, William Hamlin Herrick (1873-1918) is in there somewhere. I have no idea why these well-dressed men gathered in the woods, presumably near Springfield, Massachusetts.
I joke that the man in the bottom right corner snuck the lovely pitcher he’s holding out of the china cabinet and was anxious to return it before his wife discovered it was missing.
I’m guessing this was a fraternal organization meeting. William did join the local Odd Fellows chapter in 1913, so perhaps this was the start of his involvement?
What strikes me more, however, is the clarity of this 106-year-old photo. When I look at some of it close-up, I can’t help but think of two things.
One is the 1986 Smiths song “Cemetry Gates” and the following lyrics:
So we go inside and we gravely read the stones All those people all those lives Where are they now? With the loves and hates And passions just like mine They were born And then they lived and then they died
I also think of this scene in “Dead Poets Society” in which English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) encourages his students to make their lives extraordinary:
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