HSTC - Mystery Photo Gallery

Mystery Photo Favorites | Yet to be Identified...

Mystery Photo Gallery

One of the most popular public programs that the Historical Society of Talbot County sponsors is the weekly Mystery Photo. Every Monday (except holidays), the Star Democrat publishes the week's Mystery Photo and asks readers to call in with information about the image. The photographs are from the H. Robins Hollyday collection at the Historical Society. This program allows the Talbot County community to actively participate in the preservation of local history. By identifying and documenting the images (many of which have little or no known context or historical provenance), the public helps to continue writing the story of Talbot County's 20th-century history.

Mystery Photo Favorites

These are some of our favorite all-star images. Often, published images inspire community members who have interesting stories and memories to share with us about the captured moments.

"Back from Vacation"
1981.019.023110

This Mystery Photo resulted in the names of almost all the children. They are from the Country School kindergarten class of 1958.
Front Row (L to R) Elizabeth Cox, Unknown, Ron Sadoff, Laurann McPherson, Ricky Cannon, Susan Ross
Middle Row (L to R) Johnny Baybutt, Lisa Hersloff, Nancy J. Thompson, Unknown, Steve Clark, Checkers Hersloff, Unknown
Back Row (L to R) Unknown, Unknown, John Rue, Unknown, Jimmy Kirby
Do you know the others? Mystery Photo Information Form

"Hunters"
1981.019.008021

We have recently received an e-mail identifying one of the men in this photo as Ralph Deparma. Do you know who any of the other men are? Or do you know where and when the photo was taken? If you look closely, they seem to be in a general store that sold, among other things, bicycles and toy carriages. These hunters look pleased with their success, so we'd like to give them credit for it. Mystery Photo Information Form

"Backseat Driver"
1981.019.005145

This photo was taken in the 1950s at a circus in St. Michaels. The baby elephant exiting from the car's backseat was helping Thompson Motors, a firm that sold automobiles in Talbot County for 50 years, prove that the backseat of the new two-door hard top De Soto was very spacious.

"The Diner"
1981.019.000867

The B-B Diner on East Dover Street, at the triangle near the Pennsylvania railroad station was a 24-hour restaurant that vied with the Oak Hill Diner on North Washington Street for popularity. Both had facilities for juke box dancing, and during the 1920s, the B-B Diner had live music each summer in the 'garden' behind its parking lot.

"Bicycles"
1981.019.008908

These children playing on their bicycles are L-R Debbie Wieland Meredith, Sally Weiland Smith, an unidentified boy, and Bruce Perry. The photograph was taken near the railroad tracks in Easton, where the Railroad Station is located. In the background is the water tower from the Charles T. Wrightson & Son Cannery, which was a major industry in Talbot County for over 70 years.

Yet to be Identified...

These images received no responses when published in the newspaper. Can you help? Do you know anything about these photographs? Mystery Photo Information Form

"Flying Boat"
1981.019.004230

This photograph remains a complete mystery. Can you identify these men? Mystery Photo Information Form

"Start Your Engines"
1981.019.005146

The identity of the race car's driver is a mystery. We know that this photograph was taken near 14 North Hanson Street in Easton where James Covey operated a gas station until 1967. There he sold not only gasoline, but penny candy, fish, and Christmas trees, in addition to repairing cars and lawn mowers. The race car was identified as a 1929 Bentley, but we do not know the driver's identity. Mystery Photo Information Form

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Historical Society of Talbot County
25 South Washington Street
Easton, MD 21601
Telephone Number: 410-822-0773
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