Fishing Awards

The R.J. Schaefer Fishing Contest began in 1946 and ended in the mid-1970's.   It was run by F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company and was very popular with fishermen along the east coast of the United

States.  Fishing club and individual awards were given.  The fishing clubs competed with each other for the sum total of the weight of all the fish entered by it's members.  Anglers were awarded points for each fish weighed on official scales.  For instance, one point per pound would be awarded for bass that were caught from a boat, and two points per pound would be awarded for bass that were caught from the shore.

I have found two awards that belonged to my paternal grandfather.  They are both most valuable angler awards from 1971.  I know that my grandfather loved to fish and I imagine the contest would have fuled his passion.  I would love to know how he received the two awards.  I believe these were awarded for individual fish that he caught that were over a certain amount of poundage.  Maybe someday I will find the documentation that came with them.

Photo of the Day

This is a photo of my paternal uncle taken in his living room in New Castle, Delaware in the 1970s.  I wonder what was in the bag.

James Odgers
1954 - 2007

High School Keepsakes

I love when I come across keepsakes, something little that holds some sentimental value to a family member who is no longer with us.  This is a great example.  My paternal uncle kept his high school cafeteria pass and his high school Driver Education Certificate.  They must have been a reminder of some good times he had in high school.  For someone like me, it gives a glimpse into my family member's life.

Photo of the Day

This is a photo from my paternal aunt's wedding day on 27 November 1970.  She is posing in her family's living room in New Castle, Delaware with her maternal aunt, who was standing in as the mother of the bride, because her mother had died nearly two months before her wedding day.  I'm sure it had to have been a bitter-sweet day for everyone.

Diane Odgers Veasey (1951 - 2002)
Norma Lea LeGates Pinder (1922 - 1992)

Photo of the Day

I love wedding photos, and this is another I have added to my collection.  This is from the wedding of my paternal aunt on 27 November 1970.

Diane Odgers Veasey (1951 - 2002)
David Veasey (1946 - 2014)

Photo of the Day

This is a photo of my paternal aunt and great-grandfather (her maternal grandfather) taken at her 21st birthday party in 1972.  As a side note, the photo was developed in May 1972, but her birthday was in March.

Diane Odgers Veasey (1951 - 2002)
Hayward LeGates (1896 - 1978)

Happy Birthday!

Recently, I came across some photos from my paternal aunt's 21st birthday party.  I love looking at photos from family celebrations of the past.  Everything from what people are wearing to what food is on the table fascinates me.

The thing that caught my eye in these pictures is that my aunt's birthday celebration included not one, but TWO birthday cakes.  One has vanilla icing and the other has chocolate.  Either someone was very thoughtful about giving people an option of cake flavors, or there were a lot of people at this party.  Whatever the reason, my aunt looks pretty happy.

Diane Jumping in Pool

My granny always told me to make sure that I wrote the names of people in a photo on the back of it, because I may know who is in the photo now, but some time in the future when I go to look at the photo, I may forget who those people were.  She was so right!  And I am glad I took what she said to heart.  I have painstakingly taken the time to write on the back of every photo I have...and it's a lot.

I think about my granny's words every time I look through the old photos that I have.  I am always so excited when there are names and, even more excited, when there are dates and places.  It makes things so easy for me.

Recently, I came across a photo that made me think of the advice that my granny gave to me, and I had to laugh.  It is a photo of my paternal aunt that was taken at the home of my great-aunt and uncle during a Labor Day weekend picnic, a family tradition.  It's a great action shot taken with a Polaroid camera of her jumping into the pool.  The date, September 3, 1978, is written on it...Score!!!  But the best is what is written above it, "Diane jumping in pool."  Just looking at it, it is obvious that she is jumping in the pool.  I guess someone wanted to make sure it was know that it was her that was doing the jumping.

I am thankful for the details...and the laugh!

Photo of the Day

This is a photo of my maternal grandfather taken on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey in August 1979.  He was 61 years old.

Paul Branyan, Sr.
(1917 - 1986)

Photo of the Day

This is the husband of my paternal great-aunt.  The photo was taken in the living room of their home in Wilmington Manor, Delaware in the late 1970s.

Irvin Pinder
(1920-1987)

Photo of the Day

This is a photo of my paternal great-grandfather taken on Christmas Day 1971.  He is opening presents in his eldest daughter's living room in Wilmington Manor, Delaware.  He was 75 years old.

Hayward LeGates
1896 - 1978

Photo of the Day

This is a photo of my great-aunt and my maternal grandmother, sisters.  It was probably taken in the late 1970s.

Laura Bunting Otarzewski Szul (1921-1994)
Kathryn Bunting Branyan (1915-1998)

Photo of the Day

This is a photo of my paternal grandfather taken on April 5, 1978 in his living room in New Castle, Delaware.  He was 59 years old.  The photo was taken by his youngest son, my uncle.

William Odgers, Sr.
1918-1986

Photo of the Day

This is my maternal grandmother in Wildwood, N.J. in June 1975.  She was 59 or 60 years old.  I love this photo because seeing my grandmother on the beach was a rare occurrence.  She was fair skinned and hated the ocean - you could only get her to go out as far as her knees.

Kathryn Bunting Branyan
1915-1998







Photo of the Day

This is the husband of my paternal great-aunt.  The photo was taken in the living room of their home in Wilmington Mannor, Delaware in the late 1970s.

Irvin Pinder