Material Category

Photographic Material

Type of Work

photographic prints

Description

Fieldstone house with cupola, french doors, bay window, and porch. Photograph is taken during winter, as trees are bare and snow is still on the ground.

Date

20th century

Related person

Edward J. Wormley (inscribed by)

Inscription

THE "LITTLE" STONE HOUSE BUILT BY MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER AS A WEDDING PRESENT FOR MY GRANDFATHER, GEORGE DALLAS WORMLEY AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, IN WHICH HE WAS SLIGHTLY WOUNDED, AT GETTYSBURG. HE HAD RUN AWAY FROM HOME AND ENLISTED BY SAYING HE WAS 17. (WHEN THE ARMY FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS REALLY ONLY 15 THEY REMOVED HIM FROM COMBAT DUTY BUT KEPT HIM ON AS A DRUMMER BOY.) LIKE THE REST OF THE FAMILY HE ALWAYS REFERRED TO THE EAST AS "THE OLD COUNTRY." HE WAS BORN IN 1844, RETURNED TO OSWEGO, ILLINOIS AFTER THE WAR AND MARRIED A LOCAL GIRL NAMED EMMA ___________, WHO DIED IN CHILDBIRTH THE NEXT YEAR. SHE AND THE UNAMED [sic] BABY WERE BURIED IN THE WORMLEY CEMETERY, A TINY AREA FULL OF TOMBSTONES A MILE UP THE ROAD, ON THE SAME SIDE, FROM THIS HOUSE. IT WAS NOT UNLIKE THIS HOUSE IN WESTON [Connecticut, where Edward J. Wormley retired —repository] IN THAT THE KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM WERE A FLIGHT OF STAIRS BELORE WHAT IS VISIBLE HERE ON GROUND SLOPING 1/4 MILE DOWN TO THE WEST BANK OF THE FOX RIVER. INCIDENTALLY, THE PORCH AND WING IN THIS PHOTO WERE ADDED IN THE FIRST 1/4 OF THIS CENTURY. MY GRANDFATHER MARRIED ANOTHER OSWEGO GIRL NAMED EMMA RICHARDS WHEN SHE WAS 15, AND THE DAUGHTER OF MOSES JACKSON RICHARDS, A CHICAGO BUSINESSMAN WHO HAD BUILT A SUMMER HOME IN OSWEGO. HE OWNED A HOTEL IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WHICH WAS DESTROYED IN THE GREAT FIRE OF 187_. HE & PARTNERS OWNED AN ENGINEERING [^CO.] WHICH BUILT THE FIRST TUNNEL FOR STREETCARS AT WASHINGTON ST. UNDER THE CHICAGO RIVER. (text)

Inscription Source

Verso

Measurements

7.5 in (width) x 8.25 in (height)

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ (copyrighted)

Location

box 1, folder 2

Identifier

KA0048_b01_f02_04

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