Thursday, June 20, 2013

Remembering Golden Years


William Bean
As the more recent chapters of a family’s history unfold themselves, the widespread use of photography enables us as researchers to catch ample glimpses of the everyday lives of these former generations. No longer must we surmise daily routines from stiff formal portraits, carefully composed.

For today and the next few posts, I’ll share the last of the photographs from this series from the collection of Bill Bean’s photographs. While I’ve sifted through that box of pictures dozens of times, no new clues are finding their way to my attention. It is now simply time to close out this chapter and move on to another family’s story. What’s left behind in that photograph box is left.

William Bean
Most of today’s grouping of photos are matched, based once again on style of borders of the prints. These pictures are tiny: measuring two and three quarter inches square.

Today’s group features Bill Bean in his older years—most likely an active retirement, though I can’t say he ever really laid down all his business projects entirely. His ever-faithful companion, a brown-and-white hunting dog, is featured with him in two of today’s shots. How I wish I knew that dog’s name. Judging by the many pictures in which the dog is featured, he was a beloved pet.

I’m not sure where these photographs were taken. All outdoors, they provide a peek into the life—and even personality—of the man.

Bill Bean
Some of the photographs in Bill’s collection still have me wondering—like this one of him standing alone—or is that some sort of critter perched on his shoulder? The picture, small and blurry, makes it hard to see. Up close, though, there seems to be a spray of feathers or something similar by his arm. Or could that just be an illusion, a strange juxtaposition of something from the background?

Then there are other pictures where I can clearly tell that yes, these are not fish

William Bean at unidentified lake most likely in California

Whether on land or in the water, in the mountains or in the desert, Bill seemed to live a full life. In his later years, free to enjoy more of the blessings of his material success, he evidently was able to share some of those good times with the next generations—whoever those young people might have been—even though he and Ellen had no children of their own.

William Bean

9 comments:

  1. Bill seems to have been a lot like my own paternal grandfather - always off on travels, busy at work, playing with his dog... and now that he is gone, greatly missed.

    I think the "bird on shoulder" is an illusion, and is actually a bush visible through the window.

    What catches my eye is the old wooden boat! Now that's a beaut!! It's very similar to a 1956 vintage Chris Craft! (It would be worth a bundle if it was still around!)

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    1. The two boys on the boat - might they be Earle Bean's two sons?

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    2. I thought that boat would grab your attention, Iggy! Glad you know your boats! Unfortunately, if that boat is still around, it certainly isn't anywhere near the Bean family.

      I have several other pictures of the boy on the left, most of them with another boy who may be the one on the right in this picture.

      It's hard to see the details of their faces here--especially the one on the right. At first glance, I wondered if this were actually Earle's son Greg. They certainly look similar but not exactly alike.

      Because of that, I had thought maybe the pics were actually of Earle, himself. The only problem with this guess is that the time frames would be off.

      For a 1956 boat, the Bean descendant at that age would have had to be Greg, Earle's son. By 1956, both Earle and his brother Sam were already gone.

      I'm torn here, Iggy, having just posted the conclusion to this Bean series...but I may relent and just post those two childhood pics. I believe I have pics of the two boys on the boat--but still not quite sure that the one in the photo was actually Greg. If it was, the year would have to have been in the 1960s, based on the boys' ages.

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  2. I knew Iggy would like that boat..it is a beauty!
    I too think the thing near his shoulder is a bush.
    Did the Dog ever get licensed? Or go to the Vet? Sometimes records like that are kept:)

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    1. Someday, Far Side, all those records may be on the Internet...but for now, wow, what a paper chase that would become! I hardly know where to begin, since Bill and Ellen lived for a while closer to Fresno than his Bay Area roots. You can certainly tell, however, that that dog was a very cherished part of their family.

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  3. I agree -- not a bird, just a reflection in the glass.

    I thought at first Bill and friend had turkeys, but they're by the boat. So are these ducks or geese? The legs look rather long.

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    1. Wendy, I just don't have the eye for detail like that--as you can tell!

      At first glance, the birds on the far left that Bill was holding include at least one that looks to have the markings of a mallard. Other than that, well...I'll leave the guessing up to the hunting experts :)

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  4. Bill Bean was a lively character! Always looking for adventure -- a lover of animals and children and travel. Just a great ancestor to have!

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    1. He always did prefer keeping things active, Mariann. He actually was a quite lively personality through to the end of his eighty six years.

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