1891, Mrs. C.R.Morehead, El Paso, Texas Theo C. Marceau, fotographer,
826 Market St. Phelan Building
San Franciso, CAL
In keeping with yesterday's theme I'm posting a picture that may or may not be Mrs. Charles Robert Morehead, aka Lemire Morris Morehead. The back of the photo is stamped "C.R. Morehead, El Paso Texas" and "Mrs" is written in pen before the stamp. It is also annotated "1891." So does that mean the picture is of Lemire Morehead or did she stamp the photograph to show ownership? I've written about Charles and Lemire back in 2012. You can see a picture of her as a young woman in that blog post. I know she was living in Los Angeles during the later part of her life and that's where she died in 1910.
This 1891 picture was in a group of several other pictures including the one marked "Cousin Turner to Cousin Fannie." It's interesting to note that Lemire and Charles named their daughters Ida and Fanny. We're certain that John W. Moran and Sophia Gunn Moran named two of their daughters after the Moreheads. Fannie Lemira Moran was most likely a nod to Lemire Morris Morehead as well as Lemire's daughter Fanny and their other daughter was named Ida Morehead Moran and most definitely was named after Charles and Lemire's daughter, Ida Morehead!
The signature at the foot of these lines has become a
household word in San Francisco. Photography, as
there are few cities in the world that can beat us at it.
practiced here, has indeed become one of the arts, and
course, but patient study and care in every detail has
Our atmosphere may have something to do with it, of
achieved more than anything else. Theo. C. Marceau,
Phelan Building, can improve upon nature in his photo-
whose beautiful studio is at 826 Market street, in the
graphs, and when one considers how handsome our women
especially, find satisfaction in posing before his cameras.
are, that is saying a great deal. A single glance at some
of his work will suffice to prove what we say. Ladies,
the person, divine their moods, and know how to catch
One must be an artist to know how one will look at one's
best; one must be able, as it were, to fathom the nature of
work done is perfect. All the latest styles of photography
them upon the plate that will hold them forever. This
Mr. Marceau does, and he is surrounded by such efficient
assistants in every department that every detail of the
absolutely lifelike. Considering the quality of his work,
can be had in his studio. His color work is simply beauti-
ful, and adds something to his pictures that makes them
his prices are very low, reputation, in his case, bringing
I'm starting out the New Year with a photograph that is annotated "Cousin Turner to Cousin Fannie" taken at Bingham & Hilliard's photography studio in Memphis Tennessee. The Fannie is Fannie Moran but Cousin Turner is a bit more mysterious. But I guesstimate that it's possible Cousin Turner is a Morehead. The Moran's are related to many Moreheads including Turner Morehead who is connected via his daughter Caroline's marriage to Dr. Lyman Taft Gunn, the father of Sophia Gunn who married John W. Moran.
The picture dates from 1880/81-1900. I use those dates because Charles D. Hilliard joined the Bingham Photography studio in 80/81 to form Bingham & Hilliard in Memphis. There were a large group of Morehead's living in Memphis and it's possible that this is the Turner Morehead that appears in the Sholes' Memphis Directory for 1895. More research is needed.
Christmas 1951 saw Bub Moran stationed in Germany. It's possible he had already met his future bride Ria Fuhrmann but for now he was still a bachelor. The following letter was written by Earl L. Mack, Chaplain, USAF to all of the officers, airmen, and dependents of the 603rd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron. The subject being the 1951 Christmas Festival. I've transcribed the letter which goes into great detail about Santa taking gifts to orphanages, poor houses and needy families. Santa even visited the Burgermeister and I have to admit every time I see Burgermeister I am reminded of the Burgermeister Meisterburger from Santa Claus is Coming to Town! Childhood memories are a wonderful thing and I've included a link to the Burger Meister at the end of this post.
But back to Bub's Christmas. The letter says that everyone received from Santa a "bonified Zippo Cigarette Lighter to each Officer, Civilian, airman, and dependents of the Squadron which are engraved with: Christmas, 1951, 603rd AC & W Squadron, Giebelstadt, Germany, and the individuals name." Kent remembers seeing the lighter but so far no luck finding it to include in this post. I have included a picture of Bub with one of his friends, Jim Brand, taken in 1952 in Wurzburg.
PAGE 1
Headquarters
603rd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron
APO 800
SUBJECT: Christmas Festival
TO: Officers, Airman, and Dependents
603rd Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron
1. The Squadron, through your donations to the Christmas fund, funds from the unit fund, and
donations of money, clothing and food from individuals in the United States have made it possible to plan our Christmas Festival this year which will surpass any functions of this type that the Squadron has under-taken in the past.
2. The following money donations were received by the Committee from:
a. Officers, Airmen and Dependents
603rd AC & W Squadron $2,458.10
b. Mrs. Eileen Metzger 5.00
c. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Ridgewood,
New York 75.00
d. El Katif Masonic Temple, Spokane, Wash. 65.00
e. Elk's, Spokane, Washington 50.00
TOTALS $ 2,653.10
3. The following persons residing in the United States have contributed packages containing food, toys, shoes, and clothing as of this date and we are still receiving packages.
2 Miss Bertha Cornwell 18 Student Council, Regional
7 Peacedale Congregational Church, High School, Penn Grove, N.J.
Peacedale, Rhode Island 1 Intermediate Class, First
4 First Baptist Church, Baptist Church, Snyder Tex.
Milford, N.H. 1 J.W. Bates
PAGE 2
4. The following is a rough run-down of how your money has been spent. However, this is not a financial statement, but one will be posted for your inspection shortly after the New Year.
1,400 Christmas Candy boxes 2,500 lb Potatoes
500 Christmas Candy bag's 1,000 lb Carrots
700 Christmas Cards 1,000 lb Cabbage
540 lb Christmas Hard Candy 88 Loaves of Bread
192 Assorted Toys 334 lb Lard
132 pr Boys and Girls underwear 162 pkg Pudding
136 pr Boys and Girls Stockings 324 lb Noodles
121 pr Boys and Girls Nite Gowns 188 lb Sugar
301 pr Boys and Girls shoes 144 Bars laundry soap
41 Chickens 144 Bars face soap
30 Geese 144 Cans of Milk
17 Ducks 4 Complete sets of clothing
405 lb Flour for orphan children in
Wrapping paper, string and Giebelstadt
name cards
The above will be distributed to approximately 2,100 individual adults and children.
5 The following schedule is for your information.
Friday 21 December 1951 0800: Santa leaves the Squadron Area to deliver toys to two Kinder Gardens in Giebelstadt and then on to the HICOG Office in Oschenfurt where approximately 35 poor and orphan children will receive from Santa, a new pair of shoes and a box of candy.
1300 hours: Leave the Squadron Area to deliver food baskets to the two old folks home in Oschenfurt and to nine elderly folks in Landkries Oschenfurt.
Saturday 22 December 1951 0800: Leave the Squadron Area with Santa and his sleigh to deliver shoes, underwear, candy and toys to the boy's and girl's orphanage, Vinzentinum, 10, Schlostrs and orphanage Marienaustalt, Franc-Ludwig Strsse, Wursburg.
1300 hours: Leave the Squadron area and meet Santa at the Wurzburg Motor Pool and then on to a boy's and girl's orphanage where Santa will give out shoes, candy and toy's, thence to a crippled boy's and girl's hospital located at Reichenberg by Wurzburg where they will deliver night gowns, toys, and candy.
Sunday 23 December 1951 1600: Leave the Squadron area to the Ralhaus in Giebelstadt where a program is to be conducted in conjunction with the German people of Giebelstadt; there will be Christmas carols sang by the two children's school choir from Giebelstadt and the Squadron Choir.The Bergemeister will address the audience. Upon arrival of Santa Claus in his sleigh, he will distribute approximately 800 boxes of Christmas Candy to the children of Giebelstadt.
PAGE 3
1830 hours: Start of the Squadron Christmas party in the Theater with the holiday Hi Jenks
consisting of Mr. & Mrs. Carlos Sredd, Mr. & Mrs. Ajelio Mismetti, 4 male and 2 girls with a 10 piece band from Wiesbaden. There will be 5 acts with music by the band between acts and it is expected to last approximately one and one half hours.
2000 hours: Maybe before - Free beer, soft drinks and dance band in the Airman's Club. also a Buffett Supper which will be served in the large Airmen's Dining Room.
2100 hours: Santa presents a bonified Zippo Cigarette Lighter to each Officer, Civilian, airman, and dependents of the Squadron which are engraved with: Christmas, 1951, 603rd AC & W Squadron, Giebelstadt, Germany, and the individuals name. The party will start breaking up when the beer is stopped at 2330 hours and everyone is encouraged to help his buddy off to bed for a good nights sleep as the following day there is still much to do for Santa.
Monday 24 December 1951 0900 hours: THE BIG DAY FOR GIEBELSTADT!!! Santa and his helpers leave the Squadron area for the Rathuas in Geibelstadt where after paying a visit to the Bergemeister, Santa and his helpers will deliver some 70 food baskets, with live chickens, geese, and ducks, shoes, toys and candy to needy families.
Christmas day - 25 December 1951: Santa and his helpers have had a pretty full 4 day's work making other people and children happy with these presents and it is now their turn to sit back and enjoy their own individual Christmas day. For those who desire, they may attend Christmas Services or Mass in the Squadron Chapel at 1100 hours.
Catholic Mid-night Mass 2400 at Leighton Barracks and transportation will leave the Squadron at 2300 hours. Christmas Day services at the Hospital at 100 hours and the regular Christmas dinner.
Yes, you can have your Tom Turkey or choice of Ham with all the trimmings and may have either beer or a good wine with your meal. Christmas dinner will be served from 120 to 1450 and supper from 1645 to 1800 hours.
6. Santa needs lots of help to deliver all the things which you have helped to make available for the needy orphans, poor children and families, henceforth, Santa encourages you to participate in the delivery of these gifts. Pick the day, time, and place which you would like to help deliver to and be in front of Headquarters one hour prior to the hour Santa is to leave the Squadron so that he can organize you all. Don't just pick one day. Santa Encourages you to go along on all his trips-The old saying is, "The more the merrier" certainly pertains in this instance.
