Ria, Nathan and Kent

Today I thought I'd share a couple of pictures from a more recent generation of the Moran Family.

These first two pictures were just negatives.  I really like how they turned out simply by inverting the scanned image.

This is Ria with her son Kent.  The family was living in Japan because that's where Nathan Moran was stationed at the time.  It's also where Kent was born!

By the time the next picture was taken the family had moved back to the states, first living in Kansas City, and then moving back to the family home in Dresden after the deaths of James, Virginia and Uncle Brud.  

It looks to me as if this picture was taken when Kent became an Eagle Scout.  Ria has a nice smile but Kent and his Dad share that same tight lipped, no nonsense look!

Lefton China Bric-A-Brac, ca 1949 - 1955

Moran Place place had  quite a collection of bric-a-brac from expensive cut-glass vases to pressed glass candle sticks.  This hand-painted piece is from a pattern by Lefton China called "To a wild rose", no 2602.  Although it dates from 1949-1955 the piece looks like it stepped out of the late 1800's which made it a perfect fit for Moran Place.

Geisha Wall Art from Japan, ca 1950's

This is an interesting piece brought back from Japan by Nathan and Ria Moran when they returned to the states in the early part of the 1960's.  As an officer in the Air Force, Nathan had been stationed there for several years. In addition they traveled to Thailand during their stay in the Orient.  This particular piece had been tucked away in the attic.  Though it had a modern feel it would've gone well with the Victorian decor since the Victorians were very interested in Asia and there were other items in the home with an Asian theme dating back to the mid-late 1890's.

Japanese Influenced Moonlight Fete, July 18, 1894, Clinch and Tennessee Rivers

This memorabilia was saved by Miss Fannie Lemira Moran of Dresden TN, b. Oct 23, 1872 - d. May 3, 1955.  She was the oldest daughter of Capt. John W. Moran and Sophia Riley Gunn.

This is a handkerchief (and probably the only one in existence) from a Moonlight Fete that took place aboard the Wyeth City Steamer, July 18, 1894, on the Clinch and Tennessee Rivers.   Though I am unable to find anything about this event, it's obvious from the beautiful images on the handkerchief that it was inspired by Japanese motifs.  Mathew Perry's expedition to Japan in 1853-54 re-established connections with Asia that had been closed since the 17th century and the influx of Asian culture would have a profound impact on Western Art for many decades.  The images on this delicate piece of material remind me of the works of Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849).

I was able to find some information regarding the Wyeth City Steamer.  According to River Boat Dave, the Wyeth City was built in 1878 and originally named the Chattanooga.  It was a sternwheeler with a wooden hull packet.  In 1888, a novice pilot sank the Chattanooga but she was raised and rebuilt as the Wyeth City. The first owner of the steamer was a prominent citizen of Bridgeport, Alabama, R.C. Gunter. He served in the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.  After the war, like many, he didn't have much to go home to but he was able to get a crop out that year, go into business for himself and eventually he became the owner of three steamboats; the R.C. Gunter, the J.H. Johnston, and the Chattanooga/Wyeth City.  He owned the steamer until 1888 which is when, according to River Boat Dave, it sank and was reborn as the Wyeth City.

Though the Wyeth City was used to transport many things in its day, it was, for one magic night the home of a Japanese influenced, moonlight fete for well-to-do ladies and gentlemen in 1894.