Two Dapper Pipe Smokers, Dyersburg TN ca 1895

Here's a great picture of two young men with pipes.  We think the fellow on the right is Jim Moran III.  Taken at Dyersburg, Tenn, "Photo by Taylor."

The Webb School, Carr's Baseball Team 1897

During his school years Jim Moran III attended several educational institutions, The Webb School being one of them.  Here's a photograph of Carr's Baseball Team, 1897, at The Webb School in Bell Buckle Tennessee.  It's annotated on the back side and I've provided links to those findagrave memorials that I believe represent the men in this list:

1. Matt McFerrin, "S", Nashville Tenn

2. Cozz Constanstine, "F", Birmingham Ala

3. George Boynton, "SS", Atlanta GA

4. James Moran, "P", Dresden Tenn

5. Felton Gill, "RT", Clarksville Tenn

6. Frank Carr, "C", Fulton KY

7. Bermin Knop, "LF", Bell Buckle Tenn  

8. Caleb Rooker, Spencer, Tenn

9. John Clary, "CF", Bell Buckle Tenn

10. William Booth, "TB", Sheffield Ala

Jim Moran is third from the left, behind the seated fellow.

Fountain Park, St Louis Missouri "Lest Ye Forget It" 1908

Fountain Park, St. Louis
Lest ye forget it----

Postmarked August 7 1908

St Louis MO

To: Mr. James Moran

Dresden, Tennessee

It seems to me, that you forget old friends-very soon- or is it just some old friends?  It is well to remember in drinking through life that any old booze is better than new.

Yours for health,

K

I doubt we'll ever know who "K" was but it seems to me that he's reminding Jim Moran III that old friends are better than new.  But I could be wrong!

The fountain of today differs significantly from the fountain of yesteryear:

The land for Fountain Park belonged to John Lay (1795-1857).  Before his death he made provisions for his family which included platting the land which would be developed into a neighborhood known as Aubert Place located about 4 miles west of St. Louis. Later the park's name was changed to Fountain Park. A good history of the development can be found at the National Historic Register.

The fountain had been donated by John A Scudder and originally placed in front of the Merchant's Exchange building about 1890 with the fountain gracing a hall.  The hall was later remodeled and the fountain moved to Fountain Park in 1903.  At the dedication ceremony the fountain was christened "Scudder Fountain" in honor of John A Scudder.   In the August 2 1903 St Louis Republic the fountain was  describe as follows: " Then Charles Spalding, the 6-year old son of George M Spalding of No. 4933 Fountain avenue, and Dorothy Dodd, the 5 year old daughter of R P Dodd of No 4900 Fountain avenue, turned on the water, and five streams simultaneously issued from the fountain, falling first into the upper basin, above which is the figure of a woman pouring water from a pitcher, and then overflowing into the second basin, above which are the images of four children blowing water out of shells.  After filling the second basin, the water overflowed into the lower basin, which is 16 feet in diameter."

However, just a year later a Park Commissioner's Report said it was a failure as an outdoor fountain due to flimsy construction which is entirely possible since it had been originally housed inside of John A Scudder's home and then in a hall of the Merchant's Building.  By 1915 the fountain and base had been entirely reconstructed but in 1908, on the postcard, it looked magnificent.  

For the Scamp in us All ca 1921

I liked this picture when I first saw it but I loved it when I noticed that Jim Moran seems to have a child in a headlock while holding a cigarette casually in the other hand.   That blonde haired little boy is his son Nathan "Bub" Moran.  I don't know whose house this is or who the friends are but I love how everyone takes no note of the play between father and son.  

Kent said he had always heard stories that his dad (Bub) was a scamp and a handful for his dad (Jim) but for his mother, Virginia Moran, he was a sweetheart.  Yesterday was the 32nd anniversary of Bub's death.  This picture is dedicated to him and the scamp in all of us.