It's just Home

You would think if you lived in a Victorian fantasy home for 100+ years that there would be a proliferation of photographs of the exterior and interior.  But that isn't the case.   I suppose to those that lived there surrounded by history it was "old hat", nothing special, it would always be there so what's the rush. But history changes, families die out, move on, have a change in financial circumstances, or just get tired of the burden of living among the ruins.  And before you realize what's happened everything is gone.

To those of us looking from the outside in Moran Place is magic.  To the Moran's it was home.

Draw-string Purse with beautiful Needework, ca 1890's

Here is a love and delicate draw-string bag made by one of the Moran girls, ca 1890's.  I've included a closeup of the very fine needlework which still has very nice coloration in the threads.

Herve Homer Photographer, New York city ca. 1900

Here's a lovely young woman that we haven't been able to identify.  The only mark is that of the photography, Herve Homer, New York City.   

Since we can't identify the beauty in the picture I decided to see what I could locate regarding the photographer.  The first thing I came across was an advertisement for his studio in the Jewish Messenger dated September 29, 1899.

Herve Homer
New Studio, High Class Portraiture and all the
latest in Photography
Cor. Columbus Ave & 104th St.
New York

The 1900 Census for the Borough of Manhattan in New York shows Hervy (sic) A. Homer and his wife Nellie living in the home of her parents, Frederick and Augusta Plumbley. His birthdate is given as Dec. 1861, born in Pennsylvania, occupation was photographer.  His wife Nellie Pumbley was born in Aug. 1873 in New York.  Her mother Augusta was born in "Canada. Eng" in 1845 and her father Frederick was born in 1842 in New York.   Homer and Nellie were married in 1895.

The 1910 Census lists no occupation for Herve and by the 1920 Census he has gone into the candy manufacturing business.   I know that Herve died sometime between 1920 and 1925 because his wife Nellie is listed in the 1925 New York State Census as being a widow.  

Herve A Homer manfs pure confections
885 Niagara