Mystery Martin
Great-grandmother Margaret saved several pictures of a young man named Martin Johnson, and I recently came across a few more. I shared a few pictures of him earlier, but I’m publishing them again so that all the images can be viewed together. I don’t know the precise nature of his relationship with my great-grandmother; the photos pre-date Margaret’s marriage to my great-grandfather, Leo Lessiack, by at least a decade. Maybe Martin was a friend, or maybe he was something more. What do you think, People?
Here are the pictures I published earlier in Margaret Before Marriage.
The back of the photograph says, “Martin and Myself, Bellwood Park, June 30, 1912.” This one looks fairly, er, friendly to me.
I was curious about “Bellwood Park,” so I searched for it. Could Bellewood Park be the same place?
The back of the photograph says, “Martin, Myself, and Court at Bellwood Park, June 30, 1912.”
The back of the photograph says, “Margie and Martin, Rockaway, June 27, 1910.”
Margaret’s handwriting
Now, here are the new images that I recently found.
These are the same people that appear in the earlier photographs — Martin, Court, George, and Margaret. This photograph is actually printed on a piece of metal. A tintype? I think it was taken in 1912, based on the fact that Margaret is wearing the same dress.
The back of the photograph says, “Court, George, and Martin. Bellwood Park, June 30, 1912.” If you ask me, it looks like Margaret is just sneaking back from a bathroom break in the bushes. Well, maybe not — she seems much too ladylike to do something like that.
The back of the photograph says, “The flag, Martin, and myself. Bellwood Park, June 30, 1912.”
The back of the photograph says, “Martin Johnson, Jan. 1912.” This was the picture that unlocked the secret of Martin’s surname for me.
I think we can safely assume that Martin was a Carlton man, whatever that is. Unless these college boys are terrible spellers, I don’t think the banner is from Carleton College. There are lots of other “Carlton” references to be found online, but I don’t know enough to place this image with any degree of certainty. Any ideas, People?
I’m assuming this is a Carlton pajama party. Fraternity brothers? You be the judge.
So, you see? The trend of wearing pajama bottoms in public does appear to have some precedent. Let the record show that I only wear pajama pants to work when I’m working from home.
If anybody knows anything about the mysterious Martin, please leave a comment. Have a great day, People.
6 comments on “Mystery Martin”
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If you are a Person of Pancho, have questions, clues, or want to use any images or writing from this blog, kindly contact me at peopleofpancho@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
The People of Pancho 
No clue, but now I am curious too! My guess, is a good friend, but cannot wait for what you may find. Margaret was a pretty woman and had beautiful penmanship. I love what you are doing to unveil so much about the family. Our family is blessed, Panch!
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You’re so fortunate to have so many wonderful photos!
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I do feel fortunate, especially since I’ve had virtually no contact with the Spellman branch of my family. Exploring the photos has allowed me know them, which might not have happened otherwise. Thanks for stopping by–I am really enjoying your blog!
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Thank you!
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Love Your Photos In General And Bellewood In Particular. The One Of The Automobile Was A Bellewood Studio Prop. The Flagpole Was At The center Of The Park. This Park Was Huge, Encompassing Aprox. 300 Acres. I Have 40+ Glass Negatives And Numerous Photos Of Local People Who Visited/Worked There. There Were So Many Things To See And Do There.. I Have Never Been Able To See/Find Anything About The Tunnel Of Love. I Would Love To See The Inside Of The Dance Pavilion. The Very Ground The Park Stood On Is All But Gone… A Quarry Was On The Site. I Think That Margaret & Martin Were More Than Just Two Strangers Who Happened To Be Acquaintances… Maybe Martin Died… There Was WW1 And The Flu Pandemic. Maybe This Story Is Food For A Movie Version!!
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Smokey, I like the way your think. Fodder for a story, for sure. Luckily, Margaret left Martin behind and married my great-grandfather instead. Without that, there would me no me. 🙂
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