HOME FAMILY YESTERDAY SOLVAY STARSTRUCK
 
 

It looks as though members of the Major family — with various friends and relatives — are ready to head home after a vacation at Otisco Lake, perhaps in 1917. That's Rose McLaughlin Major, hands on hips, at the far left, and her husband,, John W. Major, at the far right. Their youngest daughter, Irene, is fifth from the left. Their eldest daughter, Margaret ("Maggie") is second from the right. It's possible the person to her left is her sister, Viola ("Lola"), though her outfit makes her look like an older woman. (It's the smile that makes me think it might be Lola.)

Behind Maggie is her brother, Billy. The young woman to Billy's right may be Elizabeth Radford, his eventual wife. That thing above her is not part of her hat, but part of the roof on the camp behind them. Stanley "Buster" Major, another son of Rose and John, is the young man with his arm on the shoulder of the fellow in front of him.

Unfortunately, I do not know the others in the photograph, whether they are friends or relatives, and, if they are relatives, whether they are from the McLaughlin or Major sides of the family.

John W. Major could be a cigar-smoking Captain Von Trapp in this photo with sixteen young people who look as though they might be there to audition for "The Sound of Music." But in this group are John's five children, probably with Major or McLaughlin relatives at an Otisco Lake camp, in 1916 or 1917. In front, center stage, is Stanley "Buster" Major, doing some stupid hair trick, which doesn't amuse his older brother, Billy, surrounded by girls on the right. Next to Billy are sisters Maggie and Irene, who is making a horrible face. Between and behind Maggie and Irene is another sister Lola, whose hair looks as though it is lifting off her head. If anyone can identify any of the others, please contact me.
Two couples and an annoying younger brother — that's Margaret "Maggie" Major on the left with husband-to-be Ray Nicholson kicking up a fuss, while Billy Major hugs Elizabeth Radford. Sticking his head between the two Majors is their prankster brother Stanley, better known as "Buster."
The woman sticking her tongue out appears in several family photos, but I do not know her name; nor can I identify the woman to her left. The other three are Major sisters. Clockwise from the top: Viola (aka Lola); Margaret ("Maggie") and Irene (mugging for the camera).
An example of what not to do when you're sitting in a boat on a lake. My guess — that's Irene Major on the left, Maggie Major over her left shoulder. Next is someone I can't identify, though I suspect she is a relative. Fourth from the left, I believe, is Elizabeth Radford,
who married Billy Major. All alone on the right is Lola Major.
Irene Major makes another face. Behind her, left to right, are her sister,
Maggie, brother Buster, a young woman I cannot identify, sister
Lola, and another unknown young woman who may be
friend or family.
 
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