Mysteries Behind Unidentified Photographs

If you live on Goose Creek Island or were raised here, you are a keeper of history.  Occasionally, the keepers of history find themselves with collections of unidentified photographs.  These photographs were once cherished and treasured among Island families and friends.  They are too dear to be discarded yet never to be fully displayed because we no longer have the resources to help us identify. Jan Copen Orndorff has sent me some photographs that can not be identified.  They were in some of her mother's personal possessions and in an envelope labeled "Sadler Family."


To help with identifying and to make an Island connection, Jan is the daughter of Amy Irene Sadler Copen and Clarence Eugene Copen.  Amy Irene Sadler was born and raised in Hobucken.  She was the daughter of Arnold Gatlin Sadler and Martha Jane Parsons.  Her siblings were Stella, Murray, Gibb, Alice, Una Mae, Nina and Barry Thomas.  Their homeplace is no longer standing and was located on Lover's Lane.  Carol Lee and Edward Whitfield currently live on the property of the old Sadler home.

Clarence Eugene Copen, a Coastie (Coast Guard) who was stationed in Washington, happened upon "The Jitterbug" one day while tending buoys in the Intracoastal Waterway.   At the time, Amy Irene was working for Ms. Mary Williamson Ives at "The Jitterbug" located at the foot of the bridge.  Of course, Clarence Eugene was smitten with Ms. Amy Irene Sadler and the rest is history.  Their travels through their Coast Guard years took them to many places.

Every year, Amy Irene and Una Mae would load up the station wagon with 7 kids and travel from Long Island, New York to Hobucken to visit their families. Once they arrived in Hobucken, the kids, including Jan were let to run free.  Jan said her Mom would not let them out of the yard on Long Island, so Hobucken was a chance to really enjoy the unbridled freedom of the Island.

While they were running about on the Island, most people would recognize them.  The folks would take one look at them and say, "You're Ammie Arene's youngern or Una Mae's boy".  They always had a good time playing with the cousins, walking to the bridge, climbing the fire tower, buying pop from Charlie Jones' store or walking down to the Landing.
 
The photographs, from a young toddler girl who probably had her picture taken for the first time, to the young man puffing on a cigarette in his car, the names and stories will remain a mystery.  With your help, please look at the photographs below and see if you recognize any of these folks. 

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff

Photo courtesy Jan Orndorff