Family Biographies - Introduction

 

The following posts consist of five family biographies from 1929, including those of Uncle Will and his four nephews: Sam, Howard, Carlton, and Franklin II. During that time, each of them held important roles within the Bristol Company.

The biographies were published in “Connecticut History Makers,” which consists of three leather-bound books highlighting the achievements of prominent Connecticut citizens at that time. Many of the featured gentlemen exhibit the fancy facial hair that was fashionable during that period! The books were apparently found while cleaning out my grandparent’s house in Middlebury, Connecticut.

The "Connecticut History Makers" books were published during the “Roaring Twenties,” at a time of great industrial progress and economic prosperity in the US and prior to the Great Depression of the 1930s. Recent innovations included the automobile, radio, telephone, and assembly line. The intent of the books was to provide biographies of “men who have contributed to the progress of the state” and the books note that “in this era of prime economic importance of manufacturing, Connecticut holds an outstanding leadership."

Rarely missing an opportunity to promote both his family and professional endeavors, Uncle Will may have written much of the five biographies himself, highlighting their many achievements and the success of the Bristol Company.

Family Biographies - William H. Bristol

 

With over three pages of text, "Professor Bristol's" biography may be the longest in the three-volume set. Because he had prepared this "autobiography" about one year before his death, it provides a relatively complete summary of both his career and what he considered his most important accomplishments. Like everything else about Uncle Will, it seems he had a very unique and distinguished signature! The write-up also includes a good account of family history going back to Henry Bristol in 1656.

William H. Bristol

(July 5, 1859 – June 19, 1930)

Family Background and Early Life

Professor William Henry Bristol, inventor, educator, manufacturer, founder of the Bristol Company of Waterbury, Connecticut and one of its most substantial and progressive citizens, was born in Waterbury, July 5, 1859. He is a son of the late Benjamin H. Bristol and Pauline Phelps Bristol, both of whom were of English ancestry. The first American progenitor of the Bristol family was Henry Bristol who was one of the earlier of the New Haven Colony where he settled in 1656 and died in 1695. His son, Daniel Bristol (1671-1728). His son, Richard Bristol (1708-1791), was a native of Milford where his son, Nathan Bristol, was born in 1752. Inscribed on his tombstone in the old Milford cemetery is the information: 'died April 25, 1826, at the age of seventy-five years.' Nathan Bristol married Anna Lombard. He was a soldier in the Revolution. His son, Nehemiah Bristol married Lorania Down in 1798. He died May 30, 1832. Hiel Bristol, the second son of Nehemiah, was the grandfather of William H. Bristol. He migrated from Milford to Newtown and then to Salem (now Naugatuck) where he married Chastina Potter. He was born September 5, 1803 and died May 30, 1871.

Education and Early Career

William Henry Bristol studied in the public schools in Naugatuck until 1876, when he became a clerk in a general store in that town working there until 1880. He had, from early youth, evinced decided mechanical genius, and had a scientific mind which he was ambitious to develop into something that would ultimately be of benefit to mankind. With this object continually before him he studied and determined to attend some school of higher scientific training. As soon as his savings were sufficient to avail himself of the scientific course at Stevens Institute of Technology, he entered that institution at Hoboken, New Jersey, working his way through by his own earnings and completing his course there. During his junior year Professor Bristol organized the manual-instruction department in the Workingman's School in New York City, and taught there, while continuing his courses at the Stevens Institute. In 1884 he was graduated with degree of M.E., after which he kept up his classes at the Workingman's School for two years. This school was founded by, and sponsored by, Professor Felix Adler who was one of the pioneers in manual training and the arts, and the first to promote that work in New York. In 1886 he was appointed instructor in mathematics at Stevens Institute, and two years later assistant professor in that department. In 1899 he was given the title of Professor of Mathematics.

Inventions and Industrial Achievements

While pursuing his studies at Stevens, Professor Bristol gave considerable time and attention to inventing, perfecting and manufacturing a series of recording instruments adapted to making continuous records of pressure, temperature and electricity. He was a pioneer in the manufacture of recording instruments in America. Success came to him. During the many years he has devoted to this work, he has developed a complete line of recording instruments adapted to meet almost every industrial requirement, covering the most complete variety of ranges for the measurement of pressure, temperature, electricity, speed, time, etc. These recorders are instruments of precision and their construction is based on scientific principles and unequalled for their simplicity and reliability. His recording pressure gauges, recording voltmeters, wattmeters, ammeters, recording thermometers, pyrometers and patent steel belt-lacing are in universal use.

The Bristol Company and Professional Recognition

In 1899 Professor Bristol founded the Bristol Company at Platt's Bridge, Waterbury, for the purpose of manufacturing and marketing his inventions. He has been the dominant figure in the progress and development of the company and its executive head to the present time, covering a period of 40 years. At the Chicago Exposition in 1893 Professor Bristol was awarded a medal and a diploma for an exhibit of recording instruments. He was awarded the Edward Longstreet medal in 1894 at Philadelphia. At the Paris Exposition in 1900 he was awarded a silver medal. At the St. Louis Exposition in 1904 his recorders were awarded a gold medal, and Mr. Bristol has received many other medals from various expositions all over the world, also recognition of the excellence of his inventions including the John Scott Legacy Medal which was awarded him by the Franklin Institute at Philadelphia in 1890. He was also awarded a medal at the Sesqui-Centennial at Philadelphia in 1926.

Sound Recording Innovations

Professor Bristol also invented a system of thermo-electric pyrometers for the measurement of high temperature and numerous other instruments for automatically recording extremely delicate movements of an indicating arm where the least friction would cause inaccuracy in a record. Professor Bristol is a pioneer in the field of sound recording devices and has devoted the major part of his time for several years to bringing it to the state of perfection now attained. In 1915 he conceived the idea of recording simultaneously what is seen and heard, in permanent form, so that such records may be reproduced at any future time or place as if the characters were really present talking and acting. The method he chose to accomplish this was to record simultaneously the sound on a phonograph disc at the same time that the motion pictures of the persons and scenes of action were photographically recorded on a 'movie' film. By reproducing the sound record and the film simultaneously, and synchronously the sounds and actions are heard and re-enacted as in the original. This method combines the two arts of phonograph recording and motion picture photography without involving any radically different methods of recording the sound or necessitating any change in the picture film itself. This method is far in advance of any other thus far advanced and has decided advantages over any other process in the production of both the sound and the photographic record. The design and development of the apparatus necessary for making and reproducing talking motion pictures of this type covers several fields of engineering science, and no man in the engineering world is more fully equipped in experience, invention, genius and knowledge of this subject than is Professor Bristol, who has devoted so many years of his busy life to the practical development of sound recording devices. In the invention and production of the Bristolphone he has perfected an instrument which has synchronized the human voice and other sounds with the motion incidental in moving pictures. This work has absorbed his attention beyond that of any other invention of late years. To perfect it Professor Bristol has expended nearly a million dollars in the construction of a fully equipped motion picture laboratory and studio near his plant in Waterbury, also in research and experimental work incidental to the successful development of the ambitious and stupendous project he is so heartily interested in and to which he devotes his personal time and attention even to the minutest detail. The individual character developed in the Bristolphone is unique, inasmuch as it combines all the elements of successful production necessary and the numerous patents, basic and otherwise, as combined in the Bristolphone are sound and all covered and recognized. The Bristolphone is in successful operation in hundreds of the best moving picture houses at the present time. One feature of the Bristolphone which no other invention has, is the certainty of precision in synchronization, which is regulated by a device for that purpose, that will at once rectify, by retarding or advancing the sound record, any error in the production of the sound or lip movement of the actors.

Professional Memberships and Personal Life

Professor Bristol is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Society of Electro-Chemical Engineers, Society of Motion Picture Engineers and numerous others. He was first married to Miss J. Louise Wright in 1885 and she died three years later. June 28th, 1899, he was married to Elise H. Myers who was a granddaughter of General Michael Myers. She passed away August 5, 1924.

Family Biographies - Samual R. Bristol

 

Sam was the oldest of Franklin I’s children and had served several important roles within the Bristol Company. Like the others, his biography below also includes some good history of the family and the company. Although Sam was regarded as a skilled amateur photographer, Uncle Will may have hired a professional to take the head shots for these biographies.

Despite his rather stern looking portrait, my father (FBB III) had mentioned that he was especially friendly and personable. During summers on Lake Quassapaug, Uncle Sam had lived in the cottage across the cove, and he and his family would frequently stop over to visit them. My father also mentioned that he had enjoyed playing golf with his brothers.

Samual R. Bristol

(May 12, 1885 – February 1956)

Family Background

Samuel R. Bristol, secretary, treasurer and a director of The Bristol Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, universally recognized for the perfection and precision of fine recording instruments, adapted for making continuous records of pressure, temperature and electricity, also inventors and producers of the famous Bristol phone, was born May 12, 1885, at Naugatuck, Connecticut. His father, Franklin B. Bristol, was born at Platts Mills, July 14, 1861, and died November 21, 1904. He was foreman, machinist and toolmaker with Platt Brothers Company, one of Waterbury's pioneer manufacturing industries. He took out several patents on steel belt lacing and on tool for its manufacture. In 1889, in association with his brother, William H. Bristol, as president, and Franklin B. Bristol as vice-president, he organized The Bristol Company which has since grown to be the largest and best known of its kind in the world with a complete modern plant and laboratory for its product on the outskirts of Waterbury. Benjamin Hiel Bristol, father of Franklin B. and one of Waterbury's earlier pioneers, was the first treasurer of The Bristol Company and also one of its organizers. Henry Bristol, founder of the family in Connecticut and an early settler of the New Haven Colony, died in 1695. Hiel Bristol prominent in colonial affairs in pre-Revolutionary days, settling in Naugatuck, a blacksmith of sterling character and a respected citizen of that community, was the father of Benjamin H. and great-grandfather of Samuel R. Bristol. Cora (Russell) Bristol, mother of Samuel R., was also of an old line of Colonial ancestry; her father, Isaac N. Russell was a prominent dentist in Waterbury for many years.

Education and Early Career

Samuel R. Bristol, was educated in the Naugatuck public schools, subsequently by a course at the Hotchkiss school at Lakeville, Conn. Shortly after completing his schooling, he was placed in charge of The Bristol's Company's exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. November 4, 1904 he entered the machine tool department of The Bristol Company and for the next three years worked in the various departments, thus acquiring a thorough practical knowledge and experience in the mechanical part of the business.

Career Progression and Roles

In 1907 he was advanced to the important office of purchasing agent and in 1908 was appointed secretary and elected a director of the company, also having charge of the office and credit department of the company, was elected treasurer in July, 1930, to which he devotes his exclusive time and attention.

Personal Life and Interests

He does not belong to any clubs or fraternal organizations, neither does he seek political preferment. He is a member of the Naugatuck Congregational church and in politics is a Republican. His principal recreations are horticulture and photography. He is a member of the Naugatuck Golf Club. Mr. Bristol was married July 11, 1906 at Naugatuck to Edna Hamilton, and the union has been blessed with five children, Hamilton R. Bristol, born June 4, 1907; Muriel Bristol, born Mar. 30, 1909; Harold P. Bristol, born Oct. 21, 1910; Louise Bristol, born Aug. 8, 1913, and Elizabeth Bristol, born April 24, 1918. Mrs. Bristol is a daughter of Judge Henry W. Hamilton. Their residence is in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Business address, Waterbury, Connecticut.

Family Biographies - Howard H. Bristol

 

Howard served multiple management roles within the Bristol Company. Like his brothers and Uncle Will, he obtained an engineering degree from Stevens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey. Although he was the second oldest of the four, a fifth brother, Harold, had died in 1887 within his first year. 

Howard and his wife Alice had four children, including Elise, Howard H., Franklin E. (Carolyn's father), and Ruth. In honor of previous generations, it was common for names such as these to be "reused" by the family. During summers, they spent time at Squirrel Lodge on Lake Quassapaug, prior to the property being acquired by the Littles. In addition to his many duties at the Bristol Company, he was a director of several corporations in Naugatuck.

Howard H. Bristol

(July 23, 1888 – June 3, 1951)

Early Life and Family Background

Howard Hall Bristol, vice president and general manager of The Bristol Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, internationally famous for the perfection of its fine recording instruments, adapted for making continuous records of pressure, temperature and electricity, was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, January 23, 1888, the son of Franklin B. Bristol and Cora F. Russell Bristol. Mr. Bristol is descended from Henry Bristol, the founder of the Bristol family in Connecticut and an early settler of the New Haven Colony, who died in 1695. The first of the family, which was prominent in colonial affairs, to settle in Naugatuck was Hiel Bristol, a blacksmith whose sterling character and industry made him one of the respected citizens of the community. His old time blacksmith shop remained for many years as one of the reminders of Naugatuck's early days. His son, Benjamin Hiel Bristol, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of the founders of The Bristol Company.

The Bristol Company and Family Contributions

Franklin Benjamin Bristol, son of Benjamin H. Bristol and father of Howard H. Bristol, was born in Platt's Mills, July 14, 1861, and was first employed as a machinist at the plant of Platt Brothers of Waterbury. He became foreman and held that position for several years until 1894 when The Bristol Company was formed with his brother, William H. Bristol, as president, Franklin B. Bristol as vice president, and his father, Benjamin H. Bristol, as treasurer. During the years that followed, Franklin B. Bristol took out several patents on steel belt lacing, to the production of which the plant was originally devoted, and on tools for its manufacture. He continued an outstanding factor in the notable progress of the company until his death, November 22, 1904. Four sons, Samuel R., Howard H., Carlton W. and Franklin B., occupy positions of importance with the company.

Education and Career

Howard H. Bristol attended the Waterbury and Naugatuck Grammar Schools, graduated from the Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Connecticut, in 1906, and from the Stevens Institute, Hoboken, New Jersey, with the degree of Mechanical Engineer, in 1910. From 1910 to 1920 he devoted his attention to development and engineering at the plant of The Bristol Company and in 1920 was elected vice president, assistant treasurer, director and general manager of the company, offices which he is now filling.

Business Expansion and Leadership Roles

During the period that has developed between the date of Mr. Bristol's original connection with the company and the present time the business has expanded remarkably due in no small part to Mr. Bristol's efforts is evident. In addition to holding these offices with The Bristol Company, Mr. Bristol is a director in the following corporations: The Naugatuck Water Company, the Naugatuck National Bank, the Naugatuck Engineering and Manufacturing Company, the Naugatuck Building and Loan Association, all of Naugatuck, and the Miller & Peck Company of Waterbury.

Community Involvement and Personal Life

He served as burgess on the Board of Warden and Burgesses of Naugatuck, 1920-1924, is a member of the Rotary Club and the Waterbury Club. The family is affiliated with the Naugatuck Congregational church of which Mr. Bristol is a deacon. June 6, 1912, Mr. Bristol was united in marriage to Miss Alice H. Osborn, daughter of Samuel N. Osborn, connected with the Miller & Peck Company of Waterbury, and four children have been born of the union: Elise, Howard H., Jr., Franklin E. and Ruth. Residence, Hillside Avenue, Naugatuck, Connecticut; business address, Waterbury, Connecticut.

Family Biographies - Carlton W. Bristol

 

Carlton was a chief engineer at the Bristol Company and was, in part, responsible for the development of recording and controlling instruments used for industry. Like his brothers and Uncle Will, he obtained an engineering degree from Stevens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

He and his wife Florence had two children, Carl and Anne. Although my other two great-uncles, Sam and Howard, had passed away in the 1950s, Uncle Carlton and Aunt Florence lived well into the 1970s. I have fond memories of visiting them and their family at their lake house during summers on Lake Quassapaug.

Carlton W. Bristol

(July 17, 1891 – August 27, 1977)

Family Background

Carlton William Bristol, chief engineer and a director of The Bristol Company, manufacturer of the renowned Bristol recording instruments at Waterbury, Connecticut, was born at Naugatuck, Connecticut, July 17, 1891. He is the son of Franklin B. Bristol and Cora F. (Russell) Bristol and a descendent of Henry Bristol, the first American progenitor of the Connecticut Bristols who was one of the early settlers of the New Haven Colony. His great grandfather, Hiel Bristol, was the first of the family to settle in Naugatuck and the latter's son, Benjamin Hiel Bristol, was one of the founders of The Bristol Company together with his two sons, William H. Bristol and Franklin B. Bristol.

The Bristol Company and Family Contributions

Franklin B. Bristol, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Platt's Mills, July 14, 1861, and after several years as machinist in the plant of the Platt Brothers there became foreman. He held that position until The Bristol Company was formed in 1899 when he became vice president of that company. The company originally manufactured steel belt lacing and Franklin Bristol took out several patents on that product and on tools for its manufacture. He gave to the company his undivided attention and service and the progress of its earlier years was due in a large measure to his efforts. His death occurred November 22, 1904. His four sons are identified with the company in positions of importance, Samuel R., Howard H., Carlton W. and Franklin B.

Education

Carlton William Bristol attended the Waterbury and Naugatuck Grammar Schools, the Naugatuck High School and Stevens Institute of Technology at Hoboken, New Jersey, graduating with the degree of Mechanical Engineer.

Career and Professional Roles

Following his graduation he became connected with The Bristol Company in October 1914, and has been with the company since that time, directing his attention to the development and design of recording and controlling instruments. He is also a director of the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce, an incorporator of the Naugatuck Savings Bank and a director of the Naugatuck Mills. He is a member of the Waterbury Club.

Personal Life

September 22, 1917, Mr. Bristol was married to Miss Florence M. Kneringer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Kneringer of New Haven and they have two children, Carlton W., Jr., and Anne Welton.

Family Biographies - Franklin B. Bristol II

At 28 years old, Franklin II was much younger than his brothers and may have also been the youngest subject in the three-volume set. 

Papa's biography notes that he obtained a degree in Industrial Electronics Engineering, which was a relatively new and exciting field at that time. According to my father (Franklin III), Papa's background in both mechanical and electrical engineering allowed him to work closely with Uncle Will on many of his inventions during that period. Unlike his brothers, Papa also had the opportunity to work with Uncle Will on the innovative development of movies with sound at his WHB Talking Picture Corporation. After Uncle Will's death in 1930, although the talking picture efforts were discontinued, Papa was able to continue working on various inventions and Bristol Company products.

Franklin B. Bristol II

(March 10, 1901 – October 30, 1997)

Early Life

Franklin Benjamin Bristol, general manager of the William H. Bristol Talking Picture Corporation of Waterbury, was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut, March 10, 1901, the son of Franklin B. Bristol and Cora F. (Russell) Bristol. His father, for whom he is named, was a well-known resident of Naugatuck who became vice president of The Bristol Company of Waterbury when it was founded by William H. Bristol, his brother, in 1889. He is descended from Henry Bristol, who came from England, and was one of the first settlers of New Haven colony, and his great grandfather, Hiel Bristol, was the first of the family to settle in Naugatuck. His grandfather, Benjamin Hiel Bristol, one of the sterling citizens of Naugatuck of his time, was associated with his two sons in founding The Bristol Company.

Education

Franklin B. Bristol, the subject of this biography, was educated in the Naugatuck grammar schools and Naugatuck high school, with two years at the Gunnery school at Washington, Connecticut. He then entered Pratt Institute and was graduated in 1923, following a course in electrical engineering, with the degree of I. E. E.

Career

After leaving Pratt Institute, he entered the plant of The Bristol Company and for approximately two years devoted his attention to the development of radios. In 1925 he took up the work of developing talking moving pictures for the William H. Bristol Talking Picture Corporation and the success which has been attained by the "Bristolphone," an instrument which synchronizes sound with motion pictures, invented by his uncle, Professor William H. Bristol, the "Bristolphone" has been brought to a state of high perfection in the complete motion picture plant and laboratory under the management of Franklin B. Bristol and is being used by many theatres in various parts of the country with a constantly increasing field being developed. Mr. Bristol is a member of the Kiwanis club and of the Congregational church of Naugatuck.

Family

October 5, 1923, he was married to Phyllis Hampson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Hampson of Waterbury, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Two children have been born of the union, Franklin B. Bristol, Jr., and Nancy Bristol.

Residence

Mr. Bristol's residence is at 25 Kenilworth street (see previous post here) and his business address, the William H. Bristol Talking Picture Corporation, Waterbury, Conn. 

Kenilworth Street

Franklin III at Kenilworth Street

The above photo of my father (Franklin III) was taken on the sidewalk in front of his house at 25 Kenilworth Street in Waterbury, Connecticut. His pedal-car may have been designed after a Toledo Pierce Arrow.

Although the photo does not include any details, he may have received the roadster from Uncle Will for his third birthday in February 1928. Uncle Will had adopted Papa (Franklin II) and his brothers in 1905 after their father was killed by a train (see previous posts here and here). Therefore, Uncle Will may have considered my father his "grandson" (and therefore, my generation could probably consider ourselves his "great-grandchildren").

25 Kenilworth Street, from a current Google "Street View" image

My grandparents (Franklin II and Phyllis) had moved into the Kenilworth Street house in 1923 after they were married. At that time, Papa was 22 and Gam was 20. The house had been newly constructed and was located on a 0.14 acre parcel within a residential area of the city.

Franklin III ("Sonny") at Kenilworth Street in October 1927 (click to enlarge)

Although Waterbury has undergone a lot of changes during the past 90+ years (for better or worse), it seems that Kenilworth Street has remained largely unchanged. In comparing the three black-and-white photos above with the current Google image below, although the road is now paved, each of the houses and other features are almost identical!

Current view of Kenilworth Street to west

WHB and the Brooklyn Bridge

Adam on the Brooklyn Bridge, looking towards lower Manhattan

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Brooklyn Bridge in New York with my son Adam. We were able to cross over the bridge on a wooden walkway that extended over the busy traffic and East River far below. The bridgework and night-time views of the NYC skyline were amazing!

Our view of the New York skyline from the bridge

The experience brought to mind a letter that Uncle Will had written in 1880, which I had briefly described in a previous post. At that time, the bridge was considered to be one of the greatest engineering feats in the world. Construction of the bridge had begun in 1869 and would take 14 years to complete. The chief engineer on the project was a German immigrant named John Roebling. During the second year of construction, however, his foot was crushed and he died of tetanus. Afterwards, his 32-year old son, Washington Roebling, took over the project as chief engineer.

In November 1880, Uncle Will had written a letter home to his 15-year old sister Sarah, whom they had affectionately called Sadie. At that time, he was in his first semester as an engineering student at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. From his dormitory room on the third floor, he was able to look across the Hudson River to NYC and may have been able to see the stone suspension towers of the bridge on the other side of Manhattan. On the third page of his letter (see below), Uncle Will describes contacting the chief engineer to ask permission to visit the bridge during construction.

He and his classmates were then able to cross over the footpath above the bridge and get a personal tour from another engineer on the project. He writes that:

"It is a grand thing to go up on those piers. They are over 250 feet above the river. The view of NY and the surroundings is magnificent. When on the walk out over the river it almost seems as if one was flying." and "Going across that bridge is the best treat that I have had since I have been here -- I only wish that Papa and Frank could go over it too."

Although separated by 139 years, Adam is also a young engineer. I mentioned to him that Uncle Will's brother Frank (Franklin Benjamin Bristol I) was his great-great grandfather, and Papa (Benjamin Hiel Bristol) was his great-great-great grandfather!

Uncle Will's experience on the bridge that day may have been particularly inspiring for him during his career. After graduating from Stevens in 1884, he would begin teaching there in 1886 and then become a professor of mathematics there in 1899, after starting the Bristol Company with Frank and his father in 1889. While at Stevens, he also patented some of his most successful inventions. The school still offers a William Henry Bristol Endowed Scholarship, which is "awarded to a deserving student with financial need."

Uncle Will's letter from November 1880, page 1 (click to enlarge)

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

WW2 Appendix - Additional Photographs (Post 1 of 6)

Franklin in August 1943, one week before leaving for the service

Shortly after completing this story, another box of old photographs was discovered at the lake house from the time of the war. The photos had been taken by Franklin's family during his last few months at home, during his leave from training, and during the time that he was away. The original photos were in black and white and were only about 2 x 3 inches in size.

Most of the photos had been taken by Franklin's father, who seemed to have a good eye for photography. As an engineer, he also appeared to be especially good at adjusting his camera to the various light conditions and then developing the photos in his darkroom.

Papa's darkroom on South Street where he developed his photos

After development, Franklin's mother would carefully write the subject of the photos on the back in pencil before enclosing them with their letters to him overseas. As possible, Franklin would then return the photos to them along with his own letters.

The following appendix contains 52 of the additional photos from that time. Where possible, I have noted the chapter numbers for the corresponding events taking place in the preceding story.

Bob Bristol
March 26, 2019
East Haddam, Connecticut

WW2 Appendix - Additional Photographs (Post 2 of 6)

Photo #1: Franklin's regional high school hockey team (see Chapter 3).

Photo #2:  With his hockey team (second row, second from left).

Photo #3:  Franklin's high school baseball team.

Photo #4:  Graduation from Loomis High School with his family. Franklin and many of his classmates would soon be drafted into the war.

Photo #5:  Franklin racing a Snipe on Lake Quassapaug during the summer of 1943 (boat number 4, marked FB).

Photo #6:  Formal photo with Franklin Sr., Dave, Phyllis, and Franklin Jr.

Photo #7:  Franklin expanding his chicken coup, summer of 1943.

Photo #8:  Dave would be taking care of the chickens while he was away.

Photo #9:  Sailing on Lake Quassapaug with Dave and his parents, August 15, 1943, one week before leaving for service.

Photo #10:  With Dave on Lake Quassapaug, one week before leaving for service.

WW2 Appendix - Additional Photographs (Post 3 of 6)

Photo #11:  Dave with "Rochester."

Photo #12:  "Ready for Christmas" at home on South Street.

Photo #13:  Camp Roberts in California, December 24, 1943. While waiting for Franklin, his father was somehow allowed to tour the facility and take photos of the men in training (see Chapter 9).

Photo #14:  Men resting at Camp Roberts.

Photo #15:  Machine gun training at Camp Roberts, December 24, 1943 (see Chapters 11 and 13).

Photo #16:  Browning M1917 machine gun used in training. Some of these photos were probably not shown to Franklin's mother!

Photo #17:  Barracks at Camp Roberts, December 24, 1943.

Photo #18:  Franklin waiting in mess tent.

Photo #19:  Postcard from hotel where Franklin and his father stayed during his Christmas leave (Chapter 10). Because the hotel did not hold their reservation, they had to share a bed in a Red Cross storage room.

Photo #20:  Franklin's father would write home about their hotel room: "I wish you could have seen it. Heaps of trunks, duffle bags, helmets, gas masks, canteens and equipment of every kind."

Photo #21:  With his father on Christmas day, 1943.

WW2 Appendix - Additional Photographs (Post 4 of 6)

Photo #22:  Back home on leave after completing his four months of basic training, 

February 1944 (see Chapter 17).

Photo #23:  With his mother during leave, February 1944

Photo #24:  With his sister, February 1944.

Photo 25:  Packing chicken eggs with Dave, February 1944.

Photo #26:  Making a paper airplane(?) from instructions in a magazine.

Photo #27:  Easter flowers sent by Franklin, April 1944.

Photo #28:  "Shake hands, Pete!" May 1944.

Photo #29:  Franklin's father mowing the lawn, May 1944.

Photo #30:  Dave mowing the lawn, May 1944.

Photo #31:  "Thank you for these beautiful flowers. You were a very dear 

son to remember me." Mother's Day, May 1944.

Photo #32:  Nancy at her high school graduation, June 1944 (see Chapter 22).