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Archiver > CROCKER > 1998-05 > 0894375391


From: "Dan Webb" <>
Subject: [CROCKER-L] Helen W. Crocker, Boston
Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 09:36:31 -0400


Thank you to those who responded to my post yesterday on Charles Henry
Crocker of New London, CT.

His daughter, Helen was my g grandmother and she represents an intriguing
mystery to me. Helen died July 11, 1909 when her daughter, my grandmother
was only 8. My g grandfather, Benjamin Poor, remarried and then died himself
not long after and very little was passed on to my grandmother concerning
her biological mother. My grandmother died in the mid sixties and my father
tells me that she never spoke of her real mother. The only record that we
were left with concerning Helen Crocker was a letter written to my g
grandfather by Helen's father, Charles Henry Crocker, asking that he send my
grandmother to live with her Crocker relatives in Malden, MA. My g
grandfather never complied.

My recent diggings have revealed an interesting obituary for Helen (Crocker)
Poor in the Winthrop, MA Sun July, 1909...

Mrs. Helen W. Poor

"Mrs. Helen W. Poor, daughter of Captain Charles H. and Mrs. Crocker, died
suddenly Sunday night of heart disease. Mrs. Poor was a famous artists'
model in her day and a few years ago, when her little daughter was 5 years
of age, they both appeared at a local theatre in the pictures.

Some of their famous poses were "The Rose Child", "Her First Appearance",
"Grandpa Goes to the Fair" and numerous others. Two years ago Mrs. Poor won
the first prize in the coaching parade here. She was remarkably beautiful
woman and very popular here.

The funeral was held Thursday afternoon, the services being conducted by
Rev. C.W. Henry of the Episcopal Church. The interment was at Wyoming
cemetery, Melrose."

Can anyone help me here? Would these poses have been advertisements or
strictly artistic poses? When it mentions "the pictures", given the time,
1909, would that have meant literally "still pictures" or actually early
movies? What was a coaching parade?

Any input would be appreciated.

Dan Webb

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