Recently, I was looking through photos of my relatives and ancestors, in order to show and explain to my son about some of his ancestral history. There are many excellent original photographs that I have of people, and groups related to schools and Girl Scouts in North Collins, New York, where my grandmother, Bernice “Bernie” Gale (Briggs) Babcock-Sprague was raised by her parents, Clarence Briggs (of North Collins) and Julia (Gale) Briggs (of Hamburg, New York). My grandmother was born in 1912 and died in 1987.
I also have many great original photos of people, and sports teams in Collins, Collins Center, and Gowanda, New York that I will provide in separate posts. For now, please enjoy viewing these photos from yesteryear. Please note that I have identified as many names of the people in the current photos as possible.
Bernice Briggs of North Collins, NY, Circa 1923
This is a photo of my grandmother when she was 11 years old.
Bernice (Briggs) and Charles A. Babcock, Gowanda, NY, 1933
This picture is of my grandparents after they were married.
Charles A., Bernice, & Bruce E. Babcock, Collins, NY, 1948
This picture is of my grandparents with my dad when he was four years old. My grandfather would have been 37 years old in this picture, and my grandmother, 36. They waited until they were older before having a child.
View of Main Street, North Collins, NY, Circa 1906
Here is a picture of Main Street in North Collins from 1906. Notice the horse and buggy approaching from the far end of the road.
Second Grade Students at North Collins, NY One-Room Schoolhouse, 1920 (L to R-Charles Cocca, Bernice Briggs, Leona Reith, Daniel Mecca, Josephine Tempio, Naomi Heim, George Butler)
This is my grandmother’s second grade class in North Collins, New York from 1920. It was the end of the school year at the time this photo was taken. They had school in a one-room schoolhouse.
Sunday School Class, N. Collins, NY, 1923 L to R-Mrs Whaley, Emogene Stearns, Lillian Burham, Marie Mackey, Wilma Mackey, Bernice Briggs, Grace Korthale, Marion North, Lorraine Tarbox
This is a photo of my grandmother’s Sunday School Class in North Collins, New York from 1923. She was 11 years old. Notice that all of the girls are holding rabbits. I believe they were rabbits from the teacher’s farm, where the photo was taken. The teacher is identified as Mrs. Lee Whaley.
North Collins, New York First Grade Class with Miss Rockwell, 1918
Here is a photo of my grandmother’s first grade class with Miss Rockwell in North Collins from 1918 or 1919. My grandmother is seated at the far left row, in the third desk.
A listing of all but four of the the students in this photo includes the following: (Left to Right, Front to Back): First row: Doris Theil; Loretto Ognibene; Bernice Briggs; Naomi Heim; Joseph Diadoto. Second row: Angeline George; John Alessi; Josephine Tempio; Daniel Mecca; Bertha -; Unknown name; Myrle Long. Third row: Anthony Pelligrino; Elmer Bellanca; Joseph Musacchio; Carmella Cocca; Unknown name; Leonard Long; Harold Titus; Unknown name; Sam Agio; Charles Cocca; Sam Compisi; Ethel Valone; Dominic DeMaria. Fourth row: Anthony Veccio; Woodrow Hunter; Jacob George; Peter Compisi; Milly Long; Unknown name; – Compisi.
North Collins, NY School 6th Grade Class, 1923
Here, the 6th grade class of North Collins is pictured from 1923, with my grandmother seated in the middle row, at the far right. All student in the photo are as follows: (Left to Right, Front to Back): First row: Daniel Mecca; Charles Cocca; Leander Russell; Woodrow Hunter; Jacob George; John Riefel. Second row: Leona Reith; Elton Whaley; George Butler; Louis Taravella; Charles Pelligrina; Sam Compisi; Joseph Valone; Joseph Diadoto; Loretto Ognibene; Salvator Schillace; Paul Burgio; Bernice Briggs. Third row: Wilma Mackey; Josephine Macaluso; Marie Ognibene; Nina LiVieeche; Catherine Compiere; Rose Veccio; Lee Percy; Genevieve Geiger; Anna Vara; Mary Thomas; Marion Mendola; Jennie Vara; Conqetta Savage. The teacher, in the middle, back row is Elmer Stearns.
North Collins, NY High School 8th Grade Class, 1925
This photo is of the North Collins High School 8th grade class from 1925. My grandmother is standing, just about in the center of the picture. She was a top honor student all throughout her education.
Students in this picture are: (Left to Right, Front to Back): First row: Jacob George; Woodrow Hunter; Charles Pelligrina; Salvator Schillace; Jacob Scheflin; Sam Compisi; Elton Blakely; Leander Russell; Frederick Teltz; Harold Rebmann; Albert Smith. Second row: Wesley Herman; Elton Whaley; John Reifel; Nina LiVeeche; Catherine Compiere; Josephine Macaluso; Marguerite Lawton; Leona Reith; Bernice Briggs; Wilma Mackey; Madeline Thiel; Genevieve Geiger; Mary Thomas; Loretto Ognibene; Charles Cocca; George Butler; Daniel Mecca. Third row: Mae Rehm (Teacher); Myrle Whaley; – Renaldo; Harlan Penharlow; John Ball; Joseph Diadoto; Louis Taravella.
North Collins, NY Girl Scout Troop 1, Circa 1927
And, how about this photo of the North Collins Girl Scout Troop 1 from about 1927. My grandmother is standing in the rear at the right, next to the woman holding the trophy.
Pictured are, from left to right, front to back: First row: Jean Thiel; Doris Thiel; Edith Dickman; Margaret Ball; Dorothy Twichell; Jeanette Roeller; Rosemary Hewitt; Emogene Stearns. Second row: Helen Ormsby; Delight Tice; Audrey Mitchell; Marguerite Lawton; Lillian Burnham; Marion North; Leona Reith; Pamelia Ormsby; Bernice Briggs; Jessie Walburg. Third row: Josephine Tempio; Nine LiVieeche; Alice Butler; Elizabeth Thiel; Evelyn Ames; Dorothy Geiger; Genevieve Geiger; Marjorie Tarbox.
Source:
Family photos of Bernice Gale Briggs Babcock Sprague from 1918-1948. Collins, New York. Currently the Property of Michele Babcock-Nice (2014). Snellville, Georgia.
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