PARADING in 1906 Santa Cruz, California

For this weeks Sepia Saturday I am sharing a photo I purchased the other day. A mother and her two daughters, the Rooney family, taking a stroll in Santa Cruz, California in 1906. With all of the American flags flying we can only guess the occasion. Now, if dear Margaret had been writing the copy on the back we'd know exactly what day and time this was shot. Oh Margaret, I miss your efficiency because the dates written on the back of this have mother, born in 1864, giving birth in 1865 and 1867. I know things grow really well in the islands, but not this well.

Click on images to see them larger. _______ UPDATE: A comment has been kindly left by Norkio which fills in the pieces about these lovely ladies: Caroline McShane Rooney was born in the Sandwich Islands November 1862. She married Peter Rooney in 1884. Their three daughters were: Erminnie (1883), Adelade (1885) and Alice (1887). In 1900 they lived in Lincoln, CA which is close to Rocklin, Roseville and Folsom CA, all three of which are slightly northwest of Sacramento. Caroline had a sister named Rachel who never married, born in 1866 who died in 1949 in San Francisco. The census taker in 1910 noted that Rachel McShane lived with the Rooneys in San Franciso, but gave her age as 20 years. Daughter Alice lived to be 95, passing away in 1982 in San Francisco. She did marry Lafayette Mann when she was 19 which would have been 1906 or 1907. They had two daughters, Marjorie and Helen. Lafayette was 19 years older than Alice and had been a surveyor for the American Fruit Co, while Alice was a fruit grader - early QC specialist. :-) They were married at least until the 1930s, which is when the census information stops. When she passed away, her married name was Stiles. T.H. stands for Territory of Hawaii. _________ From Robert McDonald: Also, an update to Norkio's comments...Lafayette Mann died in 1935, after which Alice married William Stiles. Caroline McShane actually married Peter M. Rooney on her 20th birthday in 1882 in Makawao, Maui. Caroline died about 10 years after this photograph was taken, in 1917. One last tidbit, Caroline's mother was born in England, moved with her family to Australia at age 15, married at 16 and had 2 children, then moved to Hawaii at age 20 before having another 7 children!