X1
X2
Y
Compliments of Moody Bros.
1st X – Grover – Age 16 years.
2nd X – Claude – " 14 "
By Claude
1st X – Grover – Age 16 years.
2nd X – Claude – " 14 "
By Claude
This photo postcard of a small school string orchestra,
twelve violins, three mandolins,
one very fancy guitar, and one hidden instrument,
(possibly the director behind the guitarist),
is unmarked except for the names
of two young violinists,
brothers Grover and Claude Moody.
twelve violins, three mandolins,
one very fancy guitar, and one hidden instrument,
(possibly the director behind the guitarist),
is unmarked except for the names
of two young violinists,
brothers Grover and Claude Moody.
But that is just enough to find them
living in 1910 in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota.
living in 1910 in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota.
In the 1910 US Census for Wahpeton, ND, Grover Moody, age 16 and Claudy (sic) Moody, age 14, were recorded as the two sons of G. E. (George) Moody, age 43, and his wife Minnie, age 35. They also had two daughters, Hazel, age 18, and Myrtle, age 5. The father, G. E. Moody, listed his occupation as Doctor, Vetenairy (sic). The Moody family, minus the youngest child, was also recorded in the 1900 census for Wahpeton too.
If I am correct, and one can never be 100% positive, the ages of these Moody brothers from North Dakota exactly match the postcard inscription which would date the photo of the school children to 1910-11. Wahpeton, Richland County, North Dakota is located in the southeast corner of the state at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux River with the Otter Tail River, which then forms the Red River of the North. In 1910 its population was 2,467 citizens including 16 talented young musicians.
9 comments:
I love guessing what "Y" might have played, or if she indeed was the director of the ensemble. Good to find that census of the young men!
As ever, Mike, you have given us great photographs and delved into the background to the Moody brothers. The orchestra does look rather tired and serious, but perhaps that was the style for images in that period. I hope they, and their audience, enjoyed their music making.
Mother "Minnie Moody" - now that's a name that could be attached to a cartoon character. I wonder if any of the other kids identified themselves on a postcard too.
I love those blouses and suits.
These photos are treasures along with the documentation you found. Neat that they brothers identified themselves for future the present time as if whomever they were meant for would not know them. Loved seeing the period clothes and hairdo's. Now that band 'Rocks'....guitar girl for sure.
The woman sans an obvious instrument does appear to be the educating director of the group. I wanted to play the violin in our grade school orchestra, but by the time I decided I wanted to do it the only instrument left for me was the cello. I took it to begin with, but as I walked 5 blocks to and from school and my mother didn't drive back then, hauling that cello back forth was no picnic and I gave it up in short order. Instead, I joined the all school chorus and haven't stopped singing since! :)
By Claudy, I think you found them! But I still don't get the Y. I'm not seeing it in the photo. Perhaps I have a vision problem!
Kathy, I apologize for being obtuse. It's merely alphabetic humor. But Y not?
I Z now!
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