In the text beneath several of these photos, I have used a red font to indicate those whose identity I am unsure about. Since Lucy DANBY and Robert Thomas WRIGHT married in 1908, and also since he was the brother-in-law of Mary MENARY, I am guessing that tshe is one of the group - although the face of the woman I have identified as Lucy DANBY looks remarkably like Jeannie MOORHEAD. The large black and white photos included beneath were all found in a package of unprinted negatives, tucked into an old envelope at Gilford Castle. As always, thanks to Christine Wright for sharing them with me.
Sharon Oddie Brown. February 10, 2011 |
Family photos that are quite possibly of a gathering at Cavananore in about 1908.
with some more recent snaps at the bottom of the page.
See also Cavananore.
The family home at Cavananore went through many phases of being initially built, then added on to, then having parts destroyed in a fire, and then rebuilt again. It is a considerable bit of guesswork that situates these circa 1908 pictures that follow beneath to be of a family gathering at Cavananore. Partly, I am going from the shape and size of the window over the door. I also recognize that I could have egg on my face - they could turn out to be somewhere else altogether. |
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The pillars on either side of the door in the photos that follow beneath have different scroll work than in the post 1922 photo to the left. Also, the section of the house to the left of the door is set back in the older photos. The post-1922 pictures [sample at left] were taken after a fire, and a subsequent renovation. It seems that there is a different colour to the brickwork on the section to the left of the door. The scorching of the brick above the window indicates to me that the replacement of the pillars at this time yould not have been unlikely. |
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Left to right: Unknown, Mary WRIGHT - born MENARY (1872-1946), James Francis WRIGHT (1874-1954), James Francis WRIGHT jr. (1902-1979), Robert Thomas WRIGHT, Jeannie Coulter JACKSON (1877-1975), wife of Charles Andrew MOORHEAD (1877-1935) or possibly Lucy DANBY(1875-1938 - wife of R.T. WRIGHT (1864-1937) Elizabeth BROWN (1870-1944), wife of Samuel GILMORE (1874-1946). |
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Left to right: Unknown, Mary WRIGHT born MENARY (1872-1946), Unknown, James Francis WRIGHT (1874-1954), Lucy DANBY(1875-1938 - wife of R.T. WRIGHT (1864-1937) - or possibly Jeannie Coulter JACKSON (1877-1975), wife of Charles Andrew MOORHEAD (1877-1935) , Elizabeth BROWN (1870-1944), wife of Samuel GILMORE (1874-1946) |
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Mary WRIGHT born MENARY (1872-1946) standing behind, shading her eyes. |
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Lucy DANBY(1875-1938 - wife of R.T. WRIGHT (1864-1937); Robert Thomas WRIGHT (1864-1937) - or possibly Jeannie Coulter JACKSON (1877-1975), wife of Charles Andrew MOORHEAD (1877-1935). |
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Today, the house is in sad shape - but perhaps on its way to a new rebirth. In the meantime, the land and the weeds will continue to reclaim the stones, and in the meantime we can only wonder at the times our family shared at Cavananore, the stories they told, and the particular mix of griefs and joys experienced within its walls.
Beneath, Christine Wright on a cold late afternoon November day in 2010 is looking towards the derelict house. |
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Beneath is an aerial shot of Cavananore taken on April 15th, 1985. Eugene Lynch shared this with me during my 2010 trip to the region. |
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Eugene also shared his copy of a 1727 map of the area. The red Post-it indicates the location of Cavananore. |
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