Two readers from Hillsboro and one from Imperial came up winners in the annual “Way Back When” photo contest, sponsored by Leader Publications and Grand Times, its publication for seniors. Readers were asked to submit photos from more than 25 years ago for the contest.
Rosemary Graham of Hillsboro won first prize and $100, Dale Richardson of Hillsboro won the $75 second-place prize and Beth O’Connell of Imperial won $50 for her third-place entry.
Names were drawn at random from among the more than 40 entries in the contest. The winners and as many other photos as space allows may be found in this week's Grand Times, with all submissions displayed below this story.
Graham, 77, won the top prize for her photo taken in 1968 on the family farm in Bentonville, Ark. It shows her sister-in-law, June, and nephew, Chucky. “Whenever we wanted to get out of the city for a while, we would take a trip to visit June on their chicken farm where they lived,” Graham recalls. “It was a nice getaway when we had extra time and a little extra gas money.”
Getting away from it all
Graham, 77, won the top prize for her photo taken in 1968 on the family farm in Bentonville, Ark. It shows her sister-in-law, June, and nephew, Chucky.
“Whenever we wanted to get out of the city for a while, we would take a trip to visit June on their chicken farm where they lived,” Graham recalls. “It was a nice getaway when we had extra time and a little extra gas money.”
Graham and her late husband, George, were not country folk, but enjoyed their outings.
“We both grew up in St. Louis, and we ran the streets,” she said. “Going down there was fun, but I’m telling you, it was like going back in time, an outside bathroom, the whole thing.
“But it was so peaceful. We found fun, enjoyment and relaxation where we could.”
Graham was a longtime De Soto resident before moving in with her daughter’s family in 2021 following George’s death. She has entered many of the Leader’s photo contests over the years, sharing pictures of her three children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, pets and more.
In late 2023, one of her photos was randomly drawn as grand prize winner in the “Holiday Family Album” contest. She used her $200 prize money to honor the memory of her husband.
“George always liked to buy new coats for kids when they went on sale after the holidays. It’s the only thing he ever shopped for,” she explained. “For what would have been our 60th anniversary in June, in his memory my daughter and I used that money to shop for coats for needy children. We ended up with 25 coats to donate to our church to distribute.”
Graham enjoys writing about her family and her community, and has had her work published in several magazines and newspapers.
“I like to talk about my family, all my blessings,” she said. “But I don’t do computers; it’s all handwritten. I had carpal tunnel surgery in 2021, and now I can write well again, so I’m planning to use the $100 (Way Back When photo contest prize) for a new desk.”
Richardson, 63, took second place for a 1924 photo of his grandparents taken in Kirkwood. It shows Ray and Grace (Newhouse) Vincent sitting on the running board of a car along with Grace’s sister, Isabell Newhouse.
Keeping history alive
Richardson, 63, took second place for a 1924 photo of his grandparents taken in Kirkwood. It shows Ray and Grace (Newhouse) Vincent sitting on the running board of a car along with Grace’s sister, Isabell Newhouse.
“They were dating, and this was before they got married in 1927,” Richardson said. “Aunt Bell was about 10 at the time. I thought it was cool, with the old car and everything.”
He also says looking at historic photos gives a new perspective on people.
“My grandma was such a sweetheart,” he said. “She was kind of an Aunt Bee character when I was a kid, with her pearl earrings and her white gloves and her hair all fixed.
“It was interesting to see her as a young person.”
Richardson, a facilities director at Jefferson College, said he was “excited and pleased” that his name was drawn.
“I’ve always enjoyed my family history,” he said. “I’ve tried to obtain as much information as possible about my family. When my mom passed away in 2022, I got all her photos. I remember being a small boy looking at all the pictures, and I treasure them.”
Richardson said the love of family history is being passed on.
“My daughter cherishes them, too, and I want to ensure they stay in the family,” he said. “A lot of people don’t have that opportunity, to see where they came from.
“I think it’s great.”
O’Connell, 68, won the third-place prize for a 1959 photo of herself and her mother, Pat Baumer, in the snow. She was 3 years old when her father, Jack Baumer, snapped a shot of them near their home in Oconomowoc, Wis.
A winter walk
O’Connell, 68, won the third-place prize for a 1959 photo of herself and her mother, Pat Baumer, in the snow. She was 3 years old when her father, Jack Baumer, snapped a shot of them near their home in Oconomowoc, Wis.
“We had moved there so my father could go to school. He was a tool and die machinist,” she said. “There are lakes all around, and in the winter people ice skate, fish.
“We played outside a lot, and didn’t mind the cold, although I never learned to skate very well.”
O’Connell grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and went to college in Kirksville before coming to this area in 1993. She taught special education in the Northwest R-1 School District full time until 2017 and then served as a substitute teacher before retiring in January of this year.
“Now I just relax. I have two cats, and I like to read, play games, watch TV, do some walking.”
Way Back When 2024 photo contest entries
Jana Proske Brazeal, 66, of Arnold can be seen as a baby in this 1958 photo taken in Oklahoma by Walter Proske. Jana is held by her mother, Carol Proske, next to her uncle, Ben Cornett. “I am still in touch with my uncle Ben,” Jana said.
Donna Tooley of High Ridge sent a picture of her grandparents, Robert and Eunice (Brown) Tooley, in Owensboro, Ky., celebrating the first of four pregnancies in 1937. Robert worked various farm jobs until he was hired at Chrysler and transferred to Fenton, retiring after 30 years, while Eunice cared for their home in High Ridge. Robert died at age 89 and Eunice at 93.
Donna Tooley of High Ridge sent a photo of her father, Richard “Wayne” Tooley, at a Michigan Air Force base on June 13, 1958. “(Wayne) loved to horse around and make his parents smile,” Donna said. The picture was likely taken by his wife, Patricia.
Steve Alexander, 63, of De Soto said he’s unsure when exactly this photo of his grandfather, Henry Alexander, and father, Kenneth Alexander, was taken, “but the movie on the marquee came out in 1946.”
Kathleen Yuengel, 71, of Crystal City sent a picture of her grandmother, Rose White, about 3, and great-grandfather, Bill White, at their Kimmswick home in 1904.
Greg Cautrell of De Soto sent a picture from December 1922 of his grandparents, Bill and Gladys Cautrell, with his father, Alva "Bud" Cautrell, on Gladys’ lap and his aunt, Bessie.
Bev Dougherty, 73, of Herculaneum has a picture from 1891 of her paternal grandfather, John Andrew “Jack” Martin, who was a performer and contortionist in the circus. Jack’s parents, Christina (Rasmussen) and John Andrew Martin, emigrated from Denmark to Boonville, where Jack was born in 1873. “The family oral history says that Jack loved when the circus came to town, and he wanted to join the circus,” Bev said. “He was told by the circus people that he needed an act and to talk to them the following time they returned to Boonville. Supposedly, Jack tied a taut rope between pillars in a barn where he practiced being a tight-rope walker.” According to Bev, Jack would later own carnivals that operated in St. Louis, where he and his wife, Katie, raised their family.
Bev Dougherty, 73, of Herculaneum has a picture of her maternal grandmother, Anna (Brenner) Witeka, that she believes was taken in the early to mid-1880s by Anna’s older brother, Moritz, who was a professional photographer. Bev said the crucifix on Anna’s neck has been a special heirloom. “She gave it to my mother, who had her First Holy Communion in 1928 at age 19, who passed it on to me 30 years later for my First Holy Communion,” Bev said. “I passed it on to my daughter, Erica, on the occasion of her (First Communion).” The necklace holds a picture of the Virgin Mary which can be seen when held up to the light. Anna was born in 1862 in Austria and immigrated to the St. Louis area in the late 1880s with her husband, Josef Witeka.
Steve Nahlik, 70, of Fenton and his family have a long history with House Springs. “My deceased brother worked a lot with Della Lang and the genealogy club in High Ridge years ago,” Steve said. “I found a lot of very old pictures, including the construction of the original House Springs Tom Boy Store and then the rest of his shopping center from an open lot. There were no other buildings in that area.” The Tom Boy Store belonged to Steve’s parents, who were born and raised in House Springs, active members of the local Lions Club and Knights of Columbus, and whose parents had adjoining farm properties. Steve thinks this picture of a soda shop was taken following the end of Prohibition in 1933 due to the Budweiser signs on the side of the building, and that the building was originally Leicht Mercantile, where the Garden of Eva antique store currently sits.
Michael Wilde, 58, of Festus can be seen in a fire engine pedal car in this 1969 picture taken by one of his parents in St. Charles.
Michael Wilde, 58, of Festus can be seen washing his grandparents’ car in 1967 in Oakville.
Beth M. O’Connell, 68, of Imperial has a baby photo of her grandfather, Raymond Fuller, taken on Jan. 6, 1903, in Phoenix, Ill., by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fuller.
Rosemary Graham of Hillsboro sent a picture her brother, Robert, took of their mother, Adeline Farris, in 1956. Rosemary was 10 years old when the picture was taken at their apartment in south St. Louis. “We could step out our kitchen window onto the roof where we spent a lot of time in the summer,” Rosemary said. “Every time I look at this picture, I think of the song ‘Up on the Roof.’”
Ralph Emerson, 88, of Dittmer can be seen at age 4 with a monkey on his back in July 1940. “‘Monkey Grinders’ were up and down streets in the city, hoping for donations,” Ralph said. “This one – unnamed – was on my back on our front steps (on Pernoo Avenue in south St. Louis City). Probably got $1 from my mom.”
Ann Baer, 60, of Imperial sent a picture from around 1945 of her parents, Nell and Norman Nuessle.
Ann Baer, 60, of Imperial sent a picture from around 1945 of her parents, Nell and Norman Nuessle.
Larry Calvert of Festus was 7 years old in this photo taken May 17, 1953, in Berkley. He rides atop a horse named Smoke.
Klint Oldham, 57, of Pevely can be seen at age 8 next to his sister, Andrea (Oldham) Gosling then 4, in this picture taken by their grandmother, Ruth Oldham, in 1975 Festus. Their father, Buddie Oldham, climbs into the 1972 Ford Ranchero while their mother, Faye Oldham, sits behind the wheel. “Yes, we used to ride in the back of the truck, we drank from a hose, and we all survived,” Klint said.
Klint Oldham, 57, of Pevely is 6 years old in this picture taken by his grandmother, Ruth Oldham, while celebrating John Oldham’s 57th birthday. Along with John, who is Klint’s grandfather, Klint can be seen with his brother Rhett, then 10, and sister Andrea, then 2. “In the background, you can see my grandpa’s radio that never missed a Cardinal baseball game,” Klint said.
Laura Beal, 55, of Hillsboro sent a picture taken by her grandfather, Mario Pontello, in 1938 of Mario’s brother, Antonio “Tony” Pontello, with his dog while on a leisurely car ride. “In the first half of the 20th century, many Italian youths were aware of America’s opportunities and democratic values,” Laura said. “Some had connections in the United States and were attracted by the prospect of better financial opportunities to support their families and improve their lives. Antonio Pontello was one of them. At age 20, he decided to leave his beloved Italy and begin a new chapter in America. This photo depicts him as the proud owner of a 1937 Ford, one of his success stories of adapting his skills and perseverance to his job here in the United States.” According to Laura, Antonio settled in South Bend, Ind. “With his strong work ethic, perseverance and love for family, he has left a legacy that transcends time and space.”
Janice Schroeder, 64, of Cedar Hill sent a picture taken in June 1928 in St. Louis of her father, Melvin, sitting with his sisters, Verny, left, and Azalia, right.
Janice Schroeder, 64, of Cedar Hill sent a picture taken at Spencer’s Bowling Alley of a 1971-1972 bowling league team composed of coworkers and friends of Schroeder Truck Repair. The third man from the left is Robert Schroeder, Janice’s father-in-law. According to Janice, her husband treasured this picture as a reminder of his father, grandfather and the family business. “My husband has now passed away in 2022, and luckily the children are keeping the fourth-generation business going,” Janice said.
Barbara Manley Christensen, 85, of Imperial sent a picture of her grandmother, Marie Gruen, with Marie’s second husband, Jakob Ehret. Marie, who lived from 1862 to 1937, was a mother to 16 children, 12 of whom were through marriage. In 1892, she married Adam Knapp of Germany and helped raise his children – Ferdinand, Catherine, Frank, Annie, Mamie and Emma – who were from his previous marriage to Josephine Greis, who had died. Marie and Adam had three more children: Elizabeth, Estelle and Edwin. In 1903, Adam died, and Marie later married Jakob, who was also a widower with children – Mary, Katherine, George, Lillian, Frederick and Michael – and who had been married to Ana Pleiming. Marie and Jakob had one more child, a daughter named Regina.
Bill Breuer Sr. of Imperial sent a picture of his uncle, Oscar Breuer, on January 25, 1944, in what Bill believes is Affton. Oscar owned the Bill and Oscar’s tavern in Lemay.
Joseph Politte Jr., 60, of De Soto sent a picture he believes was taken around 1909 on a farm in Hillsboro where Jefferson College now stands. From left is Joseph’s great-grandfather, Thomas Clyde Cage (1856-1930), his great-uncle, Clyde Thomas Cage (1903-1971), and his grandfather, Dewey George Cage (1899-1963).
Joseph Politte Jr., 60, of De Soto sent a picture of his grandmother, Alice Mary (Lock) Cage, who lived from 1905 to 1972. Alice was 17 in this 1922 picture, which Joseph believes was taken in Festus, and worked as a telephone operator.
Mary Fehlker, 72, of Festus sent a picture of her mother, Margaret Fulton, center, with Margaret’s sisters, Ilene Bloom, left, and Betty Bogden. According to Mary, the sisters are re-enacting the hitchhiking scene from the movie “It Happened One Night” in the backyard of their Detroit home around 1943. “I love this picture because it captures these beauties having fun together in a simple way, long before work, marriage and children,” Mary said.
Shirley Smith of Hillsboro sent a picture of her sisters, seated, who sang on KMOX Radio from 1940 to 1942. The two, known as the Allen Sisters, grew up in Wayne County. According to Shirley, the boy on the guitar is the son of the sister on the right and was a well-known musician in the St. Louis area.
Hubert Propst of Crystal City is one of the infant triplets in this picture taken on Aug. 8, 1947, in St. Francois County by his grandmother, Alice Stringen. From left are Brenda, mom Helen, Harry, Herman, Hubert, Carl and dad Jesse.
Christine Preusser Mudd of Festus sent a picture of her two great-great-great-uncles, Edward and Louis Greif, who were two of 10 children. Their father, Frederick Greif, took this picture in 1895 on the family farm in Carondelet. “I have always loved this photo, as I have been a carriage driver myself,” Christine said. According to Christine, Frederick was a French immigrant and served in the Civil War as Sergeant in the Union’s First Missouri Infantry Regiment.
Christine Preusser Mudd of Festus sent a picture of her great-great-grandparents, Jacob and Karolina Gebel, on their wedding day on May 10, 1882, in St. Louis. “I love the beautiful Victorian formal attire, especially her beautiful dress with the white veil,” Christine said. “Even though the dress was not white, probably blue or brown, it was beautiful. I see a great resemblance in these two in many family members.”
Mary Edwards, 83, of Arnold sent a picture her late husband, Carl Edwards, took of their granddaughter, Emily Taylor Edwards Peoples, then 3, at Fenton Park in 1998. “(Emily had) climbed the slide stairs very fearfully, or so I thought,” Mary said. “But one look at her face shows instead her excited anticipation and complete trust in her grandpa, who is standing at the bottom, waiting to catch her!” Emily is now 29 and has two small children, “both as adventurous as she was,” Mary said.
Mike Zavorka, 76, of Hillsboro can be seen eating lunch northeast of Saigon at Hoc Mon Bridge in this picture taken on May 15, 1969, by Sgt. Earnie Callender of Boise, Idaho. Zavorka, left, then 21, sits with Sgt. Glen Cater of Valdosta, Ga.
Dale Richardson, 63, of Hillsboro is on the right with his sister, Norma (Richardson) Wheeles, in this picture taken in 1965 Manchester.
Kay (Henigman) Hoffman, 86, of High Ridge can be seen at age 12 in this picture taken Aug. 17, 1950, at a dance school. “My friend Betty and I went to dancing school together for 10 cents a class,” Kay said. “We took two busses and one street car to get there.”
Margo Oberkrom, 74, of Cedar Hill sent a picture of her grandfather, Walter Massey, on his new Harley Davidson in 1935. According to Margo, Walter set off a “legacy of bikers” in his family. Margo’s parents, Jess and Gevona Davis rode their motorcycle throughout the contiguous United States and Alaska. “When my son Ron turned 16, he wanted to buy his first motorcycle,” Margo said. “I told him I wouldn’t look at it. I said I pray every time my parents go on the road. He bought it anyway.” While Margo said her 13-year-old grandson, R.J., is too young for a motorcycle, he loves bike riding. “Who knows, maybe he’ll also want the wind in his hair and bugs in his teeth.”
Betty (Poulsen) Roberson, 80, of Imperial said she grew up in Grand Centre, a small town in Alberta, Canada. This picture was taken in 1949. “Every summer, my cousins would come and spend two weeks with us,” Betty said. “We had been swimming in the cattle tank when my mother, Sally Poulsen, took the picture.” Second from the left is Betty, with, from left her cousins, Dauna and Norma Rashbrook, and her sister, Judi Poulsin. “I still see them when I travel to Alberta.”