Harold Might


Born: November 28, 1908 in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Died: June 18, 2003 in Hutchinson, Kansas

​There is a distinct magic in flipping over an antique photograph and finding a name. Without it, the face is a mystery; with it, a portal opens into an entire lifetime.

​Recently, an early-20th-century studio portrait surfaced. It features a toddler standing proudly on a wooden chair, bundled up in a thick, dark, ribbed-knit matching suit and a long stocking cap. Next to his feet sits a tiny toy horse and rider.

​On the back, written in a delicate pencil hand, are the clues that set a story in motion:

​Harold Might, age 2 yrs. 4 mo.


​An embossed stamp at the bottom of the card tells us where this moment was captured: Mace Studios, 112 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Colorado. Given Harold's age in the photo, the shutter clicked around March 1911.

​But what happened to the little boy in the winter suit? As it turns out, he lived a long, full life that stretched across nearly a century.

​Harold E. Might was born on November 28, 1908, to James and Ora Might. Though his early childhood was spent in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, tragedy touched his life early when his mother passed away when he was just four years old. His father later remarried, and Harold grew up alongside three half-siblings: Clarence, William, and Mamie.

​While Harold attended his earliest school days in Colorado, the family eventually packed up and relocated east to Kansas. They settled in Reno County, where Harold attended the Prosperity School. 

​As an adult, Harold made his home in Hutchinson, Kansas, and dedicated himself to a craft. He became a highly skilled carpenter, spending decades working for construction firms like Oscar Young, Ralph Skeen, and Foy Construction. If you walk through Hutchinson today, there is a good chance Harold's hands helped shape some of its structures. He was a lifelong, proud member of the Carpenters Union.

​In September 1940, Harold married Leta I. Richardson. Together, they raised a daughter, Judith, and built a quiet, dedicated life centered around family and community. Harold was a pillar of his local churches, including the Forest Park Presbyterian Church, which he actively supported for decades.

​The little boy standing on the chair in 1911 grew up to witness the rise of the automobile, the space race, and the dawn of the digital age. Harold passed away on June 18, 2003, at the remarkable age of 94.

​When this photograph was taken in that Colorado Springs studio, nobody could have foreseen the long, industrious path ahead of him. Today, his portrait serves as a beautiful reminder of a life well-lived—from a toddler in a stocking cap to a master craftsman who left his mark on the Kansas landscape.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Florence Henlen

Image
Born: 1884 in Dickenson County, Kansas Died: 1975 There is a unique thrill in flipping over an antique cabinet card and finding a name written on the back. Suddenly, an anonymous face frozen in time becomes a real person with a story, a family, and a legacy. ​I recently acquired a beautiful late-1880s photograph that perfectly captures this magic. The front of the card shows a striking portrait of a young toddler bundled up against the cold. She is wearing a heavy, textured dark winter coat trimmed with plush white faux fur or wool, matching mittened cuffs, and an adorable ruffled bonnet. She stands outdoors—or rather, a Victorian studio's version of the outdoors—leaning against a prop tree stump in front of a painted backdrop featuring a serene river and lush ferns. In her hand, she holds a tiny picture card of her own. ​At the bottom, the photographer’s mark reads "Weaver" of Herrington, Kansas (a historic or mistaken spelling of Herington). ​Turning the ...
Read more

Rene Whitwell

Image
Born: October 1887 in Kansas  Died: 1960 in Oklahoma City OK When we look at antique cabinet cards, it is easy to see the subjects as frozen statues of a formal, bygone era. But behind the stiff collars and the photographer's studio lights were children with futures waiting to unfold. Today, we are looking into the eyes of a young boy from the turn of the century whose family helped quite literally build the foundations of early Wichita, Kansas.  In this beautifully preserved portrait from around 1899 to 1901, we meet a young boy of about twelve or thirteen. He is dressed in his finest Sunday best—a classic late-Victorian checked jacket, a neatly knotted light cravat, and a distinct pin proudly fastened to his lapel. ​Flip the textured, dark card over, and you find a name written in elegant, flowing Victorian cursive: Rene Whitwell . ​Rene was born in Kansas in October 1887. By the time the 1900 Federal Census taker walked the streets of Wichita, Rene was listed a...
Read more

Estella and Ada Ringling

Image
Born: St Louis, Missouri There is a unique thrill that only vintage photo collectors truly understand. You’re rifling through a bin of forgotten history at a flea market, and suddenly, a face stares back at you so full of life that you can't look away. ​That is exactly what happened today when I rescued a gorgeous late-19th-century cabinet card portrait. Thanks to a beautifully preserved original photograph and a priceless handwritten note on the back, we get to step back in time and meet two sisters: Ada and Estella Ringling. The front of the card introduces us to two young girls looking remarkably serious, sporting the short, blunt-cut bangs popular for children in the late-Victorian era. The older girl on the right is Ada, protecting a beautiful, bisque-headed doll, while her little sister, Estella, sits beside her on the left. ​Turn the card over, and the real magic happens. In faded pencil, an adult's handwriting reads: ​ "me about 4 or 5" "...
Read more