Harold Might
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.
On the back, written in pencil, are the clues that I needed:
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, it was taken around March 1911.
But what happened to the little boy in the winter suit? As it turns out, he lived a long, full life.
Harold E. Might was born on November 28, 1908, to James and Ora Might. 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 spent 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 his craft. He became a highly skilled carpenter, spending decades working for high profile construction firms. He was a lifelong member of the Carpenters Union.
In September 1940, Harold married Leta I. Richardson. Together, they raised a daughter, Judith.
The little boy standing on the chair in 1911 grew up to see the rise of the automobile, the space race, and the dawn of the digital age. Harold passed away on June 18, 2003, at the age of 94.
When this photograph was taken in that Colorado Springs studio, nobody could have foreseen the path ahead of him. Today, his portrait serves as a reminder of a life well lived, from a toddler in a stocking cap to a master craftsman.
