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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, May 4, 2003, pg. 9 It’s that time of year again when we remember the mothers of our community on Mother’s Day. Locally of course Albion’s historical mother was Juliet (Calhoun) Blakeley (1818-1920), whose honor was celebrated by her traveling salesmen sons for many years. We’ve previously written about Mrs. Blakeley and the local folklore about her being the “original mother of Mother’s Day.” There is even a Mother’s Day State of Michigan historical marker along S. Ionia St. just south of E. Erie St. you may wish to stop and read sometime while strolling past downtown Albion. What could be more appropriate for Mother’s Day than a photograph of mothers? We go back to the year 1927, and the first birthday party of John Oakes, son of Ellery and Elizabeth (Young) Oakes. A group of several mothers with their children gathered in front of the home of John’s grandparents, Archer and Effie Young for a group photograph. Archer Young served as Mayor of Albion 1921-1924, and lived at 306 E. Erie St. next to the “Gothic” millrace. The stone-like cement blocks especially made this elegant, well-kept and maintained house with large windows attractive along this major Albion thoroughfare. This week from our Historical Notebook we present that photograph, with the individuals identified as follows: The children in the front row (L-R) are: Philip Baldwin, son of Richard and Harriet Baldwin; John Oakes, Ethel Belle Dean, daughter of W. Clark and Mate (Wonsey) Dean; Howell VanGorden Jr., son of Howell and Kathryn (Sackett) Van Gorden; Donald William Herrick, son of Donald and Kathryn (Beery) Herrick; George Bullen, son of Earl and Ruth (Diehl) Bullen. Second row: Beth (Little) McKinney holding daughter Mary; Mary (Jacobs) Transue holding daughter Ellen Louise; Ethel (Dean) Smith with son Dean; Elizabeth (Blair) Bedient and son Blair; Kathryn Herrick; Ruth Bullen; Ida Harrington with granddaughter Shirley Bratten; Mary (Baldwin) Wheeler with her two children Ida Lee and Howard. Back row: Elizabeth Oakes; Josephine (Baird) Smith holding daughter Suzanne; Mate Dean; Myrtle (Stankrauff) Callahan holding daughter Barbara; Mary Gilbert holding daughter Mary Alice; Belle (Barnes) Stevens holding son Darrel; Harriet Baldwin; and Kathryn VanGorden. Special thanks to Roslyn (Pahl) Bedient for this week’s photograph. 
John Oakes first birthday party, on East Erie Street All text copyright, 2025 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
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