Local couple reveal their identities, location in 1955 photo
Jean and Richard Sowers are shown in a photo taken on their 60th anniversary.
Jean and Richard Sowers embark from their wedding April 17, 1955.
When Richard and Jean Sowers drove away from their wedding on April 17, 1955, they couldn’t imagine how far that ride would take them.
The distance was not far; the couple who were married at Broad Street Baptist Church in Washington have been living in nearby South Franklin Township since 1957. But it’s a ride that has lasted now more than 60 years.
What are the odds, given the age of this Mystery Photo, that the newlyweds would still be alive? And with the high rate of divorce in this country, what are the chances that they would remain together all these years?
Richard Sowers and the former Jean Deyell beat the odds.
Sowers and a number of others, including his cousin, Janet Swart, called us first thing last Monday to solve the puzzle.
“That picture was taken in an alley off Wilson Avenue,” Sowers explained. “My wife had been living in a house just up the street. We took a delayed honeymoon to Presque Isle.”
According to Wayne Swart, the location is “between Leet and Laurel, just down from Wilson. It is on east side going down the alley. I lived at 74 Leet and the big garage with basketball hoop was my Uncle Raymond Shaw’s, which was directly behind my house. Today, that garage is still there, only it’s an apartment house.”
Swart was 9 years old when the photo was taken. “I played in that alley and shot many a basketball at that hoop. Missed most of time!”
Richard worked in the body shop of Washington’s Chevrolet dealership under five owners for half a century. Jean worked at Washington Hospital for a time. The couple raised three daughters, Karena, Karen and Kandy, and now have two grandchildren.
The location of the photo drew a number of different responses from readers. Though the location is certainly off Wilson Avenue, it must bear a striking resemblance to another locale in the city. Earl Phillips and two other readers were sure the buildings were in an alley off Canton Avenue.
We have yet to nail down the identity of the photographer. This was one of several hundred images of the Washington area made from negatives found at a flea market by Wheeling writer and photographer Jim Thornton. We’ll keep sharing these pictures with readers from time to time in an effort to give the photographer the credit that is due. Mrs. Sowers thinks the picture was taken by someone working for Evans Studios. That is certainly a lead worth pursuing.
Look for another Mystery Photo in next Monday’s Observer-Reporter.