Viola Short

I found this image in an envelope addressed to "Mrs. Merle Leutz, R. R. Oak Harbor, Ohio". There is a 4 cent stamp and a post mark from Genoa, Ohio, 11 a.m. on December 14, 1963. There is no return address so who sent this envelope of photographs is beyond me. On the back it says "Viola Short" and this is the only image in the envelope that has been completely identified/labeled.

Timeframe: Viola was born in 1894 (and would be 116 this month). She looks to be about 16 or so in this image so I am guessing about 1910.

Where It Fits: Merle Fritsche is the wife of Leon Leutz and mother of Mary Cary Rudes, Robert & A.J. Leutz.

Viola Short is the daughter of Chalion Short & Mary DeWitz. Her youngest brother, Alvin, is my step great-grandfather. He was the second husband of Velma Taylor-Johannsen.

School Days

This photograph was taken by Andrews in Port Clinton and it actually labeled. According to the back of the photograph the teacher is Laura Heidel. For some reason it says "Put-in-Bay teacher". The students in the first row are Elva Short, Lester Short, Hannah Pauls, Watson Minier, Beatrice Snider & John Minier. In the second row we have Edward Michel, Carl Minier, John Minier, Viola Short, Beatrice von Rensselear, Rozella Guntch, Merle Fritsche & Viola Snider. Third row has Elsie Guntch, Evelyn van Rensselear & Lucy Jane McRitchie. The last row has Earl McRitchie, Chester Smith, Bartelle Moore & Clifford Smith. As far as I know none of these children ever lived in Put-in-Bay so I assume she is from Put-in-Bay or was a substitute teacher from the Put-in-Bay school.

Timeframe: Lester Short, the little guy in the front row, was born in September, 1896. Edward Michel (2nd row) was born in November, 1895. Viola Short (2nd row) was born in March 1894. Merle Fritsche was born September, 1894. Lucy Jane McRitchie was born November, 1894 and Earl McRitchie was born in February, 1892. Judging by the length of the dress on Merle she is about eight years of age. As a rule the dress was a couple inches past the knee and got progressively longer as the girls got older, reaching the ankle by age 12. Since they are still wearing shorter skirts that would put this picture taken about 1902 or 1903.

Where It Fits: Hold on to your hats for this one. Taking it from the top we have Lester & Viola Short, children of Chalion Short & Mary DeWitz. Their youngest brother, Alvin, is my step great-grandfather.

Edward Michel, son of Frank Michel & Emilie Fritsche. Emilie is the sister of Robert Fritsche, that makes Edward Michel & Merle Fritsche cousins.

Merle Fritsche, daughter of Robert Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger. She is the mother of Mary Cary, Robert & A.J. Leutz. She is the cousin of Edward Michel.

Lucy Jane & Earl McRitchie, children of John McRitchie & Mary Ransom. Their older brother, Burton, married Ada Bisch. Ada Bisch is the daughter of George Bisch & Louisa Leutz. Ada Bisch is the cousin of Leon Leutz, the future husband of Merle Fritsche.

In History: Today is the 146th birthday of Johann Fritsche.

Sources: Dressed for the Photographer, Ordinary Americans and Fashion by Joan Severa