Continuing along with our theme from the last Spotlight photo, "Suddenly It's 1961" .... Here we have one taken a little earlier......suddenly it's 19?? I'm not sure exactly what year the photo is, but the car is a 1924 or '25 Ford Model T " Doctors Coupe".

However much more importantly, I know who the folks are. They are Merritt Cash Penney and his wife Adelaide Melissa Hawkins Penney. Two lifelong Moriches and Mastic residents and the parents of Willis Oliver Penney, which also makes them Claire Antoinette Knapp's In -Laws after Sept 12, 1925 . They could of been that around the time of this rare photo that was sent to me by noted Moriches historian and author Van Field.

Thanks Again Van! Check out Van & Mary Fields great photo book "The Illustrated History Of The Moriches Bay Area" here

Adelaide M. Hawkins 1860- 1947 married widower Merritt in the 1880's . She came from one of the oldest Moriches families. Merritt who was born 6 years before the Civil War , was a tall strapping fellow, who certainly saw some changes in his 87 year lifetime. He was at one time the superintendant at the Dana Estate and his three sons, Clarence, Leonard, and Willis were all involved with estate management and care. He was also a Sunday School teacher at The Moriches Methodist Church

For more about the Penney Family click here

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