Double Mystery Revisited

Well, this photo problem is a tough case tough to crack. In Double Mystery and Back to the Double Mystery, I analyzed the clues in Sandy Forest’s photo of her ancestor Felix Forest and an unidentified man.

Have you added your thoughts to the comment section? I’d love to hear from you. This week, a couple of readers think the objects in the photo are just props and not real items owned or carried by the men. I agree that some of the items are just for showing off — the bottle of liquor, the glass and the fake dog. But how far does the photo clowning go? Are their hats and the spike photographer’s props as well? That’s what we’d all like to know.

I emailed Robert Holzweiss, president of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society about the spike and the hat that reads “Asst. Engineer.” He showed the photo to a panel of railroad experts and they agreed that there is no railroad connection. They suggested the spike could be an in to hook wagons together.

What do you think? I want to revisit family history with Sandy Forest and see if census records identify any other occupations in her family. That’s my next step.

In honor of Valentine’s Day last week, I have a short video on my Vimeo channel. If you like it, please click the “like” button.

Later this week, I’m in England at Who Do You Think You Are? Live. In my next column I’ll have a report for you and hopefully a few photos.