I just got off the phone with Howe McCormick's second cousin

[toppcat]

Crazy! Diligence and curiosity certainly pays off sometimes.

[wonkaticket]

One of the best posts ever on this forum. Very cool.

[WillowGrove]

Love It Ed!

[Howe’s Hunter]

Chris Brown contacted me yesterday to ask the name of the store (McCormick & Howe) and then did a bit of research and found these...

http://i.imgur.com/xYxHspW.png

http://i.imgur.com/3X4fkv7.png

http://i.imgur.com/lEJX2AA.png

http://i.imgur.com/C5Ikvst.png

I did contact Don again yesterday as there was some confusion on the names of the clerks in the store, as he had given me the same first name for both. Got some clarification on that, and their names are

JOHN GORE (clerk) - far left, and J. SIMMS GARDNER (clerk) - center

The information Don gave me about Betty (Howe's daughter) and what she told the family last time any of them saw her (at Thelma's funeral) hasn't turned out quite as I had hoped. Apparently, she told everyone she was in New York as a showgirl/accompanist/entertainer, but the information may not have been quite truthful, as the person she says she was working with had actually retired almost 15 years earlier, and there is no record of her ever appearing in his show (amazing the stuff you can find on the internet in just a matter of minutes). Will have to contact Don again in a few days for maybe some clarification.

Also doubt I'll be seeing any more photos. As I mentioned, the family seems to have drifted apart, well, quite a bit apart, following the death of Howe's dad. Heard quite a story about Howe and his wife from Don and let's just say, there was a reason the family all attended Howe's funeral, and again at Thelma's, but it doesn't appear to have a happy ending. At least not yet. So I'll continue to try and track down anything I can find about Betty.

Again, thanks for all the kind words, and all the help over the past eight years trying to get this collection back together again.