The old photo above was taken in about 1928 at the grocery store in Owen owned by Finnish merchants, Haaya and Mattson. (1) Mr. Haaya, (2) Mr. Mattson, (3) Hilja Eloranta (my grandmother), with her sons, (4) Edwin J. Eloranta (my dad), (5) Walter Eloranta, and (6) George Eloranta. My dad thought (7) might be either Frank Makovec or Frank Johnson. He didn't know the identity of the little child (9) nor the woman at the counter.

***********

Responses

Re:--Property: Haaya & Mattson (1928)

Contact: Nancy Eloranta Rhee
Bob told me to "Google" Dad's name and look what came up! Cool photo! Do you have any more?  Nancy

Re: Property: Haaya & Mattson (1928)
Contact: Mary E. Braun, May 3, 2006

Hello Nancy, I found the reference to the Haaya Store on Google this week and I posted a response. I would like to receive an e-mail photo as an attachment of the store interior photograph. I will be sending a copy of the email page to Thelma Pool for her to look at. I believe that she can identify the woman at the counter and the little girl.  As a child growing up at 3578 North 10th Street in Milwaukee with my parents Donald and Ruth Haaya, I have fond memories of "Grampa" Mattson and Ann, who lived just one block away. I am trying to reconstruct some family history and I would enjoy receiving any information.  Many thanks! Mary E. Braun (Haaya)

Re: Property:  Haaya & Mattson (1928)

Contact: Nancy Eloranta Rhee

Bob told me to "Google" Dad's name and look what came up! Cool photo! Do you have any more?  Nancy

Re: Property:  Haaya & Mattson (1928)

Contact: Helen
Hi Nancy, I have quite a few old photos of our dads as youngsters, but no others quite like that one. I hadn't remembered seeing that one until recently when my folks and I were digging through a drawer of old photos. That was a professional photo, and the others I have are old home snapshots.  I have started trying to write an account of my dad's life. Could I convince you to do something like that for your dad? (Even just a time-line with as few or many dates and items as you'd like.) Hope you and your family are well. Love, Helen

Re: Property: Haaya & Mattson (1928)
Contact: Mary E. Braun

May 1, 2006 Hello, What a pleasure to see the photograph of the Haaya Store today. I am the grand daughter of Emil Haaya, and the daughter of Donald E. Haaya and Ruth. I also have a brother Donald E. Haaya, Jr. who is a long term patient at the VA Hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin. My father's sister, Thelma Haaya (Pool) lives in assisted living in the east and she has a son (Kenneth Pool) and grandchildren. Ours is a small family and I have been looking for more family information. We also have many family photographs. I would like to hear further from you and any other family. Please e-mail me at any time.  We now live in Chicago but we have made many trips back to Wisconsin to see my brother and vacation. I am looking forward to hearing from you!  Mary E. Braun (Haaya)