Always Yours, William Woods

Here's a scan of a photo of my paternal grandfather in a small metal and glass photo frame. 
 

Alden Gray and the Lady

 

Sawing Logs with Logs

Asleep on the job, eh? I'll capture it in black and white. 

These are the words my grandmother or grandfather might have thought in 1940 when they snapped this photo. 
 

Hope at the Ridge

Grandma Hope at "the Ridge," according to the back of the photo, 1941. 
 

Three Soldiers

If I remember correctly, Dad said that his father was declared medically unfit to serve overseas in World War II, but I don't recall the particular malady. He did serve in the militia in Canada, though, and here he is with two of his friends. Granddad is in the centre, flanked by Bill Arnotte (left) and Dan Burr (right). 
 

Hour of the Gun

This is Bill Arnotte, a friend of William Woods, my grandfather. 1941. From context, it looks like Bil was in the militia with Granddad during World War II. 
 

That's a Lot of Lumber

This photo is dated 1940, so the kid can't be Dad. The taller one, though, could be Granddad. 
 

Outlaw Suzie

This photo from Granddad's album is labelled simply, "Outlaw Suzie 1941." Are Outlaw and Suzie the horses? Or is Outlaw Suzie one of the horses? Is Outlaw Suzie the man holding the reins? We'll never know. 
 

Saskatchewan Steeds of 1940

I believe that's my grandfather, William Woods, in the last photo. He's short enough and seems to have Dad's hair and face. 
 

Pickup Trucks

I really like the off-kilter composition of this photo, as if the trucks are leaning into the sidewalk. Very strange. 

I believe this is Dad's Aunt Amelia (Mely), and Uncle Bill in 1940. 

Grandma and the Snowman

Here's our paternal grandmother, Hope Woods, with a short-statured, fully clothed snowman. Or is it a snowman? The head looks more like paper with a face drawn onto it. Another strange mystery from the Woods family tree. OHO pun not intended, but I'll keep it. 
 

Plough Horses

This photo was right next to yesterday's in Granddad's photo album, and seems to have been shot a nearly the same place and time. I believe our grandparents lived in Aylsham, Saskatchewan, at this time, though I could be wrong about that. Look how tall the guy in the foreground looks compared to the person I think could be Granddad, based on Sean's comments yesterday and my own reflection. What a hardscrabble place it looks; I remember well how Dad told us his parents struggled to eke out a living here. 

Mysterious Gardener

I know only a few things about this photo. It's dated May 1, 1941. It comes from my paternal grandfather's photo album, so the shot was likely taken in Saskatchewan. I don't think this is my grandfather; the facial features don't seem quite right. Is he hoeing furrows into the soil? 

Thumbs and Suspenders

I like Grandad's pose and grin here. Grandma seems appreciative, too. 
 

Granddad at a Log House

 Jaunty hat! 

One Snowy Afternoon

Here's another mystery photo from my paternal grandfather's album. There were no notes written on the back of the print, and I recognize not the truck, nor the woman, nor the dog. I would imagine this is somewhere in southern Saskatchewan or Manitoba. 

All Cars Must Register--RCMP

 

The Enigmatic Ellen Woods

"Ellen Woods" read the backs of these two photos, with no other explanation. I've never heard of Ellen Woods before seeing these photos. We're related in some way, but how? She seems a woman of action. 
 

Grandma at Prince Albert National Park

Here's a picture of my paternal grandmother standing on a car at the entrance to Prince Albert National Park in June, 1941. Can anyone identify the make and model of the car? 

I've been to Prince Albert a few times, but I'm not sure if I've ever been to its namesake national park. Something to add to the list . . . 
 

Hope Woods in a Log House

This log house features in several photos of Dad's parents, so I feel as though they may have lived here for a time.