Chauffeur's Ball 1912 Ridgefield, Ct.

[1937hd45]

Too early to look for my Grandfather in this 1912 photo, wonder what Main Street looked like if they were allowed to take The Good Car? 

[wayne sheldon]

Photo must have been taken after July 4 as the flags appear to be 48 star!

I want so much to simply climb into that photo! The music must be wonderful. The dancing? Maybe I could handle it. Pretty sure I cannot fit into my Tux anymore.

[oldford]

If the photo is truly from 1912, the flags were old. The pattern of stars more closely resembles a 45 star flag used between 1896 and 1908. Maybe the town hall in Ridgefield had old flags...

 

[wayne sheldon]

oldford, You are right! I somehow miscounted. They are 46 star flags, so photo could be older or older flags on the wall. The 48 star flag became official on July 4 1912, after the official addition of New Mexico and Arizona to the Union. As with most of the Western states, up until that year those "states" had been territories. Tradition officially added new stars to the flag on the July 4th following the official addition of a territory to statehood. The 46 star flag became official on July 4 1908 after the official admission of Oklahoma into the Union late in calendar year 1907.

 

I had better start watching my step more. I seem to be messing up a bit much lately. Way too much stress in my life in recent years.

[oldford]

The 46 star flag had the two middle rows of 8 stars each. I cannot see two adjacent 8 star rows in the photo. I still think its a 45 star flag set...

 

46 star flag: