I have to confess my addiction – collecting photographs.  Our Doran Clan is notorious for being kleptomaniacs with pictures, so be careful if you pull some out to show us, because they will end up in our purses or briefcases.  Nowadays it is easy to make copies and then give them back to their rightful owners.  In my mind, I know that it is right to give them back, but in the deepest part of my heart, I want to hold on to the originals, with the notes that are written on the back, or the photography studio’s emblem showing place of purchase.

This photograph was taken in the 1940’s on Hamilton Street, in Harrison, NJ.  In the front is Bernard “Barney” Doran with his wife Mary Margaret “Mamie” Mahoney next to him.  She’s clutching her large purse and since she’s holding her white gloves, most likely there was a formal occasion that day.  Behind Barney is his brother, William John “Willie” Doran.  Next to Willie is his wife Rosina Evans.

At one point I thought Barney and Willie were twins, because that’s what our family said.  Then when I found out they weren’t, I thought maybe they were what used to be called Irish twins – siblings born within twelve months of each other. That also didn’t pan out.   They were really born over three years apart, with Barney being the big brother, but maybe they felt so close together at heart that they called themselves twins.  I love the way the four are huddled together.  It’s easy to visualize them walking off together down the sidewalk, maybe to Holy Cross Church, or knowing the Doran Clan, maybe to the local pub.