For week 30 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, we’re covering Teams. I chose to go with the literal interpretation and cover sports teams, though I’m not much of a sports-team person myself. My grandaunt Mildred (Ladd) Stanley was though, even though female sports teams weren’t as plentiful or popular in the 1930s.
I knew as a young woman Aunt Mil was athletic. She once showed me pictures from her skeet shooting days. She positively glowed when she recounted the many competitions she and her husband, Earle, entered. The couple frequently traveled throughout New England for weekend tournaments, where Aunt Mil excelled at the sport, winning several championships and titles. Before marrying Earle, she was apparently also a member of some team sports.
Among my grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s pictures was a newspaper clipping about Aunt Mil’s softball team, the Westbrook Community Association team. I was able to locate the original Portland Press Herald article dated August 15, 1939. Aunt Mil was 20 years old when she played for this team. She’s right in the front –second from the left. Her team was battling for second place against the Stanley’s Express team. I wonder if that team was sponsored by her future husband’s family’s business? A follow-up article indicated that Stanley’s Express won the game. I hope Aunt Mil had a fun time playing!
While searching for the original clipping, I learned that Aunt Mil tried another sport back in 1932 when she was about 13 years old – basketball. She was on the first Bridge St. Grammar School girls’ basketball team. Aunt Mil was a substitute forward and is pictured in the back right of this picture taken from the February 14, 1932 edition of the Portland Press Herald.
Female athletes in the 1930s were ahead of their time. It’s gratifying to see my dear Aunt Mil was one of them.
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