Thames (NZ): Questioning the validity & reliability of Thames historical memorabilia

Cornes Family bible.

Every once and awhile you come across a photo that doesn't look right, or a document that just couldn't be correct. Some times it can be explained and other times not. As a genealogist or researcher, you will have found your own examples of this. A reminder though to be always looking for primary and original sources, while being aware that mistakes can still happen.

EXAMPLE 1: Part of my Thamesite story starts with Clement Augustus Cornes and Barbara Ellen Moran marrying in Thames in 1863. Clement was at this time mining in the Coromandel area, and wandering around the Thames. Was there a registrar in Thames to marry the couple / record the marriage? Well its immaterial because the answer is a little fudging in the 'Family Bible' show above - the couple was in fact married in 1868, after the Thames Goldfield opened. The date of 1863 in the bible did however allow the children to be all recorded as being born in wedlock on the subsequent bible pages!

EXAMPLE 2: I have raised previously how the colourised postcard has the high school building missing - it should be on the left (east side of road) of the Thames Hospital. Further details HERE.

ABOVE: The Photograph with the small buildings (centre) where the High School / later Maternity Annexe should be.

BELOW: The High School building circled from another photograph.

EXAMPLE 3: The Wakatere sailing along the street during the 1917 Great Flood, always has a few people take a second look. Yes Mr Wood's cleverly managed a version of photoshop many years past.
The photograph features on the cover of a book by Megan Hawkes,  A Line of Duckboards. (below left)

       

Above left is the adjusted photograph by Mr Wood, so you might speculate that the building sitting in Pollen Street (photo right) is another early photoshop. In this case the photo is 100% authentic - the building literally was pushed out into the street by the force of the Karaka Creek in flood! The first photo background is at the Grahamstown end of Pollen Street, north of Pahau Street. The photo on the right is taken south along Pollen Street, adjacent to the Walter Street intersect.

EXAMPLE 4: Now to the strangest postcard! A well known view taken from Upper Albert Street c1900, which looks over the town. Mile long Pollen Street on the right disappears to the Kauaeranga River in the south. On the left is Martha Street, and far left Mackay Street. The Waiokaraka School lower left. "Greetings from Thames, NZ" reads the title - nothing strange so far!

Keep going and look at what is on the back of the postcard.

On the back of the Thames Postcard is an overprinted menu for the "De Zon" Restaurant in Amsterdam. I have had the menu checked by an 'interpreter' who felt the information was valid. Restaurants by this name still exist, whether they are one named on this menu is impossible to know,

So, why was a New Zealand postcard overprinted with a menu from Amsterdam? A new mystery!

Keep looking, and see what unusual memorabilia you can find and mysteries that you can unravel.