Photoessay #1058 - Delia

Today, three BIG packages arrived. They contained, as expected, 2 portraits of my great grandmother Delia Zunder Weil and six antique dishes with wide gold bands. From my sister. That's all, let's say they were heavily padded, probably a large amount of heavy ordinance would be needed to damage them. Also included a very large number of stuffies and lots of bubble wrap.

My sister had initially taken the two Delia pictures because she wanted them professionally scanned by a craftsman she knows. Both pictures are faded. I'm featuring a digitally enhanced image. My sister particularly valued this portrait because she has the two pieces of jewelry in this picture (in the hair and the necklace). My mother had them. There is another piece of jewelry on her shoulder. I wonder if that's the lace that I wore on my wedding dress. I think my sister has it now.

From a DH Beers publication online entitled "Commemorative biographical record of New Haven county, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and of many of the early settled families .."

The errors were probably introduced by scanning the original documents. Always learning something. According to this my great grandfather Charles L. Weill attended Yale Business College. And I didn't know that he was involved with breweries.

Charles L. Weil was the second in the family born to bis ]).'i rents, and he spent his boyhood davs in this beautiful city. Mr. Weil enjoyed superior educational advantages, passing from the Eaton school into the Yale Business College, and gaining a commercial training by associating with his father in the cigar business in this city, for a period of five years. Then, in partnership with his brother, Louis P. Weil, he took charge of this business for your years, under the firm style of Louis P. Weil & Brother, conducting it on State Street. He then became connected with the Springfield Brewerv Co., being financially interested from 1889 to 1899, When this business was absorbed by the trust, Mr. Wei! became connected with the Manilla Anchor, Brewing Co., of Dobbs Ferry, N. Y.

On Sept. 20. 1894, Mr. Weil was married to Miss Delia Zunder, daughter of Maier Zunder, a complete biographical sketch of this prominent family being found on another page. One little daughter has been born to this marriage, Regina Zunder. Mrs. Weil is a lady of superior educational and social graces, and is known and valued in educational en- ter])rises and benevolent activities in New Haven.

But a beautiful and prosperous young woman. 1866-1910. My mother talked of her in glowing tones but, since my mother was born in 1924, she never knew her. Delia was 28 when she married. Only 44 at her death. What about this picture? She looks so young here.

I now have the main components of the 'Delia Wall'. They're actually on the wall now just hung on nails already there. But we'll have a picture hanging event and get it right.

I think my eyes and brow are similar to hers.....