Portrait photograph of an unidentified young man wearing a suit and tie with a handkerchief sticking out of his breast pocket.
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "June 1934".
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Portrait photograph of an unidentified young man wearing a suit and tie.
Unidentified barefoot baby is propped against pillows on a bench and wearing a bonnet.
Unidentified toddler is seated on pillows on a chair.
Portrait photograph of James G. Kotsianas. A native of Kalesmenon, Greece, James was the proprietor of the New York Restaurant on Court Square in Woodstock, Virginia, from 1922-1947. He was known locally as “Jimmy the Greek”. We are unsure of the year that James first immigrated to the United States, but by August 1929, he had a U.S. passport indicating he was already a naturalized citizen. He made trips back to Greece when he could because his wife and children still lived there. His wife was Konstando (Ligdis) Kotsianas. She was the daughter of a Greek Orthodox Priest, Father George Ligdis. The couple’s two youngest sons, Theophanis (Frank) and John, were conceived during these home visits. James brought his oldest son, George, a 16-year old student, back to the United States with him in 1934. He had a daughter, Evanthia, as well. James first opened the restaurant in Woodstock in 1922 and it was located in the Locke building in its early days. Then, it was moved across the street and into the old Holtzman Hotel building where it remained and operated until it closed. In 1929, a partnership was formed between James Kotsianas, Pete Blentson (who may have been his cousin), George Pappas (who may have been related to Pete’s wife), and two other Greek men. The 1930 census in April found all five living together on Main Street and working as waiters in a restaurant. Over the years, James’s partners were bought out and by 1938, he and “Chef” Bentson were the sole proprietors of the popular restaurant. James returned to Greece shortly after the Italians invaded Greece in 1940. Local newspapers reported that he went back to fight for Greece and was captured there. We do not know much about his years there, but he was probably unable to return to the U.S. until after the war ended. During James’s absence, his son, George, remained in the U.S. and became a U.S. citizen and registered for the WWII draft during this time. After he graduated from Massanutten Military Academy (MMA), he continued to help operate the New York Restaurant. James returned to the United States in 1946. When he arrived in New York, he brought his wife, “Konstante”, 19-year old son, “Theophanis”, and his youngest, 16-year old John. Their final destination was Knoxville, Tennessee, however, the family first went to Woodstock where his son, Frank, attended Massanutten Military Academy for at least a year. James sold his share of the New York Restaurant to his partner, Pete Blentson, in 1947. James and his family then moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. He spent his last years in Knoxville, his family around him, where he operated “The Garden” Restaurant with his oldest son, George “Consin”. When he died, it was reported that his mother and sisters were still in Greece.
Biography was compiled from public records.
Identified by Eva Clinedinst, who remembered he ran the New York Restaurant in Woodstock for many years.
Unidentified girl with bangs is standing and wearing a wintry coat, hat and hand muff.
Same unidentified girl appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 022564 and 022565.
Unidentified young girl with short hair and bangs is seated on a chair with her ankles crossed.
Unidentified girl with long curls and a bow in her hair is seated on a bench with one leg under the other.
Portrait photograph of an unidentified man with glasses and wearing a suit and polka-dotted tie.
Unidentified woman standing beside another, older woman with glasses who is seated.
Unidentified barefoot toddler is seated on a wicker chair.
Portrait photograph of an unidentified man wearing a suit and tie.
Photo of a photograph of three unidentified children of varying ages, posed together. Probably, these were siblings.
Unidentified barefoot baby is posed on a chair. An adult's arm is supporting the child from the right side of the image.
Unidentified woman with wavy hair is wearing earrings, a necklace and a flower on the front of her dress.
Unidentified woman is standing with her arms at her sides and wearing a floor-length sleeveless dress.
Two unidentified boys, one seated on a wicker chair and the older one standing beside it, are posed together. Probably, these were siblings.
Unidentified young woman is wearing a floor-length dress with ruffles and standing with her hands in front of her.
Two unidentified woman, both wearing hats, are posed together on a chair. The woman on the right is wearing a fur jacket.
Portrait photograph of William M. Wender wearing round glasses and a suit and striped tie. This is a photograph of an older image. Born in Russia, he is best remembered as having been the founder and long-time proprietor of Wender's Department Store in Woodstock. His two children, Simon and Lenora "Sis" Wender, took over the business when he died.
In 2025 Kari Wender identified this as Simon Wender, not William Wender. However, based on the date of this picture, the fact that this is a photograph of an older image, and other photographs of Simon Wender it was determined this was most likely a mistaken ID.
Photo of a Morrison photograph postcard showing Daisy Etta (Fravel) Keller, seated, with her husband, Samuel Milton Keller standing beside her.
Identified in 2011 by Edward Truslow who had a photograph of Samuel M. Keller by himself.
Photograph of an unidentified dog wearing a collar and seated obediently on a stone bench.
Photograph of an unidentified dog wearing a collar and sitting obediently on a stone bench.