Above, a cabinet card photograph of Marjorie Magdalene “Maggie [Shadle] Romberger (1900-1976) and her younger sister Hannah Ellen [Shadle] Messner (1902-1997).
The photograph was taken around 1905 at Roshon‘s Studio, Elizabethville, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, when it was solely operated by Marsha A. [Geist] Roshon, the wife of Christian S. Roshon.
Here’s the history of Roshon photography in Elizabethville:
On May 16, 1895, C. S. Roshon, of Lebanon, announced in the Elizabethville Echo, that he would be opening a branch gallery in Elizabethville, but that his stay would be brief. According to an ad in the Elizabethville Echo in 1895, Mr. Roshon’s Studio was located near Bauder’s Bakery. On June 6, 1895, Roshon indicated that his gallery in Elizabethville, which was being operated by A. J. Mirick, was closing.
In 1902, the Elizabethville business appears to have started up again.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Roshon the Photographer would respectfully inform the citizens of Elizabethville, and the public in general, that we have rented Mr. Eby’s gallery, and that we are prepared to do all the various kinds of Photography in the very best style at short Notice. Also OUT DOOR photography in its various kinds such as family groups, buildings, cattle, machinery, &c. &c.
All kinds of old pictures copied and enlarged and finished in Crayon, Pastel or Water Color. Photo Buttons and Medallons all sizes and styles. Kindly take notice that this Gallery will only be open every afternoon from 1 o’clock to 4 o’clock (as we are engaged in the Poultry business which requires the balance of our time).
You are kindly invited to call at your earliest convenience.
Respectfully yours,
ROSHON THE PHOTOGRAPHER
March 10th, 1902
According to a story in the Elizabethville Echo, May 22, 1903, Mr. Roshon completed his new studio opposite the Lutheran parsonage in the West End of town: “Out door photography, enlarging, etc. a specialty.” He also made the unusual offer to take the photo of any person over the age of 60 years old – entirely free of cost. An earlier article on April 24, 1903 indicated the studio that was being erected was opposite his residence.
According to a notice in the Elizabethville Echo of May 27, 1904, Mrs. Roshon was operating the Elizabethville studio in the absence of her husband who was operating branch studios in Gratz and Berrysburg. The paper reported that she was “turning out some very fine work.” In July, the Echo reported that C. S. Roshon was operating a studio in Valley View, but returned to Elizabethville to visit his family.
In June 1905, C. S. Roshon announced that he was leaving for Atlantic City to open a gallery there for the summer, but that he intended to maintain his residence in Elizabethville. At the end of August he announced his return from Atlantic City where he had been engaged in taking photographs on the beach.
By 1906, it appears that Mrs. M. A. Roshon was continuing to operate the Elizabethville gallery. She took out an ad in the Echo in her name which noted that the studio was open for business and that “post cards and all styles of cards were available. In March 1906, the Echo ad only contained her name – and noted that she welcomed the ladies and babies to call. But in late May, she announced the gallery would be closed so she could go to the “summer resort.”
Martha A. [Geist] Roshon died in Philadelphia in 1915. Notice of her death which appeared in the Elizabethville Echo, January 28, 1915, failed to mention that she was a photographer and that she was the sole operator of the Roshon studio in Elizabethville probably from about late 1903 through 1906.
Mrs. Martha Roshon
Mrs. Martha Roshon, wife of C. S. Roshon, died at their home, No. 4077 Market Street, Philadelphia, on Thursday January 21st [1915] and the remains were brought to Harrisburg on Monday, services being held in the funeral chapel of R. K. Spicer, 3131 Walnut Street. Interment in the Harrisburg Cemetery.
Mrs. Roshon’s maiden name was Martha Geist of Pillow, Pennsylvania. Her death was due to a complication of diseases. Her age 60 years, 2 months, and 27 days. Those surviving are her husband and one son, Russell Roshon; also a step-son, J. W. Roshon of Harrisburg.
C. S. Roshon died in Philadelphia in 1916. He is buried in Harrisburg. He was survived by two sons, Russell Roshon of Philadelphia and William Roshon of Harrisburg. The Echo, in noting his death, indicated that he was a former photographer in Elizabethville.
For an earlier blog post on Roshon photography, see:
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News articles from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.