Community Corner

Solved? New Developments In Shoreline Camera Mystery

A North Branford family has stepped forward to say they are the people featured in the photos. But the question still remains: how did the camera find its way into an East Haven home?

For a while there it looked as though Elaine Norwood's camera mystery would remain just that: a mystery. 

Earlier this year the East Haven resident found a wayard camera tucked away in the back of her foyer table's drawer. It wasn't hers, and it didn't belong to a friend or a family member.

And so: who did the camera belong to? How did it get in her drawer? And most importantly, who are the people in the photos processed from the camera's film, snapped about a decade ago? 

A Breakthrough in the Case

It has been several weeks since East Haven Patch first published its post sharing the photo puzzle.

And while there has been much speculation about who the people in the photos were, there were no solid leads.

Until now, that is. 

North Branford Connection

The photos are of the North Branford family of George and Adrienne White.

Their daughter, Joanne White, called East Haven Patch to report the good news that the mystery of, "Who are the people in these photos?" — is a mystery no more.

Joanne, who now lives in Virginia, said the photos include images of her father, as well as her brothers, John and Peter, and other familiar faces. 

"It's my family," she during a phone interview Thursday afternoon.

'A Fun Story'

East Haven Patch also spoke with George and Adrienne, as well as Elaine Norwood, Thursday.

The Whites said they were surprised when they first learned of the news, and looked forward to seeing the old family photos. 

And Norwood said she was excited by the fact that the family in the photos has now been identified. 

"It's such a fun story," she said.

East Haven Patch will be sitting down with Norwood and members of the White family to review and exchange the photos sometime soon.

And so keep an eye out for another update to come.

A Final Puzzle

In the meantime, Joanne says one final mystery still remains: she and her brothers still cannot figure out who among them the camera belonged to some 10 years ago. 

"And how did it get in that drawer," she said.

But Norwood thinks that once the Whites are able to see the photos from the film in person, as well as the camera itself, it may help jog their memories. 

"It's all just so exciting," she said.


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