This is a photograph of Adrianus Vanderkloot in his backyard at 7047 S. Ada Street in Chicago. The view is away from the back porch and toward the alley. Adrianus purchased the 7047 Ada Street property in 1912 as a place for his son Art to recuperate from TB. The location then was far south of the congested city where Adrianus and Martha lived in the Bridgeport area. It was thought in those times that fresh outdoor air would help those with TB. And the 7047 property had a large outdoor back porch. Over the years, daughters, Alette and Grace, would also live there.

The backyard is a bit of a mess, and it is difficult to tell if it was early spring or late fall. The bush to the left with leaves and bright bushes and the ground to the right suggests it could be early spring. There was no date on the photo, and many times a photo was taken for a special occasion such as a birthday.

Adrianus was born on April 16, 1852. In the photo, Adrianus appears to be in his early 70s. I tentatively chose 1925, his 73rd birthday, for two reasons. First, the bush to his left is smaller than the same bush in “Ade and Art Vanderkloot (circa Summer 1925)”. Second, the child’s car is the kind of vehicle a young boy of around 4-8 might have. In the early 1920s, the only male child that lived there was Harry Schodrof, who in May 1925, turned five. While not conclusive for 1925, it is at most of the year is off by only a year or so.

As is typical of the times, Adrianus is dressed in his "Sunday Best" with suit pants, tie, vest, and pocket watch. Dick Denker, an Adrianus grandson, inherited his pocket watch.

Harry Schodrof has the original negative for this photograph, suggesting his mother, Alette, took it. If you would like to add information about this photo, please contact Dave Jordan, a great-grandson of Adrianus and Martha Vanderkloot. The Picture Reference Number is DJB17N.