Vernon Houston Miller, 1935 Virginia

Vernon Houston Miller with friends at the Masonic Home of Virginia boys at Buckroe Beach, Virginia.

The Masonic Home of Virginia was established to care for the children of deceased Masons whose mothers were still living. The resident boys and girls were given the opportunity to travel to the beach for day excursions in the summer.

Pictured here in their assorted, probably hand-me-down swimwear, are some of the teen boys in the summer of 1935. From left to right:

Herbert A. "Roughneck" Conner, Vernon Houston "Johnnie" or "Whitey" Miller (my uncle), Winston Foster, Kermit "Roy" Saint Clair, and Clay Culp.

Growing up in the orphanage, it was not uncommon for the boys and girls to have nicknames.
People in photo include: Winston Foster and Clay Culp