PA PA - Philadelphia, Schuylkill River, WhtFem 30-60, UP16623, Fur Hat, Lord & Taylor Skirt, Mar'68

[madamx]

Jewelry
Timex Wrist Watch, white metal # 50102366

I came Across this which has a guid on how to read the model numbers. From the looks of the guide the last 2 numbers are the year. If that is the case her watch would be from 1966 so it would not be that old. I don’t know if that means anything.
The Unofficial Guide to Vintage Timex Watches | Reviews by WYCA

 

[coffeeandacig]

@madamx
Going to not say anything about the original artists sketch.
I created a drawing of this lady using the old profile and frontal sketches. Artist interpretation of the hair and teeth.
Hope it helps a little!

 

[madamx]

View attachment 285179

@madamx
Going to not say anything about the original artists sketch.
I created a drawing of this lady using the old profile and frontal sketches. Artist interpretation of the hair and teeth.
Hope it helps a little!

Awwww Coffeeandacig your not going to say anything on the lovely shade of green?! Hehehe

All kidding aside.. Wow!!! Thank you so much for this new artist interpretation looks awesome! You rock!! She looks great!
Teeth, I had not even thought about them. Can I ask you where you got her teeth image from?

 

[madamx]

Should be Chukka boots. I had some like the 2 attached pics in the late 60s-early 70s. Loved them! The news article when she was first found was really sparse but said that she had one overshoe. Thinking they didn't know what a Chukka boot was.

Philly Daily News 3/20/68
31 Dec 1969, - at Newspapers.com

I was just reading back on the tread and read the newspaper clipping .

Now it’s says she had a brown coat and skirt (which iam assuming would be the matching colored walking suit) but now what caught my eye it said she was from 20 to 25. Yet the profile states from 30 to 60.

 

[madamx]

Here is a map where she was found. In the article it says need the Penrose Bridge but it has since been banned George C Platt.
2 things I noticed was how close the airport is and how close New Jersey is.

 

[madamx]

I just thought I would post this article. Gives you a feeling of what was going on.
Here's What NYC Looked Like In 1968, The Current Year In <em>Mad Men</em> - Gothamist

 

[madamx]

?

Darlene DeWolff Polizzi | www.youcansolvethiscoldcase.com
Darlene has reddish brown hair and brown eyes, a small female at 5’ 3” and weighing 100 pounds

I came across Darlene Polizzi and realized Dotr had posted her on this thread.
But now that Coffeeandacig did a new recon and you could see her teeth, I started going back to see if I could see teeth.
Darlenes teeth look similar to me. Also she had a brown coat w fur collar ( but I remember a lot of the old fur collars could be removed). Another thing that was mentioned is that her husband thought she took more clothing.
She seems similar to the recon Coffeeandacig made. And she is from New Jersey .

I posted a black and white version of Coffeeandacig’s recon along w Darlenes black and white photos

 

[coffeeandacig]

Awwww Coffeeandacig your not going to say anything on the lovely shade of green?! Hehehe

All kidding aside.. Wow!!! Thank you so much for this new artist interpretation looks awesome! You rock!! She looks great!
Teeth, I had not even thought about them. Can I ask you where you got her teeth image from?

Thanks! Happy to do it! The "alien voodoo doctor" recreation (oops, did I say that?) actually had her mouth parted slightly, and showing a basic outline. I just drew some teeth in, using that as a reference.
I keep thinking her outfit looks like she was going to church on the Sunday before she found. Thanks again @madamx!

 

[Ajaygee11]

I just thought I would post this article. Gives you a feeling of what was going on.
Here's What NYC Looked Like In 1968, The Current Year In <em>Mad Men</em> - Gothamist

Good article. 1968 was probably the worst post WWII year, until 2020 came along. Still some really awesome people were born in 1968, not that I am biased or anything .....

 

[rainwaterstill]

Yeah I know.. or unless she was reported locally in some small town far away from where she was found Or had no family and was never reported? . I don't know she just seems likes someone would know her.

It's not mentionedthat they thought she was homeless or anything like some reports mentón on UIDs . So IAM assuming her clothing did not look worn out in the conditions of someone that worn them daily w out washing like a homeless person would. Or if the shoe soles were all worn out.

I had no idea What chucka Boots are so Iam assuming it's a typo. And it's Cukka?. That's the only thing I found in men's 1950 vintage style shoes. Below is attached image. Also I have been looking for the other label names mentioned. It's a shame they don't mention which piece of clothing had which label.



Between the long skirt and the long hair I keep wondering if it could be Maria. The Nose is slightly different but like someone said it could have been broken sometime after she disappeared .

It's Chukka. They were wildly popular flat soled footwear in the late 60s and early 70s because they were so comfortable and easy to walk in. IIRC, many of them were suede. Dark brown, beige/tan, and an almost off-white color. In cold weather, they kept your feet warm as they had a lining inside. Both my grandmother and mom each owned a couple of pairs that they wore as "indoor shoes" . around their homes.

 

[madamx]

Ok I just came across this site and looks like there were Lord and Taylor stores in PA.

Jenkintown store built in 1964

Baka-Cynwd store built in 1955

and there was a Milburn NJ store built in 1949

this is the site The Department Store Museum: Lord & Taylor

 

[madamx]

I posted maps to show how close the locations are to where this woman was found. Makes me wonder if she was a PA resident?

 

[carbuff]

I came across this ad in 1967 for a fur hat similar to the one Jane Doe was wearing. It seemed to to be a fashionable hat for the time which now makes me think maybe the woman was not homeless but perhaps eccentric...someone out there was missing her. just my thoughts..

That's the kind of outfit an older woman from a good family (i.e. a reasonable amount of money) would have worn to take the train into the city for some shopping, or meeting a friend for lunch, or possibly for working in a conservative business where she needed to be on her feet. Mr. Carbuff's aunt in NYC still had a similar outfit she was wearing 20 years later when she was in her 80s.

Funny how something that was merely old-fashioned in 1968 is so out of style that it looks eccentric to us. And it does look eccentric. I'm like, "Wait, did people really wear that?" But as I said I remember real people dressing like that.

p.s. with the sturdy skirt and the boots, it's also a very practical outfit for getting around. That's why they call it a "walking suit." For women who refuse to wear pants, which was still a thing back then.

 

[madamx]

That's the kind of outfit an older woman from a good family (i.e. a reasonable amount of money) would have worn to take the train into the city for some shopping, or meeting a friend for lunch, or possibly for working in a conservative business where she needed to be on her feet. Mr. Carbuff's aunt in NYC still had a similar outfit she was wearing 20 years later when she was in her 80s.

Funny how something that was merely old-fashioned in 1968 is so out of style that it looks eccentric to us. And it does look eccentric. I'm like, "Wait, did people really wear that?" But as I said I remember real people dressing like that.

p.s. with the sturdy skirt and the boots, it's also a very practical outfit for getting around. That's why they call it a "walking suit." For women who refuse to wear pants, which was still a thing back then.

That is right! My mom was one of those ladies. She never wore pants. She also wore that matching skirt and jacket!!

 

[Ajaygee11]

OMG your not kidding. I was talking about that with my friend!!. Like what is this and Never Mind the lovely shade of green skin color!

yeah everybody has a strange Green Lady with a hat that lives on their block! Hahah

Looks more like a reconstruction of someone who was found in a flying saucer in Roswell in 1948 .....

 

[madamx]

I came across this video of Philadelphia 1960s 1970s but I noticed a woman in the dark coat and hat and just reminded me of this Jane doe.. you can see her walking on the sidewalk as the camera is panning the block.. just wanted to post . Enjoy

 

[Ajaygee11]

I came across this video of Philadelphia 1960s 1970s but I noticed a woman in the dark coat and hat and just reminded me of this Jane doe.. you can see her walking on the sidewalk as the camera is panning the block.. just wanted to post . Enjoy

It’s almost like it’s another world isn’t it. All those big gas guzzlers and hardly an imported car in site (I saw one VW) <3

 

[Filly]

I came across this video of Philadelphia 1960s 1970s but I noticed a woman in the dark coat and hat and just reminded me of this Jane doe.. you can see her walking on the sidewalk as the camera is panning the block.. just wanted to post . Enjoy

Thanks so much for this @madamx . I forgot the cop cars were red then. Also you see a "York" shop. Women's clothing store where this lady would not have shopped. Low quality clothing.

Just from your maps and descriptions I 'm thinking a person from South Philly or Southwest. Italian. Italian folk from South Philly wore high quality clothing.

Thanks for caring about this woman.

 

[Filly]

Has Anna Francis Leatherwood been considered as a match to UP16623? I briefly read back through posts but didn't see her name mentioned. So, here she is awaiting your review. Your comments are appreciated. TIA

#
UID's NamUs page - The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Anna Francis Leatherwood - 45yo

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
NamUs# 13801 - Cold Case Unit reference number

​

Female, White / Caucasian
Date of Last Contact May 20, 1966
Missing From. Seiverville, TN
Missing Age 45 Years
Current Age

Height 5' 0" - 5' 3" (60 - 63 Inches)
Weight 155 - 165 lbs
Hair. Gray or Partially Gray
Head Hair Description - Deep dark brown with gray mixed in. Salt and pepper.
Eyes blue; wore glasses.
scar on lower abdomen
Clothing - Was wearing a house gown the last time that she was seen. Thin white color.

Circumstances notes - Cold Case Unit will use the NamUs# 13801 as a report number. Reference this number for any questions.
Didn't drive, didn't have a driver's License.

#

Anna disappeared from Seiverville, TN in 1966. Supposedly she was dressed in a gown when last seen but the the stated circumstances surrounding her disappearance don't explain how long after she was last seen that she disappeared. It's possible she dressed in street clothes before leaving.

A theory is that she simply could have walked away from home and family in order to start anew, chase a dream, run off with a secret lover, or go on a spur-of-the-moment solo trip for sight-seeing and shopping. Whatever theory you choose, agree with, or think of yourself the fact is that she would have ended up in PA or any where else on Earth. Philly is a major tourist attraction/vacay destination given its historical and political appeal, amongst other things, to some folks. Maybe Ms. Leatherwood was the type of person who independently went off to travel. I have not found any reports/rumors that suggest this or any other scenario or personality information actually.

Their visual similarities are strinking to me. Maybe it's just the way the sketch is so heavy on the brows and Anna has on the black glasses. Anna's first pic posted above is/was an immediate "no" to me but once i saw her other pics I was instantly convinced of a potential match. She seems so prim and proper in these pics and even UID has that same appeal or vibe if you will, imo. The description of UID16623's clothing and accessories when found suggests a lady who had a sense of style about her. Perhaps she was out shopping, touring, attending a function of some sort then had an accident or ran into foul play at the hands of someone who meant harm to her. I'm not suggesting how she died or if she was mudered but I am trying to determine how she ended up in a river near a refinery.

The fact that she was found near a refinery does give me pause to wonder though if whomever harmed her had a connection to oilfield/Petro work. Central southern parts of the U.S. made tons of money in the oilfield back in and around those days, some even still today. Who knows if she wasn't the wife, daughter, sister, mistress, friend, enemy, etc. of an oil tycoon, roughneck, truck driver, salesman/woman, etc. Etc. Etc. At first I said to myself "Well, why wouldn't a family connected to money search high and low for her?". The answer is that if the theory of her walking away voluntarily holds, they may not have cared or even known she then went missing after leaving them in TN. Her new aquaintances may not have known her family or even her past. Moreover, maybe she made her momey after walking away from home, be it a home well-off or not so much. Either way, she'd be considered a "missing missing person".

The cases we work on are often strange and hardly ever cut & dry! Imo, our attempt here is to use the clues given to determine plausible explanations for why, beyond physical matches and similarities, we think this is a potential match. We're not necessarily trying to solve a mystery or crime. Hopefully we can do that but we'll need to find in Ms. Anna's story I proposed the holes or poke holes in it to see if the theory can stand on its merits. Help!

Ya never know. It could be her. The grey in the hair gets to me age wise.

However the oil refineries back there? Known place to dump bodies. You wouldn't need to even work in one to dump a body there.

There's alot of marsh like gunk back by the Platt. We still call it The Penrose. One of the refineries blew up in 2019.

Sorry to throw more into the game. You have the airport, refineries and wetland back there. A search would come up of how many people get dumped back there. Sadly.

 

[madamx]

Ya never know. It could be her. The grey in the hair gets to me age wise.

However the oil refineries back there? Known place to dump bodies. You wouldn't need to even work in one to dump a body there.

There's alot of marsh like gunk back by the Platt. We still call it The Penrose. One of the refineries blew up in 2019.

Sorry to throw more into the game. You have the airport, refineries and wetland back there. A search would come up of how many people get dumped back there. Sadly.

very interesting ! Thank you Filly for giving a bit of local insight to this thread. I love it when people that know areas better talk on threads. You get more of a feel of what it looked like and the feel of the area stores homes and people at the time.


So you think she could of possibly been from South Philly?


Yes I try to keep the old lady cases going.. they pull at my heart strings.