NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- Police are asking for the public's help in finding the owner of a family photo album left on the porch of a local business.
- Photo album found August 11 on porch of Precision Portfolio Solutions
- Family believed to have lived in Watkins Glen, NY, area in early 1950s
- Anyone with information can call NPRPD at (727) 232-8941
What You Need To Know
"Not everyday we have items like this, and we saw the dates -- it was 1951, 1952. I mean, there's a lot of history in these years here," said New Port Richey Police Victim Advocate Megan Hays.
Hays said the album was turned into police by the owner of Precision Portfolio Solutions on Court Dr. It was found August 11, along with a stack of loose photos and other items but nothing to identify the owner.
"We definitely got to know the family through this," said NPRPD Crime Scene Technician/Property and Evidence Specialist Kendall Tipton. "I think they were a very close-knit family."
"The photos of, for example, the owner's mother and father, who are long gone by now -- you'll never get that photo back. So that's part of the reason why we're trying so hard," said Hays.
Hays and Tipton said the album itself provides some clues. Captions identify couple Jim and Betty, who they believe to be the original owner, and daughter Sharon.
The family appear to have had a pet deer, Bucky, along with dog Minnie and cats Boots and Socks.
They lived around Alpine, NY, near Watkins Glen. Photos show trips to Gettysburg, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Cuba Lake in NY.
The department put out the call for information on its Facebook page. While Hays said they've been in contact with people from Schuyler County, NY, who are connected to the album and they believe the last name of the family pictured is Van Zile, they have yet to find the owner.
"It was just a clearly loved photo album," said Hays. "Once property goes unclaimed, it eventually gets destroyed, just because we don't have the capacity to hold these things forever.
"I would hate to see that happen, and that's why we're working so hard to get this claimed by somebody."
Anyone with information is asked to call the New Port Richey PD at (727) 232-8941.