LEWISTON — Every photograph tells a story. But over time and generations, those photos often get lost or misplaced. The family memories disappear, the stories forgotten.

Chris Hodge has made it his mission to uncover long-lost photos, learn the stories behind them and hopefully return those lost treasures to their rightful owners.

The Tennessee man founded the nonprofit group Heirloom Archaeology in 2002. He estimates that he has returned more than 200 photo albums, family Bibles, land grants and other historic documents that he has found in antique shops, flea markets and online.

“I can’t stay out of antique stores,” Hodge said. “They’re like a museum to me, but here, you are allowed to touch all the stuff.”

His latest mystery has brought his search to Maine. Hodge recently purchased a photo album online from a dealer in Western Maine. 

The album, which opens in the center to reveal four pages at a time, has more than 50 portraits. Nearly all of the photos were shot at a Lewiston studio at 138 Lisbon St.

Hodge estimates that the photos were taken between the 1880s and the turn of the century. Roughly half of the photos have names written on them. The subjects include men, women, children and pets.

Photographers listed on the photos include A.E. Nye and the Curtis and Ross Studio. That address, however, was better known as the studio home for well-known photographer and inventor Frances E. Stanley, who eventually sold his dry plate technology to George Eastman, co-founder of Eastman Kodak, for a reported half-million dollars. Stanley went on to invent the Stanley Steamer car with his twin brother.

The availability of census records and other documents online and the growth of genealogy websites have made Hodge’s passion for finding living family members to whom to return their lost family possessions much easier.

“Our goal is to find someone related to the people in the pictures and return the album to them,” Hodge said. “Often, these people don’t even know these things exist.”

A preliminary search by the Sun Journal found a few clues to Hodge’s latest find. Harry and Laura Newell Cole were both born in 1875 and are buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Along with their daughter, Norma, all three are pictured in the photo album. 

Mother and daughter Maude and Blanche Lowell are listed as living together in Portland in the 1900 census. How the Coles and Lowells connected in a family, though, was uncertain.

Other people who are photographed in the book include Grace Lowell Young, Mr. and

, Frank Newell, Fred Austin, Majorie Cummings, J.T. Newell, Pearly Turner, Tim Keath and a Mrs. Goodwin.

The Keath photos are especially striking, Hodge said.

“He must have been very prominent,” he said.

Hodge hopes the lost Maine photo album finds its way back home to be treasured by future generations of that family.

A meeting planner by trade, Hodge finds great pleasure in locating historic objects. He looks for a name or some other clue that can be traced. With a small team of volunteers, Heirloom Archaeology strives to return the lost and missing photos and documents to families across the United States. For the past few years, Hodge figures, his organization has returned and average of 20 to 25 items each year.

Even though he may have purchased the document from a dealer or antique shop with his own money, Hodge does not ask for payment in return. All he requests is that the families pay it forward with random acts of kindness.

“It’s heartwarming when you connect people with their family histories,” Hodge said. “It’s an amazing thing.” 

Hodge can be reached through the Heirloom Archaeology website.

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