Photography Sleuthing Uncovers Memories Lost in the Eaton Fire
In the chaotic evacuation during the Eaton fire on Jan. 7, Vicken Marganian experienced a heart-stopping moment when the trunk of his car unexpectedly flung open, sending decades worth of cherished memories soaring into the sky. Among the items lost were his precious photo albums, containing hundreds of images capturing moments with family members, from his parents to his engagement party. Marganian vividly recalls the surreal experience, comparing it to confetti at the Super Bowl, swirling in the air instead of fluttering down.
As the flames edged closer, he scrambled to retrieve as many photos as possible, but the ferocity of the fire forced him to abandon his efforts. Left feeling like he had lost a piece of his past forever, Marganian’s despair was soon replaced by hope when a kind-hearted fellow Altadena resident, Claire Schwartz, stepped in to lend a helping hand.
Schwartz, with a background in archiving and a passion for reuniting lost photos with their rightful owners, had already been involved in a personal mission to return old photos to their original families. Her interest in tracing the origins of photos she found at the Pasadena City College flea market laid the groundwork for her current endeavor to assist fire victims in recovering their lost memories.
The hobby that began with a simple photo purchase at the flea market has now evolved into a full-fledged rescue mission. Schwartz’s website and Instagram page, “Eaton Fire Found Photos,” quickly garnered attention from individuals who had come across displaced photos in the aftermath of the fire. She diligently works to identify and locate the owners of these photos, engaging her online community for assistance when leads run dry.
Schwartz’s meticulous approach to her hobby, which combines investigative work with archival techniques, has enabled her to clean and store damaged or burnt photos in a controlled environment until they can be reunited with their rightful owners. Her dedication to preserving these memories shines through in her commitment to hold onto the photos for as long as necessary.
One heartwarming example of Schwartz’s impact is the story of Nila Sinnatamby’s husband, who stumbled upon a photo of a woman in a bathing suit while cleaning their Pasadena backyard post-fire. Recognizing the significance of the photo, Schwartz promptly identified the rightful owners as Vicken and Hourie Marganian, adding another piece to the couple’s treasured collection of recovered memories.
Despite encountering challenges in tracing some photo owners, Schwartz’s unwavering determination drives her to continue her search. At Altadena Golf Course, she meticulously combs through debris, using makeshift tools to retrieve half-burned pages and photos that have been scattered by the winds. Each piece she recovers serves as a clue in a larger puzzle, leading her one step closer to reuniting these lost memories with their rightful owners.
As Schwartz’s efforts to restore hope and preserve memories in the wake of the Eaton fire continue, her work stands as a testament to the power of community, kindness, and the enduring value of cherished memories.
