Museum remembers a special photographer

REMEMBERING MORE THAN A PHOTOGRAPHER — Mark Holtzmann, left, stood beside a portrait of his parents, Janie and George Dale Holtzmann of Toronto. His father’s death in 2004 has left a hole in the heart of many city residents, as Holtzmann took school photos and pictures of city events for more than 45 years. A special gallery is open at the Historical Society of Toronto’s Main Street Museum for those interested in viewing some of his works. The museum will be open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29.
— Julie Stenger

TORONTO — George Dale Holtzmann. Dale to anyone who knew him.

Photographer. Husband. Father. Friend.

His name need only be spoken and most Gem City residents 50 and older will smile at his memory. Chances are the award-winning photographer had captured their image during some point in their lifetime.

From school pictures taken as a child, to senior photos placed on the pages of a yearbook, Holtzmann was behind the camera every single time.

Sporting events … he was there. School dances … he attended. Family events such as weddings, anniversaries or even births — check, check and check.

Mark Holtzmann speaks to gusts and museum officials, including administrators Carolyn Walker and Linda McFerren.
— Julie Stenger

Perhaps no one even noticed Holtzmann behind his camera during certain events put on by the city.

No one even gave it a thought.

Until they opened their mail days later and found inside the envelope a photograph of them beside a loved one.

Then, they knew.

That man who built a photography business which spanned approximately five decades is now having some of his works remembered with a special showing at the Historical Society of Toronto’s Main Street Museum.

A PICTURE TO REMEMBER — This photo of Harry Carpenter was taken by Dale Holtzmann in Toronto. Holtzmann had befriended Carpenter, a hobo who was always in the city looking for work. One day, Holtzmann invited him to lunch at his home, taking his picture whenever the opportunity arose. Holtzmann won several awards for his photos.

A space has been established in the museum for some of Holtzmann’s works.

Located inside the Karaffa Recreation Center on Dennis Way, the showings will take place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 22 and 29.

Carolyn Walker, president of the historical society and museum administrator, explained museum officials try to come up with a different exhibit for every month. During a recent meeting, Holtzmann’s son, Mark, was in attendance, mentioning he is in possession of some of his father’s photos. His sister, Jan, also has many of her dad’s works, he noted.

“We thought maybe there would be 10 or so,” Walker said of the count owned by Holtzmann’s five children.

The reality of what has been acquired by the family, however, far exceeded anything than she could have imagined.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS — Janie and Dale Holtzmann stand on the porch of their new photography studio, which was purchased around 1949 on Third Street in Toronto.
— Contributed

Several large prints are on display at the museum, with some pieces not having been identified. Mark Holtzmann stated he and his sister do not know the people in these photos and are hopeful that someone will come in and be able to put the face with a name.

Guests will notice some of the photos are adorned with a ribbon, having won a special award during an art show or contest.

During one such event, the Triangle Photographer’s Fall Association Meeting in Greensburg, Pa., association members from three states participated in the competition.

Holtzmann’s portraitures took five first-place awards, as well as a third-place ribbon.

In addition, he was awarded a trophy for having the photos that received the highest number of points in the salon competition.

And that was just one contest.

Holtzmann graduated from Toronto High School in 1942, entering the Air Force immediately following graduation in January 1943.

However, he ended up serving three years in the 76th Division of the Army at the Battle of the Bulge in Germany during World War II.

He was honorably discharged, having earned the rank of sergeant, the Combat Infantry Badge and a Bronze Star.

Using the GI Bill, he attended Ohio University, marrying his other half, Janie, while still in college in 1948. She had graduated from nursing school the day prior to their marriage.

Life seemed to be going well for Holtzmann.

The next year, he graduated with a bachelor of arts and sciences, majoring in photography and opened his studio. The couple welcomed their first of five children into the world.

He began his career in photography, knowing he wanted to be a photographer as his life’s work since he was a child and saw a darkroom inside his friend’s home.

He had said of the memory it was “fascinating to me and still is thrilling to me to see a picture that is being developed.”

He earned his master’s photographers award in 1976 and master craftsman in 1978.

In 1951, Holtzmann began partnering with Toronto City Schools.

He spent 45 years taking photos of students. Underclassmen and senior photos, faculty and staff photos, class photos, dances, football games, basketball games, proms and graduations.

Jan once stated that if one were to do the math, it comes out to about 5,445 seniors who had their photographs taken by her father.

“The students represented more than just business to him,” Jan stated during a Toronto High School outstanding alumni event in her introduction speech about her father. “They were part of what keeps him young and vigorous. He saw in them this town’s future and in recognition of that, he and mom anonymously donated a scholarship for many years.”

Prior to his retirement in 1996, Holtzmann had said, “I’m in the second- and third-generation of taking wedding pictures of some families. If you grew up in Toronto and went to school here, there’s a 99-to-1 shot I’ve taken your picture along the line somewhere. I’ve seen two-and-a-half generations of children grow up.”

Holtzmann saw many changes to photography throughout his years. About 15 years into his business, color images started taking the place of black-and-whites. There was a decrease in film size. There was greater quality in reproductions and most households had an automatic camera.

The world of photography was changing.

And Holtzmann learned to adapt to those changes.

People could now see the color of their eyes staring back at them. The color of their hair. Clothes didn’t always appear as if they were consistently black.

“It was fascinating,” he said of color photos. “The print didn’t even have to be the best, but it was still color. And people wanted that.”

While working in his business along Third Street, Holtzmann photographed many people.

One day, a local businessman, Don Damewood, was going home after work.

He stopped by the studio to fix a faulty light of Holtzmann’s. Damewood was casually asked if his picture could be taken, to which he agreed. Planning to go home and shower and change first, Dale said no.

He wanted to photograph Damewood as he was. And that is how he spent his life … behind the camera, taking photos of people and being able to see them for themselves.

The character in their faces, each line a definition of the individual and who they truly were at that time.

Such is the case with Harry Carpenter.

Carpenter was a hobo whom Holtzmann had ultimately befriended.

Carpenter would walk through Toronto searching for odd jobs to do. Washing windows. Sweeping outside of local businesses.

One day, Holtzmann invited this man to lunch at his home.

The photographer inquired if he could take his picture.

Carpenter agreed.

There were many photographs taken of him throughout the years.

Different poses. Different styles, with Carpenter always being true to himself.

Those photos eventually ended up being submitted at various contests and shows, winning several awards, as they displayed his “unique character studies.”

Prior to his retirement, he decided to go back to doing the black-and-white photography.

The trend was becoming popular once again, as the younger generation had never seen pictures that were not in color.

It had been 30 years, after all, since color film had taken its place.

Holtzmann opted to retire because he felt he would develop eye problems as he aged, and he wanted to leave while doing his best work.

And Holtzmann spent a lifetime doing his best work. Having become a charter member of the Professional Photographers of Ohio, an honorary lifetime member of the Professional Photographers of America of Ohio, of West Virginia and of Triangle Institute of Professional Photographers, where he served as its president.

Holtzmann judged at the national level and has been part of several exhibits throughout the country.

From his awards and ribbons, to the high-quality photos he took for decades, Dale Holtzmann had a pretty good life.

He died in 2004, after which former Toronto Mayor Andrew Blaner had written a letter to Holtzmann’s wife, Janie, and his children.

“I, for one, will always have a special place in my heart for your husband, for he dedicated his life to the city of Toronto,” he wrote.

Blaner penned that Holtzmann was more than a photographer, noting he was a member of the Post 86 American Legion Firing Squad.

Blaner died years ago. And yet, his words — still etched in that letter, spoke of every Veterans Day and Memorial Day when Dale Holtzmann took pleasure in having all of the veterans stand in formation in the gazebo and take a picture that was then sent in the form of an 8-by-10 print to everyone in the photo of that special day.

“Dale touched me in many ways and made me a better man,” Blaner wrote.

“How proud we were that we had the opportunity of having your husband and father in our lives. Dale made Toronto a better place and we all mourn his passing.”

Holtzmann’s work will live on through the thousands of former students who have kept a copy of their high school photos. His photography earned him recognition and awards well-deserved.

But there was more to him than standing behind the camera.

When Jan asked her father to name his life’s greatest achievement so she could mention it during her introductory speech at that ceremony, his reply was simply his children: Kris, Mark, Jan, Elaine and Scott.