July 5, 1914 - Meanwhile on Ellis Island

In 1891 Boruch Srapocznik was born in Odessa, Russia. In about 1912 or 1913 at the age of about 21 Boruch set out for America. There were quotas in America and therefore he left Russia and went to Buenos Aires where he stayed until he was able to complete his journey to the United States. On June 11, 1914 he left Buenos Aires and arrived 24 days later at Ellis Island.

Below is a copy of the receipt for his ticket for the trip. Because we had this information we were able to locate the ship manifest for the SS Vauban in the files at Ellis Island and find where Boruch was listed and all of the information they needed about him. He was a 23 year old tailor with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was a small man, as it states, only 5 feet 5 inches tall. The manifest states that he was going to stay with his brother-in-law David Etin in New York. In fact, we do not believe he had a brother-in-law so we assume it was a cousin or a friend of the family that had settled here earlier.

Below is the receipt for this exciting journey. It cost $4.00 for a Third Class ticket.

 Here is a painting of the ship. Third class must have made for an uncomfortable journey for 24 days.

Here is the spread in the log book when Boruch was signed into Ellis Island. I have highlighted in pink where his name is.

So who is Boruch Srapocznik? Why am I including this on the blog about Joe and Helen?

In America Boruch became Benjamin (Bennie) Shapiro. He continued his craft and skill as a tailor and eventually met Gertrude (Gussie) Zimmerman. They wed and they eventually became Joe and Helen's in-laws.

As I write this I realize that both of my grandfathers were aboard ships within miles of each other. One, an educated lawyer from Connecticut embarking on an exciting career and courting a Barnard College sophomore. The other, a poor tailor arriving in a country where he did not speak the language, only had slight acquaintances, given a new name and entering the unknown.


The next letter is July 25.

July 4, 1914 - Lost in North Atlantic Sea

This postcard must have been a continuation of the trip Joe was taking when he wrote on July 2, 1914 from Block Island.

Fourth of July
1914
We were lost in a North Atlantic sea till this morning. Gale almost ruined our yacht, but finally sun came out. We are all in from 48 hours constant watch.
Joe

This postcard shows the Long Beach Lighthouse which is still in existence today and can be visited on tours of lighthouse cruises. In researching this lighthouse I discovered that the original Orient Long Beach Lighthouse burned down in 1963. The foundation remained and that is where the replica was built in 1990.

Photo by Photo GEM on Flickr

The next post will be on July 5.

The next letter will be on July 25.

July 2, 1914 - Hit a storm at nightfall . . .

July 1914 was filled with postcard correspondence from Joe. He traveled on business and perhaps pleasure and it appears that Helen was in Far Rockaway for most of July. Below you will see a spread from Helen's datebook from July when they left for Far Rockaway, a getaway for New York City dwellers.

Joe sent postcards when he could from his business and holiday journeys. The first being Block Island, Rhode Island.

7/2/14 No mail will reach me for at least ten days.
Am off to Rhode Island & yesterday sailed for 17 hours. We hit a storm at nightfall and were buffeted around. During the day I was taught to steer and was at the wheel from 3:30 P.M. to 9 P.M. and finally had to seek refuge in this lake.
Joe

Helen's Datebook from 1914

Here is the datebook of Helen's from 1914. Since this is the first time I am posting from this I am including the cover and the inside front page. I will periodically post pages throughout the rest of the year where informative. Whenever I come across Helen's writing I am happy that I am transcribing Joe's letters.

You can see that Joe and Helen had a date on Saturday June 28th. I can not make out the writing but I see that it is n quotes so they must have gone to theater.

New Yorkers flee to Far Rockaway

This is a postcard that I found online of the street that they stayed on.  From what I can surmise Grand View Ave. does not exist anymore.

The next postcard will be on July 4.

June 11, 1914 - Judge Requests Ventilation in Court - Steamy Love Affair

Reading through articles that Joe collected in a scrapbook I am amazed and amused by the events that occurred 100 years ago. Here is one that caught my eye, in part, because of the headline.

COURT DESIRED VENTILATION IN DIVORCE AFFAIR

Post June 11, 1914

Handsome Aimee McKeen Just Hated "0ld Ed" McKeen Observations by Janitor.

ICE CREAM AND STONE WALL RECALL AUTO TRIP

As Thermometer Rises Evidence Goes with It—Judge Calls for Open Windows.

     "Please open the windows. We need a great deal of ventilation on this," was the request of Judge Gardner Greene this morning in the Superior court, second part, as he listened to some evidence of the most discolored variety in the divorce suit of McKeen against McKeen.
      Edward McKeen, conductor on the New Haven system asks for a decree from Aimee Louise McKeen upon the ground of infidelity.  Minor Dibble, stalwart and fair haired, is named as correspondent. The trial was commenced on Tuesday afternoon and it was evident from the start that it will be filled with much more than the average amount of smut which goes with such cases.

An Interesting Witness.

     The most interesting witness this morning was Walter B. Brooks, a colored man who was in the employ of the Southern New England Telephone Co., at the time Dibble worked for that concern in Stamford.
      Brooks made a good witness. He worked for the telephone company along with Dibble, he told the court. Dibble was the head installer. He had an office down stairs in the basement, where he used to write up the books. Aimee McKeen used to call there at all hours. And she was a stayer, too. Once it was as late as one in the morning.

"Loving a Little Bit."

     Mrs., McKeen and Dibble "mostly talked" while they were in Dibble's office. Once Brooks saw the "loving little bit."
"What do you mean by that?" he was asked.
"Why he would take her in his arms and kiss her and hold her close, you know."
Brooks said sometimes they would put out the light, but when he approached the electric light would be turned on.
     Yes, Mrs. McKeen and Dibble met at the house of the witness. "I remember the first time they came," said the witness. "Dibble arrived first and Mrs. McKeen came about 10 minutes after. She said to him: Are you here?' and he said to her ‘You here?' They seemed surprised. Dibble came to my house to write letters,  he  said,  because  he  could do it better. After that they came regularly."

Had  Little Suppers.

     By and by Brooks and his wife got up little suppers. All four would sit down. Dibble would pay the bills. Sometimes they had wine, sometimes beer and occasionally whiskey.  Occasionally Mrs. McKeen would bring her daughter, Charlotte, with her.
      There was one occasion witness recalled when Mrs. McKeen said Dibble was to cut her corns and she asked permission to retire with Dibble so that the chiropody could be attended to.
      "Oh yes, they were good stayers," said the witness. "They would keep my wife and I up very late. Once until 1 o'clock. He would say: 'We had better be going,' but they did not go."

Said She loved Dibble.

     Witness heard Mrs.McKeen say she loved Dibble more than any man in the world. She said she did not care "for old Ed McKeen anymore. She hated McKeen worse than she did a dog.  McKeen was worse than a snake."

Carried Notes to Mrs.  McKeen.

     Witness said he carried 20 or more notes to  Mrs.McKeen. He knew of Dibble buying her candy, flowers, shoes and a set of furs. Witness saw them go on automobile rides. They went frequently to Woodside park. Witness heard Mrs. McKeen say: "If Woodside park could talk what awful tales it could tell."
     Brooks heard Mrs. McKeen speak about a trip to Sound Beach. They sat upon a stone wall and ate ice cream and she would say to Dibble: "Oh you ice cream, oh you stone wall.
     At this point the evidence took a turn which leaves it for the court records. Brooks told of going to the late Dr. Rowell to get a prescription for Dibble. He also told of his knowledge regarding Dibble's complaint.
     It was at this point that Judge Greene felt the air in the court room oppressive and asked the  attendants as above, to open the windows.

Wanted a Disguise.

     Brooks told of an occasion when Dibble asked the witness to rig him up in a disguise, so  that Dibble could call on Mrs. McKeen in the day time. Witness said he could rig up the disguise for $2. He bought a little black moustache and a ten cent pair of glasses. With these and a raincoat and a small bag he rigged up Dibble so his mother would not know him.
     The witness said he frequently heard conversations between Dibble and Mrs. McKeen over the telephone. "They would have a lot of kid talk and then make dates," said the witness. Witness knew it was Mrs. McKeen talking because he recognized her voice.
      After some further statements the witness was turned over to Attorney Shapiro for cross examination. He was subjected to a long and grueling examination in which he was confronted with some interesting letters.

Mrs. McKeen Called.

     Mrs.McKeen was called to the witness stand by the plaintiff. She said she was now living at Southington and was taking boarders, and doing dress making and millinery. Dibble lived in Southington and took table board at her house. She had been living in Southington since January 12, 1914. Prior to that she lived at Branford. Dibble was there too. She left
     Stamford in April, 1913 and went to Interlocken, Mass. Dibble called to see her one afternoon and remained a short time. That was in May,1913. On June 18, 1913 she moved to Branford in this state.

Seen On Train.

     John W. Graham, baggage master on the New Haven road, told of seeing Mrs. McKeen and Dibble take the morning train out of New York on two occasions.
     Mrs. Mary F. Lockwood of Stamford lived near the McKeens. She saw Dibble frequently visit the McKeen home. Dibble would take Mrs. McKeen out to ride in the automobile. Witness said she always supposed Mr. and Mrs. McKeen were happily married until Dibble appeared.
     Mrs. Minor Dibble, wife of the corespondent, testified regarding her knowledge of her husband's health. She was married to Dibble 20 years ago. The case is still on.



Will keep an eye out for the results of this case!
I will follow up with an interesting addition to this article very soon.

May 3, 1914 - Postcard fom Maine

So, I have realized that 100 years ago Joe was traveling away from Connecticut to try cases. Here is a postcard from Maine and it is just a week after he was trying a case in Virginia. Busy guy!

5/3/12 (it was really 1914 - as noted in the postmark)
Real well again. Here for a short time and go to Exeter, N.H. to try a case tomorrow.
Was out learning to canoe this a.m. Have some friends here who have a private yacht
and have just returned from an all day trip on the Bay. I like the place and people so
well, will go here for a short time this summer.
J.G.S.

This postcard is of Fort Allen's Park and Harbor in Portland, Maine.


The next letter will be July 2.
I believe I will find articles and photographs to fill the time gap.

April 25, 1914 - Postcard from Virginia

Short note from Virgina where Joe was traveling on business.

Have been here several days, but couldn't write much owing to the fact that the men with me have been jumping from one place to another. Don't know just where next, but perhaps Richmond,
J. G. S.

As you can see from the front of the postcard the photograph is from Fort Monroe, VA so out of curiosity I checked it out. Click on the link where it says Fort Monroe and you too can learn some history of where Joe went.

The next letter will be on May 3.

March 30, 1914 - Rape - "She fought desperately with a hat pin . . ."

Here are two articles from different local newspapers both from March 30, 1914. One was the Ansonia Sentinel and the other the Post (my assumption is the Bridgeport Post). In reading this scandalous news and knowing Joe's values and moral code I am sure this was a very difficult day for him in court. Joe was just 28 years old and very unworldly in such affairs.

WILLIAM STONE
HELD BY COURT
IN $2,000 BAIL

Bridgeport Youth, Formerly of
Shelton Is Accused of Serious
Crime by Young Woman.
William Stone, alias Elias Boutelier, aged 17, of No. 431 Lafayette street, was bound over to the Superior court by Judge Dillon in the Shelton borough court today, charged with a statutory crime.
The complainant in the case was Alma Houle, a Huntington young woman, who charged that Stone attacked her in the vicinity of her home last night. Stone formerly lived here and had known Miss Houle for some time.
Bonds were fixed at $2,000. Stone is a conductor in the employ of the Connecticut company in this city. Attorney Joseph G. Shapiro of this city is the prosecuting attorney of the Shelton court and presented the state's case today. The torn clothing worn by the girl was presented in court as evidence of the struggle. The girl jabbed Stone with a hat pin several times until he wrenched it from her grasp.
Stone was arrested in Bridgeport last night and taken back, to Shelton for trial this morning by Lieutenant Barnes of the Shelton Police department.

WAS BOUND OVER
William Stone Plead Guilty to Charge
of Attempted  Rape of
Alma Honle.
William Stone alias Boutelier, formerly of this place but now located in Bridgeport, was arraigned in the town court this morning charged with rape on the person of Miss Alma Houle, of the old Coram Road. The boy, who is but a little over sixteen years of age, plead guilty to an attempt at rape, through his guardian, S. T. Palmer, and was bound over to the next term of the superior court in Bridgeport, in the amount of $2,500, and being unable to secure the bonds was taken to Bridgeport jail by Lieutenant Barnes.
The offense was committed Sunday night, the girl who is also but sixteen years of age, having come from a visit to Ansonia, on the trolley that reaches her about 9:30 o'clock, and found young Stone waiting to take the car to Bridgeport. He did not take the car but accompanied the girl towards her home. While passing through the loneliest part of the way he assaulted her and although she fought desperately, using a hat pin and a stick pin in her defense, he overpowered her and accomplished his purpose. He then left her and ran to the trolley taking the next car to Bridgeport.
When the girl arrived home she told the case to her parents and the local police were at once notified. They communicated with the Bridgeport police and the lad was arrested. Lieut. Barnes went down for him this morning.
The boy admitted all the essential parts of the story, denying, however, having consummated the act. He had just secured a position as conductor on the Bridgeport trolley and in his application for the situation stated his age as being twenty-one. He was born here, however, and the record shows that his statement in court of being but sixteen years of age is correct, he having been born August 28, 1897. He and Miss Houle were formerly schoolmates and she had no hesitation at accepting his company last evening under the circumstances.
Committee  Will   Meet.

They obviously did not want this young man out on the streets because setting a bond of $2,000 in 1914 was a lot of money. Especially for a seventeen year old boy.

Hope to find more interesting articles before the next letter at the end of April.

International Exhibition of Modern Art 1913 - aka Armory Show

International Exhibition of Modern Art 1913 - aka Armory Show
This is a bit out of order in terms of the original date because I just visited the 100th Anniversary of this famous exhibition this weekend. It was such a controversial exhibit that the New York Historical Society decided to bring it back century later. Once again the exhibit got much press as you can see in this link to the New York Times article. It is hard to believe today that the art was so controversial.

Here are some fun things I found on line from the original exhibit.

This has a notation that states that The Nude Descending the Staircase sold for $324.00 to
Frederick C. Torrey.

Just as we would see today there was lots of material for the cartoonists.

The publicity followed the exhibit as it traveled throughout the United States.

Interesting to see how the exhibit was set up then. The Brancusi heads in the left of the photo were under glass in the current exhibit.

Below is the entrance to the exhibit that just closed today in New York.

 

The art world has changed in the past 100 years and no one in 1913 could have imagined the twists, turns and controversial subject matter in art today. And now we have the "Nude Descending the Staircase" outside for all to see on the museum steps.

Hope you enjoyed this peek back into art history.

February 13, 1914 - Young Boy Arrested

Here is a newspaper clipping that I found. I wonder what became of that boy. I did find a little about the Commodore Hull school.

Young   Boy  Arrested.

Thomas Williams, a boy of thirteen years of age, was arrested Thursday afternoon by
Officer Nettleton because he was absent from school, Officer Nettleton acting as
truant officer during* the indisposition of Chief Robbing. It was learned that besides
playing truant the young boy has been thieving:, he' having gone through the desks of
the teachers in the Commodore Hull school and secured small amounts the total being
about $1.40. The lad also confessed to having committed other misdemeanors. The
hearing was set down for 2 o'clock, this afternoon owing to the fact that Prosecuting
Attorney Shapiro was engaged in work in the higher courts, this morning.

Sentinel Feb. 13, 1914

The school got it's name from Commodore Isaac Hull, born in that area of Connecticut.

More articles will follow as I sort thru papers.

February 1, 1914 - Personal Tax Bill

Having just paid the second installment of our property taxes yesterday this is comical to me. I spend lots time figuring out where I will pull the money from and how I will make it happen again. I manage to do this twice a year and am amazed every time. Coming across this receipt in Joe's papers was quite comical.

I do not know what he was paying taxes on but I did look up the street address which is Fairmont Place in Shelton, CT and that street still exists and it is a short walk to Howe Avenue where he went to pay the taxes.

The next post will be a short newspaper article on February 13.