Winder Women - 1900 - 1914

By 1900 Mary Ann Winder had lived almost an entire decade in her new country and by that point probaby had adjusted to her new life, which didn't include working outside the home.  Although this allowed her to concentrate on home and family, as we have seen, early twentieth century homemaking involved a lot of strenuous physical labor and parenting is never easy, regardless of the generation.  The new century did bring upgrades in household appliances and the Winders took advantage of some as Mary Ann was listed in a September 1900 newspaper article as the owner of a new gas range.  While it didn't make her workload any easier, Mary Ann was also, no doubt, pleased to win a tea set in a contest conducted by a local business in 1902.  The new set was probably put to good use the following month when she and James celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Trenton Evening Times - June 17, 1902

If a 1903 newspaper account is accurate, not long after the anniversary party, Mary Ann and eldest daughter, Edith, left for an 11 month visit to England.  As noted previously, Mary Ann made at least four return trips to England suggesting, among other things, that the Winders were comfortable financially.  At the time of the 1902 voyage, Mary Ann's three sisters plus both of her parents were still living in Worcester so the desire to maintain the family ties is certainly understandable.  Less clear is the rationale for spending almost a year away from her husband and three other children.  On the 1895 visit, Mary Ann took Elsie and Florence, but not Edith, who at 13 probably took on some of her mother's responsibilities.  By 1902, James mother, Mary was living with the family thereby giving Edith her turn and and supplying some substitute domestic assistance.

Trenton Evening Times - October 18, 1903 

Regardless of why they were gone so long, their October 1903 return was greeted with a surprise party including the apparently obligatory "vocal and instrumental selections, games and recitations."  It is interesting that Mary Ann returned only a short time before her son's wedding, but given the wedding took place on a weekday afternoon with the reception at the bride's house,probably less lead time was necessary and it may be everything was in place simply awaiting the return of the two travelers.

Mary Ann, Elsie and lodger on the 1920 census 

Sadly by the end of the first decade of the 20th century, Mary Ann suffered the loss of her husband when James R died in April of 1910.  He had apparently been "very sick for some time," but as described in the very first post on this blog, his death was somewhat unexpected.  What sources of income Mary Ann had thereafter are unknown, but this was long before social security and pensions.  She did receive a $100 death benefit from the Independent Order of Shepherd (which also draped its charter in black for 30 days) and may have had other death benefits from James' lodge affiliations, but it also appears she never received her inheritance from her father.  On the 1920 census, Mary Ann is listed as working as a packer in a candy factory at age 62 and she had also taken in a lodger, but no nothing else is known about the extent to which she had to work after James' death.  Mary Ann shared her house with daughter Elsie who worked as a music teacher so the two of them were apparently able to manage.

Trenton Evening Times - October 17, 1903

Although Edith became an adult during the pre-war years, she appears very sparingly in the public record.  In 1900 she was working as a china polisher, probably an entry level position in one of Trenton's many potteries.  That same year Edith was also a member of the H.A.T social club and participated in the group's second annual straw ride.  Whatever her work and other responsibilities, they apparently weren't an obstacle to an almost year long overseas trip.  Upon her return Edith performed a recitation at a Coeur de Lion social event suggesting she shared the family's gifts for performing in public.

Trenton Evening Times - June 3, 1905

 Some two years after her brother's wedding, Edith herself was married to Philip K. Shaw of Trenton, then employed as a potter.  Edith and Philip had three children Edith May (1906), Leonard (1910) and Phyllis (1912) all born in the years before World War I.  Tragically Leonard died in 1913 at the family's home on Southard Street.

Elsie Ricketts Winder

While there was a lot of musical talent in the Winder family, Elsie seems clearly to have been the most gifted.  A student at the Cadwalader Elementary School at the beginning of the period, Elsie was chosen to play a piano solo at a parent's meeting in 1901.  This was only the start of her public appearances as there are multiple newspaper accounts of Elsie performing at the Coeur de Lion, the Independent order of Shepherds and the Order of the Eastern Star events including an announcement that she "will render several piano selections" as part of a YMCA program.  Her performances were so good that at the end of 1902, the Couer de Lion Lodge voted their thanks for her performances.

Trenton Evening Times - December 21, 1902

Elsie was also quite active at St. Michael's Church where she was confirmed in April of 1903 and received a Sunday school attendance award in 1905.  By 1906 Elsie was a pupil of Charles W. Petite and played Rondo Op 51, No I by Beethoven at one of her teacher's recitals.  A year later along with her father, Elsie was part of an Order of the Eastern Star farewell program for Mr. and Mrs James Atwood where James R gave a "fitting and appreciated oration" and Elise "treated the chapter to some beautiful soul stirring music."  Elsie was apparently equally comfortable with more popular music as at a December 1908 Christmas entertainment at St. Michael's, she "made a hit in giving piano selections with sleigh bells attached to her wrists."  A the time of her father's death in 1910, Elsie had clearly found her calling as a music teacher.A year later, she was "seriously ill," but had recovered by July of 1911.

Trenton Evening Times - March 13, 1907

Most of what was reported publicly about Florence during this period refers to her school days.  Like Elsie, Florence attended the Cadawalder School and in 1900, she received a certificate of merit for attendance, deportment and "diligent attention to study."  Two years later, Florence was at the Nixon School where she was one of 32 children who sang patriotic songs as part of a Memorial Day program.  Like her sisters and brother, music was apparently in Florence's blood as in 1904, she was part of a chorus of 300 children who performed in the operetta "Egypta" at Trenton's Taylor Opera House, a benefit program of the YMCA's ladies auxiliary.  By 1907 Florence had met a young man named Leon Carr who cared enough for her, to have "engineered" a surprise party for her at her parents home.  Marriage followed in 1908 and a year later, Leon and Florence were the proud parents off Leon Grant Carr, their only child of the pre-World War I period.

Marriage Certificate of Florence Mary Winder and Leon Grant Carr

By the end of 1913, Mary Ann and Elsie were living at 331 Rutherford Avenue while James, Edith and Florence were married with at least one child each.  Regardless of how well things may have been going for all of them, everyone had to be saddened at the death of young Leonard earlier that year.  Perhaps for a change or to see her sisters and their families for the first time in a while, May of 1914 saw Mary Ann on a ship to England supposedly to spend the summer.  Unanticipated international events would keep her there far longer and return in a very different world.

Trenton Evening Times - Mary 31, 1914