Final Thoughts

Carol once told me that my mind "is a storehouse of useless trivia."  One example is that, for some reason, I've never forgotten my high school English teacher telling us that the Greek epic, the Iliad, is the story of one brief section of the ten year long Trojan war which doesn't include either the beginning or the end.  On a much smaller scale, the same thing could be said about this blog.  I've read that people (at least in England) began using last names during the 1300's.  If so, that means to the present day, Winder family history is about 700 years long (and counting) of which this blog covered a little over a hundred, and definitely not the beginning or the end.  Indeed it's unlikely it will ever end.

Earliest known picture of a Winder - Mary Ann Winder (Hudson) and James W. Winder about 1880

With regard to the present and the future I think, and hope, this blog has recorded and told the story of a period in our family history that could have been lost.  Now each line of Winder descendants can pick up their own family's story at the end of the immigrant generation and carry it forward.  The good news is that in almost every case there are enough people still living who can contribute to that history.  I intend to do that for my family and I encourage everyone else to do the same.

In terms of the past, my biggest regret is not being able to take the story further back.  In genealogy there's a term called a "brick wall," the obstacle that makes it impossible, with any degree of accuracy, to move past a certain point.  The brick wall in the Winder family is the uncertainty about William Winder's birth and his last name.  William claimed he was born in Gloucestershire in 1822, but there is no one on the surviving public record born in that year with that name.  The problem is that there were so many births in that period which never got on the public record so it's an obstacle that most likely will never be overcome, although I'll continue to try.  Taking the family back about 200 years is no small accomplishment, but since the Proctor line (James W. Winder's wife's family) has been traced back almost 500 years, it would be nice to get further back with the Winders.

Youngest Winder descendant - Sophie Ann Zinn in October of 2013

Some time ago I circulated a New York Times article citing a study that families that know their family history are better off than those that don't.  Best of all, according to the study, were family histories that are not a constant record of growth and good things, but those that include both ups and downs.  While in our case, the good far outweighs the bad, the Winders had their ups and downs which makes them fully human, but still a good example for all of us who have come afterwards.

Ultimately, I've come to think of the Winder story in terms of the last lines of George Eliot's great novel, Middlemarch, and there is probably no better way to end this blog:

'"for the growing good of the world is partly dependent upon unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill for you and me as they might have been, it is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs."

World War II and Beyond

News of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entering World War II came to most people directly or indirectly by radio.  While the specifics of the date and location of the attack were a surprise, most Americans believed it was only a question of time before the country was drawn into this second global conflict and they were correct.  Within the Winder family, James and brother-in-law, Philip Shaw were too old for military service so the major issues for the immigrant generation of Winders revolved around life on the home front, a more challenging experience than what they had experienced during World War I.

Trenton Evening Times - December 8, 1941

In 1941, the annual median income was $2000, almost exactly James Winder's income in 1939.  James was 63 in 1941 and although it hasn't been confirmed, it appears he retired around 1943 when he turned 65.  If so, he was one of the first group of Americans to receive social security.  Retirement in 1943 might have been prudent as refrigerator manufacturing was one of the industries hardest hit by the shift to a wartime economy.  Not long after Pearl Harbor, in March of 1942, James once again served as an honorary pall bearer for a pillar of Grace Church, Harry Klagg, Jr., Alf Blake was one of the "real" bearers."  Even though in their 60's, James and wife, Mary, prepared to do their "bit" for the war effort as in August of 1942, they earned certificates to serve as air raid wardens.

World War II gas ration stamps, courtesy of Paul Shubnell, as a postal worker, Paul's father was in the "B" category and entitled to additional gas beyond the basic ration

Other than one other article we will look at later, the two above references are the only times the Winders were mentioned in the newspapers during World War II.  We can get still, however, get some sense of their war time lives by looking at the larger home front experience, especially rationing.  Rationing began in 1942 and gradually placed major restrictions on almost every aspect of domestic life.  Gasoline rationing (not to mention tire rationing) dramatically cut back automobile usage as drivers were placed in three different categories for which they would receive stamps authorizing them to purchase gasoline.   This began with "A," the most limited allocation of four gallons a week (later cut to three) which at 15 miles per gallon allowed for an estimated 60 miles of driving per week.  Categories "B" and "C" allocated additional gallons based on criteria like essential war work and specialized professions like doctors.  Although this sounds fairly stringent, one study estimated that 50% of drivers were in the "B" and "C" categories.

World War II ration folder - courtesy of Paul Shubnell 

How much any of this effected the Winders is unclear as we don't even know if they owned cars at this time.  As city dwellers, they had access to public transportation, not to mention convenient railroad service to both New York and Philadelphia.  Food rationing, however, was another matter and beginning in 1942 caused major changes in daily life.  Early in May of 1942, all of the Winder families went to their local public schools to receive their ration books with sugar the first commodity to be restricted.  Under an honor system, people were to disclose the amount of sugar on hand which was deducted from their initial allocation.  At first ration coupons were good for a specific amount of sugar or other commodities, but in March of 1943 when rationing spread to processed foods, meat, cheese and other items, ration stamps began assigning point values to different products.  Now home makers like Edith, Florence and Mary Ann had to budget not just dollars, but points.  To further complicate matters, stamps were only valid during certain time periods so stores like A&P ran newspaper ads to help people keep track.

Trenton Evening Times - May 4, 1942

In order to encourage re-cycling, additional ration points were awarded for fats and oils that were returned to local butchers.  Detailed instructions were also provided on saving and preparing cans so that the tin could be re-used.  Families extended their food supplies through victory gardens, a government program that ultimately produced 40% of the nation's vegetables.  Living in urban Trenton, it's not clear how much space the different Winder families had for gardens, but it was certainly limited.  Even with supplemental food sources like victory gardens, families had to cut back on meals.  The World War I innovation of meatless days was revived, usually Tuesdays and Fridays with cheese now rationed, eggs became a popular substitute.

Trenton Evening Times - March 25, 1943

Not surprisingly, rationing led to an active "black market," - a term first used in France in 1940.  While the phrase suggests nefarious doings in dark alley ways, a "black market" transaction took place any time a commodity was sold for an amount over a price ceiling or was transferred without ration coupons.  Accordingly such transactions were more common than we might think and it's not impossible the Winders occasionally partook.  In the end as Richard Lingeman wrote in Don't You Know There's a War On?, "Americans endured rationing for the rest of the war - grumbling, conniving, sacrificing and for the most part complying."  Certainly the Winders experience in Trenton was easier than their British relatives where the ration was reportedly 2/3's that of the United States.

Perhaps one of the last surviving pictures of Mary Ann Hudson, adults pictured are Alice Walsh (Winder) and Mary Winder, the children are Peggy and Jim Walsh.  Jim has just finished a day's work at the ship yards

Although James' generation was too old for military service, a number of their sons and sons-in-law did serve and fortunately all survived the war.  There was, however, one death in the family during the war years as Mary Ann's long life ended on June 27, 1944.  According to her obituary, she had been ill for some time which at 86 isn't surprising.  Mary Ann lived an exceptional life.  In England, she not only became a skilled china painter, but was a wife and mother, running a household with four children which she helped move 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.  After 20 years in her new country, helping her children reach adulthood, Mary Ann lost her husband when she was only 52 and lived another 34 years as a widow.  Active in church and Eastern Star activities, not forgetting her family in England, Mary Ann was survived by 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, not to mention then unborn future generations who benefited from how she lived her life.

Trenton Evening Times - June 27, 1944

Mary Ann's death meant the breakup and sale of the house at 331 Rutherford Avenue which took place in June of 1945 at the end of World War II.  Reportedly worth $4000 in 1940, the proceeds along with any other assets presumably were divided among her four children.  Elsie for one needed some financial help as she would now be living on her own.  Ultimately Elsie had an apartment at 10 West End Avenue in Trenton where she lived for the rest of her life.  Elsie remained active in the Order of the Eastern Star and at St. Michael's Church where there is a memorial in her honor.  As an elderly woman on her own in an urban area, Elsie had problems including minor injuries when struck by an automobile and as the victim of a robbery.  She died on December 14, 1962 and is buried in the Riverview Cemetery, I believe in the family plot.

Trenton Evening Times - December 17, 1962 

Elsie's death followed that of her two older siblings, James and Edith.  Surviving his mother by only seven years, James died from cancer on April 22, 1951.  His funeral was held at Grace/St. Paul's Church in Mercerville as the Grace congregation had moved out of Trenton.  In addition to holding services at the funeral home, his Knights of Pythias brothers observed last rites at their next meeting.  In addition to his wife and four daughters, James was survived by five grandchildren, a sixth grandchild was born after his death.  James' wife, Mary died in 1954, she and James are buried in Ewing Church Cemetery, along with Alf and Hannah "Sis" Blake.

Trenton Evening Times - April 23, 1951

On April 16, 1955, about a year after Mary Winder's death, Edith Winder Shaw died of a heart attack at her home in Hamilton Township.  Although Edith's name doesn't appear  in a lot of newspaper articles, she was also apparently a member of Chapter 22 of the Order of the Eastern Star.  Edith was pre-deceased by husband, Philip who died in 1949, they are buried in Colonial Memorial Park.  At her death, her only surviving child was daughter, Edith Hartpence, as well as six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Trenton Evening Times - April 17, 1955

While it's not surprising that Florence, as the youngest sibling, lived the longest, and she out lived her siblings by almost a quarter of a century.  Florence had been living with her son, Leonard, in Trenton, but died at Bayview Convalescent Home at the age of 96 on December 25, 1985.  Sadly for a woman who had lost a husband and daughter to tragic accidents, she was also pre-deceased by another son, James William Winder Carr.  In addition to Leonard, Florence was survived by sons, Leon, Earl, daughter, Mary Ann, 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and even one great-great-grandchild.  Funeral services were held at the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church and her body was cremated.  While I have no idea who was responsible, it's fitting the headline on her obituary includes the Winder name.

Trenton Evening Times - December 27, 1985

The Trying Thirties

When James R. and Mary Ann Winder debated the advantages and disadvantages of leaving England for the United States in the early 1890's, the biggest advantage was clearly the potential for financial advancement for both them and their children.  There can be no question of the accuracy of that judgement, but life in the United States was not immune to hard times.  The Winders saw this first hand a year or so after their arrival during the panic of 1893, the worst economic decline to that point in American history.

Apple sellers in New York City 

No matter, how bad that may have been, however, it paled in comparison with the great depression of the 1930's.  Unlike other hard times, the depression was far more than a downturn in the business cycle.  By the end of 1932, 10 million Americans were unemployed and many American communities experienced bread lines and "Hoovervilles," (shanties named derisively after President Herbert Hoover), not to mention the unemployed selling apples on street corners.  As the Roosevelt administration prepared to take office in March of 1933, banks began closing down nationwide as they were unable to satisfy the "run" of depositors, demanding their money.

A "Hooverville"

Almost simultaneous with taking office, FDR called for a bank holiday in an attempt to give banks teetering on the abyss some breathing space.  Based on accounts in the Trenton Evening Times, it appears Trenton was spared bank failures and that local financial institutions didn't need the "holiday" and were, in fact, reluctant to participate.  How the Winders fared in this global economic cataclysm is more difficult to know.  In 1930, James was a wood-worker at C.V. Hill & Co., Philip Shaw was still working for the railroad and the eldest Carr son, still at home, was a draftsman, also at C.V. Hill.  No matter the economic conditions, there was probably some demand for refrigerators, although the slow down in new housing construction plus hard up families delaying replacing existing units had to hurt business.  Similarly, railroads had a certain level of stability, although ridership (commuting and holiday) had to have suffered due to unemployment and fewer people able to afford vacations.  Elsie Winder would seem to have been especially vulnerable as music lessons were most likely an early casualty of people cutting back.

While there may not have been "Hoovervilles" in Trenton, there were certainly bread or flour lines like this one at the Thropp Factory

To my knowledge there is no anecdotal information of any of the Winder families suffering significant hardships during the depression.  One piece of hard data is available in the 1940 census, drawn from a question about 1939 income.  According to this data, James' 1939 income was $2050 from 46 weeks of work, suggesting some plant shut downs in slack periods.  James also indicated his income came from more than one source, most likely carpentry work especially during any periods he didn't work at C. V. Hill & Co.  While the amount seems almost infinitesimal to us today, it was almost exactly the median American income in 1941 and, by far, the highest of the four families.  Edith's husband, Philip, earned only $780 as a railroad brakeman while wages in the Carr family totaled $1100 from two sources, son, James William Winder Carr ($500) and his uncle, Earl, ($600).  Lowest of all was the $350 for Edith and Mary Ann, all of which came from the former's music lessons.  At the beginning of the 1930's, almost 80% of all American families had annual income of less than $3000 and its doubtful these figures improved very much during a decade long depression.  So as low as those figures were, it appears the Winders were well within the norms for the time.

Trenton Evening Times - May 22, 1933

As difficult as finances may have been for the Carr family, things were even more difficult early in the decade when they suffered a second accidental, tragic death.  In December of 1932, 16 year old Mildred F. Carr was near the stove when her dress caught fire, burning her badly.  She lingered on for almost five months before succumbing in May of the following year.  A far happier event took place the next year, in October of 1934 when Florence's eldest son, Leon was married to Esther Parkinson at St. Luke's Church in Trenton with his aunt Elsie playing the organ.  For the rest of the decade there are multiple accounts of a Mrs. Florence Carr who was very active in the 11th ward Republican Club including playing the piano at one function.  The musical connection suggests this was "our" Florence, but another Mrs. Florence Carr lived literally next door to the club's facility on Home Street.  The Carrs lived at 1928 South Clinton Avenue which based on a look at a 1935 Trenton map appears to be in the 11th Ward so this could still be "our" Florence.

Trenton Evening Times - October 14, 1934

After moving away during the 1920's, Edith and Philip Shaw were back in Trenton during the 1930's, living at 1223 South Clinton Street, apparently not the same road as South Clinton Avenue.  By living in Trenton, Edith was able to do more things with her family such as a millinery meeting at 743 Stuyvesant Avenue where along with James' wife, Mary, Hannah "Sis" Blake, and Ethel Proctor, she was able to make herself a hat by the end of the day.  Living in Trenton also brought Edith closer to her daughter Edith Hartpence who had two children of her own.  Some what more distant was her younger daughter, Phyllis Scarboro, living in Delaware Township in Hunterdon County.  By 1940 Phyllis and her husband, Lloyd,  had four children so that all told Edith and Philip had six grand children.

Left to right, Phyllis Scarboro, Mary Ann Hudson and Edith Shaw with Phyllis' daughter, Mary Ann in the front.  Mary Ann Scarboro was born in 1934 which would probably put this picture in the late 1930's

Although four years older, James lagged somewhat behind Edith in grandchildren with two by the end of the 1930's, eldest daughter Alice's two children. James was pretty much out of the public eye during this period, although over the course of the decade his name does appear seven times in the newspaper as a pallbearer at various funerals.  This appears to be a reflection of how highly regarded he was by the families both at church and beyond.  Of special note is his serving as an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of George Cockram, a long time leader at Grace Church,  a place which clearly played an important role in James' early adult life.

Trenton Evening Times - August 14, 1932

While James apparently was no longer active in church leadership, he and wife Mary were still members at Grace.  In April of 1935, both of them were appointed to a committee of seventy (based upon the biblical "second seventy"), formed "to stimulate religious activity in the parish."  Also serving was old friend and brother-in-law, Alf Blake who was still a member of the vestry.  Absent from the media were any accounts of James and his lodge affiliations.  While James remained a member of the Pythias Lodge for the rest of his life, during the 1930's coed social events became the norm and many lodges "were somewhat anxiously seeking members," which may account for a lack of coverage in the media.

Trenton Evening Times - August 18, 1932

Down the block from James and Mary were Mary and Elsie, still living at 331 Rutherford Avenue.  Elsie clearly remained active in her music teaching although there was little or no notice in the newspapers.  My guess is that like James' lodge activities, this was more a function of changes in what newspapers deemed newsworthy.  Mary Ann was in her seventies through most of the decade, turning 80 in 1938.  Along with Elsie and daughter-in-law Mary, she was active in Morning Star Chapter No. 22, Order of the Eastern Star.  Although she was the oldest, Mary Ann had outlived all of her siblings save sister Agnes.  She still had family in England, however, and must have thought of them as tensions escalated throughout the 1930s.  War clouds were gathering and unlike a quarter of a century earlier, the outbreak of war in Europe in September of 1939 couldn't have been a big surprise.

The Turbulent Twenties

Driven by an idealistic and probably unrealistic vision, the United States went to war in 1917 in a crusade to end all wars and establish a new order of world peace.  Although victorious on the battlefield, frustrations in the peace process destroyed the vision and helped create a national mood that was far less optimistic as the 1920's began.  Instead of the return to the normalcy promised by presidential candidate and eventual winner, Warren G. Harding, the decade saw a revolution in manners and morals, life changing technological innovations and boom economic times which seemed too good to last, and didn't.  According to historian Frederick Lewis Allen, it was an unhappy decade with values being undermined so to some life seemed "meaningless and unimportant."

Left to right, Mary Winder, Mary Ann Winder and Edith Shaw in 1920

For Mary Ann Winder the level of change must have seemed overwhelming, but at least she wasn't raising children during the decade, especially girls.  Between them, James and sister Edith had six daughters while Florence had two girls in addition to four boys.  The challenge of being a parent in the 1920's were difficult enough, but Florence also suffered the tragic death of her husband.

By 1920 James and Mary Winder had been married for 17 years and were still living at 743 Stuyvesant Avenue with their four daughters, Alice (15), Elsie (11), Ruth (7) and Anna (4).  Based on the public record, the 1920's marked a decade of role reversal for James and his wife, Mary.  After almost 20 years where his name was regularly in the newspaper, James appears in the Trenton Evening Times only once during the period, in 1928 when he was a pall bearer at a funeral.  Mary, on the other hand, appears regularly, mostly in her role as president of Grace Church's mothers club.  Interestingly while Mary was a leader at Grace, it appears her daughters were active at All Saints Church which was apparently closer to Stuyvesant Avenue.

Elsie Winder with nieces, Anna (left) and Ruth Winder

 By the end of the decade Alice and Elsie had graduated from the State Normal School (later Trenton State College and later still, the College of New Jersey) and were teaching at the Jefferson (Trenton) and Homedall (Hamilton Square) schools respectively.  One other interesting note about Alice is that in 1922, she received two votes in a contest for the "most popular red head in Trenton."  It couldn't have gone to her head (sorry) as she was a mere 1629 votes behind the front runner.

While hopefully everyone found some humor in this, raising children in the 1920's was no laughing matter.  It was a period of radical change perhaps best symbolized by changes in women's dress and appearance.  Skirts which in 1919 were 6-7 inches off the ground were at the knee ten years later.  The many layers of clothing worn at the turn of the century were reduced so much that the amount of material needed for a women's outfit (excluding stockings) had fallen from 19 1/4 yards to only 7.  Out of favor too was the hour glass figure, replaced with an ideal figure that was "boyishly slender."

Picture of Elsie Winder from the Trenton Evening Times - April 22, 1923

Early in the decade younger women began to favor short bobbed hair which by the end of the 1920's was popular with women even in their sixties.  These far more convenient hair styles were topped off with a "small cloche hat" instead of the more massive styles of the 1890's.  All of this was major change, but it went far beyond dress and appearance as women drinking and smoking in public became far more common place along with a loosening of sexual mores which would seem tame to us, but were uncomfortably revolutionary to parents brought up in the Victorian era.  Indeed at the time, describing something as "Victorian" was to be harshly, if not bitterly, critical of it.

Trenton Evening Times - November 16, 1927

How much of this was an issue for James and Mary with their four daughters, especially Alice and Elsie is unknown, but it seems almost impossible that there weren't challenges and tensions along the way.  Edith and her husband, Philip, must have also faced the same issues with Edith and Phyllis, who were 13 and 8 respectively in 1920.  The Shaws hardly appear in the newspapers at all, since for part of the period they had moved from Trenton to Raven Rock, about 25 miles from Trenton.  Daughter Edith must have spent some time in Trenton as in September of 1927, she became engaged to Wilmot J. Hartpence.  Having graduated from Trenton High School, Edith was working in John A. Roebling's office while her fiancee was a deputy at the state prison in Trenton.  Cousin Alice Winder hosted a shower for Edith in November at 743 Stuyvesant and the young couple were married on November 30th at St. Michael's Church.

Florence Carr and children, I'm confident that the boy is Leon G. Carr Jr and the girl is Mildred Florence Carr, but less sure of the infant.  Next in order would be Mary Ann Winder Carr, but considering the ages of the other two in the picture, the infant may be James William Winder Carr

While Florence and husband, Leon, also had two girls to cope with, Mildred and Mary Ann who were 4 and 2 respectively in 1920 were probably too young throughout the decade to get caught up in the dramatic changes in women's lives.  There is a 1921 newspaper account of Mary Ann's third birthday party which was attended by a number of her Winder and Shaw cousins indicating the Winders maintained some level of family relationships.  The decade saw three more additions to the Carr family, James William Winder Carr (1921), Earl Foster Carr (1924) and Leonard Phillip (1926).

In the 1920 the family was living at 1617 South Clinton Avenue and Leon was employed as a packer in a bakery .  Raising a family of six was difficult enough for two people, but tragedy hit the family in 1927 when Leon was fatally injured in an industrial accident at C. V. Hill.  He was rushed to the hospital, but was too badly injured to survive.  At the time the family was living at 331 Rutherford Avenue with Mary Ann and Elsie, but they eventually moved to 1928 South Clinton Avenue where in 1930 they were living with Leon's brother and it appears household income came from him and eldest son Leon, a draftsman at a refrigerator company, probably C. V. Hill.

Trenton Evening Times - May 21, 1927

While Mary Ann was employed in 1920, this was no longer the case in 1930, but exactly when she stopped working is unknown.  Certainly by 1929 with twelve surviving grand children, her grandmother responsibilities could have occupied all of her time.  She also kept busy with travel and church activities.  In 1921, she and daughter Elsie visited Niagara Falls and Canada, a year later they vacationed in the Adirondacks and Saratoga Springs.  Christmas of 1921 must have been a special time in Mary Ann's life at St. Michael's Church.  As part of its Christmas observances, the church dedicated a new chantry ("an exquisite little piece of worship").  Included in the ecclesiastical accouterments were two sets of altar linen which were edged with "filet lace with an ecclesiastical pattern of alternating crosses and chalices," made by "Mrs. Mary Ann Winder, a parishioner of many years at St.Michael's."

Trenton Evening Times - December 25, 1921

The 1920's saw many technological innovations which made the physical aspects of home making somewhat less strenuous. However, the biggest technological change of the decade didn't so much make life easier,but instead offered access to dramatically wider rangers of entertainment and information.  Introduced by station WKDA in Pittsburgh for the 1920 presidential election, radio took off during the winter of 1921-22.  From total sales volume of $60 million in 1920, annual sales of radios reached $843 million by 1929, an increase of 1400%.  Families could now enjoy music, drama and comedy every night without leaving their homes, using the radio sections of their daily newspapers to find local connections to national shows.  In 1929, for example, millions tuned in at 7:00 each evening to listen to Freeman F. Gosden and Charles J. Correll, better known as "Amos n Andy," ("Do the name Ruby Begonia, strike a familiar note?")

Trenton Evening Times - October 15, 1929 - the radio choices available in Trenton at the end of the decade

We don't know, of course, if the Winders listened to "Amos n Andy," but it is pretty clear, there was plenty of modern radio equipment at 331 Rutherford Avenue.  By late 1927, Mary Ann was listed in an ad as being a customer of Joe's Time Shop for Radios, while in early 1923, Elsie had a "three stage and dector with amplifier and a loud speaker installed in her home."  Given her love and aptitude for music, Elise must have loved the broad musical menu now available at the flick of a dial.  Elsie's musical career itself continued through the decade including a picture in the Trenton Evening Times and playing at the 25th wedding anniversary of Mr & Mrs. Samuel Hart.  Hart, a long time Trenton resident, was a descendant of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Trenton Evening Times - January 21, 1923

The increased development of electrical appliances plus a strong economy for the last seven years of the decade was good for the refrigerator industry and James' work at C. V. Hill & Co.  The economic boom which went hand-in-hand with what seemed to be unstoppable stock market growth led many middle class families to invest in stocks.  Sadly a lot of them lost their savings when the boom times ended with the stock market crash of October of 1929.  Whether the Winders suffered such losses is unknown, but the absence (to my knowledge) of anecdotal information suggests they didn't.  How they would fare in the ensuing great depression of the 1930's is another story which we will examine next.

World War I and the Winders

Almost every generation has a seminal moment, a time that everyone who was old enough will always remember where they were, when they heard the news.  September 11, 2011 is one such moment as is, for my generation, November 22, 1963 when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  For my parents, it was December 7, 1941.  Like many people, my father heard the news of Pearl Harbor while listening to the radio, a source of information that seems antiquated today.

Trenton Evening Times - June 29, 1914 - Trenton learns of the murders that will spark World War I

Imagine then how it was in Trenton on Monday, June 29, 1914, coincidentally the day Hank Zinn was born, when even radio was at least six years away.  James Winder and family were living at 743 Stuyvesant Avenue and James was off to work at C. V. Hill and Co, daughter Alice and Elsie were going to school while baby Ruth was at home with mother, Mary.  James' sisters, Edith and Florence were tending to their families and Elsie was alone at 331 Rutherford Avenue since Mary Ann had been in England since June 6th.  At some point that day, everyone learned of the murders of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in far off Sarajevo (wherever that was).  Even at that early hour there was no mistaking the seriousness of the situation as the Trenton Times reported that "the gravest danger to the peace of Europe may be the result of the murders."

Trenton Evening Times - August 4, 1914

The Winder's first thoughts had to have been with their mother in an England that would shortly be at war.  If anyone envisioned that England would need more military manpower than its small professional army, they would have realized their cousins, Henry (31) and Ernest (29) Watkins were of military age.  It's not clear if the two brothers did serve, but they did survive the war years. Things went steadily down hill and by August 4th the Trenton Evening Times used bold headlines to report that England (home of so many Trenton immigrant families) was only hours away from war with Germany.

Trenton - State Street and Broad Street in 1915 

Military mobilization throughout Europe derailed most people's travel plans including whatever Mary Ann had envisioned at the beginning of her trip.  At the end of January 1915, the Times reported that Mary Ann would probably not return until the following summer.  In fact, she did not arrive back in the United States until May 21, 1916, almost two years after her departure.  Fortunately, and probably intentionally, Mary Ann sailed on an American ship, the St. Louis, and thereby avoided threats of German submarines.

One of Germany's first acts was to invade neutral Belgium that not only brought England into the war, but led to a change in American opinion which became anti German and remained that way for the rest of the war.  At the same time, however, the prevailing sentiment in the United States was the war was "none of our business."  As British immigrants with relatives in England, it's doubtful, the Winders were quite that neutral, at the very least, they most likely sent supplies of scare items to Worcester even after Mary Ann's return.

For at least the first two plus years of the war, life for the Winders in Trenton remained relatively unchanged.  James continued to work at C. V. Hill and in July of 1915, he and Mary and their three daughters, took a two week vacation at Belmar, New Jersey.  The family went on a similar trip in late August of 1917, accompanied by Alf Blake, now married to Mary's sister, Hannah Maria, forever known to Winder descendants as "Sis."  Also on the trip was a new addition, youngest daughter, Anna Jean, born on April 11, 1916, her first birthday came just 10 days after the United States entered the War.

743 Stuyvesant Avenue in 1919

While the Trenton directories for the period continue to list the family living at 743 Stuyvesant Avenue, there is a surprising 1915 Trenton Evening Times reference to J. W. Winder and family leaving a property on the Howe tract to move to Trenton.  According to contemporary newspaper articles, the Howe tract refers to the Howe Estate on the Pennington-Trenton road which was apparently being developed for housing.  But why the Winders were living there or even if this is the correct family is hard to tell.  James continued to be a leader at Grace Church as shortly after Anna Jean's birth, he was again elected to the vestry.

James Winder with daughters Alice, Elsie, Ruth and Anna at the beach (presumably Belmar) in 1919

Later in 1916, James was elected to another position at Grace church, treasurer of the men's club which the Times hailed as "the pioneer organization of its kind in this city."  It's not clear how active James was in lodge activities as the report of his attendance at an October 1917 Knights Hospitaler meeting suggests he hadn't been there in some time.  Although James was too old to be drafted, he did have to register so we know that at 40 years of age, he was 5'9", weighed 140 pounds and had brown eyes and dark hair.

James Winder's World War I draft card

All of the Winders were no doubt glad and relieved to have Mary Ann safely back home in May of 1916 and she must have been especially glad to see her two newest grand children.  As with most of the post 1910 period, Mary Ann's work situation is unclear.  She was still involved at St. Michael's Church and in 1917 she also became involved in the sewing circle of Central Methodist Episcopal Church which apparently met at member's houses including 331 Rutherford Avenue.  Mary Ann's participation first appears after the United States entered the work and the group's focus was on "war relief."

Mary Ann Winder in 1917 after her return from England 

A year later, Mary Ann was also serving as a Red Cross volunteer helping to make hospital supplies and knitted articles for soldiers.  The combined experiences of spending two years of the war in England and her adopted country entering the conflict probably motivated Mary Ann to do her "bit."  Apparently her sewing skills were one of her real talents as in September of 1916, she received an award for drawn thread and crochet work at an interstate fair in Philadelphia.

Throughout the war years, Elsie lived at 331 Rutherford Avenue, worked as a music teacher and performed at a number of different venues.  By 1916 she was involved in the Order of the Eastern Star, chapter 22 where she was understandably chosen to serve as pianist and organist.  Today the Order has over 500,000 members worldwide and is the largest co-ed fraternal organization in the world.  Made up of people with spiritual values, the Order of the Eastern Star is not a religion so membership was consistent with Elise's ongoing role at St. Michael's Church.  Chapter 22 was founded in Trenton around 1900 and by 1916 had 240 members, including 52 who joined in that year which may include Elsie.  She also continued to make musical contributions to her family such as playing Mendelssohn's wedding march at the marriage of Elizabeth Shaw and Samuel Burgess.

Winder and Shaw cousins in 1917 - left to right, Elsie Winder, Alice Winder, Phylis Shaw and Edith Shaw

Elizabeth Shaw was, of course, Edith Shaw's sister-in-law and Edith was a bridesmaid.  By this point, Edith, Philip and daughters Edith and Phylis had moved from 702 Southard Street to 68 Sweets Avenue, perhaps to separate themselves from the place of their son's short life and death.  Philip was now working on the railroad which in 1916 was the nation's largest employer.  A year later however he was faced with an involuntary job change.  During August of 1917, Trenton was trying to fill its draft quota and Philip was called to take the exam which he passed.  In the end, however, Philip wasn't required to serve in the military as he was granted an exemption most likely because he was supporting a family.  As with James, his draft card does give a sense of his appearance at age 30, being of medium height and build with blue eyes and light brown hair.

Philip Shaw's World War I draft card

Although he was apparently not even called for a physical, Leon Carr's draft card describes him as being 5'6" of slender build with both brown hair and eyes.  While Florence doesn't appear on the public record during the period, Leon was a labor leader at the J. L. Mott Company where he worked as an assistant foreman.  In 1918, he was part of a union negotiating team which could not reach agreement with management as the company's offer of a 10% raise fell well short of the worker's 20% demand so a strike ensued.  By 1920 Leon had left J.L. Mott and was now working as a packer at a bakery.  Like the James Winder family, the Carr family grew during the war with the births of Mildred (1916) and Mary (1919).  Mary's birth may have necessitated a move to larger quarters as by 1917 the family had moved from 1039 South Broad to 1617 on the same street.

Although American life changed significantly during World War I, much of the change was subtle and not so obvious.  That would not be true of the new decade of the 1920's where change would be both pronounced and impossible not to notice.

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