The busy years - James W. Winder 1900-1914

Ready or not the millennium and the 20th century came to Trenton on January 1, 1900.  According to the Trenton Evening Times, the historic occasion was appropriately observed, although a busy economy made it a working day for some.  Light snow fell that morning giving Florence and perhaps Elise a fun way to spend the last day of their Christmas vacation.  The period from 1900 through the beginning of World War I was a busy time for the Winder children especially for James, now 22 and legally an adult.  We will look first at him during this period and then come back to his mother and sisters.

Trenton Evening Times - February 4, 1912

By the beginning of the 20th century,  James had completed his apprenticeship and for most of the period, Trenton city directories list his occupation as carpenter although he also appears as a wheelwright, body maker and even a laborer.  It's not clear when James began working at C. V. Hill, a refrigerator manufacturer, but in early 1912 his cabinet making skills drew public praise.  Wherever James worked, however, he was also heavily involved in other activities.  Much of this continued to center around Grace Church even though he had almost a two mile walk each way.  At one point, James and some of his friends, debated who had the longer walk home on Sunday night, presumably James won or in came in a close second.

Trenton Evening Times - July 3, 1900

Many of the church activities were social gatherings including not infrequent parties at people's homes.  At one such party in October of 1900, the program included a soprano solo of "Holy City," a male solo of "Lady Lu," but the hit of the evening was the performance by Alf Blake and Robert Martin of a one act farce entitled "Always Silent."  Sporting activities were also on the agenda as James (along with Alf) played in a single - married baseball game, helped coach a choir boy's basketball team and captained the Young Men's Association's bicycle team.

Trenton bicycle parade on Greenwood Avenue

Being captain of the bicycle team may not have been a major responsibility, but James' selection is indicative of the numerous leadership positions he held during this period both at Grace Church and elsewhere.  Within the church, James became secretary of the Young Men's Association and in 1901 was selected to be an alternate to the Diocesan Convention.  The latter also was not usually a big responsibility, but it was followed by election to the church's vestry in 1906.  An Episcopal Church vestry is the equivalent of the board of trustees of a not-for-profit organization and election at 24 is young at least by today's standards.  James continued to serve on the vestry throughout the pre-World War I period and in 1909 added the title and responsibilities of church treasurer,(not an easy job, trust me).

Trenton Evening Times - April 4, 1904

James' leadership positions extended beyond Grace Church as he was also quite involved in the Masonic movement.  At some point he joined the Couer de Lion chapter of the Knights of St. John and Malta, his father's lodge.  Between 1902 and 1905, James held numerous leadership positions at the lodge and at the end of 1905 was elected to the head position of Eminent Commander.  Upon taking office in early 1906,  he informed the members that "camp would open promptly at 8 o'clock" so James seems to have run a tight ship.  He apparently rotated out of leadership positions at the end of 1906, but along with his father was on the reception committee for the Lodge's National Convention which was held in Trenton in the fall of 1908.

Trenton Evening Times - January 4, 1906

The lodge was now in its 15th year of operation and was reported to be in "flourishing condition" with 160 members.  To lead an organization that size at 28 was no small accomplishment and a tribute to James leadership abilities.  While the local chapter may have been "flourishing," the same couldn't be said at the national level as dissatisfaction with the insurance section led the the Trenton chapter to secede and join the Knights Hospitalers under the Couer de Lion name.

Trenton Evening Times - October 5, 1900 giving a sense of the content of social events, James Winder and Mary Proctor were both present

As with Grace Church, lodge membership included social and cultural activities, "open meetings" (women allowed) feature piano playing (by Elsie Winder), songs such as "Holy City" (again), "By the Sea," a violin and piano duet plus readings from Shakespeare.   While members of both the lodge and Grace Church appear to be upper working class (carpenters, potters, etc), most of their cultural/social activities, seem (to me at least), to be more of an upper middle class nature which appears to be different from today's world over 100 years later.

Marriage record from Grace Church Parish registers, now in possession of Grace/St. Paul's Church in Mercerville

Although James clearly was a leader at the Couer de Lion chapter, by the end of 1910, he had joined another Masonic group, Lodge No. 61 of the Knights of Pythias.  Once again James' leadership ability was recognized as in early January of 1911, he was elected to what appears to be second in command.  Nothing discovered to date explains why he joined a second lodge.  An analysis of the age and occupations of the leadership of the two lodges doesn't reveal any significant differences, although the Couer de Lion Lodge does seem to be heavily made up of pottery workers.  Perhaps after his father's death in April of 1910, James wanted more of his own identity.  There does also seem to be some overlap between the members of the Pythias Lodge and Grace Church so perhaps the church members recruited James.  What's really important, however, is to take note that in the case of both lodges and Grace Church, James was singled out for leadership positions in what were not small organizations.  In fact the Pythias Lodge was larger than Couer de Lion with just over 200 members.

Trenton Evening Times - October 16, 1903

Busy as he must have been, James had time for pleasure as early September of 1900 found him in Cape May with a few of his friends.  However, his bachelor day's were rapidly drawing to a close.  As noted previously, James joined Grace Church, apparently by himself, within a year of his arrival in the United States.  Also members of Grace were the Proctor family, also English immigrants, who had moved to Trenton a decade before the Winders.  Accounts of Grace Church related social activities frequently listed James and Mary Elizabeth Proctor as participants.  One thing led to another and on October 14, 1903, "a pretty wedding was solemnized at Grace Church," between the two "contracting parties."

Wedding portrait of James William Winder and Mary Elizabeth Proctor

Amazingly James' mother Mary Ann and sister Edith returned from what was reportedly close to a year's visit to England just a week before the wedding.  The young couple were attend by Alf Blake and Hannah Maria "Sis" Proctor who would themselves marry two years later.  Following a wedding reception at the Proctor home at 53 Garfield Avenue, James and Mary enjoyed a honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls before returning to live with Mary's family.  Shortly after their return some 26 friends and family gave the young couple a surprise party and serenade at 53 Garfield.  Although literally "taken by surprise," James and Mary put together an elaborate spread for their "guests" to top off an evening that included vocal and instrumental music, speeches, parlor games and ended with "a parting goodnight song" at midnight.

Modern view of 743 Stuyvesant Avenue  - unit on the left

Exactly how long James and Mary lived with the Proctors isn't clear, but by 1904 they were living at 482 Stuyvesant Avenue, very close to James R and Mary Ann on Rutherford Avenue.  By 1908 they moved a little further up the block to 743 Stuyvesant where they would live for the rest of their lives.  No doubt, the young couple wanted a place of their own, but they soon had practical need for the additional space.  Alice Mary Winder (head of the Walsh line) was born on June 10, 1905.  She was followed by Elsie Virginia Winder on November 23, 1909 and Ruth Elizabeth almost four years later on August 22, 1913.  Interestingly the four year intervals are almost identical with the time periods between the births of James W and his three sisters.

Alice Winder (sitting), Elsie Winder (standing) and Ruth Winder (infant) - probably taken in 1913

Working full time, active in church and lodge activities plus becoming a husband and father, James certainly put the first years of the 20th century to good use.  Next we will take a look at his mother and sisters during the same period.