The last post ended with 1937. There aren't too many family pictures or information from 1938 or 1939. But these two years were momentous because of the events in Europe that would affect Americans.
The website - https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1938.html - tells us that a recession in 1938 caused the US unemployment rate to increase back to 19%. The US minimum wage was set at 40 cents/hour for a 44 hour work week.
In April 1938 the Superman comic book made its debut.
In 1938 Germany was continuing to re-arm against the terms of the treaty that ended WWI and was persecuting Jews. After WWI several new countries were formed in Europe and some boundaries changed. Hitler retook the Rhineland in early March - this was a demilitarized zone set up by the Treaty of Versailles to make the borders of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands more secure. He then invaded Austria. Millions of Germans were now living in the Sedeten section of Czechoslavkia - Hitler was annexing it. Neville Chamberlain, British Prime Minister, went to Germany and agreed to Hitler's occupation of Czechoslovakia when Hitler pledged no further land grabs - Chamberlain thought he had achieved peace. I wonder if the Keohanes paid much attention to this new?
I am very interested in this period. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt appointed Joe Kennedy as ambassador to Britain - I am fascinated with FDR and also with the Kennedys who were a big hit in Britain - hobnobbing with the gentry and British politicians. Joe Kennedy sent his sons, Joe and Jack, on fact finding missions throughout Europe - their travels included Russia, Poland, Germany including Berlin - Jack also went to Palestine. Joe Kennedy, an isolationist, became very friendly with Neville Chamberlain and supported appeasement of Hitler which did not bring peace.
Joe Lewis knocked out Germany's Max Scheming in the first round for the heavyweight championship on June 22, 1938 at Yankee Stadium.
"On September 21, 1938 a giant hurricane slammed into the east coast with little or no warning from the Weather Service, the hurricane caused 40 foot waves to hit Long Island and sixty three thousand people were left homeless and some 700 dead." The hurricane caused storm tides of 14 to 18 feet across most of the Connecticut coast with 18 to 25 foot tides from New London east to Cape Cod. Parts of Falmouth were submerged under up to 8 feet of water.
On October 30, 1938 Orson Welles" dramatization of War of the Worlds on radio caused a panic when it was broadcast more like a breaking news story than a play. The audience that tuned in late did not realize that it was a play and thought that Martians were invading New Jersey.
Kristallnacht/the Night of Broken Glass took place on November 9-10, 1938 when Nazis attacked Jewish businesses in Germany. According to the website - https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1938.html - "all 276 synagogues were destroyed, 75,000 Jewish businesses were looted and destroyed, at least 91 people were killed and up to 30,000 Jewish men were arrested. Kindertransport began - Jewish families trying to send their children to the United Kingdom to escape German persecution. Between 1938 and 1940 up to 10,000 Jewish children were saved. Many of their parents were killed during the Holocaust.
In April 1939 the World's Fair opened in New York with the slogan Dawn of a New Day - World of Tomorrow - this changed in 1940 to For Peace and Freedom as tensions mounted in Europe.
Below is a picture of my mother, Marjorie Whelan, and Barbara O'Connell taken in May 1939. I don't recognize the background.
I couldn't find any information about Barbara O'Connell, but I found a 1939 yearbook picture for Marjorie G. Whelan - 179 Waverley Avenue - she attended West Junior High - she was in the Commercial Course and planned to attend Burdett College. She belonged to the Home Economics Club 2, 1 and was Vice-President 1st year - Field Hockey 3 - she was interested in Interior Decorating - her nickname was "Margie." "Silence never betrays you."
I went onto www.ancestry.com and found Marjorie's family living at 179 Waverley Avenue in the 1940 U.S. Census for Watertown. Her father John Whelan was renting an apartment here for $33/month - he was 47 years old - he went to school thru the 8th grade - he was born in Newfoundland, Canada but was a naturalized US citizen. The family lived in the same place - Watertown - in 1935. John worked 40 hours in the week March 24-30. He was a Bridgeman for Elevated Road - I wonder if that would be the Elevated Railway? His salary was $27,000/year.
Marjorie's mother Rosalie was 46 - she had completed 8th grade and also was born in Newfoundland - she was also a naturalized citizen. The Whelans had 4 daughters
Marie was 19 - had completed one year of college but was not currently attending school - she was working as a file clerk for an insurance company - she made $180/year.
Marjorie was 17 and completed high school - the census stated she had attended school since March so I wonder if she started at Burdett College? She was working as a counter clerk in a department store.
Rosalie was 16 year old and was attending high school. Doris was 11 and was also attending school.
I went back to the 1930 US Census for Watertown and found the Whelans were living at 173 Worcester Street. John was 38 years old and owned the house which was worth $5000. The family had a radio. John had immigrated in 1910 and was a naturalized citizen. I think it says John was working as a structural worker but I don't know where. His wife Rosalie was 38 years old - she also immigrated in 1910 and was naturalized. The girls are Marie 9, Marjorie 7, Rosalie 5, and Doris 1 6/12 - the older 3 girls were attending school.
The map above shows the location of 173 Worcester Street. Below is the house that the Whelans owned in 1930. They had just moved around the corner.
The Watertown Street Directories for 1930, 1931, 1933, and 1935 listed John Whelan as an iron worker on Worcester Street. But the 1937 Street Directory listed John Whelan as an iron worker at 86 Summer Street. Then the 1939 Street Directory showed him living at 179 Waverley Avenue and still working as an iron worker. So why the moves? Did they lose the house on Worcester Street? I suppose we won't ever know.
I don't have any further information about Marjorie Whelan except for a marriage index in 1946 for a Marjorie Gertrude Whelan of Watertown, but there was no marriage records. If anyone knows anything about Marjorie, I would love to know more.
My mother graduated Watertown High School in 1939. Here is her yearbook entry. It looks like she didn't belong to any of the clubs - I wonder if she was working after school to help out Ma. And where did the nickname Kokie come from?!?! I never heard that!
"Ellen F. Keohane - 6 Green Street - attended West Junior High School - was in the Commercial Course - her plan was to become a Secretary - she liked bike riding - nickname is Kokie - "A great reputation is a great charge."
On August 15, 1939 The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland premiered. Shirley Temple was a favorite to play Dorothy, but her singing was not up to par, hence Judy Garland was chosen. Buddy Ebsen started out as the Tin Man but was allergic to the silver paint - he was replaced by Jack Haley. Some Where Over the Rainbow was almost cut by MGM executives as too slow - it went on to be voted the number one movie song of all time by the American Film Institute.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/the-wizard-of-oz-75th-anniversary-dvd-1939/1458078.p?skuId=1458078
Hitler invaded Poland at dawn on September 1, 1939 in a Blitzkrieg invasion of the country. Britain and France had a treaty to protect Poland and declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939 - this was the start of WWII. The United States remained neutral because of strong isolationist feelings but began re-arming - this helped to end the Depression.
Gone With the Wind opened in theaters on December 15, 1939. It went on to beat out The Wizard of Oz for the Oscar for Best Picture of 1939.
I found this picture of my mother and friends but I don't know who any of them are or when it was taken. My mother looks young - she is in the back middle. Anyone with any ideas?
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