MM06 – Elmer Stevens Mapes (1898-1974)

The 1900 Census finds little Elmer living with his parents and siblings and his paternal grandfather, Martin Mapes. Martin was 82 year, born in New York, a widower, and farmer who owned his farm without a mortgage. His father was also a farmer and his mother had four children, only three of whom were still living at the time.[i]

By 1905, Martin and family were living on North Church Street in Burns, Allegany County, New York. His father was a produce dealer.[ii]

The 1910 Census indicates the Mapes family still in Burns, but now on Mill Street. Elmer is attending school. The 1910 Census indicates that his mother had four children, all of whom were alive. [iii]This conflicts with the 1900 census, which indicated that one child of Myrtie, had died.

In 1915, the Mapes family is still in Burns, but now on Bennett Street. His father was postmaster and Elmer attended school. [iv]

  

In 1918, Elmer headed off to attend Alfred College, sixteen miles away, in Alfred, New York. Elmer enlisted in the Army and served two months in the Alfred training company[v][vi]. He was a member of many groups.

The 1920 Census indicates that he was living on West Main in Burns. His older sister, Rena, was a high school teacher.[vii] Elmer was continuing in college, where he was the Assistant Business Manager for “Fiat Lux,” the school yearbook. His future wife, Marion Roos was the editor-in-chief of the “Fiat Lux” that same year. It is my suspicion that they met there. In any event, Elmer and Marion married in 1923.[viii]

By 1930, Elmer had moved to Bristol, Rhode Island, where he was the superintendent of schools.[ix] He must have been really good as a superintendent because, in 1933, the governor appointed Superintendent Mapes to a select committee.[x] Elmer was involved in civic organizations including the Rotary.[xi]

In 1935, Elmer, Marion, and their two daughters lived in Bristol, at 997 Hope.[xii]  

On 21 September 1938, a hurricane & tidal wave hit Bristol, RI. Elmer S. Mapes stated that the schools would resume Monday (Sept 26th) contingent on the water service being restored by that time. According to a newspaper article, “Mr. Mapes took a leading part in the rehabilitation work.”[xiii]

Between 1940 and 1942, the Mapes family moved to 16 Union, still in Bristol.[xiv]

About 1946, Mr. Mapes took a position as the superintendent of schools in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The school dedicated their yearbook to him that year.

Elmer S. Mapes showed his continuing leadership when he was elected as 2nd Vice President for the Massachusetts School Superintendents Association in 1958.[xv] In 1963, he was a panelist at a P-TA conference[xvi] and in 1965, tentatively supported school busing to correct racial imbalances in education.[xvii]

Elmer Mapes died on 17 Nov 1974 in Weymouth, Mass. [xviii]