Alice Dorcas Ladd (1901-1990)

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Don Taylor

Ancestor Sketch

Alice Dorcas (Ladd) Harris was born in Saco, York County, Maine, and lived her entire life in York County, Maine.

Welch-Harris Project – Ancestor #13

List of Grandparents

  • Grandfather: Living
  • 1st Great-grandmother:  WH-13 – Alice Dorcas Ladd (1901-1990)
  • 2nd Great-grandfather:    WH-26 – Edwin Grant Ladd (1857-1937)
  • 3rd Great-grandfather:     WH-52 – Silas Ladd (1814-1890)
  • 4th Great-grandfather:     WH-104 – Thomas Ladd (1766-1837)

Birth

Alice Dorcas Ladd was born on 26 October 1901, in Saco, York County, Maine. She was the third of four children born to Edwin Grant and Dorcas Annie (Patterson) Ladd.

Alice had an older sister, Florence, who died in 1898 at the age of 2. Her other older sister, Lillian was ten years older than Alice. Lillian kept two autograph books wherein she collected the autographs of various important Saco and Biddeford individuals. Alice’s younger sister, Albertha, was born in the summer of 1904, so she was less than three years younger.

1910s

The 1910 Census shows Alice living at home with her parents and her two living siblings. Her father was a farmer, who owned his farm. Living with them was her (paternal) uncle, George Ladd. Alice, along with her younger sister, Albertha, were attending school.

In 1918 the Spanish Flu hit. When Alice had her seventeenth birthday, October 1918, nearly 2,500 Mainers died of the flu. Over 5,000 Mainers died of the Spanish Flu during that time.[i]

By late 1919, Alice was working as a Mill Operative in Saco.

Marriage

On December 13th, 1919, a Marriage Intention was filed and nine days later, on Christmas Eve, 1919, Alice Dorcas Ladd and Thomas Washington Harris were joined in marriage by Horace H. Hayes, a clergyman in Saco.

1920s

The 1920 Census finds Alice and Thomas rooming in Saco at 106 Elm Street. Alice was working as a beamer at a cotton mill and Thomas was a laster at a shoe factory.


The 1920s also saw the births of their two children—first a girl in 1923 and then a son in 1928.

In 1929, Alice visited Mrs. Paul Huff in Kennebunkport and brought her two children along.

1930s

The 1930 census finds Alice, her husband, and their two children living on her parent’s farm on Boon Road in Saco, Maine.  Alice’s father died inn 1937, and Thomas took over as the head of the household.

1940s

The 1940 Census finds Alice, her husband and their two children living on the farm at 142 Boon Road. Living with them is Alice’s mother Dorcas and a lodger, Benjamin Luce. Their son went into the Marine Corps.

1950s

Their son married and farmed the land next to them, while Alice’s husband, Thomas, continued to be identified as a shoemaker.

In 1987, Alice’s husband died. Alice continued on alone and died on 25 February 1990 at the Trull Nursing Home in Biddeford. She was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

————–  Disclaimer  ————–

Sources

  • 1910 Census (NARA, 1910), Various, 1910 – Edwin G Ladd – Saco, York, Maine. “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MR3P-4FX : accessed 21 April 2020), George T Ladd in the household of Edwin G Ladd, Saco Ward 1, York, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 256, sheet 13B, family 296, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 548; FHL microfilm 1,374,561.
  • 1920 Census (FS), Thomas & Alice Harris, Roomers in the household of Annie M. Palmer – Saco, York, Maine. “United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF8H-7NZ : accessed 27 October 2019), Alice Harris in the household of Annie M Palmer, Saco Ward 7, York, Maine, United States; citing ED 129, sheet 5A, line 31, family 123, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 651; FHL microfilm 1,820,651.
  • 1930 Census (A), Ancestry, Edwin G Ladd, Head – Saco, York, Maine – ED 16-39, Sheet 8B, Lines 71-77. Year: 1930; Census Place: Saco, York, Maine; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0039; FHL microfilm: 2340576.
  • 1940 Census, Thomas Harris – Ward 1, Saco, York, Maine. “United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KM9S-P3N : 27 July 2019), Benjamin Luce in the household of Thomas Harris, Ward 1, Saco, Saco City, York, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 16-62, sheet 7B, line 41, family 142, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 – 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1496.
  • Maine Directories, Ancestry, 1948 Saco Directory – Page 343 – Harris.
  • Maine Directories, Ancestry, 1950 Saco Directory – Page 351 – Harris.
  • Maine Directories, Ancestry, 1951 Saco Directory – Page 341 – Harris.
  • Maine Directories, Ancestry, 1954 Saco Directory – Page 343 – Harris.
  • Maine Directories, Ancestry, 1956 Saco Directory – Page 355 – Harris.
  • Maine Directories, Ancestry, 1961 Saco Directory – Page 375 – Harris.
  • Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Alice D Ladd – 26 Oct 1901. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZQG-DQS : 4 April 2020), Dorcas Patterson in an entry for Alice D Ladd, 26 Oct 1901; citing Saco, , Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
  • Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Thomas Washington Harris & Alice Dorcas Ladd – 24 Dec 1919. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24N-S9XP : 13 March 2018), Dorcas Patterson in the entry for Thomas Washington Harris and Alice Dorcas Ladd, 24 Dec 1919; citing Saco, York, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
  • Maine, Marriage Records, 1713-1922, Ancestry, Thomas Washington Harris & Alice Dorcas Ladd – 24 Dec 1919. Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; 1908-1922 Vital Records; Roll Number: 25. https://search.ancestry.com/collections/1961/records/1639176/.
  • United States Social Security Death Index, Family Search, Alice D (Ladd) Harris – 25 Feb 1990. “United States Social Security Death Index,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKDP-6PP : 20 May 2014), Alice D Harris, 25 Feb 1990; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database.

Endnotes

[i] “In 1918, A Pandemic Swept Through Maine — And Offers Lessons For Containing COVID-19”. 2020. Bangor Daily News. Accessed April 22, 2020. https://bangordailynews.com/2020/04/05/news/bangor/in-1918-a-pandemic-swept-through-maine-and-offers-lessons-for-containing-covid-19/.

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 62

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Don Taylor

Mission Court Theater, Fullerton, CA &
Yost Broadway Theater, Santa Ana, CA

Vaudeville
Donna Montran
Treasure Chest Thursday
Donna Darling Music Review
Donna Darling Revue with Sammy Clark

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.

By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at a page from the Donna Darling Collection. Scan #1437 consists of three clippings. One clipping is generic and doesn’t include the theater name. The other two are the Mission Court Theater and the Yost Broadway.

Mission Court Theater

Clipping - Mission Court Theater - Vaudeville - Donna Darling

Clipping – Mission Court Theater – Vaudeville – Donna Darling Collection

The Donna Darling Music Review played at the Mission Court Theater, Fullerton, Cal., on one Thursday night. Donna’s show was in Northern California in the early part of June and made it to San Bernardino, CA, by June 28th. It is possible that she played in Fullerton on Thursday, June 26th, however, it is more likely she played in Fullerton on Thursday, July 3rd. Donna played in Whittier on June 30th and in Santa Ana on July 5th, so playing her playing at a theatre between those to venues on July 3rd, makes sense. As such, I’ve added the following venue to Donna’s Career Listing.

July 3, 1924 – (Probable) – Fullerton, CA – Mission Court Theater – Donna Darling Music Revue – DDC-62

Key features:

  • The venue is the Mission Court Theater, Fullerton, CA. She headlined the five acts at the theater that night.

Yost Broadway Theater

Clipping - Yost Broadway - Donna Darling Revue

Clipping – Yost Broadway – Donna Darling Revue – 8 October 1926

The second clipping has “Oct 8-9 Santa Ana” written above the clipping in the scrapbook. That coincides with articles found at Newspapers.Com which indicated that Donna and Sammy played at the Yost Broadway Theater on October 7-9.

October 7-9, 1926 – Santa Ana – Yost Broadway Theater – Donna Darling Revue – Newspaper Archives. Newspapers.com – DDC-62.

Key features:

  • The venue is the Yost Broadway Theater, Santa Ana, CA. She headlined the five live acts at the theater.
  • With Donna were:
    • Zuhn and Dreis “Nuts”
    • Morrell and Elynor “Beauty and Grace”
    • Princess Winona “Indian Prima Donna”
    • Curtis and Lawrence “Customs”
  • Movie: The Campus Flirt starring Bebe Daniels.
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Chin Chin – Bennington Opera House – 13 May 1920

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Don Taylor

Donna Montran and “Chin Chin” play at the Bennington Opera House, Bennington, Vermont, on 13 May 1920

Vaudeville
Chin Chin

We know “Chin Chin” played in Paterson New Jersey on May 7th and 8th. However, we don’t know where the show played during the four-day gap before they played at the Bennington Opera House.

Pre-show Advertising

Pre-show advertising began with a standard “TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC” announcement signed by J.B. Harte that the show would be at the Opera House Thursday, 13 May, for one night only. Along with the display ad was a brief text note that read:

“CHIN CHIN” COMING

Melodious Chinese Fantasy Coming Next Week.

Manager of the Bennington Opera house announces Charles Dilling’s only company presenting that wonderful spectacle “Chin Chin” as his attraction for Thursday night, on May 13.

This play appeared first at the Globe Theatre in New York for two solid years, and has since proven a big sensation to the playgoers in every town where this popular play was presented. In the leading roles will be seen Walter Wills and Roy Binder, who came to us with the stamp of approval won in such productions as “The Wizard of Ox,” “The Red Mill,” “Hitchy Koo,” etc., etc.

The ensuing newspapers contained regular “Chin Chin” displays ads and a few short show descriptions, such this ad the day of the show:

Bennington Evening Banner – May 13, 1920, Page 2, Column 1 & 2. Courtesy Chronicaling America

“CHIN CHIN” TONIGHT

Chinese in Name Only—Full of Fun and Harmony

There appears to be no doubt that Charles Dillingham’s stupendous production of “Chin Chin,” with Walter Wills and Roy Binder in the lead, will duplicate its record of absolute capacity audiences at the Opera House this evening.

Though the title of “Chin Chin” suggests a Chinese setting, it appears that the scenes are not laid anywhere near the Celestial Land.

There is no leading lady in this organization. Although a number of beautiful women, principals and otherwise, songbirds and actresses are in the cast, it appears the she who is to enjoy the place of honor as the first favorite is left to the choice of the public.

Tom Brown of the Six Brown Brothers’ famous Saxophone clown band composed “The Moaning Saxophone Rag,” which is one of the hits of the play.

Post Show Info

I haven’t discovered where the show played the next night, but the night after, 15 May, it played at the Empire Theatre in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Bennington Opera House,
Bennington, Vermont

Bennington Opera House – The entrance was under the tower section to the right of the telephone pole.

The Bennington Opera House was built by Henry Putnam and opened with a production of Macbeth on December 10, 1892. On May 31, 1915, the venue opened with moving pictures – Two reels of William Submarine Pictures and the “seven-reel” film “The Black Box.”

A fire destroyed the theatre on February 10, 1959.

Continue reading →

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Trümpi – Surname Saturday

Posted on April 18, 2020 by Don Taylor

Surname Saturday

Name Origin

It seems there are too few instances of the surname Trümpi for anyone to know its meaning. Ancestry, Forebears, and Genealogy Bank, all have generic pages that indicate where surnames typically come from.

Geographical

There are only 158 people with the surname Trümpi in the world[i].  There are another 79, mostly in the United State that don’t use the umlaut. The greatest number of folks with the surname are people who spell it Trumpy, for which there are 497, mostly in the United States. There are another 217 that spell the name with the umlaut, Trümpy.

There are no Trümpi in the United States and only 15 people with the surname without the umlaut. The variation most common in the United States is Trumpy there are about 395 people with that surname in the United States.

Within the United States, the largest number of folks with the surname are 104 Trumpy’s in Wisconsin.

My Wife’s Direct McAllister Ancestors

Historical

1920

My wife’s great-grandmother, Bertha Barbara (Trumpi) Huber immigrated in 1903 in the care of her aunt and uncle. She settled in a Swiss Colony near Promrose, Dane County, Wisconsin. She married John Huber in 1905 and the family moved first to Alabama then to Michigan. So, by 1920, she was a Huber.

Of Bertha’s three brothers, only one, Ernst Lorrain Trumpi, appears to have immigrated to the United States.

So, it is my guess that many of the Trumpi’s in the United States and the Trümpi’s in the Canton of Glarus are related.

My wife’s known Trümpi relatives.

My records have identified 120 direct-line descendants of Bernhard Trümpi (the eldest).

Followup

Do a surname study of the Trumpi surname in the United States.

Sources:

Endnotes

[i] According to Forebears. https://forebears.io/surnames/trumpi

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 61

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Don Taylor

Rivoli Theater

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at clippings from the Donna Darling Collection that talk about the Rivoli Theater.

The first item is a newspaper clipping from the Rivoli Theatre where F. L. Koppelberger was manager. It says Donna played there January 7, 8, 9, &10 January 1925. Previous research found that Donna played at the Rivoli theater in La Cross, Wisconsin on those dates. So that is a clear add-in clipping for.

January 7-10, 1925 – La Cross, Wisconsin – Rivoli – California Bathing Beauties Revue.

This is a particularly interesting clipping. It shows the two-dozen vignettes that comprised of Donna’s 1925 Bathing Beauty Show.

  • Clarice Allyn
  • Betty Bryant
  • Katheryn Carlson
  • Donna Darling
  • Murry Earl
  • FNU Flaherty
  • Alice Louise
  • Mildred O’Brien
  • Al Ross

Donna was “Miss Prolog” and “Miss 1860.” She starred in “The Globe Trotter,” “Donna” (herself), “You Bet Your Life,” “The Jazzbo Bathers,” and in the closing review.

Other shows on the bill included “Douglas MacLean in “Never Say Die” and Larry Semon giving the news and in “Trouble Brewing.” That will help confirm the other clippings. In 1925, two years before the first “talkies” theaters often provided a news segment that was narrated by a local individual. In this case, Larry Semon was the narrator. His name on other advertising shows which Rivoli theater would be correct. Other clippings show that his Rivoli theater had unique rivets in the theater logo.

The ads use different names for two of the cast – Miss Katheryn Kolleen and Miss Myrtle Carlson are identified as members of the show.

Also, the clippings include two advertisements from the Rivoli. One shows a woman diving, but the other shows a woman sitting in a shell. I’ve not seen that image before in Donna’s advertising.

Actions

There is another set of “Rivoli” Theatre clipping that appears to relate to Donna and Sammy playing at the Rivoli in Portland, Oregon.  I’ll look at those closer next time.

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