Chin-Chin – Wilkes-Barre – May 4, 1920

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Don Taylor

Donna Montran and “Chin Chin” play at the Grand Opera House in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on 4 May 1920.

Vaudeville
Chin-Chin 

“Chin Chin” played at the Lyric Theatre in Allentown on the 3rd and cast and crew headed the 60 plus miles north to Wilkes-Barre.

Advertising

Advertising for the show began a week before with a page 3 photo and both a display and a short writeup telling the readers about the coming show. Eventually, three papers[i] would all let the people about the show.

It must have been a big deal to play at the Grand Opera House. It was one of the few theaters at the time that hadn’t added silent films to their schedule and remained a strictly live theater establishment. Advertising copy was upscale and thoughtful. For example, “‘Chin Chin’ at the Grand” spoke about the popular translation of The Thousand Nights and One Night, translated by John Payne, even though “Chin Chin” only used the concept of many stories in one and not having a plot.

Sadly, Donna was never called out specifically, although some of the songs she sang were mentioned as part of the “Musically Rich Show.”[ii]

Post Show Info

I still have not determined where Donna and Chin Chin played on May 5th or May 6th, but by May 7th, they were 140 miles east to Patterson, New York.

Grand Opera House, Wilkes-Barre, PA

I have never had such a difficult time learning about a theatre as I have in learning about the Grand Opera House in Wilkes-Barre. I’ve been unable to find photographs or postcards of the venue. I cannot even find a reliable source for its build date. Certainly, the Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of 1891 shows that the Theatre was NOT there.  Likewise, the 1892 City Directory doesn’t mention the Opera House as either a “Hall” or by address. However, the 1893 City Directory does indicate that the Theatre was there at 13 South Franklin and that Moses Burgunder was the manager. So, I believe that the Opera House was probably built in 1892.

The Joseph Cahn – Gus Hill Theatrical Guide and Moving Picture Directory for 1921 reported that the theater seated 1290 people, 464 on the main floor, 280 in the Balcony, 500 in the Gallery, and 46 in box sets.

Specifications for the Grand Opera House, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Proscenium opening: 36×34 ft
Front to back wall: 36 ft
Between side walls: 60 ft
Apron 2 ft
Between fly girders: 46 ft
To rigging loft: 60 ft
To fly gallery: 38 ft
and there were 12 Dressing rooms

I have been unsuccessful in determining what happened to theater, although I know that it has been demolished.

Today the site is a parking lot.

Further Research

I have contacted several organizations in hopes to learn more about the Grand Opera House in Wilkes-Barre. I will incorporate that information when I learn more. 

Endnotes

[i] The Evening News, The Wilkes-Barre Record, and the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.

[ii] The Evening News (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) · Mon, May 3, 1920 · Page 5, “At the Grand.”

 

Posted in 1919-20 - Chin Chin, Donna Montran, Vaudeville | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Butterfield Bible – Part 3 – Deaths

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Don Taylor

Cover of the Daisy Butterfield Bible

I recently received a copy of the “Butterfield Bible” from a friend who asked that I share its contents with the “Genealogy World.”  The bible is an 1889 edition that appears to have originally been owned by Daisy E. Butterfield of Marseilles, Illinois, who put her name inside the front cover in 1889.  The section between the Old and New Testaments includes “Family Record” sheets for Marriages, Births, and Deaths. This is a transcript of the “Deaths.”

Deaths

Deaths entered in the Bible

Daisy Butterfield Bible – Deaths

  • Lottie Butterfield – July 16, 1877.
  • Charlie Butterfield – Dec 14, 1873.
  • Fannie Leora Eichelberger – Jan 29, 1898.
  • P. A. Butterfield – April 23, 1913.
  • Sarah A. Butterfield – March 5, 1923.
  • Melvin K. Parr – husband of Lois Antoinette Butterfield Parr in Los Angeles, Calif.[i] [1928?]
  • Fredrich M. Eichelberger, husband of Alice M. Butterfield Eichelberger in Long Beach California.[ii] [1928?]
  • Louis Augustus Butterfield – Jan. 5th, 1942 – Marseille, Ills.
  • Lois Antoinette Butterfield Parr – Aug. 20, 1944 – Woodstock, Ills.
  • Alice Mabel Butterfield Eichelberger – January 26, 1951 – San Diego, Calif.

Final Comment

If you are a descendant of Sarah Ella “Daisy” (Butterfield) Larrabee (1879-1953), please contact me. I would love to reunite this bible with the family.

Endnotes

[i] The date of 1928 is somewhat disconnected from the entry for Melvin Parr and for Fredrick Eichelberger.  The date clearly applies to one or the other, but this document doesn’t provide clear evidence.

[ii] Ibid.

Posted in Sunday Bible Review | 1 Comment

The Waters Family of 1880 Patten, Maine

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Don Taylor

Blanchard Project
Utterstrom/Chase/Waters

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.During my ancestor sketch for Sadie Walters, I learned that Patten, Kennebec County, Maine, was settled about 1828 and incorporated in 1841. Sadie was born in 1887 in Patten, Maine and her parents were born in Patten as well. So, I wondered, just when did Sadie’s people come to Patten.  Sadie’s parents were William G. Waters and Laura M. Swett.

I decided to look first at the Waters of Patten, Maine, as they appear in the 1880 Census records.

1880 Population Schedule

A search of the 1880 Census for “Waters” in Patten, Maine, had 12 results in four-family units:

  1. George Waters, Age 67 – Widower – Farmer
    1. Daughter – Elen M. Waters, Age 40
    2. Son – Willie G. Waters, Age 22 – works on a farm.
  2. Samuel Waters, age 65 – Farmer
    1. Wife – Frances E. Waters, age 41
    2. Daughter – Emily Waters, age 14 – Attended School.
    3. Adopted Daughter – Mary I. Waters, age 24 – Teacher.
  3. William Waters, Age 60 – Farmer
    1. Wife – Olive T. Waters, Age 33
    2. Daughter – Alice M. Waters, Age 10 – Attended School.
    3. Son – William L Waters, Age 8 – Attended School.
    4. Niece – Emily A Rowe, Age 19 – Teacher
    5. Nephew – George E Rowe, Age 23 – Teacher
  4. Eunice W. Waters, Age 64 – Mother of Lonsen Grant.
    1. (Son) – Lonsen Grant, Age 37, farmer

Willie G. Waters is clearly the William G. Waters that I have in my records and Sadie A. Water’s father, who was born in January 1858. Thanks to the 1880 Census, I’ve learned that William’s father was George Waters, born c. 1813 and Willie G. had a much older sister, Elen, who was 18 years older, born about 1840.

George Waters Family entry in the 1880 Census.

I find it very interesting that George, Samuel, and William Waters are all in the 60s, all were born in Maine, and all of there parents were born in Maine. So, I suspect that the three are brothers.  A look at earlier census records may provide a clearer look and either confirm or rebuke that hypothesis.

Non-population Schedules

The 1880 Agricultural Census Schedule lists the farm information regarding each of the Waters’ farms.

George had 100 acres of land, 60 of which was tilled. In 1879, he had two horses, three milch (milk) cows, 18 sheep from which he got 100 pounds of fleece, and 20 chickens. He had 5 acres in oats, 3 acres in wheat, 1 acre of potatoes, 2 acres of apple trees. Altogether, George’s farm was valued at $1,539.

Samuel and William’s farms were slightly larger at 150 acres and valued at $1,775 and $1,780, respectively.

Future Actions

  • Next – Review the 1870 Census records.
  • Research property records for the Waters of Paten, Maine.

Sources:

  • 1880 Census, Lonsen M. Grant (Head) – Patten, Penobscot, Maine – Eunice W. Waters (Mother). 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Roll: 485; Page: 386A; Enumeration District: 001.
  • 1880 Census, George Waters – Patten, Penobscot, Maine. 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Roll: 485; Page: 385D; Enumeration District: 001.
  • 1880 Census, Samuel Waters – Patten, Penobscot, Maine. 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Roll: 485; Page: 383D; Enumeration District: 001.
  • 1880 Census, William Waters – Patten, Penobscot, Maine. 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Roll: 485; Page: 384A; Enumeration District: 001.
  • 1880 U.S. census, “Agricultural Census Schedule”, George Waters, Patten, Penobscot, Maine, OS Page 15, Line 4. 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Archive Collection Number: 15-156; Roll: 15; Page: 15; Line: 4; Schedule Type: Agriculture
  • 1880 U.S. census, “Agricultural Census Schedule”, Samuel Waters, Patten, Penobscot, Maine, OS Page 11, Line 5. 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Archive Collection Number: 15-156; Roll: 15; Page: 11; Line: 5; Schedule Type: Agriculture.
  • 1880 U.S. census, “Agricultural Census Schedule”, William Waters, Patten, Penobscot Maine, OS Page 11, Line 7. 1880; Census Place: Patten, Penobscot, Maine; Archive Collection Number: 15-156; Roll: 15; Page: 11; Line: 7; Schedule Type: Agriculture.
Posted in Blanchard, Chase, Utterstrom, Waters | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Butterfield Bible – Part 2 – Marriages

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Don Taylor

I recently received a copy of the “Butterfield Bible” from a friend who asked that I share its contents with the “Genealogy World.”  The bible is an 1889 edition that appears to have originally been owned by Daisy E. Butterfield of Marseilles, Illinois, who put her name inside the front cover in 1889.  Sarah “Daisy” Butterfield was born 20 February 1879, so she would have been 10-years-old in 1889.  The section between the Old and New Testaments includes “Family Record” sheets for Marriages, Births, and Deaths. This is a transcript of the “Marriages.” Besides the entries in the Bible, there is an additional paper with 2½  pages of marriages.

Marriages

Marriages entered in the Bible 

  • Marriages

    A. Butterfield & Sarah Drackley – Nov 1st 1860 – Manlius Twp.[i] Ills.

  • Fannie Butterfield & Lewis M. Eddy – Dec 27 1881 – Marseilles, Ills.
  • Alice M. Butterfield & Fred. M. Eichelberger – June 29, 1887 – Marseilles, Ills.
  • Lois A. Butterfield & Melvin R, Parr – Feb. 17, 1892 – Ottawa, Ills.
  • Louis A Butterfield & Edith Zimmerman – Feb 12, 1901 – Manlius Twp. Ills.
  • Josephine Eddy – James B. Wideman – Nov. 26, 1903 – Chicago, Ills.
  • Sarah E. Butterfield & Walter F. Larrabee – Dec 20, 1904 – Seneca, Ills.
  • Louis E. Larrabee & Marion Wiggin – Oct 9, 1930 – Scarborough, ME[ii]
  • Stephen Harris Larrabee & Hannah Isabel Latimer – Nov 16 – 1935 – In Buenos Aires, Argentina[iii]

There is only one page of marriages in the book, however, there is a separate sheet of paper that contains a continued sheet of Marriages. It says:

Family Record – Continued – Marriages (front)

  • Blanche Eddy & Hugh Herbert Britton – Chicago – Feb. 27, 1914.
  • Hazel Eddy & John William Lindner – Chicago – Feb 27, 1914.
  • Fannie Eddy & Richard Wade Webster – Marseilles, Ills. – March 2, 1915.
  • Katherine Sarah Butterfield & Floyd E. Roberts – Chicago, Ills. (no date entered)
  • Emma Lou Butterfield & Donald W Zimm- – Seneca, Ills. – June 1930.
  • Louis E Larrabee – Marion Wiggin – Scarboro Beach, Me. – Oct 9, 1930.
  • Stephen Harris Larrabee & Hanna Isabel Latimer – Buenos Aires, Argentina, So. Am – Nov 10, 1935.

Family Record – Continued – Marriages (Inside left)

  • Elenore Wideman & John Evan Picton – Aug. 2nd 1924
  • Blanche Wideman & Fred B. Scott – Aug 6, 1925.
  • Leola Eichelber & George Hobsow – Dec 23, 1908.
  • Phiranda A Butterfield (Phillip( & Mary Hustava – July 18, 1931.
  • Albert Will Butterfield & Cathleen Stady – June 12 – 1938 – Cairo, Ills
  • Richard Wade Webster, Jr. & Mildred Wahl (no date provided)
  • Rita Sarah Webster (Fanny Eddy Webster) & Jack Hiatt (no date provided)
  • Robert Arthur Webster & Jean Marie Russeth – June 10th, 1944 – Nerstrand, Minnesota

Family Record – Continued – Marriages (Inside right)

  • Lean E. Britton & Emil C. Seidel (dau Blanche Eddy Britton) – June 27, 1940 – Dubuque, Iowa.
  • Russell Laurin Butterfield & Mrs. Bernice Carr (son Louis A Butterfield) – Jan 16, 1943 – LaSalle, Ills.
  • Leola Eichelberger Hobson & Edwin W. Schaub – Jan 1943 – in Calif.
  • Robert Arthur Webster and

Endnotes

[i] There are two Manlius Townships in Illinois. One is in Bureau County and the other is in LaSalle County. One is about 60 miles west of Marseilles, Illinois and the other is about six miles east of Marseilles. I presume the Manlius Township mentioned here is the one in LaSalle County.

[ii] The marriage of Louis Larrabee to Marion Wiggin is repeated on continuation sheet 1 (front).

[iii] The marriage of Stephen Larrabee to Hannah Latimer is repeated on continuation sheet 1 (front).

Posted in Sunday Bible Review | Leave a comment

Minerva Kenrick, Mrs. Kimball, and two other photos

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Don Taylor

Photo Friday

I only had a chance to look at four photos this week. I’m sure I identified one of them. One of the images I believe I’ve identified, and one is a complete unknown. The last photo is a location, probably in North Yarmouth.

Family Search

“Minerva Kenrick” is the photo of a woman probably in her late 30s to early 50s. She appears to be wearing some kind of funky hat. My review indicated there were two people in Maine named Minerva Kenrick.

  • 1850 – The first Minerva Kenrick, born about 1809, is the apparent wife of Francis Kenrick living in China, Kennebec County.
  • 1860 – A Minerva Kenrick, born about 1808, is the apparent wife of Francis Kenrick residing in Fairfield, Somerset County.
  • 1870 – A Minerva Kendrick, born about 1810, is the apparent mother of Edward Kenrick living in Waterville, Kennebec County.
  • 1875 – Minerva Crowell Kenrick, born December 6, 1808, died August 19, 1875, in Waterville, Kennebec County, and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.

—–

Minerva Kenrick

Minerva Kenrick

  • 1900 – A second Minerva Kenrick was born in March 1872; she appears as a boarder in Portland, Cumberland County in 1900.
  • 1910 – A Minerva born about 1871, is the head of a household including her mother (Mary), ten nurses and six domestics in Portland, Cumberland County.
  • 1920 – a Minerva, born about 1873, appears as a boarder in Portland, Cumberland County.
  • 1922 – Minerva Kenrick, born in 1872, died on January 18, 1922, in Portland, Cumberland County.
  • 1922 – Minerva Kenrick, born February 18, 1871, died January 18, 1922, in Portland and was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterville, Kennebec County.

Clearly, there were two Minerva Kenrick’s in Maine. One lived long before this photo was taken. The other died at 50 during the early 1920s. This photo most assuredly is the second Minerva Kendrick (1871-1922), who appears to have never married.

Dead Fred

Mrs. Kimball - Mrs. Kendall's mother“Mrs. Kimball – Mrs. Kendall’s mother” is a photo of a woman on a couch with a chair nearby.  The picture is “artsy,” having been taken from very low, below table height.

I didn’t find anything in Family Search, but a search on Ancestry led to my suspicion that the photo is of Sarah M (Parker) Kimball (1834-1900), whose daughter, Susan married Edgar Kendall in 1896 in Milford, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It fits that this could be a photo of Sarah between 1896 and her death in 1900.

Other

Unknown - April 21, '06 - Lived in No. Berwick“Unknown – April 21, ’06 – lived in No. Berwick” is a photo of an unnamed woman.  I sent an email (with digital image) to the North Berwick Historical Society to see if someone there might be able to identify the individual.

 

Places

Wecustigo Valley Farm“Wescustigo Valley Farm” – The barn has a sign indicating 1872. My internet research suggests that this might be located in North Yarmouth. I emailed them to confirm.

 

Final Note

If you are related to any of these families and can help precisely identify them, I’d love to hear from you.

Posted in Photo Friday | Tagged , , | Leave a comment