Category: Grandparents

At age 16, Sep Loses Father.

Sep’s father, William, called by his middle name Elmer rather than William.  I assume there was a reason, but it never crossed my mind to ask why.  Elmer must have been quite successful in the years leading up the the Wall Street crash in 1929.  He owned several houses, and I suppose a considerable  amount of stock.  Apparently he lost almost everything in the crash.  I was told that as things were getting worse in the depression, he went to North Park and took his own life with a pistol

I have tried to figure out why he would travel to North Park, 11 miles from home, to do himself in.  Could it have been murder? Perhaps one of his associates was unhappy with investments made, or perhaps he had borrowed money from a less than reputable person?

Eva Hartmann and Bingo

Last updated March 18, 2020

Eva went to bingo at St. Boniface almost every week.  She was often accompanied by one of the Hartmann kids.  She took her bingo seriously.  For instance,  when Joe and Evelyn Ingram went to bingo and won big she would complain because they didn’t go every week.  They only went when the cover-all was large.  Sometimes things didn’t seem fair.

About Grandma Eva Hartmann

Last updated March 19, 2020

Eva was widowed before I was born.  I do know that Grandpa Hartmann committed suicide by shooting himself at North Park.  I have heard that this occurred as a result of the Stock Market crash of 1929.  Since he had owned several houses, including 30 Bly Street, this never made any sense to me.

Potato Pancakes. While we were growing up, Eva supported herself by working at the McCrory’s 5 and 10 cents lunch counter.  According to legend she was known far and wide for the  potato pancakes she made there.  I do know that a lot of the family loved her potato pancakes.  I often find myself trying  potato pancakes or latkes when I see them on a menu in a German or European restaurant. It may just be nostalgia, but I’ve never tasted any that were as good as hers.

Church Laundry.  She also supplemented her income by washing and ironing the surplices, amices and albs worn for the daily Mass at St. Boniface.  The surplices and amices were a bright white and needed to be starched and ironed.  If I remember correctly, she went to the rectory once a week to pick up the dirty altar-wear , and returned it in a day or two.

Posts About Grandparents

We need to add some information about our grandparents.  There’s very little we know about Rose’s mother because of her untimely death. If you have information I can use, but don’t want to post it yourself, use the contact form and I’ll post it.

Last updated 29 March 2022

According to Aunt Anna Disher, Grandma and Grandpa Hartmann were real party goers.  Linda, Terri and Judi atree that they have heard stories about Eva as a youngster.

Grandpa Hartmann is said to have committed suicide  at North Park because of major financial losses.  According to the stores told, he went to North Park and shot himself.

I, Bill, have tried to figure out why he would travel to North Park, 11 miles from home, to do himself in.  Could it have been murder? Perhaps one of his associates was unhappy with investments made, or perhaps he had borrowed money from a less than reputable person?

Radio Wire Electrocutes Mother of 8 (Pgh newspaper article)

Last updated December 2, 2019

Eight children from 12 years to 4 months are motherless as a result of Mrs. Josephine Pint, aged 30, of 126 Overbeck St., Northside, being electrocuted by a fallen radio aerial which had become entangled with high tension wires of the Duquesne Light Company in the yard of her home at 11:30 a.m today.

Mrs Pint, said witnesses,  stepped from her rear door, became entangled in the wires and died immediately. Her left leg was burned off at the knee and her back seared to the spinal cord, before she could be moved.

 

Mom said that right before stepping outside, her mother warned the kids to stay inside because it was dangerous.