[Updated 3/29/2010 to provide complete address.]
Ethel Myers, who was Beacon Journal Society editor back in 1930, probably would not have taken it kindly if you had asked her age. She was 40.
Ethel, like you and I today, was required by law to tell her census taker (Jessie Ellis in Enumeration District 77-144) her age and a little more. That was 80 years ago.
In addition to being required by law, the census can be helpful.
Abe Zaidan, retired BJ columnist who is still writing, needed to know a little about Ethel because of an undated clipping with her byline that he dug up for a book he is writing. After googling and delving much, Abe asked if there were any of our old blog viewers who might know something. We were ready to put a request here, but decided why not just ask a librarian.
Joanne O'Dell in Special Collections at Akron-Summit County Public Library, suggested we sort through the online Akron city directories while she checked the census.
She reported back quickly that Ethel was listed as a lodger, age 40, who was age 26 at her first marriage. She and her parents were all born in Ohio and she listed her occupation as society editor newspaper.and reported she could speak English. Under marital status was the letter “M.”
And sure enough we found her in the 1930 directory in Ward 8 on N. Highland Avenue near Edgerton Road. She was listed in the alphabetical section as Mrs. Ethel B. Myers. society editor Beacon Journal. The address on N. Highland Ave. was two digits but it was not possible to decipher and she was not listed in the street listing for Highland Avenue.
[Printed directory shows address was 30 N. Highland Ave.]
We do not know if she was a widow, or divorced or living apart.
The librarian suggests we should still try to find her obituary. Tomorrow is another day.
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