Scrapbook #3 – Comrade Sig Levy

It’s time to get back to Sig’s scrapbook – you can read the first installment of Scrapbook #3 HERE.

Several group photos on the next few pages with nothing identifying them other than the date.  Although they were glued to the page, I was able to carefully peek behind the photo to ensure there was nothing written there.  Nope.



So the only notation on this was the date – December 23, 1945.  But after scanning and scanning the photo, I just couldn’t see him even though I figured he must have been in the group shot.  So I did what people of today do – I zoomed in and found him!  What was the event? 



Then another from December 23, 1948 that gave me a little more information.



So I wonder what’s going on here?  I went to newspapers.com and did a search and came up with this article from from The Fresno Bee Republican, December 22, 1948, page 13.



Okay, that makes sense as I knew Sig was involved with the nursing program.  And look – he headed the committee and was at the microphone.



And another photo with the nurses from December 24, 1950.  Sig is easy to pick out – I sure wish I knew who the others were.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any newspaper article about this.



And then some clippings about War Dads.  I’ve looked for some information about this organization but need to research further.  Interestingly, one of my searches took me to a blog that I’d read several years ago.  While Sig didn’t note the newspaper or date, I was able to find the publication dates of these two articles.  I love the way Sig made notations to point the reader to his name – thanks, Grandpa!

Fresno Bee Republican, June 30, 1944, page 9



The Fresno Bee Republican, July 10, 1944, page 7



And then a few stories about Comrade Sig Levy – did War Dads call their members Comrades?  I need to figure that out!  I sure hope that the readers heeded the warning to not visit him so he could get his rest.



Huh?  A parade that turned out to be a parade?  Not sure what the surprise was.



This last article showed me the non political correctness of the time – it provides a window into how far we’ve come in the last 50+ years.  I thought about not sharing the article, but since it references my “crack track runner” dad I just have to include it.  So, I’ve redacted the reference to how short my grandfather was.




Gordon didn't get his legs from his Dad.  Hahaha!

My grandfather, Sig Levy, was a busy guy!

Who would I like to meet?

I noticed yesterday that someone on Facebook had asked the question “if you could meet one of your ancestors, who would it be?”  I wish I’d paid more attention to who posted it so I could give them credit but at the time I just scrolled on by.  But I couldn’t get it out of my head and just kept thinking and thinking about it.  Who would I like to meet?

Of course there are several that I’d like to see (and hug them tight) to have an opportunity to sit and ask questions.  But, I’ve already met them and if I didn’t ask them questions, I have no one to blame but myself.  That makes me cranky but I had to think about those I was never fortunate enough to meet or, really, KNOW. 

I was fortunate to know all of my grandparents and even two of my great grandparents so I couldn’t pick them.  And, of course, I couldn’t pick either of my parents since I knew them until the day they died.  So who would it be?

I wish I’d had an opportunity to meet my paternal great grandparents, Abraham and Bertha (Schwartz) Gunzendorfer. 

Bertha (Schwartz) and Abe Gunzendorfer, c. 1944

I know quite a bit about them (thank you, family packrats) and I have a LOT of photos of them.  And since my dad knew both of them, and my mother knew Birdie, I have several first-hand stories about them.  So, neither of them.

Next up would be Bertha’s parents, Rebecca (Steen) and Louis Schwartz.  Now they would be interesting to meet.  I’ve been in contact with a researcher who is writing a book – it is at the publisher now and should be available next month – and Louis, particularly, is noted in the book.  In fact, I’ve even donated a few photos for inclusion, if they find them useful.  I have original photos of the house that Louis built, and both Bertha and my grandmother were born in, and many of their personal effects (thanks again, family packrats).  Sometimes I feel like I’ve already met Louis since I know so much about him.  So, neither of them.

Rebecca (Steen), Joseph, Bertha, and Louis Schwartz, c. 1875

My paternal great grandfather, Herman Levy, has been a brick wall for me so I think it would be interesting to meet him.  He arrived in Fresno in 1874 and was the first man to be made a Mason in Fresno, being part of Lodge No. 247, F. & A.M.  His obituary in 1918 called him a Pioneer Citizen so I’m sure he would have lots to share.  But even though I share my birth name with him and would like nothing more than to know more about his parents, grandparents, and on down the line, I wouldn’t pick him.

Nor would I pick his wife, Goldie Benas.  I’m fairly certain my dad was named after her – she died shortly before he was born and my mom told me that the custom was to name the baby using the first letter of a recently deceased relative (his name was Gordon) – and I know she’d have a lot to tell me.  But no, I wouldn’t pick her.

Goldie (Benas) and Herman Levy, c. 1917

While I’ve always been particularly fascinated with the paternal side of my family (is it normal to be more curious about those who share your birth name?  is it because they were packrats and I know so much about them?), the one person I would love to meet is on my mother’s side.  The man I have grown to know in a way I never thought possible.  Not only that, but I was able to share the details of his life with my mother, his great great granddaughter, before she was gone. 

So who is the ancestor I would love to meet?  My 3x great grandfather, Emery Waller!

I have researched Emery a lot and know that he served in the Civil War –  in the 107th Illinois Infantry as both First Lieutenant and Captain.  He took part in the battle at Winchester on March 23, 1862 that resulted in the defeat of Stonewall Jackson’s forces.  I would like to know more about that!

I know that his first wife, Rebecca Parker, most likely died as a result of my 2x great grandmother’s birth.  My hunch is that the baby, Rebecca Waller, was named in honor of her mother.  I wrote about finding Rebecca Parker HERE.  It would sure help to learn more about Rebecca’s death and Emery’s later marriage to Clarinda.

For those who have followed my blog, several years ago and only because of a slight nudge, I ordered Emery’s pension record to see what I could find.  And while at first it didn’t seem to give me any new information, once the light bulb went off a whole new world was in front of me.  And then I found his unmarked grave in Kansas.  What an emotional journey to get a headstone for him – our story even made the front page of the local paper in McPherson!

But there is still so much I want to know about Emery.  What was life like after the Civil War?  What took him to Kansas?  What were my 2x and 3x great grandmothers like?  And while I know from his pension record that he was about 5’7” and between 135 and 145 pounds, most of all I just want to actually see him.  So meeting him would be a win/win – I could look into his face (and take a picture) and find out so many more details about him and his life.

So that’s who I would like to meet.  What about you?

Emery Waller, McPherson Cemetery

Ancestors at Work

Today is Labor Day, the day we set aside annually to pay tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.  Thanks to a suggestion by a fellow blogger, it’s also a day to take a look at my ancestors at work.

First up, of course, is my dad, Gordon Levy.  Dad was what many would describe as a workaholic – he worked full time until the day he died on, coincidentally, Labor Day at the age of 78.

Dad started his career in 1951 with Dean Witter, where the financial advisors of the future were then known as a Customers Men.  I remember visiting Dad at his office on 1st Street in San Jose when there was no electronic board to keep track of the stock quotes – rather, there was a boardmarker who kept track of things using a giant chalkboard and chalk.  I don’t know that I have a photo of him specifically at work, but I do know that he always wore a suit and matching hat to work.



After 23 years in the business, Dad decided there was more to life than Dean Witter and decided to follow his dear friend, Ron James, to work at the San Jose Chamber of Commerce and Convention Visitors Bureau.  By that time I was out of the house so I don’t know too much about his day-to-day work there, but I do remember that he loved traveling around the country on one Chamber mission or another.  And I found a photo of one of those trips.



After 10 years, during which time he had a heart attack and bypass surgery, he took a pause and decided it was time to go back to Dean Witter (by then Morgan Stanley) where he finished his career.  What a change in the business over his lifetime – I remember he used to tell me to NOT send him an e-mail because he wasn’t sure how to reply.

As we were growing up, Mom stayed at home – back in those days she was labeled a Housewife.  Of course that term has long ago been forgotten but I know she was pretty content with her life. 

I don’t remember her ever gardening but maybe she did?  If nothing else, she posed for a picture and passed the gardening gene on to my sister.



We were fortunate that we lived around the corner from the elementary school, however there were a few years where my sister and I went to out of area schools for different programs.  I remember riding my bike to/from school but I also remember Mom driving us.  Of course it’s not like what parents of today go through but I’m sure it was a task to get us each to wherever we needed to be.  She must have felt like she lived in the car!



My grandfather, Sig Levy, worked in real estate/insurance services in the family business, Levy Brothers.  An early photo of their office – that’s Sig second from the right.



He also worked until his death at age 80.  I think the “work until you die” mentality needs to end with me!



Sig’s father, Herman Levy, started his career running a dry goods store and later worked in insurance.  I haven’t come across a photo of him at work but I like to think this photo was taken in order to feature him in the insurance business.  Sadly, it was also used for his obituary.



My paternal grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer, came from a family business in Monterey, The White House.  While she helped out in the store during her teenage years, it was her dad, Abraham, and her grandfather, Ferdinand Gunzendorfer, who ran the store for more than 50 years.




Here’s Ferdinand (with beard) in front of the store.



My maternal grandmother, Clara Fitzgerald, and her second husband, Sheldon Hunter, worked out of their home raising chickens!  I have great memories of being there with them and helping them collect, clean, and packaging eggs.  I wrote a post about that HERE. 

Here’s Grandma candeling the eggs.



And with Grandpa Shell in the packaging plant (aka garage). 



A few years ago I found a newspaper article from the Fresno Bee, September 27, 1959 that I thought was interesting.

New Occupation – Sheldon Hunter, a retired Fresno telegrapher, has found that “wire” means more than a telegram.  Here Hunter inspects his recently constructed wire cage house for his West Olive Avenue flock of White Leghorn layers.

Retired Telegrapher Finds Poultry Flock Demands Work When Sheldon A. Hunter of 2341 West Olive Avenue, Fresno, retired in 1955 as manager of the Fresno office of Western Union, he recalls he did not know the difference between a laying hen and a bantam chicken. Today the grey haired Hunter is the knowledgeable owner and operator of a 2,000 bird egg laying flock, who maintains he “never worked harder, made less or felt better.” Hunter and his charming wife, Clara, bought the one-acre layout two and a half years ago when it included only 600 hens.  They have expanded cautiously and only recently constructed a new cement floored laying house featuring the latest in wire cage operation. Hunter, whose Western Union career covered 47 years, including 35 years in Fresno, credits feed company salesmen and breeder representatives with a big hand in helping him learn the poultry business. “We thought this would be an interesting part time occupation,” Hunter grins, “but we find there is always something to do, repair or change.  And these birds need a lot of care.  But we like the idea of keeping busy.” Meet Their Customers Since all the Hunter eggs are sold directly from the small combination garage and egg processing room, the retired couple enjoy meeting people who stop to purchase the eggs. Mrs. Hunter chuckles as she recalls a visit by a 10 year old neighbor girl. “She wanted to borrow three eggs because her mother was baking a cake and didn’t have enough,” she says.  “But she assured me she would soon return them because her mother was going downtown and would buy some there.” Have Fruit Trees Along with the modest sized poultry setup, the Hunters are proud of their variety of fruit trees, ranging from figs to persimmons, a vegetable garden and boysenberry vines. While the Hunter operation ranks quite small as compared to some of Fresno County’s sprawling commercial laying establishments, the owners keep abreast of the latest breeding developments.  They are grooming a new experimental White Leghorn strain obtained from Washington State which is said to lay larger eggs for specialized poultrymen who have a market for them. And that’s a tribute to my #ancestorsatwork!