Thursday, February 11, 2016

Family History Writing Challenge Day 11

Note: A previous post stated that Michael Crusham and Mayme Metz were married at Resurrection Church in 1911. This is incorrect as Resurrection did not celebrate its first Mass until 1920. Their marriage application indicates that they were married by a priest, but his signature is illegible. Mayme's family lived in Delhi and as there are numerous Catholic churches located in that area, there are several possibilities for where the ceremony took place.

The end of WWI came when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919. The country as a whole entered into an era of economic growth and prosperity driven by recovery from the war effort and postponed spending. Mass production made technology affordable to the middle class. The automobile, movie and radio industries experienced significant growth in the 1920s. The 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote. It was also the first year of Prohibition in the United States, making it illegal to sell, produce, import or transport alcoholic beverages. And for the first time, more Americans were living in towns of 2,500 or greater than were living in rural areas. Cincinnati followed this trend with a population increase of around 20% from 1920 to 1930.

Catherine ~1923
The Crusham family was increasing its population as well. Margaret was born in 1922; Charles in 1925; Elizabeth in 1927; and twins James and Michael in 1930. All the children were born at home, except perhaps the twins. The older children do not remember their mom giving birth to the boys at the house. Eight children and two adults shared the small, three bedroom house.

The family worshipped at Resurrection Church, where Michael was an usher and collected the offerings. The children all attended the church school as well. They would walk from their house, a distance of about .6 miles.

Back, left to right: Catherine, Marie & Catherine's friend
Front, left to right: Margie, Betty & Charlie ~1930
Michael continued to work as a pressman for a paper company. Besides being active in their church, he and Mayme were also volunteers for the Democratic Party in Price Hill, and enjoyed their relatives, friends, and the tight-knit community in which they lived. The 1920s were very good to the country and to the Crusham family.

No comments: