Family History Writing Challenge Day 9

Michael and Mayme's first child Marie was born on 28 March 1912. A son, Edward, followed on 22 September 1913. Sadly he only lived one month, passing on 21 October 1913. It is interesting that Michael broke tradition by not giving the name Michael to his first-born son. By 1914 the small family had moved to 915 Armory Avenue in the West End of Cincinnati. Perhaps the move was done in preparation for the arrival of another daughter, Stella, who was born on 18 October 1914.

Armory Avenue was renamed Derrick Turnbow Avenue in 1991. The old buildings are no longer standing. However, below is a picture of the 400 block of Armory for illustration of what the buildings on the street might have looked like when the Crushams lived there, minus the decay of course.

Armory Avenue, perhaps in the 1970s

1238 Rosemont circa 1980s
Marie Crusham is on the porch

Michael was doing well with his job as a pressman, and on 26 April 1915 he and his wife purchased property from Emanuel Iseman. The home was located in Price Hill, at the time a popular and distinctive suburb for those wishing to escape the pork production and industrial areas of downtown Cincinnati. The rapid transit system was extended into Price Hill in 1894, contributing to its growth.

Iseman owned Lots 487 and 488 of the Cedar Grove Land & Building Association's Subdivision No. 1, as recorded in Plat Book No. 4, page 220. He sold the Crushams Lot No. 488, with said lot being designated as 1238 Rosemont Avenue. Iseman's property was 1236 Rosemont.

The house at 1238 Rosemont was built in 1910, and was constructed in what is referred to as "shot-gun" style. You entered into the living room, and had to pass through the dining room to get to the kitchen. There was a very narrow, curved stairway off the kitchen that led to the second floor where you had the same three room layout, passing through the middle bedroom to get to the front bedroom. Michael and Mayme had the back bedroom over the kitchen, but none of the upstairs rooms had doors on them. There was running water in the house, but the outhouse was in the backyard, where the family also kept chickens. At some point the family put a toilet and a shower in the basement.

What should have been a happy time in the family was no doubt marred by sadness in the summer of 1916. On 10 August 1916, a female infant was stillborn. The official cause of death was listed as ruptured hydrocephalus, which is caused when there is an excessive accumulation of fluid on the brain. Michael and Mayme had already endured the death of two babies in the first five years of marriage. What was next for this young couple?