Wordless Wednesday

 

A Bit About Helen, and the Hurleys

 Both Helen and John were 19 when they got married.  John was born in 1898;  not sure about Helen yet, but in the 1900  U.S. Census, she is listed as 1 year old.  The family was enumerated on June 6, 1900.  

Helen is living with her parents John and Julia, her sister Annie, 9, and brother Timothy, 6.

John is working as a "Brewery Wagon Driver."  They are renting their home at 859 Davis St.

John Hurley may have been driving a wagon for Biggs Brewery in Elmira, which was established in the 1860's.  There were a few John Hurleys in Elmira in 1900, but an accident that happened to a stonemason at Brigg's in 1895 might have involved our John Hurley.

Elmira Daily Gazette and Free Press, Nov.6, 1895.

It is not unlikely that John Hurley could no longer work as a stonemason, and took the job as a wagon driver for Brigg's.  

John Bermingham, Son of Daniel, Marries Helen Hurley in 1917

 John Bermingham, son of Daniel and Margaret Flynn Bermingham was attending school in 1915, along with his two brothers, as noted on the 1915 New York State Census.  What school they attended is not known.  I did do a search in the newspapers from that time but didn't come up with anything for the Bermingham boys.  Might find something in the future.

Two years later, John married Helen Hurley, from Elmira.

A postcard  from Elmira, postmarked May 19-13.
Purchased on eBay.

John and Helen were married on Oct. 3, 1917.

The postcard is addressed to "Miss Martha Kieger, Morris, Tioga Co., Pa, R.R. no/Box 47."

The note reads:  "Elmira May 19 = 13

Dear friend - I did not get a job.  But I have the promise of one with the N.C. railroad Company on the telegraph line.  ans soon

Yours, D. K. "

In 1914, Daniel married for the second time.  The bride was May Fitzpatrick of Elmira.

Elmira Star-Gazette, April 28, 1914 announcing
marriage license issued to May and Daniel.

Daniel's occupation is noted as "Fireman," and May's is "Chocolate Dipper."  She may have been working for Booth's Chocolates, who advertised frequently for young ladies to work as chocolate dippers.

An ad for chocolate dippers that ran in the Elmira
Star-Gazette on Nov.14, 1913.  

Advertisement in the Sep.15, 1913 Elmira Star-

Gazette for Booth's Chocolate (center).  Below that

is the name of the owner of the company, Wilfred I. 

Booth, and a list of items being sold at his store, 

including wallpaper and corset covers.  I'm not sure

what store he owned, besides the chocolate factory.

There were several candy makers in Elmira around this time, some working out of homes, and others from shops fronting factories.  The Chemung County Historical Society has a post about some of them on their blog, with photos.

https://chemungcountyhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/03/sweet-talk-history-of-the confectioners-and.html

 

In 1910 Daniel Bermingham Was a Fireman

On  the 1910 U.S. Census, Daniel Bermingham, and his three sons, were living at 702 Jay St. with Daniel's sister Jane, now known as Jennie, and her husband John Hanrahan.  Both Daniel and his brother-in-law John are firemen, employed by the City.  And both of them have been "out of work" for four weeks.  

There were several John Hanrahan's living in Elmira in 1910, but only one of them was a fireman.  This article, published in the Star-Gazette on Aug. 3, 1910, may explain why "our" John was out of work.  He seems to have had anger issues and was put on leave several times because of them.

 Why Daniel was out of work, I don't know.  Searching the archives hasn't turned up  anything.

1905 Was a Tough Year for Daniel and Children

Daniel's wife Margaret passed away on June 4, 1905.






Obituary for Margaret Flynn Bermingham.
Published in the Elmira Gazette and Free Press,
June 5, 1905.

His mother, Mary, died on Aug.22, 1905.

Obituary for Mary Kavanaugh Bermingham.
Published in the Elmira Gazette and Free Press
Aug.22, 1905.

Dan Bermingham Jr.

 How I know it's Dan and Margaret's son:  the earliest documentation that I am able to find is Dan Jr.'s registration for World War II.  He was living in Philadelphia, working for International Harvester.  He put his mother down as next of kin, and she was living on Dewitt Ave in Elmira.