2424 Eastern Ave.

Margaret Ann's Family Notes

The year was 1929.  My grandparents had recently become parents, with eighteen years between the oldest and the youngest -- Edith and Margaret Ann.  Their home on Columbia Ave. was going to be demolished and it was time to move on.  Based on Margaret Ann's note, the home they built at 2424 Eastern Ave. was purchased for $5500.  It had two bedrooms on the first floor, an upstairs dormer and INDOOR PLUMBING!  It's location, just across the street from Highlands School, provided great views of the river from the dining room window.  Aunt Ella was now widowed and moved with the family of seven.  I don't know how they all lived there, but Margaret Ann's notes reflect "good years for us children  -- we had love, support and fun."


But then the world came crashing down.  This was the year of the 1929 Stock Market Crash.  Fortunately, Pop was already a Foreman in charge of a Car Barn for the Street Railway Company.  Since this was the beginning of the Great Depression, having a job was such a victory in itself.  Here is how the family is listed in the U.S. 1930 Census:

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The house has undergone a lot of changes over the years.  The once proud house has been through many transformations.  The once proud house with potted flowers, trimmed bushes,an awning over the porch and lace curtains in the win has suffered over time.

Fred, "Bud", Norine, Peg and Bud's dog.

As our cousin Rose has said, the house was painted in "bus company yellow."  Unfortunately, I don't have any color pictures of the way I remember it.  In 2001, I took this picture of the house.  The house pictured to the left was just torn down this year. In the shadow to the left is Highland School.  This shell of a building is now empty and for sale.  Much of Eastern, now Riverside Dr., has been purchased and the houses torn down and replaced with upscale condominiums.

From this home, the next generation was launched.  I can still see Pop sitting in a chair chewing tobacco just inside those dining room windows in full view of his beloved river.

Margaret Ann's Records

There is NOTHING that excites someone attempting to understand her family history more than a document written by someone who may have first-hand knowledge of the family. This document contains notes about my grandparents, Norine and Fred Jones. It was written by their youngest daughter, Margaret Ann. For years I've worked to prove or disprove the contents. Much of it has been supported by the research, with a few exceptions.  For readability, I have taken the liberty to add some punctuation and other minor changes to the transcription of her notes. Thanks, Aunt Margaret Ann.  You've been a big help.


Transcription:
Norine Augusta Cronin Jones
Born 1854 - Mt. Sterling, KY moved to Lexington then to Cincinnati where her brothers owned a saloon and grocery at 711 Main St. Later after working at the Manhattan Restaurant in the Mabley and Carew Tower married Charles Frederick Jones 1909 St. Rose Xavier Church.  Lived for a while on Dandridge St. (I think weeks) then moved to Zins home, a local saloon keeper and his wife who had been a friend to Dad when he ran away from home about age 13 and swam out to a river boat and worked as a cabin boy the reason for leaving his mother (Rachel Wainright)  had died when he was Leo (6) Dad (8) Edith (10).

Stepmother (Alwilda) laid to rest beside Dad's father in Walnut Hill Cemetery.  Rachel was buried in Ky -- Ft. Mitchell I think.



Later Mom and Dad rented from Tom and Ella Jones at 2269 Columbia Ave. moving to 2424 Eastern in 1929. The stock market crash came after the move but my faithful father made his payments.  Home cost $5500 and sold for $7500  -- What good years for us children.  We had love, support and fun.  Mom died in 1964 and Dad lived at 2424 until he moved in with Sis in 1966 at 3106 Kinmont.









If you become involved in a genealogical society such as the Hamilton County Genealogical Society and want to submit your family for various lineage groups, documentation such as that presented by Margaret Ann can be used to support your findings, but is not considered PROOF.In the next post, I will show how the proof differed in some ways from this GREAT source of information.