The Bea Blog consists of
excerpts from the diaries my grandmother Bea Cohen (1899-1985) kept for 38
years, starting in 1913. For more background, see Part I -- Intro and 1913 (under Blog Archive).
The Bea Blog -- Excerpts from My Grandmother's Diaries
Part VI -- 1917 (July-December)
Bea
visits Philadelphia and Coney Island; she meets an Army sergeant from
Indiana and knits him a sweater before he ships off to Europe; she turns 18;
she participates in war relief; and she applauds the victory of women’s
suffrage in New York State
July
While Bea (17) and her parents spend the summer in Woodmere, LI, Marion (15) and Ken (8) go to sleepaway camp for the first time and Bea feels the loss, especially of Marion
I feel bad because I’ve never been away from Marion
for so long [. . .] She’s a wonder at everything.
Imagine Marion the whole summer corsetless and in
bloomers. That’s comfort. Aren’t clothes a nuisance when you’re fat!
Kenneth’s
camp -- Camp Wigwam, an all-boys camp in Maine -- is still in business. Among
its most famous campers was composer Richard Rodgers who, at age 14 in 1916,
wrote his first song there, “Camp Fire Days.”
Camp Wigwam Song Book,
including songs of Richard Rodgers, ca. 1950 (http://www.amazon.com)
July 21
The men for the conscript army were drafted
yesterday and the numbers were in this morning’s papers […] Quite a few of the
men in Father’s store were called.
US Secretary of War Newton Baker (in blindfold) draws the first draft number on 20 July 1917 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._draft_lottery.jpg)
August
Bea
goes on her own for a few days to visit old family friends near Philadelphia, Amen (“Pommy”) and Clova Pomerantz.
Pommy
was the founder and owner of A. Pomerantz & Co., a successful stationery,
printing and office furniture business in downtown Philadelphia. Sollis and
Pommy had met in Philadelphia years earlier when they were young immigrants
starting out in business. (Sollis and Pauline lived in Philadelphia for several
years after arriving in the US; they were married there and Bea was born there before
the family moved permanently to New York City around 1900.)
August 13
Lovely day! Clova and I went to Philadelphia in the
morning and stayed for the day. Went all through Wanamakers and saw the
different stores, went through Congress Hall, Independence Hall, saw the Curtis
building, had lunch at the Manufacturers Club (class), we went out to the
University of Penn and looked around. Found the museum and saw the mummies and
the 42nd regiment NY camping right next to the building so we
watched them. Went to Pommy’s store and bought it out especially writing paper.
The headquarters of A. Pomerantz & Co. at 1525 Chestnut
Street, which Pommy commissioned in 1916, was included on the Philadelphia
Register of Historic Places in 2013.
(http://www.design.upenn.edu/files/Designation_Celebration_2013.pdf)
August
25
Got a letter from John Skidmore – he’s a sergeant in
the 150th Field Artillery and is coming to Mineola, then to France.
He wrote to reintroduce himself because he’ll probably see us soon.
John
Skidmore, a young sergeant from Indiana, has written to Bea most likely at the suggestion of the Cohens’ former
nanny, Miss Coons, who lives in Indiana with her family. When Skidmore arrives
for training at Camp Mills in Mineola, Bea invites him to visit her in nearby
Woodmere (see September 10 below).
Camp Mills was a World
War I military installation located in Mineola, New York. Initially established
as a temporary camp in September 1917, it soon became the largest training
center for American expedition forces and an active port of embarkation for
troops in transit to France. (http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/Library/libspc_Camp_Mills_Finding_Aid.pdf)
August
30
Great big parade in the city today of the Guardsmen –
they’re going down to Spartanburg, South Carolina and today was the send-off.
Lower 5th Ave was jammed full – people hanging out of windows and
all over [. . .] I want a soldier boy all my own and oh how I want him.
Poster for Send-Off Day, August 30, 1917 (http://www.oryansroughnecks.org/misc/sendoff.jpg)
Send-Off Parade of the 27th Division (National Guard)
“A general view of the great ‘send-off’ parade of the 27th Division passing the New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue and Forty-second Street, August 30, 1917. Members of the immediate families of the soldiers occupied the great reviewing stand on the steps of the Library, shown on left of the photograph.” (http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/27thInfDiv/27thInfDivPhotoParade1.htm)
“A general view of the great ‘send-off’ parade of the 27th Division passing the New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue and Forty-second Street, August 30, 1917. Members of the immediate families of the soldiers occupied the great reviewing stand on the steps of the Library, shown on left of the photograph.” (http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/27thInfDiv/27thInfDivPhotoParade1.htm)
August 31
Bea
goes to Coney Island with family friends
All through Steeplechase and Luna Park and saw the
sights. Man walking on a wire way way up in the air – saw the incubators and
tiny babies, really pitiful.
Luna Park ca. 1913 (http://afflictor.com/2010/04/11)
Premature babies (held by the doctor who ran the incubator
exhibit) ca. 1930s
“Of all the attractions
offered by Coney Island during the resort’s 180-year history, none has been
more successful or [long-lasting] than Dr. Martin Couney’s Infant Baby
Exhibitions. From 1903 to 1945 Couney continuously operated a public
incubator ward at various locations on the peninsula, charging customers for
the chance to see a prematurely born baby.” (http://www.scenariomagazine.com/steampunk/
Nov. 29, 2011 issue)
September
Marion and Ken return from camp.
September 6
Milton
is now working for his father Edward’s company, American Silk Mills, a textile
manufacturer located in Paterson, New Jersey. Edward (born in Eastern Europe in 1875) was
the founder and president of American Silk Mills until his death in 1939. Milton then served as president for several decades. He
died in 1972.
Paterson, NJ was the site of the historic (yet ultimately
unsuccessful) 1913 strike of
silk mill workers demanding better wages, hours and working conditions. The
strike was featured in the 1981 film Reds.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/goldman/peopleevents/e_strike.html; http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/striking-out.html.
Milton came down tonight – all the way
from Paterson – and I’m glad […] We talked all the time – partly on the porch
then we walked to Cedarhurst village and back then inside. Funny how much I
like him now and how I used to couldn’t stand him. He understands things so
well and we have so many things in common [. . .] Got
another letter from John Skidmore. Curious. Wonder if he’s at all educated.
September 10
Got a card from Sergeant John – he’s in Camp Mills
now. Wrote to him and I’m anxious to see him and Lord but I don’t want to be
disappointed. Cute corresponding with someone you’ve never seen. Hope he’s
cute.
On September 13, Bea and Skidmore meet at the Cohen house in Woodmere
Tonight my Sergeant John was here and I like him so
much. He’s as blond as Miss Coons, 5 ft 11 and a splendid build and
nice-looking. Talks very well – direct and no hesitation, much much better than
he writes. A fine fellow and only 21[. . .] He’s coming Sunday for dinner and
the day.
Wish I knew lots of soldiers. I like the Gentiles
and Westerners. They are so frank and whole-hearted.
On September 16, Bea spends the day with Skidmore
Gee I like him -- because he’s a Gentile Westerner,
and real Yank. We get along great. He asked me to go to the theatre with him
some night [. . .] but the folks won’t let me go and come alone so I’ll have to
say no.
And the next day
I think of my Sergeant John mostly all the time.
September
29
The
Cohens return to their New York apartment and the school year begins. Skidmore comes
to visit Bea. Though it is unlikely that Bea’s
parents would have approved of her having a romantic relationship with a
non-Jew, they do not seem to discourage this wartime friendship.
I’m making him a sweater and it’s getting along
quite well. [. . .] He expects to leave for France probably in a week.
October
Bea gives Skidmore his sweater and sees him once more before he leaves for France. Then her attention turns to Milton.
The day before Bea’s 18th birthday
I got a beautiful book of music from Schirmer’s –
Vols. 1 and 2 of Tschaikovsky’s works [for piano] – but no card. I feel sure it
is from Milton.
On her birthday
I am a full-fledged grown-up now – 18 at last […] The
day started wrong. Father went off without even seeing me, Mother served a
lecture with her congratulations, Marion gave hers sarcastically and I wouldn’t
let her kiss me, which hurt her, etc. [. . .] I got unusually stunning gifts
and a $100 Liberty bond from Father. Milton phoned and the music is from him.
A Liberty Bond
was a war bond that was sold in the US to support the Allied cause in WW I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol
of patriotic duty and introduced the idea of financial securities to many
citizens for the first time. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liberty-bond.asp)
Liberty Bond poster ca. 1917 (http://www.ww1propaganda.com/ww1-poster/day-buy-liberty-bond)
And the day after
Yesterday I forgot to record that [the family]
surprised me with a birthday cake with regular burning candles. Made me feel
young again. 18 is such a gorgeous age.
October 26
Fifth Avenue is full of Liberty Bond signs and on
every corner men or boys are yelling “Buy a Liberty Bond.” I bought 4 with the
money I had in the bank and Father gave me one so I’ve done a bit of my bit.
Wish to Heaven I could do something real!
And on October 27 Bea watches a suffrage parade. Bea now supports suffrage though she hasn’t quite overcome her prejudice against the women who are fighting for the cause.
Libbye and I meandered downtown and watched the
Suffrage Parade. Couldn’t find one good-looking dame in it. I do hope the women
get their votes at this election. Then I’ll be able to vote at the next
Presidential election.
Suffrage Parade on Fifth Avenue, October 27, 1917 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/)
November
November 1
Milton has a new brother.
My
grandfather Milton Rubin (1898-1972) was the eldest of six children born in New
York City to Eastern European immigrants Edward and Celia Rubin. Celia died in
1910, giving birth to Milton’s youngest sister Bertha. Edward soon remarried and
in 1917 his second wife (also named Celia) gave birth to Milton’s half-brother
Edwin. Milton and his siblings (Harold, Arthur, Miriam, Rita, Bertha, and
Edwin) grew up at 22 East 93rd Street, a brownstone Edward owned and
occupied until his death in 1939. (Edward died at age 64 from injuries suffered when he
fainted and fell down the dumbwaiter shaft.) The
building stands today.
The former Rubin family home at 22 East 93rd Street (http://streeteasy.com/)
November 5
The
day before Election Day
Tomorrow either Mitchel, Hylan, Hillquit or Bennett
will be happy. I want Mitchel but I’m afraid it won’t be thus.
1917 mayoral candidates included: incumbent John Purroy Mitchel
(Fusion), John Francis Hylan (Democrat), Morris Hillquit (Socialist) and
William Bennett (Republican) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_mayoral_election,_1917)
Confession --I
think of Milton mostly all the time. Is it because I really like him or because
I have nothing more exciting to think about? I wonder.
November 6
Election
Day -- for Mayor and for Women’s Suffrage
Election Day holiday! Am afraid Hylan is crawling
in. Got a postal from John from France saying he arrived safely.
Suffrage flyer, Election Day, November 6, 1917 (http://sites.newpaltz.edu/nyrediscovered/2013/11/06/)
November 7
Women Suffrage won [underlined
twice by Bea] in NY state. Hylan and all Tammany got in and that’s a sad state
of affairs.
Hylan’s victory restored the power of the Tammany political
machine in City Hall. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Francis_Hylan)
November 8
The more I see [Milton] the better I like him – what’s
the world coming to?
Milton’s 19th birthday approaches and Bea adopts a more long-term view of their relationship
Milton’s life isn’t so soft – and ye gods he must be
a marvel. I imagine and believe that he and I – some day – Lord, what a comfort
he is!
November 24
Bea
volunteers selling candy at Hero Land, a war relief bazaar located at Grand
Central Palace
It’s a stupendous affair. Our booth (Jewish) is on the 2nd floor. It’s called Bowling Green. Terribly mobbed and hot.
Grand Central Palace, located on
Lexington Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets, was the city’s main exposition
hall until it closed in 1953. (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/).
The Bowling Green booth was a project of The American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee. The Jewish Chronicle Vol. 4, 1918 (books.google.com/books?id=bn4-AQAAMAAJ)
(http://tomclarkblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/to-die-for-selling-great-war.html)
December
December
4
Father went to Washington until Thursday or so. A
number of clothiers have a meeting with the Economy Board.
The Commercial Economy Board was formed in 1917 as part of the
Council of National Defense “to study and advise how commercial business might
best meet the demands to be made on it by the war, especially to study the
problem of how to cut down needless activities.” A Handbook of Economic
Agencies of the War of 1917 (books.google.com/books?id=lH_3ds8lbyUC)
December
6
At
Scudder (Bea's secretarial school), a Mr. Van Orden from the US Food
Administration lectures on wartime measures
He said we should not waste, we should save and
substitute. We should have 2 meatless days a week and 1wheatless meal each day.
WWI US Food Administration poster (http://commons.wikimedia.org/)
Bea’s frustration with her sheltered life and unsettled future reveals itself in quarrels with her parents; she is alternately obstinate and contrite.
Having nothing but scrapes with the folks.
I do get on Mother and Father’s nerves but I can’t be
decent it seems […] Lordy but I do get Father’s goat. I’m a nasty sarcastic
vampy brute I dare say but I don’t feel apologetic a bit.
I never realized how my nastiness makes Father feel
until this evening. I told him I wanted to be friends and he actually broke
down and cried, his nerves were in such condition. He hates to argue with us
and I must be made of stone to be so annoying. I’m going to try being cheerful
and see how it works!
December 21
As
Christmas approaches, there are changes in the Cohen household staff and Bea
expresses anti-German sentiment.
Margaret and Elise have both gone – Mother had her
excitement. Sorry about Margaret but the other was a red-nosed German and thank
Heaven she won’t be pussy-footin around here anymore.
December 31
On
New Year’s Eve, Milton hosts a masquerade party at his family’s house and Bea
goes as the “Goddess of Mirth,” dressed in a red paper costume, “with a staff
and hat and balloons and confetti and everything.”
Helen was a Chinaman, Gertrude Bloom a Spanish
dancer, Soph a ballet dancer, Lil the Hero Land poster, Ruth Rubin a sailor
boy, Harriet Barron had on a short pretty fairy-like dress, Bert a tramp, Paul
Fishman one of those black and white silk things with a ruffle around the neck,
Mel a ballet dancer, Gerry a Harlequin, Harold a Hula hula man and Milton a
Russian – he said Bolsheviki.
Coming
up:
The
Bea Blog Part VII -- 1918
