Great Resource for Akronites -Wingfoot Clan

I never ceased to be amazed at the resources available on the web.  Today I found a site called Summit Memory.  They have SEARCHABLE copies of the Wingfoot Clan, a weekly newspaper put out by Goodyear for their employees (first published in 1912).  This site has complete copies available for editions published 1939-1946 (plus issues of the Aircraft Edition.  It is fun to look through them, tons of news and facts.  It is a great resource for genealogy.  I searched for my grandfather, Sid Riley, and found that he received his 10 Year Service Pin in October of 1943 (Wingfoot Clan 11/3/1943).  Now I know that he started at Goodyear in 1933.

There was a mention when he went to visit Norm in the hospital in New York (2/7/1945)

Not feeling too inspired tonight

I am away from home tonight and not feeling inspired.  I'll post a picture of Sid Riley and his family taken in 1911.

Sid approximately 14 and is on the far left.

Today is the 114th Birthday of Sidney Thomas Arthur Riley

Here is a picture of his birthpace

My grandfather, Sid Riley, was born on this day in Wolverhampton, England on this day in 1897.  His brothers and sister were born in the US but Sid and his younger brother, Norman, were born in England.  Wolverhampton is near Birmingham.  


I haven't found any family member with the name Sidney so I don't know where his parents got it from.  Thomas was his father and oldest brother's name.  He is the only sibling with four names.  I remember being fascinated with that when I was little and the fact that his initials spelled STAR.  I guess Mark and I have sort of continued that tradition as both of our sons have four names.  Both have Riley as a second middle name.


Sid didn't like the fact that my parents called me by my middle name instead of using my first name of Catherine.  He called me "Katie Darling" when I was small.

Sid and "Katie Darling"

  
As a side note, look what you can do in Photoshop using the spot healing tool.  It took no skill at all to repair this picture:

Not bad for a five minute repair job.

1910 Census Thomas Roberts Riley Family

The Thomas Roberts Riley family was living in Dover Township in Tuscarawas County Ohio at the the time of the 1910 Census.

He was 51 years old at the time and Lizzie was 47.  All the children were living at home. 
Percy  (Thomas Percy)  Age 18
Grace  Age 15
Ezra Age 14
Sidney Age 11
Norman Age 8
Sue Age 5

They lived a couple of houses away from Tom's brother Ezra and his wife Sue (on Front Street).  Both men were listed as Rollers at a Rolling Mill (Steel).  Percy was listed as a student at business college.  Both houses were listed as Owned with a Mortgage.  I imagine that a roller was a tough job for a 51 year old man. 


Dover became a steel center early on, with the first blast furnace opening in the mid 1850s. The first steel rolling mill began in 1867, and was purchased in 1882 by J. E. Reeves, becoming the foundation for the building of Reeves Steel. The legacy of Mr. Reeves, his company and his family still impacts Dover and Tuscarawas County through such local treasures as the
J. E. Reeves Home and Museum and the Reeves Foundation. The Reeves Foundation annually contributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to local good works.


Dover voters took the city "dry" in 1908, putting 22 saloons and two breweries out of business overnight. Dover became somewhat infamous during prohibition for official Volstead Act violations and many officials resigned in disgust. The city again allowed the sale of liquor after repeal of prohibition in 1933.


I don't know if Tom and Ezra worked at Reeves Steel or Ohio Steel.

Canal Dover Government Building 1911

The population of Tuscarawas County in 1910 was 57,035 and in the 2000 Census it was 90,914.

1899 Map of Canal Dover

Most of the residents on the street were children of Native Born Americans.  Many of the other men on the street also worked for the Steel Mills.

Identifying Where Photos were taken

I have two photos of Sid Riley and his friend, Bill Whittaker .  I don't know when they were taken (maybe someone who knows cars can help here) but I have figured out where they were taken!  Again, the internet is an amazing thing for the arm chair genealogist.   These photos were taken at the Glendale Cemetery in Akron.  I will write more about the Cemetery later.

I started with this picture since the name "Hill" was so prominent.  I found this picture from an Akron resident who photographed most of the mausoleums at Glendale.

The Hill family were involved in the sewer pipe manufacturing industry in Akron.

 

In the second picture, there wasn't a name, it wasn't as easy to find.  The picture was taken on the same day as the other after looking carefully at their clothing.  This mausoleum is also in Glendale.  It is the oldest one.  It was built by the "developer" of the cemetery, Dr. A. Commins to inter his son.

from an 1880 photograph

Sid in the Summer

While most of the country has been hot lately, I thought this picture of Sid Riley and his good friend Bill Cartright in their bathing costumes might help you think of cooling off in some inviting water somewhere!  Ray just told me a story that Sid was once kicked out of Euclid Beach because his bathing costume didn't go below his elbows or below his knees. 

Original.  Sid looks so young

Photo adjusted to see a little better

Happy Birthday to Me

Looking for something to blog about tonight and I am going to cheat and do an easy posting.
Today is my birthday.  I was born in the same hospital as both my parents, Akron City Hospital.
I have always said I was born under a lucky star- great, great parents.

Here is a picture of me with my Grandparents:  Eunice and Dwight Cork and Sid and Selma Riley.

Family Picture Friday: The Rileys

I want to share this picture of Sid and Selma,  It was probably taken in late 1930 or early 1931 as the baby is Mark Andrew Riley, born in October.  I wonder what the occasion was, maybe Mark's baptism?  The boy on the left is David, right is Norman.  Sid is holding Ron and Selma is holding Mark.

1930 Census Sidney Riley

Sidney and family were living on Harcourt Drive at the time of the 1930 Census.  Here is a recent picture of the house:

He was listed as a Department Manager for Auto Bodies.  The house was listed as owned by them with a value of $8800 and that they did not have a  Radio Set.  He was listed as having worked in the last 12 months and was a veteran.

Some Easter Pictures to Share

Sid Riley and grandson, Mark Riley
Gage Street, Akron Ohio

Lynne Riley and Polly and Patti Ingram
(maternal cousins)
1961

Lynne, Ray and Judy Riley
Easter 1961

Judy and Lynne Riley
Easter 1967
Winchester VA

Lynne Riley, Debbie Riley, Judy Riley and Liz Riley
204 Sheridan Ave
Winchester, VA

WWI Daft Registration Sidney Riley

Here is another Draft Registration Card to share:

It answers a question I have had.  Since Sid was born in England of Naturalized American parents, what was his status.  It is clear from the form that he was considered an American Citizen due to his father's naturalization as the box labled:  Citizen by Father's Naturalization
before Registrant's Majority is checked.


Another piece of info that it gives us is their residence but unfortunately I cannot read it: 640 Schi????.  Sid was employed at Goodyear Tire & Rubber but again I cannot read the occupation:  Something wool.


Sid is listed as medium height and slender build with brown hair and again, I cannot read the eye color.


It states he had already enlisted in Merchant Marines on August 29, 1918.  He filled out this draft registration just a couple of weeks later.


Tom Riley has the original of this Merchant Marine ID card:

This card lists his hair as light brown with grey eyes. I know nothing about his service in the Merchant Marines.

Family Picture Friday: Sid, Lizzie and Tom Riley

This is a picture of Sid Riley with his parents, Tom and Lizzie Riley.  Ray is pretty sure this is Sid but it is possible that it is his brother, Ez.  Ray thinks Sid is in his forties.

Family Picture Friday: Sue, Sid, Ezra, and Tom Riley

I have reached out to some of the Riley Second Cousins (my second cousins, the kids of Ray's cousins) and some are now reading the blog.  I thought they would like this picture of the Riley siblings (missing from the picture is their sister, Grace).  I think this was taken around the time of Lizzie's Funeral in Akron, Ohio.