1896

My mother’s parents were both born in 1896 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – she in March, he in October.

While I know that my enate family is most grateful for their birth and eventual meeting, a few other interesting things happened that year: the first Olympics of the modern era were staged; Fanny Farmer published her first cookbook; X-rays were discovered by Wilhelm Roentgen; the Tootsie Roll was introduced; John Philip Sousa's "El Capitan" premiered in New York; the first “horseless carriage” show was staged in London (with 10 different models!); Plessy v Ferguson entrenched segregation in the U.S.; Dow Jones launched its industrial index of twelve stocks – with an initial close of 40.94; Henry Wells was the unfortunate driver in the first automobile accident when he hit a bicyclist in New York City; William Jennings Bryan gave his “Cross of Gold” speech at the Democratic Convention; Miami was incorporated; Adolf Ochs purchased the New York Times; Queen Victoria became the longest reigning monarch in British history; "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (Thus Spake Zarathustra) debuted in Frankfurt; and National Geographic published its first photo including an uncovered female breast (much to the delight of many an adolescent male!).

William Earle Craig and Alice Isabelle McIntyre’s marriage followed “Earle’s” honorable discharge after his service in World War One. His discharge papers described him as five foot seven inches tall, having blue eyes, red hair and a ruddy complexion. Having enlisted in 1917 as a Private First Class Assistant in the Dental Corps Medical Department, he eventually passed necessary examinations for promotion to rank of First Lieutenant in the Dental Corps. Also on his discharge papers was the description of his character as “excellent.”

Alice worked for a time prior to marriage at a steel company (Pittsburgh, go figure) and she and Earle had four children through the 1920s and early 1930s. They lived in Crafton, PA – part of the greater Pittsburgh area – and Earle took the street car daily to his dental practice where, during the

Depression, many patients paid him in vegetables, live chickens, and other forms of barter. One interesting remittance was a wood carving of a hound in full bay – an artifact I proudly display in my home.

As an aside, I’ve learned that the streetcar had two proximate stops to my grandparents’ home – one about two blocks prior to reaching the house and one about one block past. Earle couldn’t bear to ride the streetcar past his house and always opted to get off at the first stop despite its diminished convenience. I’m almost embarrassed to admit, but I totally get this!

Grandfather (I’m using this term because I never got to meet him) became well lauded as a dentist and was celebrated by the ADA and was an officer in the Western Pennsylvania dental organization. I’m told he enjoyed interacting with colleagues, was well respected, and was a lot of fun.

As one of the youngest of his grandchildren, I got to observe my older cousins as they embraced and survived much of the counterculture known as“the 60s” (despite it carrying into the early 70s), made careers in far reaching fields, married, divorced, sometimes remarried (and often again remarried!), and, with the rest of us, waddled through life more and less scathed. I can proudly say that among the generations, there is a federal judge, a movie producer, an NFL player, a part time puppeteer, a school teacher, a former officer in the intelligence service, a published author, a school bus driver, engineer, attorneys, an accountant, successful parents, entrepreneurs, and a few bandits.

Our first comprehensive family reunion – in 1978 – included a variety of gatherings, laughter, varied menus and, oh yes, pot brownies. Apparently, a cousin gave my aunt a pot plant for Mother’s Day and one of her sisters (not pointing any fingers. . .but the list is short!) dared her to make the laced confection. Aunt wasn’t at all familiar with the proper techniques of cooking with cannabis, and put the entire plant into a blender, chopped it roughly and added it to the batter. These brownies were, I think this is accurate, of the first high fiber offerings ever – you could see the stems, leaves, etc. sticking out of the chocolate. The cousins were thrilled and particularly enjoyed feasting on the brownies in full view of the federal judge uncle who would not have hesitated putting us all in jail had he known the nature of the treats. Two generations got a bit high that evening and we all regenerated our family ties.

Somehow, I think Earle would have been amused; Alice, aghast.  




Thanks to http://www.historyorb.com/events/date/1896 for background information