The Many Homes of Walter Blanchard Brown - Part 1

The many homes of Walter Blanchard Brown do include the 100’s of homes he built; but what about the homes he lived in growing up?

I have very few memories of my Grandpa Brown, since I was only 4 years old when he died at age 68; and when Grandma told me about my ancestors, it had more to do with previous generations.  I am very thankful that my father and cousins have been able to fill in some gaps; and I’ve really enjoyed seeing what I can find in records that still exist!

Do you know where Walter Blanchard Brown and his brothers lived growing up?  When I first saw a copy of the 1900 census, I was amazed at the listed birthplaces for family members!  Since I knew that Walter’s father was adopted, I wondered if maybe he had been always searching, looking for his parents, causing all that moving around.  I guess that wasn't the case. 

Although I still don’t know the reasons for all of the moves, some of them are explained by information I’ve found.  However, that is George’s story, so it will be told in a later post.

Walter had an older sister, Lizzie, who was born in 1884, in San Augustine, Texas, where their parents had been married the year before.

When Walter was born in Columbus, Georgia, in 1886, the family (or at least his mother) must have been spending time with his McMurrain grandparents, who had a plantation at nearby Upatoi, Georgia.  Much of that area has now become a part of Fort Benning.  Although Upatoi still has a post office, it was annexed by the city of Columbus in 1971.

Next we find the family in Texas again, where brothers George Eugene Brown, Jr. (“Gene”) and Joseph Baker Brown (“Joe”) were born in 1887 and 1889, in San Augustine, Texas.  This photo of Walter and Eugene is labeled by my Grandma as being taken in San Augustine:

Bigger changes came when Walter’s father received an appointment as a clerk in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 1890.  By then Walter was 14, and had already had schooling in Texas.  His grandmother, Elizabeth Baker, lived with the family.  Since she had previously been a schoolteacher in upstate New York, she just may have had some scholastic influence in his life, as well.

Another of Grandpa’s brothers, Frederick Morgan Brown (“Jack”), pictured here with his older brother Joseph, was born there in Washington, D.C., in 1891.

Their father was an examiner for the pension office, and in 1896 he was stationed at Knoxville, Tennessee - where the last two brothers were born: Herbert McMurrain Brown and Hubert Motley Brown.

[A note on names:  The middle names of the twins reflected the maiden names of their mother and her mother.  Frederick Morgan Brown was named for a ‘dear friend’; Joseph Baker Brown was named for his father’s adoptive father; George Eugene Brown (“Gene”), was named for his father; Walter Blanchard Brown was named for a ‘dear friend’; and Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) was named for their father’s adoptive mother.]

This photo of Herbert & Hubert was taken there in Knoxville, so they must have been there for more than just a few weeks:     

And here is a newspaper clipping from the time of their births:

The clipping states:  “Special Examiner George E. Brown, of the United States pension office is the proud father of two bouncing boys who came to bless his home yesterday morning.  The twins weigh ten pounds each and are rapidly developing into such specimens of manhood as that they will not need a pension.”

This photo of the three oldest children (the only one I have of Elizabeth/Lizzie from her childhood) was also taken in Knoxville:

The following photo of Walter was taken on December 3, 1898, according to Walter’s note on the back.  It appears that he gave this photo to May in 1906, eight years later.  I love the unique way he expressed himself in his note:

“I am under obligation to admit that the truth was told in this picture, but eight years often lends improvements and if this be the fact of the matter I still rest easily.  Now if I have made no progress during these last eight years I must needs play ostrich at least till I can produce a sufficient beard for a mask.  Alasssss!!!!  In good Truth - The Original W. B. Brown”!

Many years ago Grandma gave me a cookbook that Grandpa’s sister Lizzie created while she was in school.  Inside the front cover I found the names of her school and teachers.  By doing Google searches I was able to find information about Blair School, in Washington, D.C.   I found a mention, in the June 18, 1902 edition of The Evening Star (Washington D.C.), stating that Walter Blanchard Brown, of Blair School, had selected the Manual Training Branch of Higher Education.  However, the family left Washington, D.C., a few months later in September of 1902, due to his father’s health
 
We do know, from a Washington D.C. Newspaper article, that Grandpa’s father had come out to California the winter of 1901-1902.  I found a list of mortgages in the January 27, 1902, Los Angeles Herald; a W. B. Brown and Lizzie Brown are shown as having a $1,000 mortgage to a Dora Hayne, for Part section 23, 1 S, 14, for one year at 8 percent.  Could that have perhaps been for our Walter and his sister Lizzie??   Probably not, but he apparently began building right away!

Two years after their move his father passed away; and a year later his sister Lizzie also passed away from tuberculosis.  As the oldest son, Walter demonstrated his ability to care for his mother and siblings when he built this home at 5768 Aldama Avenue in Highland Park, California:

A relative in Georgia shared scans of this photo. The back said: "For Frank W. McMurrain, Our Home Walter built-1906, Los Angeles, Cal." 

We don’t have a great many records about Walter’s activities during those early years, although we do know that he built houses for the Edwards and Wildey Company for a period of time; it is likely that occurred at this point.

He built the above home for his mother in his ‘spare time’ while he was working full-time as a carpenter during the day.  With five brothers at home, several of whom became builders and/or realtors later, he just may have had some assistance from them!  You can see Walter front and center in the below photo:

The Highland Park Herald for May 5, 1906, reported that Walter Brown was elected President of the Sunday School class when the group met at the home of the teacher, Mrs. Stickney, who lived on Avenue 57, near Aldama; and that the next meeting would be at Walter’s home on Avenue 61. The same issue stated that he had sold his cottage at 5756 Aldama, and would be moving in ten days; and further informed the readers that he was tearing down the house at the corner of Aldama and Avenue 61, to replace it with a 9-room house.  Sounds like the house in the photo above!

On June 2, 1906, only one month later, the same newspaper  proclaimed:  “A notable improvement on one of the finest corners in Highland Park is the new one and a half story residence of Walter B. Brown, at the corner of Aldama street and Avenue 61, which is now underway.  The outlook for this spot is beautiful, and real estate along Aldama from this point to Avenue 56 and further is destined to become exceeding popular.  The ever changing views of the mountains are particularly entrancing.”  Sounds like he got to work very quickly and well!

The following year, on February 2, 1907, there was a note in the newspaper which reported:  “Walter Brown of 5768 Aldama street is again able to resume work on the new house he is building on the adjoining lot, after a severe siege of illness.”

Some other things were happening in Walter’s life about this time; things that had a direct effect on the lives of his descendants!  Before I tell you any more, I think I need to change my plans!  How can I tell you about the letter he wrote to August Ludwig just over six weeks after his first date with August’s daughter, unless I introduce you to May??

Come back next week to learn about May and find out about the letter her father August received from Walter - and August’s reaction!!