Genealogy Story – Edna Blackman

The below stories about my [Great-]Aunt Edna were written by others.  The first was apparently written by someone when she lived at Avery House in the final years of her life and before her health significantly declined.  There are a few pieces of missing information as it appears to have been a work in progress.  The second is a short article that was written by my mother about the same time.

Edna Alice Blackman

Edna Alice Blackman was born November 13, 1906 in the farming community of Prospect, Connecticut.  She was born into a world that had yet to invent electricity, cars, central heating and running water.  Edna was the youngest of Alice R. Talmadge and Clarence Elmer Blackman’s three children, a boy, Stanley, age 14, and a girl, Sarah, age 5.  Clarence Blackman worked in a factory in Waterbury, the Chase Woolen Mill, as a supervisor in the shipping department in order to pay off the debt on the farm.  His dream was to retire the debt and return to his first love of farming.  Alice Blackman became the backbone of the family handling many of the daily farm chores as well as those involved in tending her family – baking, and fixing up hand-me-down clothing into “new” outfits for her family.

Lacking our present means of transportation, Prospect and the Blackman farm were fairly isolated areas.  Edna grew up with few playmates except at school and “distant” cousins, Lillian Talmadge and Raynor Hutchins.  Edna’s best friend was Nellie Cowdell, with whom she walked to school.  Walking became a permanent form of exercise in Edna’s life.  She and her mother either walked the five miles to Waterbury for shopping or the two miles to get the trolley to Waterbury.  Edna has never owned a car and gets out to walk at least (??) a day weather permitting.

Toys as well as playmates were scarce and making dolls by bending the branches of spruce trees became a favorite activity.  Edna did have a special toy, a teddy bear, which after years of use disintegrated.  Edna would love to lie on the grass, looking up at the trees and the clouds or walking at night in the light of the moon and stars.

Edna’s happiest memories are of the time spent with her mother and father, swinging between them as they walked hand-in-hand.  Clarence Blackman was a hard-working gentle man.  He walked with his family to the Congregational Church on Sundays because the horses had worked hard for six days, and they needed the seventh day to rest.  Although he attended church regularly, he never joined so as not to be considered a hypocrite.  Edna’s parents were firm but kind disciplinarians.  “No”, meant “No”, and although Edna was the baby, she did not feel spoiled.  Her parents never spanked because their tone of voice alone could alter her behavior.

Family occasions were marked in simple ways.  A birthday meant mother baked your favorite cake.  This to Edna meant a white cake, split into layers, and filled with real whipped cream.  (Not the make believe stuff used today.)    Candles were dangerous items to Alice Blackman, and only one or two were lit and were promptly blown out by the birthday child.  The birthday gifts were usually clothing.  Thanksgiving and Christmas were holidays that were shared with grandparents, Stephen and Sarah Few Talmadge or Isaac Minor and Hattie Johnson Blackman, who also lived in Prospect.  Christmas gifts were few and inexpensive and the Christmas stockings were always sure to include an orange and a piece of coal.

Edna attended a two-room school until the eighth grade.  She enjoyed school, but did not continue, instead stayed at home to tend her then ailing parents and help with the farm.  Clarence Blackman died on June 8, 1929 and his wife, Alice, two months later on August 6^th.  The loss of her parents Is Edna’s saddest memory.

After the death of her parents, and having sold the family farm, Edna moved to Hartford to live with her brother.  Lacking job skills and recommendations for employment, it was necessary for her brother to vouch for her in order for her to become employed in the Colt Fire Arm factory packing ammunition.  Edna attended business school at night, learned to type and was soon transferred to an office position.  She began advancing and teaching others her job.  Eventually Edna became a Connecticut State Employee for the Department of Revenue, a position from which she retired in (????).

Edna’s religion is a vital part of her life.  Upon arriving in Hartford, she “shopped” for a church home.  Her selection narrowed to a Methodist, an Episcopal, and a Baptist church.  She was not so concerned with the differences in theology, as the warmth, friendliness and diversity of the congregation.  She selected Central Baptist, and has been a member there for (??) years.

Edna moved to her own apartment near Trinity College in (????) and lived there for (????) years.  In (????) she moved into Avery House.  Here she has a cozy two room apartment.  Among Edna’s treasures are original paintings given to her by her longtime church friend, Marie Butterfass, square dance memorabilia and assorted items from friends and her travels.

Edna went to her first movie when she was twenty years old, has never owned a television set and has a health regime she strictly follows:  don’t see the doctor unless you need help, rest may allow the body to heal itself; don’t worry, there’s a mind-body connection that can heal or harm you; and exercise, especially walking, is the most beneficial.

EDNA BLACKMAN

By her niece, Sylvia Russell

Aunt Edna was not just our aunt, she was part of our family. We had one bedroom for the girls; there were 3 of us, but there was also a bed for Aunt Edna. She always said she was grateful to our mother for sharing her children, 5 altogether, with her. She came to our home frequently and especially when an extra hand was needed. She stayed with us when we were quarantined with scarlet fever and took over when our mother was hospitalized. During the summer we each had 2 weeks with her in Hartford, usually 2 at a time. What a treat for country kids to be in the city where there were sidewalks for roller-skating. When I was 17, I lived with her for over a year while I went to Hairdressing School and took my first job, so she always felt closest to me, having put up with me while I was “feeling my oats.”

Although she never went to High School, she took business courses in Night School.

She sent birthday cards to all of her nieces, nephews, their spouses and child and grandchildren, even those she never met, until they numbered 100.

She was a meticulous record keeper as I’ve found in going through her papers, and contributed generously to charitable organizations, especially those involving children and environmental issues.  One year she listed over 40 organizations she had contributed to.

She lived very simply and I’m sure the ones who burglarized her apartment on several occasions were disappointed as there were no TVs, stereos or silver worth taking.

One of her greatest pleasures was visiting shut-ins, including many friends over the years who lived at Avery Heights, and she knew that’s where she wanted to live when it seemed best to give up her apartment after 65 years. The thing she missed most was the cooking as she loved to invite people for meals, but I’m sure she didn’t miss doing all of her washing by hand, including sheets and towels.