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Weekly News February 11, 2019Description
Five World War II Tenants Who Occupied 3rd-Floor Apartment: There have been some interesting people at Auburn Heights in 108 years, those who lived here and those who worked for them. This “episode” will mention the five couples who lived in the “temporary” 3rd-floor apartment in the big house during and just after World War II. In 1942, the first full year of our involvement in the war, housing became very tight, and it continued this way through the rest of the decade. Those with more room than they needed were urged to take in roomers, boarders, or create small apartments. The third floor of Auburn Heights, used very little by the Marshalls, was so converted. Although I was away most of the time from 1942 through 1946, I knew 4 of the 5 couples who rented the apartment during this period and just after. My parents took them in as if they were “family” and retained friendships long after they were gone.
One of the bedrooms became a living room, my father’s photographic darkroom became a small kitchen, and a third-floor porch was screened in. Access was through the side door and up two flights of a back stairway, as there was no elevator in those days. The first couple was the Bebbingtons, Bill and Bobbi, from Solvay, NY. He was a young chemist with the DuPont Company, they moved in very early in 1943 and stayed just over a year when he was transferred to Belle, WV. The next couple was the Carrs, Bill and Peggy, he being a captain in the Air Transport Command flying C-54s out of New Castle Air Base. They were from Southern California. He was away on missions about half the time, and home the other half, during which time he was much interested in what my father was doing with his Stanley cars. In August, 1945, with the war just about over, his job terminated at New Castle and she was anxious to get home to California to give birth to their first child. 8-1/2 months pregnant, she drove across the country alone and all turned out well. The third couple was the McCarthys from Minnesota, here from late 1945 for about 9 months. He was a manager for Kennard & Pyle, a retail dry goods fixture on Market Street in Wilmington. I never knew them. The fourth couple was the Eichbaums, Bill and Ellie, he from Chattanooga, and she from Toms River, NJ, who moved in with their two young boys very early in 1947. He was an agent for pre-fabricated Butler buildings, and also a professional model builder. Finally, the last couple to rent the wartime apartment was the Janviers, Phil and Harriet, he from the Philadelphia area and working for NVF and she from Marshalltown, Iowa. They were between local homes, and were here with their two small sons a few months until early in 1949.
Work Report: The Annual Meeting prevented the regular Tuesday work session, but we thank all who attended!
On Wednesday February 6, nine volunteers attended the work session as follows:
Bill Boston, Jeff Emmons, Bob Jordon (briefly), Stan Lakey, Lou Mandich, Mark Russell, Bill Rule, Bill Schwoebel and Larry Tennity (Supervising)
• Work was started on the rear battery compartment of the Rauch and Lang to repair some of the wood supports and trim.
• The seam along the bottom of the Mountain Wagon water tank was soldered closed. Additional work on the seam is needed prior to placement of a copper patch over the seam. The patch will give the seam the added strength needed to support the weight of water.
• An attempt to fire up the Model 740 was made to check the operation of the oil lubrication system but had to be stopped due to a hexane leak at the pilot and air tank pressurization valves under the driver's seat. Hexane was dripping from the packing nut on the air tank valve and around the stem and packing nut of the pilot tank pressurization valve.
• The radiator and other parts were removed from the Model T so that the worn crank bushing can be replaced. It was found that the crank and the gear that engages the crankshaft also show excessive wear and will probably need replacement. Maintenance work on the spark advance will be done while the radiator is off the car.
